Head Coach is worth saving

[adembroski]

Sort of a random open letter to those at EA who've apparently decided to dump this franchise.

This is a huge disappointment, though I expected it. Sales weren't there, simple as that. It seems to me like there is a better way.

While I'm not going to argue that Head Coach is commercially viable on the consoles by any means... but as a PC title, it would have been far more successful. On top of that, it's the type of game if made exclusively PC, could easily have a 1-man support team updating it each year with minor features and AI tweaks, and be released exclusively as a DD title and had a measure of success.

NFL Head Coach is now dead, and I find myself, more than any other previous game, mourning it. It frankly sucks. This was the first major step in the right direction by any football game in 4 years.

Please, EA, put this game on the PC... at least let the fans make something out of it if you wont.

[Terribletowels]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

Did you hear something official saying this? I played HC 06 and only got the PS3 cuz they didn't release it to PC..........

[adembroski]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

Did you hear something official saying this? I played HC 06 and only got the PS3 cuz they didn't release it to PC..........

I'd have to find the quote, but Phil Frazier made it pretty clear that the head coach line was dead.

[samboz19]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

Ok that officially pisses me off. F*cking EA Sports has been going down hill for years. They don't know how to make a great baseball, or basketball game anymore and now their major money monster Madden is taking a turn for the worst as well....I am tired of arcade style Bullsh*t games.

This is by far the best EA Sports game I have played. Yes there are bugs and I have my own issues with the game, but it is by far and away the most complete game I've played...nothing has ever taken up as much of my time as this game has (other than the original Final Fantasy 7 on PS1).

To not bring back this franchise is absolutely unacceptable EA. Seriously...EA never takes into consideration what the fans and customers have to say. It more or less comes down to a bunch of corporate BS.

I use to be a big Madden Fan and NBA live fan. I stopped playing Live about 3-4 years ago as the gameplay just flat out sucked and LIVE can't compete with the 2K series. Madden...I loved playing Madden until it went to the next-gen systems...Madden now officially is just commercialized garbage.

Honestly...I have always been a big EA supporter until recent years. The best baseball game out there is the MLB series (MVP Baseball doesn't even sniff the greatness of the MLB series) and I don't see any developer topping that series. Football...NFL Head Coach is the way to go, not Madden. Basketball...the 2K series is still top dog.

Honestly...I can't wait until the exclusive licensing garbage is over because EA doesn't know how to please the fans that make them the money.

NFL Head Coach shall live on in my mind regardless of EA's piss poor decisions.

Cheers!

[ChicagoSparty]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

This really makes me sad if true. HC is such a great game if you are truly passionate about the game of football. Madden and NCAA are fun games, but this thing is the real deal in my humble opinion.

I'd pay big money for a PC game with improvement in certain areas.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

Unfortunately, the only thing that speaks to suits is money. The game didn't make them money. And Madden, despite being mediocre, still rakes in the cash because the mindless drones buy it simply because it exists.

A damn shame. And as long as the exclusive rights deal exists, Madden will continue to suck, because what real motivation do they have? It's still going to sell like crazy because it's all there is. It's a shame there isn't a rule about monopolies in video games like there is in many other businesses.

[claystone]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

They could atleast threw in a 2nd patch to fix the remaining big issues.

[claystone]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

Is any of the developers still around, or are they gone for good? Would love to try to get a patch out of them, and if money is an issue for EA, i'm willing to pay for a patch.

[Herky]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

Does this have anything to do with the claim that the developer from Head Coach who did the franchise is signed on for Madden 2010 to revamp their franchise?

[claystone]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

It's ashame because they have just (4) items to fix for the game to be great IMO.

1. OL/DL Interaction: Fix the OL from cutting DL on pass plays.

2. Personnel Change: Have the DC AI call the right formations to match up with each other opponents personnel.

3. CPU Sub: Fix the cpu so they sub their players. Right now they don't sub anyone.

4. Playcalling: Fix the OC/DC playcalling. It seems they call 5 to 6 plays a game, not taken adavantage of more plays. Even if they are a Higher level OC/DC and plays are mastered.

If this was patched, I would be very pleased. The draft is another issue.

[claystone]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

The biggest down fall for us is the draft is limited. In 2k5 you can go on forever, but here you can't because the have a certain amount of rookies. So once you do the 4 path drafts, you know all the players already.

My suggestion is don't scout players too much, or you'll know too many when doing a new franchise again.

[DGetz]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

To not bring back this franchise is absolutely unacceptable EA. Seriously...EA never takes into consideration what the fans and customers have to say. It more or less comes down to a bunch of corporate BS.

I hate to sound rude but I think that's just plain incorrect. The fans (of football and/or video games) and customers have been heard and what they've apparently said is, "keeping this franchise alive is going to cost your company money."

Don't get me wrong, if there is a Head Coach 2010 (or 2011, or 2012, or 2013, etc), I'd be at the store to get it on the release date. But the reality is that there just don't seem to be enough consumers out there to make developing and producing the game make sense for EA. Sure there are people out there who love it passionately, but that doesn't do EA a lot of good unless we all go out and buy six copies of the game.

[bcruise]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

I'd have to find the quote, but Phil Frazier made it pretty clear that the head coach line was dead.

I hate to be "link or it didn't happen guy" because I know you're a reputable poster, but I'm searching through Phil's posts and I'm not seeing anything like that. Was it on the EA boards or somewhere else other than OS?

[samboz19]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

I hate to sound rude but I think that's just plain incorrect. The fans (of football and/or video games) and customers have been heard and what they've apparently said is, "keeping this franchise alive is going to cost your company money."

Don't get me wrong, if there is a Head Coach 2010 (or 2011, or 2012, or 2013, etc), I'd be at the store to get it on the release date. But the reality is that there just don't seem to be enough consumers out there to make developing and producing the game make sense for EA. Sure there are people out there who love it passionately, but that doesn't do EA a lot of good unless we all go out and buy six copies of the game.

Your not being rude at all, actually I appreciate your honesty and the decorum in which you handled your response. I understand your point of view for sure. The problem is that when EA finally comes out with a game that is actually worth a damn it appears it is going to be dropped. Basically EA caters more to the younger crowd too much anymore as it is and I can understand why as kids are the ones who really play the video games. Head Coach is more of a game for adults really.

I was just ranting because its like damn...I just finally get back into an EA game and it has to be the one that is possibly getting the Axe.

I mean...this is the first game I have really gotten into in a long time. When I was younger I was major gamer, but as you mature and get older (no I am not exactly old either, but old enough to make that statement) you just don't have as much time...other priorities take precedence.

Cheers!

[adembroski]

Re: Head Coach is worth saving

I hate to be "link or it didn't happen guy" because I know you're a reputable poster, but I'm searching through Phil's posts and I'm not seeing anything like that. Was it on the EA boards or somewhere else other than OS?

EA boards, referenced somewhere in the Madden boards... I'll look for it when I get home from work.