News Post

All-Pro Improvements

03:47 PM - February 26, 2008 by RaychelSnr

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?"

Game: All-Pro Football 2K8Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 57 - View All

Member Comments

# 1 ty5oke @ 02/26/08 04:18 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.

# 2 gschwendt @ 02/26/08 06:14 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.

# 3 Sinner @ 02/26/08 06:26 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

# 4 Spectre @ 02/26/08 08:09 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.

# 5 papoose39nyc @ 02/26/08 11:34 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.

# 6 Shredder @ 02/27/08 01:35 AM

I hope it makes it under the window if the buyout comes to fruition......go out right VC.....let us recreate the NFL 2k style..........one last time.......

# 7 Goffs @ 02/27/08 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shredder


	I hope it makes it under the window if the buyout comes to fruition......go out right VC.....let us recreate the NFL 2k style..........one last time.......

yes please...one last hoorah

# 8 Sausage @ 02/27/08 10:17 AM

Here is what I believe would help improve All Pro:
1. A fictional professional football league with a past story, hall of famers, rushing recordes, passing records, etc. that is where the Legends come in with there stats. For the franchise mode the legends should be the Hall of Famers and hold records waiting to be broken.

2. Allowing us to use the a.i. teams in offline exhibition modes.

3. 2K share is a must from here on out on the sport franchises that are still left.

**To much customization for the casual fans can hurt sales, because they will sadly be confused and wouldn't know how to handle full customizations. I wish I were wrong.**

Peace

# 9 Radja @ 02/27/08 11:30 AM

i would like to see a fictional league with a franchise that allows you to draft the hall of fame players as your franchise develops. every year a certain amount would be released to draft and so on. i think all should be released after 4 seasons, but maybe the user can decide the ratio when he starts his franchise. this will simulate the hype of the college draft atmosphere.

i can see three ways to have a franchise this way:

one: the cpu generates teams and you pick from the list of teams with the option to move them to whatever city you choose.

two: the first season starts with a draft. you get to run a few practices with your CPU generated team to see what your strengths and weaknesses before you go to the draft. the CPU AI releases randomly X amount of hall of fame gold, silver and bronze stars players. you fill your needs.

three: choose the same opening but reduce the number you choose then disperse the remaining to the draft.

all of these would require a significant increase in the number of legends signed to contracts. but each legend would start out as a rookie and you can see if they develop to the status they once enjoyed, or not so enjoyed if they were bubby brister.

# 10 B-Wills @ 02/27/08 08:47 PM

- Stadium editor
- The ability to edit Generic players
- An extremely deep franchise mode
- More realistic tackling animations
- "HD" looking Stat overlays/tables and add more as well
- New commentary lines
- Hard hits, more bone crushing hits, the harder the hit the more chance of a fumble/incomplete catch & Injury.
- A better juking system
- A "Training Camp mode" Where you could do individual and team drills like drills for WRs, QB drills, RB drills, pretty much at least 2-3 different drills for every position. I would really like to see this added for 2k9.
- Euphoria

# 11 spankdatazz22 @ 03/01/08 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sausage


	To much customization for the casual fans can hurt sales, because they will sadly be confused and wouldn't know how to handle full customizations. I wish I were wrong.

I think it would be best for VC to concentrate on making the core game appealing, and I think that needs to be understood by all of us. More customization is definitely needed of course, of both the players and teams. But we should recognize there aren't many people that want to spend hours configuring the game themselves - they want to pop it in and start playing. The game needs to be a better APF game first, psuedo NFL/NCAA/high school game second.

The easiest way to make the game immediately more appealing is to get rid of the old school homages and make the uniforms look much more dynamic and appealing. No dull and weird color combinations, of which there are too many in the game. By doing the simple act of changing the uniforms to look like NFL teams and some selective player choices, the game becomes a thousand+ percent more enjoyable and interesting to look at. If there is a 2K9 I'd hope 2K doesn't make the same mistake of not concentrating on making the uniforms appealing, and perhaps making the teams have more fleshed out personalities (is the team conservative/defensive, blitz happy, run oriented, etc.). The teams in the demo are boring to look at in large part because of the muted colors/boring choices used for the uniforms. Even though they have old school players in the game, those players need to "look new" to appeal to today's young videogame players.

# 12 Behindshadows @ 03/01/08 12:29 PM

Just give it a graphic boost, a major one! Casual gamers notice Huge Detailed graphics, before anything else.

I worked in Marketing for years, and I'm telling you what our studies proved!

Give it a major graphic, overhaul with a lot of customization options, with the already stellar gameplay. And this game will sell...Enough said!

# 13 spankdatazz22 @ 03/01/08 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behindshadows2


	Just give it a graphic boost, a major one! Casual gamers notice Huge Detailed graphics, before anything else. I worked in Marketing for years, and I'm telling you what our studies proved! Give it a major graphic, overhaul with a lot of customization options, with the already stellar gameplay. And this game will sell...Enough said!

