Offline is Still 'King of the Couch' for Sports Gamers - RaychelSnr's Blog

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Offline is Still 'King of the Couch' for Sports Gamers Stuck

Posted on June 6, 2011 at 04:13 PM.

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The year is now 2011. People are jumping online like never before and just today, the UN announced that access to the internet is a fundamental human right.

But yet when it comes to sports games, Offline gaming -- away from all that inter-connectivity, social gaming, and all the other terms you apply to online modes -- seems to rule the roost.

We've done polls about this very thing on OS in the past, and every time the result is something like our recent, "How often do you play online" poll. At the time of this writing, and before anyone is able to spam the results in a meaningful manner, 55% of Poll respondents on OS say they rarely if ever play online. The other 45% are spread out among playing online all the time (12%) to something like a 50/50 split (15%).

Most likely the actual results are probably pretty similar. In fact, there was the story about how 350,000 people played Madden NFL 10 online only once before deciding it wasn't their cup of tea. While a story of this type wasn't released for Madden NFL 11, it's unlikely given what we know that many more people have jumped on the online gaming bandwagon.

In fact, if anything, it should be a giant red flag to developers who are basically focusing entirely on Online Features. While online features are nice, it's very possible up to half of your customers won't care to check them out -- which raises another interesting question: is the future of gaming really in online?

Mobile gaming has exploded to the point that mobile gaming is actually becoming bigger business than console gaming. There is a point in the not too distant future when console gaming will start to shrink -- mainly because new gamers will simply be able to find cheaper and just as entertaining alternatives on mobile platforms at a fraction of the cost.

Consoles offer a pricey opt-in hardware purchase which isn't quite as convenient as mobile platforms. Then games themselves are also quite pricey (at $60) compared to experiences on the mobile platform, where millions of hours have been logged on free and less than $5 games.

So for a company to try to build vast online experiences that only half of their customers will play which are costly to support with time? It's not smart business and there is a point in the not too distant future (one could argue you are seeing it this year with the pay to play aspects of Online Dynasty) where online features will become at least partially pay-to-play.

Big box, AAA games will continue to rule the roost with consoles in the years to come. As expected, companies like EA and 2K have trimmed the fat and completely cut many titles many thought were untouchable in prior years. For the existing titles to continue to be viable at their $60 price points, they are going to have to start offering more each year to their entire audiences, which means enhancements have to come to online and offline gamers (with the latter being given more focus).

Offline sports gamers (aka gamers who don't online more than a couple of times a year) still seem to make up at least half of the audience -- which is a number which has seemed to stay consistent with time over the past couple of years. It's an interesting question why sports gamers haven't migrated to online experiences like players in other genres have (aka Call of Duty and other first person shooters).

The answer probably lies in the lack of compelling reasons to go online and perhaps some unique traits which predisposes sports gamers within sports games to gravitating towards single player modes. For instance, Call of Duty is a game you can pick up and play and gather stats over time in quick play games. Sports games and sports in general are meant to be played over seasons, with rosters moving and shifting with time. Some sports games have succeeded with 'Ultimate Team' types of modes -- which may be the future. Other games have tried to take their career modes online (Online Dynasty), which works for some but not all. However, even with all of these features it appears a good chunk of the audience still is content with playing by themselves in their living room.

At the very least, companies have an interesting dilemma ahead of them -- with uncertain sales futures in the face of a soon to be weakening consoles market -- do they invest in online experiences which are expensive to maintain or do they invest in creating better offline experiences which may not be good enough for many gamers.

It's an interesting dilemma, but for now it all means that Offline gaming is still the 'King of the Couch' when it comes to Sports Gamers.

What do you think? Do you play online, offline, or a combination of both and why do you? Would you pay to play online (especially if the features were improved)? Do you think companies should focus on either/or? Sound off in the comments below.

Comments

# 1 BigTone1970 @ Jun 6

I think that this article misses the main point of why people play 'offline'. It's very simple. Alot of online play requires exploiting the CPU and generally results in unrealistic play online. I wouldn't call it cheating, but playing online can be very frustrating for those who want a somewhat realistic experience. How much fun is it to play a game where people quit, cheat, and wait until the fourth quarter to pull out the unstoppable money plays. It seems that no matter what the game is, this always occurs. Just my two cents....

# 2 mwink31 @ Jun 6

I'm not a fan of playing strangers in an online game. I do however, love the online dynasty features to play friends and family that live out of state. The last two years I have run an online dynasty, one with just myself, and another with brothers and close friends. We play a majority of our games offline, and compete in recruiting top notch players. I love the fact that we can do the recruiting without a console and in NCAA12, can forward the season without a console. Our dyansty will usually consist of only a few teams, and when it comes times to play a live online game, its always for something big. With just a few upgrades to the NCAA online dynasty (coaching changes, job offers), I feel it could be one of the best ways to run a dynasty. You really get the best of both worlds.

