Poll: Sport games!

[Genocidicles]

When I want to play sports I go outside and actually play them.

 

[Doom972]

The only one I played more than a few minutes (I actually played it for many hours) was FIFA 98. It was bundled with a Sidewinder Gamepad I got back in 1998. It got boring eventually and didn't make me want to try other games in the genre.

I voted "Derp! Sports games are the same every year sheeple! Derp herp!", because no matter how hard you try to make it sound stupid, it's still true, and that's why most of these games' fans are sports fans rather than gamers, derp.

 

[Palademon]

I see it like this: 'When you can meet your friends to play football in real life, why should you spend so much money for a more boring type of the same game?'

For the same reason you would look at me like I was daft if I told you that if I wanted to shoot at people, I'd join the army instead of playing Call of Duty.

Because playing sports brings high risk of death and moral dilemmas, right?

I'm fine with people playing sports games because working with a team you entirely control is way different etc.
I'm just rather annoyed it requires new games instead of patches, and makes so much goddamned money for doing oh so very little.
I personally don't play them because I have absolutely no interest in sports.
I might play a fantasy sports game though, if it were something that wouldn't be viable in real life.

 

[tippy2k2]

I voted "Derp! Sports games are the same every year sheeple! Derp herp!", because no matter how hard you try to make it sound stupid, it's still true, and that's why most of these games' fans are sports fans rather than gamers, derp.

I gave a nice, long post of a reason for why that attitude is silly earlier in the thread (18+28). If someone has got a way to counter that argument, by all means go ahead but until someone gives me a reason why it's OK in other genres but not Sports to barely change, it's a silly attitude worthy of a Derp. It's alright not to like the genre; it's an entirely different thing if you look down upon the gamers who do like the genre (Note: I'm not saying you do that. In fact, I don't think you were doing that with your post I'm going after it this way just in case and I'm sure there are some who haven't spoken out who DO think that way)

Along with that, by the current poll:
Yes: 40 people play sport games
No: 60 people do not play sport games

40% of the people on The Escapist who voted in the poll are not gamers?

 

[FoolKiller]

I see it like this: 'When you can meet your friends to play football in real life, why should you spend so much money for a more boring type of the same game?'

For the same reason you would look at me like I was daft if I told you that if I wanted to shoot at people, I'd join the army instead of playing Call of Duty.

Playing Madden is a completely different experience then getting 10 friends together for a game of football. Along with that, I live in Minnesota. There is about a foot of snow on the ground right now and ice all over the place. I'm 27, which means having 10 friends period can sometimes be a hassle, let alone 10 friends who are in the mood to play football...

I wait till there is a foot of snow on the ground till we get friends together to play football.

I like sports games. Its just like all other video games, fantasy fulfillment. Also, I like hockey but my mom didn't have the money for me to play hockey when I was younger (it's a rather expensive sport) so I enjoyed the playing the video games instead.

Why are we back to the gamer elitist bullshit? You are a gamer if you do/don't play x.

Truth is you are a gamer if you play video games as a hobby (not a time passer). You are a hardcore gamer if your main/primary hobby is gaming.

 

[FoolKiller]

I voted "Derp! Sports games are the same every year sheeple! Derp herp!", because no matter how hard you try to make it sound stupid, it's still true, and that's why most of these games' fans are sports fans rather than gamers, derp.

I'm a sports fan. I'm a gamer. I have been an elite athlete. I am also a bunch of other things. It is moronic to suggest anything else because you don't enjoy a genre of game. Its like calling the CoD fans non-gamers because that is all they really play.

 

[Doom972]

I voted "Derp! Sports games are the same every year sheeple! Derp herp!", because no matter how hard you try to make it sound stupid, it's still true, and that's why most of these games' fans are sports fans rather than gamers, derp.

I'm a sports fan. I'm a gamer. I have been an elite athlete. I am also a bunch of other things. It is moronic to suggest anything else because you don't enjoy a genre of game. Its like calling the CoD fans non-gamers because that is all they really play.

