I think that the exclusive rights deals that EA and 2K made definitely put a hurt on the big sports games. Basically EA monopolized NFL football and 2K did the same for MLB baseball. EA's Madden will be a great game and I wish I could say the same about MLB 2K7, but without direct competition what's their incentive to truly innovate their games year after year if not to best the competition? Go ahead and say what you will about All Pro footbal or EA's MVP NCAA baseball, but come on. Without the real professional teams, are you really going to consider those games over their counterparts? The NBA was smart not to agree to an exclusive rights deal. That's why we can still argue over NBA 2K# vs. NBA Live. NBA Live hasn't been cutting it in recent years and they can directly compare themselves to 2K. Let's see if their improvements can be a match for NBA 2K8.
I dont think so football games like Pro Evo and Fifa are improving all the time gameplay wise and i cant wait to see what the new installments have to offer.
I think they've become too complicated for their own good. I remember playing football games on the N64/PC years ago and pressing a button, the ball would be thrown, and someone would catch it. Now I've played the NCAA 08 and All Pro demos and can't even get a friggen first down.
From a sales perspective, no, sports games like Madden, NCAA, etc, still sell like crazy. However, I have to agree that I think the sports genre has not met the demands of fans with the jump to next generation consoles. Sure, most of these games feature next gen graphics, but they have yet to deliver next gen gameplay and features. We expect a game of console football to play like a game of real life football...but it doesnt. I think that until these games bring it in all aspects, the genre will continue to walk in place. I don't think there has been a must own sports game since probably theWinning Eleven from two years ago.
Is it too much to get a baseball game where fielding works? Or a hockey game where a power play actuallyplays like one? HopefullyMadden 08 can start a turn around, but I wont hold my breathe.
No sport games arent dying they are getting stronger every year look at the new Fifa football 2008 that game is going to have so many diffrent things to do in it now im not to sure on the Basketball and American Football and the Rugby because i dont like any of those sports but i have glimpsed at them once in awhile and graphics just seems to be getting better no doubt their is other little add-ons which makes the game diffrent from last years so sport fanatics who like to play them on a console will keep on buying them thus they wont die lol.
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