Sports Games on Demand?

[spit_bubble]

Will we ever see Sports Games on Demand, on XBOX Live and the PSN?

I'm a relatively new 360 S owner, and like the fact that I can download full-fledged 360 games directly to my HDD. When it comes to sports games however the pickings are pretty slim.

Is there some reason publishers aren't putting sports games up for download? Like maybe some sort of licensing issue?

[MassNole]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Will we ever see Sports Games on Demand, on XBOX Live and the PSN?

I'm a relatively new 360 S owner, and like the fact that I can download full-fledged 360 games directly to my HDD. When it comes to sports games however the pickings are pretty slim.

Is there some reason publishers aren't putting sports games up for download? Like maybe some sort of licensing issue?

Licensing agreements are the death knoll for sports games on demand. When EA or 2K enter into an agreement to make a game the license they get from the Players Association is for only that season.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Licensing agreements are the death knoll for sports games on demand. When EA or 2K enter into an agreement to make a game the license they get from the Players Association is for only that season.

That's what I was thinking...

Though the workaround for that would be to only sell it during the license period, and then make the game available to download any time for those who purchased it... Like they do other games, in case the hardware fails...

Assuming of course that this would be cost effective for the publisher.

[DirtyJerz32]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Fight Night Round 4 is the only one that I know of that's On Demand.

[mgoblue]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

That's what I was thinking...

Though the workaround for that would be to only sell it during the license period, and then make the game available to download any time for those who purchased it... Like they do other games, in case the hardware fails...

Assuming of course that this would be cost effective for the publisher.

And it's gonna be a little while before console games fully embrace digital downloads for full 60 buck games.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Fight Night Round 4 is the only one that I know of that's On Demand.

There's a few others on Xbox Live: the NBA Street game, NCAA Basketball tourney edition, and the Skate games if you want to count them.

And it's gonna be a little while before console games fully embrace digital downloads for full 60 buck games.

Yeah there's that too, because most of the games you see are greatest hits type of games, for no more than $30.

At this point publishers have only dabbled with this, like the NCAA Basketball tourney edition, or even the NBA 2K combine title. I wonder if the market will expand with the bigger HDDs that are coming out as standard with each console.

One thing they could possibly do is release a "light" version of a game, and strip it of franchise mode. This probably wouldn't take much in terms of developing costs, and might just bring in more sales.

I know for myself I don't always get into the dynasty aspect of a game, so a cheaper stripped down version of a game would have more appeal to me, as a "pick up and play" type of game. I'd probably buy more sports games if they were available like this.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

The other potential thing about sports games on demand...

No used game sales, which I know publishers hate.

[23]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?




ZZZZZZIIIIINNNG!!!

[mgoblue]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Yeah there's that too, because most of the games you see are greatest hits type of games, for no more than $30.

At this point publishers have only dabbled with this, like the NCAA Basketball tourney edition, or even the NBA 2K combine title. I wonder if the market will expand with the bigger HDDs that are coming out as standard with each console.

One thing they could possibly do is release a "light" version of a game, and strip it of franchise mode. This probably wouldn't take much in terms of developing costs, and might just bring in more sales.

I know for myself I don't always get into the dynasty aspect of a game, so a cheaper stripped down version of a game would have more appeal to me, as a "pick up and play" type of game. I'd probably buy more sports games if they were available like this.

We just have the HD size issue now...games are big enough and consoles aren't like PC's where we can just add new HD's, so people who like to have tons of games are kinda screwed. I think the next gen systems will be more adaptable (more USB memory support, something) to allow for bigger HD's and adding on space.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

We just have the HD size issue now...games are big enough and consoles aren't like PC's where we can just add new HD's, so people who like to have tons of games are kinda screwed. I think the next gen systems will be more adaptable (more USB memory support, something) to allow for bigger HD's and adding on space.

Huh?

Consoles are like PCs now, where you can remove and upgrade the hard disc drive. Even the standard HDDs that come packaged with a console are big enough to hold a decent amount of content.

Then if you consider potential "light" versions of a sports game at a reduced price, which you could re-download at any time... Seems to me like there's a market.

I know with Madden and NBA 2K this year, I'm not getting either... But if there were a pick-up-and-play version for download at $20-30, it might be a different story.

And Onlive... I mean, eh... Already got my set up, and who knows if Onlive will stay afloat at this point... Though I do like what they are doing.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Assassin's Creed 2 just released on the Xbox Marketplace for $40. That's the highest price game I've seen on there. Who knows, maybe the industry is just now slowly shifting.

Seems to me that a big name sports game release could easily do well as a download. If they just disabled the franchise mode, then priced it at $30, and dealt with whatever licensing red tape that was out there...

From a consumer standpoint I think there would be great appeal in this.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Sorry to harp on this... But if you look at all the other junk they have up for sale in the Games on Demand section in the Xbox Marketplace... You're telling me Madden or NBA 2k couldn't sell???

Come on... Rework that license, do what ya have to do, and get your game up for sale!

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Ha!

Right on cue... I happen to check the new releases this morning... And NHL 2K9 is there for $19.99.

Good job 2Ksports.

Though NHL 2K9 seems like kind of an odd choice.

Well, whatever... Good to see.

[MassNole]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Ha!

Right on cue... I happen to check the new releases this morning... And NHL 2K9 is there for $19.99.

Good job 2Ksports.

Though NHL 2K9 seems like kind of an odd choice.

Well, whatever... Good to see.

Now that is interesting......

[spit_bubble]

Re: Sports Games on Demand?

Now that is interesting......

It would be really interesting to have the most recent games... With perhaps a small price drop at midseason... Like say Madden 11 in November for $49.99.

Though I kind of get the sense that NHL 2K9 is acting more as a sacrificial lamb here, to test the waters a bit and see how a sports game would do as a download.

In other words I'm not expecting a flood of sports games to hit the Games on Demand market, though it would be nice.