Every year amidst the countless titles unleashed onto the market is somewhat of an intriguing genre. Bastardized by reviewers, yet highly popular among the masses, are sports games. The classification can extend as far as goofy adaptations to close simulators. As fun and widespread as they may be however, getting anywhere close to a perfect score is an uphill battle.

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Sports Games: The Little Engine That Can’t
Monday, August 18, 2008 – by Beau King, Staff Writer

Every year amidst the countless titles unleashed onto the market is somewhat of an intriguing genre. Bastardized by reviewers, yet highly popular among the masses, are sports games. The classification can extend as far as goofy adaptations to close simulators. As fun and widespread as they may be however, getting anywhere close to a perfect score is an uphill battle.

Many attribute lower scores of these types to mediocrity of game play, lacking features, no originality, etc. All mentioned surely lend to reasonably lower scores than desired, but behind the scenes are heard mumbled voices few would like to admit being influenced by. Unfortunately these voices are top suspects when it comes to the difference between a 90 and an 85, 3.5 instead of a 4, anon.

Conducting the bias train is simply the number of sports games that flood the market. A similar argument can be made for all other genres, but a limiting innovation factor comes to play described later. Year in and out we expect certain franchises to spit out their newest version of x sport. Madden’s in its 20^th year, FIFA and Winning Eleven have some age, Skateboarding games are a dime a dozen, and any outlandish variation of each is available. With so many different types of the same games (barring Madden’s stranglehold of the NFL license) it comes as no wonder why none shines above the rest. As each title pushes its differentiation strategy, another hits the pole opposite making both seem as if they have grasped only part of the equation. Even as release dates are separated by huge gaps in time, consumers are expecting the next version to have something new or different.

An expectation of future advancements leads us to the next dilemma; sports games are like the annuals in a flower garden. Each year they sprout up and tote the same bloom as the previous year. Only hybrids and novel entrants grab our attention. Bad analogy aside, it’s evident that NCAA will come out in July, Madden in August, NBA Live and 2K in October and many will buy simply out of loyalty. Consumers are not just lemmings, the games they buy are entertaining, but everyone knows they are hardly more than the previous covered by new wallpaper and a bell, whistle or two. Overhauls of an engine, revamped graphics, or an influx of features can stimulate a score. At the end of the day, however, the same game sits spinning in the tray replaced by a more updated date. No review for said games really takes these titles as a standalone character. Comparisons are always made to previous entries and close cousins.

Sadly developers and their publishers are the ones who suffer as they attempt to put their best foot forward. EA has somehow been the gaming community’s ideal of the crap shoot. Everything EA presents becomes the same turd wrapped in a different box. Defending their entire lineup will call on a lynch mob and destroy all credibility here. Therefore there is not even a feigned attempt to try. Although when it comes to the sporting game, EA and others are trying to break the mold. Only, developers struggle constantly to be innovative in delivering the same thing over and over. Football is football, Soccer is soccer, extreme sports are extreme sports. When making these titles developers are faced with three options: make the experience as realistic is possible, add new features and pray the inconsistencies lie hidden, or go left field. Following any path is a sure way to always stay less than perfect. Unfortunately, its almost all they’ve got. Many get angry that Madden’s monopoly of football titles stifled the creativity and innovation apparent in the NFL 2K series. As true as this may be, how long would it take for that series to become as repetitious as its competition returning everything back to problem area number one?

The situation here looks bleak. Much goes against what we love and adore in terms of judgment. A splash of optimism and hint of advice may turn the tide however. Bioshock was an innovative idea. Call of Duty reinvigorates the FPS. Super Mario Galaxy hits the masses. When receiving scores each title was based primarily on its own merit. When thinking that way of our sports genre a game like Tony Hawk Project 8 or Madden 2009 may very well be in need of a two point/ half a star buffer. Any periodic game for that matter should receive the same treatment. Let’s face it, playing a sport in a game is nowhere close to the real thing. Nonetheless, if playing it with a keyboard or game pad warrants superior value; these other factors should stay at bay when slamming the gavel.