Getting "It" into Sports Games - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

Getting "It" into Sports Games Stuck

Posted on November 18, 2008 at 01:02 PM.

(11)

Seriously, why do I even continue to cover sports games?

By and large, they suck at creating 'it'. They definitely don't have 'it' figured out. Other developers in other genres get 'it' and then translate 'it' onto the screen for us to enjoy 'it'. What is 'it' you ask?

'It' is the simple fact that video games are meant to be an experience that resembles something so believable that the player willfully suspends himself into the game and becomes a part of it. When a game does that, it can be considered a great game.

Games by and large could go a long way to acquiring it by having great ambient sound, great sound effects, great commentary and a crowd that is true to life. The it, in this case, is the simple fact that 51% of your games experience is true to life.

My real life example for this week is NCAA Basketball 09. Had the developers spent the time to get the atmosphere right, the game would instantly have been an 8 or higher. Why? Because the gameplay is believable enough that the right atmosphere would just suck the player in and willful suspension would be easy.

So my challenge to developers today? Get 'it' in the game and see what happens with your product.

Comments

# 1 rudyjuly2 @ Nov 18

I love presentation. The Show does a great job of it. 2K5 did a great job with it. Just think of how much better a game is to watch if you have a good crew announcing vs. a crappy one.

# 2 Gary Armida @ Nov 18

Great post. I completely agree. The Show is really the only game that I can think of that really nails presentation and immerses me in a game. NBA 2K does that at times for me (I was playing an overtime game with the Garden chanting "DEFENSE").

The sounds, the atmosphere, and the environments are necessary. It's why NCAA football, Madden, and others gets boring. If you are in a big game, it should feel like.

Well said.

# 3 Tomba @ Nov 18

Presentation is key.

Sports games that have done "it"

remarkably well have been:

NFL 2k5
MLB 2k7
MLB 08 the Show
NBA 2k9
NBA Street 2
Pro yakuu Spirits 5

# 4 SHAKYR @ Nov 19

I wish boxing games had "it". I hate how dark and gloomy Fight Night Round 3 screens looked. The game didn't have a boxing presentation feel to it.

# 5 allstar3970 @ Nov 19

The reason why we're so much more critical is because most of us watch these sports on TV/play them in real life, thus its easier for us to point out when something isn't perfect. I have no experience with interstellar war, thus Halo is a fun fantasy world to me. I'm sure if you brought back some marines that they would laugh at COD 4's "realism".

# 6 RaychelSnr @ Nov 19

That is a good point allstar, but it's not really the point I was trying to make with the post. The key to a great game is having gameplay that functions right and seems realistic enough inside of a world that immerses you into it. When that happens, you are going to be suspended into the world and it doesn't matter how realistic a game is at that point.

Halo, Grand Theft Auto, COD, etc. all do a great job of this and are thus, great games. Sports games however, they just aren't doing it. Developers have missed the mark on what is important in games as presentation has taken a back seat to adding more modes.

# 7 statum71 @ Nov 19

Yeah Chris I felt the same way about NCAA Basketball. I've only played the demo. But I tink the band plays untimely, the replays don't flow, and you have to pause the game to sub except for timeouts.

They tried to do better with the cut scenes but they don't flow well. I think the game is fun, yes. But is it in the neighborhood of NBA 2K as far as realism? Not even close yet.

# 8 rdelizo35 @ Nov 19

Hey Chris,

I definitely think that you are on the mark with what you pointed out. I think that's exactly why franchises like Madden and NBA Live in recent years have suffered tremendously is in the lack of presentation and little details that give the games a needed "punch" of realism and accuracy that just makes the gaming experience worthwhile.

Look at what EA did with FIFA '09 this year. This game has the gameplay and presentation down. That is why it's a great game. The other EA sports franchises definitely need work in that regard. They just don't have the "it" factor for many discerning gamers out there as you pointed out in your blog post.

# 9 Pared @ Nov 19

Great blog entry. I mention "it" in the forums all the time and fear some will see it as a form of condescending behavior. Oh well.

I just wrote a blog entry discussing developers continued usage of metacritic as a reference point. This skewed mindset results in games like Madden and NBA Live of the past. The heads mention that reviews are too low... and developers find ways to address the complaints of reviewers, not their gaming consumer base.

It's why 2k is so revered today. They have developers that know exactly what "it" is. It really isn't something you can explain in a simple sentence or two. But when you know what "it" is, it's pretty easy to replicate it.

If I had the desire to relocate I'd be helping contribute to "it."

# 10 allstar3970 @ Nov 20

i get what you're saying chris. I actually agree, though gameplay is paramount to me, i love little touches in sports games that more full immerse me in the environment. Example being the crowd in College Hoops 2K8, playing with a good surround sound system the crowd is amazing when you get hot and just gets louder and louder. I would like to think we could have our cake and eat it too, but (i guess in response to your more recent post) i would rather have better gameplay in the long haul because the presentation can only wow you so many times, but good, variable gameplay will keep you going. This is why i played NHL 08 literally up until the launch of 09, and im sure i'll do the same with this one.