League Game Play

The WFFL wants everyone to enjoy playing FBPro '98 on the Internet but be aware that you might lose your KALI or Direct IP connection from time to time. There are a few requirements to do what we can to make it run smoothly with no lock-ups or freezes and to make it as enjoyable as possible. If it does freeze up: Relax and take a few minutes off and KALI should bring the game back- it sends packets to the the game from the server and within about 5 minutes your game should resume. Please be patient. Most of my games are hassle-free and yours will be too if we all are on the same page with our files and game set-up!
 
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS :

Sierra's Front Page Sports FOOTBALL PRO 98 CD

Most all of these are available on our WFFL Downloads Page:
The Official Sierra Patch 108
setupini.zip
ICQ communication program
rmupdate.zip
Recover Aid
Gameclean.bat
Winzip or compatible zip program

FBPRO98 GAME SETUP :

After installing the FBPRO98 from the CD. download and install the official 108 patch from sierra, after you installed the patch then install the setup ini file (in that order... you can't install setup ini before 108 patch)...you must do this to setup the game correctly..... the 108 patch and the setup ini file should be in your C:\sierra\fbpro98 directory....once completed you dont have to do this again unless you reload the game from the cd...
Check to see if its done .. Start the FBPRO98 Game . . go to OPTIONS .. lower left shows your version should say 1.08 . . .go to ARCADE SETTING (Top Right)... make sure VCR CLIPS has ALL PLAYS checked . . click on ACCEPT SETTING
Last find the HIKE.EXE that u use to start the game either in the FBPRO98 dir or on your DESKTOP . . . right click on the icon then PROPERTIES the TARGET should read C:\SIERRA\FbPro98\Hike.exe -l ( small L ) this is to get the film and play.log which is required at the end of a league game

CUSTOM PLAYS AND GAME PLANS :

The WFFL is a CUSTOM PLAYS League, NOT all stock plays are legal . . (STOCK PLAYS are plays that came with the game. . CUSTOM PLAYS are plays designed by each owner) 1st thing READ THE RULES you can't make plays if you don't know the rules.

LEAGUE PLAY PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS :

This is the most IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT: you have to have the ability to handle file transfer and follow the instructions to the letter the way they are written ....so you and everyone else can ENJOY the game.
What we are trying to accomplish is making both your game and your opponents game exactly the same.
So the game can work off of your computer and not have to go to your opponents computer for data.

PLEASE......Practice these procedures before game day.. until you have it down, it will only make it more enjoyable..it sounds a lot harder then it is.....once you do it a couple of times the whole procedure only takes an average of 5 minutes, and thats if you are taking your time.

We have a new and improved way to handle WFFL Gameplay and Results to ease the hassle of email he-said/she said and miscomunications resulting in games not being scheduled- and results files not being turned in.

Each game week, preferably Monday, we would like you to please post your game schedule on the WFFL Forum under "Game Results"   (Either HOME or AWAY team can start the thread, but we prefer the HOME team do so. If they don't- and you are the AWAY team, please take it upon yourself to start the thread just to get the ball rolling. Yes  we know we get complaints from some coaches saying "Why should I always be the one to make the first contact each week? Let them do it for once" Well regardless of who is HOME or AWAY: please just make the first post just for the sake of getting the game played). See sample "test scheduling 1.JPG" , "test scheduling 2.JPG" and "test scheduling 3.JPG" and hopefully your opponent will reply below ASAP and everyone will be on the same page ;^)

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/Rules/Forum/test_scheduling_1.JPG  

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/Rules/Forum/test_scheduling_2.JPG  

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/Rules/Forum/test_scheduling_3.JPG  

You can also attach your game PP's to the post using the file attachment feature so you will not need to wait for your opponent's emails to arrive. See sample "game-PPs-attach-1.JPG" and "game-PPs-attach-2.JPG"

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/Rules/Forum/game-PPs-attach-1.JPG

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/Rules/Forum/game-PPs-attach-2.JPG  

And following the game please immediately (so you don't "forget" and/or "lose" them) post your game results files (the game.out, play.log and film) in a zip file attachment using the file attachment feature . See "sample_film_upload_1.JPG" and "sample_film_upload_2.JPG"

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/Rules/Forum/sample_film_upload_1.JPG  

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/Rules/Forum/sample_film_upload_2.JPG  

Remember: BOTH the Home and Away teams are BOTH required to post their game results files each week!