You should read what I said before defending yourself by throwing insults around. I said MOST, which means that the majority of the fans of these games, aren't gamers.

 

[Doom972]

I voted "Derp! Sports games are the same every year sheeple! Derp herp!", because no matter how hard you try to make it sound stupid, it's still true, and that's why most of these games' fans are sports fans rather than gamers, derp.

I gave a nice, long post of a reason for why that attitude is silly earlier in the thread (18+28). If someone has got a way to counter that argument, by all means go ahead but until someone gives me a reason why it's OK in other genres but not Sports to barely change, it's a silly attitude worthy of a Derp. It's alright not to like the genre; it's an entirely different thing if you look down upon the gamers who do like the genre (Note: I'm not saying you do that. In fact, I don't think you were doing that with your post I'm going after it this way just in case and I'm sure there are some who haven't spoken out who DO think that way)

Along with that, by the current poll:
Yes: 40 people play sport games
No: 60 people do not play sport games

40% of the people on The Escapist who voted in the poll are not gamers?

If people buy the same game slightly enhanced every year and still enjoy it, good for them. I was just saying what I found unappealing in this genre. Also, at the moment I see 31% of the votes in "Yes, any sport game type" and "Yes, but only simulation (FIFA, Madden, MLB The Show, etc.)". I wasn't referring to the arcadey sports games in my previous post.

I'm not familiar with non-sport games that come out every year with nothing more than a graphics and stats update every year, care to give examples?

 

[FoolKiller]

I voted "Derp! Sports games are the same every year sheeple! Derp herp!", because no matter how hard you try to make it sound stupid, it's still true, and that's why most of these games' fans are sports fans rather than gamers, derp.

I'm a sports fan. I'm a gamer. I have been an elite athlete. I am also a bunch of other things. It is moronic to suggest anything else because you don't enjoy a genre of game. Its like calling the CoD fans non-gamers because that is all they really play.

You should read what I said before defending yourself by throwing insults around. I said MOST, which means that the majority of the fans of these games, aren't gamers.

I did read it. I wasn't defending myself, but giving an example. And the irony of what you wrote is amusing. You don't quote what I said after which is the statement saying that any one who games as a hobby is a gamer.

I was saying its moronic to make that sort of judgement of any one. You think throwing the word most is actually relevent to your point but its not. You claim ignorance regarding the genre in your very next post after your reply to me yet seem to think you know the majority of people that play a genre. But I'm done with you.

 

[SgtMcgee23]

Yes I play them.

The best sports games out there are NCAA Football and NHL.

Never really got into FIFA, but a lot of my friends worship that game.

 

[Elvaril]

Does "Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup" count?

 

[Doom972]

I voted "Derp! Sports games are the same every year sheeple! Derp herp!", because no matter how hard you try to make it sound stupid, it's still true, and that's why most of these games' fans are sports fans rather than gamers, derp.

I'm a sports fan. I'm a gamer. I have been an elite athlete. I am also a bunch of other things. It is moronic to suggest anything else because you don't enjoy a genre of game. Its like calling the CoD fans non-gamers because that is all they really play.

You should read what I said before defending yourself by throwing insults around. I said MOST, which means that the majority of the fans of these games, aren't gamers.

I did read it. I wasn't defending myself, but giving an example. And the irony of what you wrote is amusing. You don't quote what I said after which is the statement saying that any one who games as a hobby is a gamer.

I was saying its moronic to make that sort of judgement of any one. You think throwing the word most is actually relevent to your point but its not. You claim ignorance regarding the genre in your very next post after your reply to me yet seem to think you know the majority of people that play a genre. But I'm done with you.

I quoted everything you said, so I have no idea what you meant.

I didn't throw the word 'most'. I used it in the original post and for a good reason - there are gamers who play sports games, but most sports' games fans aren't gamers. I don't know how to put it in simpler terms for you, so I hope that the message will come across this time.

You could define someone who plays only one game as a gamer, if you use the broadest possible definition of gamer - like some define professional poker players as athletes. I think you can see where I'm going with this.

Now you may go.

