Expansion Team Mode in MLB The Show?

[esmeet7]

As I read and listen to interviews from developers for MLB The Show, I'm curious why an "Expansion Team Mode" isn't something that's being discussed. I've said this in years past, but it seems like an Expansion Team Mode would be an ideal intersection of Diamond Dynasty and Franchise modes.

Those who like DD might enjoy being able to create a new team name, logo, stadium, and to fill a clean-slate roster with players of their choice. With that said, the Franchise-style players get the challenge of managing an actual team's roster in a full-season / franchise setting that comes with all of the nuances and details of a franchise mode.

I think back to playing All-Star Baseball 2003 and its Expansion Mode, and that was the most fun I've ever had (as a 40+ year old fan) playing a video game baseball fan. -- In my mind, this game mode would hook players and keep them playing the game longer, and you could bring in features from RTTS and DD to build your expansion team franchise and see them progress from season to season.

Is anyone at SDS even talking about or thinking about Expansion Team mode?

[Archie56]

Quote: Originally Posted by esmeet7

As I read and listen to interviews from developers for MLB The Show, I'm curious why an "Expansion Team Mode" isn't something that's being discussed. I've said this in years past, but it seems like an Expansion Team Mode would be an ideal intersection of Diamond Dynasty and Franchise modes. Those who like DD might enjoy being able to create a new team name, logo, stadium, and to fill a clean-slate roster with players of their choice. With that said, the Franchise-style players get the challenge of managing an actual team's roster in a full-season / franchise setting that comes with all of the nuances and details of a franchise mode. I think back to playing All-Star Baseball 2003 and its Expansion Mode, and that was the most fun I've ever had (as a 40+ year old fan) playing a video game baseball fan. -- In my mind, this game mode would hook players and keep them playing the game longer, and you could bring in features from RTTS and DD to build your expansion team franchise and see them progress from season to season. Is anyone at SDS even talking about or thinking about Expansion Team mode?

You can already create a team and insert it into franchise I believe. You basically have to take out one of the teams and replace it with the one you want in there. I've never tried it so I don't know how well it works.

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[dran1984]

Quote: Originally Posted by Archie56

You can already create a team and insert it into franchise I believe. You basically have to take out one of the teams and replace it with the one you want in there. I've never tried it so I don't know how well it works. Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

But you have to use the roster for the team you replace.

Expansion is when you expand the league to 31 or 32 teams.

[Archie56]

Quote: Originally Posted by dran1984

But you have to use the roster for the team you replace. Expansion is when you expand the league to 31 or 32 teams.

Ahhhhh gotcha! Didn't know that since I've never done it. Thanks for the info man[emoji4]

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[esmeet7]

Thanks for the responses.

As dran1984 mentioned, the true "Expansion Team Mode" would replicate a realistic scenario wherein MLB chooses to expand by 1 or 2 teams. You would get to pick a city, team name, logos, uniforms, stadium, and insert your team into an existing AL or NL division.

As owner / GM of the new team, you'd have a completely empty roster, so you'd have to go through an expansion draft where the existing teams would protect X number of players, allowing you to cherry pick from actual MLB rosters to fill out your own new team roster. (You'd also participate in the amateur draft to help fill out your minor league system. -- This is where I could see a crossover with Road to the Show, allowing you to draft your own RTTS player and place him on your expansion team.)

The expansion draft would be a lot like opening a bunch of packs in DD. You'd go through each round of the draft and get to choose from "Gold" players, "Silver" players, etc. You might find a high-Gold or low-Diamond unprotected that you could add, but you'd mostly be starting with lower-level players and then having to work to build your roster over time.

I feel like this would offer the best of all worlds because you'd be playing in an actual 162-game, season-after-season setting that Franchise players enjoy (including managing your roster, ticket prices, concessions, free agency and trades), and you'd have the Diamond Dynasty challenges of building a roster from scratch and trying to create your own unique team that can compete with real MLB teams.

Those who love building stadiums, uniforms, and logos would also have a place for their creativity to shine, but in an actual MLB franchise setting.

In my mind, this would allow players to experience some of the best aspects of both DD and Franchise. I know I'd be more committed to playing season after season of that mode (versus Franchise) as I try to take an expansion team to the playoffs and World Series, knowing that it's a multi-season goal. -- I think that would get more play time and psychological commitment that SDS wants from players, and it would be an innovative new mode to change things up.

[Grey_Osprey]

Unless they've changed it, I think "rebranding" a team doesn't physically move them. IE- rebranding Tampa Bay as Montreal, the cpu still thinks they are in FL when it comes to location/close to home for players like/moral.



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[Pirate]

NBA 2K does this extraordinarily well, allowing you to upload logos, choose a city, create a floor, and choose an arena. You apply for expansion and the governors vote. You can override this to make sure it happens. Then, you get to participate in an expansion draft.

But baseball is far more complicated. I would love to see all of this brought over to MLB the Show, but you'd need to set up minor league affiliates with logos, names, stadiums, locations, etc. and then fill those rosters. Some of the realism could be streamlined like establishing the minor league teams years in advance of the major league team arriving.

I would really like the ability to move a team and upload logos for use in the game and on uniforms. Then use a created stadium as the home.

[Funkycorm]

While not a bad idea, I don't think it should be a priority. There are more important things to prioritize over expansion mode. We need bigger rosters, more rounds in the draft, and reworking of progression and regression amongst other things.