OS Fact or Fiction: EA Won't Buy Us Edition

[RaychelSnr]

This week's edition of OS Fact or Fiction concentrates on Madden, the ongoing Take Two dillemma, hockey games and what the most important aspect of sports games are. Be sure to see what members of the Operation Sports Writing Staff have to say about these topics and add your very own two cents to the discussion! Check out the EA Won't Buy Us Edition of Fact or Fiction now!

[yamabushi]

1. Fiction: From terrible to Average. This is why the expression 'meh' was invinted.

2. Fiction/dont care: They'll long since been bought up. Or not. No Choops, no 2K football, no care anymore.

3. Hoc-key?

4. Fiction: Carlos is dead on: Gameplay. Gameplay. Gameplay.

[J.R. Locke]

1 - Fact - Madden plays great. The running game and tackling was my biggest complaint for 6 years.
2 - Fact - I don't think this drama has played out yet.
3 - Hockey?
4 - Fact - Everyone wants online dynasty/career mode. I am a offline player and an in depth career mode is by far the most important factor.

[therockstar2005]

1. Fiction. The game this year is definitely good. But if they follow that up with a craptastic effort next year, then what's the point. For the franchise to really be back, it'll take a pattern of good games and good effort.

2. Fact. Unless 2K has one last ace up its sleeve, at some point, EA or someone else is gonna give them an offer they can't refuse.

3. Hockey is awesome, and you all are missing out. Fact. NHL 08 was a truly great game, everything just worked really well, and if 09 is even better, then 2k would have to reinvent their entire game to realistically compete.

4. Fiction. I would vote for gameplay and experience over the career mode, though it shouldn't be far behind.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: EA Won't Buy Us Edition

#1 Given the positive feedback for Madden by critics, it is safe to say the franchise is back.
Void: I've only played the demo, so I can't really comment. I've no interest in the Madden series, and the demo did nothing to improve that.


#2 Take-Two will still be listening to buyout offers come next spring.
Fact: Everyone has their price.


#3 Despite the improvements touted for NHL 2K9, it will not even come close to NHL 09.
Fiction: I guess are a few things to be asked about this question, though. What do you mean by "come close". Do you mean in terms of sales/popularity, in terms of overall gameplay, in terms of trying to create a hockey game that plays like hockey?

I certainly don't believe 2k9 will beat out NHL 2009 in terms of popularity. But when it comes down to overall gameplay, the NHL 2k series has beaten the EA NHL series every year since 2k3. 2k8 was heads and tails above what NHL 2008 was. However, it should be noted that I look at it in terms of trying to "simulate" hockey. NHL 2008 was quite clearly an arcade game, while 2k8 tried to go the sim route. Since I'm a sim guy, 2k8 was my game of choice. I had total control over my players, whereas in 2008 I really didn't have nearly enough control.

I expect 2k9 to try to continue the sim aspect, while 2008 follows the arcade aspect. They're really two different games when it comes down to it. I enjoy SIM, others prefer an arcade experience. It's up to the player.

#4 The most important aspect of sports games, above all other aspects, is a career mode of some kind.
Fiction: Without gameplay, career mode means nothing. Gameplay is the most important aspect of any game.

[StormJH1]

Agreed with Timmay. There are a lot of people who don't care about the sport of hockey, who nonetheless love playing hockey videogames. It just lends itself well to the videogame format, for whatever reason. Also, NHL '08, which had a pretty weak franchise mode, is proof that you can make a great game without a spectacular franchise, but only if you've actually put in the effort to improve the gameplay and presentation. NHL '08 blew people away with its shotstick controls and A.I., but obviously, they'll need to improve the franchise and online features (which, for the latter, it would seem that they have) in order to stay on top.

On the broader point about franchise modes, I think NHL 2k is proof that a great career mode and tons of features can't save sub-par graphics and average gameplay. But if you look at something like APF 2k8, there's a game where most people loved the gameplay and were fine with the graphics, but the franchise and game concept was so poorly conceived (or non-existent) that hardly anyone was playing that game 6 months after release, assuming they bought it at all.

[yamabushi]

Let me add a post script to my comment;
I played Hockey games back on Genesis, and loved them (not a fan of the actual sport) but nowadays with a terrific franchise mode & gameplay (I hear) the same thing keep sme from NBA & NHL & even MLB games; Too many games.
NFL - 16 + playtoffs
CHoops - 30ish + tournaments
PES - 30ish
those others? 80+, 80+ , and 180+ thats anywhere from 4-10 NFL seasons. Just too much...

[teebee]

2k sells to EA i'm going to kick someone in the junk, ie. Stephmc

[asu666]

MLB 08: The Show is the game all other sports games should model their Franchise Modes on. It is as close to running a Major League Team as most of us will ever get. ESPN NFL 2K5 is still the high water mark in presentation, but The Show is close there too.

