The Swami Returns: Chris' 2011 Sports Gaming Predictions - RaychelSnr's Blog

Arena Blog Dynasty Scores Sign Up ☰

RaychelSnr's Blog

The Swami Returns: Chris' 2011 Sports Gaming Predictions Stuck

Posted on December 27, 2010 at 01:22 PM.

(28)

People who have read my articles and blogs for the past couple of year's know I like to made predictions for the New Year about our genre for no other reason than to just speculate on what the New Year might bring.

I'd like to think I have had a good string of success with my predictions, but Brett Favre would also like to think he is able to play football until he's 65 too.

Nonetheless, last year I predicted such things as the explosion of mobile/online gaming, EA getting buyout interest from several major companies, Backbreaker not getting a sequel anytime soon, and EA still not quite figuring out the Wii's market.

I thought I was a little safe in my picks last year, so I'm going to take it a notch further and try to be both informed and bold with my picks for the new year. So if you want tomorrow's headlines today, like that old CBS show "Early Edition" keep going....

EA Announces they have renewed their Exclusive Agreement with the NFL. Many people around OS and the Sports Gaming landscape are somehow assuming EA is going to willingly give up the exclusive NFL license after 2012 and allow competitors to try to take away from EA's guaranteed 100% market share. Given that this process isn't just EA's choice and The NFL is still dealing exclusively with companies despite what some think is the golden goose lawsuit (American Needle Case). It's a pretty logical step that the NFL will most likely continue to see the value in their agreement with EA given their actions in other areas.

The American Needle ruling earlier this year was little more than a forced small change in negotiation tactics, not the end substance that comes of it. With that in mind, I don't see the NFL changing their tune of dealing with just one company, not this time anyways. Peter Moore has said as far back as 2008 (after the class-action suit currently making headlines was introduced into the courts) that EA is going to renew the license when it comes up in 2012. I suspect the process will be finished by the end of the year or the news will be that both parties plan to renew in 2012.

None of the AAA titles will get motion controls right. EA or 2K can't figure out motion controls for their core sports sims, unless the game's name is Tiger Woods PGA Tour. On that same token, that trend will continue for the next year. Neither major company will be able to make sports sims motion control friendly for the next year.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour will see a renaissance. Wii users know how good Tiger and Motion controls work together. That same success from the Wii platform will bleed over onto the PS3 and 360 platforms as well. There will be just enough bugs holding Tiger 12 back from being a Game of the Year candidate, but it will be among the best sports games of 2011.

Apple will become serious about gaming. Apple is going to need a new place to make money, and with $51 billion in cash with no debt to their name, they can afford to take a risk or seven. The App Store's success as a gaming platform will ensure Apple decides they can make Gaming work somehow. Apple will either announce they are buying major game studios such as Electronic Arts or there will be rumblings of Apple producing a Game Console hitting the gaming news wires by the end of 2011.

Take Two will announce they aren't renewing their MLB Exclusive Agreement. It is really no secret at this point that Take Two hates their MLB Exclusive License. In a way, it was in an attempt to get back at EA for taking the NFL -- and the result was a lot like trying to hit someone in the head with a ball only to miss and have it come back and hit you right in the eye instead. Expect a resulting announcement from EA that they are back in the MLB development game, but maybe not in 2011.

NBA Elite will be better than its stigma suggests. NBA Elite is now the butt of a lot of jokes, none of them exactly positive towards the product. However, NBA Elite 12 will turn some heads as it will be of much higher quality than the tech demo we saw this year. NBA 2K12 will still rule the roost, but the basketball arms race will officially be back on by October...despite Elite getting absolutely dominated in sales.

NHL 2K12 will also see a huge leap in quality. The extra year NHL 2K12 has gotten will show up in almost every facet of the game. Look for the series to finally be competitive in quality with NHL 12 once again. However, the game will get destroyed in sales, bringing the series future into question and the viability of 'taking a year off'.

There will be a killer sports app for the Kinect and/or PS Move this year. While none of the sports sims will have any success with either piece of hardware, there will be a lesser known title which steals the show this year and becomes a crowd favorite. If I were a betting man, I'd say it will center on Tennis, Golf, or any other individual based sports game....why not right?

Both Madden and NCAA will be very good titles this year, and a sect of OSers will receive both games badly. Both Madden and NCAA aren't far off from greatness, NCAA especially. However, both games will still suffer from problems and thus, that will be enough ammunition for people to bring both titles down after EA decides to re-up the NFL license. It won't be a pretty scene, despite both games actually turning out to be pretty darned good.

