Published on June 21st, 2012 | by Shopmaster

Deep Dive Into Connected Careers – Day 2 Diary

So, here we are day 2 of Connected Careers and I’m beginning to think that there is no way that a person is going to be in more than 3 of these Connected Career Leagues. I say that because it’s so much to do in that week. It’s nice to be in control of all of those things but I can really see people having the CPU auto-sim some of these events.

Let me give you an idea of one of my weeks:

Checklist:

- Practice

- Scout Player

- Ngotiate Contract: Fred Davis

- Keep Negotiating: DJ Gomes

- Negotiate Contract: Brandon Banks

- Negotiate Contract:

- Trade Proposal: Baltimore Ravens

- Progress Players

- Season Game

- Ready To Advance

11:41 – So we are having some discussions on Scouting Points you get. Right now you only 1000 SP (Scouting Points) each week, but everyone agrees that it’s not enough.

A suggestion I had was to increase the scouting points to 2000 SP and then the week of the combine you get a bonus of 5000 SP to scout more of a players traits and ratings.

So here is an example of some of the attributes you scout that are not your typical attributes:

Intangible – 5000
Physical – 5000
Scheme - 5000
Player Type – 10000
Durability – 5000
Production – Already Scouted for each player
Size – Already Scouted
Development – 15000
Most of the attributes are either 100 or 500 to unlock 1 time and this will unlock a grade.

To unlock the actual rating then you would have to purchase those attributes again.

12:20 – I made it to the Wildcard Playoffs – 9-7

Presentation is different as you get the players in the studio.

So I convinced the Commissioner to let me play the game. The Giants (11-5) went up 14-0 on me early and and I came back but I got screwed at the end.

I was down by 7 and the CPU caught a ball near the sidelines and was clearly out of bounds and forced a 4th down and I was getting the ball back with 1:42 left. Enough time for me to score and tie it up. The the replay booth came said they were going to review it and it came back with them winning the review and they marked him inbounds and their ball. So basically I was done because I didn’t have any time outs. With that said the Giants didn’t just kneel the ball and was passing. He completed a pass and then on 2nd down he threw another pass to his halback in the flat. I hitsticked him, made him fumble. My FS picked up the ball and had a clear road for a TD but because of Physics my own player ran into me causing me to lose my balance and fall. End of the game. Argggghhh!

So the issues I brought up was 1. the bad replay booth decision. 2. The Giants not kneeling when they could have done that and it would have been over. 3. I really can’t complain about Physics, but it caused me the game … lol.

Time for the offseason. I have been scouting a number of MLB and a RT. I needed more Scouting Points.

Lunch time, we are going to get a new build after lunch.

So we have advanced to the offseason.

Champ Bailey, Reggie Wayne (Knee Injury), Ray Lewis all retired.

Waiting to do the draft next.

Offseason Stage 1 – Resign Players

Off season Stage 2 – Sign Free Agents (we couldn’t actually sign any free agents because it kept kicking us out, so we all delegated it to the CPU).

Stage 3 – Free Agent and Scouting

Stage 4 – Free Agent and Scouting

Stage 5 – Free Agent and Scouting

Stage 6 – Free Agent and Scouting

Stage 7 – A lot of guys on the trading block went out. More Scouting

Stage 8 – Draft

The draft is pretty sweet looking but there are definitely some issues that we would like to see get addressed before going final. It’s kind of hard to draft guys you didn’t scout because you don’t see anything as far as their ratings. You can also trade up in the draft but so far only with the team on the clock. hoping to get that fixed.

So we’ve taken a break because the commissioner can’t get back in.

Right now we’ve been tuning the stumble and fall threshold so the running game becomes more realistic. Some top notch dev stuff. wish I had these same debug options for all retail games. I need a Devkit … lol.

I’m going to try and start an online Connected Career and try to switch from Coach to Coach! Might be a workaround for those looking to take over all 32 teams.

Ok, I’m back and I started my own Connected Career. I picked the Redskins and just took over Shanahan. I picked up a FB in Free Agency.

