90:00 matches with running clock

For any of you who want to play 90 minute matches (45 minute halves) with a running clock in FIFA 10, here are the steps involved to achieve this.

1. Create a file called locale.ini (not locale.ini.txt, make sure it is an .ini file) with the following text inside it:

[]
HALF_SECONDS=2700

and place it in your fifa main directory.

2. Create a file called user.ini and add the following text to the file

[OPTIONS]
CLOCK=3

(there can be other text in user.ini, but just make sure CLOCK=3 is the first text entry line under [OPTIONS])

3. Remove A.PROFILES from your Documents / FIFA 10 / A.PROFILES folder.

(This is an important step because unlike past games, like UCL 06/07, you can not just open up your existing A.PROFILES file in a hex editor change the variable of CLOCK=1 to CLOCK=3. If you do this, when you start the game, it will say cannot load profile and you will be forced to create a new profile anyway. Removing A.PROFILES file first will allow you to have a backup of your old profile. I know this sucks that in FIFA 10 you have to create a new profile to get the running clock, but it's worth it trust me)

4. Start up the game, and when the game starts it will ask you to create a new profile.

5. Go through the steps of creating a new profile, making sure you set all your game settings to your liking. For Match Length, it shouldn't matter what you set it to since the game is reading HALF_SECONDS = 2700 from locale.ini. I set it to 10 minute halves in game, but it shouldn't matter what you set it to in game if that locale.ini file is in your fifa main dir.

6. Make sure to go into control options and make sure your control settings are changed from default to your liking.

7. Go to Fan Shop and unlock all secondary kits, stadiums, etc. You may have to earn points before you can do that or not. (even though it may say you have 0 points) You can download an unlocker patch if you are unable to unlock all the items in fan shop when you create a new profile.

8. Go into an exhibition match and start the match. Make sure the clock is running at real time speed.

9. Run out of bounds on the sideline. Observe the clock as the ball is bouncing out of bounds. As the CPU throws the ball in bounds, observe the time when the clock reappears. Confirm that the stoppage time has elapsed based on the time that the CPU took to inbound the ball.

10. Gain possession of the ball and kick the ball out of bounds on the endline (over the goal or to the side of the goal) so the CPU has a goal kick. Observe the clock as the ball is going out of bounds.

11. When the CPU is preparing to take a free kick, notice the clock has elapsed about 8 seconds.

12. After a goal is scored in the match, observe the running clock prior to kickoff.

13. Once it is verified that the clock is running and it is a 90 minute match, quit the game.

14. When back to the main menu, save the profile if you haven't already.

There you go, now you have a new profile with the ability to play 90 minute matches with continuous clock and stoppage time.

Have fun!

This is great for testing and observing fatigue and stamina over time.

Thanks so much.. I'll make a try

told you it would work in the ini.

why dont you make the files a post it here

regularcat;2785587 said:

told you it would work in the ini.

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Yeah you definitely deserve credit for the assist on this one, but it was more than just that. In past games, you didn't have to create a new profile. You could just hex edit the A. PROFILES. But not in FIFA 10. You have to put HALF_SECONDS in locale.ini and you have to put CLOCK=3 under options in user.ini (or maybe common.ini, didnt test that). And then when you create a new profile it assigns CLOCK=3 to the A.PROFILES and after you save the profile, it reads the new A.PROFILES when you start the game up the next time.

I don't understand the file structure of A.PROFILES in FIFA10 like I did for UCL06/07. There's more stuff in there and the .exe must be a lot stricter in terms of loading profiles than it did in UCL 06/07 or possibly other past FIFA games. Either way it worked for me the way I described it. Anyone who tries it please let me know if this tut worked for them.

90 minute games with stoppages are way too long. But with CLOCK=3, the game flows along even if you are constantly going out of bounds and yeah it's friggin great.

Thanks for the suggestions regarding this issue regularcat.

dont thank me, you figured it out, i just said put that in the ini.

thats all you !

Evolution;2785593 said:

why dont you make the files a post it here

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It's very simple. Create a file called user.ini

in the file put :

[OPTIONS]
CLOCK=3

Create a file called locale.ini

in the file put :

[]

HALF_SECONDS=2700

That's all that needs to be in the files. you can put a lot of other stuff in user.ini like camera modifiers and the like, but all you should need to put in that file is the text above.