 

[tippy2k2]

If people buy the same game slightly enhanced every year and still enjoy it, good for them. I was just saying what I found unappealing in this genre. Also, at the moment I see 31% of the votes in "Yes, any sport game type" and "Yes, but only simulation (FIFA, Madden, MLB The Show, etc.)". I wasn't referring to the arcadey sports games in my previous post.

I'm not familiar with non-sport games that come out every year with nothing more than a graphics and stats update every year, care to give examples?

I can give you examples for Madden and FIFA. I do not buy the new editions of the other sports for I don't care enough about other sports to purchase the game yearly. Again, if I'm sounding like I'm trying to pick a fight here, I'm really not trying to. I just get tired of seeing people trash sport gamers as mindless sheep for buying the same game with a new coat of paint each year when I can guarantee that that is not the case (and when it is the case, I do not purchase the game).

Madden 13 introduced a brand new engine (The Infinity Engine). In Madden 2012 and before, the animations for tackles were all pre-canned animations.

Example: Your guy gets hit in the back and he falls forward, even if there is a wall of people in front of him. The new Infinity engine bases the animations on physics now, so if that same guy gets hit in the back, he'll stop when he hits the guys in front of him and start falling backwards instead. You might not think this makes a big difference but I could NEVER go back to the old style. This makes a HUGE difference in the game.

Madden 13 also introduced a brand new online franchise system (something the game DESPERATELY needed and was the main reason I did not purchase Madden 12). This feature has scouting, draft boards with in-game stories, practices, experience points to make your players better, etc. The Infinity engine alone would have made this a must have upgrade for me but the franchise update made this game a day 1 purchase for me.

FIFA 12 was the main push; The Impact Engine was introduced. This is like the Infinity engine where the ball and players react to each other via physics rather than pre-canned animations. This makes the game much more free-flowing and natural, a huge deal in soccer. FIFA 13 has tweaked the engine to the ball, which used to be much more magnetic than it is now and you can't cheat the system as easily with the new ball physics (tee hee...ball physics).

Example: In FIFA 12, it was real easy to get a *through-ball against another team because no matter how fast your player is running, he has constant control of the ball. In FIFA 13, the new engine causes the ball to...well...act more like a ball. If you run as fast as you can into a soccer ball in real life, you are going to lose control of it. That's what the new engine introduced.

Because it was a much more minor tweak (though now that I'm actually playing it, it's a HUGE freaking deal. Most of the goals against me in FIFA 12 were these cheap through-ball goals but you can't get away with that anymore), I waited until the game dropped in price to pick it up.

*

Spoiler: Through-ball explained if needed

I don't know how familiar you are with soccer so I apologize in advance if you find this mocking. A through-ball is when an attacker is lined up with the defense (for if he's past the defense, it's offsides and the play is blown dead). The player with the ball kicks it forward "through" the line so that the attacker runs past the defenders and gets the ball on the run. This is designed so get the attacking player through for a one-on-one with a goal keeper

The video below is from FIFA 11 but it demonstrates a through-ball if my verbal explanation was bad

 

[loc978]

Team sports involving balls and goals are liable to bore me to sleep, in video games as in real life (I got no end of flak for that in the army during mandatory "fun" PT. I just wanted to work out and go do something useful with my time on duty). I suppose in real life, mock warfare is generally healthier than real warfare... but that's why we have paintball... in the woods... with extremely limited ammunition per round.

...and yeah, the games tend to look "all the same" to me. Even if you manage to realistically simulate every molecule in every fake blade of astro-turf on your football field, it's still football, and therefore still boring.

Then again, I've seen the attitudes of team sports creeping into online shooters for years... pretty much why I stopped playing those, too.

 

[Darken12]

I am incredibly jealous of people who are into sports. I just sigh wistfully whenever the topic of sports comes up, wishing I too found it super interesting (or at all interesting) so I could experience a fraction of their enthusiasm.

Captcha: sea shore. Yup, I'm a Tolkien elf and sports are my sea shore. They fill me with such longing!

 

[tippy2k2]

Does "Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup" count?