Here are my 1st week checklist:

- Cut Days

- Practice

- Preseason Game vs. Bills

- Trade Offers for my RE K.Golston
Here is what some of the teams were offering me:

1. Houston was offering me a 75 OVR RT – R.Butler and a 6 round (217 pick) draft pick

2. New England offered me a 2nd round (93 pick) and a 6th round draft (221) pick

3. Green Bay offered me B.Goode – Center

4. Indianapolis offered me a 2nd round (70 pick) and a 6th round (198 pick)

I took the New England Offer.

Doing a practice mode to give me 500

Week 2 Checklist

1. Practice
2. Preseason Game vs. Bears
3. Progress Players
4. Trade Block: RE Nelson
5. Trade Block: CB C.Williams
6. Advance Week

I then switched from the Redskins to Coach the Ravens. When I left Shanahan had 1,825 XP. I want to see if I can go back to him with the same amount of points. So it worked. All the games don’t get simmed but you may miss out on some transactions and checklist, gotta check that. Advancing to week 3 of preseason.

Week 3 Checklist – 2,200 XP

1. Cut Days
2. Practice
3. Preseason Games
4. Progress Players
5. Advance Weeks

So now I’m going to see if I can switch Coaches and do a number of tasks for other Coaches and then come back to Shanahan to see if the CPU did any of his tasks.

Ok, so I tried to switch coaches and eventhough I still had my XP all of my checklists were already done. The CPU cut my players, progressed my players, and just left me to still do practice.

Week 4 Checklist

1. Cut Day
2. Practice
3. Preseason Game vs. Tampa Bay Bucaneers
4. Progress Players
5. Advance Weeks

Week 1 Regular Season 0-0

1. Practice
2. Season Game vs. Saints
3. Scouting
4, Advance in Week.

Beat Saints 24-17

Week 2 Regular Season 1-0

Checklist:

1. Practice
2. Season Game vs. Rams (1-0)
3. Progress Players
4. Scouting
5. Advance

Share and Enjoy

Tags: checklist, connected careers, day 2

About the Author

Shopmaster Shopmaster is a die-hard hardcore Madden Player. He also serves an EA SPORTS Game Changer that provides the community with help and information regarding Madden.

http://twitter.com/ryanthelou Ryan Lewis

I dig it. I’m sure people will be fine with simming as long as it’s giving the hardcore players a deeper experience.

With practice, how many scenarios can you choose from? I’m pretty impressed with how they are doing practices. It sounds like a Madden Moments type of a setup, which I think will keep it entertaining.

Also, have they mentioned anything about the website? If you could do a lot of this management stuff from your computer or your phone, it would be helpful.
- Shopmaster
  
  Yea, there are about 8 scenarios. I don’t know all the details about the website just yet. I know you will be able to manage your team but not to what extent.
  - http://twitter.com/JuiceAdams881 Juice Adams 88
    
    How many times can you practice each scenario ?
    - Magnus Jacobsen
      
      I guess you can practice one scenario only one time in each week. So you can’t progress all your players too fast. That’s what I got from videos from E3. Not sure though.
      - http://twitter.com/blood9585 Clifton-Wisepegasus
        
        I can answer this one…you choose one of the eight each week to practice. After that you have to wait until the next week.
    - Shopmaster
      
      Only one practice scenario per week.
      - http://twitter.com/JuiceAdams881 Juice Adams 88
        
        thanks
simon

Is there is regular practice mode (No XP/Just for practicing plays, getting used to your players etc.) that you can use as much as you want in CC (using your CC team)?
- Shopmaster
  
  No
  - simon
    
    Ok thanks thats to bad.
    Can you export your CC team and practice with it in the normal practice mode thats not in CC?
    - Shopmaster
      
      No
    - http://twitter.com/blood9585 Clifton-Wisepegasus
      
      I think this way makes you think about choosing the longer (and sometimes harder) practice scenarios…
mrcuss

