The Best Franchise Mode in Sports Games Is...? (Roundtable)

[Bleakney]

Re: The Best Franchise Mode in Sports Games Is...? (Roundtable)

MLB The Show is by far the best. It allows total control of an entire organization, from AA thru the MLB level. I like the ability to control how players develop, how players get scouted, as well as how you disperse your budget. Coaches add +/- to players ratings, different scouts have different efficiency ratings, and players react to hot and cold streaks. In 2nd I would place NCAA football or basketball, however they no longer make the games meaning its difficult to include them.

[Bleakney]

Re: The Best Franchise Mode in Sports Games Is...? (Roundtable)

I haven't played my GM yet in 2k so i guess i cant vote on that aspect until I do - so i'll say MLB the show...madden go sit in a corner

For real. Madden is definitely an online only game, NBA 2K is a good mixture of franchise and online modes, and MLB The Show is franchise only (unless playing against a friend online.) I really enjoy playing NBA 2K online because its not easy to have an "advantage", whereas on The Show you can get matched up with some idiot that throws nothing but balls, or you could have several online glitches that cause runs. And Madden is the ultimate online game, the only exception being if you play against someone that uses the nanos.

[rbiaci]

I agree nba2k 16 and mlb the show 15 hands down with everything tithey incorporate it's great

[dtlm6]

For current games, I would go with MLB The Show.

[bestbrother]

For me im saying Madden. Now it might sound crazy, but I like to take into account other factors other than that the developers impose on you as such:

1 - 4/5 hours of gameplay (give or take) and im quarter of the way into my Madden season. Put that time into MLB or NBA, im still in the first month, maybe even 1st week.

2 - To couple the above, for me, Franchise mode in Sports Sims and even Text Sims has to be about your imagination. That is what drives these modes for me, not what is necessarily fed to me by the gameplay options/constraints, but how I can interpret things and develop that for me.

So for that, Madden is easier to go with because you can develop stories, players, rivalries etc as the seasons play quicker (naturally). For example in my current franchise on the Dynasty HQ, the Jags after year one just went wild in FA.... I was excited by their deals and in the end, they made it to the Superbowl on the back of a 13-3 season.

I got to see and enjoy that pan out, now I know if you put in the time to play MLB and NBA you can have that, but in reality its months of gameplay, I know from personal experience that after 1 season it can be a burnout effect

So ill say Madden, its a good bone (Gameplay) with enough meat (CFM) on there to get a good meal from

[jeremym480]

Re: The Best Franchise Mode in Sports Games Is...? (Roundtable)

For console games it's NBA 2K.

They really nail bringing franchise mode to life and have things that the other games don't have (player morale, coaching carousel). Plus, their customization options are second to none.... it's really not close honestly.

[seanhazz1]

I partial to MLB the Show for its great franchise play and options. For example, If I want, I am able to "only play in the minors" if I want from season to season is, and deal with the MLB Club constantly calling up my prospects from AA, or play/sim every game at every league level, or the amount of data tracked in the game per player/team. Just another way for me to play.
For dynasty though I'd actually give the title to College hoops 2K8 for its total customization ability, and replay value, even though the game is dated. If that game was updated and re-released, I'd barely touch NBA, unless they once again allowed the upload of rosters from NCAA into any NFL or NBA pro game.

Madden 16 would be third, but it could use some more immersive elements in places.

[jay174175]

Re: The Best Franchise Mode in Sports Games Is...? (Roundtable)

ncaa football was the best

[brettk10]

I believe its OOTP 16. So realistic, even more than MLB the Show.

[Lukin4]

I really enjoyed MyLeague in NBA2k15, but traded it in a couple of months back. Will probably pick up 2k16 soon. But the 2 games that I just keep playing are College Hoops 2k8 and NCAA 14. I'm not sure if it's the constant roster turnover that keeps it fresh, or the deep recruiting options, but there is just something about both of those franchise modes that keeps me coming back for more.