More accurate results with these changes

[Warriors10]

I love the graphics, overall look and feel of the game. But like most was disappointed with the arcade type results.

So I did an experiment and came up with better (still not correct) results.

I edited the players.dbf file simply using excel and made the following changes.

· reduced the FG rating of all players by 20
· reduced the 3P rating of all players by 10
· reduced the dunk rating of all players by 30
· reduced the block rating of all players by 50

I also used the following settings:

Level: starter (I experimented at all levels and found this to be the best fit, mostly because FT are unmakeable at the higher levels)

Qtr length: 10 min (was using 8 but with the more accurate fg% needed to up this to keep the scores closer to the 90-100 range)

Also – I basically made a house rule not to use the “turbo” button. The turbo button pretty much allows any good player to drive by anyone and dunk. My favorite all time player is Tim Hardaway but he is well past his prime. With the turbo button I had Tim scoring 35 a game. Bottom line – if you want an accurate game you just can’t use the turbo button.

I also attempt to play the game in an NBA fashion, getting the ball to the PG and trying to run plays to get good open shots.

With these changes I am seeing the following results:

Scores: Generally in the 90-100 range which is accurate

FG%: This is the biggest improvement. I am not seeing around 45% as opposed to 70% pre-changes.

Blocks: still way to many at 10-20 per team, but no longer the absurd 50+. Also far less of the block all the way to the other end of the arena stuff.

Rebounds: 30-40 Still not enough but with the reduction in FG% and blocks these numbers are at least more manageable. Biggest problem now is a see next to no offensive rebounds.

That’s it – for me the best part about this fix is #1 I was able to make the changes to an existing franchise, so I didn’t need to start all over. Also the changes are so easy to make that if EA does release a patch, I can simply go and change everything back.

One final note – the biggest problem in all games with editing the players database to modify results is that incoming rookies will always be rated to high, so if you do make these type of changes and go into an off season, make sure to edit the incoming rookies.

[toddyo1388]

According to a few other posts, rookie ratings are based on all the current player ratings. So if all players' ratings are reduced by a set amount, new rookie ratings will conform when they are generated.

Has anyone experimented with this by playing through a full season and checking the ratings of new rookies after the draft?

[Warriors10]

I was using another set of rosters I downloaded from here and when I drafted a rookie point guard he was already better than all but two or three guys in the league. I will have to see with this current set, but I am also hoping for a patch before then.

[donkey33]

I know some people tested this out with the console version and the rookies came into the league as superstars.

I don't think anyone has tried this with the PC version yet but if not, it wouldn't be too hard to edit 2 rounds of rookies.