Front Office Football

Update, Version 1.0c

Release Date: 12/19/98


For full enjoyment of Front Office Football, I've decided to release a patch
correcting the small problems found with the retail version of the product.

No developer expects to have problems with a released version of a product.
The stresses that game players put on a product inevitably reveal flaws,
however. I thank all of you who reported problems and wish lists for a patch.

There are no fatal flaws in Front Office Football. Hundreds of people have
run the game without crashing or running into other serious bugs. There are,
however, several gameplay issues that needed to be addressed. The patch also
includes some minor enhancements.

If you've downloaded 1.0a or 1.0b, you can simply install this update on top
of the previous update. Version 1.0c includes all the changes in 1.0a and 1.0b.

1.0c adds to the previous versions by fixing bugs 30-34 in the Bug List below.


Instructions for Use:

1) Run FrPatch1.exe, a self-extracting zip file, to produce the following
files:

FrFPatch.exe
CNames.dll
Players.fdt
Schedu.fdt
Sch32.fdt
Sch36.fdt
FrFoot.exe
readme.txt

These files are extracted, by default, to the \Windows\Temp directory.

2) Run FrFPatch.exe to install the patch.


Included in the Patch:

A) Gameplay enhancements

1. Run block ratings added and implemented for fullbacks and tight ends.

2. Endurance ratings added and implemented for running backs.

3. Quarterbacks moved to proper opening day rosters.

4. Trading AI improved to increase the value of early round draft picks and
eliminate the ability to include low-round picks on each side of a transaction
in order to trade away a weak player.

5. The "backloading" check, which prevents the GM from using a balloon payment
in the final year of a contract in order to increase the overall value of an
offer, is re-ordered so that a player doesn't reject a contract that would be
satisfactory even without the balloon year.

6. Button added to game log and box score lists, allowing the GM to reverse
the order of the list to see the most recent games at the top.

7. Informational text added to the box seen when designating a franchise
player to inform the GM that he/she needs to leave salary cap room available
for the automatic signing to a one-year deal.

8. Increase the weight penalty for moving a player to another position. This
prevents, for example, a series of moves giving you a decent wide receiver
starting from a decent defensive lineman.

9. The AI has been altered for better fourth-down decisions in overtime and
in the 6-to-2 minute period of the fourth quarter of a close game.

10. There are far fewer safeties on running plays deep in your own territory.

11. Players will no longer accept long-term contracts for close to the
minimum salary. The maximum number of years for a contract gradually increases
with the salary offered.

12. Instead of averaging the total number of picks, the game figures expected
cap allotments for the amateur draft based on the actual picks. This applies
to trading, contract offers and the AI for signing free agents.

13. Button added to the roster screen allowing the GM to toggle between
viewing the list of players' colleges and salary demands/salary cap costs.

14. The roster screen now lists how far a GM is over the salary cap, in
the event that automatic signings place the GM over the cap.

15. The AI now "gives up" when down 25+ points in the fourth quarter, and
when down 31+ points in the third quarter. Teams that are ahead 25+ points
now play far more conservatively. This prevents the 40-point fourth quarters
occasionally seen when teams insisted on throwing long passes and going on
fourth down even when the game was well out of reach.

16. The GM can no longer trade suspended players, seriously injured players
or players on injured reserve.

17. The AI is less aggressive on 4th downs in the fourth quarter when the
team is ahead or tied.

18. Quarterbacks no longer continue to develop a scramble rating after their
sixth year in the league. The scramble percentages were reduced for the top
half of scrambling quarterbacks.

19. The attendance is based a little more on fan loyalty. It is now more
possible to fill a stadium consistently.

20. The threshold for replacing an ineffictive QB has been increased.

21. Future improvement assessments are now available for players with three
years of experience.

22. A screen showing your scout's general assessment of your roster, along
with print support, has been added.


B) Bug Fixes

1. A couple of exhibition games in 1998 were listed incorrectly.

2. Three players have the wrong experience levels, Rob Johnson was listed
as "Rod".

3. If there's a fumble returned for a touchdown on a kick return, the next
play no longer begins in the end zone, leading to a -120-yard scoring play.

4. When the quarterback is sacked and a resulting fumble is recovered by the
offense, a first down is no longer credited.

5. Double-clicking on Arizona's first-round draft choice no longer results
in a player with invalid attributes. Arizona's first-round pick is now valued
properly in trades.

6. A team is no longer listed as the Front Office Bowl winner during the
current season. The 1998 bowl winner no longer disappears from view in
mid-season.

7. The first newly created player in the database no longer shares his player
ID with Steve DeBerg, preventing DeBerg from appearing in a depth chart.

8. The luxury box limit was increased to 399, allowing renovations to the
Dallas stadium.

9. The quarterback leaves the game, when replaced, before the first play of
a series rather than the second play.

10. Moving a player to DT no longer results in a switch to DE.

11. If the GM trades for the current pick in the amateur draft, the scout no
longer automatically makes the selection.

12. The GM no longer has to leave the amateur draft screen to continue the
draft after trading away the current pick.

13. Yardage resulting from a quarterback's dive to avoid a safety is now
reported and tracked correctly.

14. Scouts now age properly.

15. A blocked punt or field goal now lands in the proper place on the field.

16. A couple of typos were fixed in the task list.

17. The college names resource was altered to eliminate the fake college names,
replacing them with Division III schools. The Citadel is now spelled properly.

18. There's now a kickoff and a kick return at the start of the first overtime.

19. The correct player is now listed as recovering a blocked punt in the
end zone.

20. A newly-drafted player no longer can have a list of player honors from 30
years in the past.

21. Salary offers are limited to 12 typed characters. Putting 0 in all fields
no longer leads to crash.

22. Players can no longer negotiate with other team's unsigned players with
less than five years of experience. Can no longer negotiate with free agents
on another roster on their behalf, if starting from that team's roster screen.

23. Player ejections now list the correct player.

24. When the system date is set past 2041, which is as far as Windows can tell
time, the program informs you of the problem rather than crashing.

25. An exhibition game in the fifth week of games later than 2019 now lists
the correct teams.

26. The expansion teams in the NC West and AC West are now in the correct
positions on the team name editing screen.

27. A draw or scramble for touchdown now results in the correct yardage added
to the totals. A fumble is no longer possible once the ball is in the end
zone.

28. The game can no longer end on a defensive penalty.

29. A missed short-distance field goal no longer results in a blank play in
the game log.

30. An exhibition game in the fifth week of games later than 2007 now lists
the correct teams.

31. Missed field goals from inside the 20 now result in ball placement
on the 20.

32. If there's a touchdown on the last play of the fourth quarter, scoring
team may try extra point if trailing by 1 or 2 points.

33. A possible crash scenario from exiting the coaches/scouts screen has been
addressed.

34. The overall scout's evaluation is no longer set to zero when a player is
released through an AI-controlled action.
