Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

[RTSImperator]

A while back, there was a survey regarding 'UFC X' that seem to tease at cosmetics being among the key selling points of the next game.

You can find it in this link here:

https://imgur.com/gallery/P8bwgEq

And for those who might be interested in the discussion regarding the survey:

https://forums.operationsports.com/forums/ea-sports-ufc/948530-ea-ufc-4-survey.html

As there has been quite a bit backlash (and understandably so considering it seemed to focus on alot of FANTASY elements in a genre that aims to deliver an AUTHENTIC MMA EXPERIENCE) regarding their proposal. There are some things that I think should be addressed if cosmetics are to be one of the big changes in the next game.

USES:
Is this feature intended to span across all the core modes of the game or SOLELY for use in Ultimate Team. That being one of the key concerns among the playerbase, as those that aim for a 'simulation' experience DON'T want to be seeing 'Vampires' and 'Sea Monsters', especially in Online Ranked.
As an Ultimate Team player who likes to create their fighters, I'd be all for it. But on the basis it doesn't jeopardize the simulation experience for those who prefer that. For example, it could be secluded to Ultimate Team.

CUSTOMIZABILITY
What kind of level of customization are they aiming for should they follow through with it? Could we expect a wide of range of attires? Such as; Jackets, Body Armour, Accessories etc. Or would it consist of strictly MMA attire and more facial hair options etc.

For example, using 'Create a Fighter' in UFC 3 to replicate fantasy characters:

<a href="https://imgur.com/mb8MUE2"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/mb8MUE2.png" title="source: imgur.com" width="640" height="360"/></a>

And now the same characters replicated in SoulCalibur 6:

<a href="https://imgur.com/I9w4vGF"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/I9w4vGF.png" title="source: imgur.com" width="640" height="360"/></a>
Characters (From left-right): Night King, Lucius Best (Frozone), Kuai Liang (Sub-Zero), Weiss Schnee.

As creating your fighters was arguably among the most appealing aspects of Ultimate Team back in UFC 2, something like this could add to the replay value as players can delve deep into creating their own UNIQUE fighters (instead of fighting McGregor or Nunes again and again).

It may also be useful for those who'd like to create a Fantasy League/Universe mode.

[Blackman316]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

I agree the game could use a lot of extra customization options, but jackets etc. are a bridge too far imo. You'd only see them during entrances that most people just skip anyway. To allow them during fights makes a mockery of the sport and will cause clipping, so I'm sure they'll never do that.


Let's start by seeing more diverse faces and hair styles (right now you encounter the same one every 3 CAF fights). As far as attire goes, they should make the training gear selectable. Any other options would just be unrealistic imo. Perhaps diversify training gear (colors, shape, etc)?


I'd hate it if they restrict it to one mode just to spite us. Please don't do that.

[Solid_Altair]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

Wow! Really nice cosplays, on both games!

[Haz____]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

Very cool and creative use of the Caf editor. Really cool stuff.


As someone who also spends hours and hours and hours making cafs, I would absolutaly love to see a more fleshed out Caf creator. What we have now is extremely limited, and no exaggeration, PS2 games had more expansive character creators...

At the same point tho, we need so many things before I would even consider things like Jackets, Hats, and Accessories...

We need way more hair styles, facial hair, body types, etc. There's so many real life fighters I want to make but its actually, literally impossible because the right options just don't exist.

I mean shoot, once you get to WW it's actually not possible to make a skinny fighter. Like it's seriously not possible to make a tall skinny fighter. Once you get to WW every body type is thicc and yoked. So wanna make someone like MVP? Literally impossible.

[aholbert32]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

I'd be game for a Wolverine vs Blade matchup in a parking lot with cars as the cage or Neo vs Ghost in a striking only match inside a tea house.

Big fan of Tekken's maps and characters, just not that interested in their combat but definitely game for UFC combat mixing with Tekken style maps and outfits.

Why not take UFC's gameplay and throw it into different environments and scenarios?

I think you may be in the minority on this one at least when it comes to OS. The only "maps" I want are new arenas, gyms and ring options. Given the limited resources, I would prefer the dev team focus on CAF options and artwork that are related to MMA and the UFC.

I dont want them taking time creating Tekken like maps when that time could be used to create more arenas and more roster fighters.

