Can a Two-Year Cycle Work?

[DrJones]

Developers (as in, the people who actually make the games) would love a 2-year cycle. I've been lobbying for a 2-year cycle for years. Unless you can convince the powers that be at EA and 2K that they'd make more money with this system, however, it'll never happen.

One of the side effects of exclusivity you guys may be unaware of: EA and 2K are obligated to release X number of NFL and MLB titles per year on Y number of platforms. NO EXCEPTIONS. If Madden or MLB 2K missed a ship date, they'd have to pay huge fines to the leagues.

[kcxiv]

In a dream, that would be awesome. In reality it wont ever freaking happen. Madden is a freaking horrible game, but it still brings in a crap load of money. Why would EA pull away from that? They have shown time and time again, that they could care less how good the product is if its still selling like hotcakes. Once sales start slipping then maybe something will change.


So my point is, quit buying the games that suck year after year after year. People need to learn to back off for a year or 2.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by savoie2006

I believe MLB The Show and NHL 08 are living proof that a one year cycle can work.It's just a matter of dedication by the developers.If there is a widely noted problem one year,a patch should be released or they should at least take the time to fix that issue before doing anything else.Most problem are small nagging problems not major.Developers need to spend less time trying to draw people in with fancy new features and worry about correcting any and all gameplay issues.

Agreed except EA took the liberty of taking the first year off from hockey on next gen to build an engine from the ground up. Something I've been begging 2k to do for years now. In doing so all they needed to do was work on AI for 08 and tweak. Granted 08 isn't perfect but its now at the point where its pretty much lightyears ahead of 2k's hockey game when only a short time ago 2k hockey was king.

[Cardot]

Just because a game comes out every year doesn't mean we are obligated to buy it. I try maintain a purchasing policy that resists buying games on consecutive years. I will make exceptions in those rare cases where a game makes a significant advance....or if it is offered at a very low price like 2K did a few years ago.

But I go back to Atari, so for me it is quite normal to play the same game for a few years. I know there are others who have a very different view. I have seen several posts of gamers that threatten to not buy a game if the release date is delayed or worse yet, if they don't get to see any preview screens in a timely fashion. I imagine those people would go bananas if they had to wait 2 years between versions.

[BlyGilmore]

Quote: Originally Posted by savoie2006

I believe MLB The Show and NHL 08 are living proof that a one year cycle can work.It's just a matter of dedication by the developers.If there is a widely noted problem one year,a patch should be released or they should at least take the time to fix that issue before doing anything else.Most problem are small nagging problems not major.Developers need to spend less time trying to draw people in with fancy new features and worry about correcting any and all gameplay issues.

While I can't comment from first hand knowledge, it sounds like this year's MLB The Show is last years with a few minor fixes and tweaks to the features. To me that's hardly proof you can develop great games year in and year out. If anything the knock on MLB The Show this year has been its basically just a roster update.

Perhaps The Show is the model though - just make a series of small additions each year and not really make any gambles.

(Then again they were also in the position of having a very good game to begin with. And by most accounts they nailed the game play aspect of baseball last year so there was no need for change. MLB The Show could rest on its laurels. A game like MLB 2k or Madden couldn't).

[Nature_Boy]

Great article Chris. At this point and time, I really don't know what it's going to take for companies like EA to start producing quality games once again. Myself, i'm hoping the addition of Peter Moore to EA Sports will shake things up over there and get some rumps in gear.

[ubernoob]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nature_Boy

Great article Chris. At this point and time, I really don't know what it's going to take for companies like EA to start producing quality games once again. Myself, i'm hoping the addition of Peter Moore to EA Sports will shake things up over there and get some rumps in gear.

It depends on your definition of quality.

Do I think Madden is a football sim? No.

Does it have it's "Throw-the-controller-against-the-wall moments"? Of course.

Do I have fun playing it? Sure as hell I do.

It all depends on what mindset you're in. Buying Madden year in and out thinking it's going to be a sim is stupid. We all know what Madden is.

[Tomba]

No not anymore.

IMHO good games take time.