Five Things All Dynasty/Franchise Modes Need: Part I - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

Five Things All Dynasty/Franchise Modes Need: Part I Stuck

Posted on October 19, 2009 at 11:38 AM.

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I'm a single player dynasty/franchise/association guy mainly. And while I really enjoy many of the multiple season career modes out there, I really would like them all to start doing five very specific things which would improve each mode no matter what sport it was covering.

While some games are doing these things, others aren't. Today's discussion is centered around one key thought: make these modes more personal.

Almost every mode is absolutely terrible at making you feel like you are a coach or GM in their respective leagues. College Hoops 2K8 might be the only game (still) that realistically handled what it would be like to be a coach in a sport.

While you should have the option to not use this, why shouldn't games handle the coaching markets in their sports more realistically? You are considered one of the all time greats if you can spend more than 10 years at any given NFL franchise, but you could spend over 10 years with a team in Madden with relative ease. You should feel a real hot seat.

Another easy to implement idea would be to be able to create your coach/GM and assign ratings to him and let him grow over time, like an RPG. This would effect your teams effectiveness on the field in a slight manner as well. I'm no fan of RPGs, but I think something like that would go a long way towards making dynasty/franchise modes much more personal.

So what do you think? What ideas for making dynasty/franchise modes more personal would you like to see implemented? Is there anything a game does you'd like to see done in all the rest?

Comments

# 1 TheTodd84 @ Oct 19

I completely agree, but I think the problem is not only with feeling impersonal, but the game play in madden and what not is still way too easy and does not reward people who want to play real football.

I've started many franchises with the Lions on Madden '10 on All-Madden and started the season 6-0 with that brutal opening stretch they have. Completely un-realistic in terms of the talent the Lions have on their team. And I'm sure other people have had the same issues.

So while I agree with your stance on the franchise, and I love the idea of creating a coach, I think EA is just afraid to make your team affected on the field because that would alienate some fans.

To make the game more personal? Hmm... that's a hard one. I will wait to see what you have to say in the next four features.

# 2 jdareal21 @ Oct 19

I can't speak for some games, but I think the lack of some coaching elements in Madden was directly a result of their NFL Head Coach game. It wouldn't make sense to include all those things in their regular Madden game while still tryin to sell Head Coach as a separate experience. That being said, it still doesn't make it right.

I'm not sure of the future of that title now, but IMO, it's always been unnecessary, and everything you could do in it should be included in Madden as another gameplay mode

# 3 rudeworld @ Oct 19

madden needs a "coaching carosel" like the CH2k series IMO and also needs to have coaching stats to make a real good decision on a head coach and incoming staff..... in madden 2010 we have none

# 4 ajaxab @ Oct 19

I appreciate these ideas being posted here, but as with some of the previous ideas columns, these things have been in the Football Manager series for several years. Granted, it has been a text sim for most of its history so it may not be familiar to many, especially on this side of the pond. But FM is the most personal sports sim out there.

FM has you make all the decisions coaches make, your ratings change based on these decisions and I've found it gets more difficult to get the most out of your squad the longer you stay with them. There seems to be a point where you've taken your team as far as you can and then it's time to move on (Jeff Fisher anyone?). The most recent iteration of the franchise will feature manager press conferences that will affect your relationships with your players, potentially the relationship to opposition players and your manager's ratings as well. You can also learn new languages by managing in other countries and this can influence the kinds of players you can attract to your club. It is also very clear when you're on the hot seat. You get ominous messages from the board and the fans get unruly.

The game is so personal that success is amazing and it absolutely sucks to be fired. I've never experienced any other game like it. FM has the ability to get me to know my players as people and not just a group of ratings with a football player graphic on top of it. FM gets me to care about them. IMO, that is the ultimate testament to a sports game.

# 5 stlstudios189 @ Oct 19

the coaching carosal is one of my favorite aspects of CH2k8

# 6 JkA3 @ Oct 19

Great ideas here. I would like to see some additions made as well. I think NBA 2k10 does a decent job, but it still lacks some immersion.

# 7 vaughn99 @ Oct 20

Chris -- I agree on how the "personal" touch needs to be integrated to increase longevity in the franchise / career modes of sports gaming. I was one of the tens of people clamoring for CAS in NCAA, and can't tell you how much its re-introduction has renewed my attachment to the franchise. MADDEN 10 has its drawbacks -- and go figure, but I wouldn't be caught dead creating a team on the pro level . . .

# 8 davel @ Feb 18

the nfl head coach off season should be in madden 11