2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

[canes21]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

I can see this as a real possibility. When APF released a new feature was the tiered rating system and skills like deep threat, quick release, rocket arm etc.

When madden dropped that year, they were featuring a weapons system for the star players.

I’m really not typically a conspiracy theorist but I find it hard to believe that EA happened to decide on the weapons the same year APF released. It wouldn’t shock me if the yard is a response to counter the game 2k is making. It’s a smart business move. Offer the same feature the other game is built around..while still being the only option that allows full 11v11 simulation.


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If it is something similar with the type of authentic gameplay we had in 2k8, but improved on, then I might potentially enjoy that still. If it had the same grounded feel and showcased what 2k was capable of with the skill positions, then I'd start to really believe this is their audition for the NFL.

[Kanobi]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

I can see this as a real possibility. When APF released a new feature was the tiered rating system and skills like deep threat, quick release, rocket arm etc.

When madden dropped that year, they were featuring a weapons system for the star players.

I’m really not typically a conspiracy theorist but I find it hard to believe that EA happened to decide on the weapons the same year APF released. It wouldn’t shock me if the yard is a response to counter the game 2k is making. It’s a smart business move. Offer the same feature the other game is built around..while still being the only option that allows full 11v11 simulation.

This is what leads me to believe Take-Two might counter that with an NFLPA-licensed 11v11 simulation using current players.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

This is what leads me to believe Take-Two might counter that with an NFLPA-licensed 11v11 simulation using current players.

I kind of feel like it has to be one or the other. I can see an APF type 11v11 with the real players and no NFL in that game as a possible game they are making. (Using the NFL shield for another Playgrounds or a card game)

I can also see a game with modes like my park and my team in 7v7...maybe add a ton of mini games like the ps2 madden minicamp drills. (Using NFL teams and logos)

I just can’t see both in the same game tho. I feel like once they put the NFL license into the game, I would think it makes it just about impossible to do authentic style 11v11 without getting into trouble. Then It would be simulation and NFL even if not in the game at the same time.


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[Hooe]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

I can see this as a real possibility. When APF released a new feature was the tiered rating system and skills like deep threat, quick release, rocket arm etc.

When madden dropped that year, they were featuring a weapons system for the star players.

I’m really not typically a conspiracy theorist but I find it hard to believe that EA happened to decide on the weapons the same year APF released. It wouldn’t shock me if the yard is a response to counter the game 2k is making. It’s a smart business move. Offer the same feature the other game is built around..while still being the only option that allows full 11v11 simulation.

The far simpler explanation for The Yard is that EA is simply trying to capitalize on the popularity of squad-based multiplayer video games, and the easiest way to apply that to a football video game is dropping the offensive line and playing 6-on-6. Truncating football teams for more streamlined play is not a particularly original idea; NFL Blitz popularized 7-on-7 two decades ago.

That said, I also don't doubt that producers are conscious of their competition and are motivated to undercut competing products. Ideas aren't valuable in the video game industry before they are built, so they get traded back and forth very openly, generally everyone knows what everyone else is doing. Even if they don't, if you have a big enough team you can reactively ape popular trends pretty quickly. Look at how quickly Fortnite added pinging into their game after Apex Legends burst onto the scene and popularized the mechanic, for example.

Finally, since Madden 21 and The Yard is going to beat 2K's non-sim game to market by months, to a lot of people it's going to look like 2K copied EA. We don't really know who had the idea first as to point fingers either way, but it honestly doesn't matter. EA will have built and delivered the idea to players first. That circumstance alone is the singular reason why the video game industry is so hyper-competitive.

[Kanobi]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Finally, since Madden 21 and The Yard is going to beat 2K's non-sim game to market by months, to a lot of people it's going to look like 2K copied EA.

While that is somewhat possible, I believe it will appear to most that 2k copied their own model with a football version of NBA 2k's MyPark/MyPlayer.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

The far simpler explanation for The Yard is that EA is simply trying to capitalize on the popularity of squad-based multiplayer video games, and the easiest way to apply that to a football video game is dropping the offensive line and playing 6-on-6. Truncating football teams for more streamlined play is not a particularly original idea; NFL Blitz popularized 7-on-7 two decades ago.



