Sports in need of Management Sims [Archive] - Front Office Football Central

Izulde

07-19-2005, 09:52 PM

Managing a country? Or specific Olympic sports?

Well that I'm not entirely certain on. Right now I'm still largely in the conceptual stage.

Ideally what I'm shooting for, I think, is that you're in charge of a particular country's Olympics program, where you decide what sports to put effort and training into and what to develop athletes in. Fundraising would be important too, I should think.

And I'm toying with the idea of evolving prestige and popularity for sports over time, so that everybody just doesn't try and dump all the money in the big name sports like say track and swimming for Summer or ice skating for Winter.

Different countries could have different goals. Say for example you're Micronesia or something. Your objective could be just to raise enough money to have a few athletes appear in the Games and maybe shoot for a finals appearance or a single medal.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could take on the United States, where the objective is to win the most medals in the Olympics and/or shoot for records of some kind.

Perhaps a middle country would require you to win a certain number of medals (i.e. make a respectable showing) or dominate in a particular sport.

All just ideas I've been kicking around in my head while doing conceptual work.

sabotai

07-19-2005, 09:59 PM

NASCAR
Indy Car/Champ
Horse Racing(American style)
Tennis

I agree with these (the last one, tennis, I am personally working on).

Dutch

07-19-2005, 10:04 PM

Well that I'm not entirely certain on. Right now I'm still largely in the conceptual stage.

Ideally what I'm shooting for, I think, is that you're in charge of a particular country's Olympics program, where you decide what sports to put effort and training into and what to develop athletes in. Fundraising would be important too, I should think.

And I'm toying with the idea of evolving prestige and popularity for sports over time, so that everybody just doesn't try and dump all the money in the big name sports like say track and swimming for Summer or ice skating for Winter.

Different countries could have different goals. Say for example you're Micronesia or something. Your objective could be just to raise enough money to have a few athletes appear in the Games and maybe shoot for a finals appearance or a single medal.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could take on the United States, where the objective is to win the most medals in the Olympics and/or shoot for records of some kind.

Perhaps a middle country would require you to win a certain number of medals (i.e. make a respectable showing) or dominate in a particular sport.

All just ideas I've been kicking around in my head while doing conceptual work.

I think you are on the right track with your ideas. It would be a pretty monumental accomplishment if done right. Also, I would assume the potential for an Olympic sim to appeal globally might prove rewarding for your efforts.

Easy Mac

07-19-2005, 10:05 PM

One would think that NASCAR, golf and boxing would have a big enough of a fanbase to support it.
I'd argue that football's fanbase is far larger than NASCAR, golf or boxing, and given the relative small size of this community (and I doubt Jim sells hundreds of thousands of games), I don't think there really is a huge fanbase for those.

jbmagic

07-19-2005, 10:05 PM

water polo :)

WrongWay

07-19-2005, 10:05 PM

Horse Racing(American style)

I have played a couple of these, but it turned more into a biology/breeding game than an actual sports game.

Dutch

07-19-2005, 10:08 PM

I'd argue that football's fanbase is far larger than NASCAR, golf or boxing, and given the relative small size of this community (and I doubt Jim sells hundreds of thousands of games), I don't think there really is a huge fanbase for those.

Obviously you haven't made the NASCAR--->Shiny Box featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr.--->$19.99--->Walmart connection yet.

Swaggs

07-19-2005, 10:08 PM

MacroGuru

07-19-2005, 10:34 PM

I think an interesting concept would be from the perspective of a sports agent, where you have to build up your stable of clients (like many of the wrestling/boxing/horse racing sims). Other agents would court and try to steal them. When you begin you might only be able to get journeymen minor leaguers.
I like this idea....

With ISM, we are going to be able to port the code to a Lacrosse sim which is our next step..

However, I was thinking of one the other day, where it was a lot like The Sims....but takes place in the world of lets say, the "NFL" -

You as a player, would have your selection of what you wanted to be, front office exec, coach, GM, team owners....all online....

Trickery, back office politics, gambling, girlfriends, all the evils could be there, but the unique thing would be for the players and the coaches come game time.

This is where I have yet to figure out the idea(s) of how it would work, and get deep into the technical details, but individuals controlling, or deciding how they play and react each and every play, real time, against other opposition...think Madden 06, playing online, but with each and every player being controlled by someone......

Just an idea, never truly been written out.

WrongWay

07-19-2005, 10:42 PM

I think an interesting concept would be from the perspective of a sports agent, where you have to build up your stable of clients (like many of the wrestling/boxing/horse racing sims). Other agents would court and try to steal them. When you begin you might only be able to get journeymen minor leaguers.
Going way back in the time machine there is "What They Don't Teach You At Harvard " 1987

hxxp://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=2460
One of a handful of games ever made about sports management, What They Don't Teach You At Harvard Business School is an excellent business simulation based on Mark McCormack's classic book. In case you are not familiar with the man, Mark McCormack is the founder of International Management Group (IMG), a multimillion-dollar, worldwide corporation that is a consultant to fifty Fortune 500 companies, a major producer of television programming. He was credited as the single most important influence in turning sports into big business, and his book is a New York Times best seller many years in a row. The game casts you as the CEO of IMG, and as in McCormack's real life, your task is to lead the company to fame and fortune in 25 years, from its humble beginnings in 1960, to worldwide fame in 1985.

