Is APF 2K8 Right for You?

[vip_ejc]

Is APF 2K8 right for you? The answer to this question hinges on what type of gamer you are. ...

Casual: Yes
Online: Yes
Micromanager: No

Reiterating, should this game not contain a Career mode or something similar (to replace Franchise mode), it will: (1) disgust micromanagers; and (2) hurt sales/review scores.

And if that's the reality, APF 2K8 should hold a consumer price of $29.99, not $59.99.

[vinnie_2k3]

While I'm disappointed w/ the lack of a franchise mode, I'd still buy this game for $169. Gameplay is gold!

[vip_ejc]

I'm confident its game-play will be second to no football videogame, too. However, game-play is but one facet of a videogame--though important.

[fatman]

i'm going to buy this game no question, and possibly...maybe rent madden if the reviews are above 8.5

[totalownership]

I'm confident its game-play will be second to no football videogame, too. However, game-play is but one facet of a videogame--though important.
True, gameplay is but one facet , however it's THE most important facet. It decides whether a game is worth 59.99 as advertised or a game not worth 4.99.

A racing game could let you customize your car down to the hilt. The game could have every automotive part and accessary that was ever made and some prototypes that haven't been released yet. The game could let your bore out engines, install nitro, and let you choose fabric or leather. And that would be great but if you took your car out on the track and no matter what the gameplay doesn't allow collision damage, you can never steer your car off the track because the racing is just about "slotted" and you really don't have to use breaks because the physics are so messed up it's just basically a "gas and go" game then what's the game really worth.

Now there are genre's where customization and franchise or career elements are the game. For instance, some type of Barbie game I could see career and customization being pretty much the whole game. Sure you can walk your barbie here and there but I would assume a little girl would have the most fun putting different stuff on their barbie and sending it to school and finding out how it did when it got back from school and watch the barbie's career develope as you put more clothes on it and accessories. Yeah I can see how it's important in that type of game. However I'm here for football. So the game of football is the most important thing. If you're going to sell me a "football videogame" then above all else make sure the GAME plays like football.

[Lacarious]

game-play is but one facet of a videogame--though important.

You just lost all credibility

[AmericanLegend]

Is APF 2K8 right for you? The answer to this question hinges on what type of gamer you are. ...

Casual: Yes
Online: Yes
Micromanager: No

Reiterating, should this game not contain a Career mode or something similar (to replace Franchise mode), it will: (1) disgust micromanagers; and (2) hurt sales/review scores.

And if that's the reality, APF 2K8 should hold a consumer price of $29.99, not $59.99.


It's not the NFL. It's a fake league. Why would you want to play a franchise mode? The whole point is the All Pros. So, you play franchise and they start to retire?!?! And then you have fake football with all fake players? That doesn't sound fun.

Franchise mode doesn't make sense for a game like this. This isn't about trying to be an NFL GM.

[thePLAGUE]

True, gameplay is but one facet , however it's THE most important facet. It decides whether a game is worth 59.99 as advertised or a game not worth 4.99.

A racing game could let you customize your car down to the hilt. The game could have every automotive part and accessary that was ever made and some prototypes that haven't been released yet. The game could let your bore out engines, install nitro, and let you choose fabric or leather. And that would be great but if you took your car out on the track and no matter what the gameplay doesn't allow collision damage, you can never steer your car off the track because the racing is just about "slotted" and you really don't have to use breaks because the physics are so messed up it's just basically a "gas and go" game then what's the game really worth.

Now there are genre's where customization and franchise or career elements are the game. For instance, some type of Barbie game I could see career and customization being pretty much the whole game. Sure you can walk your barbie here and there but I would assume a little girl would have the most fun putting different stuff on their barbie and sending it to school and finding out how it did when it got back from school and watch the barbie's career develope as you put more clothes on it and accessories. Yeah I can see how it's important in that type of game. However I'm here for football. So the game of football is the most important thing. If you're going to sell me a "football videogame" then above all else make sure the GAME plays like football.

If 2k made a barbie football game, I will still buy it over madden...On the subject of gameplay and price, I personally play 98% of the game online after maybe 2 months...Its more fun and fulfilling playing a human being than beating up on the computer...2k gameplay alone is worth over $60

[eXtreme__drummer_2k5]

It's not the NFL. It's a fake league. Why would you want to play a franchise mode? The whole point is the All Pros. So, you play franchise and they start to retire?!?! And then you have fake football with all fake players? That doesn't sound fun.

Franchise mode doesn't make sense for a game like this. This isn't about trying to be an NFL GM.

