I love the gameplay... but off the field? ESPNFL needs work.
Before anybody chimes in with "I'd rather VC continue to focus on gameplay and graphics. Thats all that really matters"...no its not.
Sure Gameplay is the heart and soul of any sports game but VC has done such an excellent job of polishing and improving nfl2k4's gameplay over 2k3 that its rather difficult to fathom any signifcant additions they can make to onfiled play beyond what? More animations and even better player models? I'm sure theres more than that but at the moment its hard to come up with anything aside from more polish.
Not to mention Off-Field Fetaures and Modes such as Franchise Mode and ...
...the CRIB are what give the game a good amount of its longevity, replayability and lasting appeal.
OffField? Create-A-Player, Historic Team editing, Stat Tracking and Sorting, Depth Charts, and FRANCHISE MODE all IMO need a serious amount of attention if VC has any serious intent on nfl2k5 further building upon the success of espnfl.
Franchise Mode:
I Put Franchise Mode in all CAPS because beyond the email system...its the same as last year and when you have a Franchise Mode as Monstrous as Madden's, boring or not, with a plethora of options and features available PLUS solid stat tracking and sorting....VC can't afford to simply put out the same Franchise Mode next year hoping once again the gameplay will keep it afloat like it does for 2k4.
Plus, with the Lack of a Collegiate Counterpart..ESPNFL is in sore and desperate need of an import/export draft Class Feature. The Edit draft Class feature in espnfl as it is....SUCKS! Every season guys have to go in and edit rookies...everytime we start up a Franchise we have to edit the rookies all over again. Thats complete and total B.S.!!
VC, Look, if yall don't plan on making an ESPNCAA Football next year then you better add a highly functionable import/export draft class feature and I'm dead serious. We have guys on here looking for Draft Class spreadsheets and going to extremes just to have real-life rookies in their draft when they shouldn't have to.
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Stat Tracking
Stat tracking and Sorting needs to seriously be improved. I don't know who's in Charge of Off-Field features at VC but they need to get it in gear or get their *** whupped! They need to simply sit down, study Madden's Stat engine...and copy it. Bottomline.
How Can you have Stat Leaders and not allow the user to sort them by Conference and Division??? WTF?? The Way the Stats are all jumbled up on one screen is ridiculous!
Tackles Stats, a Hot button topic as is, require 3 categories...TOTAL Tackles, SOLOS, and ASSISTS. Why espnfl has only 2 categories for tackles is beyond me and its a huge reason why most are up in arms because their LBs aren't comparing with the League leaders. However I certainly do appluad ESPNFL being the first football game on PS2 to track assisted tackles and Half Sacks. Much props for that.
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Edit/Create-A-Player:
This is an area in espnfl that is frustrating me the most. I'm a guy that loves customizing my rosters and that ultimately requires I edit the players. First off...The Body types are generic. This is a huge piss-off after there was evdidence of BodyPart sliders in the ESPNFL beta footage. Why VC took this feature out I'll never know. The Facial Choices are lacking andthis results in waaayyy to many players looking exactly alike. The Lack of Body type sliders also results in QBs and Kickers all being built Like Michael Vick as well as other positions looking rather generic across the board...especially offensive Tackles. OMG Willie Roaf looks like a Mr. Universe contestant. WTF??
Madden's player Models might be laughable but the sheer amount of customization available in regards to how the Madden players are built is unmatched and is something VC should look at adding (or putting back in) for next year.
Depth Charts..
There needs to be a Right/Left for Offensive lIne and Defensive Positions. There needs to be spots for long snapper, punt returner and kick returner. Again, VC, look at Madden as in example...Hell, look at real-life depth charts as an example.
Man I'm sure theres more offield gripes I left out but these are the main things that are personally pissing me off. Again, these are personal gripes. I'm not screaming or porclaiming I've found some type gamebreaking flawglitchbug. I'm just noting areas of the game that need improvement next year....especially since VC actually listens t thier fans. Plus, those who know me at nfl2kx.com already know I'm active in coming up with suggestions and have sent in many to them to VC.
Anyways, If any of you agree or disagree then thats cool. I still love the game and...
OMFG!!!
How could forget IN-GAME SAVE!!!!!?? This is an absolute, undeniable MUST-HAVE feature next year, VC. Don't leave this out next year.
Overall however, ESpnfl is still the best football game available this year IMO. But if that is to be the Case for 2k5...Visual Concepts better take a long hard look at seriously Improving the Off-the-Field Options and Features...BIGTIME!
