zimrahil
Retired Administrator
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2001
- Location
- Birmingham, England
- Online Cricket Games Owned
- Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Xbox 360
- Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
The answers to your third and final batch of questions sent to Andrew Wilson; Producer of Cricket 2005 at EA Sports, have just come back to us.
Admin responded to members asking for more challenging questions to be asked, and Andrew has replied accordingly. In fact not only has he answered the questions sent, but he has written his own thoughts regarding EA and cricket gaming in general
Here are the answers in full:
1. In the interviews you did for Cricket 2004, you described many things that would be in the game, but were not in the finished product (presumably due to time constraints?). With that in mind, why should we believe what you say about this game?
I HAVE ALWAYS ENDEAVOURED TO BE HONEST AND DIRECT IN ALL INTERVIEWS THAT I HAVE DONE. AT TIMES, THINGS GET CUT AT THE LAST MINUTE DUE TO TIME CONTRAINTS OR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. I ANSWER DIRECTLY EACH AND EVERY TIME?IT IS YOUR CHOICE WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE.
2. In the event of there being any bugs in Cricket 2005 (of course we hope this isn't the case), would you be willing to look at any bug report we give you, and would there be a patch this time?
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT ANY BUG LISTS. AT THE POINT THAT I CAN GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES, I WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT A PATCH.
3. The bug where the team reverts to the default line-up after the re-load of a saved game was in Cricket 2002 and Cricket 2004. So when you say "One of the first things that we do when we start a new game is go through bugs from the previous game and look to ways of fixing them.", have you actually done this for Cricket 2005?
YES.
4. Will EA actually listen to customers complaints this time? Not a single one of our forum's members recieved a useful response from EA Technical Support with regards to Cricket 2004. Will you be able to give personal assurances that any complaints are sufficiently addressed?
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE THAT I CAN ANSWER. THIS IS FAR TOO SUBJECTIVE. WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE QUESTIONS ARE OR THE ANSWERS GIVEN, I CANNOT MAKE JUDGEMENT OR GIVE ANY ASSURANCE AS TO WHETHER IT IS SUFFICIENT. ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT WE TRY AND DO ALL WE CAN AS A COMPANY AND OUR TECH SUPPORT GUYS HAVE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT JOB SOLVING PROBLEMS OVER THE PHONE OR VIA E-MAIL. WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO, DUE TO THE SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER, IT IS VERY TOUGH TO PLEASE EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.
5. What is the scheduled date for the release of the demo?
WE ARE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THIS AT PRESENT. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS WAS ON GETTING THE GAME DONE. I WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT DEMO TIMING IN THE COMING WEEKS.
6. In the screenshots for Cricket 2005, we have seen the following things:
(i) Red ball and white sightscreen used in ODIs.
(ii) Ricky Ponting batted left-handed
(iii) Brett Lee bowling spin
(iv) Ridicously low, and highly un-realistic scores.
Will all these be corrected before the game's release?
YES?THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT CHANGES LATE IN THE CYCLE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ?TOOLS? IN THE CODE TO HELP TEST STRANGE SITUATIONS?THESE GET REMEDIED THROUGH THE TESTING PHASE.
7. There are fewer stadiums in Cricket 2005 than in Cricket 2004. It seems to us that this represents a backwards step in terms of gameplay. What forward steps have you taken with regards to gameplay? (NOT GRAPHICS)
I HAVE DISCUSSED GAMEPLAY IN A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS. ON THE SUBJECT OF STADIUMS?WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW DYNAMIC LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR STADIUMS THAT SEES THE STADIUMS CAST SHADOWS UPON THEMSELVES. THESE STADIUMS TAKE SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER TO BUILD AND AS SUCH, WE COULD NOT COMPLETE AS MANY IN THE TIME THAT WE HAD. WHEN MAKING THE DECISION, WE DID A GREAT DEAL OF FOCUS GROUP TESTING AMOUNG OUR CONSUMERS TO SEE HOW MANY STADIUMS WOULD ACTUALLY BE USED IN GAMEPLAY. WE HAVE THAT WELL AND TRULY COVERED IN CRICKET 2005. PLAYING THROUGH THE GAME, THERE ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH STADIUMS AND THEY LOOK GREAT.
8. You have said in another interview that all international teams would be in the game. I'm sure you're aware that there are almost 100 members of the ICC, so please can you confirm the exact number of international teams and what they comprise of ? Please don't just say something like "all the main international teams."
ALL THE TEAMS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THE 2003 WORLD CUP.
9. In the last batch of answers you sent us was included the following:
Question: Is there rain and Duckworth Lewis in ODIs?