I never played it so I couldn't tell you for sure but I imagine that would go under "Arcadey Sport game" like Mutant Football League and MLB The Bigs. I suppose it's up to your own judgement if you think that means you like arcadey sport games or this is an anomaly.

That Qudditch game was a full-blown game, right? I recall hearing it was pretty good so I can't imagine it was just some slapped together piece of poo that a lot of licensed games are.

 

[Doom972]

If people buy the same game slightly enhanced every year and still enjoy it, good for them. I was just saying what I found unappealing in this genre. Also, at the moment I see 31% of the votes in "Yes, any sport game type" and "Yes, but only simulation (FIFA, Madden, MLB The Show, etc.)". I wasn't referring to the arcadey sports games in my previous post.

I'm not familiar with non-sport games that come out every year with nothing more than a graphics and stats update every year, care to give examples?

I can give you examples for Madden and FIFA. I do not buy the new editions of the other sports for I don't care enough about other sports to purchase the game yearly. Again, if I'm sounding like I'm trying to pick a fight here, I'm really not trying to. I just get tired of seeing people trash sport gamers as mindless sheep for buying the same game with a new coat of paint each year when I can guarantee that that is not the case (and when it is the case, I do not purchase the game).

Madden 13 introduced a brand new engine (The Infinity Engine). In Madden 2012 and before, the animations for tackles were all pre-canned animations.

Example: Your guy gets hit in the back and he falls forward, even if there is a wall of people in front of him. The new Infinity engine bases the animations on physics now, so if that same guy gets hit in the back, he'll stop when he hits the guys in front of him and start falling backwards instead. You might not think this makes a big difference but I could NEVER go back to the old style. This makes a HUGE difference in the game.

Madden 13 also introduced a brand new online franchise system (something the game DESPERATELY needed and was the main reason I did not purchase Madden 12). This feature has scouting, draft boards with in-game stories, practices, experience points to make your players better, etc. The Infinity engine alone would have made this a must have upgrade for me but the franchise update made this game a day 1 purchase for me.

FIFA 12 was the main push; The Impact Engine was introduced. This is like the Infinity engine where the ball and players react to each other via physics rather than pre-canned animations. This makes the game much more free-flowing and natural, a huge deal in soccer. FIFA 13 has tweaked the engine to the ball, which used to be much more magnetic than it is now and you can't cheat the system as easily with the new ball physics (tee hee...ball physics).

Example: In FIFA 12, it was real easy to get a *through-ball against another team because no matter how fast your player is running, he has constant control of the ball. In FIFA 13, the new engine causes the ball to...well...act more like a ball. If you run as fast as you can into a soccer ball in real life, you are going to lose control of it. That's what the new engine introduced.

Because it was a much more minor tweak (though now that I'm actually playing it, it's a HUGE freaking deal. Most of the goals against me in FIFA 12 were these cheap through-ball goals but you can't get away with that anymore), I waited until the game dropped in price to pick it up.

*

Spoiler: Through-ball explained if needed

I don't know how familiar you are with soccer so I apologize in advance if you find this mocking. A through-ball is when an attacker is lined up with the defense (for if he's past the defense, it's offsides and the play is blown dead). The player with the ball kicks it forward "through" the line so that the attacker runs past the defenders and gets the ball on the run. This is designed so get the attacking player through for a one-on-one with a goal keeper

The video below is from FIFA 11 but it demonstrates a through-ball if my verbal explanation was bad

While those features still don't sound like they justify a whole new game, I can't say for sure since I haven't played those games, so I'll take your word for it.

The examples I was asking for, though, are for non-sport games that don't change much between installments. You mentioned that other genres do it but don't get criticized about it the same way sports games do.

Not trying to pick a fight either. I just want to have a discussion. I appreciate keeping it civil, unlike some other posters.

 

[tippy2k2]

While those features still don't sound like they justify a whole new game, I can't say for sure since I haven't played those games, so I'll take your word for it.

The examples I was asking for, though, are for non-sport games that don't change much between installments. You mentioned that other genres do it but don't get criticized about it the same way sports games do.

