RaychelSnr's Blog
Sports gaming has found itself at a crossroads.
To be or not to be, that is the ultimate question.
And of course, we are talking about control schemes. And the question is whether control schemes should continue to grow more complicated or should they go back to an oft-longed for period of gaming where controls were so simple even your 66 year old grandma could pick up and play games.
Peter Moore has said he'd prefer control schemes are simplified in EA Sports games. Yet, several years later, we've at best hit a period of sideways development in control schemes. In Moore's tenure, controls are neither more complex nor less complex than before he came to be the head honcho at EA Sports.
Perhaps there is a better way?
Many of you who have read my blog over the past 20 months or so know I have preached that giving gamers the choice of what they want with their games is the best design practice available. Not limiting gamers and instead giving them the freedom to define their experience with a game is by far the more preferable option rather than limiting them.
So when it comes to control schemes, I think there's an easy fix to this. Provide a choice of at least two schemes which are both simple and complex. I think this is the easy, obvious, and most politically sound way to make everyone happy. Hardcore gamers who can use complex control schemes will be pleased with the depth offered and ****** gamers who just want to jump in and play a quick game will enjoy the ease of use games offer.
Is it really that hard? Perhaps so, since few sports games really do this.
What do you think? Should gaming companies change their approach to control schemes to give gamers the choice? How complex do you want your controls? Let's hear your thoughts!
Chris is the Executive Editor of Operation Sports and maintains this blog on the site. He is also a native Oklahoman and avid storm chaser. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisSnr.
# 1
str8artist @ May 28
"Sports gaming has found itself at a crossroads". Your blogs are too funny. Lets get the sport game to make movements on the controls we do have properly 1st. Then we can talk.
# 3
Oblong @ May 28
"In Moore's tenure, controls are neither more complex nor less complex than before he came to be the head honcho at EA Sports."
Are you not familiar with EA's "All-Play" feature in games like Tiger Woods Wii, Madden, FIFA, and likely others I don't have which reduces playing down to 1 or 2 button presses so kids can play with parents? That was instituted on Peter Moore's watch.
Are you not familiar with EA's "All-Play" feature in games like Tiger Woods Wii, Madden, FIFA, and likely others I don't have which reduces playing down to 1 or 2 button presses so kids can play with parents? That was instituted on Peter Moore's watch.
# 4
RaychelSnr @ May 28
Oblong,
I wasn't aware All-Play had made the jump to the 360 and PS3?
All-Play is a great idea to make the games more accessible....and probably should actually make that jump as an option for some gamers in some form...but not sure if it'll ever be done.
I wasn't aware All-Play had made the jump to the 360 and PS3?
All-Play is a great idea to make the games more accessible....and probably should actually make that jump as an option for some gamers in some form...but not sure if it'll ever be done.
# 5
deaduck @ May 28
As a ****** gamer, I'm all for some simplier controls. Currently I'm getting my butt waxed at UFC when playing with my pals because I'm at a slower learning curve than them on just using the controller.
# 6
TUSS11 @ May 29
Giving gamers more options is always the way to go. However, how can a game provide an even playing field online when some users are using complex control schemes while others are using simplified alternatives?
This happens to be one of my many gripes with NBA 2K10. While I use the default controls, I'm often matched up with someone who uses Alternate A controller scheme (which allows users to perform dribble moves with the simple press of a button) and puts Defensive Assist to 100 (which nearly makes the CPU play defense for him). He’s provided with an unfair advantage because he’s quite frankly using “baby controls”.
I think the best solution is to allow gamers to use whichever control scheme they choose offline, but while playing online everyone should be using the same or equivalent control scheme.
This happens to be one of my many gripes with NBA 2K10. While I use the default controls, I'm often matched up with someone who uses Alternate A controller scheme (which allows users to perform dribble moves with the simple press of a button) and puts Defensive Assist to 100 (which nearly makes the CPU play defense for him). He’s provided with an unfair advantage because he’s quite frankly using “baby controls”.
I think the best solution is to allow gamers to use whichever control scheme they choose offline, but while playing online everyone should be using the same or equivalent control scheme.
# 7
Eski33 @ May 29
Personally, I don't mind an alternate control scheme but I think it is way overrated. I believe companies try to implement new control schemes to make a game feel new. Personally, I would rather a game stick to a control scheme that works and leave it alone. The Show is a great example. No need for some goofy pitching control scheme with the right analog stick to make the game great.
Where I do see an opportunity for new control schemes will be with Move and Natal. It will be interesting to see if companies try to implement these tools. I think Natal could be great for baseball and football games.
Imagine, you are playing RTTS in The Show as a pitcher and having to physically pitch nine innings? Or creating a player in Road To Glory, such as a QB, and you actually have to throw? Or play WR and have to jump for high passes? I can see an increase in Tommy John and ACL / MCL injuries to gamers...
Where I do see an opportunity for new control schemes will be with Move and Natal. It will be interesting to see if companies try to implement these tools. I think Natal could be great for baseball and football games.
Imagine, you are playing RTTS in The Show as a pitcher and having to physically pitch nine innings? Or creating a player in Road To Glory, such as a QB, and you actually have to throw? Or play WR and have to jump for high passes? I can see an increase in Tommy John and ACL / MCL injuries to gamers...
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