Bowl Bound College Football Text Sim

[Grim.Reaper]

Not sure if any of you played this college football game in the past, but was one of the better ones...hadn't been updated in ages, but a new update has been released basically updating the universe to current day.  This along with The College Years football was pretty decent games, especially if you like college football.  If you don't own it, can still pick it up with a discount.

http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2083351#post2083351

1. Updated the team list to have all 128 teams in the proper conferences. Added helmets and team information for all the new teams. I also made all the names match college football (ie, no more South Bend).

2. The game now schedules 12 games per team (instead of 11). There may be instances where 1-2 teams rarely get 11 games because of the new league structure - but I haven't seen this in the latest versions of the update.

3. Added new schedule options including handling 13-team conferences with two divisions in the 7-6 format. The game also schedules 9 conference games for the Pacific 12 and Big 12 (before they only had 8)

4. Added in a new postseason option called "4-team Playoffs". This is essentially the 2015 format with the play-in game happening in week 20 and the winners squaring off in week 21 for the championship. So, you can now play the Old BCS, a 16-team playoff or the current "And 1" playoff format.

5. Updated the Bowl list to include all 40 current bowl games. I also updated the select logic to mimic the current process. There is some subjectivity in the current process, but this should end up fairly close. Reminder for modding, you can create your own bowl logos by naming them the bowl name with _ where spaces occur. So, for the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, you would name the file Gildan_New_Mexico_Bowl.jpg (and put it the graphics/bowl/ folder).

6. Update the prestige values to more closely resemble the 2015 landscape. Given the player creation logic, you will still see some fluctuation at the start of each game.

7. Change the bowl eligibility logic. With 80 teams selected for bowls now, I had to allow teams with 5 wins to be selected.

8. Some other minor enhancements and bug fixes.

[Nefaro]

The way the mechanics are set up seemed nice, from what little I saw of the demo years ago.  But college ball wasn't all that enticing to me for a career management sim.  Too much player turnover out of your hands, along with other differences from Pro ball which works better for this sort of thing.

I thought he was supposed to be working on an NFL one using the same system.  Guess it doesn't have very high priority compared to others..?

[Grim.Reaper]

Too much player turnover out of your hands, along with other differences from Pro ball which works better for this sort of thing.

What do you mean by this?  The fact that college players only stay for a few years?  Not sure what you meant by being out of your hands...from what I remember it had full recruiting and such

[Nefaro]

Too much player turnover out of your hands, along with other differences from Pro ball which works better for this sort of thing.

What do you mean by this?  The fact that college players only stay for a few years?  Not sure what you meant by being out of your hands...from what I remember it had full recruiting and such

Yes.. only a few years.  No proper contracts, trades, etc like in the pros. 

I dig the roster management side of these sports text sims quite a bit, and the college stuff is different in some ways that I'm not too keen on.

[Grim.Reaper]

Too much player turnover out of your hands, along with other differences from Pro ball which works better for this sort of thing.

What do you mean by this?  The fact that college players only stay for a few years?  Not sure what you meant by being out of your hands...from what I remember it had full recruiting and such

Yes.. only a few years.  No proper contracts, trades, etc like in the pros. 

I dig the roster management side of these sports text sims quite a bit, and the college stuff is different in some ways that I'm not too keen on.

I guess that is what makes it a college football sim versus pro football sim:)  I purchased it a long time ago so I will give it a go when I have the chance...I had fun with it back then, so maybe it will rekindle a fire.

[glen55]

Not sure if any of you played this college football game in the past, but was one of the better ones...hadn't been updated in ages, but a new update has been released basically updating the universe to current day.  This along with The College Years football was pretty decent games, especially if you like college football.  If you don't own it, can still pick it up with a discount.

http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2083351#post2083351

1. Updated the team list to have all 128 teams in the proper conferences. Added helmets and team information for all the new teams. I also made all the names match college football (ie, no more South Bend).

2. The game now schedules 12 games per team (instead of 11). There may be instances where 1-2 teams rarely get 11 games because of the new league structure - but I haven't seen this in the latest versions of the update.

