In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

[merchant1874]

This is something I have wondered since probably even the initial reveal of 14 for PS4 but now we can look at it in hindsight.

Was getting a Ps4 version last year beneficial to the Franchise or has it hindered it slightly?

When 14 was first revealed I was delighted. It's what I bought a PS4 for. The early screens looked utterly amazing. Then the game came and though I Wasn't exactly disappointed I was definately underwhelmed. It felt like a higher res PS3 port. Much like the "HD remasters" we see for so many other games.

It didn't feel "next gen" in regards to graphics but it definately felt better gameplay wise.
We still didn't have stat tracking, new player models, improved franchise, better online, retractable roofs.

Fast forward a year.

Last nights reveal did impress me, especially the gameplay stuff.
The lighting looks to have made a big difference as has the colour matching and skin tones.
What was disappointing though was seeing the same player models, the same uniform textures and the same uniform physics. We already know retractable roofs in domed stadiums haven't been touched and stat tracking still isnt to the level we would like.


When NHL announced they were skipping a year I thought it was a great idea though it turned out badly. I do however think the SSD guys are way better developers than the EA crew. I do also think a really good NHL next gen foundation has been built.

What I wonder is, if they had skipped a year would we be at the same point with 15 now or would we have a much more advanced version of the game?



Please don't take this as critiscm for the sake of it, and I do appreciate we have only seen a small part of the game so far.

[ClarkWGrizwold]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

For me personally this game was the reason I bought a PS4, I really only have enough time to get into 1 game a year. I too felt like it was the same as the ps3 version and with some of the same issues as the Show 13 it got stale to me about 1 month in and I didn't even play it for 4 months. I'm happy with the fact sheet as I only play franchise and finally seeing all the improvements with that.

Like you said I too was a little dissapointed with seeing the same player and jerseys as previous years. Like I posted in another thread my biggest issue that I have that makes it stale and feel like I'm playing the same game year to year is the weather making the players wear long sleeves at night. It's just a buzzkill having this go on year after year that is so obvious to see when the game is getting more realistic with lighting and franchise stuff that this is overlooked.

For me since we have in the game now the generated faces and the way people are always updating rosters it might be easier to take a year off and still have a game to play. It might be easier to take the year and start a new build on players and domes and some other features like expansion. I bet if they said we're thinking about taking a year off to have time to make and test the game with those features I said that most would be okay with that.

[rjackson]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

I cannot see how not doing a release would be a good decision from any viewpoint. Business-wise, it would be devastating for a studio like SDS. We are also forgetting that we really had two shortened development cycles and they are performed by a team 1/3rd the size of Madden's team - yet they make just as many leaps forward. The engine is solid, gameplay is great and still being improved upon incrementally, and the graphics will continue to improve as the PS3 gets put into the rearview mirror. 16 should get a full cycle to work with and these guys really listen to us. I truly felt like B Ma was included, for instance, and asked to discuss pitching physics because of a couple of posts on this board. There were others as well where I could see an influence. This cycle wasn't as short as last years but look at that fact sheet - there was a ton on there, A TON!

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

I'm probably easy to please but I thoroughly enjoy the Show on the ps4.

[countryboy]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

I would say beneficial. Anytime you can get a game out and get solid feedback from your fanbase, as well as building a foundation its always a good thing.

The only way it wouldn't be beneficial is if they threw everything away that they started with '14 and tried starting over new with '15.

[cardinalbird5]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

I loved it. You are kind of doing yourself a disservice if this is the only ps4 game you play. Id get burnt out too if I only played one game.

Try the last of us or far cry 4 for something different.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

We still didn't have stat tracking, new player models, improved franchise, better online, retractable roofs.

I think you've nicely summarized what should be at the top of SCEA's to do list for '16. There is some consensus (even by those who won't say a negative or even neutral word about the game) that the stat tracking needs work. And, online is a rallying cry as well.

Look at it this way, without '14, there would be that many more features omitted and left untouched for '15 and going into '16. The fact that '14 was made ultimately makes '15 and '16 etc.. better games from the prior dev work. The hard part is waiting for '15 when you know '16 or '17 should be downright perfect.

[@legendm0de]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

Interesting thread, I realize I would have preferred for them to skip a year of next gen, debuting this year instead if it meant having that much more time dedicated to developing a project solely for the next gen console.

It does certainly feel like a PS4 remastered version of what is available in PS3 and they're just building from that now. That sounds harsh, but it's not as bad a thing as it sounds, it just pulls the series from its lead over other sports titles and reigns them in. Whereas, they probably had the opportunity to push furthest ahead the quickest. NHL 15 is a perfect example of an overhaul that could be possible if MLB The Show took the same approach, skipping year 1 and debuting with more time on their side.

It was just assumed with Sony San Diego that they would have had the earliest jump on developing and that would have made an enormous difference in the PS4's exclusive features on debut.

[countryboy]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

Interesting thread, I realize I would have preferred for them to skip a year of next gen, debuting this year instead if it meant having that much more time dedicated to developing a project solely for the next gen console.