Just follow the steps. If you have any trouble with it let me know and i can try to help you further.

regularcat;2785597 said:

dont thank me, you figured it out, i just said put that in the ini.

thats all you !

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Well yeah but just talking about with you made me try different stuff, like creating a new profile. It was an assist because you got me thinking about all the possible things I could do, and that eventually resulted in success.

It's like John Stockton and Karl Malone. The Mailman couldn't deliver the mail until he got the feed from Stockton.

In reality I should have realized about creating the new profile, but what held me up was the error i got when i tried to change the CLOCK parameter in A.PROFILES the same way I did in UCL 06/07. I didn't want to lose the profile since i had all the fan shop unlocked, but it turned out that even with 0 points i was able to unlock all the fan shop stuff with a new profile, so it turned out better anyway. Now i can start fresh with everything.

Guys, don't you think that it's a bit pointless to extend the time of the match? This will lead to scores like 25 to 20 or something like that, despite the players early exhaustion. I've never tryed it in the early versions of the game, but I think this is what is going to happen after all. Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to disrespect your efforts.

gonzaga;2785608 said:

Guys, don't you think that it's a bit pointless to extend the time of the match? This will lead to scores like 25 to 20 or something like that, despite the players early exhaustion. I've never tryed it in the early versions of the game, but I think this is what is going to happen after all. Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to disrespect your efforts.

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Well one of my goals is to simulate a 90 minute match with stoppage time. With ea base A.I., it can get high scoring. Just like if you put Madden to 15 minute quarters it can be high scoring.

But there are plenty of parameters in config.dat that can be adjusted to balance statistics. The fatigue system plays a major part in this. I am working on a more realistic CPU goalkeeper a.i. file to be used in conjunction with this among other things.

With all the hard work that members put in to add on to the game, it is about time we now make the gameplay well rounded and engaging and not frustrating over the full time.

You can set HALF_SECONDS to whatever you like. If you feel 45 min halves are too long, then make it lower. But 10 minute halves is not very long if you try to create realistic gameplay.

But at least if you want to give 45 halves a try, you can now have the running clock to move things along.

Perhaps this will allow members to test the game more fully in a longer match. But to each his own.

As far as scores of 25 to 20, I played to a 3-3 draw at the half after 45 minutes with stoppages and stoppage time with fatigue levels dropping quickly in my last game.

Playing a 90 minute match if you balance the gameplay correctly changes the entire way you approach again. In a 90 minute match, you can't just run up and down the field holding down turbo all the time or else you'll midfielders and attackers will be tired and into the red by halftime. Once properly balanced, you have to pass the ball around like a real match, pick your spots and play good containing defense.

Not every football fan has the patience to try to achieve this mirror of the sport. But for those who do, with the right gameplay, it has the potential to be great.

The last game that officially had 45 minute halves was Fifa World Cup 06. That game was decent but not as complete as FIFA 10 in many ways. If I can get the CPU GK to play a smart game, this could go a long way. I'm gunna start a game right now. I'll report on my stats of the game.

Yes it work.. But only two things left,
1 when game has into the stoppage time, the clock still stop on 45.00 and 90.00.
2 when a player is about take a free kick or corner kick, time advances several seconds, but stopped when he is ready to take it until he actually makes the shoot.

Well, I still play FIFA 09 (I like it more than 10), but even if the AI, phisical parameters, goalkeeper's behavior can get changed, I still can achieve unrealistic scoreline (on the hardest level). Knowing this - the changes in the gameplay must be realy revolutoinal and thorough. It's just hard to believe to me a match can end as 2-2 draw or 1-0. I've tryed some AI gameplay in FIFA 09 and the result didn't affect the game that much. I don't have any idea how this brave project can be done. Anyway, it will be interesting what will come out of this task you're up to.

dunde;2785638 said:

Yes it work.. But only two things left,
1 when game has into the stoppage time, the clock still stop on 45.00 and 90.00.

