#fixtheshowfranchise

[Gagnon39]

I've been delving into the Madden forums for the first time in a while and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be getting the game and trying franchise mode for the first time in a while. I usually give it a shot every couple years and usually last a week or two before I realize franchise mode is just a rotting corpse. However, this year (in case you all are not aware), there seems to be a real push for fixing Madden's franchise mode and it looks like it's going in the right direction. Of course all of this has me thinking, is there any hope for franchise mode in MLB The Show?

We all know that online modes have taken over the majority of development time and money for most companies that make video games, sport games or not. And it's unfortunate for us franchise players. This is a topic that's been virtually beat to death over the last decade or so. But I'm wondering, is there anything that the online community can do to get SDS to actually do something about franchise mode.

Year after year it's almost completely neglected. There are so many frustrating things about it and and while it's good in many aspects there are areas that just show complete lack of caring. A primary example of this is how the minor leaguers (many top prospects) haven't even had their age updated in two years. Guys that should be 22 are still 20 in MLB The Show 21. And the fact that it's just never even fixed in an update shows just how little SDS really cares about the mode.

Watching all the videos about the improvements to franchise mode in Madden and their new dedication to the mode makes me wish SDS had even the slightest inclination to do the same. Madden hired a guy that's been here on OS and has written up tons of ideas about franchise mode (Deuce Douglas) and many of his ideas are now being implemented into Madden. Think about all the ideas generated here on this community alone that would make franchise mode so much better. And yes, I completely understand that everything is not simple. However, I know that at least 4-5 years ago SDS literally had one guy that worked on franchise mode. Just one dude. Meanwhile, there's no telling how many developers work on Diamond Dynasty. And before anyone talks about how there's no monetary incentive for the developers to work on franchise mode, believe me, I know. You're preaching to the choir. I have been saying this for well over ten years, that online modes generate the money and that franchise mode is just left to rot.

So what's the answer? That's what I guess I'm asking. Is there any hope that SDS will at least give half the attention to franchise mode that EA is giving to Madden. Are there things that the online community could do?

[countryboy]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

I won't get into the other parts of the OP, but to answer the question as to what the online community can do:

Go to their official website, theshow.com, and click on MLB 21 and then click the provide feedback button and then fill out the form and submit your feedback as to what you would like to see added to the game. Sometimes it strikes a conversation with the DEV team as they may have questions or ask for further information.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

I don’t play any game other than The Show. But, historically hasn’t this game been ripped to shreds by the gamers? They added ONE guy to improve franchise? That right? Curious as to what the bugs and glitches threads look like come game release.

[Stolm]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

Is the incorrect card art in Franchise a known bug?

Loaded up my 1st Franchise of the year, and half my team has card art for different players.

[Rocket32]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

The answer and what the community can do is simply exactly what the Madden community did. Get a hashtag going on social media, spread it throughout the Show community, and people need to try and blow it up and get some traction among the game’s player base. Fix Madden Franchise was trending #1 on Twitter in the US for a time. Madden players legitimately made it a big thing online, so big that even EA couldn’t ignore it. So far it’s getting results.


Is the Show community even capable of having the same impact as Madden players did? Maybe not, but they only have to be loud enough to get SDS’s attention and basically give them no choice but to acknowledge it and respond. The main way to put pressure on now is through social media, other then sales that’s what they listen to.

A big question is, do enough of The Show’s players actually care about Franchise mode to pull off what Madden players did? I’m not so sure that’s a yes, in fact I think there’s a pretty real chance it’s a no.

[tessl]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

Right now I'd settle for a patch fixing the problem of pinch hitting in franchise mode.

It's August and the last patch attempted to fix it but only caused a different problem. Can't do a double switch in you pinch hit and if you forget to schedule a reliever to enter the game your position player takes the mound for 3 batters. If you do schedule a pitcher then you can't do a double switch.

I understand they went from one platform to four platforms but it's August. If the developer handling patches needs help then divert resources from somewhere else.

[Gagnon39]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

Two of the Cubs top prospects (Brailyn Marquez and Brennan Davis) were two years younger than they should be in MLB 21. As did so many other prospects. If they are three years younger than they should be next year I just don't know if I can stomach it and bring myself to buy the game.

[dubeau]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

I look at the improvement of the 21 version, and I really feel they were mostly cosmetic. They remade all the UI, and I kind of like it a lot. The transitions between interfaces are slower. The quick play is slower at times.

They made change to the trade engines, they say. I was able to do two of the exact same trades I did in 20 version, without any problems. I think the amelioration there, was more for the CPU tradings. Hard to say, I didn't play enough with it.

Under the hood, everything seems to be exactly the same as 2020. I am having a hard time finding the differences.

[Caulfield]

#improvetheshowfranchise

Two of the Cubs top prospects (Brailyn Marquez and Brennan Davis) were two years younger than they should be in MLB 21. As did so many other prospects. If they are three years younger than they should be next year I just don't know if I can stomach it and bring myself to buy the game.

these are the ''little things'' that drive me bat **** crazy, when wrong. age, height, weight, number of options, among maybe a couple more, should all be editable. it was a godsend when they finally made service time editable. that was a HUGE little thing for me

[DMVian]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

I think "improve" is the better word.