Why does it need a "major" graphic overhaul? Find me a Madden or NCAA video that looks better than this:

And that's just picking something random. When the game is played with teams that look more familar, the graphics look much better. If APF had NFL uniforms, this wouldn't even be a discussion point because people would accept it's look. APF doesn't look bad, although I think the base uniforms 2K went with were a horrible choice. While I wouldn't mind a new graphical engine, there's no way it's a need at this point. I've read your criticisms of NBA2K because you feel the graphical engine needs to be overhauled seemingly simply for the sake of wanting something completely new. Nor does that game look bad. I don't disagree that I'd like to have a new graphical engine, but it would be far down my list of wants. I don't see how it's a necessity.

# 14 Kanobi @ 03/01/08 08:25 PM

With APF being based on a fictional league, VC really has limitless possibilities in terms of what they could do with a franchise mode. I sent in some stuff to them last July that I don't think has been done before. If they're ever implemented then I think most APF fans would be happy. We shall see.

# 15 Sausage @ 03/02/08 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanobi


	With APF being based on a fictional league, VC really has limitless possibilities in terms of what they could do with a franchise mode. I sent in some stuff to them last July that I don't think has been done before. If they're ever implemented then I think most APF fans would be happy. We shall see.

What ideas did you send them?

# 16 granvilleberry @ 03/02/08 04:25 PM

Ten, maybe fifteen years ago there was a game for the SuperNintendo that was a little bit like Tecmo Bowl, though played with an overhead-diagonal view. The big thing for me, keeping in mind that I was still getting rides from mommy to school back then, was that you could play as high school, college, and pro teams. They were all generic, with names like Oklahoma for U. of Oklahoma and other state schools while a school like Brigham Young would be called Provo State or Utah Mormon College. The pro teams were all named via the city they were in. The uni's weren't spot on (no logos on the helmets as the technology/graphics just weren't there yet), but the colors where all correct and you could manipulate the high school unis. The ability to create/modify the uniforms is my big thing, and an in game logo creator/modifier would be fantastic combined with the already mentioned set-up of generic teams that loosely fit in with the real deal. The gameplay is already great (after playing nothing but NCAA since August and picking up APF this week, I'm sold...at least until I begin playing online where I will ultimately be exposed to the variety of cheap playing style and glitches), I just want a more robust avenue to throw together a 2004 OU squad or any particular NFL team from the '80s. It's frustrating when you're locked in to a set number of team names when you'd rather just type in the name you want and live w/out it being spoken by the play-by-play and color guys.

# 17 jwilson3rd @ 03/02/08 11:17 PM

all i want is 2k9 to be released.

# 18 turftickler @ 03/03/08 06:02 PM

1. Complete customization.
2. Silver players need three stars, Bronze players need 2 stars.
3. Generic and created players should get better with everygame they play, but only if they are showing progress in their stats online and offline.
4. Graphics, graphics, graphics!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. Better pre-game and post game presentation.
6. Actual gameplay videos during halftime show online and offline.
7. Side camera and custom camera,
8. More stadiums.
9. Announcer need to say full names of created players. I know this can be done, because I am a computer software developer myself.
10. People that cheat should be penalized. If they pull their connection, they should receive an automic negative rating and a loss.

# 19 spankdatazz22 @ 03/04/08 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metallicatz


	Get a deep franchise mode in there. Hard numbers prove that more people play offline than online. Many more. 2k f-ed up BIG TIME by leaving out a franchise mode. Maybe next time their staff will be be a bit more PR savvy and avoid saying stupid things like "just shut up and play the damn game" in magazine articles to quell criticism of the lack of features.

Why try to twist the quote out of context - yet again? They said they were attempting to make the best playing football game to date and that's what they did. The game's biggest problem is something they can do nothing about - it lacks the NFL licenses. I think the game would've been much more successful with the NFL licenses and no franchise than without the license and a deep franchise. Ultimately franchise isn't important if the core game isn't appealing enough to play in the first place.

Quote:


	If there is a next 2K football game it needs a total makeover. After 5 minutes with APF08 I was playing like a seasoned vet. Why? Because i'd already logged hundreds of games on it........several years before when the game was called NFL2K5. Ditch the ported 4+ year old engine and come to the table with a next gen engine like the rest of the 2K sports titles.

Funny... many people say the NBA2K engine is ported. Yet it's far and away the best basketball game to date - no other game is even close. Change for change's sake makes no sense.

Quote:


	And some of you need to just stop with that nonsense about APF's visuals being the best out there. They're not. They're good, but face reality......they don't compare to Madden in that department anymore. If that "Bears" clip posted earlier is the best you've seen, it just proves you haven't taken a look around at the competition.

