A Fresh Look at Realism

[RaychelSnr]

Today, Jess Stewart checks in with an article taking a fresh look at realism. Check it out here.

"There is a certain level of integrity that the OS community tries to uphold when it comes to sports games and realism. The overwhelming majority hope for standings and stats that are on par with what they see happening in real life. It is understood that upsets will happen and certain players will have breakout seasons, but if overdone by a sim engine, the community attempts to feverishly right the ship. Often times the task can be too daunting and take away from enjoying a game that is meant to entertain not frustrate."

[Tdiddy9182]

Exactly! My main sim game of choice is NBA2k8 and if I have a role player that is on fire, I don't pull him out of the game just because its unrealistic. I play w a raptors association and with my last game, Delfino went 5/6 when he came in and was on fire, so i kept using him and he ended up with 35. Its not like things of that degree happen anyway, but its just part of the unexpected in the world of sports.

[BrianFifaFan]

I totally agree with this article. I have no problem with a game that I win because I executed, regardless of the stat line. In baseball it is possible to bat .1000 and the Cornhuskers used to put up 70 quite often. My problem lies in a game that doesn't have the proper fundimentals of a sport coded in or has predictable second-rate AI that doesn't offer a challenge. Many sports games are guilty of having AI that doesn't get "smarter" as you progress in difficulty level, it just begins to "cheat." And then those built in coding flaws that the CPU uses end of getting discovered by a human opponent and used to win games in a way that undermines the basic rules of the sport. Or you get something really unrealistic like Shaq doing crossovers and spins, like in NBA2k5.

[stewaat]

Tdiddy, you hit it on the head. When you have to utilize what you are given to win there is a great feeling associated with that victory.

Brian, I feel you. It's tough when games have to "cheat" to beat us. Hopefully games progress to the point where the AI just plays much better as opposed to making every shot and the like.

[J.R. Locke]

?? I don't understand your argument at all. Stats and difficulty level should not be confused. Stats tell how games are won or lost....which in effect tells you how realistic a video game is to representing the real thing.

[stewaat]

I'm saying take the focus away from stats. Instead of asking yourself post game "Well did I have the better stats and deserve the victory?" ask "Did I execute my game plan?".

Having a challenging experience in which you feel you deserved a victory should be the focal point IMO. This is targeted towards sim gamers who spend too much time sweating whether or not their stats are VERY accurate.

I agree that for the most part stats tell how a game is won/lost. I just believe they are scrutinized to an extreme which takes away from the overall gaming experience.

[adembroski]

I generally don't concern myself with stats... if I find a slider set that makes the action on the field feel right, there are appropriate reactions to my actions, generally, the stats will fall into place.

Unfortunately, football is the only sport I know well enough to do this in. My first act with any new football game is to create 7 players... 4 defensive and 5 offensive, and put their ratings where, once I find the right blocking sliders, I should produce a stalemate over many plays. Then I start working on making sure my runningbacks and receivers are running at the same pace. Then I start throwing quick outs to see how quick the defensive backs are jumping the route, if at all... this gives me my baseline for all other sliders. I never, ever use stats to generate sliders.

[RogueHominid]

Cum si, cum sa. Sports games are about statistics. Granted, you can't hold yourself to the unrealistic expectation that only teams and players who are "supposed" to be good are good, and vice versa; however, I don't see how you can play a sports game where there are seven turnovers a game, 5 2,000 yard rushers a year, 15 hits a game, or whatever over the long haul. IMHO, statistical parameters have to go along with gameplay as the two top determinants of a quality sports game.

[ChaseB]

Tdiddy, you hit it on the head. When you have to utilize what you are given to win there is a great feeling associated with that victory.

Brian, I feel you. It's tough when games have to "cheat" to beat us. Hopefully games progress to the point where the AI just plays much better as opposed to making every shot and the like.

It's a divisive issue either way. I like your argument (I proofed the article after all ha) but some people just aren't going to bite on it.

[PioneerRaptor]

I disagree with you opinion here, though I respect your choice. In my eyes, what's the challenge in using say, Utah State to beat USC if the game is going to scale it to make it easier?

There's no satisfaction to myself, if I didn't have to try my very best to win. I want to beat USC with Utah State, not because the AI helped me, but because I was skilled and smart enough to do it.

Not to mention, I like to use low-ranking teams in Dynasty and have the challenge of making that low-ranking team into a high-ranking team. I very much enjoy losing 4-5 games one year, a few less the next, and eventually making my team good enough to go undefeated and win the BCS bowl. And I did all of that with my own abilities, not the AI helping me.

[Billym1973]

I totally agree with the article. When I play MLB 2k8 I just look for the rosters that are up to date on Opening Day, and work with those throughout my franchise, and make trades as need be. I see alot of people wanting to start their franchise with rosters that are up to date to the middle of the real baseball season, and make the same trades that the real MLB teams do, nothing wrong with that, I just dont understand why. If someone wants there franchise to have the same stats as their real life counterparts, or make the same trades as the real teams, why play the game?

[BlackJack]

I agree with this article whole-heartedly because, I believe that if they are going to make it that real, why don't they duplicate the wins and the losses as well? That way it can all be like real life, and you can have the"perfect" game, and in most cases your favorite team won't win the championship of the respective sport.

[stewaat]

Re: A Fresh Look at Realism

I agree with this article whole-heartedly because, I believe that if they are going to make it that real, why don't they duplicate the wins and the losses as well? That way it can all be like real life, and you can have the"perfect" game, and in most cases your favorite team won't win the championship of the respective sport.

Couldn't have said it any better.

[PaperLantern]

I expected a BCS bowl...

[slickdtc]

Re: A Fresh Look at Realism

A couple of years ago I was more gung ho about having the right statistics, but then it eventually made the games not fun anymore. Then, more recently, I just started playing the games for what they are. No, I don't want to have outlandish statistics and if I consistently can put up a crazy amount of points or goals or runs, then I'll tinker with those sliders a bit. But I'd rather have a game that's fun and challenging without it feeling like I was cheated out of a win (by some crazy CPU catchup logic where I can call their plays before they happen) or where I completely, consistently oblierate the opposition.

For me, it's a mix of trying to keep statistics relatively realistic while also having a good gaming experience. I enjoy a 5-11 season just as much as a 12-4 season. It adds some parity to the game, and that's what all professional league strive for; from worst to first in a short amount of time.