THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

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  • Steve_OS
    Editor-in-Chief
    • Jul 2002
    • 33825

    #1

    THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game


    According to Joystiq, THQ will consider a longer development cycle for the next UFC game.

    "After reaffirming it as "still a top franchise" Farrell told the call, "What we're thinking about – not to necessarily reinvigorate it because it's a great franchise – but as I said in my prepared remarks, we're considering a longer development cycle. 15-, 18-, 21-months between releases rather than annually." That increased development time will, ostensibly, increase product quality and, with fewer releases, increase consumer demand. That combined with the UFC training and fitness game (not to mention PSP ports), Farrell assures analysts that "We think there's a lot of growth to be had with the UFC franchise over the next several years."
    Steve Noah
    Editor-in-Chief
    http://www.operationsports.com
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  • LingeringRegime
    Hall Of Fame
    • Jun 2007
    • 17089

    #2
    Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

    I wish that they would have made this decision after 09 was out.

    Comment

    • Gotmadskillzson
      Live your life
      • Apr 2008
      • 23434

      #3
      Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

      Yeah they do that......and watch 1/2 their base jump ship to EA MMA. Because without a doubt, EA has the money and people power to do it annually. THQ's problem was they got greedy and stretched themselves too thin.

      Making it for the PSP was a waste of time, money and people power. I mean seriously how many people still use their PSP ? PSP isn't hot. I say nowadays maybe 1 out 10 people still rocking a PSP on a regular basis.

      During the 2 year break in between games, they better do patches and roster updates or something.

      Have anybody else notice that in 2010 the octagon mat don't change anymore like it did in 09 ? Remember back in 09 everytime a new UFC event was coming up, the octagon had it written everywhere ?

      this year there is none of that at all.

      Comment

      • Fiasco West
        MVP
        • Oct 2008
        • 2820

        #4
        Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

        Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson
        Yeah they do that......and watch 1/2 their base jump ship to EA MMA. Because without a doubt, EA has the money and people power to do it annually. THQ's problem was they got greedy and stretched themselves too thin.

        Making it for the PSP was a waste of time, money and people power. I mean seriously how many people still use their PSP ? PSP isn't hot. I say nowadays maybe 1 out 10 people still rocking a PSP on a regular basis.

        During the 2 year break in between games, they better do patches and roster updates or something.

        Have anybody else notice that in 2010 the octagon mat don't change anymore like it did in 09 ? Remember back in 09 everytime a new UFC event was coming up, the octagon had it written everywhere ?

        this year there is none of that at all.
        Well I think the gamers will benefit from this though. I'd rather get one good UFC game ever 2 years rather than a forced out one. We can't be sure EA Sports will release a MMA game every year, I think it will be more of a fight night thing for EA. Also it will be interesting to see the sales figures for a more generic MMA game vs the one with the UFC tag to it.

        But in the absence of a new game yeah...they should at least do roster updates.

        Comment

        • DaveDQ
          13
          • Sep 2003
          • 7664

          #5
          Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

          It's possible that EA's MMA game could give THQ's a boost. If THQ waits until Fall 2011, that gives about a year between EA's MMA. Suppose EA MMA has high success. THQ could ride on that buzz and then introduce their UFC game (UFC still obviously the stronger brand).

          What I mean by that is some would enjoy EA MMA but sort of wish they were using what is the UFC. That's when THQ can take advantage of that desire and put their game out and meet that need.

          They'd have to certainly step up their game though. Right now, EA's title in its first showing looks to be running a lot smoother and more natural in its animations than UFC 2010. But I agree with MadSkillz. They tried to capitalize on the UFC brand but didn't do a good job of improving the game. This is yet another good example of how competition sometimes catches the big boys with their pants down.
          Being kind, one to another, never disappoints.

          Comment

          • Luck911
            Rookie
            • Oct 2005
            • 141

            #6
            Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

            Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson
            Yeah they do that......and watch 1/2 their base jump ship to EA MMA. Because without a doubt, EA has the money and people power to do it annually. THQ's problem was they got greedy and stretched themselves too thin.
            l.
            Half is jumping to EA?You really underestimating the strength of the UFC license.Casual fans can't tell you who is in Dream,SF,Sengoku,or Bellator.UFC has brand recognition and most of fighters that fans know that reason why Randy Couture is on the cover with the Russian guy.

