Why the hate on sport games?

[fenrizz]

This might sound a bit rant-like, but here goes.

A common complaint on EA is that they release the same sport titles every year, just with a few small updates.
Now, being a football fan (or soccer if you must) myself, I certainly can see why this is done, and why people keep buying them.
When I buy the latest Fifa, it's not because of some new changes to the game play or anything like that, it's only because I want the updated team roosters, updated rankings and so forth.
And it's always nice to see how my local team is rated in this years edition.
Now I don't buy them every year, but every 2-3 years, sure.

So why all the hate? Am I alone in feeling that releasing them every year is justified?

 

[BolognaBaloney]

Because they are fairly mundane, boring re-treads of the years before them with an updated roster and a new feature like a "HIT-STICK" or "MASCOT-MODE"

 

[SharPhoe]

No, you're not alone. Sure, sports titles are required to update their roster every year. I don't have anything against the games, but since I'm a big fan or sports in general, that's why they just tend to fall off my radar.

EDIT: Wow. Now I feel alone...

 

[elvor0]

Because they don't build on last year, and to the above poster, no you dont really need to release one every year, an update or dlc to update the rosters would be amply sufficient as opposed to spending lots of development time making a whole new game as opposed to working on an original game or something that cant BE DONE IN REAL LIFE.

They annoy me because it's the same bloody game every year, played one you've played them all, the only change is skins and stats, which make almost no impact on the actual gamePLAY.

 

[A random person]

I don't like sports games because I prefer to go on adventures and shoot dudes in my games. And they get a bad reputation from EA doing things that could be done as easily with DLC. I heard the 2k games were good before EA got the exclusive NFL contract, though.

 

[fenrizz]

Because they don't build on last year, and to the above poster, no you dont really need to release one every year, an update or dlc to update the rosters would be amply sufficient as opposed to spending lots of development time making a whole new game as opposed to working on an original game or something that cant BE DONE IN REAL LIFE.

They annoy me because it's the same bloody game every year, played one you've played them all, the only change is skins and stats, which make almost no impact on the actual gamePLAY.

Well, the games have changed alot during the last 10 years though.
And how can you be really original when it comes to, for example, the Fifa franchise?

 

[quack35]

It's cool to hate.

 

[elvor0]

Because they don't build on last year, and to the above poster, no you dont really need to release one every year, an update or dlc to update the rosters would be amply sufficient as opposed to spending lots of development time making a whole new game as opposed to working on an original game or something that cant BE DONE IN REAL LIFE.

They annoy me because it's the same bloody game every year, played one you've played them all, the only change is skins and stats, which make almost no impact on the actual gamePLAY.

Well, the games have changed alot during the last 10 years though.
And how can you be really original when it comes to, for example, the Fifa franchise?

Well I meant work on a completely original game, as in an IP that isnt Fifa.

 

[sms_117b]

For those that say DLC, don't forget that has only been a option on the consoles this generation. On top of that they are for casual gamers (mostly) a few of my friends don't know how to go about getting DLC or installing it. It's easier for those consumers to just buy the new game every year.

I think it's fine, I've been known to get a few of these. Not only are there roster updates, graphics are improved and new sections added old ones improved.

Anyway, OP, you're not alone, I'm on your side here.

 

[fenrizz]

Because they don't build on last year, and to the above poster, no you dont really need to release one every year, an update or dlc to update the rosters would be amply sufficient as opposed to spending lots of development time making a whole new game as opposed to working on an original game or something that cant BE DONE IN REAL LIFE.

They annoy me because it's the same bloody game every year, played one you've played them all, the only change is skins and stats, which make almost no impact on the actual gamePLAY.

Well, the games have changed alot during the last 10 years though.
And how can you be really original when it comes to, for example, the Fifa franchise?

Well I meant work on a completely original game, as in an IP that isnt Fifa.

I suppose that's true. But EA sports is a division dedicated to sports games, not that I'm to sure what the other EA divisions are up too though.

For those that say DLC, don't forget that has only been a option on the consoles this generation. On top of that they are for casual gamers (mostly) a few of my friends don't know how to go about getting DLC or installing it. It's easier for those consumers to just buy the new game every year.

I think it's fine, I've been known to get a few of these. Not only are there roster updates, graphics are improved and new sections added old ones improved.

Anyway, OP, you're not alone, I'm on your side here.

Couldn't have said it better myself
Glad to see I'm not all alone.