I didn't get MLB the Show until '20, but I think this is the best sports franchise by far.

I have no faith Madden franchise will be greatly improved. Turning it into an RPG with player development is lame. The draft is pretty bad. Not NBA 2k bad, but bad. It also feels too easy to turn a team into a contender by season 2.

MLB The Show isn't perfect, but the franchise mode is a blast and unless you just go nuts signing people in free agency it actually is a bit challenging. I like sometimes players in the game rake, sometimes they just don't do well. It feels like real life in that aspect. Occasionally top prospects come in an dominate, sometimes a 1st round draft who dominates the minors just doesn't get it done. In other games, if you draft a good player and add them to free agents, you dominate. There isn't much randomness.

Again, not perfect. But better than other pro sports games. MLB The Show 21 is my favorite long term career mode since NCAA Football before the Coach Carousel was introduced.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

I think "improve" is the better word.

I didn't get MLB the Show until '20, but I think this is the best sports franchise by far.

I have no faith Madden franchise will be greatly improved. Turning it into an RPG with player development is lame. The draft is pretty bad. Not NBA 2k bad, but bad. It also feels too easy to turn a team into a contender by season 2.

MLB The Show isn't perfect, but the franchise mode is a blast and unless you just go nuts signing people in free agency it actually is a bit challenging. I like sometimes players in the game rake, sometimes they just don't do well. It feels like real life in that aspect. Occasionally top prospects come in an dominate, sometimes a 1st round draft who dominates the minors just doesn't get it done. In other games, if you draft a good player and add them to free agents, you dominate. There isn't much randomness.

Again, not perfect. But better than other pro sports games. MLB The Show 21 is my favorite long term career mode since NCAA Football before the Coach Carousel was introduced.

This is all true, but the mode has been stuck in mud for years, receiving lip service in terms of updates. Sure, some of them have been fantastic quality of life updates, but when there are very real and very prominent issues that continue to be ignored, it gets frustrating.

Add that on top of the removal of year to year in 21 with no real reason or benefit, and I hope you can understand why the long term fans are irate.

If the removal of year to year saves came with (significant) roster expansion, revamping of progression and regression (hopefully to copy NHL), multi-trades and a complete update of the trade system to include more spots and cash considerations, redoing morale, and the seperation of offline and online balance, or even just a combination of some of those changes, then yes, it would have been justified.

Instead we got virtually nothing. Some more minor quality of life updates with no real change. Quality of life updates are great, but the mode's issues are getting very old by this point.

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[DarthRambo]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

30 team control can fix about anything and everything in franchise mode. You can scout, draft, manually trade and sign free agents for every team based on what would be realistic. Set lineups, pitching rotations. Literally everything that isn't perfect and never will be can be solved if you're willing to put in a bit more effort and work. All Madden needs to do is give us 32 team control and their franchise would be the best of any sports game.

I assume Y2Y saves will return once they figure out how to for Xbox and Playstation. But honestly probably less than 5% of players actually used it so I doubt it's something that's on their top priority list.

Only thing to add to "fix" the franchise mode is even better AI bullpen usage logic, which is by far the best it's ever been this year. They could make the draft presentation better. And for baseball we need a ton more stats to see and follow. Also want to see team records, game records, and baseball records more evident to see like NBA 2K does.

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[Armor and Sword]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

30 team control can fix about anything and everything in franchise mode. You can scout, draft, manually trade and sign free agents for every team based on what would be realistic. Set lineups, pitching rotations. Literally everything that isn't perfect and never will be can be solved if you're willing to put in a bit more effort and work. All Madden needs to do is give us 32 team control and their franchise would be the best of any sports game.

I assume Y2Y saves will return once they figure out how to for Xbox and Playstation. But honestly probably less than 5% of players actually used it so I doubt it's something that's on their top priority list.

Only thing to add to "fix" the franchise mode is even better AI bullpen usage logic, which is by far the best it's ever been this year. They could make the draft presentation better. And for baseball we need a ton more stats to see and follow. Also want to see team records, game records, and baseball records more evident to see like NBA 2K does.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Operation Sports mobile app

1. You do have 32 team control on Madden. It is there. You can control every single aspect of every team if you want to do that.

2. I employ 30 team control for MLB The Show 20 and I do it mainly to control lineup integrity/pitching rotation and bullpen integrity. I also use it to do midseason contract extensions using a nice house rule system I employ. You are correct....you can control literally every aspect of every team. But most (including myself) do not have the time to do just do that. I have always let the CPU control their scouting, draft, player training etc. I just step in to keep lineups properly maintained which the CPU is horrid at.

3. Warmwind absolutely summed it up best of where some of us long time veterans of the series are at. The mode does not need an overhaul. Not in the least bit in fact. I love playing franchise mode on 20 and have a blast with it. Unfortunately though there are still some big legacy issues like “bullpen” management, trade logic (sorry it is worse on 21 not better), contract logic. Things that IMO would vastly be improved with expanding the rosters. Something we all thought was coming on the next gen and it simply did not. Yes they went from 90-93 man rosters....not enough to have the impact we all want. Scouting I never had a big issue with....but a 6 round draft is just not baseball. Not in the least. Expanded rosters is the #1 thing needed to really take franchise mode to the next level.