What did the Ravens trade proposal look like?
- Shopmaster
  
  It looked like 2 players for my 2 picks. We were just testing to see if you can do multiple picks and you can.
Jpdavis1982

A new build after lunch? Did they say how much newer this build will be?
- Shopmaster
  
  They just said it would be more polished.
http://twitter.com/ovfd55 ovfd55

OK,So how much fun are you having?
- Shopmaster
  
  It’s a lot of fun. so good to be playing and seeing something new every game.
Tim

Players in the studio? Like a tv studio?
- Shopmaster
  
  Like the vids you seen on the E3 videos. Two players from a team.
  - Tim
    
    Ok thanks that’s what my thought was
  - jpdavis1982
    
    Is it still just the HB and the QB like we saw at E3 or do they show more players from different positions now?
aholbert32

After you complete a game, does the week automatically advance or can you switch coaches? I’m looking for a roundabout way to play other teams games.
- Shopmaster
  
  So I talked to someone about that and yea you can. If it’s just you, you can skip from coach to coach and then use another coach.
  - Mrcuss
    
    Does the coach you switch from lose all of his xp when you make the switch?
    - Shopmaster
      
      No, the coach never loses XP because it’s tied to that Coach, so you should be good.
      - John
        
        What if its a created coach? Do they stay in the league if you leave them or do they retire like created players?
      - Shopmaster
        
        No, if you create a coach and retire he is gone from the league.
http://twitter.com/ovfd55 ovfd55

How xp go throughout the whole season?Any players jump have a big jump or big regress?
- Shopmaster
  
  So I was able to boost RG III’s SAC and MAC with the XP.
http://twitter.com/ovfd55 ovfd55

London Fletcher retire?
- Shopmaster
  
  Yep, retired!
  - http://twitter.com/ovfd55 ovfd55
    
    Lots of big name retires,by chance none of yall spend xp to buy the retirement packages?
    - Shopmaster
      
      Yea, I didn’t use it. I’m going to try and start another one and use the retirement package.
bagz919er

i know physics is a multiple year effort i just hope that in future players on the same team can toch each other ,ie. using ur blockers or linemen pushing pile from behind, if your teeam mate is knocked into ur way thats different but u made it seem as if hejust ran into youand thats not cool
- Shopmaster
  
  He was diving for the ball that I scooped up and his leg hit me and caused me to stumble. but I agree, would love to see a RB put his hand on his blocker.
  - bagz919er
    
    remember playmaker in 04( or thee vick cover) couldnt u tell ur blocker which way to go? i miss that
ch46647

How does the physics feel in comparison to E3? Thanks for doing this!
- Shopmaster
  
  It feels better but we are tuning even more.
http://twitter.com/rudyjuly2 Rudy

That was my biggest complaint with scouting last year – not enough info. I spent all this time scouting and it felt like it wasn’t nearly enough and ended up being a waste of time. With no basic combine stats like 40 times, bench, etc you are flying in the dark and it really hurt the draft experience. I’d rather see basic ratings on guys and then have scouting reveal real ratings that are quite different to find gems and bums. Please add more scouting points as last year felt pointless without info. Hate feeling blind on draft day. Great write-up!
- Head Coach ’12
  
  I though Josh said all of the physical ratings would be released after the combine. There’s no reason why they shouldb’t be or at least have their combine numbers to go off of.
  - Shopmaster
    
    I agree. When the combine comes around some of those ratings should be revealed.
vic

I’m soo NOT playing as a coach. There is so much to do !
V3NOM908

i seriously cant wait for this game o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
- http://twitter.com/blood9585 Clifton-Wisepegasus
  
  You can always put the CPU in charge of scouting,progression,& schemes…
http://www.facebook.com/tim.fitzgerald.372 Tim Fitzgerald

What do you think the chances of EA patching in the ability to edit numbers, positions or equipment. I know for me personally I will be using the Patriots but switch from their 3-4 alignment to the 4-3 with the Multiple D playbook. I understand not wanting people to edit ratings in this game mode but I would like to make a 3-4 olb a 4-3 de.
- http://twitter.com/alexgritz Alex Gritzmacher
  
