'All Sports Games Are The Same Year After Year'

[SamStar42]

I'm so very sick of this belief.

The most annoying part is it's usually said by people who don't even play sports games [FIFA, Madden etc.] but are basing it on random suggestions or videos. If you'd have ever actually played the games, you'd notice there are differences. Let's take FIFA for example.

FIFA 08 was pretty poor.
FIFA 09 was massively different to FIFA 08, and is to date one of the best sports games I've ever played. The graphics were new, the gameplay was new, the engines were new, everything felt fresh including the Clubs mode, which was such a brilliant idea.
FIFA 10 managed to spruce up everything from FIFA 09, improving every aspect and adding a few new gameplay ideas of its own.
FIFA 11 changed a lot of the gameplay - not only introducing the new 'Be a Goalkeeper' element and full 11 vs. 11, the general gameplay is vastly different to FIFA 10's.

The annoying part about this is that only sports games seem to get this treatment - let's look at the biggest game of last year. The biggest addition was a fucking crossbow. That was enough to warrant nearly a billion dollars generated from the game. Ridiculous.

If you look hard enough almost all gaming series are similar to each other, so why is it only sports franchises get the hate?

 

[emeraldrafael]

I think its cause there's no real major change that the average video game player or the gamer that only has a passing fancy in sports games. Its like that with SHooters and with the pokemon games (which always bothers me).

And to a degree they're right. I always though that it would be better to buy a sports game for 35-40 dollars,t hen pay DLC charges every so often (for football, ever 5-6 weeeks, for Hockey, maybe once every month-month and a half).

 

[Hauer]

It's kinda true for some, not so much so for others.

For example the franchise and superstar modes in Madden 11 are EXACTLY the same as 10.

 

[Radeonx]

Because most gamers don't play sports and look at the genre as a waste of time.
I think it is monumentally stupid to view it like that, because the sports games do have some changes made to them, and sometimes they come out amazing.
Look at NBA 2k11. It is one of the best sports games ever. In my opinion, it made a lot of good changes from the previous iteration. Enough changes and upgrades to warrant it being my game of the year, beating out Mass Effect 2, Call of Duty Black Ops, Reach, Red Dead, and many more good games.
Sports games ARE different, and any other different viewpoint is sheer ignorance at a first glance.

And to a degree they're right. I always though that it would be better to buy a sports game for 35-40 dollars,t hen pay DLC charges every so often (for football, ever 5-6 weeeks, for Hockey, maybe once every month-month and a half).

Or you could just pay $60 for a sports game and get the roster updates and patches for free.

 

[Gxas]

Because most gamers don't play sports and look at the genre as a waste of time.

Pretty much this.

Though, I've pulled more all-nighters playing NHL'10 than I have any other game including WoW. So, I don't really understand it all too much.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I'm sorry....S-P-O-R-T-S? Don't you mean games... Those things that they do at that place with the five rings overhead.

Can't see why anyone would want to produce anything based on them though. It'd be like recreating something that you could experience for real. Not like shooting someone to pieces or other harmless pursuits we engage in.

 

[Daveman]

What I don't undestand is how it can support both FIFA AND Pro Evo...

 

[loc978]

What I actually have to say on this subject would probably land me a probation... I can't think of a way to say it that isn't inflammatory as all hell.

Anyway, to a point, you're right. Most people who slam on sports video games don't play those games... but in my experience, those who want to discuss such games knowingly try to do so with people who have no interest in their sport of choice... so what do they expect?

 

[Realitycrash]

Sorry, but I really don't see the difference. They update minor features and the graphics. Sure, if you are a graphics-monger then you will buy it, othervise..Why bother? I still play FIFA 04, and even though the gamemechanics have evolved since then, it's not enough to warrant buying another FIFA-game, be it not for the graphics.
I'v played NHL/FIFA/Whatevs EA printed out with a sportslogo, ever since NHL 94 (You know, on Sega?), and guess what? It isn't that big of a change. Except now the players aren't clusterfucks of pixels.

 

[tippy2k2]

Alright, here is an analogy that any gamer should be able to get...(I chose two genres but I'm sure you could do this same thing with ANY game franchise).

'Halo games are always the same! You have graphical updates but the core game play does not change. You are always using vehicles or guns to kill other uglier life forms. Sure, dual wielding is added and graphics change, but the core is the same.'

'Final Fantasy games are always the same. You are some little punk who starts at level 1, something bad happens, you go through waves of bad guys for 80 hours until you win. Sure, the way materia works changes each game, but the core is the same.'

Sport games do the exact same thing. To someone who has never played a Final Fantasy game, every FF game is going to look the exact same but you know that's not true. Sport games add animations, add physic tweaks, add X Y Z and to a fan, completely changes the game.

 

[Radeonx]

Sorry, but I really don't see the difference. They update minor features and the graphics. Sure, if you are a graphics-monger then you will buy it, othervise..Why bother? I still play FIFA 04, and even though the gamemechanics have evolved since then, it's not enough to warrant buying another FIFA-game, be it not for the graphics.
I'v played NHL/FIFA/Whatevs EA printed out with a sportslogo, ever since NHL 94 (You know, on Sega?), and guess what? It isn't that big of a change. Except now the players aren't clusterfucks of pixels.

