Things to include in a Video Game with Amateur Boxing - UntilTheNxtRnd's Blog

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UntilTheNxtRnd's Blog

Things to include in a Video Game with Amateur Boxing

Posted on November 6, 2010 at 02:15 PM.

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For those who don't know me my name is Anthony and I am a USA Boxing Official for New Jersey. I have been an official since 2009 and have refereed over 70 bouts and judged over 240 matches. I love being a part of Amateur Boxing so much I even made a website: www.untilthenextround.com

I am also a member of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board as a timekeeper and inspector for the Mixed Martial Arts Division.

Well, besides being a fan and a part of Combat Sports in a title capacity I am also a huge video game fan especially the Fight Night series. Looking back at Round 3 and Round 4 there was a sort of presence in the game touching upon Amateur boxing. Round 3 was pretty decent but short and Round 4 was pretty unrealistic and short as well. But, I guess it's a process.

Since the 2012 Olympics will be coming up in London the summer after next I thought it be a really cool idea to have a game featuring Amateur Boxing since the have the Summer Olympic games out which feature swimming, track and field and other events. So, this is my attempt to get it out in the open and to present my way of how an Amateur Boxing component can be featured in a game or on its on. It's a lil rough around the edges folks so be gentle....

go:

�Age Start
- I think the age should start off at 16 years old. *In the US 15-16 is the age where most of the elite tournaments are boxed for the JO(Junior Olympic) Division such as the National Silver Gloves, National PALs and US JO Nationals. *Also, at the age of 16 if your birthday is close to the start of the Tournament you would possibly be allowed to compete in the Men's Division (17-34). Boxers such as Miguel Cartagena (Age 16 at the time) won the US National Championships and was a member of the USA Boxing Team. *

Now as far as Options you should be able to pick how old you wanna start off (16-34) in your career. *If you are older for instance you could have more power, but less skills compared to a boxer who started at 17 and moved up in age acquiring skills and attributes through competing and winning competition. *

My feelings are the Amateur Mode should help you not only develop you skills and attributes, but give you more time with the control scheme as well.

In short: the longer you stay in the amateurs the more proficient you are with the controls and mechanism of the game leading to greater success in the early pros (however, the longer you stay some attributes may decrease: speed, endurance...etc)

Now, for those who say "Well, if I stay in the Amateurs and just beef up my stats than I can just tear thru the competition with no problems so it's no challenge. *Well, how about this:

You have a great amateur career you move up to the pros and are placed in with stronger competition. *If you ever played Call of Duty Modern Warfare the very first training exercise where you had to go thru the obstacle course and not only display speed, but accuracy was the difference of starting out in Easy and Veteran (or the high levels). This practice should be implemented in the game. *And the deeper in your career, the better the competition you face.

�Attire and Scoring: *

-The Amateur Attire is made up of the following:

�Headgear
�Gloves with white spots on the knuckle portion of the glove to score (red or blue)
�Sleeveless shirts or tank tops

Now, a lot of the Amateurs may dress like this but add a flare to it at times. *Boxers were Havoc shorts with black tank tops. *Some may wear pink Gladiator Trunks with Pink headgear (Cam Thompson 2010 201+ US Champion does it for Breast Cancer Awareness). So players should be able to Customize their Amateur Boxer anyway they want as long as they have the headgear, Gloves and top. (this Is for club shows and non advancing tournaments. Advancing Tourneys such as the National PAL, National Golden Gloves and especially the US Nationals the red and blue gear is a must....Olympics too!!!)

In Fight Night Round 3 we saw the headgear and gloves with white spots. *However in Round 4 the team went away from this and just presented the boxers in a Professional appearance (no headgear, no gloves with score spots and no tops).

This isn't a true representation (despite the AIBA sanctioning the World Series of Boxing starting September 2010 with no headgear, tops and operating at a 10-Point must system) *

and I still think the "Traditional" appearance is with the headgear, gloves with white patches and sleeveless tops. *(There have been instances in the Amateur Careers of footage i have of Sugar Ray Robinson who boxed with no headgear and no tops and on 10-point system and Sugar Ray Leonard as well
Boxing Amateur with no headgear)

-As far as Scoring goes you can do it like the Amateurs, where the number of actual blows are counted and the criteria such as effective aggression is not used unless it is a tie in the scores. (ie Blue Corner 14 Red Corner 14 Winner is Red Corner based on being the effective aggressor)

I think it would be challening but not IMPOSSIBLE to place a two type scoring system in the game. Sticking with a 10-point system could go ok but that is not how it is done in the amateurs.

