Status of the large scale match simulator test

We are nearing the end of the first week of large-scale testing of the new match simulator.

We've gotten really good feedback from you guys, both in the bug report system and in blog comments. We have been fixing a ton of bugs and improved the simulator in a number of areas:

• We fixed some crashes that occurred in the background.
• Goalkeepers have been totally overhauled, and their movements and animations are now much better timed. You should no longer see them flap around on the pitch, like a fish on land.
• Goalkeepers no longer go through the net to retrieve the ball. Now they walk around it every time.
• Spectator numbers are now correct.
• We fixed a bug that made the team that fell behind more depressed than they should.
• Players can no longer be ruled offside if they receive the ball from the goal kick, corner kick or throw-in.
• Finishes that occur between the highlights are now properly logged and displayed.
• The free kick message should no longer become "stuck" on the screen.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes got the player to run almost inside the goal with the ball.
• ....Plus a whole lot of other small fixes and tweaks.

Note that right now, there is a bit of a delay in match execution in the new simulator. This is because we have had match server switched off for some time yesterday and today. Because we're running a full season's matches in both the old and the new simulator at the same time, we don't have a very large surplus of processing power to help us catch, so it will probably be a couple of days.

We will continuing the test next week. Have a nice weekend!