[B][SIZE="5"]My various thoughts on random sports stories. Don't expect any of these blogs to be works of art. I try my best [/SIZE][/B]
Stop discriminating against young sports gamers
Posted 09-29-2014 at 06:47 AM by TheRealHST
[IMG]http://img1.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/titles/nintendo-nes/tecmo-super-bowl-usa.png[/IMG]
[B][SIZE="5"]Stop discriminating against young sports gamers [/SIZE][/B]
I'm 32 years old.
My very first experience with a sports videogame was Tecmo Bowl. I can assume that most of us here used this game a springboard into the wonderful world of sports gaming that was soon to follow.
Over the years I would go on to play numerous titles. These games did alot for me as a sports fan. They helped me to learn the sports I loved. I learned about formations, players, history and how to actually play the sport.
I wouldnt say that these games were a substitute for actually playing in real life, they were just compliments. I already played here and there, in real life. The games just helped to boost my interest.
The point of this blog is that there was never a time then, where some adult told me "Hey little Johnny, you shouldnt be playing this game you are too young" (my name isnt Johnny but you get what Im saying)
There was none of that sort of nonsense, so it baffles me in 2014, that all of sudden now my peers are bemoaning kids who want to play these games and companies who are trying to get them onboard.
Everyone has to start somewhere and you cant help when you were born. I realize these games are much more detailed and hardcore as compared to the earliest games in the late 80s and 90s, but these kids are alot more advanced at their ages then we were with this sort of thing now.
I remember getting Joe Montana Sports Talk II for Christmas. My dad was sure that I wouldnt know how to play the game so he hid if from me at first. He was wrong. Not only did I figure out the game but I flourished.
This game helped me get into becoming a deep fan of the NFL. I was somewhat aware of the players, for example I knew Detroit had this really fast runningback and everyone knew about the 49ers.
:drink:
We have to remember where we came from. If you are in your 30s or late 20s, then you were also a "Little Johnny" at one point. You also had to find your way. There are more little johnnies playing these games then us.
People gripe about sports games having tutorials as well. Hello, did you know what a 3-4 defense or a 2-3 zone was at 9 years old?!. I dont think so , and I have no problem with any game teaching a kid about what these things are.
I was taught so why shouldnt they get taught. I think its awesome. Let these kids experience these things.
If companies want to market to these kids too, then so be it. Why wouldnt they? What sense would it make to run a business and exclude a demographic just to appease another? It doesnt.
Look, I know you are old, jaded, and cynical. Sometimes I am too, however that young kid isnt yet.
I know these kids arent going to play the game we way want them too. I didnt either back in the day. In Joe Montana I would do laps around the field with the fastest back before I scored lol. Eventually I learned to play games the right way but I was 9 then. It happens.
The bottom line is, lets relax on them. Kids deserve to play these games too and hopefully it will help them learn the sports and encourage them to become hardcore fans and gamers.
..but first you have to crawl before you walk. :drink:
[B][SIZE="5"]Stop discriminating against young sports gamers [/SIZE][/B]
I'm 32 years old.
My very first experience with a sports videogame was Tecmo Bowl. I can assume that most of us here used this game a springboard into the wonderful world of sports gaming that was soon to follow.
Over the years I would go on to play numerous titles. These games did alot for me as a sports fan. They helped me to learn the sports I loved. I learned about formations, players, history and how to actually play the sport.
I wouldnt say that these games were a substitute for actually playing in real life, they were just compliments. I already played here and there, in real life. The games just helped to boost my interest.
The point of this blog is that there was never a time then, where some adult told me "Hey little Johnny, you shouldnt be playing this game you are too young" (my name isnt Johnny but you get what Im saying)
There was none of that sort of nonsense, so it baffles me in 2014, that all of sudden now my peers are bemoaning kids who want to play these games and companies who are trying to get them onboard.
Everyone has to start somewhere and you cant help when you were born. I realize these games are much more detailed and hardcore as compared to the earliest games in the late 80s and 90s, but these kids are alot more advanced at their ages then we were with this sort of thing now.