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Yeah well this is what happens with CLOCK=3. I know that the clock doesn't continue to advance on screen after the 45th or 90th minute. But if you look at the clock when it hits 45 mins or 90 mins, it will show you how much stoppage time it is. It'll have a + sign next to it and the appropriate number of minutes. It's not like FIFA WC 06's 10 seconds of stoppage time on 45 min halves. This is real stoppage time. And the stoppage time is accurate. If it says 4 minutes stoppage time with HALF_SECONDS=2700, you will play at least 4 more minutes of actual time before halftime or regulation. I do wish it still advanced past the 45th or 90th minute on the timer clock so you could see exactly what minute of stoppage time you are in, but don't worry, it's just a visual thing. Look at a clock in your room when it hits 45 or 90 minutes. You'll know about how much stoppage time you have left before the whistle. The stoppage time is accurate and based on the minutes of stoppage time that flashes on the score menu at the end of the 45th or 90th minute.

dunde;2785638 said:

2 when a player is about take a free kick or corner kick, time advances several seconds, but stopped when he is ready to take it until he actually makes the shoot.

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On side line out of bounds, the clock continues to run until you throw it in. You can check this by pausing the game when you are waiting to toss the throw in. Real time is elapsing until you throw it in like a real match.

You're right though that on free kicks or corner kicks, time advances about 7 or 8 seconds. The clock does momentarily pause until you start your windup for the kick. But notice, unlike on default CLOCK=1 (where the clock starts after you kick the ball), on CLOCK=3, the clock actually starts running before you kick the ball. Right as you start to run to kick it the clock moves. That's a difference of about 1 or 2 more seconds. Also if you notice if you do a quick free kick, less time elapses. like 3 seconds instead of 8 seconds, which is pretty good. It's not entirely a continuous clock on free kicks and corners but with the time elapsing it's close enough and it's basically the same difference in time. It is continuous on sideline throw ins tho. And it's also continuous after a goal is scored. You can milk 20 seconds or so just sitting there waiting to kickoff which is good if u need a breather. I think all that time adds up for stoppage time. Because some matches I get 2 mins stoppage time and some matches i get 4 mins stoppage time or more.

One other thing, if you are playing on 45 min halves with running clock, you may want to slow down the pace of the game in other areas.

Like for example, when your goalie catches the ball and is holding, notice that there is a 6 second timer before he automatically kicks it. Well in your ai.ini file, under goalie tuning, you should increase the parameter GOALIE_TIME_BEFORE_USER_KICK so you have more time before you are forced to kick, roll or throw it. It's set by default at 300, which is 6 seconds. I set that to 600, so I have 12 seconds to kick off. It's a nice breather in a heated match. Also gives your teammates more time to get into position. Also if you want the CPU to wait a few more seconds before they kick or throw when their goalie has the ball, increase GOALIE_TIME_BEFORE_CPU_KICK. I increased that from 120 to 180 so the CPU takes a few extra moments before they kick or throw it back into play.

Keep in mind, there are a lot of parameters to change to make it more balanced over the full time.

If you want to know what I've been doing to have more realistic fatigue and other simple things to make fatigue more realistic, PM me and we can discuss.

Currently I am in a match between Liverpool and Man U at old trafford at halftime. 45 minute first half plus 2 mins of stoppage time int he books. And the score is 2-1. Not even close to 25-20. Shots on goal are 9-8. Fatigue is setting in as all my players are in the yellow fatigue level at half, and one of my players is already in the red fatigue at the half. I may have to sub him out early second half to get someone with full energy in there.

If you change the right parameters in ai.ini, youll notice towards the end of the half, players will be much slower, and you will really have to conserve energy. I am amazed at how well fifa 10's fatigue system works with the parameters in ai.ini. It's such a test of endurance and stamina.

I'd love to hear how your matches are going with CLOCK=3 and HALF_SECONDS=2700 and what if any parameters you've changed in ai.ini. There's so many ways to make full time matches exhilarating. Goalkeeper logic and decision making is vital. I have made it so there are no cheap goals. Goalies dont just charge out and leave the net wide open. You really have to earn scoring chances and set pieces can be dangerous against a tough CPU A.I. Still some wiggle room and some knots to tie up, but I'm loving the way FIFA 10 is playing on my machine now. I hope you guys can appreciate what it can be too.

gonzaga;2785678 said:

Well, I still play FIFA 09 (I like it more than 10), but even if the AI, phisical parameters, goalkeeper's behavior can get changed, I still can achieve unrealistic scoreline (on the hardest level). Knowing this - the changes in the gameplay must be realy revolutoinal and thorough. It's just hard to believe to me a match can end as 2-2 draw or 1-0. I've tryed some AI gameplay in FIFA 09 and the result didn't affect the game that much. I don't have any idea how this brave project can be done. Anyway, it will be interesting what will come out of this task you're up to.

