Franchise Modes Are Too Easy, That's a Problem

[Steve_OS]

It might come off as a bit “elitist” to say franchise modes are too easy, but...

Written By: Chase Becotte

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[ChaseB]

This isn't specifically tied to just MLB The Show, but I thought I'd place it here because I do think it's one of the franchise modes that lacks any real challenge without putting major restrictions on yourself. This was also the basis for one of my recent OS newsletters so subscribers of that have already seen this in that case.

[Cyrus09]

Remind me of that the next time I struggle to get 3 hits in a game...

But more serious: I don't think it will ever be harder, because like in every other video game there is always a way to cheese it. Even in Dark Souls, one of the harder games around, you always find a way to trick the system.

I like it this way around better then: Everyone who wants to dominate, can. Everyone who wants to set rules to prevent that can as well. Keep it as accessible as possible.

[jcar0725]

I might be biased because of my love of the show, but I like how much control I can have over my franchise world in this game. I can make it at real or as arcady as I want to, using 30 team control. I just "un-did" a trade that went down in my franchise yesterday because it didn't feel like it made any sense. I can get years deep in to franchise and it doesn't get stale because I can keep things fairly realistic. But I can also make some things happen that may be out of the ordinary, like a 19 year old phenom making a huge splash at the MLB level for some team, just to keep things fresh.

I used to play Madden quite a bit, but that franchise world would just become so unrealistic that I would always get bored with it quickly.

[cch99]

I definitely think that Franchise Modes are purposely made easier by developers so that any player can take any team to the championship in a shorter period of time.

NBA 2k seems to have the most sliders to try and counteract.

I also think being able to play the games themselves can make it much easier. Once you start playing if you are too good at the game you can win all the time. Opposite being true, if you aren't very good for the difficulty level you are playing on you can make even the best teams terrible. IF you simulate all the games it definitely makes it much harder.

Whenever I start a franchise I always try and start by playing other teams games to find the settings I need to make played games generally as realistic as possible. Madden 32 team control. NBA 2k just play random games but a decent amount to account for outlier games.

Look at CFB. Rice is never going to win the National Championship because they aren't going to get the level of coach there that can recruit and get the players needed to compete. Even if they do by the time they start getting better, the coach is going to leave for a job at a larger school. That being said I think with house rules, if you really want you can get it to a point where at least you can keep it close.

And if people want to win it all with the worst team in the league the first year more power to them. It's their game. I tend to get bored if it's too easy but I don't care if someone else isn't bothered by it. Devs are in a tight spot to make it competitive but no so hard that you'll never win.