Corrupt Franchise

[mortalsoul3]

Long time ago, I created my own league using the create-a-team, create-a-player option. 29 imaginary squads with 12-roster players each, to play in franchise mode. I'm playing Live 2000 at Superstar level.

Recent History: I played a season in franchise mode with a created team that started out 1999-00 ranked 26th overall (Birmingham), and finished the season ranked 23rd or 24th post CPU trades. My squad battled to a 31-25 record (no simulations, I played all 56 games) and got swept in the Second Round by the #2 seeded team in the Western Conference playoffs (Tulsa and their Tim Duncan-like center). Fairly competive and realistic experience throughout: game scores averaged in the mid-90s, my team shot mid-40% from the field and 29 or 30% from the arch, my top scorer ended up tied with a Tracy McGrady-like SG from the East for league scoring honors. My guy won the MVP award, though he didn't start in the All-Star game. We didn't win it all, but I enjoyed the ride, as it were.

I went and started another franchise using the same 29 created teams and 348 created players. Now I'm using the 28th ranked team overall (Baltimore), yet my results are ludicrous -- I'm still playing on the Superstar level, yet my squad is 13-3 in early December, scoring almost 110 pts per game, shooting in the mid-50% from the field, and beating the competition by 20-points a game. Reminds me of when I first purchased 2000 and played on the Starter level -- yet, as I say, I'm playing Superstar. How to explain?

Several noticeable differences:

1) In this franchise mode, I set all teams to User-control, such that I may dictate all league player transactions, and can switch preferred teams at some point during the 25-season trek.

2) I simmed the first four seasons such that my league would have a real offseason free agent signing period with these created players before I actually picked up the joystick; and so I'd be playing in something close to "real time."

3) This part is inexplicable although I've noticed it in the past: the graphics are "bigger" in this franchise mode than in the prior, more realistic season. The size and shape of the players and court almost reminds me of the arcade-like fx from the old Live 99. I have changed no settings realitive to camera view or player definition -- yet, as I say, this has happened in the past. I have no explanation, yet the enlarged graphics seem to contribute to the ease of the game.

How to explain this? Is Live 2000 programmed to make the game less challenging if all teams are set to User-control; or is it intended to become easier in franchise mode as the seasons progress in an attempt to bore the owner and compel him/her to go out and buy the new Live? I've owned this game for three or four years now . . . I'm no better at it this week than I was two weeks ago . . . so it has NOTHING to due with my own mastery of the game. Using this 28th-ranked juggernaut in 2000's franchise mode seems to be a completely different, lesser and rather childlike experience versus using the 24-26th ranked squad from my last franchise.

Can you offer any legitimate suggestions or explanations? Thanks.

[mortalsoul3]

I know my lost post was long, but I think the explanation was somewhat necessary . . . what I'm looking for is an explanation for the change in graphics and gameplay ease between this franchise and my last franchise despite the fact that I've altered no settings (aside the switch from one user-controlled team to all twenty-nine, and from playing with the 26th-ranked team overall to the 28th). Thanks in advance for any insights.