3. Added new schedule options including handling 13-team conferences with two divisions in the 7-6 format. The game also schedules 9 conference games for the Pacific 12 and Big 12 (before they only had 8)

4. Added in a new postseason option called "4-team Playoffs". This is essentially the 2015 format with the play-in game happening in week 20 and the winners squaring off in week 21 for the championship. So, you can now play the Old BCS, a 16-team playoff or the current "And 1" playoff format.

5. Updated the Bowl list to include all 40 current bowl games. I also updated the select logic to mimic the current process. There is some subjectivity in the current process, but this should end up fairly close. Reminder for modding, you can create your own bowl logos by naming them the bowl name with _ where spaces occur. So, for the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, you would name the file Gildan_New_Mexico_Bowl.jpg (and put it the graphics/bowl/ folder).

6. Update the prestige values to more closely resemble the 2015 landscape. Given the player creation logic, you will still see some fluctuation at the start of each game.

7. Change the bowl eligibility logic. With 80 teams selected for bowls now, I had to allow teams with 5 wins to be selected.

8. Some other minor enhancements and bug fixes.

I'm confused by your use of "I."  Did you do this update yourself?

If you did, I love you.   

Nefaro, that's kind of the point.  You can never sit on a winning hand in college football.  You are constantly turning over your roster and Sisyphus-ing your way up Mt. Olympus every year.

[Grim.Reaper]

Not sure if any of you played this college football game in the past, but was one of the better ones...hadn't been updated in ages, but a new update has been released basically updating the universe to current day.  This along with The College Years football was pretty decent games, especially if you like college football.  If you don't own it, can still pick it up with a discount.

http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2083351#post2083351

1. Updated the team list to have all 128 teams in the proper conferences. Added helmets and team information for all the new teams. I also made all the names match college football (ie, no more South Bend).

2. The game now schedules 12 games per team (instead of 11). There may be instances where 1-2 teams rarely get 11 games because of the new league structure - but I haven't seen this in the latest versions of the update.

3. Added new schedule options including handling 13-team conferences with two divisions in the 7-6 format. The game also schedules 9 conference games for the Pacific 12 and Big 12 (before they only had 8)

4. Added in a new postseason option called "4-team Playoffs". This is essentially the 2015 format with the play-in game happening in week 20 and the winners squaring off in week 21 for the championship. So, you can now play the Old BCS, a 16-team playoff or the current "And 1" playoff format.

5. Updated the Bowl list to include all 40 current bowl games. I also updated the select logic to mimic the current process. There is some subjectivity in the current process, but this should end up fairly close. Reminder for modding, you can create your own bowl logos by naming them the bowl name with _ where spaces occur. So, for the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, you would name the file Gildan_New_Mexico_Bowl.jpg (and put it the graphics/bowl/ folder).

6. Update the prestige values to more closely resemble the 2015 landscape. Given the player creation logic, you will still see some fluctuation at the start of each game.

7. Change the bowl eligibility logic. With 80 teams selected for bowls now, I had to allow teams with 5 wins to be selected.

8. Some other minor enhancements and bug fixes.

I'm confused by your use of "I."  Did you do this update yourself?

No, that is cut and paste from the announcement in the link....the original developer created the update.

[glen55]

Oh, well, I never loved you anyway.   :D

But I do love BBCF.  And this is a perfect time of year for the release.  Roll Tide, baby!

[Grim.Reaper]

Added to steam and only $15 right now if interested...

http://store.steampowered.com/app/398640/

[bbmike]

Added to steam and only $15 right now if interested...

http://store.steampowered.com/app/398640/

Ah, the power of Steam. Bought! Thanks Grim!

[JudgeDredd]

out of the "football" sims out there, who has what and how do you rate them? I'm always seeming to look for a football sim and I always seem to go cold on it. But everytime one of these threads pops up, it piques my interest again.

I patiently waiting for OOTP's football game - though 1) I think that's still a way away yet and 2) it'll be there first - so I'm kind of expecting not to pick it up (like Hockey Manager or whatever it was called).

