The Biggest Feature Needed in All Franchise Modes Is...? (Roundtable)

[RaychelSnr]

Franchise modes have been around for quite awhile now, and while we've seen them grow up in big ways -- it seems like the next level has been elusive for these modes.

Universally the franchise modes we play today are way better than they were a decade ago, but there's still so much to explore. Our staff takes a look at a few ways franchise modes could look to expand their offerings in the future...

Read more - The Biggest Feature Needed in All Franchise Modes Is...? (Roundtable)

[Kanobi]

As far as football is concerned, Player Personalities is the biggest thing missing. The players currently still seem like bots that don't react off the field to the changing world around them, from immediate roster/coaching staff changes...to players at the same position but on other teams getting bigger contracts.

Developers are on the right track with player traits for in-game performance. But they need to develop player mental make-up....is this guy a loner or a mentor? is he a quiet, lead-by-example guy or a rah-rah, vocal leader?....is this guy passionate about the game or is he just a headcase? Then...give those personalities an arc that changes/develops over the course of the players career based what occurs around them.

And then take it another step in how those different personalities co-exist on a team...and then how they collectively respond to the coach.

To me, this is what will ultimately immerse gamers in a franchise mode. I could imagine being at work thinking about how to deal with benching my aging veteran qb who's deteriorating skills are holding the team back. I drafted him when he was just an immature, out-of-control punk with a golden arm. Now he's got some maturity, gray in his hair, and four Super Bowl rings with this team.

Even if the qb understands the move...will management understand? How about the fans?....Or the media? ...How will this sit with the locker room? I mean...I've had a few players approach me privately and suggest a change at qb but do they represent the majority or the minority?

The above is EXACTLY the type of decisions and thought process that future franchise modes should be forcing on the user. That would make every little victory in the game that much more meaningful and emotionally rewarding. Above all it's ultimate immersion in the game because suddenly...the user will genuinely CARE about every player on the team.

[BizDevConglomerate]

Unlock ables for GM and Commish for expamsion. I am of those who feel that in all pro sports we need the companion amateur leagues. So in a franchise mode there needs to be an adequate deep subleague that you can be involved in, not a random generated crop of rookies.

A full scouting mode, built into the same game at one time. For instance. In 2k we create draft classes, but what would be crazy is if we could actually have a league those players come out of. Instead of making their attributes be too gaudy, give them general potentials and let their careers play out.

On an entirely extreme angle, there needs to be a game for all pro sports come out that challenges the majors, and attempts to change the way we play these games. From simulation gameplay to autopilot. Where we connect our mobile devices and manage the games similar to.how they have it now, but it's used to build stadiums, share data, build leagues on the fly and manage until we are ready to play. Immerse the entire process into the game, scouts, agents, front offices, referees, everything.

[eye guy]

I'd have to agree with Dustin Thomas' idea but with the addition of team success and player "legacy goals" playing a decent role in regards to where the free agent will sign.

[shanev]

One thing that would help is to integrate an online presence, one of the old NCAA football games let you make a website that was built by the game. I believe one of the NBA games let you manage some things on the phone too. Giving you wider access and the ability to share with friends your franchise accomplishments would go a long way.

[jada855]

Year to Year saves with injected roster updates! The main reason I am still playing MLB the show! Having a created player in franchise mode and keeping track of those stats year to year is awesome and fun! Extra plus that the games graphics don't look dated!

[AgustusM]

I believe simple immersion of stats would make a huge difference. If you are in week 10 of a real NFL game and the opposing RB leads the league in rushing - that would be a major talking point. Tough to get the announcers to do it - but graphic overlays of top 5 is each categories and highlighting players in current game should be easy.

also career stats. total pro bowl appearances, anything really that creates the alternate reality around your franchise and what is and has happened.

[onin9190]

You guys are dead on about feeling like you're part of the game not just playing the game. Let's talk Madden right now because it's one of the most flawed games. Have a GM mode where you have to make decisions. Is your coach not motivating your players, should you fire your coach and promote someone else (mid-season or at the end of the season). Are certain players cancers to the locker room, what should the focus be in the draft. Its all about real decision making. They should also include a market based salary because then you have to make tough decision on drafting players letting players go. I had to let a player go just so I can draft one not because I couldn't afford him just wanted to let him go. I had over 70 million in cap space.