Your answer: DOES ANYBODY TRULY UNDERSTAND THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE?
Many cricket fans understand the Duckworth/Lewis rule. They also expect a cricket game to feature it. So can we please have a serious answer to the following three questions:
(i) Will there be rain in ODIs?
(ii) Will the Duckworth/Lewis method be used?
(iii) If the answer to (ii) is no, what rain rule will be used?
WE DO NOT HAVE RAIN IN ODI?S AND AS SUCH, DO NOT HAVE A NEED FOR THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE. ALTHOUGH YOU BELIEVE THAT MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE, MANY MORE DO NOT AND IT IS VERY EASY TO MAKE AN ERROR IN CALCULATION?AS ONE INTERNATIONAL TEAM FOUND OUT NOT SO LONG AGO. WHEN WE BUILD A CRICKET GAME, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE GAME WITH OUR ABILITY TO APPEAL TO A BROAD CRICKET LOVING AUDIENCE. WITH THE HOST OF OTHER COMPLEX CRICKET ELEMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN CRICKET 2005, THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE DID NOT MAKE THE CUT.
10. Will there be realistic pitch wear, foot marks etc, and if so will this be protrayed graphically as well as gameplay wise. I.e 5th day pitch will clearly show deterioration and will spin more etc
YES, THAT IS THE CASE, HOWEVER, THE EFFECT OF THIS IS BALANCED ACROSS A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS?TEMP, WEATHER, TEAMS PLAYING, INDIVIDUAL BOWLER ABILITY ETC.
And finally Andrew's own general comments.........
One thing that I would like to share is that we as a team build the best game possible given time, resources and technology. The development team have worked huge days, (many of them 7 days a week), throughout the entire development cycle as a result of the passion they have for the product and their desire to ship the best cricket game ever. I am very proud of what they have been able to achieve. I would challenge anyone to ?walk a mile in their shoes?. At the end of the day, while some issues have been present in years gone by, (as with all games), EA is the only company that has consistently brought Cricket games to the market over the last 8 or so years?even when it did not always make great business sense. When the community said that they liked Brian Lara/Shane Warne Cricket, we did a deal with the man who designed, produced and tuned the game. When the community said that they wanted a game that looked and felt at the same quality level as FIFA, we undertook a complete technology overhaul at great expense. No other company has shown such commitment to the sport of Cricket. So when evaluating which title to buy?we have always stuck by our consumers?now it is their turn to stick by us.
Admin responded to members asking for more challenging questions to be asked, and Andrew has replied accordingly. In fact not only has he answered the questions sent, but he has written his own thoughts regarding EA and cricket gaming in general
Here are the answers in full:
1. In the interviews you did for Cricket 2004, you described many things that would be in the game, but were not in the finished product (presumably due to time constraints?). With that in mind, why should we believe what you say about this game?
I HAVE ALWAYS ENDEAVOURED TO BE HONEST AND DIRECT IN ALL INTERVIEWS THAT I HAVE DONE. AT TIMES, THINGS GET CUT AT THE LAST MINUTE DUE TO TIME CONTRAINTS OR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. I ANSWER DIRECTLY EACH AND EVERY TIME?IT IS YOUR CHOICE WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE.
2. In the event of there being any bugs in Cricket 2005 (of course we hope this isn't the case), would you be willing to look at any bug report we give you, and would there be a patch this time?
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT ANY BUG LISTS. AT THE POINT THAT I CAN GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES, I WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT A PATCH.
3. The bug where the team reverts to the default line-up after the re-load of a saved game was in Cricket 2002 and Cricket 2004. So when you say "One of the first things that we do when we start a new game is go through bugs from the previous game and look to ways of fixing them.", have you actually done this for Cricket 2005?
YES.
4. Will EA actually listen to customers complaints this time? Not a single one of our forum's members recieved a useful response from EA Technical Support with regards to Cricket 2004. Will you be able to give personal assurances that any complaints are sufficiently addressed?
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE THAT I CAN ANSWER. THIS IS FAR TOO SUBJECTIVE. WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE QUESTIONS ARE OR THE ANSWERS GIVEN, I CANNOT MAKE JUDGEMENT OR GIVE ANY ASSURANCE AS TO WHETHER IT IS SUFFICIENT. ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT WE TRY AND DO ALL WE CAN AS A COMPANY AND OUR TECH SUPPORT GUYS HAVE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT JOB SOLVING PROBLEMS OVER THE PHONE OR VIA E-MAIL. WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO, DUE TO THE SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER, IT IS VERY TOUGH TO PLEASE EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.
