Support NeoGAF

[mcw]

I was listening to the Easy Allies podcast this week and someone wrote in to say how much they enjoyed the story mode in the latest FIFA. That got me thinking: what would it take, really, to get someone invested in a sports franchise like FIFA or Madden if they already think it's not for them? Is it possible that a good story mode could draw them in, or will newcomers generally be daunted by the complexity of the gameplay regardless of any other features? Is there a need, or would it even be feasible to produce an in-between game that acts as the Forza Horizon to FIFA's Forza, aimed at bringing in PS4 owners who don't identify as part of the sports game market?

I imagine this is all moot, as there does not need to be any crossover in the audiences for EA's sports games and its other titles; those games already sell very well. Curious to hear your thoughts, though.

 

[JayEH]

There was stuff like NBA Jam, Street, etc. NBA Playgrounds came out recently though I don't know about the quality of that game. There's also things like Windjammers and its clones coming out.

 

[Ceallach]

The NBA 2k games all have pretty in depth story modes, as do the WWF games and like non sports fans still dgaf really.

 

[1upmuffin]

NFL Blitz is so much fun and I don't like regular football games.

EDIT: I guess to OP's point, it didn't make me want to play Madden, it feels more like an arcade game with the basic rules of football.

 

[darkside31337]

Rocket League.

I think the key is to be able to make your game accessible to everyone. I love MLB The Show but if you don't know anything about baseball forget about it. Retro mode this year is kind of a flashback to the simpler days of baseball games.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

Rocket League and Disc Jam are NOT sports games

 

[Elitist1945]

Rocket League. Don't know if that really counts though.

EDIT: ^ Well there ya have it.

 

[paulogy]

Rocket League?

Edit: And since everyone else seems on the same page, I'll add:

The "retro mode" of MLB The Show '17 is very appealing to me, as someone who spent a ton of time playing RBI and Griffey (not to mention Blades of Steel and NBA Jam / NBA Street and others). In general if a game can be more like an "arcade" sports game, instead of a pure simulation, I think that's more appealing to me, and many others that might not normally play sports games.

 

[Vanillalite]

Mario Golf!

It's Golf, but all of these other trappings over the years has made it a favorite even in the gaming press which doesn't always love sports games.

 

[Brofist]

Rocket League and Disc Jam are NOT sports games

 

[Stopdoor]

Mario Golf!

It's Golf, but all of these other trappings over the years has made it a favorite even in the gaming press which doesn't always love sports games.

To be honest all my knowledge of sports like Tennis, Golf, and Baseball comes from Mario Sports, as sad as that sounds. But hey, better than nothing.

(I don't think I can include Strikers in this because it takes a very liberal approach to traditional rules, haha)

 

[norm9]

Mario Golf!

It's Golf, but all of these other trappings over the years has made it a favorite even in the gaming press which doesn't always love sports games.

Mario golf is fantastic for non sports people. I'd add Tiger Woods golf too.

 

[TheXbox]

FIFA got me into soccer. Very simple, easy to pick up and play. Can't go wrong with Strikers, though.

 

[Nanashrew]

Variety is the spice of life and we're lacking a lot of it. I'm not interested in FIFA or Madden. The style of gameplay doesn't grasp me, and a story mode or management doesn't interest me too much either. Car games I can get into easy and even give slight passes to some things I don't like, I can't tell you why, but car games just feel more kinetic and I feel in control? I don't have the words to describe it. Even if some might be a sim or arcadey (though I often prefer arcade style racing above all).

I like games like Mario Tennis, NBA Jam, Windjammers and stuff like that.

I still don't own Rocket League yet but I'm sure I'd absolutely fall in love with it too because it's over the top arcade style fun from all that I've seen.

That's the kind of stuff I like and want.

Things like Mario Tennis and Tony Hawk even got me interested in trying the sports as well when I was younger.

 

[Gabbelgak]

As someone who watches literally no sports, I don't think it would actually be possible to pull me into one.

I did like megaman soccer I think it was? Very old.

Oh the above poster reminded me of Tony Hawk, those were also fun as hell.

 

[Zukkoyaki]

NBA Street Vol. 2

That game is still the GOAT

 

[capitalCORN]

I don't even get the hate for sports games. In the end, they're games first, more than anything.

 

[shiftplusone]

Rocket League and Disc Jam are NOT sports games

 

[pretty done]

Rocket League is so dope and soccer is shit

GOAT sports game

 

[ScaryShark]

I know loads of people that love FIFA and don't give a shit about the sport outside of the game. It's very pick up and play friendly to start. Was always popular in college.

 

[Griss]

Tons of people who aren't interested in golf enjoy golf games, because it's essentially a projectile targeting game, which video games are very good at. It's not dissimilar to the core idea of the Worms series - pick your target, take the wind into account, then try to execute the shot as you see it through timing button presses correctly.

And also, Rocket League is not a sports game any more than League of Legends is. It's a competitive multiplayer game that styles itself as a sports league, but it's not based on a real-world sport, which is the definition of the genre.

"Sports games emulate the playing of traditional physical sports"

 

[TrueDefault]

Fight Night and UFC Undisputed games!

 

[norm9]

Fight Night and UFC Undisputed games!

Oh shit. Fight Night was dope! They need to bring it back. We loved playing a heavyweight against a little lightweight for the slow mo knockouts.

 

[hydrophilic attack]

rocket league is the only sports game worth playing

 

[Nazo]

 

[L Thammy]

Base Wars is the only good baseball game. That includes both video games and real life ones.