Well if you play NCAA Football, after 4 or 5 years, you already HAVE fake players playing for your college, and no one seems to complain about that...

And after about 5-6 years of NFL 2k5, most of the superstars are fake players..

Playing in a league with fake players would be fun, because with the customizable options, you would have the ability to edit and create your own stars, and you would be in control of your own league. It would show that the game of football is greater than then NFL.

When you go play football in your backyard, or a park, there are no big names there, your just playing the game of football, and that's all that matters.

Will I buy this game? Possibly, I think I need to know all the information first.

Do I like the legends idea? I'm not fond of it, but they need it to sell.

If there was a franchise mode, where I was in control with customization where I didn't have to use legends, would I buy it? Hells freaking yes I would then! Because the gameplay I know is already going to be top-notch, and I'm just not fond of using legends, I never have been and I never will.

I'm not an on-line gamer, because I don't have time for it, and if I had a franchise, I could leave it, come back a week later, and it would still be there.

And you KNOW...if this game did NOT include online capabilities...SO MANY people would be complaining about no online play, just like you are now with the franchise nuts, and those guys would probably say "Boo hoo, shut up and play." Just like we are seeing it now.

I know it's 2k's first shot of a football game on a next gen system, and I'm sure it will be good and blow Madden out of the water, and I hope it does. But 2k should have made something for everyone. And I'd like to think they could, because they are creative enough to do it. Hell, some people play a few games of franchise and then go into online for a little bit. Getting the best of both worlds.

But we will see what other information 2k releases, I'm just not excited about it sadly, but we will see.

[vip_ejc]

True, gameplay is but one facet , however it's THE most important facet. It decides whether a game is worth 59.99 as advertised or a game not worth 4.99.

Corrective, game-play is very important, however, all other facets are equally as important.

Now there are genre's where customization and franchise or career elements are the game.

And sports videogames are one of those genres. If a modern-day sports videogame is to succeed, it must contain either a Franchise or Career mode. As I've stated in another post, Franchise wouldn't compliment APF 2K8. However, a Career mode is the answer.

[kcxiv]

I'm confident its game-play will be second to no football videogame, too. However, game-play is but one facet of a videogame--though important.
And this is why Madden sells so much, People accept halfed *** products with flashy worthless gimmicks'. Until the people speak with their wallets EA will never improve their work ethic on released games.

[jcaashby3]

Not too be a-hole but this thread has been made before. The OP just used a different heading but its the same its not worth 59.99 argument.

There are a few games that ave come out that IMO wasnt worth my 59.99 so what I do is wait a month or so then buy it on Ebay. Like crackdown...IMO I wasnt paying 60 for a game that for me I would get bored sooner then later. But for 30 (which I paid on ebay) it is MORE than worth it.

This game should be 60 just like the other 80% (not a accurate percentage LOL) of the games released for the 360. To say it doesnt have franchise or the license is not enough to say it iis not worth 60. We dont even have ALL the info on the game and what other feaures it will have.

Reserve judgement until we get a demo and/or more hands on previews like a month before release.

But everyone is entitled to post whatever they want...its a free world !!!!! (well not everything is free)

[twsn88]

yes plain and simple.

never hyped
always reliable
i always get what i want out of thier products
if they mess up on something they come out the next year with an even better product
i brought mlb 2k7 three months ago still glad for its presentation its randomness the best
so yes it fits me to the tee i know im gonna get my top dollar with them

[Lacarious]

this thread is for the kiddies that have to beg mommy to buy them games.

[metallicatz]

It's not the NFL. It's a fake league. Why would you want to play a franchise mode? The whole point is the All Pros. So, you play franchise and they start to retire?!?! And then you have fake football with all fake players? That doesn't sound fun.

Franchise mode doesn't make sense for a game like this. This isn't about trying to be an NFL GM.

I can play with tons of All-pros right now on Madden 07......with NFL teams no less. It's not all that much fun, in fact it gets old pretty quick. I'll tell you what doesn't sound fun to me: creating a team of All Pros for a single season and then having to scrap it afterward because you can't carry it over or add to it. There will be a franchise mode in APF2K9. I gauruntee it. It's something 2k is being hit with from all sides of the sports gaming community, not just the heads here on this board. That's why it gets brought up in every single piece about the game in the magazines, on IGN or gamespot, and here on the boards. Franchise mode is important to the game's longterm survival and that's a fact. How far you think 2K football is going to go relying the Legends thing year after year? Every pro sports league in existence has franchise responsibilities. It's not NFL-exclusive.