That will save Rob the Commish and I a lot of work and hassle this season - THANK YOU!

1. Schedule a time on the WFFL Forum under "Game Results"to play your league game with your opponent. Please do so a timely manner. If you fail to post/respond to your opponent by Saturday to set a game time you may be SIM'd a loss. It is not fair to leave the other guy hanging all week- we all have lives outside of FBPro here (I hope). If both coaches cannot agree on a game time and do not ask for an extension by Monday night @ 7 PM PST then your game will be SIM'd using Stock PPP's and it will be left up to the SIM GODS to decide it. Please do not "duck" your opponent or make yourself unnavailable in hopes of getting a cheap SIM'd win or tie.

2. D/L the latest WFFL files before meeting your opponent on ICQ at the scheduled date & time

3. Run Gameclean.bat before unzipping the WFFL files. into the C:\SIERRA\FbPro98 folder

4. Before going to KALI to play... send your opponent your custom game plans and coaching profiles via the WFFL Forum under "Game Results" or ICQ or email ... DON'T SEND THE PLAYS... ALL  game plans and coaching profiles you send and receive go into the C:\SIERRA\FbPro98\Custom folder.

5. Start the Fbpro98 Game....
Check the League schedule (not team) to see which gamexxyy.in to use (xx =week...yy =schedule position)
These are the files needed to start your game on KALI
Game0101.in.....would be week one... 1st game on schedule from top to bottom
Game0102.in.....would be week one... 2nd game on schedule from top to bottom
Game0703.in.....would be week seven.. 3rd game down on schedule from top to bottom
Game1305.in.....would be week thirteen..5th game on schedule from top to bottom

6. Close FBpro 98 and go meet up in KALI.

7. After meeting up in KALI and LAUNCHING your game: Click on Online Remote Game.....then League.........( NOT EXHIBITION ) Double click on your Gamexxyy.in and your on your way to play your League game ...Enjoy !!

8. AFTER THE GAME... BOTH TEAMS team please post your game results "filmXXYY-team.zip" as attachment on the WFFL Forum under "Game Results"

IF YOU GET A GAME0000.out just rename it to your game . . this happens when your opponent exits the game before you do.

BOTH TEAMS: All of the game results files should be zipped up into one file called "filmXXYY-team.zip" ( sample: film0101-Buckets.zip ) and  should include: the GameXXYY.Out, PlayXXYY.log and Film (All "c000X.vcr" tapes from fbpro98\tapes\game folder- please do NOT include the big fat WFFL.XX  file- we just need the .vcr files only) Please keep this in a folder in your PC for back up just in case. Please post these on the WFFL Forum under "Game Results" attaching your "filmXXYY-team.zip" after the game ASAP ;^)

Remember: There should be NO FILE TRANSFER BEFORE THE KICK-OFF........only file transfer of PLAYS during a game.....if you get files transferring before the kick-off something is different than your opponent.. START over, download latest files make sure the game plan and coaching profile are the same ones you sent your opponent on ICQ earlier.

DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING AT THE HALF.....IT WILL CRASH !!!!....... just let the game return on its own

DO NOT OPEN your opponent's game plans in the game...... you wont see anything and you'll get 0 kbs files in your custom dir. and you'll have to delete them all before you can play a game.

Game Results Files Penalties:

If a team fails to send in their game results files (filmXXYY.zip) including the game film, play.log, and game.out:
1st violation-A warning
2nd violation- WFFL Approved Stock PPP's for the next game
There should be no 3rd time.

KALI packets setup

Here is the "standard" KALI setup:

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/KALI-1.JPG

(Notice that the "Drop Packets Out Of Order" and the "Use Non-Blocking Sends" boxes are UN-checked)

and here is the "alternate" KALI setup:

http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/leagueinfo/KALI-set-up-packets.JPG

(Notice that the "Drop Packets Out Of Order" and the "Use Non-Blocking Sends" boxes are now checked)

Before the game: make sure that both you and your opponent have the SAME setup. HOME team decides.

