Fixing the March Madness Series

[Behindshadows]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

What you fail to realize is that once the PS2 and those current gaming consoles were released, EASPORTS literally had one chance to get it right. Up until then there wasnt much competition in the basketball genre. EA up till that point was the premiere basketball title.

2k sports offered everything that EA sports wasnt. I dont know if 2k sports lucked out but they perfectly timed the release of sporting titles with sophistication for a maturing gaming audience.
EA seemed to be stuck in the same place. run and gun, fancy dunks. they chose to stick with an older model and it backfired.
It only took me one purchase of a EA basketball title in I believe 02 or 03 for me to realize the game no longer kept my interests. I chose to get a 2k sports title because of the total disappointment of an EA product.

Every year since then as Ive gotten more mature, sophisticated, and knowledgeable in sports, 2k has managed to keep up.

the big concern now, is that EA sports will not be able to, or even care to, cater to, that core audience/genre.

I can speak for myself and probably everyone else on this board, if it werent for Intelligent sports games with depth, most of us probably wouldn't care about own gaming consoles any longer. (war games is another exception)

EA really has the potential to kill this joy, with everything that they plan on doing with Madden, and with what they can potentially do to the basketball titles.

What you failed to realize is EA is a Brand, not a development team! Its multiple divisions of developers! The people who damaged this basketball series is gone! I'm not even going to get into Madden because I still think Tiburon are half-assing the job!

But I will speak for the dev team that is working on the basketball games. They came in, after the painful outing of Live 07! The team who damaged the NBA Live name are gone. These guys came in working on a new engine that the old devs were working on, and didn't have enough time to really do what they wanted.

As far as PS2 and all that jazz, who cares! The PS2 has always been a limited setback system. Thats why sports games had so much more to offer on the Xbox. Even then the previous devs short stabbed the market as well. But just looking at the movements from Live 07, March Madness 07 to the 08 Series. Was a good jump in such limited time.

But now they have more time, with the 09 series. So all I'm saying is instead of ignorant post with dumb remarks from people who haven't played the game isn't helping. 07 series was so bad, majority of the peeps in 08 didn't even really give 08 a try! The ones who did, had a good experience. Even with the limitations and shortcomings. The games were good this year Live and March Madness.

Comparing to College Hoops, who has had the same devs since DC isn't saying too much, they've had over 8 years to work together! Not to mention a company named Take-Two who is holding them back. College Hoops 2k8 could have been an amazing turnaround if they would have been given a new graphics engine, but its the same one since xbox.

I know you are trying to make a point about people's disappointments with EA Sports games, but again, different groups make different games.

Thats why some love Nascar, some love Tiger Woods, Some Love NCAA Football, a lot hate Madden, some like Live, some like MM. Because not all of them are bad! Different dev teams make different efforts. I think Marcus and Joe and the rest of the team are putting in some efforts.

I just wish when they come for informations and help to improve, people would be more optimistic and more mature about how they carry their words. I joined OS because I felt like I found a group of adults and mature sports gamers.

But some rant on like children when talking to grown developers. Who are just looking for some insight!

Again, stop comparing to CH, march madness is its own game and always will be. Work with what is present and have them evolve or better what is already right and make what is wrong, right along with the rest. In otherwords, help them fix what is broken with mature ideas and thoughts, instead pointing the game out as if the whole think was a bust.

-Peace

[Shinyhubcaps]

tril, you mention that you bought a 2K product because of your disappointment of an EA product. You know how I got started on 2K? Because EA didn't even release the 06-07 series of its hoops games for the PS3. Talk about skimping on a finished product, this is the most notorious example. Did they not see the PS3 coming? How do you miss an entire year of your games?

Of course, this is before I became interested in the NCAA. It's still relevant, because March Madness and NBA Live are pretty much the same thing, and they both missed that year (and the year that Xbox 360 was out but the PS3 was not).

