PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

[ty5oke]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I'm just frustrated with the mode and feel nothing groundbreaking has come along in a long time. As a proud supporter for 12 years, this is the first time I wish I had the willpower to not purchase.

[kinsmen7]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I'm just frustrated with the mode and feel nothing groundbreaking has come along in a long time. As a proud supporter for 12 years, this is the first time I wish I had the willpower to not purchase.

I know that I'll cave at some point, but for now, I downloaded a pretty great roster, tweaked it to suit me, and will wait for bugs to be cleaned up and for the OS roster to be released in a couple of months. If Far Cry wasn't being released on the same day, I'd probably be screwed though!

[tapout8302]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I wish there was a way to add players to an active franchise. I hate fake players in the game. We should be able to import players like in roster control or even import into the draft. It would be nice to be able to add players in as you go

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I wish there was a way to add players to an active franchise. I hate fake players in the game. We should be able to import players like in roster control or even import into the draft. It would be nice to be able to add players in as you go

I hear that you will be able to do that in RBI Baseball this year. Not advocating for that game as they've somehow released zero gameplay footage, lol. But, hopefully The Show copies them on the add into Franchise mode thing at least.

[KBLover]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I wish there was a way to add players to an active franchise. I hate fake players in the game. We should be able to import players like in roster control or even import into the draft. It would be nice to be able to add players in as you go

That would be awesome - I'd still keep the fictional players though. I really like seeing them develop (or not) with no expectations or assumptions like with irl players.

I'd love to add in real prospects from the Draft and international guys into whatever year I'm in (since I'll be ahead of irl MLB), though. If nothing else, would save on creating them from fictionals myself from a scouting report.

The names might be an issue though. What I dislike more than fictional players is hearing players called by number. If there was a way to "teach" the announcers how to say any name at player creation/editing...that would be something.

[ShowSavage]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

It's good to hear they made numerous AI adjustments...time will tell if they help stabilize the mode. If these 'fixes' lead to significant progress toward smarter AI organizations and it becomes possible to simulate a realistic MLB season without 30 team control, that would be a welcome change.

Now...as far as the new 'PHASES' feature...There was never any confusion as to what the objectives were at any given time in MLB 17's Franchise. Giving us a prompted 'step by step' guide through certain 'phases' of the franchise mode is lazy. We already understood there was an All-Star game, and there has been an All-Star Voting screen for many many years now that changed dynamically with player performance.

We don't need a reminder of what's in franchise, you need to add some improvements that we've been asking for. I don't care about create-a-stadium and custom uniforms. You claim we get to be a general manager but how many tools that front offices use aren't available in this game?

-Why can't we sign in-season contracts to reward performance and boost player morale? Why no qualifying offers? Why no player incentives in contracts? No MILB deals with spring invites?

-Why can't we include money in a trade? How come players don't get a raise when called up from the minors and added to the major league roster like in real life?

-A good number of franchise players didn't understand the budget screen from last year, and you did nothing to it. You over-complicated the budget screen and have ignored your customers feedback.How about revisiting some of the aspects of franchise that players have difficulty with and don't like, instead of giving us 'phases' to guide us through all the stuff we already figured out?

There's a lot more basic stuff that I don't think would be too heavy a burden to put in. Franchise is a great mode with a strong foundation because for many years SCEA innovated and really created a mode that was ahead of it's time. It would sure be nice to see some more support for the gamers who have stuck by the mode through all the AI issues and lack of development.

[Dolenz]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I wish there was a way to add players to an active franchise. I hate fake players in the game. We should be able to import players like in roster control or even import into the draft. It would be nice to be able to add players in as you go

A few times in Out of The Park Baseball I would start an all fictional league. It takes away the preconceived ideas about players and eliminates the emotional attachment that some of us have for our favorites.

[Dolenz]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

Now...as far as the new 'PHASES' feature...There was never any confusion as to what the objectives were at any given time in MLB 17's Franchise. Giving us a prompted 'step by step' guide through certain 'phases' of the franchise mode is lazy. We already understood there was an All-Star game, and there has been an All-Star Voting screen for many many years now that changed dynamically with player performance.

Phases were never intended for hardcore Franchise players but to a multitude of players who are not familiar with arbitration and rule 5 drafts, etc.


Now, it is a bit of a shame they could not add in a little more for the long term franchise guys it but is short-sighted for those Franchise players to not realize that drawing more players into the mode is the best way to insure the mode remains relevant and does not go the way of online franchise.

[Blzer]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I'm only going to pay $3 plus tax this year.

(1) I have Best Buy GCU.
(2) I bought three $150 gift cards when they had a promotion where you would get $15 e-vouchers per gift card in return for doing so, and they will expire on March 31st.

So I'm getting 20% off my $60 title with GCU which takes off $12, and I'm going to use up all three of my $15 vouchers which takes off an additional $45. I'll pay $3.26 out the door, boom.