I remember getting Joe Montana Sports Talk II for Christmas. My dad was sure that I wouldnt know how to play the game so he hid if from me at first. He was wrong. Not only did I figure out the game but I flourished.
This game helped me get into becoming a deep fan of the NFL. I was somewhat aware of the players, for example I knew Detroit had this really fast runningback and everyone knew about the 49ers.
:drink:
We have to remember where we came from. If you are in your 30s or late 20s, then you were also a "Little Johnny" at one point. You also had to find your way. There are more little johnnies playing these games then us.
People gripe about sports games having tutorials as well. Hello, did you know what a 3-4 defense or a 2-3 zone was at 9 years old?!. I dont think so , and I have no problem with any game teaching a kid about what these things are.
I was taught so why shouldnt they get taught. I think its awesome. Let these kids experience these things.
If companies want to market to these kids too, then so be it. Why wouldnt they? What sense would it make to run a business and exclude a demographic just to appease another? It doesnt.
Look, I know you are old, jaded, and cynical. Sometimes I am too, however that young kid isnt yet.
I know these kids arent going to play the game we way want them too. I didnt either back in the day. In Joe Montana I would do laps around the field with the fastest back before I scored lol. Eventually I learned to play games the right way but I was 9 then. It happens.
The bottom line is, lets relax on them. Kids deserve to play these games too and hopefully it will help them learn the sports and encourage them to become hardcore fans and gamers.
..but first you have to crawl before you walk. :drink:
Total Comments 5
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I don't u understand,who do not want their kids playing sports games ?
I thought u was going along the lines of developers creating games with a younger demographic in mind...because I personaly rather a hardcore sim game-or as close to realism as it gets,I do see the need for a pinch of Arcadian in there for fun factors same,..but that's why there where sim/type games and arcade typ games eg.nfl2k/madden lmaoooo ok I'm kind of kidding ! I ment nfl2k/nfl blitz.....my son is 3 he loves basketball I don't think my sim game needs to accommodate him,I thnk thre needs to be a game that does like nba live ,keep the nba2k for the hardcore sim adult nation and the other game for the casual,it seems all fair. |
 
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I see what you're saying but these games should be simulation first and foremost. If a kid is not smart enough to deal with simulation style gameplay, just go into slider setting and make it appropriate. Also, just get the child a game more geared to kids like the Backyard Sports series was, it was huge for my developing love of sports games. Right away, I moved on to games like MVP Baseball 2005, MLB 2005, NBA 2k5, and NFL 2k5 and knew what I was doing strategically etc. I was about 9 or 10 mind you, and I moved from Backyard Sports games because I was hungry for something like what I see on tv or in real life, and I've fallen in love with simulation ever since. There's no problem in my opinion.
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I love that have added tutorials. I know a lot of late-20's, early-30's players that don't know to conceptual difference between a Cover 2 and Cover 3. Most guys just keep playing and find the plays that "work" and then run them over and over. Madden is finally trying to teeach people how to play sim football and have made the game hard enough that you have to for the most part. i think that is great. I think there should be an easy level that can be geared to kids, However, I do agree that Madden should first, and foremost, be a realistic simulation game.
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I'm not advocating that Madden or any of the other sports titles not be Simulation first. They should be. This blog post was in response to people getting upset at NBA 2K15s recent TV spot, that featured two teens, as if 2K should just ignore them.
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No way 2k should ignore them,but should not gear there gameplay toward them..does anybody remember in. Nfl2k5 there where two manuals the same explained all the plays,terms,lingo,history,controls,stats explanation,they need to do that for every sports game and have it key interventions,like have them scrolling by on tickers or on load screens ,halftime screens,just every were ..and it's of for younger demographic it'd for everyone,remember when they had those quiz questions @ load screens.well they should be about things that teach you about the sport and controls instead of history...
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Recent Blog Entries by TheRealHST
- Penalizing great players who play with other great players (11-04-2014)
- Stop discriminating against young sports gamers (09-29-2014)
- A Compromise to paying College Athletes (04-11-2014)
- Very frustrated with the marketing of Next-Gen sports titles in year one (11-11-2013)
