Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

[ChaseB]

A favorite pastime for many people online is complaining. It's easy to do, it's easy to...

Written By: Chase Becotte

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[Cardot]

Re: Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

Agreed. But I have thought this was the worst trend since around 2006.

[JoshC1977]

Re: Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

I'm not surprised this won the vote - and yeah, I get it. Do multiplayer modes continue getting a lot of attention? Sure. But honestly, it's not the modes that solo players are getting the shaft on (Madden/NHL/FIFA made major strides in franchise and MLB in its RTTS offering). What worries me is the continued dumbing-down of gameplay.

For sports games, if the gameplay becomes overly "Stick Skill" based, ratings no longer matter in-game. If ratings don't matter in-game, people's precious franchise modes become utterly useless, no matter how well done the menu side of things is. Why bother building a team up if the ratings don't play-out well in-game?

I can see it now...hey franchise gamers, we gave you a new way to negotiate contracts and added more development options...but, we've also removed a lot of in-game AI functionality (i.e. ratings mattering) to make it more user-based. So...it really doesn't matter that you signed that 85 OVR guy using the new contract negotiation system we put into the game....because his performance will be dictated solely by how well you 'user' him.

Don't think this can happen? Guess what, FIFA did this exact thing this year. Comp guys complained about "skill gap" (i.e. the game was too hard for them because of strong AI) so EA essentially removed defensive AI on user teams so you can "user" 1 of 11 defenders (while the others stand there).

So.....ya'll can whine about your little menu screens all you want - we're being exploited in ways far worse than having our modes ignored. Competitive players are removing the "sports" from "sports games" from right under our noses.

[The Senator]

Between the myriad gacha style card collecting money grabs and the heavy focus on tuning games towards the head to head "tournament" experience, it's obvious that the marketing people have no desire to cater to the sim crowd and whatever we do have now should not be taken for granted going into the next generation.  This seemed like a no brainer of a vote for me.

[CaseIH]

This has been my biggest gripe for the past several yrs now.  I only play video games, for the Franchise mode in sports games, if it wasnt for this in sports games, I wouldnt even need a video game console.  I have no desire to play online with others, never have, never will,lol. 

Madden has been a let down for many yrs now, with their Franchise mode, and up until this yr, I hadnt even bought the game in several yrs do to this.   MLBTS, the 1 game I didnt think, would sell out, to the casual online fans, has did just that, and due to that and their lack of progress in improving the Franchise mode, has caused me to not buy it the past 2 yrs, and likely wont buy it again this yr, as I will just stick with OOTP instead.   

NBA2k is a little different to the other 2 major sports games, reason being NBA2k has a very deep Franchise mode, problem is they refuse to fix all the things that are broken in the mode, because the issues this yr is the same issues for the past several yrs.

All 3 of these sports games, sim engines are junk, and if your a stat junkie, and like realism within your Franchise mode, your going to lose interest real quick, unless you just look past the crap stats, and majority of us hardcore fans, struggle with that, LOL

I think my gaming days may be coming to a end, unless these next generation of games, when the new consoles come out, see a big upgrade in Franchise modes.  Supposedly the PS4 when they came out the MLBTS team, said now we have the power to really do what we have always envisioned. I took that, as meaning we were going to get a great Franchise, not to the depth stat wise as OOTP, but I was expecting a more realistic spring training, and stuff like that, yet that never happened.   The only thing MLBTS devs have done since the PS4 came out was, improve on looks and online, and they did improve on the gameplay of it, but for me gameplay is only 1 part of whats most important to me in a game, its like 1b, with Franchise depthness being 1a. 

Unfortunately online play is here to stay, as long as we have internet, there will be online play, and the online players have become the majority, which sadly means,  the majority of sports gamers are casual fans, so this spell bad news for the hardcore sports fan who plays sports video games.  I dont see these companies all of a sudden say, hey lets focus on putting out a true simulation of the real life sports, and make Franchise, feel like your truly controlling a Franchise, and your moves will decide whether you succeed or fail.  I think there is some devs, who if they had the choice they would focus on the Franchise side, but these companies are a business and as a business your going to focus on what makes the most money, and unfortunately its the casuals gamers, who play online modes, that make them money. So I get it, as a life long farmer, Im going to plant and raise what makes me the most money. But these sports companies, could make a whole lot more, if they could make a true sim of that sport, for us Franchise fans, along with doing what they do to interest the casual fans online. I know Im not running out come next yr to buy a new console, Im going to wait and see, if the sports games I play have fixed legacy issues, and improved greatly in their Franchise mode, or my gaming days will be done, when my PS4 takes a crap.

[tril]

Re: Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

For sports games, if the gameplay becomes overly "Stick Skill" based, ratings no longer matter in-game. If ratings don't matter in-game, people's precious franchise modes become utterly useless, no matter how well done the menu side of things is. Why bother building a team up if the ratings don't play-out well in-game?

I disagree with this.
I like the fact that stick skills do matter. if it was all about ratings, there would be no need to play the in season games. To me, games that are all based on ratings is basically a text sim with the illusion of user input for game-play.

off-line, I think 2k's approach to stick skills vs ratings has done the best with implementation.
on-line probably a different story. but on line caters to a different audience.

as far as off line modes such as franchise modes being neglected. I disagree. all the tools to offer a deep franchise mode are there in most the sports games.
The thing that makes franchise modes stale, when dealing with professional sports is usually player progression, and incoming rookies and how their careers pan out.
I do feel that stats do need some work in franchise modes; But at certain point, a franchise mode is designed to eventually take a life of its own.

