#fixtheshowfranchise

[Gagnon39]

I've been delving into the Madden forums for the first time in a while and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be getting the game and trying franchise mode for the first time in a while. I usually give it a shot every couple years and usually last a week or two before I realize franchise mode is just a rotting corpse. However, this year (in case you all are not aware), there seems to be a real push for fixing Madden's franchise mode and it looks like it's going in the right direction. Of course all of this has me thinking, is there any hope for franchise mode in MLB The Show?

We all know that online modes have taken over the majority of development time and money for most companies that make video games, sport games or not. And it's unfortunate for us franchise players. This is a topic that's been virtually beat to death over the last decade or so. But I'm wondering, is there anything that the online community can do to get SDS to actually do something about franchise mode.

Year after year it's almost completely neglected. There are so many frustrating things about it and and while it's good in many aspects there are areas that just show complete lack of caring. A primary example of this is how the minor leaguers (many top prospects) haven't even had their age updated in two years. Guys that should be 22 are still 20 in MLB The Show 21. And the fact that it's just never even fixed in an update shows just how little SDS really cares about the mode.

Watching all the videos about the improvements to franchise mode in Madden and their new dedication to the mode makes me wish SDS had even the slightest inclination to do the same. Madden hired a guy that's been here on OS and has written up tons of ideas about franchise mode (Deuce Douglas) and many of his ideas are now being implemented into Madden. Think about all the ideas generated here on this community alone that would make franchise mode so much better. And yes, I completely understand that everything is not simple. However, I know that at least 4-5 years ago SDS literally had one guy that worked on franchise mode. Just one dude. Meanwhile, there's no telling how many developers work on Diamond Dynasty. And before anyone talks about how there's no monetary incentive for the developers to work on franchise mode, believe me, I know. You're preaching to the choir. I have been saying this for well over ten years, that online modes generate the money and that franchise mode is just left to rot.

So what's the answer? That's what I guess I'm asking. Is there any hope that SDS will at least give half the attention to franchise mode that EA is giving to Madden. Are there things that the online community could do?

[countryboy]

I won't get into the other parts of the OP, but to answer the question as to what the online community can do:

Go to their official website, theshow.com, and click on MLB 21 and then click the provide feedback button and then fill out the form and submit your feedback as to what you would like to see added to the game. Sometimes it strikes a conversation with the DEV team as they may have questions or ask for further information.

[KnightTemplar]

I don’t play any game other than The Show. But, historically hasn’t this game been ripped to shreds by the gamers? They added ONE guy to improve franchise? That right? Curious as to what the bugs and glitches threads look like come game release.

[Stolm]

Is the incorrect card art in Franchise a known bug?

Loaded up my 1st Franchise of the year, and half my team has card art for different players.

[Rocket32]

The answer and what the community can do is simply exactly what the Madden community did. Get a hashtag going on social media, spread it throughout the Show community, and people need to try and blow it up and get some traction among the game’s player base. Fix Madden Franchise was trending #1 on Twitter in the US for a time. Madden players legitimately made it a big thing online, so big that even EA couldn’t ignore it. So far it’s getting results.


Is the Show community even capable of having the same impact as Madden players did? Maybe not, but they only have to be loud enough to get SDS’s attention and basically give them no choice but to acknowledge it and respond. The main way to put pressure on now is through social media, other then sales that’s what they listen to.

A big question is, do enough of The Show’s players actually care about Franchise mode to pull off what Madden players did? I’m not so sure that’s a yes, in fact I think there’s a pretty real chance it’s a no.

[tessl]

Right now I'd settle for a patch fixing the problem of pinch hitting in franchise mode.

It's August and the last patch attempted to fix it but only caused a different problem. Can't do a double switch in you pinch hit and if you forget to schedule a reliever to enter the game your position player takes the mound for 3 batters. If you do schedule a pitcher then you can't do a double switch.

I understand they went from one platform to four platforms but it's August. If the developer handling patches needs help then divert resources from somewhere else.

[Gagnon39]

Two of the Cubs top prospects (Brailyn Marquez and Brennan Davis) were two years younger than they should be in MLB 21. As did so many other prospects. If they are three years younger than they should be next year I just don't know if I can stomach it and bring myself to buy the game.

[dubeau]

I look at the improvement of the 21 version, and I really feel they were mostly cosmetic. They remade all the UI, and I kind of like it a lot. The transitions between interfaces are slower. The quick play is slower at times.

They made change to the trade engines, they say. I was able to do two of the exact same trades I did in 20 version, without any problems. I think the amelioration there, was more for the CPU tradings. Hard to say, I didn't play enough with it.

Under the hood, everything seems to be exactly the same as 2020. I am having a hard time finding the differences.