Desired features/changes for Cricket Captain 2016

[Graham_5000]

-I really want to see players who favour certain conditions. So, in their profile with their batting preferences, it could say things such as 'slight dusty pitch preference' on a Glenn Maxwell or 'Strong green pitch preference' for Jimmy Anderson. Confusing as it may sound, the basic gist of it is that different players will perform better in different regions and against differemt teams. That leads me to how every country's pitch are almost identical, or of they are differemt there is no way of telling. One thing they must borrow from Cricket Coach is the screen summarising the pitch.

I actually feel that pretty much all of this is already simmed.

Players already do have batting preferences. If a player prefers spin bowling, then it follows that they would also be better able to cope on a dusty pitch (in other words a pitch with lots of wear). M and FM bowlers thrive when it is cloudy, whilst MF and F bowlers thrive even more when in addition to cloud, there is uneven bounce. I don't think it would add much to say in his profile that "Jimmy Anderson prefers a green top" - of course he does - are there any fast bowlers that don't?

I do agree with you though, there could perhaps be greater differences between pitches and indeed weather (within countries as well as between countries). You might notice the sticky thread "Stadium Weather & Conditions". It seems that this is something that the developers are keen to look into given that this thread exists.

Cricket Captain already summarise the pitch conditions in advance of the game - you can see the pitch conditions (and predicted changes to the weather) before selecting your side and at any point during the game.

Personally, I would like to see the pace of the pitch added in as an additional attribute - I mentioned it in another thread somewhere. This would determine how easy it is to score and how successful aggressive shots would be, but it would also aid bowlers a little (quicks helped a bit by a fast wicket, spinners by a slow one).

[gtbunbury]

Perhaps advantages at home could play a part? For instance, Khawaja has lately been scoring a ton of runs, but I'd be interested to see how well he does in England. While conditions obviously already play their own part, perhaps being in your own country or conditions could have more influence? Like Indian players playing better in the sub-continent than they do in England or the West Indies.

Also, I know one of the ways I like to play the game is to take a weaker team (Leicestershire, Services, Tasmania, Zimbabwe etc.) to try and get them to the top of the tree. In this vein, perhaps a more intuitive difficulty system could be introduced, so that if you select a better team (i.e. Notts in an English Career) then you get a subtly more difficult game than if you picked Northants. Possibly even changing with how you do, say, if you're winning everything season after season, you steadily get a harder game, and vice versa. This could be distinct from the other difficulty setting, or part of the Normal setting whereas "Easy" remains level regardless?

[estmsm]

The spinners' bowling motion speed must be increased or completely overhauled... Man it almost takes forever for them to deliver the ball... Lol...

[estmsm]

PSL should be included in the next edition...

[estmsm]

Also there should be a flexible FTP... We should be able to manage number of games in a series in some way... The monotonous flow of seasons with fixed number of matches in series get boring with time....

[ruby23]

To me, there's nothing much wrong with this game. It's a brilliant statistical simulator. Just a few drawbacks:

1) Players need to be defined such that in spite of their FC or ODI performance, they should not be chosen in the squad of a T20 unless they're specialists
2) Bowling of computer AI to be tweaked to allow more overs from a 6th bowler (part timer). Sometimes, I have seen bowlers go for over 9 runs an over in an ODI in spite of having other options
3) Database needs to be tweaked to represent facts of players today (obviously this would be done meticulously knowing the developers)
4) Ability to go back to series in the results screen and view all the match scorecards (I'm not sure if people really want this feature, but I sometimes feel it helps me make a better player selection for a match)
5) Ability to change the following fields from within the program;
Player quality increase/decrease (maybe on a scale of 5). This will counter the problem of constant database updates
Player retirement from a particular format (FC, ODI or T20). Same reason

[ICClover]

The best addition for me would be the ability to change teams. If I've made, say, Pakistan the best team in the world, I want to be able to move onto another nation.

[gtbunbury]

It would be nice to know who's going to retire at the end of the year, or, in the cast of international, get a list of those that have retired at the beginning of the year. Sure it's easy to tell when you're looking, but it's still a pain. For instance, if I play as South Africa and play Imran Tahir, it would be nice to know when he retires so I don't go looking for him, even better to know when he's playing his last season so one can blood a new player. This would be an interesting feature alongside the ability to control/select A tours, so you can plan for the future that way.

It would also be nice to see a player rating, and thus be able to see whatever improvements he might attain. Sure, these might not be much, but it might give a bit of satisfaction to spend a few years with a youth player and get him from a rating of six up to a seven.

