How long until... (A football text sim poll)

[Carman Bulldog]

Just curious how many years people think it will be until there is a football (American) text sim that will be released with an all encompassing game world, including playable leagues in the NFL, NCAA (Division I-A and I-AA), Arena, CFL and CIS (Canadian University) along the lines of FM or EHM?

[Icy]

1000000 centuries maybe (i could be 1 or 2 years off)

I would love it, but i dot it's going to happen anytime soon. I fact the only football text sim developers are Jim and Arlie, and none of them likes that business approach (sadly).

[mauchow]

Arlie's looks to be out next year.

edit: never mind.


But that would be very sweet.

[albionmoonlight]

Adding in the requirement that the game be of professional quality, I voted never.

I don't see the economics to support such a model. If one takes the time to program an NFL sim, and an NCAA sim, and an Arena sim, why wouldn't one sell each one separately?

I don't think that the market is ready to pay what a game like that (done well) would cost to make.

[Bee]

I think if something like that happens, it will be along the lines of expansion packs and not necessarily a single game that does everything.

[molson]

I wouldn't want that sim - I'd rather we keep seeing advances in one league, rather than diluting the overall quality by trying to do everything at once (OOTP).

[Atocep]

It'll never happen as long as text sims are more or less one man shows.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Adding in the requirement that the game be of professional quality, I voted never.

I don't see the economics to support such a model. If one takes the time to program an NFL sim, and an NCAA sim, and an Arena sim, why wouldn't one sell each one separately?

I don't think that the market is ready to pay what a game like that (done well) would cost to make.

+1

[Lathum]

I would love to see it happen, I always wonder what would happen to my graduating seniors in bbcf

[larrymcg421]

Sure, one day (maybe 10-20 years) it might be possible to have an entire football world in one game where you can track a kid from Pop Warner all the way through to his post-NFL career as an announcer/coach. Until then, I'm perfectly happy buying my games separately. Attempting complete world games at the present would just lead to another Maximum Football.

[Izulde]

Division Rivals is trying to do high school to college to pro, but I haven't heard much new in that arena unfortunately.

[st.cronin]

Just NFL and American college could be done, and I think will eventually be done by SI in the next couple of years, either with JG or with somebody else. Not sure the marginal gain for the Arena and Canadian stuff actually exists.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

Just curious how many years people think it will be until there is a football (American) text sim that will be released with an all encompassing game world, including playable leagues in the NFL, NCAA (Division I-A and I-AA), Arena, CFL and CIS (Canadian University) along the lines of FM or EHM?

I just don't see the value in a game that would include all of the leagues you mentioned. NFL & NCAA, sure...but with such a variance in rules from NFL to Arena to CFL, the payoff wouldn't justify the work.

[Young Drachma]

Arena would suck as a text sim. It's just not really the sort of game that really works particular well on paper. Or at least, for a base that would buy it. I do think the College/NFL game would be fantastic, but the scenario of it being two games is the only way I can see anyone smart packaging it. I mean, even the console versions of NCAA and pro games aren't packaged together. And it makes sense not to. Some people prefer one versus the other and for those of us that like integration, we can get it if we get both games.

[Carman Bulldog]

I think using the word "integrated" to describe the current landscape is a stretch. From my understanding the only option is importing draft classes.

There are many ways to integrate outside of just draft classes. First off would be the ability for yourself, along with other coaches and coordinators, to jump back and forth between College and the Pro's.

Furthermore, the seasons would run simultaneously instead of having to sim a season in one game and then go play the other and sim out a season in that game.

Finally, you could easily track players from College to the Pro's. Want to know who the best pro turned out to be from your time at Western Michigan? Pull up the Western Michigan records and check the guys from there.

If people prefer one versus the other, that's great. They can only coach in college and never make the jump to the pro's, or vice versa.

I think there would be value in having the two integrated in the sense that (assuming it played well), it would be the game to have and any potential sales lost from not having two products is gained by having the only product of that nature.

While I am not a programmer (although I do play one on TV), I can't imagine that integrating the NFL and NCAA into a single entity would be that difficult. I can understand Arena and CFL because of the rule variances and such (although I love the CFL, being Canadian and such) but NCAA and NFL would be a natural fit and really, outside of watching games in 2D and further development of the coaching tree, seems like the natural progression.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

While I am not a programmer (although I do play one on TV), I can't imagine that integrating the NFL and NCAA into a single entity would be that difficult. I can understand Arena and CFL because of the rule variances and such (although I love the CFL, being Canadian and such) but NCAA and NFL would be a natural fit and really, outside of watching games in 2D and further development of the coaching tree, seems like the natural progression.

I agree with that and think that a game along those lines will come out sooner, rather than later.

[Icy]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

I think using the word "integrated" to describe the current landscape is a stretch. From my understanding the only option is importing draft classes.

There are many ways to integrate outside of just draft classes. First off would be the ability for yourself, along with other coaches and coordinators, to jump back and forth between College and the Pro's.

Furthermore, the seasons would run simultaneously instead of having to sim a season in one game and then go play the other and sim out a season in that game.

Finally, you could easily track players from College to the Pro's. Want to know who the best pro turned out to be from your time at Western Michigan? Pull up the Western Michigan records and check the guys from there.

If people prefer one versus the other, that's great. They can only coach in college and never make the jump to the pro's, or vice versa.

I think there would be value in having the two integrated in the sense that (assuming it played well), it would be the game to have and any potential sales lost from not having two products is gained by having the only product of that nature.

While I am not a programmer (although I do play one on TV), I can't imagine that integrating the NFL and NCAA into a single entity would be that difficult. I can understand Arena and CFL because of the rule variances and such (although I love the CFL, being Canadian and such) but NCAA and NFL would be a natural fit and really, outside of watching games in 2D and further development of the coaching tree, seems like the natural progression.

Sign me up for that game, i would buy it in a heartbreak.

I have zero interest on CLF or Arena, but College and Pros in one game would be awesome.