I have been really satisfied with EA up till this past year. They hit rock bottom with sports games and this year they appear to have gotten alot right, but there are still some long-awaited features missing from their games, and some games that were fine are now broken (i.e. Need For Speed ProStreet), while most games have been fixed... but will they remain that way next year? Here are my ideas for features that need to be included in future games:
Let's start with the easy brand first, EA SPORTS:
NBA Live 09 - Needs to capture the NBA feel. By this, I mean making the crowd louder everytime the away team shoots a free throw, sound effects that play according to the game (i.e. during a jump ball, play Kris Kross - Jump, etc.), the ability to create your own expansion team with the user having to manage every aspect of the game (much like a combination of MLB The Show and Madden - buy a jet, add new facilities, manage team chemistry / salary cap, create a custom arena down to every detail, etc.), adding a ton of game modes (much like Madden's training camp, the game needs that "preseason" with a variety of workout activities that can improve your team), the 989 skills challenge like the real all star ceremonies, a fully-operational public address system (withwill you marry me?, ads [although we dont want too much of those] on billboards), for extreme detail certain things that happen and result in either a positive or negative influence on your team league and city (i.e. brawl, crowd dumping stuff on players), and just really capture the entire experience. If a team plays at a certain time or go into overtime and are up till 1 am, they should not be full strength when they get up at 5 the next day, board a plane, and play again. ** Props go to NBA Live 08 though for finally adding 10 on 10 online play **
Madden NFL 09 - The Madden series is saavy with adding new feature every year. How about following after the NBA brother and adding I don't know... 11 on 11 play?, uh.. headset capability (being able to call plays from your headset, etc.), the ability to hire your complete staff (not just head coach, but assistant coach, OC, DC, quarterbacks coach, etc.), fix the only two things bad about this year's edition: the fumbles!! and the sounds (they too need to add sound effects, although they are hitting this pretty good recently). Online play could use alot more features, and a heck of alot better system altogether. The presentation could use uplifts such as ESPN monikers, NFL on FOX, Monday Night Football, side reporters, an "NFL Countdown ... you have the licensing... USE IT!).
** Props go to Madden NFL 08 for finally adding the superstar features in the way they should be done **
NCAA March Madness 09 - The developers here need to make all the courts unique, even though it seems like a daunting task.. all the courts tend to follow one of three basic designs..., creating a team should have ALOT more options and alot more logos to pick from, oh.. 10 on 10 online?. This game is still being made for this year. We'll see what happens.
NASCAR 09 - This game gets the years "Broken Game" title. The game is absolutely boring to play, and has nothing seperating it from much better games like Project Gotham Racing. Even the broken NFS ProStreet is better than this. I'm not going to say much else about this.. It needs a complete overhaul with an entire race online... all 40 or so cars can be human-controlled.
AFL Next - They need to port this game to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. That is the main thing. More online options are certain.
MVP 09 NCAA Baseball - This game also needs to be on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. Other than that, the game is really good.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 - Anyone have suggestions for this game?
FIFA 09 - Again... any suggestions?
NFL Tour -
Rugby 09 - They need to put this game out on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Possible New Game Ideas:
- Olympics / Track and Field Game
- Tennis (Compete with Top Spin Series)
Now, on to the next on the list: EA SPORTS BIG:
NBA Street 5 - The game last year was a good addition, and the next game's only criticism would be if they didn't have 3 on 3 online play, new courts, and more players than ever. The area around all the courts needs to come alive!! The people need to move and they all need to do something. Maybe even put celebrities and certain ESPN personalities into the games?? Alicia Keys was at a StreetBall game in Harlem.. something along those lines.
SSX 5 - The world's need to be MASSIVE with unique things about the environments. Online play is a must.
FIFA Street 4 -
NFL Street 4 -
Now, on to the hardest brand of all, EA GAMES:
Need For Speed Next - The next Need for Speed title needs to have cops, definitely. The game also needs to get rid of all that blatant advertising. It is time to bring back the Hot Pursuit days for a third installment.
SKATE 2 - The game needs to give you alot more to do and increase the length of the game. Load times also need to be severly shortened.
Medal of Honor Next - EA needs to take after Activision in this regard and put the level of detail in Crysis and Activision's Call of Duty 4 into the next Medal of Honor. The game also could be the very first to allow you to...
- Fight an actual all-out war with 32-player online play
- Players can play on one of the sides (example: Axis and Allied powers)
- Tie all the established options together (allow players to play in the air, sea, or ground at their discretion)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - They need to make the next HP game more of an action-RPG rather than a puzzle solving game. They could build an entire RPG that allows you to build your character by learning the spells you want to learn and fighting the enemies the way you want to. The game should also include free-roaming. You should be able to go to Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, Hogwarts, Hagrid's Hut, The Forbidden Forest, The Whomping Willow, The Quidditch Field, The World Cup Stadium, and all the other landmarks at your will. Doing so can gain you experience in exploration, etc. but can also come with consequences (muggles seeing you, etc.). The main idea is to let the player be the wizard rather than the developers (game) telling you what to do and how to do it and what's around the corner.
Battlefield: Bad Company - The entire Battlefield series is terrific and I can't think of anything else to improve on at the minute. The only criticism is having to wait for the new entry in the Battlefield series!
Dead Space -Game has not yet seen an entry released in the series.
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames -
Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth III -
Lord of the Rings: The White Council -
Army of Two - Game has not yet seen an entry released in the series.
Def Jam Next -
Features We Would Like To See In Every Electronic Arts Game:
- Ability to play online between Xbox Live and Games for Windows Live on all titles
- An entry from every pastcla--ic on next-generation consoles
- Some Xbox 360 exclusives
- More downloadable content for all games
[ Note: Any new additions to the list or comments / questions are greatly appreciated. If you have any suggestions, just let me know and I will be sure to add them to my list if they are worthwhile. Thanks! ]
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