For me the biggest issue with Sports games (and not just EA, but also 2K, MLB the show, etc) has always been the lazy development cycle.
The cycle being:
1. Create a game.
2. Use that same game base for 5+ years
3. Sell that same game for $60 with minor cosmetic and functionality changes, roster updates, and maybe some bug fixes and minor new features. Tack the last 2 digits of year on title.
I stopped buying yearly because there was no point in buying the same game every year.
I would much rather see a cycle where a game is created, and they charge $10-15 yearly for roster updates and some minor new content changes. And they only make a new version when either they have MAJOR feature or Technology change.
I was happy to learn that this particular game IS going to be supported for a longer term, so that's a positive change.
@7AnimalMother wrote:For me the biggest issue with Sports games (and not just EA, but also 2K, MLB the show, etc) has always been the lazy development cycle.
The cycle being:
1. Create a game.
2. Use that same game base for 5+ years
3. Sell that same game for $60 with minor cosmetic and functionality changes, roster updates, and maybe some bug fixes and minor new features. Tack the last 2 digits of year on title.
I stopped buying yearly because there was no point in buying the same game every year.
I would much rather see a cycle where a game is created, and they charge $10-15 yearly for roster updates and some minor new content changes. And they only make a new version when either they have MAJOR feature or Technology change.
I was happy to learn that this particular game IS going to be supported for a longer term, so that's a positive change.
Actually I think The Golf Club before being taken over by 2K was always sub $60. It was never promoted as a AAA title.
I believe they were smart about how they went about things... they built a user base that was sustainable. They didn't just cater to a mass market that wasn't sustainable.
They seem to understand that golf is a niche title, and that the core demographic are golfers looking for a sim type experience.
I don't want to say there are not other groups out there looking for a more casual game. But the core group playing in Societies etc... are golfers. They will be playing and supporting the game well after others have moved on to more popular titles.
There are groups still playing 2K2019 and 2K21 as their daily driver.
I generally agree with your statement however... and would add that they are not only barely moving forward. In many case they are going backwards.
If you want to compare the features in EA's 2014 game versus their current release there is a lot to feel short changed about.
Or even going back to some of the computer sims further back like Access's Links or even some of the old Jack Nicklaus games.
The current crop is lacking when you think that they have had 25 years of technology and historical data to their advantage.
@ELF014 wrote:
@7AnimalMother wrote:For me the biggest issue with Sports games (and not just EA, but also 2K, MLB the show, etc) has always been the lazy development cycle.
The cycle being:
1. Create a game.
2. Use that same game base for 5+ years
3. Sell that same game for $60 with minor cosmetic and functionality changes, roster updates, and maybe some bug fixes and minor new features. Tack the last 2 digits of year on title.
I stopped buying yearly because there was no point in buying the same game every year.
I would much rather see a cycle where a game is created, and they charge $10-15 yearly for roster updates and some minor new content changes. And they only make a new version when either they have MAJOR feature or Technology change.
I was happy to learn that this particular game IS going to be supported for a longer term, so that's a positive change.
Actually I think The Golf Club before being taken over by 2K was always sub $60. It was never promoted as a AAA title.
I believe they were smart about how they went about things... they built a user base that was sustainable. They didn't just cater to a mass market that wasn't sustainable.
They seem to understand that golf is a niche title, and that the core demographic are golfers looking for a sim type experience.
I don't want to say there are not other groups out there looking for a more casual game. But the core group playing in Societies etc... are golfers. They will be playing and supporting the game well after others have moved on to more popular titles.
There are groups still playing 2K2019 and 2K21 as their daily driver.
I generally agree with your statement however... and would add that they are not only barely moving forward. In many case they are going backwards.
If you want to compare the features in EA's 2014 game versus their current release there is a lot to feel short changed about.
Or even going back to some of the computer sims further back like Access's Links or even some of the old Jack Nicklaus games.
The current crop is lacking when you think the have 25 years of tech and historic data to their advantage.
WWE 2K, EA UFC and the EA Star Wars games are examples of games that has progressed with time. It is a sad state that current PGA Tour had regressed with time. TW14, released 10 years ago, is more advanced compared to current game. The 2001 Space Odyssey theme played backwards would fit the evolution from TW14 to current game.
