The Takeaway From EA College Football 25

[ricket]

It's been an interesting year in sports gaming. When the first details of The Show 24 were released earlier this year, I was surprised at the extent of pushback from the community on SDS' decision to invest their time and attention on secondary game modes while failing to address the areas needing the most attention like graphics upgrades, presentation, franchise and subtle gameplay enhancements. I was one of these individuals disappointed, but I also recognize that I may not be the age demographic they're trying to capture and should suck it up and like whatever they give me like a few additional exterior views with some of the ballparks.

However, that was until EA's College Football 25 started to release details and trailers. I was blown away (like many others) by the level of detail and attention they invested into the game. Essentially, modeling their game as a gameday experience in that stadium with the addition of abundant customization options. It feels like a game developed by college football fans for college football fans with little interference from corporate and the market research department. To my pleasant surprise this has been the overwhelming sentiment from the community (and marketplace), that immersion still matters. Immersion from replicating the gameday experience to the experience on tv and including immersion from a Franchise mode that is fully developed, allowing you to operate your team (and league) as you see fit.

I say all this because I feel SDS missed the mark this year. I do enjoy the gameplay in Play Now mode, however, the graphics, presentation, and Franchise are not up to par to where this gaming franchise once was. Hate to say I don't play the game as often as year's past. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication by the SDS development team, but I hope they (corporate leadership) see from all of the buzz from College Football 25 that immersion still matters.

[countryboy]

Based on feedback on the forums and personal experience with the game, I don’t think NCAA Football’25 is the benchmark of sports gaming as you’re portraying it to be, at least in it’s current state.


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[bronxbombers21325]

Personally I think The Show does everything better than CF2025. The Show has better presentation and graphics are on par other than grass/turf. I don't get the big fuss over CF2025's presentation as far as that goes either. All it seems to have that the show doesn't is multiple broadcast teams. Outside of team entrances there isn't much else to presentation. Gameplay is much better in the show as well. Again, this is all my opinion. I'm admittedly a bigger baseball fan than football. But, some people are praising CF2025 as some sort of other worldly religious experience and I just don't see it. The game feels lackluster to me. If it wasn't for the 11 year gap it'd just be another sports game. Doesn't live up to the hype at all.

[GAMEBREAKER85]

Quote: Originally Posted by ricket

It's been an interesting year in sports gaming. When the first details of The Show 24 were released earlier this year, I was surprised at the extent of pushback from the community on SDS' decision to invest their time and attention on secondary game modes while failing to address the areas needing the most attention like graphics upgrades, presentation, franchise and subtle gameplay enhancements. I was one of these individuals disappointed, but I also recognize that I may not be the age demographic they're trying to capture and should suck it up and like whatever they give me like a few additional exterior views with some of the ballparks. However, that was until EA's College Football 25 started to release details and trailers. I was blown away (like many others) by the level of detail and attention they invested into the game. Essentially, modeling their game as a gameday experience in that stadium with the addition of abundant customization options. It feels like a game developed by college football fans for college football fans with little interference from corporate and the market research department. To my pleasant surprise this has been the overwhelming sentiment from the community (and marketplace), that immersion still matters. Immersion from replicating the gameday experience to the experience on tv and including immersion from a Franchise mode that is fully developed, allowing you to operate your team (and league) as you see fit. I say all this because I feel SDS missed the mark this year. I do enjoy the gameplay in Play Now mode, however, the graphics, presentation, and Franchise are not up to par to where this gaming franchise once was. Hate to say I don't play the game as often as year's past. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication by the SDS development team, but I hope they (corporate leadership) see from all of the buzz from College Football 25 that immersion still matters.

Out of curiosity (NCAA Dynasty Mode is unplayable) - where would you rank The Show’s Franchise/Dynasty mode across all sport games?

I imagine NBA2K is #1? The Show #2?

Madden is a mess, don’t play or follow any other games.

The NCAA honeymoon will wear off when people realize they can’t create sim logic and haven’t for over 15+ years. They are still having issue with stuff they struggled with a decade ago! I could start a list. The atmosphere of a College Football game is what’s carrying it right now, there isn’t another sport during the regular season that can touch it. Maybe some big time soccer rivalries, that’s it.

[ricket]

By no means am I saying College Football 25 is superior to The Show 24. Where I was going is that basics such as presentation and gameplay are still what matter to the core and mass audience. It feels like SDS has gotten away from that core focus.

So instead of the second installment of the Derek Jeter Storyline, allocate those resources to enhanced presentation features like a relevant on-field reporter, more stadium specific sights and sounds like the Presidents Race with the Nationals, closer-specific entrances for all relevant teams, or exterior ballpark scenes for all MLB clubs. Make me feel like I'm at the ballpark.

I 100% agree that NBA 2K is absolutely the blueprint I would love to see with all Franchise modes across all sports games. It keeps me interested year-round as a result. To be honest it had been a while since I used Franchise mode in the Show, but when I did a few weeks ago it didn't seem as user-friendly as I recall.

[GAMEBREAKER85]

Quote: Originally Posted by ricket

By no means am I saying College Football 25 is superior to The Show 24. Where I was going is that basics such as presentation and gameplay are still what matter to the core and mass audience. It feels like SDS has gotten away from that core focus. So instead of the second installment of the Derek Jeter Storyline, allocate those resources to enhanced presentation features like a relevant on-field reporter, more stadium specific sights and sounds like the Presidents Race with the Nationals, closer-specific entrances for all relevant teams, or exterior ballpark scenes for all MLB clubs. Make me feel like I'm at the ballpark. I 100% agree that NBA 2K is absolutely the blueprint I would love to see with all Franchise modes across all sports games. It keeps me interested year-round as a result.

I do agree the presentation is worse than what it was 10 years ago especially with the new booth combo. There are many team-unique features that they could use to enhance the presentation. The fluff like the Story Modes sales, we (franchise diehards) are just dinosaurs compared to the new wave.

[LowerWolf]

Played them both last night back-to-back. I'm enjoying CF25 and I'm going to play the hell out of it over the next 12 months. But it has a ways to go to catch MLBTS.

And if we're talking strictly dynasty/franchise mode, everybody is looking way up at 2K.

[bronxbombers21325]

Quote: Originally Posted by GAMEBREAKER85

I do agree the presentation is worse than what it was 10 years ago especially with the new booth combo. There are many team-unique features that they could use to enhance the presentation. The fluff like the Story Modes sales, we (franchise diehards) are just dinosaurs compared to the new wave.

I'm not a basketball fan, so I don't play NBA 2K, but I have heard from most people that it has by far the best presentation out there, so I'll take their word for it. But the show still has far and away better presentation than the new College Football I think. There's definitely stuff the show could do differently to make it better though. Outside stadium shots for all teams is a must, and it is a bit ridiculous that it's taking them multiple years to get all of those added. Some shots of the city they're playing in between innings would be nice too. But I think we'll get a real gauge for what people think of the new college football in a few weeks when the honeymoon is over. Like I said, it certainly isn't the gold standard for sports games that a lot of people are making it out to be at this moment. I probably am biased though because like I said, I'm a bigger baseball fan(by a lot) than I am football.