GAME PAUSES

If you need to pause the game: please do so while a play is actualy being run. Do not pause the game at the playcall screen , or before the ball is hiked, or after the tackle/score is made and it is waiting for the log window to pop up. Simply click your mouse off the FBPro screen after the play has begun running and you can resume without a freeze 99.9% of the time. What I do when I see a questionable play is CALL the guy on the phone but most of you don't want to do that- so if you see a play or rule being broken: pause the game (during the next play action) and ICQ the guy and resolve it ASAP. Better to nip it in the bud immediately than have to replay an entire game over a play that happened in the 1st quarter and the other guy waits until after the game to complain about it...

Fellas: to avoid having the other guy get stuck with STOCK plays after a crash/out of sync recovery- follow these stepes below:

Recoveraid Help
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any time you crash in the second half this is what needs to be done.

First thing you do is backup the 3 game files after the crash.

Game.org, Game.save, and Game.in2

If you restart normally and your game goes out of sync this is what you do.

STEP1- Remove the game.in2 file from the fbpro98 dir and place it on
the desktop.

Leave the other 2 game files in fbpro98 dir.

STEP2- Run recover and switch sides.

STEP3- Send these files to your opponent: Game.sav, Game.org, and Game.in2

STEP4- Switch sides back for yourself.

STEP5- Put the game.in2 back in your fbpro98 dir and restart.

This should work with your currently crashed files and if not it  will work with your backups for sure.

This method solves everything except world hunger.

Recoveraid: http://www.webfreaksfootballleague.com/downloads/recoveraid98.zip

If you freeze/out-of-sync at hafltime or later and cannot recover:

Save the crashed game's files - the HOME team decides wich game files to save between Home and Visitor (zip up the game.org, game.sav, game.in2, play.log, film) and note the score at that time. Restart game from scratch and play the remaining time left in the original game. Example: The game has an unrecoverable crash with  7 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter. The new game would be played for 1 Quarter and 7 minutes with the 2 scores added up. Send the ORIGINAL crashed files to us and tell us who won the game "on the field" and we will SIM the win for the actual winner.

If the Commish has to makes a ruling he doesn't favor owners that: can't get the game running smoothly.....too many pauses.....game crashes....out of sync.... if we have to to SIM the game the Commish will always think of the league 1st and feels that most of these problems are due to owners not following the procedures listed above and not having the Commish run any roster moves ( which causes OUT OF SYNC ) and uploading the newest files.

No more "Sit-Ins": If you know you are going to be unable to play your weekly game(s) please contact Rob C. the Commissioner or Assistant Jay T. and we can SIM the win for your active opponent. We don't think it is fair for an active coach to take any loss if they are willing to play and the other coach can't or won't.

Failure to respond to your opponent's ICQ's, emails, or phone messages before Saturday 7 PM PST will result in a SIM loss.

If you and your opponent are unable to find time play then the game will be SIM'd using WFFL-Stock plays for both teams and the unholy SIM GODS will have to decide it.

We hope that this is not abused by coaches "ducking" their opponent and then hoping for a SIM win. I hope that all of our coaches are flexible enough to schedule a mutual time to meet on the field each week. We will always grant an extension to the week to make sure our WFFL games are played "live" if possible.

We all know stuff comes up but we want to avoid the controversies that come up over "Sit-In" games.

WFFL WEEKLY SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY: GAME DAY starting @ 7 PM PST

THURSDAY: GAME DAY

FRIDAY: GAME DAY

SATURDAY: GAME DAY

SUNDAY: GAME DAY

MONDAY: GAMEDAY until 7 PM PST (unless you ask for an extension)

MONDAY: DEADLINE FOR GAME OUT FILES is 7 PM Pacific Time (PST) Games without OUT files returned by then will be SIMMED using STOCK profiles Updated leagues file will be available for download with updated stats/scores and injuries from week just played.  (Files released and posted at the latest by 8 PM PST on Monday)

TUESDAY: Free Agent Claims & Trades due to Commish by 7 PM PST. Free Agent claims must be posted on the Forum, inculding  players to be released (if necessary) and where to place the player on the depth chart

WEDNESDAY: Updated files containing all trades will posted by 7 PM PST.  RMUPDATE files due by 7 PM PST.  . After those files are processed: weekly game files will be released shorty after 7 PM PST. and the week cycles through again.  Games for current week now begin!

Post-Season
1. Eight Playoff teams make it.