I think I can justify paying that much.

So, it turns out I slightly miscalculated.

These are gift cards (methods of payment), not reward certificates (discounts on price). That means the tax doesn't deduct with the application of these three cards. Ultimately I'm paying $7.19 instead of $3.26 as predicted.

Even still, legitimately sweet deal to me.

[ShowSavage]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

Phases were never intended for hardcore Franchise players but to a multitude of players who are not familiar with arbitration and rule 5 drafts, etc.


Now, it is a bit of a shame they could not add in a little more for the long term franchise guys it but is short-sighted for those Franchise players to not realize that drawing more players into the mode is the best way to insure the mode remains relevant and does not go the way of online franchise.

Obviously phases aren't for hardcore players....as for the rest of your comment I disagree completely.

If their main goal was to add a feature to franchise that would draw in people who aren't already interested, they would add create a stadium and custom jerseys. I don't even want that feature, but fact is that's the only feature people who don't play franchise already are asking for.

For several years running they have used developmental resources to add features that would hopefully bring in players that found the mode 'too complex' or wanted to play quicker seasons. Franchise has more fans that enjoy playing it than it has to gain.

How many more shiny UI concepts and options for playing quick games do we need before we add something that makes the core experience feel more like you're running an authentic front office?

- Quick manage and critical situations were the big additions last year and if you like to play your team's games in full they were useless. Player lock is yet another option people have if they want to save time playing games.

It's fine if there are a billion ways to play franchise games but the different ways to play games has nothing to do with why people aren't playing the mode. The experience is lacking immersion at this point and people are becoming less likely to spend their time in it because it's not as rewarding as it once was.

- Last year they touted the addition of a bunch of new GM goals, that sure was a game changer wasn't it?

- Franchise missions were new last year. They were nothing more than a 'franchise mode beginners to-do list' that most DD players went into franchise mode one time to finish for some quick stubs

- Virtually every single responsibility you have as a GM can be switched to AUTO. They even came out with cool new user interfaces last year to make sure everyone knew they didn't have to manually do all the franchise stuff.

Additions that make franchise a deeper and more sophisticated mode have been few and far between to say the least. We all understand franchise is not a growing mode, but there are quite a few of us who play it year round, and some of us have been buying the game for the last decade because of it. It would be nice if SCEA would throw us a bone once in a while.

[KBLover]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

So, it turns out I slightly miscalculated.

These are gift cards (methods of payment), not reward certificates (discounts on price). That means the tax doesn't deduct with the application of these three cards. Ultimately I'm paying $7.19 instead of $3.26 as predicted.

Even still, legitimately sweet deal to me.

Yeah I mean...

If I could pre-order the game for $7...I'd jump on it even out of pure "blind faith".

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

Phases were never intended for hardcore Franchise players but to a multitude of players who are not familiar with arbitration and rule 5 drafts, etc.


Now, it is a bit of a shame they could not add in a little more for the long term franchise guys it but is short-sighted for those Franchise players to not realize that drawing more players into the mode is the best way to insure the mode remains relevant and does not go the way of online franchise.

I could see how some will speculate this might be the case. There is some logic to it. It sounds logical anyway.

But, I just totally disagree with the premise.

The type of gamer that likes slow burn, depth, managing rosters, playing full games, editing, "sim" playing etc is already playing Franchise mode. This demographic is looking for more substance, features, and depth. These are the majority of people playing the mode.

The gamers that enjoy the quick hits with pack pulls, legend teams, playing super short games, and maxing out their RTTS ratings prefer the other modes. These gamers aren't going to abandon what they like to do because some other mode they like less has become marginally more accessible.

I imagine you'll get very little crossover no matter how simple you make Franchise mode. Moreover, you neglect the core demographic that plays, and has always played Franchise mode, based on this speculation that there might be others who might, maybe, play that mode a little bit. Maybe. To quote Jerry Seinfeld: "Who are these people?" Drawing new players in, who are already inclined to enjoy other modes more than Franchise mode, at the expense of the players that have always liked it seems like an ill-conceived idea.

So, it turns out I slightly miscalculated.

These are gift cards (methods of payment), not reward certificates (discounts on price). That means the tax doesn't deduct with the application of these three cards. Ultimately I'm paying $7.19 instead of $3.26 as predicted.

Even still, legitimately sweet deal to me.

Best to stop thinking about it. You're going be paying 12 or 13 bucks the next time you look into this matter.

[ShowSavage]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I imagine you'll get very little crossover no matter how simple you make Franchise mode. Moreover, you neglect the core demographic that plays, and has always played Franchise mode, based on this speculation that there might be others who might, maybe, play that mode a little bit. Maybe. To quote Jerry Seinfeld: "Who are these people?" Drawing new players in, who are already inclined to enjoy other modes more than Franchise mode, at the expense of the players that have always liked it seems like an ill-conceived idea.