So - what ones are out there and what ones are recommended?

When it comes to football I would like

• officially sponsored
• if not above, then an easy mod for updating (I need real team names)
• a campaign length (not just a year)

Ta

[Grim.Reaper]

OOTP Pro Football won't be released for awhile, if ever.  Their developer had medical issues and they have been trying to find a replacement for months.

If your looking for a Pro Football Career Simulation, really only have three choices (I am not listing games from the extreme past).

* None are officially sponsored by the NFL but you either have mods or ways to change team names/add logos

- Front Office Football - Largely considered the king of football sims
- Football Mogul- In my opinion, very light and the developer does not add much to it each year, if anything
- Pro Football Simulation - In my opinion had a good start, but never fully evolved and not sure if even being supported anymore...if I remember correctly, stats and such were a little off
- Front Office Football Remake - I believe you already own that and was a train wreck

To be honest, the only real option if your looking for career based right now is Front Office Football.

From a College Football, really only two out there.

- The College Years (made by the same developer as Front Office Football) - Was a good game and people are always asking for an updated version.  Probably biggest downside is its age and the fact the developer really doesn't support it anymore.
- Bowlbound College (this thread) - Until recently it was also an old game not really supported.  With the release on steam and recent updates, could be making a comeback.

Of the two college games, kind of a toss up for me...just because being updated, maybe the edge goes to Bowlbound...although I remember TCY being very good in the day.

[Grim.Reaper]

Also, past link to all American football games (including season replays) that may help...

http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=12606.msg329503#msg329503

[Nefaro]

All the current Pro Football ones have notable problems.

The latest FOF gets the most attention, but it's interface is antique and setting up a team's play-calling style feels so disjointed from actual football that it gets negative marks in that area.  I mean.. putting in walls of percentages.. really?  There is at least one extra layer between the coded numbers and offensive/defensive play styles missing from the sim.  This missing layer(s) also causes the AI opponents in FOF to all use practically the same play calling, slightly modified by a very tiny (too small) percentage.  See my bit on how Bowl Bound handles it, further down.

I also have some other, more minor, complaints.  Such as some bits of the outcome tendencies.  For example, nearly every game in every career I played had all running backs fumbling the football numerous times each game.  I was often surprised when an RB had no fumbles in a game, as that was uncommon.  Those should happen but not with that frequency.  The latest release still has this issue, amongst a few others.

I think FOF gets the nod just because it has more detail than the others.  That's not saying the others are good.  They're perpetually unfinished messes. 

IMO Pro Sim Football often had better game outcome stats than all the others, but it was always a work in progress and development pretty much stopped around three years ago, last I checked.  Besides needing some more depth (like Coach stats & hiring), it needed a better looking interface to match the team you're playing instead of looking the same throughout.   That kinda left me with a rather sterile feel for it and adding the official logo mods didn't help much since the gfx portrayed in the game for them were so tiny.  Another opportunity lost.


I played the Demo for Bowl Bound, and it seems to have gotten the play style setup right (where FOF got it wrong).  Although, being college football, some of the styles are different.  For example, Bowl Bound has numerous Offensive play calling styles to choose from, which encompass a wide range of formations and plays to play to specific roster strengths.  NOT matrices of percentage chances for specific plays to be called & being mostly the same when it comes to AI (as in FOF).  This strategy is at the center of american football and Bowl Bound looks to outwardly take a more realistic approach to it from the gamer's perspective.

I never purchased Bowl Bound because it's College Football, where roster management consists of quick turnover and not long-term franchise player development and contract negotiations.  College ball management is different than Pro. 

I didn't put enough time into playing games in Bowl Bound to see how well the game stat outcomes turn out.  I hope someone else here can let us know about that.  But college football is prone to much wider swings regarding that, so there is more leeway.  I do plan on picking it up soon, just because there aren't many football management sims around and they all have down sides.

[JudgeDredd]

Thanks GR and Nef and thanks for the link GR. I took part in that thread and forgot all about it.  :-[