[slic1149]

Originally Posted by dmytron

Thanks. In this case, I have a list of question that help me continue working on the game (don't forget that it will be as awesome as awesome a rookie game can be). The questions:

1. What game modes would you like to see in the game?
2. What tactics can be used in 1-on-1? And how they can be connected with stats? For the current moment I think of 2pt/3pt shots frequency slider and stealing/blocking frequency slider.
3. How to calculate season normalization? I mean, how to "correct" stats of older players so they will be on level with current, as slic1149 said, athletic players? Maybe, use something like season average?
4. How by using stats from b-r.com calculate stealing percentage?
5. What are the most significant players to be added in the database?

I think the crux of the game has to be player ratings. Obviously you will be basing your ratings on stats, to some degree. Using ratings seems to be the only viable way to achieve player normalization. My advice would be to look at all different sports sim rating systems and then try to develop a rating system that makes sense for your program.

From a fun factor standpoint the questions I would ask myself would be things like, can Jordan's agility make up for Chamberlains size, would Havilicek's endurance be able to wear down Barkley's strength, and so on. The advantage of doing a 1 on 1 game is player comparison and time invested. The disadvantage is the effort you would have to expend on rating each individual player.

Once again, I would strongly urge you to investigate doing this as an app instead of a program. A full blown computer program would have to have at least a thousand players to be viable. OTOH, you might be able to get by with 50 to a 100 players with an app. A 1 on 1 game would be considered a 10 minute time waster instead of an afternoon long sim. In addition your audience might be a little more forgiving of your ratings system.

EDIT: I would suggest you start with the top 10 players at each position as rated by Simmons in his basketball book. Set up a series of ratings at different basketball skills. Things like ball handling, dunks, shooting etc. the more ratings you can develop for each player, the more interesting and individual you can make them. It seems to me this is all about creating interesting players whose gameplay skills, as accurately as possible, measure their real life skills.