Vision Casting: How an AFL Game Could Succeed

[RaychelSnr]

When May and June hit, the football fan is faced with a big problem: no football. With the draft over, OTAs barely around and Madden and NCAA still months away, the fan needs something to bide time with. But why force them to ignore their passion? Why not give them football in the summer with a new Arena Football game?

The Arena Football League is almost a video-game football product in itself. It’s as if the sport mixed flag football with Playstation 2 Madden and put two top-ten ranked players behind the controls. Translating this fan-driven, turbocharged offensive league should occur naturally.

So how do we grow the league into the monster that Madden has become? I want to put that in the gamer’s hands. In addition to the wall-crashing action on the field, managing the business to reach new levels would create a fun challenge to gamers. Match this focus with an owner mode and you have the dream of playing commissioner of a major sport in the U.S.


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[misterkrabz]

It would never make it...if Backbreaker and All-Pro 2k didn't grow legs this won't either. Sad but true.

[coogrfan]

Re: Vision Casting: How an AFL Game Could Succeed

No. I just don't believe there are enough people out there who give a damn about the AFL to make a game viable.

[Goblowsoup]

The AFL games on the PS2 were solid games, but I don't think there is a large enough fan base or the notoriety to sell enough copies.

[Gilders335]

I'd buy it for sure I love arena footbal!!!

[jyoung]

So far there's been a "Blitz" AFL reskin by Midway for the PS1 and two AFL games on the PS2 by EA Sports.

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I'm guessing neither of those franchises sold well enough to make it a long-term series.

[khaliib]

Like any Minor league sport, it has it's fans, but it simply not the same.

I would say there are more College fans than there are Pro given the number of 2 yr, small and major Colleges out there.

With that, I've always wondered why not take a shot at a Jr College build.
At this point in time, fans are just through with EA milking profits on "Baby-Step" implementations on their College Product.

The system is set up just like Div l football, just smaller budgets, stadiums, fans etc...
But it is College football with a market of college students that rivals some Major Universities.

Don't have to deal with an expensive license, it would be the first, there's no competition in that market and there is a current fan base willing to try any New College game released that simulates the sport that they currently can't get from the Only College Football developer, EA Sports.

At this point, it doesn't have to be perfect the 1st time, as the bar has not been set high in this sport like the Show, NBA 2K and Fifa.

Simulation, Simulation, Simulation!!!

If it's a Simulation of football that's better than what we've been playing on these EXPENSIVE Next-Gen system's, you could slap any type of uniform/stadium/presentation/visual skins over top of it, just as long as long as it doen't tamper with the Simulation/Perception of our beloved sport (Backbreakers downfall).

Thus, the reason why an AFL wouldn't work.

Some things just aren't meant to be tampered with!!!
Our beloved Football is one of them.

Just my $.02 that the Pro route is not the only profitable avenue available for football simulation.

[eagskerfan]

I really want an arena football video game, I think it would be a lot of fun. Everyone wanted a stupid new blitz game, and we got it, I wish we had an arena football game.

[shadia147]

I'm looking at the "Road to Glory" Video. Granted, it's PS2.
While they went cheap on the Franchise Mode (Extremely cheap), the player physics look pretty good.
You could take the basic engine and probably come out with a decent game. Get rid of the AF2, expand the Franchise and League options. And update the graphics to today's standards... I might buy it/

[mestevo]

Re: Vision Casting: How an AFL Game Could Succeed

I'd give any game that's fun a shot. I don't watch any basketball until it's the elimination game in the semi or finals, but buy NBA2k every year for PC for the my player mode. I'd be much more forgiving with a game that is closer to the one I love - football. It can't be ridiculous like Backbreaker, but I'd probably try it out.

[JBCAROLINAKID]

If a college basketball game can't make it then there's no way an AFL game would in my opinion.

[Cryolemon]

It would never make it...if Backbreaker and All-Pro 2k didn't grow legs this won't either. Sad but true.

APF and BB didn't have actual league licenses though. As much as I believe that wasn't the only reason for those games failing, it was part of it.

[TimLawNYC]

I'm not a big AFL fan but would totally buy the game described in the article.

[superxero27]

I love Arena football, and I would buy an Arena game in a snap, but I don't think such a micro-managed game like this would be commercially viable. For better or for worse,games need to appeal to casual gamers

[therainmaker24]

If the game was made during Arena Football's hey-day with NBC, it might have worked.

Arena football has lost its luster since then, the only time that you can watch the sport nationally is through NFL Network.

I'd much rather buy a real football game with fake players/fake teams that has a 10-year franchise mode than an Arena game....