Yes, this is the reality of the situation.

Franchise is on life support only because the experience improves marginally due to the improvements made to the game as a whole.

If there weren't improvements being made to stadiums, jerseys, player authenticity, and gameplay mechanics, the mode would've been virtually stationary from PS3, some would probably argue PS2 even.

DD is hot and it takes several years for franchise/rtts mode players who become fed up to either find an alternative or give up on baseball gaming for the time being. I think SCEA is making a miscalculation if they decide to repeat what they did this year in 2019.

As long as DD is successful, SCEA doesn't need business from the rest of us, but it's certainly not the most wise use of resources to completely flood the DD community with endless content and showing offline mode players the door.

[KBLover]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I imagine you'll get very little crossover no matter how simple you make Franchise mode. Moreover, you neglect the core demographic that plays, and has always played Franchise mode, based on this speculation that there might be others who might, maybe, play that mode a little bit. Maybe. To quote Jerry Seinfeld: "Who are these people?" Drawing new players in, who are already inclined to enjoy other modes more than Franchise mode, at the expense of the players that have always liked it seems like an ill-conceived idea.

It's a bit of a gamble and I see what you're saying. But who are these people who will quit playing Franchise (or The Show)? Will most franchise players ever either jump to OOTP and wave goodbye to The Show, or sit on, say 18, when 19, 20, 21...come out if they still don't have the big things they are hoping for (perhaps buying them on the cheap and used just as carryover insurance and not supporting SDS in the process)? Or will they complain (often rightfully) about the mode getting overlooked.....as they pay $60 again?

Even reading the board and not really having a dog in this particular fight, it seems that a lot aren't feeling the hype/energy/mojo/love but are getting the game anyway? Even in that 09 vs 18 post...the OP is getting the game...as he posits a lack of big change in 9 years...

So whoever is making this decision, be it SDS or the parent company, is guessing that hardcore player will keep coming back...or they would have left for OOTP already (i.e. the people who don't need to play/see the game so OOTP is fine vs "the same" in another year of The Show). And if that's the case, why not try to make a play for another demographic to play the mode?

I really wonder if franchise players have actually moved on from The Show and in what numbers. If it's not much movement...I can see why they made this gambit. We'll see if it pays off and what the response is in 19.

[1908_Cubs]

Re: PS BLOG: Everything New in MLB The Show 18’s Franchise Mode

I could see how some will speculate this might be the case. There is some logic to it. It sounds logical anyway.

But, I just totally disagree with the premise.

The type of gamer that likes slow burn, depth, managing rosters, playing full games, editing, "sim" playing etc is already playing Franchise mode. This demographic is looking for more substance, features, and depth. These are the majority of people playing the mode.

The gamers that enjoy the quick hits with pack pulls, legend teams, playing super short games, and maxing out their RTTS ratings prefer the other modes. These gamers aren't going to abandon what they like to do because some other mode they like less has become marginally more accessible.

I imagine you'll get very little crossover no matter how simple you make Franchise mode. Moreover, you neglect the core demographic that plays, and has always played Franchise mode, based on this speculation that there might be others who might, maybe, play that mode a little bit. Maybe. To quote Jerry Seinfeld: "Who are these people?" Drawing new players in, who are already inclined to enjoy other modes more than Franchise mode, at the expense of the players that have always liked it seems like an ill-conceived idea.

While I understand this premise, I don't necessarily agree with it. Because I can say this: I am not very interested in card collecting in other games. I have Madden, NBA2k, and NHL as well. I have played perhaps, 8 minutes of those card collecting games combined. I felt the same way about DD until last year. But the additions that were added, the changes to things like conquest and the added nuggets for offline play, I gave DD a chance. And truthfully, I have a good time. I even played a few of the online seasons looking for some new cards. DD didn't become my main mode, as I still put far more time into franchise and RTTS, but I found some real enjoyment there.

I'd argue I'm not the only one who didn't think they'd care about DD, but found themselves finding enjoyment in the mode over the last 2 or so years. I think you can thus, say, there are people who franchise mode may not appeal to because of the cost of entry barrier: the difficulty, the added depth, the lack of understanding. If you can lower the cost of entry, add quicker ways to play, and make the process easier, you may find that while the cross-over never pushes Franchise to the level that DD has reached, that it will increase.

I'd prefer to see a deeper, more rich experience myself. I don't blame anyone for it. But I don't think the idea of trying to get more people involved is a bad one, either. If you can get more play time into franchise, and more people...you're going to see the dev team go back and spend more time into adding rotating schedules, expansions, ballpark creators, and etc. But those are time consuming changes, and I think they need to find the reason in terms of player count, to really add that stuff in there.