That said, I also don't doubt that producers are conscious of their competition and are motivated to undercut competing products. Ideas aren't valuable in the video game industry before they are built, so they get traded back and forth very openly, generally everyone knows what everyone else is doing. Even if they don't, if you have a big enough team you can reactively ape popular trends pretty quickly. Look at how quickly Fortnite added pinging into their game after Apex Legends burst onto the scene and popularized the mechanic, for example.



Finally, since Madden 21 and The Yard is going to beat 2K's non-sim game to market by months, to a lot of people it's going to look like 2K copied EA. We don't really know who had the idea first as to point fingers either way, but it honestly doesn't matter. EA will have built and delivered the idea to players first. That circumstance alone is the singular reason why the video game industry is so hyper-competitive.

All true. I really don’t remember if APF or Madden 08 released first. I just found it ironic that the one feature 2k did have that made it stand out against Madden 08 to a casual was players abilities for a rating system and that also happened to find its way into Madden that year.

Yes EA has said that it streamlined presentation to make online shorter and Madden has tried to put and 3v3 online into the game in the past and took it out for whatever reason. It’s also a hyper competitive market and games often mimic button layouts that are the most intuitive like having a button for each wr or passing to a teammate.

But because the market is so hyper competitive, this gives us reason to believe that 2ks game is a my park/my team game and EA is aware of this and trying to beat its rival to the punch.

To me it doesn’t really matter. Each game has a different feel that either you like or you don’t. I’m just thinking EA might be tipping 2ks hand to consumers with The Yard.


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[Blzer]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

All true. I really don’t remember if APF or Madden 08 released first. I just found it ironic that the one feature 2k did have that made it stand out against Madden 08 to a casual was players abilities for a rating system and that also happened to find its way into Madden that year.

Yes EA has said that it streamlined presentation to make online shorter and Madden has tried to put and 3v3 online into the game in the past and took it out for whatever reason. It’s also a hyper competitive market and games often mimic button layouts that are the most intuitive like having a button for each wr or passing to a teammate.

But because the market is so hyper competitive, this gives us reason to believe that 2ks game is a my park/my team game and EA is aware of this and trying to beat its rival to the punch.

To me it doesn’t really matter. Each game has a different feel that either you like or you don’t. I’m just thinking EA might be tipping 2ks hand to consumers with The Yard.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

This is okay, though. All video game companies should be copying each other. Unless something is patented, I half-expect that some great feature gets brought over into a game from its competition. This is also why exclusive licenses suck and having multiple games is great. I remember when I went to San Diego Studios and a developer was literally playing MLB 2K10. The goal is to seek out your competition and learn from what they do well.

Note that I'm not stating you believe what EA is doing is a bad thing, because it sounds like you're making a point that if they're making some Yard mode that it's a reflection of what 2K is trying to attempt right now (if they're somehow in the know about it already), which hints to us what we should expect from 2K.

[illwill10]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

All true. I really don’t remember if APF or Madden 08 released first. I just found it ironic that the one feature 2k did have that made it stand out against Madden 08 to a casual was players abilities for a rating system and that also happened to find its way into Madden that year.

Yes EA has said that it streamlined presentation to make online shorter and Madden has tried to put and 3v3 online into the game in the past and took it out for whatever reason. It’s also a hyper competitive market and games often mimic button layouts that are the most intuitive like having a button for each wr or passing to a teammate.

But because the market is so hyper competitive, this gives us reason to believe that 2ks game is a my park/my team game and EA is aware of this and trying to beat its rival to the punch.

To me it doesn’t really matter. Each game has a different feel that either you like or you don’t. I’m just thinking EA might be tipping 2ks hand to consumers with The Yard.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

I believe APF 2k8 released first. It might even have released before NCAA 08

I hope The Yard isn't a representation of what 2k might be. After watching a couple of videos, I'm not interested in that. Maybe The Yard will be a better experience on console. It's like EA is taking NBA Live's The One's approach with emphasis on aaccessories. It's hard to make judgement based on mobile version, but I rather they took more of a NFL Street type gameplay than Madden fast paced 6- on- 6 gameplay.