[RealmK]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: EA Won't Buy Us Edition

#1 Given the positive feedback for Madden by critics, it is safe to say the franchise is back.
Void: I've only played the demo, so I can't really comment. I've no interest in the Madden series, and the demo did nothing to improve that.


#2 Take-Two will still be listening to buyout offers come next spring.
Fact: Everyone has their price.


#3 Despite the improvements touted for NHL 2K9, it will not even come close to NHL 09.
Fiction: I guess are a few things to be asked about this question, though. What do you mean by "come close". Do you mean in terms of sales/popularity, in terms of overall gameplay, in terms of trying to create a hockey game that plays like hockey?

I certainly don't believe 2k9 will beat out NHL 2009 in terms of popularity. But when it comes down to overall gameplay, the NHL 2k series has beaten the EA NHL series every year since 2k3. 2k8 was heads and tails above what NHL 2008 was. However, it should be noted that I look at it in terms of trying to "simulate" hockey. NHL 2008 was quite clearly an arcade game, while 2k8 tried to go the sim route. Since I'm a sim guy, 2k8 was my game of choice. I had total control over my players, whereas in 2008 I really didn't have nearly enough control.

I expect 2k9 to try to continue the sim aspect, while 2008 follows the arcade aspect. They're really two different games when it comes down to it. I enjoy SIM, others prefer an arcade experience. It's up to the player.

#4 The most important aspect of sports games, above all other aspects, is a career mode of some kind.
Fiction: Without gameplay, career mode means nothing. Gameplay is the most important aspect of any game.

Either you haven't played NHL 08, or your idea of "sim" hockey includes 1000 checks a game and players flying all over the place rather than playing positionally sound and using 1 timers exclusively to score. Saying 2k8 plays a sim game of hockey is prolly the biggest load of bs I keep reading on this site.

[savoie2006]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: EA Won't Buy Us Edition

#1 Given the positive feedback for Madden by critics, it is safe to say the franchise is back.

Fiction:When people can play the game without Franchise freezes and online disconnects,the series will be on the right track.The gameplay has some glitches,but those are expected and as long as they are patched,it's all good.The gameplay is better this year though.

#2 Take-Two will still be listening to buyout offers come next spring.

Fiction:I think with them and EA now officially entering strategic talks and the FTC out of the way,I see a deal of some sort hammered out before the end of the year.If Not with EA,with somebody.

#3 Despite the improvements touted for NHL 2K9, it will not even come close to NHL 09.

Fiction:One mans trash is another mans treasure.Hardly fitting for FACT OR FICTION.

#4 The most important aspect of sports games, above all other aspects, is a career mode of some kind.

Fiction:Again,some may feel career mode is vital,others may enjoy a deep online experience.I say include both along with solid gameplay and everybody is happy.That is as long as people play fair and there isn't freezes and disconnects.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: EA Won't Buy Us Edition

Either you haven't played NHL 08, or your idea of "sim" hockey includes 1000 checks a game and players flying all over the place rather than playing positionally sound and using 1 timers exclusively to score. Saying 2k8 plays a sim game of hockey is prolly the biggest load of bs I keep reading on this site.

I've got NHL 2008.

I didn't say NHL 2k8 was perfect, I said it tried to take the simulation route, which it certainly did.

NHL 2009 is looking far, far better than 2008 in terms of trying to play a somewhat realistic game. But NHL 2008 was way, way off. 2k8 attempted, and did very well in a lot of aspects.

Why do people get so defensive? They act as if "sim" or "arcade" is better than the other. They're not. They're preferences. I can see the games for what they are, and I call them like they are. You act as if it's a bad thing to call something "arcade" and that I'm saying something is better because it's "sim". What I said was I prefer something that tries to be a little more sim like. That's my preference.

[RealmK]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: EA Won't Buy Us Edition

"Either you haven't played NHL 08, or your idea of "sim" hockey includes 1000 checks a game and players flying all over the place rather than playing positionally sound and using 1 timers exclusively to score."

Couldn't agree more: NHL08 online is NOT real NHL hockey. Further, EA makes no slider adjustments via patch (aka: doesn't care) to even ATTEMPT to re-balance online hockey realism. It's all about appealing to the unskilled players for recurrent annual sales.

I wouldn't know about online, I'm primarily a sim/franchise guy, and offline for me the game plays pretty sim for the most part, are there still some arcade elements to it? Sure, but for me the AI is leaps and bounds above what 2k has thrown our way for the past few years and to an offline guy, thats the most important thing really.

They did adjust some gameplay elements during one of the 07 patches actually, so you're flat out wrong on that one. Though you're another one of those guys who makes 20 posts about the same thing anyway. We get you, you hate the cheese players.

[dbrandon]

Fact - Far to few Penalties
Fact - CPU still can't run the ball

other then that I think this is the best Madden in years