4. Y2Y was the single greatest feature they ever had. It is gone and I do not share your optimism it is coming back anytime soon if at all. That is a shame.

But yes....improve is a better word than fix. Because the mode works. I still love it and play it almost everyday.

To the other poster who thinks Madden has done nothing......you could not be farther from the truth. I played the heck out of the Beta for Madden 22. They have made significant changes to franchise mode and are dropping a huge scouting overhaul in a planned September update. They added more to franchise mode in one cycle than the Show has in 5 years combined.

They definitely committed to the off-line franchise player. And also made online franchise commissioner tools a lot better.

Speaking of online franchise. Although I am not much of an online franchise guy...SDS never made good for former online franchise guys. In fact they ignored them. Custom Leagues is nothing....nothing like what you can do on Madden in terms of a fully fledged online franchise experience. I feel bad for all those that enjoyed online franchise on The Show. It had it’s fair share of issues....but instead of fixing it...they scrapped it. Custom Leagues is good for small DD like leagues.....but not suitable for a real online franchise. And don’t get me started on how poorly online gameplay is with The Show....just a totally different game than offline. IMO horrid.

Anyway.....There is no real core difference between MLB 20 and MLB 21 in terms of franchise mode.

In fact.....I prefer the UI and logic on MLB 20 to MLB 21. And the presentation took a huge hit for those of us who utilize Sounds of the Show. And like Warm Wind pointed out...the loss of Y2Y (and roster importing as well) was a huge blow to a small but passionate segment of the Shows game playing population.

Something I would have never thought coming from PS4 to PS5. I think a lot of us were underwhelmed and for the first time for myself really let down by the game. And typically gameplay overcomes that.....not this year. Not in the least. (Fielding animations aside).

But that is another discussion and of course opinion.

Let’s hope we see a return to form in the coming years on the new consoles.

[kinsmen7]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

30 team control can fix about anything and everything in franchise mode. You can scout, draft, manually trade and sign free agents for every team based on what would be realistic. Set lineups, pitching rotations. Literally everything that isn't perfect and never will be can be solved if you're willing to put in a bit more effort and work. All Madden needs to do is give us 32 team control and their franchise would be the best of any sports game.

I assume Y2Y saves will return once they figure out how to for Xbox and Playstation. But honestly probably less than 5% of players actually used it so I doubt it's something that's on their top priority list.

Only thing to add to "fix" the franchise mode is even better AI bullpen usage logic, which is by far the best it's ever been this year. They could make the draft presentation better. And for baseball we need a ton more stats to see and follow. Also want to see team records, game records, and baseball records more evident to see like NBA 2K does.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Operation Sports mobile app

That's one of the things that I appreciate about SDS...they know their rosters aren't great, and that it's nearly impossible to create something even remotely close to good AI team management, so they gave us the tools to do it ourselves. Maybe that's not what everyone wants to hear, but I appreciate the 30 team control, and roster sharing, which is something that EA still hasn't done with the NHL series, and Madden only brought in recently. NBA 2K does this part right, as they allow you complete control of the back end.

Are there things that could take the game to the next level? Absolutely! The 90 (93 in '21) man rosters, IMO, is the main issue that holds the game back. It's why franchise mode gets all messed up 2-3 years down the road, because you've got these rosters that have a tonne of high-potential players, that all want to get paid, and that the CPU teams can't afford.

There are a ton of "Little things" that larger rosters would allow-International free agency, spring training invitations, more dynamic use of the 40 man roster, bigger drafts, etc. I'm assuming that it would be similar if you used the out of the box rosters-potentials all over the board, which creates a more realistic pay-gap between stars and non-stars.

Really though, that's my main gripe with this game-The rosters size. I'm assuming that's why people have a blast with created rosters like Bacon's fictional one...because the potentials don't screw up your league.

And yeah, I get that a lot of people probably don't want to use 30 team control, because it sounds horribly time consuming. IMO it's not at all. I let the CPU control itself 99% of the time, then I just fix the little blips throughout the season. Would it be awesome for the CPU AI/trade engine/contract logic to be tip-top? Yesssssir, but I haven't seen a sports game yet that gets it right.

[JoshC1977]

Re: #fixtheshowfranchise

Honestly, the hashtag needs to be #stopignoringoffline.

SDS has done a subpar job the last couple of years addressing the needs of the offline community across the modes. RTTS has been gutted due to the oddities with that new "ballplayer" motif. Offline DD has been basically ignored, with very little robust content (cards are not content) geared towards offline players since launch. And well, we all know how much "love" franchise has gotten.

As someone that isn't JUST a franchise guy, but IS a dedicated offline-only player, it's frustrating. But it is NOT just franchise that has been ignored.

The only thing that keeps me playing is the incredible gameplay on the diamond.