Anyway, on the topic, I don't see myself buying March Madness unless the demo is spectacular. I'm actually saving College Hoops 2K8 for next year just for when I'm disappointed in March Madness. The fact is, there are only a few games out there where the effort really shines through, and March Madness and its engine mate, NBA Live, are on the completely wrong end. They can do so much more with what they have, and yet the effort remains very hard to see in the finished product. I'd say that the biggest change should be the fluidity of gameplay (and, of course, animations, which are equal parts graphics and gameplay, and are entirely horrible in Live/MM). However, I think the future of the franchise is a lot of little changes, along with maybe some big hit-or-miss feature, likely repackaged from College Hoops or a prior version of March Madness.

You can try to fix the series, but if I were them, I'd start working on March Madness 2010 right now and skip the month off. Heck, skip the rest of the time you're working on '09.

[tril]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

Again, stop comparing to CH, march madness is its own game and always will be. Work with what is present and have them evolve or better what is already right and make what is wrong, right along with the rest. In otherwords, help them fix what is broken with mature ideas and thoughts, instead pointing the game out as if the whole think was a bust.

-Peace

your points are well taken, but I personally never lobbed any criticism at EA SPORTS. Im just hesitant/concerned, based on past experience. You also have to realize that 2K really upped the ante. Again, folks are worried about a let down by MM, and will feel this way until the game is actually released.
Folks are worried that EA overall isnt concerned about the dedicated sports gamer.

Unfortunately I dont know enough about the MM sports title to give any suggestions for improved game-play, features etc. Maybe I should pick up a copy and reintroduce myself to the MM/NBA-LIVE franchise.

[F3rN]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

I will admit I have not played mach madness since im guessing 04, I really want a college basketball game for '09. So all I have to say is make it a fun game with realistic play, schedules, stadiums and a deep dynasty mode with some highschool games tournaments and also stats for recruits. I just hope EA puts as much effort into this as they do their football games.

[bears5122]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

I just don't think it can be fixed in a year. It's just a bad game when compared to what else is out there. But I'll bite:

- Gameplay needs to be re-done from scratch. It's just not good. It plays like an arcade game and there are too many things that can be abused. It doesn't have a college basketball feel at all where teamwork is important. Too much focus on one-on-one, not enough focus on getting open mid-range, 3-point shots. The passing being so delayed and slow makes this tough to emulate real college basketball.

- Dynasty needs to get deeper and more realistic. Simulations scores are way off still and scheduling is screwy. Player ratings aren't even close and the roster size is too small. There aren't enough preseason tournaments and thousands of other minor details that 2K has that MM doesn't. And I can't remember for sure, but didn't this game leave out multiplayer dynasties? I do like some of the options about upgrading facilities, etc.

Those are the two most important areas for me, and the only reason I buy college games. They have a lot of flaws, particularly in terms of gameplay. I can stay here all night and list other areas where MM doesn't stand up to CH. Most who have played both games know, and most chose CH as their primary college hoops game.

I'd love to see this series become great and become better than CH. Unfortunately, EA has shown that once competition leaves, so does their motivation to make a better game.

[KG]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

Again another pointless post!

Again, you want to dispute me, but you've never played the game! And there is no dynasty on the demo. So again your points aren't valid or even worth the convo.

Play the game, see the dynasty mode first, before trying to dispute someone who has played.

Take Care.

P.S. I have both games, and completed the legacy on CH2k8 and the Dynasty on MM08. So my comparisons are valid and proved.

You've never even played March Madness 08 or 07. I checked your complete gamertag out! Peace!

P.S. I've played both Demos and they weren't enough for me to get it and go into the dynasty mode.

I'll give it a shot when the '09 Demo drops though.

[whittleboy615]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

I agree with BShadows. Let's try to fill this thread with comments that can improve March Madness 09.

There is no point in harping on how much you disliked MM03 and the MM08 demo (by the way, demo's are never as good as the actual game) or how EA is out to destroy all sim sports games.

