Why I Don't Play 'Be a Player' Modes

[RaychelSnr]

I don’t like "Be a Player" modes. At least, not these Be a Player modes.

The first version I played was Road to the Show from MLB 07: The Show. I still remember thinking at the time that "boy, this was it." A mode I have dreamed about for years. The skinny kid who can barely throw a ball sixty feet, six inches in real life can finally be a fire baller, pitch for the hometown Jays and single-handedly lift them from the basement all the way to the World Series. I don’t know which required more suspension of disbelief: me being in the big leagues or the Jays winning anything.

But as I went further into the game, it became monotonous. I found myself going through season after season while hoping for more. The goals were cool, the games played fine, and it was neat that I could request a trade -- the Jays were awful. But was that it? I could not help but feel that a player's life was much more interesting than that -- even without the extracurricular, Dennis Rodman-like stuff.

To be fair, it was Sony San Diego's first foray into this mode, and I didn’t expect the studio to include many bells and whistles. But has the mode really changed substantially from that point on? You create your virtual self, sign with a team, improve your attributes, win some things (or languish in mediocrity) and maybe change teams a few times. So I would argue that, no, it has not changed that much.

Toiling as an aspiring screenwriter -- I know, my articles are good evidence as to why I am a perennially aspiring writer, as opposed to a working one -- make me take a particular interest in a game’s storytelling elements. Who is my character? What is the game world like? What is my player’s relationship with that world? Simply put, I can’t help but feel that this "world" is drastically underdeveloped in most games.

Read More - Why I Don't Play "Be a Player" Modes

[RazzBerry80]

I agree. I think a mode...or perhaps a whole game that lets you live the life of a star athlete would be great. I do think spending the money that your player earns is a must. Why care how much he makes if you can blow it? A game like this should allow you to blow your money on cars mansions, or to be charitable with it.

[SHAKYR]

Great write up as always.

[mva5580]

Well said. I'm really not a fan of the "Be a Player" modes either, as has been said I think for those modes to be successful it really needs to be something beyond just participating in the game. I almost think it would need to be a separate game, with RPG-like elements.

[33repus]

haha same here !

[speels]

Good read, but now you are talking about a game completely different than a sports game. You are talking about a sports RPG and there is no company that is doing this. You are basically talking about SIms meets MLB The Show and I would guess more than less people would not like this game. IMO

[etched Chaos]

Good read, but now you are talking about a game completely different than a sports game. You are talking about a sports RPG and there is no company that is doing this. You are basically talking about SIms meets MLB The Show and I would guess more than less people would not like this game. IMO

Seriously? You think a Sports based RPG would be liked by the minority? A mode like that would be embraced by casual gamers and causual gamers is where the cash is. I myself, would love a 'be a player' mode with this level of depth and immersion, I find the current offerings lacking.

[sroz39]

To answer your question "do we really want The Sims?" I offer a resounding YES! I would die for a game with the on-field stuff like The Show has and then having a life outside of the game like The Sims. That part in The Sims where you leave to go to work? That's when you'd go to your practice/game that day and play like you normally would. I'm probably in the minority but I think this would be awesome.

MLB Power Pros had something like this in the Life mode but it needs to be fleshed out.

[champsbasketball]

nice write the sports games should really read this post.

[H to the Oza]

good article. I dont play my player mode either, the AI is just too stupid for me to handle, especially in the NHL series.

NBA 2k11 my player is fun.. for a short period. then it becomes repetitive after doing the same rebound drill/dribbling/shooting drill 100 times

[lowdru]

I love the My Player mode in NBA2K11 it has been fun to play. As for other sports games My Player modes I never enjoyed em in Madden or NCAA Football. I thought last years My Player mode in MLB2K10 was a decent first outing but there are many areas for improvement. Looking forward to MLB2K11 and its My Player mode.

[dave731]

One of the things NBA 2K11 and MLB The Show should do is take a page from the EASHL and form their own version of that with the My Player/RTTS. I know 2K11 has team up and my team but if they worked it out to where teams could get in and run seasons complete with trades, messages boards for smack talking among players and a virtual GM/Owner behind the scenes pulling the trigger on some of the deals, it would take on a life of its own. Rivalries would develop among individual players and owners while storylines would create themselves.

You enter the league as a young player who signs with a young owner of an NBDL team looking for talent. This process could also have different aspects to it with owners promising playing time, attribute boosts, etc. etc. Playing nets experience and boosted attributes allowing you to move up to the next level where a league exists with retiring veterans and young stars already developing. Someone could work out all the specifics in a one hour brainstorming session.

[dickey1331]

Re: Why I Don't Play "Be a Player" Modes

I would buy a sims type my player mode.

[d11king]

The My Player mode in NBA 2K IMO is the best Be-A-Player mode of the games I've played, (MLB2K, Madden, NCAA Football). But to be honest I stopped playing my player because I only used him until I got him at a 98 overall. But we also have to keep in mind this is the 2nd year of the My Player game mode from NBA2K and compared to 2K10 this one made a HUGE improvement, but there still are lapses. I got drafted to the Thunder and it seems like Kevin Durant misses every shot he takes even if WIDE open, if James Harden touches the ball, if I don't call for the pass, he will shoot it no matter what, and of course just the whole feel of, I feel like I'm just playing basketball games instead of actually feeling what's it's like to be a basketball player.

My favorite Be-A-Player mode would have to be NCAA Football. I liked that feature where you would have to get quizzed on certain class subjects or even college football stuff. I think they took it out, now the High School playlets are pretty cool, and the Road to Glory with Erin Andrews, and unlike the rest of the games, you don't come in as an automatic starter and have to earn (practice) your spot for example being a RB and choosing USC, how hard it is to become the starter because you're behind 4 guys. I like realism. In no way is my 43 overall power forward going to take Chris Bosh's starting spot 2 weeks into the season.

Some be-a-player modes are okay, but I believe 2k is headed into the right direction.

[RUFFNREADY]

Great write up! Nicely said about the AI lacking in most facets of these games. You have written what i have been telling my circle for years; and i to don't play "Be a Player" modes as well, for all the same reasons.
Cheers
ps. @Kelvin Mak; Please tell me, you don't hang out at the "Drake" Hotel on Queen st? Or frequent the Brass Rail? LOL