They need to talk to former GM, coaches, players and maybe even some owners on how things work. Every position is different and when you have the game play be the same repetition whether you're a coach, owner or player it's all the same. They need to make it different it's own entity.

[malky]

I believe simple immersion of stats would make a huge difference. If you are in week 10 of a real NFL game and the opposing RB leads the league in rushing - that would be a major talking point. Tough to get the announcers to do it - but graphic overlays of top 5 is each categories and highlighting players in current game should be easy.

also career stats. total pro bowl appearances, anything really that creates the alternate reality around your franchise and what is and has happened.

Yep yep yep, couldn't agree more...... It would be nice if we had more stats and the graphic overlays as you progress, especially in the Pro games.

NCAA Football does it sometimes with the announcers but it should also be mentioning before the game, for instance, " Player is going for his 350th homerun today and the stadium is packed to see if he does it"

As they say with franchise mode IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS

[Tsuki]

Every single player needs personality tendencies(ratings) just as they do for the on court/field/ice decisions they make

[bukktown]

They all need to be like MyLeague

[Retropyro]

For Madden, I'd like to see a coaching career similar to NCAA. Start off as a offensive or defensive coordinator and build from there. Add in the coaching carousal. Have a skill tree for your coach to unlock and build upon, with the skills having an impact on the game. From how certain players progress, how team chemistry is affected, how the potential free agents view your team etc.

Make free agency more meaningful and deep, have actual meetings with players you are going after. If anything, the off-season part should take longer than the actual season, between FA and the draft.

Make the pre-season mean something with real position battles based on training, practice and games.

[brettas2]

Meaningful offseasons is a must have. Free agency is a money grab in offeason modes right now. If I have 10 million dollars in cap space but have an awesome team, and the free agent I want wants 10 million a year, I can only sign him if nobody else offers 11 million. I understand that is fairly realistic, but some free agents will go to a better opportunity, not someplace just for the money. When I start a franchise, I want to feel invested in the character, building him/her up from the beginning and making them a force in whatever league it is. As far as coaching goes, the college games, NCAA football and College hoops 2k series had it right. There was such a great carousel in the game. If I start out as an offensive coordinator for the Redskins and build up their offense and get offered a Head Coaching job for the (hypothetically speaking) aging Steelers, or upstart Titans, do I take either? Do I hold out and hope for a potential superbowl winning season with my current team the next year when maybe my "dream job" opens up? These are questions that any coach would be asking themselves in this situation. Do I jump at the money or do I wait and hope for a better opportunity. Maybe your team fails miserably the next year and you do not have any head coaching opportunities, but a chance to move on as an offensive coordinator to a better team...

Also, gameplanning really needs to become more of a focal point in these modes. Basketball and Football especially. The overall scouting of my teams strengths and weaknesses as well as the opponents and being able to easily formulate a gameplan based on this. Why would I want to come out and throw 50 times with a bad qb, when I have one of the best running attacks in football? Why wouldn't I want to focus my players on the floor to give space to the ball handler at the 3 point line because their team struggles shooting the 3 in basketball? You can control your player, but you cannot control your team overall... There needs to be a better way to do that.

[DocHolliday]

The Biggest Feature Needed in All Franchise Modes Is...? (Roundtable)

I think companies wrongly think we need a lot of around the league info delivered to us in "tv" format. It's just wrong. How many of us sit through NBA 2K game intros? While cool, I skip them as soon as possible. Same for halftime. I just want to finish the game.

A good way to show what's happened around the league is a week ending "around the league"'report. And guess what....its just text!

NBA 2K for example would have:

Injured this week: Would show all the injuries that happened around the league and their effect

Top players
Would break down the weeks top player AVGs, sort by stats.

Top single game
The top single game records for the week

Top slumps
Worst (high rated/starters) lines/game for the week.

Etc, etc, etc


That's all you need, you get a good idea on who got hurt, and who has been playing well/poor with out clicking through a bunch of box scores.

Then introduce these stats into games as well.


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[TGsoGood]

Doc holiday, the TV presentation adds to the immersion. You may skip through it but if you are in year 5 of a franchise you may want to see some of game intros for generated characters.