An exploration into American sports video games (such as NBA2K, MADDEN and NHL) and what makes them soooooo great!
Electronic Arts has used its Madden NFL franchise to simulate the winner of each Super Bowl every year since 2004. This year, Madden NFL 17 predicts the Patriots will beat the Falcons with a score of 27-24.
Now, a CPU vs. CPU game is not the most scientific way to place bets on a team, but the series’ predictions have been proven more correct than wrong. Starting with Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, let’s look back at every prediction to see how accurate of a sim Madden truly is.
So NBA 2K14 won’t be joining us in 2016
you mean like the old sports games during the ps1, n64, snes and nes days that had no online at all?
No?
You can still play those now granted you have the correct hardware...
They have taken out a HUGE part of the game, multiplayer. In this day and age, that is unacceptable.
It literally costs them nothing to have a few servers open for the few people that still wish to play their purchased game online with other people.
Shit the game is only what, 2 years old?
That's pathetic support.
If they wish to stop online gameplay, they should be required to release server software so people can host their own game servers.
i am not agreeing with what they are doing but it is obvious they want people to buy the new games and not just keep playing online forever. this pushes people to play the new one or like i was referring to keep playing the old one but not online. so how is the game a waste or a rental if you can still play the game minus the online multiplayer?
this is another example of trying to keep revenue going in a market where costs keep going up to make these games. if a game is not functional at all because it relies on servers and they pull the servers then that is a better argument to put forward. then that means it is a rental.
online multiplayer has and always been a bonus in sports games but as a business it makes perfect sense for them to close their servers to help their business model. you want to have repeat customers and the tricky part with sports games is it is harder to convince gamers they need to upgrade each year because of incremental changes that some don't feel it's worth it. this is one way to try and push them but of course there are repercussions because many feel cheated now that their older games re useless. the industry really doesn't want people to sit idle with anything. they want people to keep investing. that's the business model with a lot of products.
let me remind everyone nothing is obvious. Only 2k actually knows the numbers of active users still playing 2k14. It is an old games with 2k15 and this years 2k16 both [obviously] being out. So this is actually 3 years old in sporting years. Also it seems to me that like NHL & maybe even Golf that NBA is somewhat of a niche market in gaming and it's easy to consider that few if any are still online w/ 2k14. Either way we simply don't know. I personally don't like the idea of online games or games that require online connectivity because of this. However from a business perspective if it's no longer feasible to keep the servers dedicated to an older game no one, or very few are playing then it's time to shut down. After all you can go out and buy NBA 2k15 for $10-20 now? Even those who can't afford to upgrade annually can at least scrape up that to buy last years and stay online. Shite, I'd donate to someone who truly couldn't afford it.
Its ok I hated 2k14 it was complete ass. 2k16 is miles better you'd be doing yourself a disservice sticking with that old shit.
You are missing the point, they are forcing you to buy the next game which is wrong.
This is not unheard of 2k has to pay for and maintain those servers. Its their perogative to shut down a two year old game. Get over it bro
No i wont get over it, it is wrong and you are an idiot if you suggest it is ignored.
What is so wrong? Companies do this to older games all the time. Its not like the moment 2k16 comes out they make 2k15 unplayable. 2k14 is two years old at this point, outdated, and was barely playable online the year it launched. 2k probably looks at the metrics, sees barely anyone touches that game, and so they stop supporting it. I really dnt understand your argument im sorry if u feel forced to abandon 2k14...
I think it's pretty sad when they do this to a two year game. But I suppose, when they make yearly releases it's to be expected. But, there are games that still have servers up. I know it's not nearly the same, but I can still play Call of Duty 2 on the 360 online and there is still some people playing. That came out in 2005. A 10 year old game is still active with the sequels also active.
I would welcome a future where sports games just released new updates/add-ons instead of releasing new games each year. Just upgrade the graphics and so on and release a new game every few years maybe.
The sports series really should be updateable platforms at this point instead of yearly releases. Problem is i imagine its way more profitable to sell a 60 game every year
Realistically, there probably were not enough people playing 2k14 to justify keeping the servers running. It's more practical to repurpose those servers for the newer games that more people play. I'm sure the vast majority of sports gamers moved on to 2k15 or 2k16.
NHL hockey video games have come a long way. Grandpa Heath takes a look at just how long in the 3rd and final NHL hockey games retrospective. There's also a whole lot of griping about NHL 15.
At least NHL 16 shipped as a complete product. Still waiting on goalies and d-men that act real. I have a feeling I'll be waiting several more years.
I went back and watched the whole series. And I don't even like hockey or hockey games lol Guy is real funny
Hmmmm, not sure I entirely agree but great article nonetheless.
"Aside from the actual sports themselves being bloody brilliant (and shut up if you don’t agree)"
Journalism.
Also, just noted it says "A GAME BLOG" at the top right.
I thought Blogs werent allowed?
-Personal blogs do not qualify as a legit source for opinion pieces unless the author is an industry professional.-
lmaoooo @ the title.
yeh i love american sports but there is a reason they are american sports, because we suck at international sports
soccer the you know real football
cricket
Rugby
field hockey
anything? anything at all?
you know how NFL touts we had 100 million people watch the superbowl, that's nothing compared to what a cricket match in India does ratings wise.
national sports but when they win call them self world champs lol. Pats vs Giants but world champs
Football(soccer) says Hi