Unfortunately, this is turn-based. This drastically differs from what I'm trying to achieve here.

The real challenge I'm facing and dealing with a lot of AIs and how to make it manageable for the player. Being turn-based removes this obstacle somehow as it allows you to pace the game accordingly and individually control characters if needed (such as in Bloodbowl) whereas NHL and MADDEN's innovation comes from real-time management of all of the players and somehow bringing them together towards a common goal through different player-defined strategies (either through line changes, actual strategies/plans or just picking the right players and player roles for the job).

Thanks regardless!

Can you describe what specifically is the problem? Your question is sort of vague.

I'm looking for a gameplay/an input pattern and related UI composition on how to make this type of gameplay translate from a sports game to something different.

The reference game (NHL series) uses this current method:

- The player always controls the puck carrier when his team controls the puck, or a player-selected player when seeking the puck

- The player determines his team's overall strategy by using other keys (side-puck attack, wedge, diamond, etc)

- The player determines line changes

- The three above allow the player to try and hit the net from a variety of angle with a variety of players in a varied method (long-distance slapshot, one-timers, crash the net, etc)

I want to transpose this type of gameplay to a differently themed game that isn't necessarily a sport, but somehow, I still want:

- The player to control a character

- The player to help determine the AI the other characters will employ to seek to attain their objective

Thus, the interaction between the active character (controlled by the player) and the other characters (AI) is what I'm interested in.

I want to transpose this type of gameplay to a differently themed game that isn't necessarily a sport, but somehow, I still want:
- The player to control a character
- The player to help determine the AI the other characters will employ to seek to attain their objective

That sounds almost like Rainbow Six 3.
You have the player control one character, and give directions to your three allied teammates, as you storm terrorist-related situations.
For example, you might tell one character to blow-up/kick-down a door, another to lob a grenade in, a third to follow you as you storm a different door, or enter via the skylight, at the exact same time. Then you give the order, and your teammates storm the room with you. This happens in real-time without pausing. The different teammates have different gear, weapons, grenades, etc...

That's actually quite accurate. Unfortunately, Rainbow Six plays in First Person if I remember correctly, and rather than having a streamlined management system, it really goes micro (you need to trace paths, etc).

I'd like to depict something closer to NHL where players actually do the decision making, and you mostly affect, from a macro-standpoint, their general positionning and actions they are likely to take without having to go down to the nitty-gritty (sp?).

While not directly related, I was amazed for find this:

http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=29644.0