Add player height bell curves by nationality to the database for newgens

[BeeInExile]

In real life, some nationalities of footballer are on average significantly shorter than others. However, this is not reflected in the game. For example, Indonesian footballers are on average significantly shorter than those from Western Europe. If you look at the database, you won't find players who are 2m tall from Indonesia. However, if you go a year into the game, the newgens all seem to be generated with the same underlying distribution of heights - a distribution that seems to be drawn from Western Europe. This means that a year into the game, Indonesia suddenly gets a bunch of 15 year old players who are 1.95m or more in height.

In real life, the lack of height available to some countries is a massive problem. Indonesia for example have partially solved this by calling up Elkan Baggott, who is part English, and Jordi Amat, who is part Spanish, to play in central defence for them. There aren't any players who are solely of Indonesian heritage who can match them in height.

With the introduction of women's football to FM, presumably there will be separate height curves for men and women added to the game anyway, since women are obviously shorter than men on average. I think it would be good if height curves were also added for each nationality in the database, to avoid the Tall Indonesian problem.

[FourFiveOne]

Good point. This is important for realism. I  agree with you

[Wolf_pd]

On 03/09/2023 at 15:15, BeeInExile said:

In real life, some nationalities of footballer are on average significantly shorter than others. However, this is not reflected in the game. For example, Indonesian footballers are on average significantly shorter than those from Western Europe. If you look at the database, you won't find players who are 2m tall from Indonesia. However, if you go a year into the game, the newgens all seem to be generated with the same underlying distribution of heights - a distribution that seems to be drawn from Western Europe. This means that a year into the game, Indonesia suddenly gets a bunch of 15 year old players who are 1.95m or more in height.

In real life, the lack of height available to some countries is a massive problem. Indonesia for example have partially solved this by calling up Elkan Baggott, who is part English, and Jordi Amat, who is part Spanish, to play in central defence for them. There aren't any players who are solely of Indonesian heritage who can match them in height.

With the introduction of women's football to FM, presumably there will be separate height curves for men and women added to the game anyway, since women are obviously shorter than men on average. I think it would be good if height curves were also added for each nationality in the database, to avoid the Tall Indonesian problem.

The Indonesian could actually call up Dutch people with Indonesian heritage

But in general, your point about height variation based on nationality is valid.

[BeeInExile]

1 hour ago, Wolf_pd said:

The Indonesian could actually call up Dutch people with Indonesian heritage

But in general, your point about height variation based on nationality is valid.

Funny you should say that - they actually have! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayne_Pattynama

[BeeInExile]

I should say that I wouldn't mind so much about this if it was just a matter of newgen players' heights being unrealistic in the game, since height itself is basically cosmetic. The real issue is that height influences Jumping Reach, so you wind up in a situation where if you want a team with aerially dominant centre-backs and a target forward, your best bet is to wait a year and sign some 15 year old newgens.

[Zachary Whyte]

Thank you for the suggestion, we will put this under consideration.