2. Divisions and Conferences are not a factor. The WFFL is considered an 18-team "Super League" - the top 8 make it based on overall record as everyone plays each-other once.

3. Net Point totals will not factor into tie-breakers (to discourage running up the score) only H2H records will count as the tie-breaker. In the event of 3 or more teams tied: the best common H2H record among the tied teams sets the order. In the event of a 3-way tie where all 3 teams beat each-other, the deadlock will be broken by determining how each team did against the team occupying the next-highest spot in the standings and continuing down until one team gains an edge.

However, if the there is a 3-way tie for the FINAL playoff spot and all 3 teams beat each-other, the berth will be decided with a "Mini-Playoff Scrim":

Commish flips 3 coins, odd one out gets bye.
Remaing two teams play.

Home team is regular season's H2H winner.

Exhibition Mode.

6-Minute Quarters.

Only one half played. "Sudden-Death" starts in 2nd half if tied.

4th-Quarter "4th Down Rules" in effect in 2nd Quarter.

Winner faces waiting (bye) team.

Winner of Mini-Playoff gets final spot in Postseason

Draft, Trades and Free Agency

WFFL Draft

The time and date of the draft is determined by league vote in the offseason. The draft lasts a total of 7 rounds. Teams may participate in less than 7 rounds if they so choose or if their roster is full before the end of the draft. A team cannot draft more players than they have openings. Teams may drop players to make room for rookies but must do so by 7:00PM Pacific time the day before the draft. Teams may trade draft picks but all trades must be finalized by 7:00PM Pacific time the day before the draft. Draft-day trading is not allowed. Teams that are not present for the draft will have players chosen for them by the league. Coaches that anticipate not participating in the draft may submit a list or guidelines for the league to follow when selecting their players. This must be submitted at least ½ hour before the draft.

Trading

All trades must be approved by the Commissioner. All trades must be posted on the forum. All teams involved must post their agreement to the transaction for it to be considered for approval by the Commissioner. During the regular season, all trades must be finalized by 7:00PM Tuesday. The Commissioner reserves the right to disallow any trades seen as grossly unfair to any participants or to the league in general. The seasonal trade deadline is 7:00PM Pacific time prior to the playing of Week 8 games. No trading is allowed after this deadline until after the End-of Season button is pressed.

Free Agency

Free agent requests must be posted on the forum. Each player requested must be in their own thread. In the case where a team has requested multiple players in a single thread, only the first will be considered. Any player drops required to make roster space for the requested free agent should be placed in the same thread as the free agent request. This also applies to moving players to Injured Reserve. If the free agent bid is unsuccessful, the corresponding player move will not be executed. If a team wishes to select a player already selected during the same free agency round, they must do so in the existing thread for that player to be considered. See the section for FA Conflict Resolution for situations where multiple teams select the same free agent in the same free agency round. Teams may pick up free agents from the free agent pool at any time during the regular season up until 7:00PM Tuesday before they play their final game. After that, a team may not pick up a free agent until after the draft. Off-season free agent pickups are not allowed. During the regular season, a team may select a maximum of 1 free agent per week. The selection must be posted on the forum prior to Tuesday, 7:00PM Pacific time. Any bids placed after 7:00PM will be considered as being in the following week. After the draft and before a team submits their training camp file, a team may select 2 free agents per day. After a team submits a training camp file, a team may not pick up a free agent until after all training camps are completed. All free agents must be selected prior to 7:00PM Pacific time to be picked up that day. Any bids placed after 7:00PM Pacific time will be considered as being in the following day.

FA Conflict Resolution

In the case of multiple teams selecting the same player, the selected player will be awarded to the team that finished lower in the standings at the end of the previous season. The Insane Bowl Champion has the lowest priority regardless of their record. The Insane Bowl Runner-up has the second lowest priority, regardless of their record. In cases where a team loses a free agent bid due to a conflict with a team with a higher priority, a five-minute extension will be granted to allow for another selection. If there are further conflicts at the end of the five-minute extension, an additional five-minute extension will be awarded. The extension process will continue until all teams requesting free agents have either satisfied their requests or have withdrawn from the process. The league will not notify any teams of such conflicts other than the e-mail automatically generated by the forum. This is why it is mandatory for all free agent bids for a single player be in the same thread.