The Takeaway From EA College Football 25

[JSK1979]

Quote: Originally Posted by countryboy

Probably because in their opinion it is.

You know what, that is fair. No argument with that.

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[JSK1979]

Quote: Originally Posted by PhlliesPhan6

The lineups only change when a player needs a rest or has bad stats in certain situations. So in that case it's not so unrealistic. I'd say 90% of the sim games have the proper lineups. And I love NBA 2k's MyNBA mode but I actually wish the computer rested players when they were tired. You usually end up with way too many guys that play all 82 games. Unless you set injuries very high, you could have some lower bench guys and 2 way players that don't play any games.

I understand why the lineup changes happen. However, I don't like the logic used behind it. Personally, I think this game doesn't replicate baseball very well when you sim games. I do like and enjoy the game (even though it may sound like I don't). I use a fictional roster so that I feel a less aggro about the game, not doing the thing "I" think it should. With that being said, let's take the cases of Ronald Acuna Jr. and George Springer.

These guys have been in the league for many years. Acuna is out for the year, and Springer is having a horrible year (.221BA .669OPS). Even with those horrendous numbers, he's still batting leadoff for the Jay's. Acuna has hit leadoff almost his entire career. Doesn't matter to this game. They took the time years ago to make sure that STL had the pitcher spot hut 8th because that was the managers strategy (I believe it was Tony LaRussa), but they can't find a way to allow us to lock players in certain spots in the lineup. I'm talking about an actual option. Click a button on, say, a manager's strategy screen (I guess they'd have to make manager's matter outside of arbitrary stat boost or decreases). I just shake my head when I'm a week into the season and see Acuna hitting 3rd or anywhere other than leadoff. If he's in the lineup, he shouldn't be anywhere else.

I do agree with your assessment of NBA 2K with the number of people who play 82 games. I do 30 team control, and I tinker a lot. I like to see a few two-way guys get some run. Or a 2nd round pick that was a 1st round talent that fell for no reason play. I will force injuries, make up suspension scenarios, say players need time away (i.e., Andrew Wiggins) or just randomly take a guy out of other teams' lineups for a couple of games or for a back to back to ensure there are fewer 82 game players. Is it a lot of work, yes. It's time-consuming but I don't mind it. I know it's easier to manage up to 15 roster spots than it is to manage 93 without a doubt. I think the number of guys playing 82 games in 2K is akin to SP in The Show having ERAs north of 6 and having 30 plus starts. Neither should happen, but it's the pain of the programming of the game.

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[JSK1979]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fiddy

I've always wanted a fatigue slider or even turn off and on fatigue. I'd favor unrealistic stats, games played etc. if that meant we could get lineups to stick without jumping through hoops.

The already unrealistic stats is a huge problem for me, but I understand where you're coming from.

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[KGIY94]

MLBTS has by far the worst franchise mode of any major sports game. For all the crap that Madden devs get for not devoting enough resources to their mode, The Show's is arguably worse.

Players progression is somehow less dynamic than it was 10 years ago, regression is still too extreme and uniform, training doesn't even work for several attributes (velocity and stamina attributes are locked), coach attributes have no effect, salaries are capped out at $30M, scouting for the draft is practically meaningless after the first round, and the league just doesn't replenish talent (all games are bad at this to be fair).

These are all things I believe have gotten WORSE in the last decade. What new things have they added? There have been some very minor changes to scouting, the top prospect lists, they've given us some stats but have taken away other stats.

[KGIY94]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ghost Of The Year

Different strokes for different folks. My franchise mode ranking: NBA2k - #1 MLBTS - #2 There is no #3, we're going to reserve it for CFB in the interim. Madden - #4 And I say that liking baseball and football better than basketball.

Granted, they could go nowhere but up after the "Connected" debacle, but at least Madden devs have tried adding stuff to franchise in recent years. The storylines, the progression system, the scouting, the training camp drills (I know they're worse versions of the PS2 era drills), etc. I don't think many of these additions are great, but they're at least trying.

What has SDS done besides changing the Free Agency and Scouting menus in the last decade? Why do they leave several crucial features, like training and player progression broken for so many years? I just want SOME effort. Remember the glory days of this franchise when they stomped MLB 2K to death? I practically bought a PS3 so I could finally play The Show!

[Fiddy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ghost Of The Year

Different strokes for different folks. My franchise mode ranking: NBA2k - #1 MLBTS - #2 There is no #3, we're going to reserve it for CFB in the interim. Madden - #4 And I say that liking baseball and football better than basketball.

This about where I'm at and I haven't played NBA 2K in 2 years.

NHL's Franchise mode gets slept on, it's actually pretty decent.

For me..

1) NBA 2K
2) MLB
3) NHL/CFB25
4) Madden
5) WWE 2K (I have a blast with Universe Mode when "Player Locked")

I'm also coming around to not having to play full games and not feel as if "my season isn't legit". Don't care anymore, not enough time to enjoy all the games. Quick sim innings, Play Offense Only, etc. Love these features in all the games.

[PhlliesPhan6]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ghost Of The Year

Different strokes for different folks. My franchise mode ranking: NBA2k - #1 MLBTS - #2 There is no #3, we're going to reserve it for CFB in the interim. Madden - #4 And I say that liking baseball and football better than basketball.

I agree. Baseball will always be my #1 sport and I love MLB The Show. But I actually only started getting into the NBA more recently, and it's pretty much because I randomly bought NBA 2K a few years ago and had a blast playing MyNBA.

[Funkycorm]

Quote: Originally Posted by KGIY94

MLBTS has by far the worst franchise mode of any major sports game. For all the crap that Madden devs get for not devoting enough resources to their mode, The Show's is arguably worse. Players progression is somehow less dynamic than it was 10 years ago, regression is still too extreme and uniform, training doesn't even work for several attributes (velocity and stamina attributes are locked), coach attributes have no effect, salaries are capped out at $30M, scouting for the draft is practically meaningless after the first round, and the league just doesn't replenish talent (all games are bad at this to be fair). These are all things I believe have gotten WORSE in the last decade. What new things have they added? There have been some very minor changes to scouting, the top prospect lists, they've given us some stats but have taken away other stats.

A couple of things here.

MLB does not have the worst franchise mode. That belongs to FIFA.

MLB doesn't have the best one either. That belongs to NBA 2k. Their era mode alone trumps everything else.

I think that NBA and Madden actually do a fairly good job of replenishing talent. Madden has solid generated draft classes. NBA 2k with fictional classes (shameless plug) keep the talent pool replenished. I will say that with both of these, that we can edit draft classes and that does help. Madden doesn't really need edited classes but it is needed in 2k.

I think MLB has improved their regression. But progression is something that needs addressed. The draft class prospects require editing afterwards to help with the talent pool as the game does have a harder time keeping talent elite in the Show.

I also believe the max is $35m for contracts. I feel like SDS updated it because of some of the bigger contracts recently.

---

I would say franchise wise, I would rank this:

1. NBA 2k: Like I said above, era mode puts this at 1 for me.
2. NHL: Their franchise mode is surprisingly deep. Though I do wish we could edit player ratings.
3. MLB: They do a good job of implementing most of the roster rules. Rule 5, arbitration, etc.
4. Madden: If it weren't for the franchise corruption bug and the 3-4 bug last year, this feels like a tie with MLB in my enjoyment aspect.
5. WWE 2k: Universe Mode is fun but not that great.
6. FIFA: Nope. Sorry. My opinion it is the worst.


EA CFB is too soon to rank and will take a full cycle to fairly place it. It won't dethrone NBA but will fit in the top 3 likely.

These rankings are personal opinion and reflect only my opinion.