It does certainly feel like a PS4 remastered version of what is available in PS3 and they're just building from that now. That sounds harsh, but it's not as bad a thing as it sounds, it just pulls the series from its lead over other sports titles and reigns them in. Whereas, they probably had the opportunity to push furthest ahead the quickest. NHL 15 is a perfect example of an overhaul that could be possible if MLB The Show took the same approach, skipping year 1 and debuting with more time on their side.

It was just assumed with Sony San Diego that they would have had the earliest jump on developing and that would have made an enormous difference in the PS4's exclusive features on debut.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't NHL '15 considered to be basically one of the worst games of the series due to it lacking game modes or whatnot?

I may be wrong as I don't pay much attention to the NHL series due to not having an interest in hockey.

[@legendm0de]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't NHL '15 considered to be basically one of the worst games of the series due to it lacking game modes or whatnot?

I may be wrong as I don't pay much attention to the NHL series due to not having an interest in hockey.

It's emphasis on establishing a brand new system of gameplay, and completely remade player models, introduction of puck physics, caused them to sacrifice (but most of it was free dlc) game modes and parts of them. Some of the parts of franchise mode menus are still buggy. With all that said, most players acknowledge they are excited about what EASNHL has done and what it will mean when they clean it up and keep building it for the future. Probably a majority of players will also say, this years NHL 15 next gen is the version of hockey they have played in their lives. I didn't buy it because it's too beta for me, but I've played it enough.

[countryboy]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

It's emphasis on establishing a brand new system of gameplay, and completely remade player models, introduction of puck physics, caused them to sacrifice (but most of it was free dlc) game modes and parts of them. Some of the parts of franchise mode menus are still buggy. With all that said, most players acknowledge they are excited about what EASNHL has done and what it will mean when they clean it up and keep building it for the future. Probably a majority of players will also say, this years NHL 15 next gen is the version of hockey they have played in their lives. I didn't buy it because it's too beta for me, but I've played it enough.

So what is the difference in the paths chosen? NHL "starts over", creates new issues they must fix with the next installment of the game. MLB brings over an already solid foundation and chooses to build upon it in the next installments of the game.

[@legendm0de]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

So what is the difference in the paths chosen? NHL "starts over", creates new issues they must fix with the next installment of the game. MLB brings over an already solid foundation and chooses to build upon it in the next installments of the game.

I don't think it always has to be this way, and it's a case by case issue but in this particular case MLB The Show would have been better suited from a development standpoint by taking a year to overhaul some elements that are going to need to be specifically tailored for new gen. It's impossible to know that this approach would turn out with missing game modes like the NHL game did. However, I believe that if they did this MLB 15' The Show would be the first edition and would already be more advanced than MLB 15 currently is.

[countryboy]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

I don't think it always has to be this way, and it's a case by case issue but in this particular case MLB The Show would have been better suited from a development standpoint by taking a year to overhaul some elements that are going to need to be specifically tailored for new gen. It's impossible to know that this approach would turn out with missing game modes like the NHL game did. However, I believe that if they did this MLB 15' The Show would be the first edition and would already be more advanced than MLB 15 currently is.

But you yourself just stated that its impossible to tell how taking that approach would turn out. Would it be better than NHL? Worse? Same?

And who is to say that they would've taken that year off to even work on player models? Maybe they take the year off and add exactly what they have added for '15 because that is the plan they have set in place.

[Bobhead]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

The only way they would have benefited from skipping a year on the PS4 is if they also skipped a year on the PS3 and Vita.

Skipping only the PS4 version doesn't really give them any more time, because it's still like 80% of the same workload, since both games run on the same engine.

Even then, I don't really think it would make such a difference. If anything, it would only set them back, because so much of their advancements in any given year is based on feedback, on playing their own finished product. Without America having '14, half these changes in '15 probably would have never been come up with. How would they know to fix running/fielding speeds? How would they know to fix ball physics? Without feedback from the consumer base on those areas, based on playing The Show 2014?

Plus it's not like they spend an exorbitant amount of time on marketing or any of that. How much time can you really isolate and mark as attributable entirely to the release of MLB '14? The way I'd see it, there responsibilities and hours per week would be almost exactly the same either way. It'd be different if they were flying around the world doing a whole bunch of interviews and promoting the game for several months. Or if the developers were the ones printing the game and putting it into packages...

Combine the above essay with all the other benefits, such as increased sales and attention for the game, inspiring at least one person to buy a PS4, and helping to pay the bills for another year so that they can even continue to exist.

Hell yes, '14 was to our benefit.

[Rules]

Re: In hindsight: was getting 14 good for PS4

I have always believed something is better than nothing. Though 14 was basically a port over with a few improvements, it was still an option for PS4 owners. I know I'm more critical of the improvements or lack there of from year to year but overall it is a solid game. Personally, had they skipped a year I still think their game would be in the same development cycle. I don't understand the tunnel vision they get when they seem to focus on the small things but completely miss the obvious big things from year to year. Again, staff size and leadership plays a factor in their games.

14 benefited us as well as their studio.