If it has to be arcadey, than I rather it be NFL Street like. But I still feel the 2k will eventually have some thing simulation-esque in some way. There's a legit chance Madden won't lose exclusive license long term. Madden will have no issues hitting that revenue benchmark NFL set to add extra year unless it was a insanely number. So, the license is Madden's to lose(I.e Controversy). So if that happens and 2k never gets that chance, I see them in some form having a simulation based game. I don't see the long term goal being NFL Supercard and Playgrounds/Yard.
Unless they find a way to make a Career/Park type game that's very well received. But anything MyCareer related would still be considered Simulation based

[kjcheezhead]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

This is okay, though. All video game companies should be copying each other. Unless something is patented, I half-expect that some great feature gets brought over into a game from its competition. This is also why exclusive licenses suck and having multiple games is great. I remember when I went to San Diego Studios and a developer was literally playing MLB 2K10. The goal is to seek out your competition and learn from what they do well.



Note that I'm not stating you believe what EA is doing is a bad thing, because it sounds like you're making a point that if they're making some Yard mode that it's a reflection of what 2K is trying to attempt right now (if they're somehow in the know about it already), which hints to us what we should expect from 2K.

I believe that it’s just business. In the perfect world both games would have full access to the NFL and would steal what the other does well. NFL2k and Madden were both good games on the ps2 to me. I actually preferred madden back then. They both had a distinct feel to them tho. But I don’t like the maddens they have developed for the ps3 and beyond.


It’s all about execution. I personally believe 2ks NBA my park looks like a better mode than the Yard. I would be interested in a NFL2k park even with 7v7. Hopefully it would be packed full of other mini games and other stuff as well.

I’ve just seen multiple sources throw the My park idea out there as what 2k is working on and it does make sense. Ideally, some sort of authentic 11v11 game would my choice. Just skip the nfl and throw the players in a new APF is what I would do if I got to make the game myself.


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[gamerk2]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

I can see this as a real possibility. When APF released a new feature was the tiered rating system and skills like deep threat, quick release, rocket arm etc.

Which I loved, and wanted expanded. Rather then try and micro-manage every players ratings (which is impossible, really), just treat every player as average and highlight what they do better/worse then an average player at their position. Can you *really* see the difference between a 77 and a 82 in normal gameplay?

Regardless, I'm hoping 2k can at least adopt the AI from APF2k8 if nothing else.

[Kanobi]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Which I loved, and wanted expanded. Rather then try and micro-manage every players ratings (which is impossible, really), just treat every player as average and highlight what they do better/worse then an average player at their position. Can you *really* see the difference between a 77 and a 82 in normal gameplay?

Regardless, I'm hoping 2k can at least adopt the AI from APF2k8 if nothing else.

If Visual Concepts develops one of the games then the same lead AI Engineer would be attached. He definitely knows football and has a passion for the game.

[steeleye5]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Yeah, EA is definitely trying to get a teamplay mode in the game with The Yard, but we really don't know what the entire mode is. It could be a super ambition EA Version of MyCareer, or they could just copy and paste Chel into Madden. The second one kinda sounds more likely if my opinion is worth anything.

[allBthere]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

It's going to be some sort of NFL 2K Playgrounds game or something very similar. Since EA has the exclusive rights to "simulation football" there's no way 2K will make anything close to a sim. It's arcade or nothing at this point and maybe the NFL doesn't go exclusive in 2025, when that deal is over with EA.

Not likely though, unfortunately.

is it possible to have NFLPA - and not NFL ? that way you could have a non-nfl sim with real players (just no teams)

[kehlis]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

is it possible to have NFLPA - and not NFL ? that way you could have a non-nfl sim with real players (just no teams)

Not even necessary. They can do any non sim game they want with both the NFL and the NFLPA.

[jfsolo]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Not even necessary. They can do any non sim game they want with both the NFL and the NFLPA.

I think he's talking about them actually making a sim game with just the NFLPA license and not the NFL license as a way to get around EA's exclusivity. It's the same thing that many others here have been advocating for.