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RaychelSnr · 02-26-2008, 02:47 PM

We have just posted an article discussing the future of the All Pro Football series, entitled All-Pro Improvements, written by Erik Westfall.

Quote:


	"Well, we’re back for more All-Pro Football discussion and this week, we look to the future. In our look to the future, we ask the question: What can 2K Sports do to keep the All-Pro franchise fresh and new to increase sales? What can they do to keep pace with EA’s mega-hit, Madden?"

sleepytercel · 02-26-2008, 02:54 PM

This was a post I put at the 2K Forums:

Well, since we know that the NFL signed with EA for another three years, and now we have news that EA is attempting to buyout TT (which is currently refused), I hope that Visual Concepts simply goes all out with the customization abilities for their next football game. Of course we all have said this, and I don't think VC will hold back on the limitations this year.

My thought on how to handle team logo integration is quite simple, and it doesn't infridge on any licensing contract. Why not allow gamerpic integration be used as your team logo? Of course they could go another route and allow customization with a palette tool (Hardball series had this option) or a decal option that is similar to Forza. However, I believe a gamerpic (I don't know how PSN is setup or has a similar system) integration would be simple (many games already have this) and a great way to upload your own logos into the system. If you have a 360 camera, you should already know that you can make your own gamerpics with it as well. Also, this integration may assist EA a bit if people are downloading Madden team gamerpics which may assist keeping EA off TT's back for any sort of infridgement lawsuits.

Of course we hope that we can edit each player and team names to what we see fit. I don't think VC will want to keep these limitations as it seriously was one of the biggest complaints on the game. With the NFL already signing a new deal, there's now no care about what the NFL would think.

I also think it would be an excellent idea to integrate your own voice for the "Field Pass" presentation system. This would bring users more into the game by allowing your own voice recordings to be rendered into the system. Imagine creating yourself and hearing yourself interact in the game. Imagine allowing this to be used online against other opponents (with the option to turn it off and parental controls). Also, imagine being able to sharecustom rosters and voice samples with other online users. It would make the game much more personable.

It will be interesting to see how VC will approach the next All Pro Football. With an entire year of development time, no hope for an NFL license, and enough "complaints" to gather a direction, EA's attempting to overtake them, and EA's straight forward comments (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/ea...ball-franchise) about killing off their series, I can see some proactive decisions to counter EA in many ways. There was already talk about pricing after the PR discussion on the disappointing sales of 2K8 for a start.

ty5oke · 02-26-2008, 03:18 PM

All I want is it to be fully customizable, and have a franchise. I would love to be able to have NFL-like teams, and I would also create some college teams and have a season with them. Being able to adjust Ratings for everyone would be huge.

gschwendt · 02-26-2008, 05:14 PM

The only thing that will really draw fence-straddlers away from Madden would be complete customization, and with that, it'd almost have to be COMPLETE customization. Granted this a pipe dream but give us the ability to create unlimited numbers of teams, set league size (even up to 120 teams in a league), set divisional, conference, etc. sizes, pick whether to play pro or college style, edit our team from A to Z (including creating custom skins for uniforms, create our own logo, etc.), then package it all around 2KShare.

With all of that, then I could see more people turning to APF as a replacement for Madden... until then though, it will just be a side-note in the book of video games, this coming from a big APF fan.

Sinner · 02-26-2008, 05:26 PM

Full customization and a franchise mode are big things that would help this game sell more. Up the graphics and presentaion...btw as i've said before I don't have to be able to recreate NFL teams..just let me change everything else, all players, all stadiums, coaches..whatever and i'd be happy. Think many other people would to

kcxiv · 02-26-2008, 05:49 PM

I know they said they didnt wanna piss of the NFL as they wanted to bid for the license but with that door completely shut, they may as well go for broke. Just let everyone customize whatever, but keep online with some strict guidelines because we all know online and cheesers.

2k just go for broke, show them who the best football developers are out there. You all know your better then the competition by a long shot.

Spectre · 02-26-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv


	I know they said they didnt wanna piss of the NFL as they wanted to bid for the license but with that door completely shut, they may as well go for broke. Just let everyone customize whatever, but keep online with some strict guidelines because we all know online and cheesers. 2k just go for broke, show them who the best football developers are out there. You all know your better then the competition by a long shot.

Exactly- enough tip-toing around the license issue. The NFL and the EA are in bed together and that's not going to change. Do everything that is legally allowable to provide a viable NFL alternative.

papoose39nyc · 02-26-2008, 10:34 PM

The only way this game will draw in more fans to the series is if 2k adds in the natural motion engine being used in GTA4. Also the the fully customizable game is also a good start. If we the fans are able to recreate the all NFL teams and share with each other for online play or offline, this should not harm you. But the only way I see this game selling more then 2k8 is if they add something ground breaking like Natural Motion.