5. What is the scheduled date for the release of the demo?
WE ARE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THIS AT PRESENT. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS WAS ON GETTING THE GAME DONE. I WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT DEMO TIMING IN THE COMING WEEKS.
6. In the screenshots for Cricket 2005, we have seen the following things:
(i) Red ball and white sightscreen used in ODIs.
(ii) Ricky Ponting batted left-handed
(iii) Brett Lee bowling spin
(iv) Ridicously low, and highly un-realistic scores.
Will all these be corrected before the game's release?
YES?THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT CHANGES LATE IN THE CYCLE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ?TOOLS? IN THE CODE TO HELP TEST STRANGE SITUATIONS?THESE GET REMEDIED THROUGH THE TESTING PHASE.
7. There are fewer stadiums in Cricket 2005 than in Cricket 2004. It seems to us that this represents a backwards step in terms of gameplay. What forward steps have you taken with regards to gameplay? (NOT GRAPHICS)
I HAVE DISCUSSED GAMEPLAY IN A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS. ON THE SUBJECT OF STADIUMS?WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW DYNAMIC LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR STADIUMS THAT SEES THE STADIUMS CAST SHADOWS UPON THEMSELVES. THESE STADIUMS TAKE SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER TO BUILD AND AS SUCH, WE COULD NOT COMPLETE AS MANY IN THE TIME THAT WE HAD. WHEN MAKING THE DECISION, WE DID A GREAT DEAL OF FOCUS GROUP TESTING AMOUNG OUR CONSUMERS TO SEE HOW MANY STADIUMS WOULD ACTUALLY BE USED IN GAMEPLAY. WE HAVE THAT WELL AND TRULY COVERED IN CRICKET 2005. PLAYING THROUGH THE GAME, THERE ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH STADIUMS AND THEY LOOK GREAT.
8. You have said in another interview that all international teams would be in the game. I'm sure you're aware that there are almost 100 members of the ICC, so please can you confirm the exact number of international teams and what they comprise of ? Please don't just say something like "all the main international teams."
ALL THE TEAMS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THE 2003 WORLD CUP.
9. In the last batch of answers you sent us was included the following:
Question: Is there rain and Duckworth Lewis in ODIs?
Your answer: DOES ANYBODY TRULY UNDERSTAND THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE?
Many cricket fans understand the Duckworth/Lewis rule. They also expect a cricket game to feature it. So can we please have a serious answer to the following three questions:
(i) Will there be rain in ODIs?
(ii) Will the Duckworth/Lewis method be used?
(iii) If the answer to (ii) is no, what rain rule will be used?
WE DO NOT HAVE RAIN IN ODI?S AND AS SUCH, DO NOT HAVE A NEED FOR THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE. ALTHOUGH YOU BELIEVE THAT MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE, MANY MORE DO NOT AND IT IS VERY EASY TO MAKE AN ERROR IN CALCULATION?AS ONE INTERNATIONAL TEAM FOUND OUT NOT SO LONG AGO. WHEN WE BUILD A CRICKET GAME, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE GAME WITH OUR ABILITY TO APPEAL TO A BROAD CRICKET LOVING AUDIENCE. WITH THE HOST OF OTHER COMPLEX CRICKET ELEMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN CRICKET 2005, THE DUCKWORTH LEWIS RULE DID NOT MAKE THE CUT.
10. Will there be realistic pitch wear, foot marks etc, and if so will this be protrayed graphically as well as gameplay wise. I.e 5th day pitch will clearly show deterioration and will spin more etc
YES, THAT IS THE CASE, HOWEVER, THE EFFECT OF THIS IS BALANCED ACROSS A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS?TEMP, WEATHER, TEAMS PLAYING, INDIVIDUAL BOWLER ABILITY ETC.
And finally Andrew's own general comments.........
One thing that I would like to share is that we as a team build the best game possible given time, resources and technology. The development team have worked huge days, (many of them 7 days a week), throughout the entire development cycle as a result of the passion they have for the product and their desire to ship the best cricket game ever. I am very proud of what they have been able to achieve. I would challenge anyone to ?walk a mile in their shoes?. At the end of the day, while some issues have been present in years gone by, (as with all games), EA is the only company that has consistently brought Cricket games to the market over the last 8 or so years?even when it did not always make great business sense. When the community said that they liked Brian Lara/Shane Warne Cricket, we did a deal with the man who designed, produced and tuned the game. When the community said that they wanted a game that looked and felt at the same quality level as FIFA, we undertook a complete technology overhaul at great expense. No other company has shown such commitment to the sport of Cricket. So when evaluating which title to buy?we have always stuck by our consumers?now it is their turn to stick by us.
