With so many details, are sports games fit for one year cycles in the future? - RaychelSnr's Blog

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With so many details, are sports games fit for one year cycles in the future? Stuck

Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:25 PM.

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Consider the following screenshot of the upcoming PS4 game Killzone: Shadow Fall. Consider the fact that this is a launch title on a console, the first generation of software. Consider how no first generation software title on a new console looks nearly as good as it's peers later in the cycle. Just imagine all of that as you look at the following high-res screenshot:

Click for full res-screenshot with all the details.

As I sat and watched the PlayStation 4 reveal on Wednesday evening, all I could think about was that gaming systems were now capable of really getting into the soul of their characters on screen, in a way that they have never been able to before. With the additional details, you could more realistically show off faces and real emotion, not unlike CGI movies today.

While watching the Killzone: Shadow Fall trailer, I saw a lot to be familiar with in games. The walking was sometimes awkward compared to real life, there were still 'gamey' aspects to the whole experience. But what got me most about the trailer were the details. Fine details. Big details. Small details.

So many details. So much detail.

My mind then asked another highly pertinent question -- can sports game developers deliver that much detail in a twelve month development cycle on the next generation of consoles? Can they deliver more than that as the console matures and games look even better?

Over time, the answer is probably yes as development systems and such get better with handling so much power. For the first year or two of sports games on the new console? That answer has to be a resounding no.

Over the life cycle of a console generation, it is to be expected to see games grow and get better. Developers will get more adept at developing with so much detail, they'll have better software to help make their experience of developing so much detail, they'll learn how to maximize the amount of detail on screen. But in the short term, everything will certainly be tougher, and getting as much detail as possible out of a system will not be easy.

You can actually see how this played out in the current generation of consoles. Compare these two screenshots of NCAA Football:

NCAA Football 08

NCAA Football 13

Over time, we saw a pretty large increase in detail this generation, even on a title down the ladder of a publisher's priority list like NCAA Football. However, what kind of detail are developers going to be charged with in the next generation of consoles? Can they possible keep up with the demand of detail hungry customers?

Sports are about emotion. As a film guy, you are taught that a film is not made in the edits or the soundtrack, but the emotions you get across on the faces of your talent on screen. In a lot of ways, sports gaming has always been devoid of that and has had to try to get by with all of the other stuff first, but the next generation is going to bring with it a charge to deliver that emotion as well.

Over and over, we have heard reasoning for missing features being handed over to hardware -- now with this generation we are going to find that those excuses are going to be left out of the window. A lot of the window dressing, like more realistic crowds, realistic sidelines, etc. are going to be expected.

Realistic player faces? You betcha. Whereas people argue about variety of equipment and faces available in their games -- they'll soon be arguing about the lace detail on Nike vs. Adidas, the stitching on jerseys, and the face detail of Reggie Williams, who is a bench player for the Charlotte Bobcats.

And then there is going to be that guy who complains because Tim Lincecum's eyes are just a shade too green.

Details. So many details.

We haven't even gotten into the charge of next-gen sports gaming with details on the field. The angle of Kapernick's release, the stroke of Kevin Durant's shot, the swing of a Ryan Braun. The spin of Verlander's curve ball vs. Adam Wainwright's curve.

Seriously, you know you'll be that guy.

Then there are the other details. How a running back reacts to a linebacker wrapping him up around the left ankle vs. right ankle. How Adrian Peterson breaks through that tackle vs. a Michael Turner. How about how Josh Hamilton's swing impacts a baseball vs. how Adrian Gonzalez's swing does. How about how rebounding positioning is important, and how some are great at it and some aren't?

These are all details that have to be possible now with better hardware, and they are all details that sports game developers have to now consider including. They are all the details that we will eventually demand, because they're going to be seen as the details we should be getting.

But can you fit all of that detail in a yearly cycle? Is that even possible?

The nature of the sports gaming market says it will have to be. While that will likely mean we aren't going to see huge leaps right out of the gate in the next-generation, it will also mean we will ever so slowly and surely get games which will capture our imaginations as sports fans like never before.

What do you all think? Will sports games be able to thrive with a yearly release schedule in the next generation?

Comments

# 1 bhurst99 @ Feb 22

I'm not sure that screenshot comparison is the best example. The picture from NCAA 08 shows players on the sidelines and fans in the stands. The NCAA 13 background is completely blurry. That's not an example of an increase in detail over time.

# 2 BigBadTom @ Feb 22

I can not wait to complain about crap that doesn't matter. Absolutely stoked for the next gen because its basically a next iteration of a game with a much higher limit... Massive potential

# 3 johnnyg83 @ Feb 22

If they cannot and/or should not do yearly releases, one of the things they should consider is doing roster updates/stadium additions/uniforms additions for small fee ($10?) between new updates. Could keep the game fresh while you wait.

# 4 LowerWolf @ Feb 22

I've thought for awhile now that sports games should be on an every-other-year cycle with roster/uniform/schedule updates available as DLC. It will never happen though. The companies aren't going to give up those $60 game sales each year, and you can't really blame them.

# 5 RaychelSnr @ Feb 22

@bhurst99 -- The big detail of the game had slight improvement but what those screenshots show is the fine detail that was implemented over time, such as the grass. Both pictures show natural grass fields and better skin textures for instance.

# 6 jmaj315 @ Feb 22

i agree... it will take them a while, but i think i've learned my lesson of buying year 1 sports games... ie NBA 06 or 07 idr which one it was... that game was awful

# 7 cmehustle @ Feb 22

Best idea is to obviously go every two to three years. They can charge us for the updates for uniforms, player movement, etc. But if anyone in their right mind thinks that 2k or EA is going to say goodbye to that yearly cash cow your out of your mind.