 

[teisjm]

I think they're should just keep releasing them every year.
It's not like they're forcing anyone to buy them.
I would never buy any soccer/football/basket/hockey/whatever game at all, but others do, so don't whine about it.
I read in an article here on the site a few months back that the "core" players actually weren't us "hardcore gamers", but the ppl who bought NFL every year. ES makes more money off those people than they do of the stereotypical "hardcore gamer"

So it actually gives the companys more money for little work, which in turn will enable them to do more risky games with lesser chance of massive economic succes.

Economics aside, if you don't like them (I don't) just don't buy them. Wouldn't you be angry if they stopped releasing games you liked because others thought they sucked?

 

[photog212]

I think the NHL series has come up with a lot of innovations for the sports genre. NHL09 introduced the "Be a pro" mode which I think is fun as hell.

 

[elvor0]

I think they're should just keep releasing them every year.
It's not like they're forcing anyone to buy them.
I would never buy any soccer/football/basket/hockey/whatever game at all, but others do, so don't whine about it.
I read in an article here on the site a few months back that the "core" players actually weren't us "hardcore gamers", but the ppl who bought NFL every year. ES makes more money off those people than they do of the stereotypical "hardcore gamer"

So it actually gives the companys more money for little work, which in turn will enable them to do more risky games with lesser chance of massive economic succes.

Economics aside, if you don't like them (I don't) just don't buy them. Wouldn't you be angry if they stopped releasing games you liked because others thought they sucked?

Thing is, stuff like fifa is a cash cow, the problem there being companies focus on the cash cows (ok yes I'm not faulting them for that, that's what companies do) because of mainstream audiences being more exposed to gaming, they buy the mainstream stuff, but it means gaming these days tends to be boring and watered down. There are no complex characters. It's all generic and short.

I can't remember the last time I was blown away by a game, and original games that are good (Beyond Good and Evil, Dungeon Keeper 2, Thief 1&2 to name a few) don't sell, and thus companies continue to roll the generic boring cash cows. Heck how many mainstreamers that played Fallout 3, even know, have played or acknowledge the existence of the awesomeness that was FO 1&2?

I'm bitter because games like Fifa bring all the cash because of their genericness and they sell well even though they barely evolve beyond graphics, and they suck up development time and money when they should be developing games that matter, and help gaming as an art form, the fact that companies feel justified to charge full price for a roster update and nothing more further frakks me off.

/rant over.

 

[PersianLlama]

$60 for updated rosters? How does that justify it?

 

[fenrizz]

$60 for updated rosters? How does that justify it?

Quite easily, by the fact that it's more fun (if you're into sports) to play with the current team roosters.
And as pointed out above, most people that buy these games are "casual" gamers.

 

[teisjm]

I think they're should just keep releasing them every year.
It's not like they're forcing anyone to buy them.
I would never buy any soccer/football/basket/hockey/whatever game at all, but others do, so don't whine about it.
I read in an article here on the site a few months back that the "core" players actually weren't us "hardcore gamers", but the ppl who bought NFL every year. ES makes more money off those people than they do of the stereotypical "hardcore gamer"

So it actually gives the companys more money for little work, which in turn will enable them to do more risky games with lesser chance of massive economic succes.

Economics aside, if you don't like them (I don't) just don't buy them. Wouldn't you be angry if they stopped releasing games you liked because others thought they sucked?

Thing is, stuff like fifa is a cash cow, the problem there being companies focus on the cash cows (ok yes I'm not faulting them for that, that's what companies do) because of mainstream audiences being more exposed to gaming, they buy the mainstream stuff, but it means gaming these days tends to be boring and watered down. There are no complex characters. It's all generic and short.

I can't remember the last time I was blown away by a game, and original games that are good (Beyond Good and Evil, Dungeon Keeper 2, Thief 1&2 to name a few) don't sell, and thus companies continue to roll the generic boring cash cows. Heck how many mainstreamers that played Fallout 3, even know, have played or acknowledge the existence of the awesomeness that was FO 1&2?

I'm bitter because games like Fifa bring all the cash because of their genericness and they sell well even though they barely evolve beyond graphics, and they suck up development time and money when they should be developing games that matter, and help gaming as an art form, the fact that companies feel justified to charge full price for a roster update and nothing more further frakks me off.

/rant over.

I've read that thief 3 or 4 is beeing developed (don't remember if theres already a 3)
Theres still beeing made good games, theres just been made so many good games that people demand even mroe for a game to be good.

People who have played fallout 3 (or just heard of it) must have an IQ below 50 if they cannot figure out that there's a 1 and 2.

 

[ragestreet]

Yes. Not only is there hardly any innovation between games in any given series but they are also games based on other games!