Not trying to pick a fight either. I just want to have a discussion. I appreciate keeping it civil, unlike some other posters.

...well don't I feel dumb now. I spent like, fifteen minutes answering a question you didn't ask

(but yes, to a fan of the genre, those are game-changing differences).

Anyway, to answer your question, I made a list of games I feel does that and I will just go off of that. This is in a spoiler tag because it'll be long and I'm sure the point will be made far before anyone finishes the list...

Spoiler

Uncharted: Nathan Drake goes treasure hunting for something. A lady gets involved somehow and an over-the-top bad guy is trying to do something dastardly that Drake needs to stop. Fake-Dad Drake is old.

God of War: Kratos is angry and hits thing with his big sharp pointy stick. Sometimes these are bad guys and sometimes these are ladies (zing!)

Final Fantasy (Note: got bored at 12 and stopped playing this series): A group of teenagers who's gel budget must be through the damn roof need to save the world.

Infamous: Cole has lightning powers and uses said powers to zap bad guys

Far Cry: A man out in the jungle is going after a bad guy for some reason. Everything is pretty and open ended.

Halo: A big guy in armor needs to kill a bunch of aliens because everyone hates humans

Grand Theft Auto: A man who starts with nothing rises to the top of a criminal empire

Call of Duty: Shooting everything that moves until it stops moving. Something controversial happens. We continue shooting things until they stop moving

Battlefield: See Duty, Call of above minus the controversial thing.

Mass Effect: Aliens are here and we need to shoot/explode/physic power/melt them. Also, a lady/guy needs some loving.

Dead Space (Note: stopped playing after 1, got bored): Clark is lonely on a ship looking for his lady friend (or going insane) and the thing Necromorphs keep trying to kill him.

Fallout: Someone wakes up in a vault trying to find whatever they are looking for. Slow motion brain explosions will follow.

Assassins Creed: Someone sneaks around, stabs something, runs away, and repeat. Throw in some weird sci-fi/God stuff and you've got six games

These are just the games sitting on my shelf. I could do this all day if I wanted to just based on what I've played. Now again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. I've obviously played most of these games but the vast majority of sequels is nothing but minor tweaks that make the game feel much better. Game play between Uncharted 1 and Uncharted 3 are very similar but they FEEL very different thanks to these little tweaks.

The only thing I can think of for why non-gamers look upon the sports genre with such scorn is either ignorance (you don't see these little changes, therefore they must not exist) or because of the yearly release schedule (so they assume nothing of worth can get changed in one year). You know, sometimes gamers ARE right on that; sometimes very little change is done and those are the years that I skip. However, I'm not going to thumb my nose at a group of people just for playing something that they like like so many other gamers like to do.

 

[Elvaril]

Does "Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup" count?

I never played it so I couldn't tell you for sure but I imagine that would go under "Arcadey Sport game" like Mutant Football League and MLB The Bigs. I suppose it's up to your own judgement if you think that means you like arcadey sport games or this is an anomaly.

That Qudditch game was a full-blown game, right? I recall hearing it was pretty good so I can't imagine it was just some slapped together piece of poo that a lot of licensed games are.

Then my answer is yes, but only arcadey sports games.

Yeah, I really enjoyed it. It was pretty good although the campaign was too easy on even the hardest setting. It can get kind of samey after a while, but then again that is kind of what sports games do. They are basically just playing the same minigame over and over against different teams. I enjoyed it enough to play a season all the way through with four different teams and I believe that each season is 18 matches. The snitch always made multiplayer a toss-up as to who would win, but that is kind of the point of the snitch. I never won a multiplayer match because I would always be 100 or so points ahead and my opponent would catch the snitch, but that also made the game memorable and enjoyable to the new people that I played it with so that they would want to play again.

 

[The_Echo]

I don't play sports games that are, like... real sports. Stuff like Madden... completely uninteresting to me, just like the real thing.

However, I remember really enjoying my time with Quidditch World Cup, and what little I played of Jak X: Combat Racing. Racing games count as sports games, right? And some could argue fighting games fit there, too. I do like a good fighter.