Have Sports Gaming Controls Become Too Complicated for Their Own Good?

[BlueNGold]

Controls don't need to be dumbed down or simplified. IMO more control is always more of a good thing. What the games need to do are give options and customization.

As anyone can see by all the responses in here, there's some people who prefer full out "every button does something" controls, while others prefer the simplified pick up and play approach. There should be no reason why these games can't give us both, as well as the ability to customize the controls to our liking.

Another thing is that interactive tutorials should also be a must in sports games. EA keeps trying to simplify Madden's gameplay to make the game more accessible and easier to play for new/casual players when they just blatantly ignore the fact that they used to have videos and tutorials to teach us how to play the game and use the controls properly. Of course people are going to be lost with the controller in their hands when there are no tools for them to learn how to play aside from trial and error while actually playing.

[LindsayK]

This picture of a joystick reminds me of a Valentine card.
Mario is red, Sonic is blue.
Will you be my player two?

[chiconahui]

I quote: "the reflexes aren’t quite at the level of my 20-year-old self".. at 40!? It's just a damn controller, not an F1 race car... Sr. it seems more like an alcohol problem than other thing...

[Graphik]

Quote: Originally Posted by chiconahui

I quote: "the reflexes aren’t quite at the level of my 20-year-old self".. at 40!? It's just a damn controller, not an F1 race car... Sr. it seems more like an alcohol problem than other thing...

LMAO. True dat. Some people have a thing about controls. Me, the more complicated and confusing the controls are, the more into a game I will be. Gives me something to learn and master. Repetitive, simplistic controls in any game will bore me.

Anyone ever play XCOM on the PC? You want controller mapping issues, look no further.

[DaveDQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by C the Lyte

Double edged sword. You either want less control whcich produces more random canned animations or you want more control to pick which canned animations will take place. I could help but laugh when reading this, especially the 40 year old part. It's like an old QB who is savvy but just doesn't have that zip any more. Shoot, any 40 year old non-golfing athlete applies here!

I think that sums it up. I think the complicated controls came with the desire of two things. One is what Lyte mentions in that players want to control what move is performed rather than hope for or anticipate a move that is mixed in a bag of randomness.

The other is this myth of simulating the experience of the sport by using a controller's buttons and especially sticks to give you the feeling that you are shooting the basketball, swinging that bat or throwing that punch. I understand it in concept but it doesn't quite translate and can often lead to frustration rather than enjoyment.