            UFC license is like the NFL license in game world,EA MMA can far outstrip and be a better game than UU 2010 people see UFC they pick up game.I don't think THQ stretch themselves to thin UU 2010 is fundamentally a better game than 09.THQ forgot who their audience is they made moves to make the game more accessible to casual fans when they should be making a MMA sim and autoblocking,refs standing up the fight to quick,to easy reversals and subs.This UU 2010 is better game than 2009,2009 is better mma sim than 2010.

            THQ needs to focus making a MMA sim for their core audience

            Comment

            • aholbert32
              (aka Alberto)
              • Jul 2002
              • 33106

              #7
              Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

              Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson
              Yeah they do that......and watch 1/2 their base jump ship to EA MMA. Because without a doubt, EA has the money and people power to do it annually. THQ's problem was they got greedy and stretched themselves too thin.

              You underestimate the power of the UFC brand. Most casual MMA fans dont know more than 5-6 fighters featured in EA MMA (Couture, Fedor, Sylvia, Shamrock, maybe Overeem and Shields) and they know most of them because of the UFC. I dont see UFC fans jumping to another game just because the game is on a longer dev cycle.

              Also EA MMA is on a 2yr cycle to and there is no guarantee we will get a sequel to that game.

              Comment

              • DaveDQ
                13
                • Sep 2003
                • 7664

                #8
                Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

                Originally posted by aholbert32
                You underestimate the power of the UFC brand. Most casual MMA fans dont know more than 5-6 fighters featured in EA MMA (Couture, Fedor, Sylvia, Shamrock, maybe Overeem and Shields) and they know most of them because of the UFC. I dont see UFC fans jumping to another game just because the game is on a longer dev cycle.

                Also EA MMA is on a 2yr cycle to and there is no guarantee we will get a sequel to that game.
                I think EA's brand is pretty strong too. EA Sports usually has a cart all to itself in my town's GameStop, among other types of adds. I'm already seeing a strong showing of EA MMA. Having UFC is a huge factor, but at the same time THQ did something wrong with it for them to be evaluating their development cycle and possibly changing things, and I think EA can make a dent if they put out a game with quality and depth.

                It's the same thing they did with Smackdown vs Raw. Annual releases just don't hold up when not much has changed or innovation and creativity lack. I think these annual games that are seeing low sales are beginning to realize that having the power-brand isn't cutting it.
                Being kind, one to another, never disappoints.

                Comment

                • JerseySuave4
                  Banned
                  • Mar 2006
                  • 5152

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson
                  Yeah they do that......and watch 1/2 their base jump ship to EA MMA. Because without a doubt, EA has the money and people power to do it annually. THQ's problem was they got greedy and stretched themselves too thin.

                  Making it for the PSP was a waste of time, money and people power. I mean seriously how many people still use their PSP ? PSP isn't hot. I say nowadays maybe 1 out 10 people still rocking a PSP on a regular basis.

                  During the 2 year break in between games, they better do patches and roster updates or something.

                  Have anybody else notice that in 2010 the octagon mat don't change anymore like it did in 09 ? Remember back in 09 everytime a new UFC event was coming up, the octagon had it written everywhere ?

                  this year there is none of that at all.
                  I doubt EA will make a new game annually. There really is no reason to make MMA games annually, its not like football, basketball, baseball games where the rosters change year to year so there is more of a demand for a new game each year. I wish those sports games would go to every other year as well because then the quality of games would be better but people would become inpatient and they make more money putting out a new game each year. Its not like i need to have a new UFC game every year so i actually like this if it means a much better game in terms of quality.

                  Comment

                  • bkfount
                    All Star
                    • Oct 2004
                    • 8467

                    #10
                    Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

                    Originally posted by DaveDQ
                    I think EA's brand is pretty strong too. EA Sports usually has a cart all to itself in my town's GameStop, among other types of adds. I'm already seeing a strong showing of EA MMA. Having UFC is a huge factor, but at the same time THQ did something wrong with it for them to be evaluating their development cycle and possibly changing things, and I think EA can make a dent if they put out a game with quality and depth.
                    Of course EA will use its brand to push their MMA game, because they'll have to. They're playing the underdog in this genre, as the UFC game has the mainstream appeal. Neither game needs to be a yearly release though, and it's looking like EA will actually cycle between Fight Night and EA MMA.