# 8 BBallcoach @ Feb 22

Great article chris! One problem with your film analogy... As a filmmaker and editor, I can tell you with editing I can change the emotion of the entire film I'm making. Yes you need a good emotion performance, but good or bad editing can add or take away from that emotion.
now on to the actual topic...

There is no way sports games can survive on the one year model on the PS4. This system is going to be amazing and all the detail the devs will be able to add will be insane. putting the pressure on devs for a 1 year cycle (which is more like 8 months) is detrimental to them. I think a 2 year cycle is the best way to go.
Lets make madden the example starting with Madden 15...

So Madden 15 hits and its a good title for the next gen. Now when Madden 16 rolls around how about a $30 downloadable upgrade to the game which will give updated rosters and add new features basically an expansion pack like PC's get. Then Madden 17 will a new $60 purchase, with a heavy new feature set, probably a major graphical upgrade and such.

# 9 TreyIM2 @ Feb 22

Idk with this amount of power, at least when it comes to the PS4. It's all about what can be done out of the box with ease, middleware, how well tech meshes together to produce a game but then u factor in the "we'll introduce that next year" factor whether it's done to stretch things out or there is legitimately not enough time/staff/greenbacks, yada, yada.

Based on what we've all experienced from console to console, it usually takes time but like I've listed and potentially other things, hard to tell. This gen could also produce a switch up in how things are done business model wise, overall, by gaming companies, including, bi-annual releases of sports titles with smaller DLC spread along the way if the ease of devving games is the case because u gotta give ppl something to look forward to and don't wanna show all your goodies so quickly.

# 10 ggsimmonds @ Feb 22

I think it may be worth pointing out that the indications are that this generation of consoles will be easier on developers. Remember, the biggest problem with the ps3 was that it was hard to develop for.

Another point, the first screenshot is from a FPS. Think of COD this generation. Did it not have a near annual version? Developers have had the development kit for several months now, and it will be another ~8 months until launch. Now recall that sports titles already have a foundation in play (Madden developers have already stated that what we see now is the foundation of next gen). Developers for sports titles have ample time to develop next gen titles, and then they fine tune it year to year (as they always have done).

Would a biannual release result in a better product? It is tough to say. The gut reaction is to say yes, but I am unsure. Maybe the best course of action is to not rush out a launch title but instead allow that extra time to refine.

Either way though, I think the Killzone screenshot is not good at getting your point across. They created that in a short time period, and the artwork is original. Madden on the other hand requires no original artwork or creativity. So if Killzone can create a new world in a short amount of time, then Madden should be able to replicate what they already have.

# 11 scottyp180 @ Feb 23

For awhile I've liked the idea of an every other year cycle for sports games. With the year to year cycle there's usually enough updates to keep the game fresh but 2 questions always arise for me: was it a big enough update to warrant a $60 purchase and how much better would this game/series be with an extra year of development? One area where sports games dropped the ball this gen, with one exception being the show, was graphics. Sports games don't look bad but when you compare them to block buster titles such as gears, uncharted, assassins creed you can tell that sports games are not up to par. Extra development time would allow developers to focus on every single aspect of the game and not just the areas they choose or the areas they have time for.

With next gen systems due out by the end of the year I hope the sports developers skip out on releasing games this year and just wait until the fall of 2014 to release. I think it's pointless to release a port with improved graphics when they could focus more on releasing a complete game the following year.

# 12 lynkraid @ Feb 23

It doesn't really matter if player models get better for next gen IMO, as they already look great. They do need better player faces, better hair. What I'm most looking forward to is greatly improved stadiums, crowds, and sidelines. I want a sideline that looks 100% like a NFL sideline full of players, coaches, camera crews, you name it, I want seamless interaction with people on the sideline while the games being played, not cut scenes. And I want a crowd thats on par with current player model graphics.

I think everything else will get improvements but I don't really see much changes in graphics after the first release on next gen, I mean I'm sure we'll get small improvements, but like Madden overall Madden 13 is just a tiny bit improved over Madden 06, the field and sidelines were the only real major improvements graphically.

So I don't think graphics will be the problem, should leave more room for features and gameplay improvements, faster menus ect.. So I think we'll get the same kind of improvents from year to year as we been getting.

I been playing Madden since its early days on SNES and Genesis, look at every generation of Madden, they all had the same look from each generation, but graphics always improved in the littlest of ways each year. Focus always goes on new modes, and improved gameplay, not keeping up with the Jones with the best graphics.

# 13 GlennN @ Feb 24

If people are still willing to pay $60 for a roster update and minimal improvement, why would publishers ever stop doing a yearly release?

# 14 MHammer113 @ Feb 24

Awesome article!! One thing I have been preaching for years now is the lack of emotion in sports games. Often times it feels as though a preseason game feels the same as the Superbowl or winning the NBA Championship feels like winning a game in November. Obviously this can be difficult to capture, but I think you are right, people are going to expect that in the next generation of games.

When a team scores a go ahead touchdown that sideline better start running with the players or start jumping and high fiving each other and that crowd better erupt and go absolutely wild. The announcers will have to be able to capture emotion as well.

Honestly sports gaming has come a long way and we are in general a spoiled fan base and do not always realize it, but still when we dish out the money we deserve to expect more. Hopefully this is what EA and 2k and SD Studios and whoever else try to capture on the next gen. Cannot wait to see the first details of the new games

# 15 Jarbeez @ Feb 25

For those talking about adding the emotion of winning the big game into a video game, I'll just say that is an impossible feat that will never be fully recognized. How can you possibly capture the feeling of working so hard for your entire life to get to the level of winning a championship. With video games there is no sacrifice you have made, no blood, sweat and tears that have helped you accomplish the feat. It can't be done.

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