Lost in Next Gen Translation - rudyjuly2's Blog

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rudyjuly2's Blog

Lost in Next Gen Translation Stuck

Posted on January 5, 2009 at 03:44 PM.

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Over the years we�ve seen many games struggle when releasing on the latest and greatest console. Sure the graphics are pretty but what happened to the gameplay? Why are there flaws in the AI that didn�t exist before? Where are all the features I used to have? I�m specifically talking about EA Sports here. I�ve heard a lot of excuses as to why games are hard to program at the beginning. But there are good examples of games making a great transition.

There are two things a developer can do when the latest video game console is released. They can port the game over and just boost the graphics a little. Or they can re-write everything and provide great graphics hoping the holes in the AI aren�t too big. EA has usually chosen the latter path with typically bad results. I�m not just talking on the PS3 or 360 either. They have a history of doing this.

This is the first year I bought NBA Live in a long time. I loved the Live series when it first came out. NBA Live 95 was a blast. The game evolved over the years and the last version on the PS1 was an excellent game. But the first couple of editions on the PS2 were horrible and I stopped buying the game. The initial NHL games on the PS1 and PS2 were both filled with problems. Now we look at the football games on the 360 and PS3 and see how long it is taking EA to bring the games back up to the quality of the PS2/XBox versions. While I do enjoy NCAA �09 there are still major issues with the game that I don�t think should exist at this point. This has already been the third iteration of Madden on the new consoles and yet many people still aren�t happy. It�s better but why is this process taking so long?

There are examples of smooth transitions. Sony�s first PS3 version of The Show was great. It was incredibly similar to the PS2 version with tons of features and upgraded graphics. Granted the graphics on the original PS3 version weren�t truly next gen but the gameplay was solid. Nobody who bought the PS3 version felt they were playing the inferior product. Sony upgraded the graphics the following year and gamers didn�t have to suffer through inferior gameplay in the process. I was critical of APF 2K8 for being too much of a port when released but it was still evidence that a development team could bring over the same gameplay without suffering inexplicable problems in the process. In fact, fans of APF will praise the improvements in gameplay from 2K5.

I�m tired of seeing the same patterns materialize in the EA Sports library. You get a new console with a new pretty game full of problems. It takes a few years to fix it and then they start developing the next generations� mistake filled game. Enough already. It�s clear that EA has made some major strides over the last couple years and we are finally at or near the point where their sports games are great again. I�m happy about that but can we keep it that way please? Don�t expect me to line up for the next over-priced system and flawed game when it gets released in a few years. I will stick with the older, cheaper versions longer than I have in the past. I�ve learned my lesson and I hope EA has too.

Comments

# 1 W Patrick @ Jan 5

I feel the same way, great post.

# 2 jkra0512 @ Jan 7

Rudy, I'm telling ya kid I've seen this too. Normally, I don't go out and buy the new system right away anyway because I figure it takes a year to iron out the crap with the release of a new console. Sadly, it has taken Microsoft THIS WHOLE NEXT GENERATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEY STILL DON'T KNOW!

Don't get me started on EA Sports, they don't see anything wrong with what they are doing, exclusivity, poor AI, bad gameplay. I think the root of all the evil lies in the lack of competition and hiring second-rate crew because it's cheaper. Without competition, why would you go above and beyond to make sure your customer is happy when you know they'll keep buying anyway? I think we all forget video gaming is business first and foremost just like people forget their favorite sports team is a business.

I believe it all boils down to the suits at EA thinking, "Hey, it's ok to be this way, who the hell is going to challenge us? MUHAHAHAHAHA!" Until the customers do something about it we'll be lost forever in next-gen translation.