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RaychelSnr · 09-02-2010, 12:28 PM

The first time I realized how big a business video games had become was when I went to Gamestop in 2002 to pick up a copy of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Like most gamers, I'd spent the better part of the previous year playing the hell out of GTA III and was ready to take to a new set of streets. Back then I was going to Indiana State University, and I rounded up a couple of friends and headed for the Honey Creek Mall in beautiful Terre Haute, Indiana. Imagine our surprise when we found a line around the corner that threatened to spill into J.C. Penney.

Big games bring big numbers. When there's a new installment in the GTA series, or Halo or StarCraft or World of Warcraft or whatever, people come out in droves and drop good money to get their games. There's nothing like it. New movies hardly ever top the $20 mark, and albums, when they're not being stolen, come nowhere near the $60 range video games are fond of pushing.

Read More - Out of Bounds: A Sports Gamer's Manifesto

nolan273 · 09-02-2010, 03:24 PM

Well written and well said. I cosign your manifesto.

JohnDoe8865 · 09-02-2010, 03:29 PM

Good piece.

dmn15 · 09-02-2010, 03:46 PM

Thats exactly how I feel! U nailed it!

EyeCrusties · 09-02-2010, 06:36 PM

I'm not sure the point of this 'manifesto'. It sounds like you are complaining about the lack of innovation in sports gaming, but then follow that up with two examples of innovation in sports gaming. If these two are the only exception could you please provide an example of what kind of innovation you are looking for. Is it gameplay, animation, higher res models, or game modes? This article just seemed to jump all over without driving home any one point, and yet you have people who agree. Perhaps they to could elaborate on which point they agree.
Thanks

asu666 · 09-02-2010, 07:48 PM

I went to TH South in 1992 and TH North in 1993. This is the first TH reference I've seen since the Action Track got included in Sprint Cars.

nolan273 · 09-03-2010, 08:58 AM

"Give us a game out of the box that changes the way we view games and the experience of the sport ..."

This is the point. The article isn't scattershot as EyeCrusties implies. The author makes his point and it's easily understood. It's not necessary to reference (bash) every sports game that he feels doesn't innovate. He juxtaposes two titles which he feels are innovating against all others. Again, easily understandable.

JayhawkerStL · 09-03-2010, 10:18 PM

I have to say that that i pretty much disagree wit the entire premise. Games have been innovating for years, and usually to the detriment of the game experience. I remember loving Madden 94 an d not being able to understand why they had to change it. Madden got progressively worse for years after that.

Seriously, often I just want a roster update. I'm willing to play the game and spend full price just to get the fresh rosters, but too often I also have to suffer through some feature that the bean counters at XYZ game company have insisted be present to drive sales.

It's great when they work, and NHL 11 looks to have really improved their game. But the second i heard real time physics, I got worried. How many versions will it take to get them just right? How many rants will i find on OS because the game doesn't work just right?

Sports are a great constant in out lives. the rules generally don't change much. Styles certainly do, and i love to see them represented in my games. But most of the time, we don't need a new way to play a game that hasn't changed.

Yes, there are lots of exceptions. But too many games (and Madden seems to be the worst offender) are just throwing poop at the wall to see what sticks.

That said, there are now great versions of most sports, as good innovations have stuck. I don't think there is a need for any manifesto, as the last three years have probably been the best years of sports games ever.

09-02-2010, 12:28 PM	#1
RaychelSnr Executive Editor OVR: 57 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 4,846 Blog Entries: 490	Out of Bounds: A Sports Gamer's Manifesto The first time I realized how big a business video games had become was when I went to Gamestop in 2002 to pick up a copy of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Like most gamers, I'd spent the better part of the previous year playing the hell out of GTA III and was ready to take to a new set of streets. Back then I was going to Indiana State University, and I rounded up a couple of friends and headed for the Honey Creek Mall in beautiful Terre Haute, Indiana. Imagine our surprise when we found a line around the corner that threatened to spill into J.C. Penney. Big games bring big numbers. When there's a new installment in the GTA series, or Halo or StarCraft or World of Warcraft or whatever, people come out in droves and drop good money to get their games. There's nothing like it. New movies hardly ever top the $20 mark, and albums, when they're not being stolen, come nowhere near the $60 range video games are fond of pushing. Read More - Out of Bounds: A Sports Gamer's Manifesto

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09-02-2010, 03:24 PM	#2
nolan273 Rookie OVR: 13 Join Date: Jan 2005 Blog Entries: 4	Well written and well said. I cosign your manifesto.

09-02-2010, 03:29 PM	#3
JohnDoe8865 Hall of Fame OVR: 59 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mount Airy, NC Posts: 9,612 Blog Entries: 40	Good piece.

09-02-2010, 03:46 PM	#4
dmn15 Rookie OVR: 1 Join Date: Dec 2009	Thats exactly how I feel! U nailed it!

09-02-2010, 06:36 PM	#5
EyeCrusties Rookie OVR: 1 Join Date: Sep 2010	I'm not sure the point of this 'manifesto'. It sounds like you are complaining about the lack of innovation in sports gaming, but then follow that up with two examples of innovation in sports gaming. If these two are the only exception could you please provide an example of what kind of innovation you are looking for. Is it gameplay, animation, higher res models, or game modes? This article just seemed to jump all over without driving home any one point, and yet you have people who agree. Perhaps they to could elaborate on which point they agree. Thanks

09-02-2010, 07:48 PM	#6
asu666 Pro OVR: 34 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Blog Entries: 8	I went to TH South in 1992 and TH North in 1993. This is the first TH reference I've seen since the Action Track got included in Sprint Cars.

09-03-2010, 08:58 AM	#7
nolan273 Rookie OVR: 13 Join Date: Jan 2005 Blog Entries: 4	"Give us a game out of the box that changes the way we view games and the experience of the sport ..." This is the point. The article isn't scattershot as EyeCrusties implies. The author makes his point and it's easily understood. It's not necessary to reference (bash) every sports game that he feels doesn't innovate. He juxtaposes two titles which he feels are innovating against all others. Again, easily understandable.

09-03-2010, 10:18 PM	#8
JayhawkerStL Banned OVR: 0 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,657	I have to say that that i pretty much disagree wit the entire premise. Games have been innovating for years, and usually to the detriment of the game experience. I remember loving Madden 94 an d not being able to understand why they had to change it. Madden got progressively worse for years after that. Seriously, often I just want a roster update. I'm willing to play the game and spend full price just to get the fresh rosters, but too often I also have to suffer through some feature that the bean counters at XYZ game company have insisted be present to drive sales. It's great when they work, and NHL 11 looks to have really improved their game. But the second i heard real time physics, I got worried. How many versions will it take to get them just right? How many rants will i find on OS because the game doesn't work just right? Sports are a great constant in out lives. the rules generally don't change much. Styles certainly do, and i love to see them represented in my games. But most of the time, we don't need a new way to play a game that hasn't changed. Yes, there are lots of exceptions. But too many games (and Madden seems to be the worst offender) are just throwing poop at the wall to see what sticks. That said, there are now great versions of most sports, as good innovations have stuck. I don't think there is a need for any manifesto, as the last three years have probably been the best years of sports games ever.