Let's see your gameplay clip then. It's not a matter of the graphics having to be the best - too often people are worried about how light is reflecting off a helmet instead of how the game plays. So, as Madden supposedly looks, there's an awful lot of people dissatisfied with it. It's been discussed at length that many people would've preferred updated last gen visuals and ported gameplay than having to deal with the horrid-bad-mediocre Madden 06/07/08 respectively.

# 20 goodsense @ 03/04/08 04:28 PM

Make Generic players scoutable.
Make teams better the more you play with them. So if you go in and revamp your entire OL then that OL should struggle for a while. etc...

Complete Customization sounds nice folks, but it is a lot of work if you want to implement a lot of the other things you want to work along with it. Do you limit the names? You'll run into problems with correct name annoucement on some.

Better all around game presentation. Use more PIP to allow players quicker access to playcall screen.

Move Pause Screen Options to Game Screen PLEASE!!!!
If you want to toss the red flag you should be able to do so without the pause menu. If it happens at the snap then whistle and call the play dead.

Move Focus from gameplan pause menu to playcall screen, LOS options so players can maintain flexibility without pausing the game.

Make No-huddle a DUAL button, so that manual catchers don't find themselves mistakenly calling up a no-huddle play. The same with spike the ball. Add in the left or right trigger along with the Y/X (xb360)

MORE LOS OPTIONS!!!
DEF: swap m2m assignments, DL shifts, Better show blitz including for DBs, seperate db in/out coverage, Sideline Pass Coverage, better trailing of motioned players, no instant change of direction, no jumping routes with back turned in coverage: curl/hook routes, force more fumbles depending on hit: blind side, stripping the ball with reach tackles from QB instead it only happening on tackles, give defense the chance to ignore cadence. (penalty is slightly, not too obvious, slower jump on the actual hike), DL QB contain used for mobile QBs where they don't blitz the QB but contain him and or screens, etc..

OFF: Add QB motion in/out of shotgun on any play. Better reverse paths, not all WRs can make sideline catches/one handed catches/etc..., CHILL with super human players, slow down players taking hits and breaking tackles, smarter downfield blocking for human controlled teams, tuck for QB since we want more QB fumbles which there should be for blind hits. Add a Play Route Reset so if you audible and motion out you can reset the routes without reseting the formation, be able to motion WR for reverse plays

Full gameplay replays. From the moment QB goes under center so we can see the shifts that took place. This is not the case for presentation replays mind you.

Better game presentation. Half-time and End of Game replays should include scoring plays. Last minute drives show some key plays as well - 3rd & 14 turned into a 1st, etc... The same with last minute drive stops. Show that goal line stance

Smarter announcer object model please.
Too many out of wack commentary. Some comments should be only heard once. ex... Call the game over when it is over and stop that generic "until double zero"

Bring back fan shots like leaving the stadium to emphasize blowouts.
More comeback commentary.

Better injury coverage:
Pull info up from playcall screen. Player should exhibit the injury. Stop just having the guy lay flat on his back. Have it where some players return to the game isn't successful and need to leave again.

Kickoff option of 1 or 2 returners. This will eliminate the idea of people cheating on kickoffs.
Now you have a way to stop it.

Better field degrading in bad weather. Wear out where the game is played.
Vary conditions. Not always heavy rain or heavy snow. Some games it stops or comes down lighter.

Playbook manager:
I could careless about statistical plays I have installed.
We have FLIP so again, there is NO NEED to have Weak ISO and Strong ISO when we can flip it.
When we select plays like this we should be able to assign our preferred default of strong or weak.
The same with screens, toss, stretch, counters, traps, etc...
Exception! Reverse plays have no such option.

Include SET plays with QB Spy, more double teams, etc...

ADD
Full Play Editor. Including options for trick plays like reverse, fake reverse, double reverse, fake double reverse, all types of runs and pass routes, various direct snaps, screens(RB/TE/WR/QB)

Full Practice Mode. 7on7, various position drills, 2 minute drill, and stop flipping cpu player assignments like making LT RT, etc...

Franchise... I'll leave it at that except make scouting more dynamic. Send us through that invitation where we get to put players through drills that we can SEE the results. Just limit how many.

CORRECTIONS
QB needs to end up in the correct stance when rolling out.
There is still a back door to get to the flipped reverse play, so if a reverse play is in flip form then it should result in a broken play.
Please! Please! Please! Fix the BACKFIELD routes!!!!! That little curl is being used for 2 routes and we need that cleared up. One minute it goes out to the sidelines the next just beyond the tackle.
Menu system for calling packages!
Display the offense package based on players IN on the play rather than just the assumed package contents.
You run Split Pro with a WR in for the TE then the display should show Split Spread.

Better testing of your product and quicker turn arounds with OBVIOUS glitches.

The graphics are fine. I'm more interested in gameplay rather than upgraded graphics. You guys need to stop complaining about gameplay if you keep emphasizing graphics all the time.

Finally!
ME! Why not have this vision as apart of your team even on a limited or part-time basis.

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