One of the established names will fumble a bit. One of the titles we've come to expect quality from will lose a bit of steam this year. I'm looking at you NHL, FIFA, NBA 2K, or The Show. The weak game here won't be a disaster, but it'll be a definite down year for fans of that game. Otherwise, it will be business as usual for our genres best games.

Mobile Gaming becomes established in the death of the Game Boy. Mobile gaming is still in its infancy in a lot of ways. 2011 will be the change of that, as we will see several big time apps on mobile platforms which will usher in a new era of features and quality. We will also hear heads of major gaming companies talk about how mobile gaming is quickly replacing traditional gaming hand-held devices. This is a market that's exploding and will continue to in 2011.

There will be a college basketball game but it won't be a major development project and will instead be a watered down XBLA and PSN only download.

There will be at least one big rumor that 2K Sports is Developing a New Football Game. The timing would be right, as 2K would likely try to advance their football platform again, even though All Pro Football 2K8 was a complete flop/disaster in sales. However, it will be found out that the rumor was actually started by NFL 2K5 fans hiding in their basements still thinking it's 2006 and no football game will come of it.

Forza Motorsport 4 will own all. Gran Turismo will be officially put on notice that it is not the king of sim-racing or even sim-driving anymore. Not only will Forza Motorsport be a critical and sales success, but it will be a frontrunner for our 2011 Sports Game of the Year. You heard it here first (but not really).

NASCAR makes its triumphant console return. Turning left a lot will be more fun that it has been in awhile with Activision's new NASCAR game set to hit store shelves. However, the game will have those rookie mistakes we've come to expect from developers and there will be just enough holding the game back to keep it from entering into truly great territory.

Top Spin 4 will be the best game no one plays�at least in America. Top Spin 4 will review great and more importantly, will play great. But it'll be a game that deserves more and won't get it.

OS revamps their review system and people love it. Ok well, the former is happening and the latter is what we hope. But I want to end this one on a positive note for the site!

I covered almost every new release this year that's for a major sport or from a major company. What do you see happening in 2011? Sound off in the comments section below!

Comments

# 16 yamabushi @ Dec 29

Quote:

Both Madden and NCAA will be very good titles this year, and a sect of OSers will receive both games badly.

Way to get out in front of the predictable reviews.

# 17 videlsports @ Dec 29

I will say that 2k sports WILL develop a College Game.. NCAA or Historic Colleges Like BXCF.. it will be a huge stride. Backreacker will develop an Ncaa title too or take a year off of Football to develop.. Ice breaker.. which will be liscenced soon and may be their cash cow..then return with a new camra angle to please the Newbies.. Elite will show and prove.. but 2k still will be king. I do Like elites controls though.

# 18 Bwnarrow3 @ Dec 30

You sure have some bold and optimistic predictions but I sure hope they come true.

# 19 tabulaRasa @ Dec 30

I hope the morons at the NFL board realize that competetion makes better products , NHL, NBA for example. MAdden is stale. And there is no more ideas to steal now. And what�s up with the Elite hugging?? ...Elite will be owned.

Show will own, NBa2k will own, NHL12 will be great, MAdden will be stale and boring.

# 20 e0820 @ Jan 2

Didnt Madden on Wii have motion controls? I would assume Madden being a AAA title has and will continue to have motion controls.
Dont agree about Apple - Apple will buy Disney.
I agree that a major title will fumble, it will be FIFA and nobody in the US will notice or care.

# 21 rudyjuly2 @ Jan 3

NFL and EA will definitely renew.

Motion controls are not for hardcore gamers - agreed.

Apple gaming will be big but no way do I see a console. I think handhelds still have a place. iPods can't do the AAA titles like Mario or real sports gaming. Real question is how much are people willing to pay for top notch hand hel systems and games anymore. Apple games are under $10. I think 3D DS will be a hit. I think psp2 can be a hit if Sony let's you sync console games with handheld.

NBA Elite will be a flop.

# 22 savoie2006 @ Jan 13

Realm, how can you say half the nhl team got the pink slip? Only wwtc has been confirmed. Shadow is still working for 2k. Just because there were some layover, doesn't mean they all were from the NHL team.

# 23 stcloudgopher @ Feb 15

Apple buys EA and decides to make their own console, as well. That way, the only way you can play an NFL or NCAA football game would be to buy their system. When 2k decides not to renew their MLB license, Apple scoops that up as well.

The new iGOD (GamesOnDemand) will sell huge off the bat, then plateau as consumers decide that a system that never fails is not worth $999.99.

« Previous 12Next »

RaychelSnr

Create Your Card Flip Card Over