# 3 bmj2k7 @ Jun 6

For sports games i tend to play offline instead of online, bc its about time, my time and whoever i play against, and have to play at a certain time, its easier to play the cpu on your time and still have fun. Plus a lot of people who own systems, are now in there early to mid 20's like i am. I bought my system the day i could preorder it and i paid it off then, and that was your looking almost 5-6 years depending on system, mine is ps3, those Mature gamers 17+ back then, now have lifes of there own, and have jobs and girlfiriends/wifes so it's harder to find time when you have more to do, then when your in school and have time whenever your done with your work. I still play COD or MAG or KZ2 or KZ3 online, but not as much as i use to, i use to be in top 100k of every stat on COD and was when i played as high as numer 42 overal on KZ2 when it came out, but still dont as much as i use to, and to be honest most games online aren't that good anymore, plus now you have all these kids playing online that only noob tube, and that ruin's some of the fun playing online!

# 4 uh8me @ Jun 6

I would agree with what the others here have posted. I work full time and don't have as much time to devote to any form of gaming, online or off. Online play in most games (not just sports) seems to be dominated by the few who have nothing better to do but log hours every day figuring out which tricks work and which don't. I don't have that luxury. I also don't want to be the guy who holds up an online league b/c i just don’t have time to login. I think most of the guys here have hit the nail on the head; the main issue is time with quality of play being second. Also, I think the neglect the Madden games in particular have shown towards offline players (franchise specifically) is a borderline betrayal of the folks who made Madden into the juggernaut it is.

# 5 RynoAid @ Jun 6

This is why places like www.traditionsportsonline.com have become so popular. The amount of first time online players we get is astounding. The 0 intimidation factor, mixed with mature people who are community based instead of game based creates an environment where the offline player can learn to enjoy and appreciate an online football league.

# 6 stlstudios189 @ Jun 6

online play intrigues me but, time is always my #1 factor in not playing online. An online dynasty with friends sounds like an awesome experience.

# 7 prowler @ Jun 7

Sports games will always have a disadvantage in terms of online appeal for two reasons:

1) the games are almost always 1v1 meaning you're a lot less likely to find a player with a similar play style to your own. And even if you do, sometimes people don't want to play competitively, they just want to enjoy the game at their own pacing.

2) The concept of winners and losers is a lot more straightfoward; one guy won, the other guy lost. In an FPS you can be the worst player in the game but still be on the winning side. Maybe you were the best vehicle driver or healed the most people or just kept your opponent's attention long enough for your teammates to do something substantial. By the same token you can be the best player on the losing team and not feel like you lost. Either way; best of the worst or worst of the best, you come away with some level of a moral victory.

In a sports game you either win or lose, no middle ground, no moral victory.

# 8 rudyjuly2 @ Jun 7

I love franchise mode and I like to play when I can with the sliders that I prefer. I've only played online a few times. I tried again two years ago in a random game and got someone who never punted and then after failing on a 4th and 13 from his own 35 quit even though the score was tied. Just reminded me why I play offline 99.9% of the time.

# 9 rangerrick012 @ Jun 7

Online quick games w/ random folks is still frustrating, but if you can find a good league w/ a group of guys that agree to play without using exploits, online gaming can still be enjoyable. Or playing against friends, but sometimes even that's not a given as far as whether they will be cheap or not.

# 10 Rouchicus @ Jun 8

I have tried to get into playing my sports games online. The most success I have had is in Online Franchise where I have spent quite a bit of time the last 2 years of Madden. For me though, offline will always be my preference. Always. I like being able to live out my own little fantasy world of sports. Actually take my Chiefs all the way or make my Royals successful.

I like the ability to use whatever sliders/settings I want. Or editing players and controlling as many teams as possible to keep things in my realm of "realistic."

The best chance that online sports gaming has at winning me over, lies with Online Franchise/Dynasty. Get those as close to the offline game mode as you can, and I'll spend more time online. I will never, ever, be someone who goes online just to play against someone in a "Play Now" game.

# 11 SGMRock @ Jun 8

The most fun I ever had with online sports game play was when I played with a group of friends in the Navy in a Modem league of NHL 97. It was just friends, you could dial up and play the game and enjoy with friends.

Every online game I have ever enjoyed online has always been with friends, or friend I have made in game in like a MMO type game. Without the friends there is just no reason. To many jerks play randomn games online and like many before me have commented, tend to exploit, play unreal type of game play. Deek you 50x times coast to coast to score a goal or some Mike Vick run back 20 yard cheese play. The fustration is not worth it.

# 12 The JareBear @ Jun 9

Very nice blog. Well done.

# 13 CPT JPMorgan @ Jun 10

This article (and the responses) was absolutely shocking to me! I guess I am one of the few that prefers online play and always thought that was the norm. I always try to find leagues with like minded people who put the emphasis on sportsmanship. That's probably why I enjoy it so much. I love offline play for the first week or two, but after you learn the AI's tendencies, I need to find people to play that provide a challenge. Competition is what I love most about football, so playing online will always play a huge role for me.

# 14 Heroiczero13 @ Jun 15

Good Article. I must say that I play maybe one online game a year and I skip over any sort of announcements of new online features, it just does not interest me in the slightest. I get plenty of enjoyment from playing against my brother when I'm over his house and it is much more fun to play against someone closer to you than just some stranger, there is something lost when they aren't right there next to you, nowhere near as much getting punched in the arm online. I spend so much time yearly playing Franchise modes and any additions to those are what really helps me juddge the quality of a game, so for me Madden 11 was the least enjoyable for me (though I still played it because I'm hopelessly addicted to it), but I'm more excited for Madden 12 than I have been for a Madden in quite some time.