Last point, I dont think folks will truly be satisfied with offline franchise modes until the developers start making college sports again.

[Cardot]

Re: Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

I disagree with this.
I like the fact that stick skills do matter. if it was all about ratings, there would be no need to play the in season games. To me, games that are all based on ratings is basically a text sim with the illusion of user input for game-play.

This to me would be the trickiest part as a developer. Ask 10 different offline gamers on how skills vs. ratings should be weighted, you probably get 10 different answers. While I am reluctant to suggest yet another slider to sports games, a properly implemented slider to that would expand/contract ratings effectiveness might help make more people happy.

[mcdowell31]

Re: Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

This to me would be the trickiest part as a developer. Ask 10 different offline gamers on how skills vs. ratings should be weighted, you probably get 10 different answers. While I am reluctant to suggest yet another slider to sports games, a properly implemented slider to that would expand/contract ratings effectiveness might help make more people happy.

I like this idea Cardot. I would suggest making the available sliders absolute instead of adding another slider. A slider value of 0 would make that attribute completely user-controlled, while a value of 100 would make it completely about the attribute; of course, 50 would be a little bit of both.

Here is hoping that influencing people at the development teams will see this discussion.

[spoofrice11]

Franchise Modes are the only thing I play on Sports games, and Sports games are mainly the only thing I play.

It is frustrating that year after year some of these games, especially Madden do little to improve their Franchise mode (so I pass). Every sports game should by like NBA 2Ks MyLeague. Where you can customize teams, divisions, prospects, and more. As well as see tons of stats easily by clicking on your players.

[BSDShoes]

I still play NHL 18 franchise mode from time to time, zero reason to buy the newest NHL game since 18 seems to work well with some adjusted sliders and besides I hear horrible things about 19 and 20 anyways.  Madden 20 has a decent franchise mode with a setting that disabled "random events" aka scripting and so far it seems to be alright without having to adjust too many sliders.  FIFA is the absolute worst one, I have a much better time in PES master league over FIFA's career mode

When it comes to sports games, there aren't many choices, back 20 years ago there were like 3 or 4 different NFL games, baseball games, a couple hockey games, 3 or so soccer games, etc.  Now there's just NBA 2K that charges you VC to progress in career and myplayer modes, FIFA that blatantly berets FUT mode, and so on.  The state FIFA is in just makes me want Konami to actually get into gear with PES and 2020's gameplay is actually fantastic but still has some issues and myclub is still pretty bad.

[TrophyKing80]

"...the franchise mode crowd will ride with you to the end if you support them." Very true. It's 2020 and I'm still playing College Hoops 2K8 because of the single-player, Legacy Mode that title features. And I'm not even a big basketball fan, but I love attention to detail, and that Legacy Mode had that detail. I still play NCAA Football in Offline Dynasty Mode, because I love the thrill of recruiting and securing top prospects. I anxiously await that titles return in the next couple of years, but until then, I'll continue playing 2014 on my ragged PS3. 

Not everyone likes online gaming; I know I don't. I'm sure lots of people enjoying competing online, but I'm quite content to play against the game's AI, build my franchise/career/legacy during my own time, and immersing myself in the experience. 

[illwill10]

Re: Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

"...the franchise mode crowd will ride with you to the end if you support them." Very true. It's 2020 and I'm still playing College Hoops 2K8 because of the single-player, Legacy Mode that title features. And I'm not even a big basketball fan, but I love attention to detail, and that Legacy Mode had that detail. I still play NCAA Football in Offline Dynasty Mode, because I love the thrill of recruiting and securing top prospects. I anxiously await that titles return in the next couple of years, but until then, I'll continue playing 2014 on my ragged PS3.*

Not everyone likes online gaming; I know I don't. I'm sure lots of people enjoying competing online, but I'm quite content to play against the game's AI, build my franchise/career/legacy during my own time, and immersing myself in the experience.*

I fully agree.
I have always been a primary solo offline guy. I remember as a teen buying old sports games and playing offline career modes. I wasn't even that into basketball like I am now as a teen but still enjoy playing NCAA Basketball 10 and CHoops 2k8 season modes. This current generation of sports game has been a disappointment for me. Mainly because all have been going away from offline. I get that online, Esports, and microtransactions has been a major focus for sports games this generation. That's why I miss the PS2/Xbox era was my favorite. There was so much emphasis to offline depth that is missed this generation.

While I feel like sports game can really benefit from next gen hardware, but I don't know if I faith in sports games next gen. What's to say the direction of sports games will change. With cost of development steadily rising with yearly releases, microtransactions aren't going anywhere. Online will continue to be a primary focus. So I'm not holding my breath for improved offline season modes. The main thing I am hoping for is improved AI for all sports games. Having improved AI will be big boost for all sports games

[binga30]

Re: Worst Trend in Sports Games in 2019: Single-Player Modes Getting Shafted

Sad but true, this generation (which I am a part of) like instant gratification, hence buying in game items.