If you name any game series with more than 2 games, they will all look the same to you.
Final Fantasy? That's the same game in different locations with different people.

Call of Duty? Same game in different locations with different people.

Doom? Same game with different monsters.

The same thing could be said for a large chunk of game series.

 

[R4ptur3]

I agree with you on fifa. I think it changes every year, though sometimes dramactically, sometimes not so much. before 10, the last fifa game i had was 05 and although there was a bit of a gap i was blown away at the difference between them.

i think sports franchises get some of the hate because to the people who don't like them, they look like they are the same thing over and over again, with no chanegs what so ever, even though it is untrue.

 

[GiantRaven]

I just dislike that they come out yearly and people just eat them up regardless. The same applies to Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and other yearly franchises. I feel that if you allow a longer time between releases for more development you could make a better, more interesting product with more significant changes and updates.

edit: Despite that, I will confess hypocrisy in that I will make exceptions for story driven sequels.

That being said, I can't think of any that do come out on a yearly basis. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[Realitycrash]

Sorry, but I really don't see the difference. They update minor features and the graphics. Sure, if you are a graphics-monger then you will buy it, othervise..Why bother? I still play FIFA 04, and even though the gamemechanics have evolved since then, it's not enough to warrant buying another FIFA-game, be it not for the graphics.
I'v played NHL/FIFA/Whatevs EA printed out with a sportslogo, ever since NHL 94 (You know, on Sega?), and guess what? It isn't that big of a change. Except now the players aren't clusterfucks of pixels.

If you name any game series with more than 2 games, they will all look the same to you.
Final Fantasy? That's the same game in different locations with different people.

Call of Duty? Same game in different locations with different people.

Doom? Same game with different monsters.

The same thing could be said for a large chunk of game series.

No, all those games have different plots, gameplay-mechanics (new guns, new magic, new combos), environments, characters, etc.
But with sports games, it's always the same. Same rules, so often same mechanics. Same environments, same mindless characters, same reason for doing what you are doing. Sure, they add a bit of variety to every new game, maybe a change in the club-mode or how you can level your own player (something NHL did back in 94 also..), but in the end, it is all so very same.
They change things, but not near enough by a longshot.

 

[tippy2k2]

Sorry, but I really don't see the difference. They update minor features and the graphics. Sure, if you are a graphics-monger then you will buy it, othervise..Why bother? I still play FIFA 04, and even though the gamemechanics have evolved since then, it's not enough to warrant buying another FIFA-game, be it not for the graphics.
I'v played NHL/FIFA/Whatevs EA printed out with a sportslogo, ever since NHL 94 (You know, on Sega?), and guess what? It isn't that big of a change. Except now the players aren't clusterfucks of pixels.

If you name any game series with more than 2 games, they will all look the same to you.
Final Fantasy? That's the same game in different locations with different people.

Call of Duty? Same game in different locations with different people.

Doom? Same game with different monsters.

The same thing could be said for a large chunk of game series.

No, all those games have different plots, gameplay-mechanics (new guns, new magic, new combos), environments, characters, etc.
But with sports games, it's always the same. Same rules, so often same mechanics. Same environments, same mindless characters, same reason for doing what you are doing. Sure, they add a bit of variety to every new game, maybe a change in the club-mode or how you can level your own player (something NHL did back in 94 also..), but in the end, it is all so very same.
They change things, but not near enough by a longshot.

Since the other guy is either away or not responding, I'll go ahead and do it:

Since most gamers have played (or at least know of) Final Fantasy, I'll pick it apart the way Sports games are being picked apart (as I stated above, you can do this with any game).

'The Final Fantasy games are all the same. You start off as a loner (Cloud, Squall, Lightning) or a generic character for the pre-modern FF games. You start off against an organization (Fight the Power!) or you're sent on a magical quest, until eventually, the twist! The bad guy you were after the whole time, he's not the main bad guy but a puppet! During this process, you are trying to woo someone or learning how to make friends, fight the same battles over and over and over (give or take 80 hours) again until eventually, you win! The stories all follow the same architect, the games have similar environments to one another and you're the same archetype of a character. What good is different stuff if, at it's core, it's all the same?'

Every single video game franchise can be broken down in this same exact way.

Then to your argument that sports games don't add new things? Different plots (new modes like Super Star mode and you're season turns out how you play it, not a "traditional" story but you can make it work). New game-play mechanics (QB Vision, GameFlow, Be a Goalie). New environments (I'll give you that point, although when new stadiums are built they're put in...I'm kind of grasping at straws). Complete new rosters each time you get the games, so your characters are constantly changing (try my poor Vikings out, going from Brett Favre to anyone else just...I'm sad now).

You don't have to play sports games and I'm sure my argument is not going to rock your world and make you buy Madden 11, just remember that each game is not the same and it's mildly insulting to insinuate that only idiots buy the same game year in and year out when it's clearly not the same game.

I'll stop talking now before this page becomes a book.

 

[teqrevisited]

I think the problem is that the sport is the same, so the game essentially stays the same save for graphical overhauls, new players and some extras on the side.

To anyone that doesn't follow them it's easy to see it as "Just the same game as last year with another +1 digit on the end." and unless they're interested in it it's all they'll see at a glance.