Fight Night Champion News Post

Peter Moore Blog: Is Boxing Dead?

06:53 PM - January 13, 2011 by Steve_OS

The President of EA Sports, Peter Moore has posted another blog, where he asks... Is Boxing Dead?

Of course he brings in a little Fight Night Champion flavor into the mix. Check it out.

Quote:


	"I hear the question often - Is boxing dead? My answer is always an emphatic no. Is the sport challenged by declining interest, a lack of bona fide superstars (sorry Manny) and the growth of mixed martial arts? Absolutely. Does the sport miss the dynamic legends of the past, like Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Holmes? Of course. As a lifetime fight fan, I will always remember as a young boy listening to the big fights from America on a transistor radio under my pillow at night. Those were the days when there was no bigger global sporting event than a world heavyweight championship fight. While title fights still routinely generate tens of millions of pay-per-view dollars and are watched by millions, the sport of boxing clearly is not the cultural fixture it once was. But, let me be clear, boxing�s not dead."

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Member Comments

# 1 Vast @ 01/13/11 07:49 PM

Well at least now we know where the story mode idea came from.

# 2 LingeringRegime @ 01/13/11 07:56 PM

Don't know too much about this, but can you create a boxer in the story mode? Or are you stuck with the default character?

# 3 BlueNGold @ 01/13/11 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEFTFUNDAMENTALZ


	Don't know too much about this, but can you create a boxer in the story mode? Or are you stuck with the default character?

Stuck with the default guy. Legacy is for created boxers.

I would have much rather they focused all of this effort on Legacy Mode than some pre-determined story mode, but it is what it is.

# 4 Vast @ 01/13/11 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueNGold


	Stuck with the default guy. Legacy is for created boxers. I would have much rather they focused all of this effort on Legacy Mode than some pre-determined story mode, but it is what it is.

Exactly! Peter Moore says "Gamers are looking for innovation, and, in boxing, we have a unique opportunity to tell the stories behind the game and to bring the participants to life as characters, not just players. The sport of boxing gives us a chance to create a true cinematic sports experience."

Why not create an organic legacy mode that has these elements sprinkled in. We would all be blown away. everyone.

Starcraft is such a deep and intricate game that still sells millions. Why does EA think simple is best? That things can't be too difficult, "can't add too much depth, it'll scare away the casuals."

# 5 NYG_Meth @ 01/13/11 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	Exactly! Peter Moore says "Gamers are looking for innovation, and, in boxing, we have a unique opportunity to tell the stories behind the game and to bring the participants to life as characters, not just players. The sport of boxing gives us a chance to create a true cinematic sports experience." Why not create an organic legacy mode that has these elements sprinkled in. We would all be blown away. everyone. Starcraft is such a deep and intricate game that still sells millions. Why does EA think simple is best? That things can't be too difficult, "can't add too much depth, it'll scare away the casuals."

I hear ya, brutha...

# 6 Money99 @ 01/13/11 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	Exactly! Peter Moore says "Gamers are looking for innovation, and, in boxing, we have a unique opportunity to tell the stories behind the game and to bring the participants to life as characters, not just players. The sport of boxing gives us a chance to create a true cinematic sports experience." Why not create an organic legacy mode that has these elements sprinkled in. We would all be blown away. everyone. Starcraft is such a deep and intricate game that still sells millions. Why does EA think simple is best? That things can't be too difficult, "can't add too much depth, it'll scare away the casuals."

Exactly. I hope that's something they'll be doing down the road.

# 7 eye guy @ 01/13/11 09:46 PM

I didn't read the article but instead decided to answer the question in the title... Is boxing dead?

No. It is very much alive in the lighter weights, but it's struggling mostly in the HW division. Any boxing follower/supporter would've said the same thing.

# 8 LingeringRegime @ 01/13/11 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	"can't add too much depth, it'll scare away the casuals."

Holy ****, he actually said that?!?!? Nevermind doesn't surprise me.

# 9 GamerzIgnite @ 01/13/11 11:20 PM

no idea why there is so much hate for the story mode. personally i loved the Road to Wrestlemania mode...which is basically the same thing. Plus in SvR theres still the normal CAW career and they are fine as 2 different things.

looking forward to this story mode thing, for sure.

# 10 BlueNGold @ 01/14/11 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GamerzIgnite


	no idea why there is so much hate for the story mode. personally i loved the Road to Wrestlemania mode...which is basically the same thing. Plus in SvR theres still the normal CAW career and they are fine as 2 different things. looking forward to this story mode thing, for sure.

I don't hate the idea of adding a Story Mode. To be honest it looks pretty decent and is a nice new addition to the game.

I do however hate the idea of adding it when there is still so much left to add to the Legacy Mode. I just feel they could have spent all that time they put towards Champion Mode into Legacy Mode, so that we could get a Legacy Mode like some of those older (I think) Japanese boxing games.

# 11 Dazraz @ 01/14/11 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eye guy


	I didn't read the article but instead decided to answer the question in the title... Is boxing dead? No. It is very much alive in the lighter weights, but it's struggling mostly in the HW division. Any boxing follower/supporter would've said the same thing.

The Heavyweight division has been dead since the fall of Mike Tyson. Unfortunately it's at this weight that boxing in general is judged. If the HW division is on a downer then so is boxing.

# 12 DaveDQ @ 01/14/11 08:35 AM

This blog is an example of how video games work. Here we have an executive of EA Sports telling us why they went with this version of Fight Night, and if you read everything in its context, it's not a bad move at all.

A for-profit company is going to always be challenged with increasing revenue. Moore's question, "Is boxing dead," tells us that they can't trust the sport itself to sell the game. That's completely understandable. We aren't here on the release of a new system, where FN3 was, showing us graphics we've never seen before and that alone being the foundation of a big seller. Now EA is challenged with a less popular sport (among gamers) and they have to do something to catch the eye of the consumer.