WrongWay

07-19-2005, 11:04 PM

but here is what you really want to know about WTDTYAHBS.

You have 25 years to run the company. The simulation is divided
into three acts which parallel the growth phases of IMG:

Act I: 1960 - 1968
Act II: 1969 - 1982
Act III: 1983 - 1985

ACT I OVERVIEW:

In Act I you will focus your attention on professional golf. You
want to sign golfers for IMG to represent and negotiate endorsement,
appearance, and licensing deals for them.

At the same time, you will be expected to hire qualified employees to
work for the company. You must delegate tasks for your workers that
match their education and previous work experience.

ACT II OVERVIEW:

In Act II you will undertake two new areas of business: professional
tennis and television production. You will be expected to sign
tennis players for representation and negotiate contracts for them,
just as you did for the golfers in Act I.

You will also be expected to create a television production unit that
will handle the technical production for golf and tennis events. To
make the new division successful, you will need to hire one or two
key executives with experience in this area.

ACT III OVERVIEW:

Capitalizing on your experience in television production and your
wide network of business contacts, you will now produce your own
special sporting event that will be broadcast on television in the
epilogue of the simulation.

With this goal in mind, you will focus your networking efforts on
meeting the right people to make the event work. Then, you will
negotiate the contracts for the event and manage your staff so
everything runs smoothly.

CHEMICAL SOLDIER

07-20-2005, 12:03 AM

Obviously you haven't made the NASCAR--->Shiny Box featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr.--->$19.99--->Walmart connection yet.
Dont forget Good Ole #24. ;)

GreenMonster

07-20-2005, 01:35 AM

Cock fighting.

Someone in Alabama is hot after this idea.. If people only had computers..

korme

07-20-2005, 02:00 AM

If they would just make a VirtuaTennis for PS2, I'd be very happy.

Danny

07-20-2005, 02:20 AM

Cock fighting.

With the first pick in the initial draft, the Milwaukee blueballs select Ron Jeremy

korme

07-20-2005, 02:26 AM

Minor League Baseball

Part of OOTP7?

bhlloy

07-20-2005, 02:29 AM

Well that I'm not entirely certain on. Right now I'm still largely in the conceptual stage.

Ideally what I'm shooting for, I think, is that you're in charge of a particular country's Olympics program, where you decide what sports to put effort and training into and what to develop athletes in. Fundraising would be important too, I should think.

And I'm toying with the idea of evolving prestige and popularity for sports over time, so that everybody just doesn't try and dump all the money in the big name sports like say track and swimming for Summer or ice skating for Winter.

Different countries could have different goals. Say for example you're Micronesia or something. Your objective could be just to raise enough money to have a few athletes appear in the Games and maybe shoot for a finals appearance or a single medal.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could take on the United States, where the objective is to win the most medals in the Olympics and/or shoot for records of some kind.

Perhaps a middle country would require you to win a certain number of medals (i.e. make a respectable showing) or dominate in a particular sport.

All just ideas I've been kicking around in my head while doing conceptual work.

This is a very nice idea with a lot of potential IMO. I'd be very interested to see something like this released.

Ragone

07-20-2005, 04:58 AM

Olympics would be fun.. only if you could dope up your three athletes so highly that the go on a rampage and destroy olympic village

:)

ice4277

07-20-2005, 05:33 AM

Olympics would be fun.. only if you could dope up your three athletes so highly that the go on a rampage and destroy olympic village

:)
This probably could easily be put into EHM as an option for the American Olympic hockey team.

Leonidas

07-20-2005, 07:19 AM

Tennis?

I guess you could face scenarios like: "Your rising prospect Anna has a choice between a photo shoot with Tiger Beat, Maxim, and Playboy. The Tiger Beat shoot could possibly lead to a doll deal worth about $10M annually but will keep her target audience limited. The Playboy shoot is worth $100K and could lead to a soft porn video deal worth $5M and will open her to a new adult market with a higher earning potential than the Tiger Beat shoot. The Maxim shoot will pay her $50K and lead to a weekly guest spot on The Man Show jumping on trampolines in a bikini that will pay her $200K weekly. Which option does your client choose?"

moriarty

07-20-2005, 07:38 AM

I've personally thought golf and tennis would both make good games if done right. Golf I'd like to see you starting on the nationwide (or similar tour) and having to win your way up or get sponsors exemptions or q-school to make the big tour. Rather like the lower league managers in FM.

Horse Racing is just begging to be done right by someone. Anyone?

