Offensive vs. Defensive Gamers - rudyjuly2's Blog

rudyjuly2's Blog

Offensive vs. Defensive Gamers

Posted on July 3, 2009 at 10:07 AM.

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Gamers Come in All Shapes and Sizes

There are many types of gamers out there and it’s not just the casual gamer vs. the hardcore gamer. The hardcore gamer may know more about the sport they are playing and are certainly a better gamer than the guy who only plays a couple hours a week. But there are core differences within the hardcore and casual community as well. Not every hardcore gamer wants their football game to be a defensive slugfest. And not every casual gamer wants to throw up 50+ points every time they pop the game in. Those assumptions are simply false.

Time for Preset Game Types

The developers have given us difficulty levels but that just makes the games easier or harder. They have given us sliders, which are great, but many don’t understand them or like them. There are many among the hardcore group on OS that hate sliders and refuse to use them. The Madden team tried adaptive sliders so the game would change on how you play but that still brings you back to a style of gameplay the developer wants and not what the gamer wants.

It’s time for the developers to institute built in Game Style options that will automatically adjust the sliders based on your desires. There needs to be three options: Offensive, Balanced and Defensive. An Offensive set in a football game might boost QB accuracy, RB ability, and downgrade defensive awareness. A Defensive set might do the exact opposite. In a baseball game an Offensive set might automatically boost sliders for home run power and contact. A Defensive set in basketball would automatically reduce shooting sliders and boost rebounding and steal sliders.

Everyone Wins – Online Too

With game difficulty settings and automatic pre-set slider options, gamers would have an easier time of getting the game to fit their style of play and skills. This could be used for online gaming as well. Looking to play a more defensive football game online? Choose the defensive lobby (All-Pro Defence). Want to play an offensive NCAA game where you get great pass protection and throw bombs all day? Choose the All-American Offence Lobby. Either way, pre-set slider options would be extremely easy to implement and would give both offline and online gamers more options.

Comments

# 1 trufootball @ Jul 3

Offensive shootout are fun but now that I'm a little older and more mature i've come to really appreciate a defensive struggle. Finding that perfect play call against the perfect defense to win a game in the fourth quarter is a thing of beauty.

# 2 rspencer86 @ Jul 3

Interesting idea. I'm definitely in support of anything that gives gamers more control over how the game plays... unfortunately it seems like developers are reluctant to relinquish that control.

# 3 stewaat @ Jul 4

All I want is a game where I can have both. If I have a stud defense and I'm going up against a terrible offense I want to have a good chance at shutting them down. If I have a good offense and I'm going against a bad defense I want to have a good chance at putting up 40 points.

If my teams sucks I want it to be a challenge to put up points and stop people.

IMHO I think we'll move more in that direction with NCAA 10. Judging from the demo EA fixed the major things gameplay wise to stop people from scoring at will. I know I have had a game with 3 long TD passes and other games I got shut out.

# 4 EtheRed @ Jul 4

It usually depends on who i'm matching up with. sometimes you can't help but get caught up in a shootout when the player matchups force it on you. If I have my choice I usually choose a defensive style. If you can score some points on defense or cause turnovers you grab control of the game.

# 5 PYA-MUSTANG86 @ Jul 4

I'm pretty balenced. I take great pride in shuting someone out while scoring 35 points on that person. However, I can be what you could call a bend but don't break type of defense. I give up the yards but tighten up down towards the red zone. As well as force a lot of turnovers. I have won both a 3-0 game (25 MPH wind and snow were to blaim) and a 42-38 slugfest. So for me it doesn't really matter, I can play any style, I also adapt very well to what my opponent is doing. So if he wants to slug it out and try for 50 I'm game. But if he wants to play concervetive I can do that too. However, you play concervetive against me I'm still going to try and score 40+. You can try for your 17-20 I'll be going for 40.