Before anybody chimes in with "I'd rather VC continue to focus on gameplay and graphics. Thats all that really matters"...no its not.
Sure Gameplay is the heart and soul of any sports game but VC has done such an excellent job of polishing and improving nfl2k4's gameplay over 2k3 that its rather difficult to fathom any signifcant additions they can make to onfiled play beyond what? More animations and even better player models? I'm sure theres more than that but at the moment its hard to come up with anything aside from more polish.
Not to mention Off-Field Fetaures and Modes such as Franchise Mode and ...
...the CRIB are what give the game a good amount of its longevity, replayability and lasting appeal.OffField? Create-A-Player, Historic Team editing, Stat Tracking and Sorting, Depth Charts, and FRANCHISE MODE all IMO need a serious amount of attention if VC has any serious intent on nfl2k5 further building upon the success of espnfl.
Franchise Mode:
I Put Franchise Mode in all CAPS because beyond the email system...its the same as last year and when you have a Franchise Mode as Monstrous as Madden's, boring or not, with a plethora of options and features available PLUS solid stat tracking and sorting....VC can't afford to simply put out the same Franchise Mode next year hoping once again the gameplay will keep it afloat like it does for 2k4.
Plus, with the Lack of a Collegiate Counterpart..ESPNFL is in sore and desperate need of an import/export draft Class Feature. The Edit draft Class feature in espnfl as it is....SUCKS! Every season guys have to go in and edit rookies...everytime we start up a Franchise we have to edit the rookies all over again. Thats complete and total B.S.!!
VC, Look, if yall don't plan on making an ESPNCAA Football next year then you better add a highly functionable import/export draft class feature and I'm dead serious. We have guys on here looking for Draft Class spreadsheets and going to extremes just to have real-life rookies in their draft when they shouldn't have to.
-----------------------------
Stat Tracking
Stat tracking and Sorting needs to seriously be improved. I don't know who's in Charge of Off-Field features at VC but they need to get it in gear or get their *** whupped! They need to simply sit down, study Madden's Stat engine...and copy it. Bottomline.
How Can you have Stat Leaders and not allow the user to sort them by Conference and Division??? WTF?? The Way the Stats are all jumbled up on one screen is ridiculous!
Tackles Stats, a Hot button topic as is, require 3 categories...TOTAL Tackles, SOLOS, and ASSISTS. Why espnfl has only 2 categories for tackles is beyond me and its a huge reason why most are up in arms because their LBs aren't comparing with the League leaders. However I certainly do appluad ESPNFL being the first football game on PS2 to track assisted tackles and Half Sacks. Much props for that.
-----------------------------
Edit/Create-A-Player:
This is an area in espnfl that is frustrating me the most. I'm a guy that loves customizing my rosters and that ultimately requires I edit the players. First off...The Body types are generic. This is a huge piss-off after there was evdidence of BodyPart sliders in the ESPNFL beta footage. Why VC took this feature out I'll never know. The Facial Choices are lacking andthis results in waaayyy to many players looking exactly alike. The Lack of Body type sliders also results in QBs and Kickers all being built Like Michael Vick as well as other positions looking rather generic across the board...especially offensive Tackles. OMG Willie Roaf looks like a Mr. Universe contestant. WTF??
Madden's player Models might be laughable but the sheer amount of customization available in regards to how the Madden players are built is unmatched and is something VC should look at adding (or putting back in) for next year.
Depth Charts..
There needs to be a Right/Left for Offensive lIne and Defensive Positions. There needs to be spots for long snapper, punt returner and kick returner. Again, VC, look at Madden as in example...Hell, look at real-life depth charts as an example.
Man I'm sure theres more offield gripes I left out but these are the main things that are personally pissing me off. Again, these are personal gripes. I'm not screaming or porclaiming I've found some type gamebreaking flawglitchbug. I'm just noting areas of the game that need improvement next year....especially since VC actually listens t thier fans. Plus, those who know me at nfl2kx.com already know I'm active in coming up with suggestions and have sent in many to them to VC.
Anyways, If any of you agree or disagree then thats cool. I still love the game and...
OMFG!!!
How could forget IN-GAME SAVE!!!!!?? This is an absolute, undeniable MUST-HAVE feature next year, VC. Don't leave this out next year.
Overall however, ESpnfl is still the best football game available this year IMO. But if that is to be the Case for 2k5...Visual Concepts better take a long hard look at seriously Improving the Off-the-Field Options and Features...BIGTIME!
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