Franchise Ain’t Dead

WWE2K Causes a Community Creator Crisis

WWE 2K23's latest patch 1.21 sets a bad example of how to handle community creators such as those who create characters/players, rosters & scenarios within our favorite sports video games. Offline games do not typically enjoy the plethora of updates that the more lucrative modes gain during the yearly cycle. None of us want to face cheaters & exploiters of the game but when people unearth unused & hidden assets is where we learn what these companies are keeping from us for better or for worse. Banning these folks is just a way of sweeping the lack of updates under the rug as opposed to being transparent with your consumers of why things were kept away from paying customers even if we don't like the explanation. These does not bode well for other sports video games even the ones under the Take Two umbrella.
Video Version of this episode:
https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber?sub_confirmation=1

Was the MLB the Show’s Scouting Update Enough?

Are CPU teams in franchise games utilizing scouting effectively? In some games, it seems like they either don't use it or take advantage of it when they do. This episode explores the balance between user and CPU team scouting strategies. Find out if there's a fair playing field and don't forget to subscribe for more gaming insights!
MLB the Show built up the hype of their revamped scouting for MLB the Show 23 but was it enough to keep the attention of an ever starved fan base looking for innovative features?
Full Video episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/FHHKS05gdY4?si=JpW9vXORr7JEcyyG
 
I was afraid MLB the Show would place something new into the game but did not bother to ensure the CPU is utilizing the features placed into the game. Madden is also notorious for the CPU teams not utilizing things like the coaching tree which means as the years go by your team almost by default will be better at managing players than the CPU teams and it will get boring to continue to dominate without being checked.

I Am Too Proud to Beg (for a Beta Code)

Unlike TLC I am too proud to beg for something that should be accessible by all who look to consume the beta/demo of Madden 24 (which has since ended). In 2023 EA decided it was a good idea to open up the beta to all via signup and codes to access were received via email. I received my code 3-4 days before the beta ended. I will praise them for having all modes available but look how well that worked out for them as a 'polished' game that needed to offer 50% to those in which a December update wiped out their save files.
 
Video Version: https://youtu.be/dIfOjYu1jS8
 
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The State of Football Gaming (2023)

As it currently stands we are in the midst of Madden 24 beta testing with the game to release in August. EA College Football is possibly in limbo with college players not accepting the $500 being offered as even semi-relevant players can and will make more through an NIL deal let alone the stars & superstars. Maximum Football has pushed back it's beta testing to late summer/early fall. Legend Bowl has been out for a couple years now and is awaiting certification from the various console companies but is available on PC. College Bowl has no tentative release date. Axis Football is everywhere but PS5 and Varsity HS Football Game is set for beta testing at year's end with release (hopefully) sometime in 2024. Some may not necessarily be direct competitors to the EA Football throne but the threats are there in various forms.
Video Version: https://youtu.be/gwN3k0sM5Uk
 
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What Does the Price of a Game Entitle Us To?

Every decade or so with hardware that gets better, we typically see a hike in prices for our video game purchase. Sports video games are usually seen as nothing more than roster updates on a year to year basis unless there is a feature added to the game which changes how we experience our franchise & career modes. Are we asking for too much to see features improved upon or immersion increased rather than having features removed for the sake of adding them back years later? Systems such as the PS3 were used by the US government as a supercomputer but now we find ourselves begging for features that would help up play longer but are constantly denied or ignored.
 
Video Version: https://youtu.be/nP5znux_iy0
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Article researched: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/are-video-games-really-more-expensive
 

Don’t Insult My Intelligence

Our PCs & gaming consoles harbor the best that tech has to offer in terms of speed and power yet our sports video games play like they can't do 10 pushups for the life of them. We have down right silly trade logic, CPU teams make questionable free agent signings and despite playing in-game on the hardest of difficulties the CPU manages their team softer than Charmin tissue in a rain storm.
 
Video Version: https://youtu.be/7dnt8aLMT1c
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Franchise Ain’t Dead

In the 1990s through the late 2000s sports games relied on Franchise & Career modes to draw customers to their games in a time when competitive gaming consisted of local couch head to head matchups or online games versus two preset teams. Now with companies using the tactics that have been successful for mobile games, microtransactions & F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out), they have made revenue to the point where it is greater than the initial purchase on console or even rely solely on microtransactions revenue and making games free to play. Have these money making ploys caused them to neglect the foundational modes which are meant to represent the experience of running a team or being a professional player?
 
Video Version: https://youtu.be/g26u_SblE4I
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