Also, incorporate women's cricket? Other sports games are doing it and after such a long time CC2016 might think of following suit. How successful this might be, I don't know, as it's a choice of whether to represent the gulf between men's and women's, or whether to just rate them differently. But certainly the bowling would have to be tweaked, after all, someone bowling RFM in men's is probably a RF in women's

[Hughesy]

I think I've raised it before, but given that all cricket fans love stats, I think it would be great if more information came up when you are nearing certain milestones in a player's career. For example, perhaps every time a player goes past an increment of 1,000 runs or a bowler gets to 100 wickets (either for that particular season or in their career) or if a player becomes a leading runscorer for their country or county. Not sure about other people, but one of the great aspects of the game for me is getting a player to achieve a particular aim and recognition of this would make the game a more immersive experience.

Stats - is it not possible to have stats going back further than 2 years - surely it would be possible to have these stats going back as long as you have been playing. On a similar note, it would be good to be able to look at scorecards from previous seasons (as long as you have been playing the game in fact).

Transfers - four things: 1) would be helpful to know who might be out of contract before you decide which players you want to keep in your own squad. Would be quite easy to have a list of players who might be available - it's then a gamble as to whether they will leave or not (although I assume in real life you could approach them and give them a counter offer). 2) you need to be able to offer more than 3 contracts per round. 3) for english domestic cricket - you should be told which sides are touring England that summer so you have an idea if your overseas player might end up disappearing. 4) should be able to get an 'emergency' overseas players if your players aren't available.

It would also be good if when playing as an international side you could choose your pitch conditions. With a 12 man squad, it can be frustrating to find you only have one spinner and the track is a turner.

Ideally, I would also like the fielding positions to be sorted out. In my view, the 'default' fields aren't particularly normal fields. I would set my own fields, but given how hard this is to do on an iphone I don't tend to this and I am always fearful of taking fielders out of slightly unusual fielding positions in case they are there for a reason. For example, there seem to be a high proportion of catches at short leg in ICC - far higher than I would expect. Would taking the short leg out and putting an extra slip in mean that, because of the way the game is coded, I end up taking fewer wickets.

Speaking of ways to get people out - I'd probably expect more catches to be taken from 3rd slip round to point? Doesn't seem as if this is a very common way to get out.

In terms of animation, three minor complaints - 1) I don't think I've ever seen so many balls absolutely middled to short leg that are then caught. Seems a bit odd. 2) Bit frustrating that so many catches are taken with players facing the wrong way. 3) you put a player on full aggression with 1 run to get off one ball - and the player plays a forward defensive. This possibly makes no difference - ie the game doesn't have an animation for a huge hoick and a miss, but it would be interesting to see it actually happen!

[Scritty]

I think I've raised it before, but given that all cricket fans love stats, I think it would be great if more information came up when you are nearing certain milestones in a player's career. For example, perhaps every time a player goes past an increment of 1,000 runs or a bowler gets to 100 wickets (either for that particular season or in their career) or if a player becomes a leading runscorer for their country or county. Not sure about other people, but one of the great aspects of the game for me is getting a player to achieve a particular aim and recognition of this would make the game a more immersive experience.

Stats - is it not possible to have stats going back further than 2 years - surely it would be possible to have these stats going back as long as you have been playing. On a similar note, it would be good to be able to look at scorecards from previous seasons (as long as you have been playing the game in fact).

Transfers - four things: 1) would be helpful to know who might be out of contract before you decide which players you want to keep in your own squad. Would be quite easy to have a list of players who might be available - it's then a gamble as to whether they will leave or not (although I assume in real life you could approach them and give them a counter offer). 2) you need to be able to offer more than 3 contracts per round. 3) for english domestic cricket - you should be told which sides are touring England that summer so you have an idea if your overseas player might end up disappearing. 4) should be able to get an 'emergency' overseas players if your players aren't available.

It would also be good if when playing as an international side you could choose your pitch conditions. With a 12 man squad, it can be frustrating to find you only have one spinner and the track is a turner.

Ideally, I would also like the fielding positions to be sorted out. In my view, the 'default' fields aren't particularly normal fields. I would set my own fields, but given how hard this is to do on an iphone I don't tend to this and I am always fearful of taking fielders out of slightly unusual fielding positions in case they are there for a reason. For example, there seem to be a high proportion of catches at short leg in ICC - far higher than I would expect. Would taking the short leg out and putting an extra slip in mean that, because of the way the game is coded, I end up taking fewer wickets.

Speaking of ways to get people out - I'd probably expect more catches to be taken from 3rd slip round to point? Doesn't seem as if this is a very common way to get out.

In terms of animation, three minor complaints - 1) I don't think I've ever seen so many balls absolutely middled to short leg that are then caught. Seems a bit odd. 2) Bit frustrating that so many catches are taken with players facing the wrong way. 3) you put a player on full aggression with 1 run to get off one ball - and the player plays a forward defensive. This possibly makes no difference - ie the game doesn't have an animation for a huge hoick and a miss, but it would be interesting to see it actually happen!

All of these - in this order.