Forget boxing, I'd love to see a mixed martial arts game - ala the UFC or Pride. A sim sorta like the old Dreamcast UFC game. Start out with a discipline (Judo, boxing, BJJ, etc...) learn skills and move your way up the rankings.

Icy

07-20-2005, 11:55 AM

Cycling? there is one (Cycling manager) that has 3d graphs and tries to be a manager game, but the manager part fails because bugs, at least in the old versions.

GoldenEagle

07-20-2005, 11:58 AM

Major League Baseball.

moriarty

07-20-2005, 11:59 AM

Major League Baseball.

A shot across the bow of OOTP.

KWhit

07-20-2005, 12:05 PM

I would love to see a good realistic golf sim. Simgolf was fun for about a day, but when you have players shooting 45 on a par 72 course, it loses something.

ScottVib

07-20-2005, 12:40 PM

Rugby?

rkmsuf

07-20-2005, 12:41 PM

CURLING

MacroGuru

07-20-2005, 01:04 PM

Rugby?
This and/or Aussie Football

Chubby

07-20-2005, 01:08 PM

Sports Management Game Making

but I'd love to see a college lacrosse one :(

Chas in Cinti

07-20-2005, 01:45 PM

Major League Baseball.

I sort of agree here... I would like to see the game play mimic IMDB, but with growth and recessive potentials built in...

-Chas

GoldenEagle

07-20-2005, 01:49 PM

A shot across the bow of OOTP.
I like OOTP. I will contiue to buy it. I just think it is going in a different direction. I am not a beta tester on the game but judging by the way SI games does things, the game will be more focused on the International game. There is nothing wrong with that. It is just that I am more of a baseball purist. I want to see things done deeper and not so much coding spent on other things.

The good news is that there is plenty of competiton. Makers of baseball sims can go in many different directions and I will buy each one that I like. When I am craving International game, I will play OOTP. If I want a good finance game, I will go with Mogul. It is just a matter of opinion.

korme

07-20-2005, 01:50 PM

DMB you mean? Not the Internet Movie Database.

moriarty

07-20-2005, 02:00 PM

DMB you mean? Not the Internet Movie Database.

:D I was wondering what he was referring to.

Vince

07-20-2005, 02:00 PM

I would love to see a good realistic golf sim. Simgolf was fun for about a day, but when you have players shooting 45 on a par 72 course, it loses something.
Definitely -- a more in-depth game that isn't quite made for everyone would be fantastic. But if you lose that "sit down and play" ability (ie, no learning curve), you probably lose a lot of customers.

Chas in Cinti

07-20-2005, 02:28 PM

:D I was wondering what he was referring to.

of course.... DMB

HomerJSimpson

07-20-2005, 02:38 PM

I like OOTP. I will contiue to buy it. I just think it is going in a different direction. I am not a beta tester on the game but judging by the way SI games does things, the game will be more focused on the International game. There is nothing wrong with that. It is just that I am more of a baseball purist. I want to see things done deeper and not so much coding spent on other things.

The good news is that there is plenty of competiton. Makers of baseball sims can go in many different directions and I will buy each one that I like. When I am craving International game, I will play OOTP. If I want a good finance game, I will go with Mogul. It is just a matter of opinion.

You see, I don't get that. For one, I doubt that the emphasis will be in the "international" game, and the vast majority of the game will focus the US leagues. That said, if you are going to have a true representation of baseball, you need to recognize international leagues considering that a good percentage of players in the MLB are from outside the US. It makes a more "pure" and "realistic" game having international leagues than not having them. Plus, if the depth is going to be equal to what we see in other SI products, there is going to be nothing closer to actually being real GM than OOTP.

Raiders Army

07-20-2005, 02:42 PM

Can a child molester ever be called "hot?"

Except you are the 15 year old kid.

moriarty

07-20-2005, 03:03 PM

Can a child molester ever be called "hot?"

Except you are the 15 year old kid.

Somehow I think this works better with 3D graphics than as a text sim.

Zippo

07-20-2005, 03:44 PM

how about a game of making sports games. :D

HomerJSimpson

07-20-2005, 03:53 PM

how about a game of making sports games. :D

I can't tell you how many times I've dreamed of making "the" football sim. It is sad I don't have the talent or money to do it. :(

cartman

07-20-2005, 04:42 PM

Rugby?

The same guys that made the Cycling Manager game also came out with a Rugby Manager game.

Greyroofoo

07-20-2005, 05:37 PM

If not been said already then we need a ping pong mnagement game

Icy

07-20-2005, 05:40 PM

The same guys that made the Cycling Manager game also came out with a Rugby Manager game.

Yeah Cyanide studios http://www.cyanide-studio.com/ is a french company, they are the authors of:

http://www.cycling-manager.com/
http://www.prorugby-manager.com/index_prm2005.htm

Two games that look awesome if you look at the 3d graphs and manager options, but that aren't as well done as we would like. The games are not bad, but they're famous for having tons of bugs in the release date, after some patches the games are good, i own two old versions of the cyling one and it's not that bad.