02-26-2008, 02:54 PM	#2
sleepytercel Banned OVR: 8 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Columbus, OH	Re: All-Pro Improvements This was a post I put at the 2K Forums: Well, since we know that the NFL signed with EA for another three years, and now we have news that EA is attempting to buyout TT (which is currently refused), I hope that Visual Concepts simply goes all out with the customization abilities for their next football game. Of course we all have said this, and I don't think VC will hold back on the limitations this year. My thought on how to handle team logo integration is quite simple, and it doesn't infridge on any licensing contract. Why not allow gamerpic integration be used as your team logo? Of course they could go another route and allow customization with a palette tool (Hardball series had this option) or a decal option that is similar to Forza. However, I believe a gamerpic (I don't know how PSN is setup or has a similar system) integration would be simple (many games already have this) and a great way to upload your own logos into the system. If you have a 360 camera, you should already know that you can make your own gamerpics with it as well. Also, this integration may assist EA a bit if people are downloading Madden team gamerpics which may assist keeping EA off TT's back for any sort of infridgement lawsuits. Of course we hope that we can edit each player and team names to what we see fit. I don't think VC will want to keep these limitations as it seriously was one of the biggest complaints on the game. With the NFL already signing a new deal, there's now no care about what the NFL would think. I also think it would be an excellent idea to integrate your own voice for the "Field Pass" presentation system. This would bring users more into the game by allowing your own voice recordings to be rendered into the system. Imagine creating yourself and hearing yourself interact in the game. Imagine allowing this to be used online against other opponents (with the option to turn it off and parental controls). Also, imagine being able to sharecustom rosters and voice samples with other online users. It would make the game much more personable. It will be interesting to see how VC will approach the next All Pro Football. With an entire year of development time, no hope for an NFL license, and enough "complaints" to gather a direction, EA's attempting to overtake them, and EA's straight forward comments (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/ea...ball-franchise) about killing off their series, I can see some proactive decisions to counter EA in many ways. There was already talk about pricing after the PR discussion on the disappointing sales of 2K8 for a start.

02-26-2008, 05:14 PM	#4
gschwendt EA Game Changer OVR: 12 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Little Rock, AR	Re: All-Pro Improvements The only thing that will really draw fence-straddlers away from Madden would be complete customization, and with that, it'd almost have to be COMPLETE customization. Granted this a pipe dream but give us the ability to create unlimited numbers of teams, set league size (even up to 120 teams in a league), set divisional, conference, etc. sizes, pick whether to play pro or college style, edit our team from A to Z (including creating custom skins for uniforms, create our own logo, etc.), then package it all around 2KShare. With all of that, then I could see more people turning to APF as a replacement for Madden... until then though, it will just be a side-note in the book of video games, this coming from a big APF fan.

02-26-2008, 05:26 PM	#5
Sinner All Star OVR: 13 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Cakalacky Posts: 5,497	Re: All-Pro Improvements Full customization and a franchise mode are big things that would help this game sell more. Up the graphics and presentaion...btw as i've said before I don't have to be able to recreate NFL teams..just let me change everything else, all players, all stadiums, coaches..whatever and i'd be happy. Think many other people would to __________________ -= Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.=- Edward Murphy

02-26-2008, 05:49 PM	#6
kcxiv Banned OVR: 28 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Blog Entries: 1	Re: All-Pro Improvements I know they said they didnt wanna piss of the NFL as they wanted to bid for the license but with that door completely shut, they may as well go for broke. Just let everyone customize whatever, but keep online with some strict guidelines because we all know online and cheesers. 2k just go for broke, show them who the best football developers are out there. You all know your better then the competition by a long shot.

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02-26-2008, 03:18 PM	#3
ty5oke 87% OVR: 25 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 2,912	All I want is it to be fully customizable, and have a franchise. I would love to be able to have NFL-like teams, and I would also create some college teams and have a season with them. Being able to adjust Ratings for everyone would be huge.

02-26-2008, 10:34 PM	#8
papoose39nyc Rookie OVR: 1 Join Date: Aug 2006	The only way this game will draw in more fans to the series is if 2k adds in the natural motion engine being used in GTA4. Also the the fully customizable game is also a good start. If we the fans are able to recreate the all NFL teams and share with each other for online play or offline, this should not harm you. But the only way I see this game selling more then 2k8 is if they add something ground breaking like Natural Motion.