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RaychelSnr's Blog
Backbreaker Adding to Legacy with Patch 
Posted on August 2, 2010 at 12:57 PM.


To anyone who read my Backbreaker Review, you know I've royally trashed the game's quality in the past. But I've also tried to remain consistent with the game being a lasting lesson to sports game developers that there is a different approach than the 'God-angle' many of the games have gone with in the past few years.

To truly simulate a sport, the best way to do so is to get you closer to the action, Backbreaker did just that. However, the game couldn't get the basic tenets of football down, so while the effort was to be honored -- it was still a very bad game at the end of the day.

Until today.

Backbreaker's patch, announced today, looks to completely change the game from the bottom up. Those rule snafus? Mostly fixed. Gameplay issues? Addressed. New plays and formations? Yeah, they threw in the kitchen sink as well.

The improvements will almost certainly take Backbreaker from a completely atrocious game to at least a somewhat passable game and possibly beyond that. However, what I feel the patch really does is leave a lasting legacy in the minds of gamers on how a company should handle the position of being in the wrong.

You never once heard a Backbreaker spokesman or developer say anything to deflect blame nor did you ever hear any excuses. There were no 'limited development times' or 'we were saving that for next year's' thrown out.

All you heard was, "Our game has serious issues and we are going to make it right. Major patch coming, see you in awhile."

And today, we see how a company should handle major defects in their game. Backbreaker's new patch not only fixes issues, the company decided to add in some extra features for free to show that they really do care about their customers. That kind of support for one's customers is as refreshing as it is revolutionary, at least in the sense that treating your customers like people who spent their hard earned money on you instead of a number is how things should be.

Perhaps quality won't follow with this Backbreaker patch like I hope, but I do know I can see a company that really cares for their customers. And to that I say bravo to the Backbreaker crew, with customer support and appreciation like this, I can't help but feel optimistic about the series' future.
Chris is the Executive Editor of Operation Sports and maintains this blog on the site. He is also a native Oklahoman and avid storm chaser. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisSnr.
Comments
# 1 ezio @ Aug 2
I agree. I held onto the game to see what the patch would bring. It is amazing what they have put into the patch. If it is as good as it sounds it will be truly amazing.
 
# 2 NoDakHusker @ Aug 2
I love what they're doing and one thing that really stood out is the fact that they're changing the replay mode so we can actually see what we want!!! Natural Motion has taken customer service to a new level.
 
# 3 LeonM @ Aug 2
They really listened to their community. The biggest test will be the AI because the gameplay engine is amazing and the game is truly live action but the initial release was very raw and bare boned.

The addition of a new raised 3rd person camera angle for running, passing and defense is huge. The fully functional replay system is a neccesary addition as is full user control in catching. At the end of the day, The AI will determine the quality of the game. The engine is excellent.
 
# 4 GlennN @ Aug 2
Very well said, Chris. I agree completely.
 
# 5 LingeringRegime @ Aug 2
Hopefully, this set off a revolution of game developers listening and implementing the changes that are needed.
 
# 6 bigsmallwood @ Aug 2
I could not have said this better myself! You never once heard a Backbreaker spokesman or developer say anything to deflect blame nor did you ever hear any excuses. There were no 'limited development times' or 'we were saving that for next year's' thrown out.
OS gamers take note, this is how things should be handled.
 
# 7 rooney8 @ Aug 2
Man if they can do all that in 2 months BB2 should be a huge leap.
Agree the BB team is so refreshing compared to all the excuses from others.
 
# 8 blackceasar @ Aug 2
Could you imagine this game, patched with a franchise mode in for the next version of the product? I would seriously only buy one football game every year and it would be this one! BB team, you can do it!!!!!
 
# 9 scottyp180 @ Aug 2
Something that wasn't mentioned in this article that I feel is note worthy is the amount of content that the patch adds. Usually patches only fix problems and glitches within the game but this patch is actually adding new additions and features. A replay mode, new plays, fixed camera angles, control tweaks, animation tweaks, AI adjustments, and more. I couldn't picture either EA or 2K doing this for a videogame. If more companies focused on ensuring the quality of their product then both customers and companies would benefit.

I could be wrong but I feel that because sports games are on a strict yearly release schedule that most companies won't put this much effort into a patch because they are already working on 'next years' product. A little off topic but I would rather sports games not come out yearly just so companies could really focus on making the best possible game, instead of making the best possible update/additions within a year. I feel this Backbreaker patch shows that instead of having a new game every year you can add patches to keep the game fresh until a new, better game can be developed.
 
# 10 Texas Ace @ Aug 2
EA could learn something from this.
 
# 11 dxhowe2k @ Aug 2
Just look at the rookie showing EA good customer relations. This company is gaining much respect in the sports gaming community. Good work 505games!
 
# 12 TreyIM2 @ Aug 2
Ah, ah, aahhh - Remember, Natural Motion is NOT a game developer, per se. They've created middleware and BB is the ONLY game they've ever created and released. They have plenty of time to just focus on the patch and game because other wise, they're just possibly working on updates to their current middleware or creating new middleware. I know they've announced a possible sequel and hockey game but not being a "real" game dev house, who knows when those games will hit, if they do. Look at how long they took before releasing BB.

I wouldn't be so hasty in singing their praises, and I was one of the people criticizing the game for having sooo much time to be worked on, after being actually announced in 07 (who knows when development actually started), and for it to have turned out the way it had was a bit inexcusable, to me. I had really thought they should have taken even more time to make the game better and get more of the basics in the game, if they could have.

I definitely don't see it the same way as the blogger or the posters, at all, but I do like how, since they SHOULD have plenty of time to have learned from their mistakes, the patch is so seemingly thorough. I don't have the full game, yet, to be able to judge but the demo was a bit pathetic in MANY areas. It kept me away from the game but this patch makes me want to get the game, once the patch hits.

Bottomline, too much praise being given to people who created a game that had PLENTY of dev time for a middleware company only working on ONE GAME and the game to have turned out badly but now creating a major patch for things, some of them very basic like THE USER being able to go for interceptions when THEY want to, NOT some random event that the CPU chooses to do for you, when it wants.

That being said, bring on the patch
 
# 13 AzureEffect @ Aug 3
The Future of Gaming Companies and how they should behave....Kudos to NaturalMotion
 
# 14 shavane @ Aug 3
NM has treated their fans and supporters this way from day one. They have been straight up open and never lied about anything. They may not have nailed it in this 1st edition but they have definatly kept it real. They set our expectations for what to expect before playing this game and now its a apparently a great effort and start to correct many of the things that were done poorly. I've given them a lot more lee way than say EA in its 6th year on a next gen system but have yet to catch up to 2k5 on a ps2 which is just sad.

The best analogy I've heard is BB and the euphoria engine is like a terminator skeleton..its a great foundation to build on.

The great thing about the upcoming patch is most of the things are directly request from the members forum board. They compromised on a few issues, added a great number of things, and actually had select people test it before release. Thats a great start. 2k didn't get it right in the 1st edition but they nailed 2k5. Don't get me wrong I enjoy Madden, I'm sure I'll buy M11 because I buy almost any 11 on 11 football game but I haven't been wowed by Madden in a few years. I've jumped out of my chair playing games like Army of Two and BB but I haven't done that playing Madden which is what I'm looking for.

I expect great things from BB2!
 
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