MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

[Caulfield]

Re: MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

I disagree, I think franchise mode could be monetized with some ingenuity. I wouldn't like it and I wouldn't necessarily spend much if anything on it, but I can certainly think of ways that SDS could make some money out of franchise mode.

In fact, you can already buy more cash for your ball club and spend money in order to be able to do so.

This is what I think too. But anytime you start mentioning spending extra money on franchise, people start hollering firewall. There needs to be 2 type discs. 1 for 60$ where you can spend extra on franchise. Then a 2nd disc for 58$ where there is no way possible to get any dl content that you pay extra for. I dont go to subway and order a turkey sub, then after I'm halfway thru, go back in line and tell them to give me more turkey for free because I've already paid for some.
[/endrant]

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

I don't post a lot and I'm a nobody here...but I do read these forums every day. Have always wanted to get feedback to the nagging question I have....

SDS research and data seems to show that Franchise is not a mode that is played a lot, so therefore more resources and time are put into DD and other modes. But is it this simple? Is the reason Franchise shows up in their research as not being played as much simply because they have done very little to it in recent years, so therefore fewer people want to play it?

I guess my question has always been...if you put time and effort into Franchise (maybe even put transactions in it that could make SDS money that we would want to purchase), could it actually be a mode that is played by many??

If this is a stupid premise feel free to delete my thread. I just don't accept "most people don't play franchise so therefore we aren't going to put resources into it." Yeah duh...many of us don't play it because it doesn't hold any attraction to us anymore. It almost seems by design. If we don't put any emphasis on the mode then everyone will naturally move to DD.

As you read the forums every day, you've probably noticed that this is absolutely not a new POV or a new question that you have here. This particular dilemma has used a ton of bandwidth in discussion, with many of us agreeing and/or disagreeing with one another on these boards in recent months. Much of this conversation has been visited, re-visited, and then flogged with a 2x4 and turned into glue in various threads related to franchise mode (and in threads having nothing to do with franchise mode at all). Seriously, click on a thread randomly and you'll probably see some hemming and hawing over DD vs franchise.

Yes, I agree that not improving a mode becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where people get fed up and the numbers dwindle even more. That being said, I suspect their telemetry data is telling them--I think--that the numbers aren't even that close. Many many more people play DD and RTTS than franchise. And I don't think it has a ton to do with which mode gets a coat of fresh paint in a given dev cycle (spoiler: it ain't franchise mode). Franchise mode is more "work" in that the games/seasons are longer than RTTS and there really are no intermediate "perks" (sugar highs) to chase like there would be in a mode like DD. You really have to be 100% into delayed gratification to be interested in playing out a franchise imo. I am and it's still a pretty grueling thing to accomplish. Most people aren't wired that way and I don't blame them because video games should be fun for those playing them, whatever they define fun to be.

Nutshell review: The clear lack of development in the mode is certainly taking the wind out of franchise mode's sails, but it's also true that the franchise mode player is a bit of a dying breed. Some people are really pissed off about franchise mode. Then, there are people who are really pissed off at those who are whining about franchise mode. Every once in a while, these factions will have a skirmish. Then, people go back to their corners and the cycle repeats.

[sfpxgalaxy]

Re: MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

Lets Face it. Nobody is streaming their franchises on youtube. When you type in mlb the show on YouTube the results are either people opening packs or playing road to the show. SDS has adopted an ideology that all of their fans are of this youtube fortnite generation and have completely afforded this demographic all of their attention.

l

Those pack opening videos baffle me. Why would I watch that ? Even less interesting than watching someone flipping coins. But then again nothing surprises me anymore, there are flat earthers after all.

[potsey7]

Re: MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

As you read the forums every day, you've probably noticed that this is absolutely not a new POV or a new question that you have here. This particular dilemma has used a ton of bandwidth in discussion, with many of us agreeing and/or disagreeing with one another on these boards in recent months. Much of this conversation has been visited, re-visited, and then flogged with a 2x4 and turned into glue in various threads related to franchise mode (and in threads having nothing to do with franchise mode at all). Seriously, click on a thread randomly and you'll probably see some hemming and hawing over DD vs franchise.

Yes, I agree that not improving a mode becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where people get fed up and the numbers dwindle even more. That being said, I suspect their telemetry data is telling them--I think--that the numbers aren't even that close. Many many more people play DD and RTTS than franchise. And I don't think it has a ton to do with which mode gets a coat of fresh paint in a given dev cycle (spoiler: it ain't franchise mode). Franchise mode is more "work" in that the games/seasons are longer than RTTS and there really are no intermediate "perks" (sugar highs) to chase like there would be in a mode like DD. You really have to be 100% into delayed gratification to be interested in playing out a franchise imo. I am and it's still a pretty grueling thing to accomplish. Most people aren't wired that way and I don't blame them because video games should be fun for those playing them, whatever they define fun to be.

Nutshell review: The clear lack of development in the mode is certainly taking the wind out of franchise mode's sails, but it's also true that the franchise mode player is a bit of a dying breed. Some people are really pissed off about franchise mode. Then, there are people who are really pissed off at those who are whining about franchise mode. Every once in a while, these factions will have a skirmish. Then, people go back to their corners and the cycle repeats.

I think, after reading your thoughts, that you've nailed it. Sorry I missed it in reading all the debates but I agree it can be a self fulfilling prophecy. I also understand it's a business. I'm ok with it...I am an adult and can decide year to year if the game is for me. Just dont wanna lose hope that maybe the cycle will revert back to franchise's favor at some point.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

It is a self fulfilling prophecy, but I believe that's by design. The simple fact of the matter is that DD money is the low hanging fruit, and SCEA is more than willing to pick it up. They have always claimed to have a small team, and they are going to push their talent where the money is.

For the first time in a decade, I waited until the Show was on sale to pick it up. The game is good, but what was telling was that the splash screen was loaded with diamond dynasty crud on it. That's their market, and we can shame them for it, but the more they put into DD, the more return on investment for them. Franchise doesn't do it for them.

I've moved most of my game time to OOTP. It takes getting used to, but it provides a rich franchise experience. I'm afraid that's the way forward if gamers want a true baseball experience.

[Therebelyell626]

Re: MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

Nutshell review: The clear lack of development in the mode is certainly taking the wind out of franchise mode's sails, but it's also true that the franchise mode player is a bit of a dying breed. Some people are really pissed off about franchise mode. Then, there are people who are really pissed off at those who are whining about franchise mode. Every once in a while, these factions will have a skirmish. Then, people go back to their corners and the cycle repeats.

The DD crowd don't want no smoke lol

[RogerDodger]

Re: MLB the Show...Chicken or The Egg

I think it’s much easier to track DD over franchise for two simple reasons.

They can easily track how many users play online for DD but cannot track how many hours people log offline in franchise.

DD does make them money after the purchase but there ARE NO OPTIONS to do this in franchise other than to raise your budget(which is a whole other issue in it self).

My point is they cannot accurately know the amount of hours played on DD vs Franchise. And they will never know if DD really is the way to make the most money until they have just as many options to buy items in franchise.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

If a console is always connected, which I imagine most PS4’s in use are, it would be very easy to track how long users spend in a mode like franchise. In fact as a developer I’d be stunned if they didn’t, they need to know exactly how their users are playing their product.