Hi, i have just joined as i heard of a possible new release of a rugby game! Here are some thoughts (PS3 detailed!!)
When going into a ruck/ when getting tackled and going to the floor, you should be able to press a buttom (maybe hold it) to push the ball back towards your team. this could be pressing - holding R3 or if you want a strugle maybe consider taping R3 or L3 or both together. This should be harder for the harder the team you play e.g New Zealand as they hold more of a turn over thret. it addition to this you should be able to tell players to add or take away players in a ruck situation. This could be done by the up/left/right/down buttons (not the analogue sticks).
The kicking animations, should be down to all kinds of considerations e.g. the player (power), the weather, the opposition, and the type of play. If its a conversion or a penalty then you should have the kickers stance e.g. Jonny Wilkinsons hands together and squating while moving his feet while looking from the ball to the posts and back again. Then include their run up or approach to the ball before kicking it a following through. The same with a punt, how they mark where the penalty for example is and their steps back before the correct pace of a run up. Also include a person bringing on the tee and them taking a drink.
The limitations to the larger kickers should be straight forward as they just cant kick as far as Dan Carter! Keep this basic but follow the rules e.g. be inside your 22 meter to be able to kick the ball straight into touch.
On previous rugby games the set plays have been ok but you need more of a variety e.g. choosing a set play before the play has started like you would in real life. Keep it though so if the opposition mess your set play up you can adapt to it and not just loose the ball, maybe just not get over the game line or go backwards from where you were. You will also need the play to have all the nessicery dummy runners to put your opponents off.
Your lineout options should include more options of who to throw the ball to, who is going to lift who (rate the lifters as well as the jumpers ability). This will make it better and have more opportunities to create a turn over. You should also create your own set plays for a lineouts, who goes where. There should be movement in the lineouts e.g. dummy jumpers and people running forward and backwards. There should be not 3 or 4 choices, it should be 5 or 6. This could include first, second, third pods then a forward at the back with no lifters, a long through where a back runs onto it, and a forward running from the middle of the lineout to the front taking the early short ball with no lifters. Also include the choice of having a shorter line out.
More tackling comes with the style of play you play and the style of play your opposition plays. You dont need more or less tackling e.g. New Zealand will cause more tackling to be made as well as tackling themselves as they wont miss as many tackles as other teams! Of couse you should be able to control your player to tackle the oposition but you should also have a button (like fifa) where you can hold sprint (L2/R2/L1/R1) and chase them down to tackle them e.g. X button. You should also be able to call a second player (also like fifa) to tackle one player so its two on one.
Scrum, scrum, scrum... the most boring part of rugby now a days. This should be realistic in one sense but NOT TOO MUCH as it will take up the whole game like real life and that will be frustration and boring on a game. so maybe one calapse in 2 scrums. You could control a wheeling scrum by L2/R2 and to move the scrum to the left or right, press and hold R2/L2 and the anallogue sticks. You can have a power bar for both teams but don't make it like a game you would find on your computer on the internet. Be able to reach the maximum bar and and if you go over it the scrum will colapse. This should also be in comparability to the oposition e.g. if they are getting weaker then don't keep going as that will also lead to a colapse. Maybe include feeding as it does happen, include the oportunity for a turn overBe sensible. This is a part of a game that will make or break you or the opposition or the game itself!
Referee's don't always make mistakes. Sometimes they will but most of the time they won't as they have the TV referee if they are not feeling like them can make a decision. Make sure they are in the right position so they dont get in your way. Make sure they are always giving instructions. Maybe if you want mistakes it could be based on their positioning, but then they can speak to the touch judge if in doubt.
The weather should have an effect on the game but not decide the game. It should create more knock ons and more mistakes which may lead to chances for the oposition.
You can't change the rules as it will make the game rubbish as theres no point making a rugby game without the rules. You could however be able to change or edit the rules but if you permanently change it people who are fans of rugby will see it as not the rules and relies this every time.
No doubt about it, it has to have online. Yes you can include a CPU oponent and different challenges but online gives it that extra edge where if people want to play friends or if they are too good for the CPU they can test themselves against other people who are in the same situation. The layout/design should be simple but effective e.g like a call of duty game which should include a good server where you don't get diconnected often and if people leave the game during the game, it should count as a lose for the leaver and a win for the person who gets chucked out the game with nothing! Not only should you just have the games where you can change the time, have competions like you would on skate e.g. drop goal competions from different angles and distances with different kickers who have different abilities with different weather conditions. Another example is the fastest try, how long can you hold them up. How much points can you get in a certain time. etc.
Make sure there is no glitches in the game giving people easy ways to win and obviously patch up injury problems and make sure it doesnt freeze as that was ultimatly the worst of the previous games. Make sure your statistics can be seen.
Extras: Include all the practice modes e.g. set peices and goal kicking, have a challenge mode like 2008 as it gives the game extra e.g. 2007 world cup final (Cueto try that wasn't), Different game modes e.g. world cup, super 14, 6 nations.etc. It should also include regular updates of changes in shirts and transfers. Include a creation mode, where you can create your own club side, start from the bottom and make your way to the top. Create your logo, name, stadium and kit and once you have got enough money you can upgrade this. Make the transfers like fifa i the depth of money/costing and young players coming through. This should be in a career mode and should be limited to 20 seasons.
Include more ranges of difficulties as only three are too easy. The last game was too easy even on the hardest difficulty as with the backs i was scoring every play. Make a difficulty that you have to play almost perfect to beat the CPU where they dont miss any tackles unless the skills are timed perfectly such as side steps and shoulder charges.
If there is anything anyone would like to add then please do because i believe that i have missed things, Thanks.