*In the past there scoring system in the Amateurs was on a 20-Point must system (20-Winner of Round, 19 or less to loser). I'm open for thoughts on this. (after playing the FNC I like the scoring system. *Just remember the criteria:

1) Punch has to land in the scoring area. Not behind the ears, not below the belly button. Not behind the mid line of the rib cage.

2) Punch has to have a force behind it. See a turning of the shoulder, a jab that snaps the head back or a even a jab to the body that's got some "umph" behind it.

3) Can't come from a foul: after a push, holding, a low blow.

4) Punch counts when the white portion of the glove connects in the scoring area ( no slapping or pawing punches)

�Tournaments (US and International)

-I think there should be a number of Tournaments to participate in for the US and International (AIBA) Amateur Boxing Association. *As far as Licensing goes...don't include the Association Name but give us the OPTION to put them in like in Madden when you play a Friend for a trophy. *Here is a list of the Tournaments in America and Overseas (just a few cause there are tons in Europe and Asia)

United States
�US Nationals JO (15-16)
�National Silver Gloves (15-16)
�Ringside World Championships (15-34)
�Under 19 National Championships (17-19) which is the qualifier for the Youth World Championships (see International)
�National PAL (15-34)
�National Golden Gloves (17-34)
�US Nationals (17-34)

International
�Youth World Championships (17-19) ever two years
�AIBA Men's World Championships (17-34)
�Youth Olympics (17-19) every two years
�Pan-Am Games (17-34) every two or three I believe.
�European World Championships (17-34)
�European Junior Championships (15-16)
�Asian World Championships (17-34)
�Commonwealth Championships (17-34)
�OLYMPICS which is the Super Championship of the ABA (amateur boxing association (every four years)

Players should be able to either be from the US or International Country and compete in said tournaments (however USA Boxing events will be allowed for USA Boxers only while USA Amateur boxers can compete in Pan Am games, Olympics, Youth World Championships, Youth Olympics and World Championships. *However USA Teams can box International teams in events called "Dual Meets" where the two countries best boxers box in a two day match up. *

Players compete in these tournaments year round and increase their popularity thus the lure of Pro careers (Sponsors, Contracts, Promoters etc). The better you do and the more you win the greater your options which is similar to NCAA Football when you play the High School Playoffs and get a 1-5 star ranking where a 5 would be a starting or 2 on depth chart at Texas or Alabama. *

And if you don't wanna play the Amateur mode guess what? *You don't have to. *But you building up thru the ranks may take longer for you for the media to put you out there on the public radar. *Putting the work in with the amateur system has it's rewards if you succeed. *And you can leave when you want, but at a cost.

�Training:
-You should be able to train as much as you want but suffer if you over due it of course. *You should be able to pick the weight you want based on the current weight system for the Olympics in 2012 and if you want you should be able to move up and down in weight within two-three weight classes only. *

(There is a lot involved in this aspect in regards to cutting weight, being sluggish or drained which can effect your performance. On the other hand gaining weight helps your power and ability to absorb punishment.).

You should be able to join a local gym and based on how good you are be invited to other gyms with better instructions, sparring and equipment which can help your attributes.

Open for suggestions, feedback and ideas. *Thank you for your time. *

Anthony Lynn
www.untilthenextround.com

Comments

# 1 80tiesBaBy @ Nov 7

not bad but aint no vidieo game gonna listen to something so detailed unless 2k got their hands on it ,and i aint talking bout that don king CRAP. 2k needs a real boxing sim to show ea how its done. but like the thout of it. great read.

# 2 UntilTheNxtRnd @ Nov 8

Yeah, I hear ya 80ties. I think a full mode like this in a career mode would do wonders in regards to longevity of gameplay. Could you imagine an online mode where you ca do a dynasty setup with a bunch of people (similar to NCAA) but have some guys in the AIBA and others ŵith USA Boxing and meet up at the World Championships, Pan American Game and after four years go to the Olympics. Than meet up as pros, but others can stay in the Amateurs still while others pursue pro stardom. Than down the road run into each other if you are two weigh classes apart. I would be more than happy to be a consultant to any company needing foundation for a mode like this.