Let's be productive. Complaints will not bring back the College Hoops series, but we can help improve the existing March Madness series with intelligent ideas and feedback. These EA Canada basketball devs are willing to listen to the OS community, so don't turn them off by telling them how much EA sucks and their product sucks and will always suck (especially in feedback threads like this one).

[ehh]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

I probably won't have to worry about MM09 since I sold my 360 and don't plan on buying another one for the foreseeable future, but I want there to be a good college game on the market each year.

There are a lot of issues that need fixing with this series starting first and foremost with the game play. I hate to say it but MM08 might be in the same boat as 2K baseball in terms of needing to ditch the engine and build from scratch.

When I played MM08 it looked like the animations were from a PS2/Xbox game, this is another area that desperately needs fixing. Everything from player movements to the nets after a swish needs to be upgraded.

In terms of dynasty mode, MM has a long way to go. Real schedules have been beaten to death but can't be understated. The recruiting process needs to be beefed up and I wish EA would just sit down with a copy of CH2K8 and copy it 100%.

Another big thing is the user/menu interface from everything to starting an exhibition to creating/editing a player. The edit-player feature and roster editing was brutally bad and slow in MM08. I love editing players/rosters but it was almost an unbearable task this year. It's the same problem in NCAA Football so I wouldn't hold my breath for this to be fixed.

The rosters need to be much more accurate, both current and classic rosters. As a die-hard UConn fan, I could hardly identify a single player on the all-time UConn squad. 1993 Michigan had Jimmy King and Chris Webber as the same ranking I believe.

Remember the big jump that CH made from 2K4 to 2K5? It felt, looked and played like a new engine. That's the type of change MM needs to make, this game needs a whole new feel.

[BJNT]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

As long as they bring back the option to export players to NBA Live like they did with March Madness 04 and Live 04. I will definately take a look at March Madness 09. That's the main reason why I've chosen College Hoops over March Madness. I love being able to watch a guy go from high school all-american, to college superstar, and then see what he can do in the NBA. March Madness brings this back I'm in.

[radiohead]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

Behindshadows2,

i'll cede your point that a lot of people who did not play march madness 08 are simply "hatin" and not providing any constructive criticism which "may" help fix mm.

but to be fair, the reason why many of those guys didn't play march madness 08 is because of how bad the game has historically been. in other words, i think it's hard to find a large community to draw constructive criticism from because MM as alienated so many gamers over the years.


i've always thought that mm had superior atmosphere and presentation AND that mm has always had potential to be much better than choops. but, the finished product always feels like a rudderless boat.

it's good to know that there is a new dev. team working on mm. that fact alone will put mm on my radar. but honestly, i'm not holding my breath.

like you said, it's time for results.

[sixfootjew]

LEGACY MODE LIKE 2k... nothing is tighter than starting with a butt cheeks squad and earning other coaching jobs after 2 seasons, or making that tm into a contender..

[mac022393]

All u need to make the game better is to allow the users to down load the draft classes from March Madness to Live as in NCAA Football and Madden.

[Tomba]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

I think it is very important to note the gameplay nad game mode improvements the games made via my recap thread. There really shouldn't be any negativity around this title as it's been vastly improved over NCAA 08 for starters. I can not stress enough that EA have made strides with NCAA 09. Again, it's a improvement over the upcoming NBA Live 09 as well.

[Heelfan71]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

Again another pointless post!

Again, you want to dispute me, but you've never played the game! And there is no dynasty on the demo. So again your points aren't valid or even worth the convo.


!

I played both and I dispute your claim. CH Dynasty > MM Dynasty

[Behindshadows]

Re: Fixing the March Madness Series

I played both and I dispute your claim. CH Dynasty > MM Dynasty

Why are you opening up old wounds?

I'm done with this debate and have moved on to NCAA Basketball 09. Waiting the release and waiting to see some gameplay. I'm sure it will be what all College Basketball fans will enjoy.

MM08 wasn't bad, but hopefully NCAA 09 will be a great improvement over all the things that plagued MM08 last season.

Can't wait...

And got Tarheels.... Alumni