  I totally agree. Numbers and equipment and stuff like that should be editable. I totally understand the ratings part, in fact, I don’t want that ability anyway. Shopmaster, tell those devs to get edit player in there NAO! But say it nicely
- Shopmaster
  
  Here is the thing, when you start messing with positions and ratings, it affects the whole mode. You can always put a 3-4 OLB at DE if you want but because different coaches have schemes and look at players ratings differently I don’t think allowing position edits is a good idea. That could mess up a number of things. Like Alex said below this comment, just let us be able to edit numbers and appearances is the best scenario. You can switch your base defense now, but if those players don’t fit then their ratings are not going to be the same, they’ll be lower.
  - http://www.facebook.com/tim.fitzgerald.372 Tim Fitzgerald
    
    That does make sense then. I would be happy with at least the ability to change # and equipment. Don’t wanna be too greedy
  - Peyton H
    
    WTF? The colts are switching to a 3-4 this year. Freeney and Mathis are being moved to OLB. Without position editing, they would stay at 3-4 DE when they could be made OLB and fit the scheme. What makes sense about not allowing that?
    - http://twitter.com/alexgritz Alex Gritzmacher
      
      I wonder if they could have some kind of position change event in the off-season like in NCAA. At least that way you couldn’t change a player’s position during the season, potentially messing up certain stuff.
      - http://www.facebook.com/tim.fitzgerald.372 Tim Fitzgerald
        
        I don’t remember where I read it but I saw someone else suggest that too. That would be awesome I think, I don’t see why that couldnt be allowed
http://twitter.com/alexgritz Alex Gritzmacher

Wait wait wait wait one minute there bucko. You took the New England trade?! The Indianapolis trade was a better deal. Same rounds but better picks. Tisk tisk. lol
- Shopmaster
  
  Yea, I know.
  - bagz919er
    
    in the pre season how did the game know the exact number the pick was? and do the saints have a 2nd round pick? i ask that because i watched a vid where Looman says teams will have the picks they have traded for in real life. id think it work both ways
    - Shopmaster
      
      Whatever the team has in real life, they have those same picks in the game. The Skins don’t have a 1st round draft pick, this upcoming year or next.
      - http://twitter.com/blood9585 Clifton-Wisepegasus
        
        Does seem strange to me that they knew the exact pick number in the pre season
BrownsTillDeath

Do the rookies have realistic numbers? For example,since we cant edit,it would suck to have a Defensive Tackle wearing number 7 since thats the number he wore in college
- Shopmaster
  
  I haven’t seen any crazy numbers and I know Josh and the team are trying to make sure that doesn’t happen.
brad

when will madden 13 demo be coming out
- Shopmaster
  
  Not sure!
http://www.facebook.com/mcote Marc Cote

Good Stuff

1. I agree with more scouting points, you need alot because you often can get the players you want.
2. Can XP really cover a big rating boost of a standout rookie? Do players only regress in offseason or do they also get progressed?
3. How are the negotiations/ resignings at end of year? Difficult or much like M12?
- Shopmaster
  
  1. Agree
  2. I think there definitely need more XP, but not too much where you are unlocking everyone … that’s no fun. Players regress in the offseason I think.
  3. I never played offline franchise in M12 so I can’t make the comparison but I do know that it’s pretty good. I tried to lowball players and they just walked. I also know that some player may hold out if you don’t come to an agreement by the season start.
  - http://www.facebook.com/mcote Marc Cote
    
    Thanks for Info, really appreciate it,
    ps Very jealous
Peyton H

Please answer, were there actually good players in FA, or was it like M12, the good players get resigned? Could you tell me some of the top FA? Was Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Wallace, or Mike Jenkins available?
- mrcuss
  
  This!
- Shopmaster
  
  There were some good FA but rosters are not final, so I really didn’t pay that much attention to it.
Peyton H

In M13, were any good FA available? Specifically Mike Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Matt Forte, or Mike Wallace?