I thought Inazuma Eleven would be this, but the game is kicking my ass.

 

[weekev]

Don't understand people saying Rocket League isn't a sports car. It's football/soccer with rocket powered cars. Football is a sport, driving is a sport. These 2 things combined? Sport. Just because it doesn't exist outside of games doesn't discount it as a sports game. It's at least as much a sports game as Mario Golf.

 

[Mohasus]

Football is a sport, driving is a sport. These 2 things combined? Sport.

Driving isn't a sport.

 

[Deleted member 465307]

When I listened to the EZA podcast, I was really surprised they didn't mention the Mario Sports titles. But perhaps Mario Sports is considered too weird to be "sports."

In any case, I need that weird, arcade-style twist to get me into sports games. Those fantastical, crazy, larger-than-life elements are what keep me engaged, so Mario Sports games are my answer for people who aren't into the sports genre.

 

[weekev]

Driving isn't a sport.

When driving is on TV what channel is it on? In the U.K. it's sky sports/BT Sport. Driving is a sport, it's just not an Olympic sport. You need to be incredibly fit to be a race car driver, have incredible reflexes and bucket loads of concentration.

 

[PlayALLtheGames]

what would it take, really, to get someone invested in a sports franchise like FIFA or Madden if they already think it's not for them?

Find the alternate universe where you're you but love sports games.

Do you follow sports but just not play sports games (like me)? If so, just pick whichever one appeals to you most in game mode and check it out. If no to both, I don't see how it wouldn't be a waste of time. Honestly, I used to love NCAA and Madden year-after-year, but at this point they're just games I'd like to check out initially and play occasionally but can't bring myself to spend 60 bucks.

And lol at "Rocket League." Ah yes, the fine, storied sport of flying car soccer. Surely, it is one of the world's greatest games.

 

[nekkid]

Sensible Soccer.

Also bonus mention: Grifball in Halo.

 

[nekkid]

When driving is on TV what channel is it on? In the U.K. it's sky sports/BT Sport. Driving is a sport, it's just not an Olympic sport. You need to be incredibly fit to be a race car driver, have incredible reflexes and bucket loads of concentration.

Driving isn't a sport. Motor racing is. That's their point.

 

[M.W.]

Deathrow

Fantastic original Xbox game.

 

[Anteater]

nba jam

 

[Brizzo24]

Mutant League Football
Mario "Sports" Titles
NFL Blitz
MLB Blitz
Neo Geo Turf Masters

There are a lot of games that don't rely on "sports" but rather present a fun experience.

 

[dab0ne]

Fight night can get anyone into boxing games.

 

[PeterGAF]

Rocket League and Disc Jam are NOT sports games

Rocket League is 100% a sports game

 

[Menitta]

Mario Strikers (either of them) is the best soccer game ever.

 

[PintSizedSlasher]

Blitzball

 

[Net_Wrecker]

NBA Street x Persona

Fight Night x Persona

Ridge Racer x Persona

Skate x Persona



What I'm trying to say is that sports games need 80+ hour slice of life narratives and waifus.

This is not a joke post.

 

[gelf]

For me it requires more arcadey mechanics. The overly sim nature of most sports games I encounter are off putting.

Rocket League may not be based on an actual sport but definitely fits the bill of the best arcadey games. Easy to pick up and play with a friend without needing too much explanation.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

I'm like 99% non-sports person, but I used to love NBA Hangtime on N64. NFL Blitz was fun too.

I played Pig Skin and Mutant League Football a couple times too, good stuff.

Baseball Stars in the SNK 4-in-1 arcade cabinets was great.

Hot Shots Golf is that good shit.

Virtua Tennis 4 on Vita is somehow one of my favorite games on the system.

Disc Jam was my jam for a few weeks when it came out on PS+ awhile back.

 

[MaximumSpider]

NBA Street x Persona

Fight Night x Persona

Ridge Racer x Persona

Skate x Persona



What I'm trying to say is that sports games need 80+ hour slice of life narratives and waifus.

This is not a joke post.

YES PLEASE.

btw my favorite sports titles are the Street titles back on PS2

 

[mcw]

NBA Street x Persona

Fight Night x Persona

Ridge Racer x Persona

Skate x Persona



What I'm trying to say is that sports games need 80+ hour slice of life narratives and waifus.

This is not a joke post.

You made a sick dunk on Ryuji. Your Agility has increased!

Ryuji: Show-offy bastard... How about THIS?!

Ryuji has learned "Eternal Hangtime". You can now use this ability when your Aggression meter is at 20% or less.

 

[Psychoward]

Rocket League and Disc Jam are NOT sports games

yes they are

 

[Ric Flair]

Top spin and top spin 2. I don't like tennis, but I'll fuck with those games any night of the week

 

[Stiler]

NFL Blitz and NBA Jam were the go to "fun" sports games for people who didn't like sports games back in the day.

 

[EVO]

Rocket League and Disc Jam are NOT sports games

Huh? Rocket League is probably the purest sports game available. Games like FIFA and NBA2K are merely an abstraction of their sports; playing them feels nothing like the real thing.

Consider the act of passing the ball to a teammate. In most games, you simply just tap a button. In Rocket League, you actually have to follow the trajectory of ball and hit it correctly, keeping in mind the position, rotation and velocity of your car.

 

[arts&crafts]

The only way to make Ultimate Frisbee bearable.