[Haz____]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

I'd be game for a Wolverine vs Blade matchup in a parking lot with cars as the cage or Neo vs Ghost in a striking only match inside a tea house.

Big fan of Tekken's maps and characters, just not that interested in their combat but definitely game for UFC combat mixing with Tekken style maps and outfits.

Why not take UFC's gameplay and throw it into different environments and scenarios?

Is this some kind of sick and twisted joke?

[Blackman316]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

Is this some kind of sick and twisted joke?

Obviously. No publisher in the right mind would want to mix a pure arcade/unrealistic fighter with a sim/realistic one. Tekken's outfits are just weird. The locations are fine but it just won't appeal to people outside of a select few.


(and yes, I treat this game as a sim. There's obviously a way to make it more "simmy" but then again they want to actually sell lots of copies too. It's far from the arcade experience that was the first Dreamcast UFC game.

[aholbert32]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

Answers below in red.

Well, I guess it's far fetched and definitely nowhere near the sim style but why not hire a second team and have them throw us more maps and visual content, IF it doesn't detract from the usual work that could be done on the game?EA isnt hiring a second art team for this game. In fact, they havent technically hired 1 art team for UFC given that the art team works on UFC and other EA games. Also, if they did hire a second art team, I think most here would prefer they work on things more directly connected to the UFC world like more fighters and more arenas.

Toning it back a lot to actually fit the game, stuff like BJJ GI's, Judo GI's, Muay Thai shorts and outfit with gloves and the armband, amateur boxers with the adidas headguard and gloves, light continuous kickboxing outfits, set in believeable locations like a Judo dojo in Japan, BJJ matts in Brazil, a gym in Muay Thai or small ring, a small stadium for amateur boxing, karate matts for kickboxing / point fighting, sambo matts for sambo, sanda matts for sanda, wrestling matts etc.

Perhaps now that UFC has fight pass streaming all these other MMA cage fighting things, why not have some of those locations too like Cage Warriors with slightly different gloves and shorts? Or like Vale Tudo outfits, or Lumpinee stadium? Just because the UFC has the rights to stream events from companies like Cage Warriors, it doesnt mean they have the rights to exploit those logos or brands in a video games. It would cost additional money to get the rights tho that promotion and imo thats money better suited for spending in other places.

Then all the rulesets to go with those locations.

Or you know, have an alien ship, with aliens, and you have to fight your way out as GSP and if you get captured, a cutscene plays where Rashaad is driving through the desert and see the alien ship above and some spooky scifi music plays and Rashaad is like huh? Id argue there are plenty of games where people can fight aliens so why put it in a sports game. Also how many people actually know the GSP aliens story to understand what the reason for that mode would be?

Aliens aside, what about Kimbo's backyard fights, set in Kimbo's backyard, and things like slams onto the grass do double damage or something, funky rules. Not sure the UFC wants to be associated with backyard fighting.

I think I'll see myself out but first some arenas from past games that could fit here:

Spoiler

Edit: besides, if you can have dudes looking like Wolverine or Freddy Kreuger, why does it make any sense to not have venues that will fit those characters? They don't fit in the UFC ring anyway.

There might be a market there, so why not throw in a few maps, or get another team together to target those dudes?Because that would take resources away from the game and resources that would be better suited for the target audience. The people who want Tekken like maps and characters but realistic MMA gameplay are like a small segment of a small segment of people who play this game. Why use resources to court those people when they are more likely to just play other fighting games?

[aholbert32]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

Great ideas. One thing that dissapointed me about EA UFC's career mode was that they did not add many of the EA MMA elements to it. Two different studios made those games but there were a good amount of things they couldve taken and added to career mode.

[Blackman316]

Re: Regarding Cosmetics/Character Creation

Great ideas indeed but I doubt you can simulate wrestling in this game. Would work great for boxing and BJJ though. Sure, it's not a realistic sim but it needn't be.


Would love to see different shorts and all, but not sure that they are going for the "circus" look of the games pictured in the screens above. Right now there's a lot of conformity and it has its charms. They should make some custom stuff for career though, and extend the period you spend pre-UFC as right now it's ridiculous how quick you move on (making the "endgame" boring as hell).