Stats... A conversation that I've had on this and the old Empire Interactive ICC forums for more than 18 years. I can't get my head around how little we've moved on in 15 flipping 18 years since the first game came out. Yes a bit - but 18 years worth? No. about a free patch worth, and that's not empty rhetoric, it is about a free patch worth of extras as far as stats go - in 18 flipping years.

The fielding and catch at short leg. So many catches at short leg that - looking at the animation - seem to come off full bloodied hook shots yet are miraculously taken - effortlessly - by a bloke standing about 18 inches from the toe of the bat.
So many and so similar that I suspect it's a "set" animation, an event that the computer decides and plays out as if it were almost a cut scene.

I'd live with all that if the game was capable of long term simming.

Anyway - I have low expectations of any of these changes happening. The extras will likely be adding new markets to the game like the Big Bash or Carribean League that will allow them to sell more copies of the game in these new markets. The game underneath will remain the same this year, and for many many years to come, untill a better game comes along. Don Bradman's with a decent back end would probably be a start.

All that said OOTP 17 is out today. A game made by a team of two - starting in 2008 and so massively massively better than cricket captain and it has been since OOTP3 came out (with the exception of OOTP 6 which was a mess when they joined Sports Interactive for a short time)

I'd put money on that.

[muhammad saad]

Catches at short even after 18 years just sums up that they don't love their game and they are only interested in making money, They already milked the cow till the last drop and shes already started bleeding! Guess what they still haven't stopped now I think they will suck the last drop of blood from it.
I just wish CC16 having better match engine this time that's it all other things are already there.

[Graham_5000]

I just wish CC16 having better match engine this time that's it all other things are already there.

It is all about the matches. That is why I love Cricket Captain. The match engine is great - yes there are things that would make nice editions etc, but it is such an addictive game. I regularly play saved games for up to 20+ seasons.

[Raver]

Yeah I agree with Graham. This game has a great match engine, I can understand the frustration with slow progress, but its still far and away the best cricket management game around. I've played something like 500 hours of this and CC2014, and still have lots of exciting, close games.

[KentLad]

I would love to see Associate nations included in CC16. There are plenty of fixtures for non-Test playing countries with the Intercontinental cup (4 day games), World Cricket League (7 Divisions now I think) plus World Cup and World T20 qualifiers.

Personally I would like the challenge of trying to take a country like Nepal or Jersey through to a World Cup.

It would also be good to allow you to move jobs in the game or even be sacked. Perhaps some sort of managers points system could be introduced similar to Football Manager and the better you perform, the more likely you are to be offered better, higher paid jobs (in the IPL or Big Bash etc.)

To facilitate this you would obviously need multiple leagues to be running concurrently (not just the County Championship or the Sheffield Shield).

I also like to idea of adding in your own background images for grounds (doesn't have to affect the highlights in my opinion) but would be nice to see a picture of The St Lawrence Ground or Guildford or wherever when you are playing a game there.

You could then have records for each ground (top score/best bowling/best batting etc). I have mentioned before that having "out-grounds" included in the game would also be good so that Kent play a few games at Tunbridge Wells and Beckenham and not just every game at Canterbury.

The size of each ground and its capacity could also be considered for financial reasons (I.e. If the ground has floodlights you might get more Sky tv money and higher crowds) plus if it is a small ground then more 4s and 6s should be scored.

I would be happy to assist with any research necessary to achieve any of these goals.

Love the game and have been playing since the very start - would like to keep improving it if we can.

[Dick Van Dykes Disco Dog]

I would love to see Associate nations included in CC16. There are plenty of fixtures for non-Test playing countries with the Intercontinental cup (4 day games), World Cricket League (7 Divisions now I think) plus World Cup and World T20 qualifiers.

Personally I would like the challenge of trying to take a country like Nepal or Jersey through to a World Cup.

It would also be good to allow you to move jobs in the game or even be sacked. Perhaps some sort of managers points system could be introduced similar to Football Manager and the better you perform, the more likely you are to be offered better, higher paid jobs (in the IPL or Big Bash etc.)

To facilitate this you would obviously need multiple leagues to be running concurrently (not just the County Championship or the Sheffield Shield).

I also like to idea of adding in your own background images for grounds (doesn't have to affect the highlights in my opinion) but would be nice to see a picture of The St Lawrence Ground or Guildford or wherever when you are playing a game there.

You could then have records for each ground (top score/best bowling/best batting etc). I have mentioned before that having "out-grounds" included in the game would also be good so that Kent play a few games at Tunbridge Wells and Beckenham and not just every game at Canterbury.

The size of each ground and its capacity could also be considered for financial reasons (I.e. If the ground has floodlights you might get more Sky tv money and higher crowds) plus if it is a small ground then more 4s and 6s should be scored.

I would be happy to assist with any research necessary to achieve any of these goals.

Love the game and have been playing since the very start - would like to keep improving it if we can.

The age old argument of whether to improve the gameplay including adding new enhancemnts .... Or adding new leagues

New gameplay for me