Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

[mvb34]

Could this potential spark a feud between the two, and potentially drive madden to put more into franchise?

Nope.. 2K didn't hit the cash cow which is MUT.... All EA needs to implement the features of Head Coach 09 into CFM and they be up to par imo

[Toupal]

Quote: Originally Posted by deu22ces

This stood out to me from the 2K blog: "Authenticity is a very important word here at Visual Concepts. While some of these changes may be small in nature, the sum of their parts makes them critical to an authentic team-building experience." This is the mentality that all Franchise-type modes should have. There was a time when this was 'important' to EA. It's amazing what can be done when the commitment is there. 2K didn't have to change the "36" rule to "38"; honestly that's a minute detail even I would not notice or care much about. But they wanted to do it, to be true to the game and give the maximum experience to those that want it. That blog also blew up EA's prior excuse that they don't want to make the mode "too complicated for the casual gamer". EA has it backwards. You're supposed to make the game as authentic as possible, then you make sure you have 'auto' settings to help the 'casuals', or even teach them the details of the sport. One main reason people are 'casuals' in the first place is that they don't understand the complexities of the game. You don't neuter or dumb down the authenticity to 'lure in' a casual audience. That alienates your die hard core players, the loyal ones that over the years made you the huge company you are today.

Remember on the XBOX or PS2 when you would fire Madden up, and the first thing you would see is the EA Logo, followed by that voice, "EA SPORTS, it's in the game."??

What happened to "it" being in the game?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhH3ELx6wnk

We have come a long way from this

[jbd345]

Not fair. They should've taken a shot at ea's marketing team. Not the devs themeselves. Devs can only say and do what marketing says they can. Amazing how people forget that.

[RogerDodger]

Quote: Originally Posted by mvb34

Nope.. 2K didn't hit the cash cow which is MUT.... All EA needs to implement the features of Head Coach 09 into CFM and they be up to par imo

Which they aren't going to do. And it's not really as simple as that. The 2k blog makes it clear that the heart and soul of the NBA 2k product is realism and authenticity. Everything I hear about Madden is about tapping a new audience just to sell more games. Authenticity certainly isn't the driver anymore. It would require something remarkable - like a major sales hit - for the ship to change course now.

[reverend_heat]

Marketing doesn't decide what features are emphasized during a dev cycle, why would 2k go after EA marketing in a dev blog about franchise features?

[Cnada]

Extremely fair.

Rex and the team are great but its clear that the Execs have said you NEED to give at least 1/3 to Casual stuff 1/3 to MUT and do what you want with the rest...

EA is well aware of what others are doing but they dont care. 2K is not setting the agenda for them. The whole spending years of critical dev time to a prelude story mode NOT based in the nfl is a joke.
In-game improvements have been nice, the last year of CFM refresh was nice (but took away the Looman hardcore CFM elements).
Franchise simply isnt a key focus of each dev cycle sadly.

The only chance of getting a fully dedicated Franchise is if the NFL open the franchise

[Thunderhorse]

Quote: Originally Posted by jbd345

Not fair. They should've taken a shot at ea's marketing team. Not the devs themeselves. Devs can only say and do what marketing says they can. Amazing how people forget that.

Eventually the devs deserve accountability as well.

I think we all understand developers are at the mercy of their superiors like any other walk of life. The difference is 2K's devs have created a game that is significantly deeper than Madden's.

The guys working on 2K are more talented and it's really not even a contest. The game is not perfect and has serious issues with balance, but there is a mechanic for everything and the user is always in control, especially in the Park or Pro-Am.

I like that Madden is doing things like creating mechanics for the DB/WR interaction during the press - That's a step in the right direction. The problem is 2K has been doing that forever. You can pull of a layup 8 different ways in 2K - there is no mechanic in Madden that allows that many variables.

[Junior Moe]

Quote: Originally Posted by mvb34

Could this potential spark a feud between the two, and potentially drive madden to put more into franchise? Nope.. 2K didn't hit the cash cow which is MUT.... All EA needs to implement the features of Head Coach 09 into CFM and they be up to par imo

2K doesn't have MUT but is has MyTeam, Pro Am and The Park and it's raking in the same dough through selling VC. And it's selling, I think, more copies than Madden all without that huge exclusive NFL liscence bill. I can't imagine a non exclusive NBA liscence being anywhere near the NFLs price tag. That's all the more amazing to me, an NBA game selling on par with the NFL juggernaut.