'College Football 25,' the State of Sports Gaming, and Our Top Five Sports Games | Button Mash
Jul 18, 2024
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Ben, Van Lathan, Diante Lee, and Steven Ruiz discuss the return of EA's college football game, sharing nostalgia for the 'NCAA Football' series and impressions of the new game. They debate the best sport for video games, explore the challenges in sports gaming, and reveal their top five favorite sports games.
Competition absence in sports gaming leads to stagnation and microtransactions dominance.
Nostalgia drives loyalty to specific sports game franchises despite quality decline.
Personal history and emotional ties outweigh critical reviews in sports game purchasing decisions.
Deep dives
Impact of Monopolies on Sports Game Quality
The absence of competition in sports gaming due to monopolies has led to a decline in the quantity and quality of games. Unlike in the past, where players had multiple options and diverse gameplay experiences, the current landscape is dominated by a single game in each sport genre, leading to stagnation and reduced critical acclaim. The lack of competition has resulted in less innovation and a focus on recurrent microtransactions, impacting the overall gameplay experience.
Nostalgic Loyalty to Sports Games
Nostalgia and cultural attachment play a significant role in the continued consumption of sports games, despite potential declines in quality. Long-term fans often exhibit loyalty to specific franchises, gravitating towards familiar choices regardless of critical reception. This loyalty is rooted in shared gaming experiences and cultural significance attached to playing sports games with friends and family.
Shift Away from Reading Reviews
Over time, a shift away from actively seeking and relying on game reviews has occurred, driven partly by increased reviewer cynicism and institutional critiques. The current trend involves less emphasis on review analyses, and more on personal gaming preferences, brand loyalty, and nostalgic ties to specific franchises. As a result, decisions to purchase sports games are often influenced by personal history and emotional connections rather than critical evaluations.
Adapting Purchase Patterns for Sports Games
Players have adapted their purchasing patterns for sports games by waiting for discounted sales rather than buying at full price. The reluctance to pay full price stems from perceptions of incremental changes between annual game releases and the prevalence of high-priced bundles. Consumers look for cost-effective ways to engage with new game features while navigating the perceived similarities between consecutive editions of sports titles.
Evolution of Sports Video Games
Annual releases of sports video games set high expectations, fostering competition within developers and community reactions drive updates for realism; Madden series faced challenges from 2011 to 2019. The balance between realism and fun, as seen in games like CFB, influences player satisfaction with gameplay experiences.
Best Sports Video Games
Different sports video titles evoke varied gameplay preferences; FIFA and NHL praised for simulating real sports feel, while golf games like Tiger Woods PGA offer immersive experiences. Featured gaming titles include FIFA, Fight Night, Tiger Woods golf, and NCAA for their gameplay depth and realism.
Ben, Van Lathan, Diante Lee, and Steven Ruiz form a huddle to discuss the highly anticipated return of EA's college football franchise. First, they recount the history of the 'NCAA Football' series, what set it apart from 'Madden,' and why it was gone so long (00:52) before sharing their impressions of the new edition of the game (21:41). Then, they break down the consolidation of the sports gaming landscape (42:15), debate which sport translates best to video games (01:07:00, and name the top five sports games in each of their personal pantheons (01:14:00).