I think the Champion Mode is a step in the right direction. It's also nice to see Moore comment on the broken stamina system that hurt FN4's online mode. At first I read the blog as an obvious PR stunt to promote FNC in a positive light, but in its context, what he writes shows us what probably goes on from the top down. The pressures are there to seel the game, while the developers try to make the game a solid representation of the sport.

# 13 Phobia @ 01/14/11 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	This blog is an example of how video games work. Here we have an executive of EA Sports telling us why they went with this version of Fight Night, and if you read everything in its context, it's not a bad move at all. A for-profit company is going to always be challenged with increasing revenue. Moore's question, "Is boxing dead," tells us that they can't trust the sport itself to sell the game. That's completely understandable. We aren't here on the release of a new system, where FN3 was, showing us graphics we've never seen before and that alone being the foundation of a big seller. Now EA is challenged with a less popular sport (among gamers) and they have to do something to catch the eye of the consumer. I think the Champion Mode is a step in the right direction. It's also nice to see Moore comment on the broken stamina system that hurt FN4's online mode. At first I read the blog as an obvious PR stunt to promote FNC in a positive light, but in its context, what he writes shows us what probably goes on from the top down. The pressures are there to seel the game, while the developers try to make the game a solid representation of the sport.

Always love your writings Dave, our outlook on the gaming industry always have been pretty similar.

# 14 ChampN252 @ 01/14/11 10:16 AM

I can only hope boxing isn't dead. It's my favorite sport...well, tied with baseball. Little things need to be done to bring the popularity back up. More national TV matches, much attention getters, lot what Paccy and Floyd are doing. We need a new Roy Jones Jr. A boxer than is great and backs it up week after week. That guy was mad popular. I saw him in an old episode of Married with Children. I'd imagine he had a lot of TV time.

# 15 Money99 @ 01/14/11 01:20 PM

To chime in on the question if boxing is dead; No it's not. Not at all.
However, it's not close to having the popularity it once had 60 years ago.

Multiple belts certainly have helped dilute the field, but I think the greater evil has been the addition of several weight classes.

Get rid of all the catchweights, leave Cruiserweight and reduce the amount of divisions to 9.
Imagine how great the Light-Heavyweight class would be if you added all the Super-Six contestants?
Or how about forcing all the great fighters at 140 into Welterweight?

There would be no avoiding anyone. Boxing would be back in a huge way.

# 16 Jukeman @ 01/14/11 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	Exactly! Peter Moore says "Gamers are looking for innovation, and, in boxing, we have a unique opportunity to tell the stories behind the game and to bring the participants to life as characters, not just players. The sport of boxing gives us a chance to create a true cinematic sports experience." Why not create an organic legacy mode that has these elements sprinkled in. We would all be blown away. everyone. Starcraft is such a deep and intricate game that still sells millions. Why does EA think simple is best? That things can't be too difficult, "can't add too much depth, it'll scare away the casuals."

Yeah i was shocked that Mass Effect 2 lacked the customization of Mass Effect 1. I dont know if EA was behind that but its fishy...

Next thing you know you're not going to be able to control the life of your Sims in The Sims 4...

# 17 Jukeman @ 01/14/11 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GamerzIgnite


	no idea why there is so much hate for the story mode. personally i loved the Road to Wrestlemania mode...which is basically the same thing. Plus in SvR theres still the normal CAW career and they are fine as 2 different things. looking forward to this story mode thing, for sure.

apparently you havent played SVR 2011 and experience all of the flaws and bugs the Universe Mode has (the new career mode)

# 18 Jukeman @ 01/14/11 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	This blog is an example of how video games work. Here we have an executive of EA Sports telling us why they went with this version of Fight Night, and if you read everything in its context, it's not a bad move at all. A for-profit company is going to always be challenged with increasing revenue. Moore's question, "Is boxing dead," tells us that they can't trust the sport itself to sell the game. That's completely understandable. We aren't here on the release of a new system, where FN3 was, showing us graphics we've never seen before and that alone being the foundation of a big seller. Now EA is challenged with a less popular sport (among gamers) and they have to do something to catch the eye of the consumer. I think the Champion Mode is a step in the right direction. It's also nice to see Moore comment on the broken stamina system that hurt FN4's online mode. At first I read the blog as an obvious PR stunt to promote FNC in a positive light, but in its context, what he writes shows us what probably goes on from the top down. The pressures are there to seel the game, while the developers try to make the game a solid representation of the sport.

Remove "game" "EA" and enter PBF....Same thing...

Sorry for the triple posts.

# 19 aholbert32 @ 01/14/11 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	To chime in on the question if boxing is dead; No it's not. Not at all. However, it's not close to having the popularity it once had 60 years ago. Multiple belts certainly have helped dilute the field, but I think the greater evil has been the addition of several weight classes. Get rid of all the catchweights, leave Cruiserweight and reduce the amount of divisions to 9. Imagine how great the Light-Heavyweight class would be if you added all the Super-Six contestants? Or how about forcing all the great fighters at 140 into Welterweight? There would be no avoiding anyone. Boxing would be back in a huge way.

Never will happen. Too many corrupt sanctioning bodies, promoters and state commissions.

# 20 Money99 @ 01/14/11 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aholbert32


	Never will happen. Too many corrupt sanctioning bodies, promoters and state commissions.

Absolutely.

The ONLY chance boxing has to cleaning up so we're seeing good bouts and one champ is if some crazy billionaire forms his own league ala UFC and signs all the good fighters out of the amateur ranks before pariah like Don King or Bob Arum get their talons into them.

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