                    Comment

                    • JerseySuave4
                      Banned
                      • Mar 2006
                      • 5152

                      #11
                      Originally posted by DaveDQ
                      I think EA's brand is pretty strong too. EA Sports usually has a cart all to itself in my town's GameStop, among other types of adds. I'm already seeing a strong showing of EA MMA. Having UFC is a huge factor, but at the same time THQ did something wrong with it for them to be evaluating their development cycle and possibly changing things, and I think EA can make a dent if they put out a game with quality and depth.

                      It's the same thing they did with Smackdown vs Raw. Annual releases just don't hold up when not much has changed or innovation and creativity lack. I think these annual games that are seeing low sales are beginning to realize that having the power-brand isn't cutting it.
                      i dont think they necessarily did something wrong but if they released a new game next year and it was just a slight improvement over last year then people would become frustrated in the series and then they would see a more noticeable decline. Sports games for the NFL, NCAA, MLB & NBA come out yearly because of the change in rosters and teams year to year and because there is a higher demand for those games. But MMA isnt something that has a season and a offseason.

                      It makes life a lot easier for a company knowing they have 2 years instead of 1 to improve and get a game out. It also will benefit the cosumer because we should then see more of an improvement from game to game.

                      The UFC brand most likely holds more water than the EA brand when it comes to MMA games. Casual fans may recognize EA and might see the game in the store and pick up the game with interest, but once they look at the back and see whos in the game and see that it isnt UFC, that will turn some off. Now EA did a good job getting Randy Couture because he's a UFC guy so that can trick some people, but casual fans wont know a lot of these guys even though us that follow MMA know them all.

                      EA's game will do good numbers but i doubt it outsells UFC. The UFC brand is strong.

                      Comment

                      • Gotmadskillzson
                        Live your life
                        • Apr 2008
                        • 23434

                        #12
                        Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

                        I don't know........that will be a tough one to call whether or not EA MMA out sells UFC. Can go either way really. We all know EA has the money to flood the air waves with commercials for their games. Even have the money to pay for a 30 minute infomercial for their game.

                        Last night on Spike they had a 30 minute infomercial for Madden 11 basically. Even had an all day Madden event in New Orleans, that included a Madden parade, madden float and concerts. EA got money to burn.

                        So who is to say they won't do the same thing for EA MMA ? And if their demo is hot, word of mouth going to spread like wild fire. One thing IMO that is going to attract a lot of casuals to EA MMA is those Vale Tudo rules when you fight in Brazil.

                        Nevertheless competition is a good thing, a great thing. Because in the end, it is a win win for consumers.

                        Comment

                        • JerseySuave4
                          Banned
                          • Mar 2006
                          • 5152

                          #13
                          because EA MMA is not Madden. NCAA doesnt even get that Madden treatment and its a better game. Same with Fifa. Expect the MMA game to get the type of attention Fight Night typically gets. They arent going to go too over the top promoting a game for a sport with more of a hardcore fan base.

                          Comment

                          • mgoblue
                            Go Wings!
                            • Jul 2002
                            • 25477

                            #14
                            Re: THQ Considering a Longer Development Cycle For Next UFC Game

                            Originally posted by aholbert32
                            You underestimate the power of the UFC brand. Most casual MMA fans dont know more than 5-6 fighters featured in EA MMA (Couture, Fedor, Sylvia, Shamrock, maybe Overeem and Shields) and they know most of them because of the UFC. I dont see UFC fans jumping to another game just because the game is on a longer dev cycle.

                            Also EA MMA is on a 2yr cycle to and there is no guarantee we will get a sequel to that game.
                            I'm more than a casual fan and while I know a lot of the guys EA has gotten, I'm not really hyped to play as 90+% of them.

                            I'm probably getting EA MMA because I enjoy the sport and want to see what they do, but I'll always want to be fighting as the guys I know and follow in the UFC. It's like pro football games...I don't want to play as some generic guys, I want real NFL players.
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                            Comment

                            • sammy g
                              Rookie
                              • Aug 2009
                              • 125

                              #15
                              This is a good thing cause they really need to make this game better. UFC 2010 was almost unplayable for me, so I hope this greatly improves the next UFC game
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