FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

[Jazzman1522]

What keeps me from playing MLS in FIFA isn't the poor representation of MLS rules. It's the lack of a faithful representation of the US Open Cup and the lack of a CONCACAF Champions League to play in. This is totally wishful thinking, and will likely never happen, but I would love to see a game that is almost MLS-centric, but not quite. I would love it to include the development leagues in the U.S., if for no other reason than to play them in the Open Cup and to scout players from them. Then, throw in Liga MX teams and some Caribbean teams to play in Champions League. I would love this. It'll never happen, I'm sure, but I would love it.

[HKPound]

Re: FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

What keeps me from playing MLS in FIFA isn't the poor representation of MLS rules. It's the lack of a faithful representation of the US Open Cup and the lack of a CONCACAF Champions League to play in. This is totally wishful thinking, and will likely never happen, but I would love to see a game that is almost MLS-centric, but not quite. I would love it to include the development leagues in the U.S., if for no other reason than to play them in the Open Cup and to scout players from them. Then, throw in Liga MX teams and some Caribbean teams to play in Champions League. I would love this. It'll never happen, I'm sure, but I would love it.

Yeah it's really a shame. Football Manager gets it down pat but EA won't do the same.

[RedAL925]

Re: FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

What keeps me from playing MLS in FIFA isn't the poor representation of MLS rules. It's the lack of a faithful representation of the US Open Cup and the lack of a CONCACAF Champions League to play in. This is totally wishful thinking, and will likely never happen, but I would love to see a game that is almost MLS-centric, but not quite. I would love it to include the development leagues in the U.S., if for no other reason than to play them in the Open Cup and to scout players from them. Then, throw in Liga MX teams and some Caribbean teams to play in Champions League. I would love this. It'll never happen, I'm sure, but I would love it.

What would you expect to happen 1st from EA: (A) adding NASL/USL-Pro for US Open Cup accuracy or (B) adding Carib/Central American teams to "Rest of World" for CONCACAF Champs accuracy?

Personally I think (A) would happen before (B), but I won't be holding my breath for either to happen anytime soon.

[prettyfly]

Asking for accurate MLS league? What's next? Asking for accurate women soccer?
nah i think they should first try to make a better football (soccer) simulation befor they think about anything else....overhaul the AI, more variability at scoring goals, better dribbling animations and differences between the superstars (right now pretty much every player feels the same), more realistic player development, smarter transfermarket AI, implement coaches which will form teams differently etc.

[celticfang]

Not to mention there actually was a dedicated Konami MLS game many years back that was actually pretty good yet sold miserably. I doubt EA wants to go there.

Which was just a rebadged and reskinned (at the time) PS1 era PES game. It had the standared PES teams and the MLS teams tacked on.

I'd rather see another developer pick up the MLS reins and try to do an accurate MLS/NASL sim, I've not played too far into the indie soccer game scene but if anyone can do it (minus licenses and with fudged, but fixable names), it's the indie scene.

[moblipeg]

I think the hard part about making a completely separate game is predicting exactly how many would buy it. Yes we can throw out fake metrics such as "x" amount of people bought FIFA 2013, so "y" amount of people will buy MLS 2014. Are FIFA purchasers buying the game to play as their favorite MLS team, or their favorite BPL team, or La Liga team, etc? Or are they even soccer fans at all? Maybe some gamers buy it because it is truly the best sports sim game out there. Some people I know don't even like hockey, yet they still buy NHL games every year because they are made well. I think it make just be easier from a cost standpoint for EA to just add in some bare bones options within career mode to make playing as an MLS team more palatable. I think all that you would need is some sort of salary cap structure put into the logic for just that league and a draft to take place. The game already generates fake names and backgrounds when you scout. I wouldn't think it'd be to hard for a basic draft to happen for just that league in career mode.

[kerosene31]

Re: FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

I'd love to see the MLS built out more realistically in Fifa 14.

As an American fan, I definitely wouldn't want a separate release. I'd rather keep a half-baked MLS option and still be able to play the rest of the world. I enjoy playing in the MLS, but not exclusively.

[Sportzfan0290]

Reading this article I went into FIFA to investigate MLS. It seems that someway I don't know why but the Sounders are the only club with the accurate stadium. Why is everyone giving up so much BS maybe hopefully this upcoming years launch with the ps4 and 720 that they can finally put in all the clubs stadiums especially Sporting KC and they can put in CONCACAF Champions League. The only thing is is that they need Argentina leagues and one other I believe for licensing the CCL.

[HKPound]

Re: FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

Reading this article I went into FIFA to investigate MLS. It seems that someway I don't know why but the Sounders are the only club with the accurate stadium. Why is everyone giving up so much BS maybe hopefully this upcoming years launch with the ps4 and 720 that they can finally put in all the clubs stadiums especially Sporting KC and they can put in CONCACAF Champions League. The only thing is is that they need Argentina leagues and one other I believe for licensing the CCL.

Yeah it's gonna be hard for FIFA because from what I've heard Konami is looking to lock up exclusive rights with the Argentine league.

[thataussieguy]

I think that could tie in with the A-League in Australia, MLS & A-League are similar quality and have similar rules i.e. salary cap, marquee players

[celticfang]

AFAIK PES has the whole UEFA CL and Copa Libatadores (which are very well done) licenses, then again I ain't played FIFA since 07 or 08, so does anyone want to tell me if either are in as contests?

[MrOctober430]

Re: FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

Not just the MLS, with a large Mexican-American base in the US, they also need to fix Liga MX. With Liga MX soon becoming on ESPN regularly, it should boom popularity.

They need to focus more on the domestic product first.

Who the heck plays with the unlicensed Polish league come on.

[rckabillyRaider]

Re: FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

Reading this article I went into FIFA to investigate MLS. It seems that someway I don't know why but the Sounders are the only club with the accurate stadium. Why is everyone giving up so much BS maybe hopefully this upcoming years launch with the ps4 and 720 that they can finally put in all the clubs stadiums especially Sporting KC and they can put in CONCACAF Champions League. The only thing is is that they need Argentina leagues and one other I believe for licensing the CCL.

Argentine Primera is part of CONMEBOL. Only CONCACAF leagues in FIFA currently are MLS and Liga MX

Not just the MLS, with a large Mexican-American base in the US, they also need to fix Liga MX. With Liga MX soon becoming on ESPN regularly, it should boom popularity.

They need to focus more on the domestic product first.

Who the heck plays with the unlicensed Polish league come on.

Yeah, I agree. Throw in the Liga Ascenso MX and put in a Copa MX.

[VTPack919]

Re: FIFA: Time to Improve the MLS Experience

Am I the only one that would rather they just do a complete BPL? All stadia, chants, songs, everything?

I mean I love the MLS but I really just want them to take one league and flesh it out completely. It would add to the immersion factor of playing as a team in the BPL.

[Playmaker76]

Remember MLS extra time 2002?