A Potential Improvement for Be A Player Modes

[chuguman99]

I think that games should implement a system where the BAP plays about a week or so at the college level prior to being drafted. That way, your performance could determine whether your player is a 1st round pick with instant success or a less wanted prospect that has to work their way to the top.

[CuseGirl]

Quote: Originally Posted by steelereign

I agree with you for the most part. However, the issue that these modes must overcome is the short attention span of most gamers and/or the limited time available to play through all the modes. I would imagine that most sports gamers tend to stick to the calender with their respective sport. I play baseball games during baseball season, football in the fall & winter, etc. I'm lucky to get through one full franchise season with each iteration of a game. That being said, who wants to spend all their time crafting a BAP only to end up on the pine spitting sunflower seeds for a living? The intent of the mode is to allow the basement QB to achieve "the dream." Most of us have already experienced enough failure in life and would rather avoid another dose of depressing real-world realism and failure. I agree with RockitOldSchool. If the mode could be developed in a manner similar to the board game "Life" it might work. You decide in the beginning if you want to "roll the dice" and see what happens or go the guaranteed superstar route. Maybe there can be a risk/reward element tied to the decision. For those that go the "gamble" route maybe they get achievements or unlockables that are only available in that mode. If you prefer the guarantee of success, cool, but your in-game rewards are fewer or less-impressive? I don't know. But, I do know that I don't have 4 hours a day to fully flesh out a BAP mode only to find out that my player should be bagging groceries rather than shooting jumpers.

I want to agree with the article written here, I do, because I'm all for a more interesting BeAPro mode in all games. But I grew enough gray hairs playing NBA 2k11 with a player who was supposedly a slasher and never dunked the ball or made a freakin' layup. I don't need that frustration. Sometimes, you just wanna pop in a game and kill the opponent after a crappy day at work or school.

[XiaNaphryz]

I really wish more sports game developers would take a closer look at the My Life mode in the Power Pro games as an example of how to flesh out what else you can do in a Create-And-Play-A-Single-Player type of modes. Here's an older OS article on it: http://www.operationsports.com/features/632/mlb-life-does-the-career-mode-right/

[willz1985]

I've said for years that Madden's superstar mode should include the full NFL combine, i mean how hard could it be. And when i say the combine i mean the actual combine in Lucas Oil Stadium, not some practice field.

They kinda had something with the miniature pro days but got rid of it.

As for fifa, i cant really think of something that would improve the mode, as unlike madden he same pro you create offline is the same one you use in pro team matches.

The best mode by far in any sports games is MLB: The Show's Road to Glory, it really does a good job of simulating a baseball player's career from the minors all the way to the bigs.

NHL is pretty good too, the addition to play a 4 year career in the WHL lets you literally play through a full career

[Heshi]

Nice idea, but it leads to nowhere. "All roads lead to Rome" because you are just too good. Even with low ratings you will dominate your league, and if you keep stuck on the bench despite your great stats, you will start to complain. Just think of Road To The Show, I think it was 08, when at the start of your career you would be sent back to AAA even when posting otherworldly numbers because of your low ratings. What did people do? Complain.

I for my part suck at career modes, and I do live the life of a fringe player stuck in AA or as the third string running back. If you want to have more "realistic" careers, then simply don't play sports games as often and don't own everybody

So there's no solution to this, as long as you keep controlling your player directly. There have been text based games like the old "New Star Soccer" that demand decisions and you just click on what you would like to do. Do you try a risky dribble or do you pass the ball? It's probably the most "realistic" thing in terms of narrative, but who would accept a text based career mode in, let's say, "Madden"?

[Manonamission]

I have only tried three different Be a player modes (MLB power pros 2008, NBA 2k series, and MLB The Show 12) and have loved them all. I do acknowledge that these are considered some of the best be a players though

[arneliring0012]

I agree with you too Mate.

Quote: Originally Posted by steelereign

I agree with you for the most part. However, the issue that these modes must overcome is the short attention span of most gamers and/or the limited time available to play through all the modes. I would imagine that most sports gamers tend to stick to the calender with their respective sport. I play baseball games during baseball season, football in the fall & winter, etc. I'm lucky to get through one full franchise season with each iteration of a game. That being said, who wants to spend all their time crafting a BAP only to end up on the pine spitting sunflower seeds for a living? The intent of the mode is to allow the basement QB to achieve "the dream." Most of us have already experienced enough failure in life and would rather avoid another dose of depressing real-world realism and failure. I agree with RockitOldSchool. If the mode could be developed in a manner similar to the board game "Life" it might work. You decide in the beginning if you want to "roll the dice" and see what happens or go the guaranteed superstar route. Maybe there can be a risk/reward element tied to the decision. For those that go the "gamble" route maybe they get achievements or unlockables that are only available in that mode. If you prefer the guarantee of success, cool, but your in-game rewards are fewer or less-impressive? I don't know. But, I do know that I don't have 4 hours a day to fully flesh out a BAP mode only to find out that my player should be bagging groceries rather than shooting jumpers.

[saan356]

I perform I would get much more use out of this mode.

[jackgold46]

At least games don't immediately make your player a starting anymore (I don't think they do at least), because in Madden 10 you're usually already ranked in the excellent 70s and get the starting job at your position on the team that creates you regardless of what position the starting already there is.