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Well, so far in the match I am playing now, I am losing 2-1 at halftime. I am Liverpool playing Man U at Old Trafford. I scored in the 11th minute on a set piece by torres that hit the post, then deflected off of Rooney into his own net as Rooney was trying to head it out. Yet Torres got credit for the goal since it was a deflection. So I led 1-0. Then in the 15th minute Berbatov received a cross that he timed perfectly and barely beat my keeper who was just a tad late in diving to the right. So then it was 1-1.

And then it was back and forth with a lot of midfield play and a few set pieces until the 35h minute. I conceded a free kick near my own penalty area. And the free kick hit the cross bar bounced back and then hit off Torres (my player) and bounced toward my own goal. I tried to turn around but the ball was moving too fast and I ended up accidently dribbling it into my own net. So Torres scored in the 11th on a ball that deflected off the post then off Rooney into his own goal, then I accidently dribbled a Man U set piece into my own net, so Torres had a goal and an own goal and it was 2-1 Man U.

For the rest of the half Man U pressured but I played great defense and prevented them from scoring again.

So it was a half that could have been 3-1 Man U or it could have been 1-0 Man U. It ended up being 2-1 Man U. I saw a match yesterday on TV that was 3-2 at the half so that's relatively realistic scoring for a 47+ minute half.

So I see what you're saying and I bet on default EA a.i. there is unrealistic scoring. But if you spend time balancing the gameplay and fatigue system in ai.ini, you can indeed get fairly accurate stats in 45 minute halves. The key to it is the running clock, because with the clock stopping on every throw in it's too long. But with the running clock, it goes by fairly quickly, and the gameplay is so engaging there's never a dull moment.

O, now I got that! The time doesn't stop when the ball is not in play. That's interesting. After the match you must be more exhausted than if you were on the pitch. Sounds challenging.

gonzaga;2785842 said:

O, now I got that! The time doesn't stop when the ball is not in play. That's interesting. After the match you must be more exhausted than if you were on the pitch. Sounds challenging.

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45 minutes at a time. 45 minutes at a time. Then take a break and think about strategy for the second half. This is the way games should be. So many games default on a quick fix highlight reel. But with PC games we can improve the game to the way it should be. FIFA is a SIM, not an arcade game.

Full Time matches shouldn't be the rarity. They should be the norm. But default EA A.I. does not do full time matches justice. The parameters are there. It's up to us to make it come to life.

Can you post your ai file, please.. I haven't try for 45 minutes half time yet, because I'm sure if I do with the default ai parameters, it will ends with teens or more goals.

dunde;2785939 said:

Can you post your ai file, please.. I haven't try for 45 minutes half time yet, because I'm sure if I do with the default ai parameters, it will ends with teens or more goals.

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I'm still making some tweaks to it at the moment. When I find a good balance, I'll let you know.

Sounds fun and I might give it a try someday, although I doubt it since I don't have that much time, lol

Recrero152;2788354 said:

Sounds fun and I might give it a try someday, although I doubt it since I don't have that much time, lol

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I understand where your coming from. I don't usually have that much time either. But considering how much time people put into modding, we are talking about under 2 hours of time.

It takes me about 5 minutes to setup the match with rosters, then 45 minutes for the first half. Then I take like a 20 minute break at halftime then have the second half. So if you find some good a.i. have 2 hours one night to kill, rather than play 3 or 4 short matches, try a 90 minute one.

You may find that it's fun to see what happens and try to find ways to win over the full distance. You can always play the first half and see how it goes and then at halftime if you are in a good match, then keep going into the second half. Play exhibition matches to get used to it and make you have good gameplay mods before you try to do a season with 90 minute halves. I wanna get it so I can play a season with 90 minute matches and have the stats be realistic.