Hi Patatrasse,
Thank your for being so open in discussing the game. I have been a fan since tdf 2013 and have enjoyed the development of the game.
The pro team mode is what provides depth to the game and deserves more development. As others have suggested, and due to the constraints of stage development, using the stages from previous versions of the game for pro team is a good idea and expanding the pro team season in this way is perhaps the most simple option. Whilst I would like to see the Giro and Vuelta included in the game I understand this would be a huge amount of work and difficult from a license perspective.
Again suggested by others, AI transfers between teams and a contract/wage system would be great, but is also perhaps too much work for one year, however as a longer term development plan for the game, perhaps possible. I understand you need to keep pcm and tdf separate. For me pcm is too complicated and I prefer tdf, but what really distinguishes the two games is the first person perspective of tdf. It makes the game more immersive in my opinion. With a deeper pro team mode it would add the feel of a management game like pcm without being too complex, enhancing the games appeal and replayability.
So I suggest expanding of pro teams current 3 races (3 stage race, dauphine - 8 stage race, tdf - 21 stage race) to include a another stage race, perhaps 5 stages and/or 14 stages with a rest day or time trial in the middle for recuperation. I think I'm right in saying there are no real world 2 week tours however a fictional race requires no license. I understand a 14 stage race requires a lot of stages but it would be nice to build in difficulty towards the unlocking tdf. By using stages from the previous games surely this would be possible. The tdf itself could then follow the format like it is now - 2017 tour, 2018 tour, random tour using all stages and ensuring no repeats of a stage in a season.
Personally I was disappointed to see only one stage with cobbles in the 2016 game (2015 had two stages with cobbles if I remember correctly) and again only one cobbled stage in 2017. The cobbled stages are difficult for the GC riders and as such provide a big challenge which is good! More cobbled stages please!!! They also have narrow sections of road requiring tactical play and provide a challenge. The narrow sections of road have been a good addition to the 2017 game, and should be expanded on.
I understand from what you have said that randomly generated stages would not be possible because of the load times imposed by sony and microsoft. Perhaps a way around this is to generate a number of random stages (some with cobbled sections please, maybe even cobbled climbs!) at the start of a season. Fifa has a "setting up the season" loading screen and warns that it may take several minutes. If, as others have suggested, there were transfers between seasons, this would be an ideal time to be able to display/browse though the changes whilst the stages were generated in the background.
The implementation of wind is new this year and whilst good seems to be the same when replaying a stage. Perhaps this could be randomized. Again suggested by others weather would be a good addition along with the relevant stats for riders. I understand this requires a lot of work on the game/graphic engine and is perhaps a more long term development idea. A good game does not necessarily have awesome graphics though, it is more about playability and being bug free.
Rider control needs to be worked on. The AI can turn tighter and faster than the player and at time this can be frustrating due to falling off the back of a group in turns and having to expend a lot of energy to get back to the group. It is also nearly impossible for a rider to fall of his bike. You have to crash into the scenery at high speed and a crazy angle as the game is now, it should be far easier to fall if your rider goes off road! I also think it should also be easier to fall on descents. As the game is now you cant fall due to braking too hard and turning simultaneously. this would be a good addition of difficulty in descents, especially when added to weather effects.
Thanks for listening to the community.
Thank your for being so open in discussing the game. I have been a fan since tdf 2013 and have enjoyed the development of the game.
The pro team mode is what provides depth to the game and deserves more development. As others have suggested, and due to the constraints of stage development, using the stages from previous versions of the game for pro team is a good idea and expanding the pro team season in this way is perhaps the most simple option. Whilst I would like to see the Giro and Vuelta included in the game I understand this would be a huge amount of work and difficult from a license perspective.
Again suggested by others, AI transfers between teams and a contract/wage system would be great, but is also perhaps too much work for one year, however as a longer term development plan for the game, perhaps possible. I understand you need to keep pcm and tdf separate. For me pcm is too complicated and I prefer tdf, but what really distinguishes the two games is the first person perspective of tdf. It makes the game more immersive in my opinion. With a deeper pro team mode it would add the feel of a management game like pcm without being too complex, enhancing the games appeal and replayability.
So I suggest expanding of pro teams current 3 races (3 stage race, dauphine - 8 stage race, tdf - 21 stage race) to include a another stage race, perhaps 5 stages and/or 14 stages with a rest day or time trial in the middle for recuperation. I think I'm right in saying there are no real world 2 week tours however a fictional race requires no license. I understand a 14 stage race requires a lot of stages but it would be nice to build in difficulty towards the unlocking tdf. By using stages from the previous games surely this would be possible. The tdf itself could then follow the format like it is now - 2017 tour, 2018 tour, random tour using all stages and ensuring no repeats of a stage in a season.
Personally I was disappointed to see only one stage with cobbles in the 2016 game (2015 had two stages with cobbles if I remember correctly) and again only one cobbled stage in 2017. The cobbled stages are difficult for the GC riders and as such provide a big challenge which is good! More cobbled stages please!!! They also have narrow sections of road requiring tactical play and provide a challenge. The narrow sections of road have been a good addition to the 2017 game, and should be expanded on.
I understand from what you have said that randomly generated stages would not be possible because of the load times imposed by sony and microsoft. Perhaps a way around this is to generate a number of random stages (some with cobbled sections please, maybe even cobbled climbs!) at the start of a season. Fifa has a "setting up the season" loading screen and warns that it may take several minutes. If, as others have suggested, there were transfers between seasons, this would be an ideal time to be able to display/browse though the changes whilst the stages were generated in the background.
The implementation of wind is new this year and whilst good seems to be the same when replaying a stage. Perhaps this could be randomized. Again suggested by others weather would be a good addition along with the relevant stats for riders. I understand this requires a lot of work on the game/graphic engine and is perhaps a more long term development idea. A good game does not necessarily have awesome graphics though, it is more about playability and being bug free.
Rider control needs to be worked on. The AI can turn tighter and faster than the player and at time this can be frustrating due to falling off the back of a group in turns and having to expend a lot of energy to get back to the group. It is also nearly impossible for a rider to fall of his bike. You have to crash into the scenery at high speed and a crazy angle as the game is now, it should be far easier to fall if your rider goes off road! I also think it should also be easier to fall on descents. As the game is now you cant fall due to braking too hard and turning simultaneously. this would be a good addition of difficulty in descents, especially when added to weather effects.
Thanks for listening to the community.