[AmericanLegend]

I can play with tons of All-pros right now on Madden 07......with NFL teams no less. It's not all that much fun, in fact it gets old pretty quick. I'll tell you what doesn't sound fun to me: creating a team of All Pros for a single season and then having to scrap it afterward because you can't carry it over or add to it. There will be a franchise mode in APF2K9. I gauruntee it. It's something 2k is being hit with from all sides of the sports gaming community, not just the heads here on this board. That's why it gets brought up in every single piece about the game in the magazines, on IGN or gamespot, and here on the boards. Franchise mode is important to the game's longterm survival and that's a fact. How far you think 2K football is going to go relying the Legends thing year after year? Every pro sports league in existence has franchise responsibilities. It's not NFL-exclusive.


The reason people like to do franchise is because they get to run their favorite team and make them into a dynasty. I don't care about the fake teams in All Pro football. Maybe I would create my own team in my own city and enjoy that but who knows.

If Madden isn't fun with Legends, maybe they haven't done it well. most games its hard to "feel" the star players. They play well, but they don't feel that much different. 2k is trying to do that.

I think the point of this game is to build a team with a certain strength (running the football). You play that for one year and then you build a whole new team with a new philosophy.

The reason a franchise mode doesn't make sense to me is that this is a legends game, and in a franchise players retire. That doesn't make sense. Beyond that, every team will have star players on it. Half the fun of a franchise mode is developing new star players. That is taken away from you.

And people like to do franchise mode with real teams.

[metallicatz]

The reason people like to do franchise is because they get to run their favorite team and make them into a dynasty. I don't care about the fake teams in All Pro football. Maybe I would create my own team in my own city and enjoy that but who knows.

If Madden isn't fun with Legends, maybe they haven't done it well. most games its hard to "feel" the star players. They play well, but they don't feel that much different. 2k is trying to do that.

I think the point of this game is to build a team with a certain strength (running the football). You play that for one year and then you build a whole new team with a new philosophy.

The reason a franchise mode doesn't make sense to me is that this is a legends game, and in a franchise players retire. That doesn't make sense. Beyond that, every team will have star players on it. Half the fun of a franchise mode is developing new star players. That is taken away from you.

And people like to do franchise mode with real teams.

Just because YOU don't care about the fake teams in APF doesn't mean that somebody else can't take pleasure in building a team and becoming attached to it over multiple seasons........as soccor fans can do with games like Winning Eleven (non-licensed game).

ALL players retire in ALL pro sports leagues. THAT'S realistic. Legends don't play forever because if they did there would never be any NEW legends. Is that really what you want out of 2K football from now on? Year after year of NFL legends (even though most here claim to not care about the NFL license) playing in a ficticious game league. I'd much rather see the game evolve and develop its own personality rather than survive by feeding off the scraps from the NFL's table.......such as the limited pool of NFL legends.

[totalownership]

Corrective, game-play is very important, however, all other facets are equally as important.



And sports videogames are one of those genres. If a modern-day sports videogame is to succeed, it must contain either a Franchise or Career mode. As I've stated in another post, Franchise wouldn't compliment APF 2K8. However, a Career mode is the answer.
No I'm sorry, I have to disagree with you on that one. NO other facet is as equally as important in a football game than the actual game of football. Everything else can be anywhere from a "must have" feature to a "would be nice" addition but not one of those can pretend to be as important as gameplay. Gameplay is number one, everything else is secondary. Well since it's pretty obvious that 2K's definition of success is not out selling Madden we'll all have to see what it is that they consider success.

[sleepytercel]

So, 2K5's longativity was in its franchise mode? I will say that 2K5's longativity was in its gameplay engine. How great it is to play over 100 games and still catch new animations and new phrases from the commentators and just being able to see new things. That's longativity. If you're spending more time in menus than playing the game, I'd probably conclude that the game itself isn't really that good. If VC's whole focus is bringing forth the real sport of football, let them focus on that. Afterall, I'm quite positive that these franchise posts will dissapate when videos are finally released. Those who underestimate gameplay should probably not be a gamer.

[wangjaz]

another franchise thread?
i'm a franchise fan, but i'm gonna still buy this game.

but to those ppl who say fake players don't make sense in franchise, it makes PERFECT sense.
I would even prefer there be an option to turn OFF legends in the franchise mode.
franchise is all about more and more fake players from the draft etc. seeing all the big names retire, replacing through the draft, a lil FAs and trades, but mostly the fake young players from the draft.
so to ppl who say fake players don't make sense in the franchise don't know what they're talking about.

[metallicatz]

So, 2K5's longativity was in its franchise mode? I will say that 2K5's longativity was in its gameplay engine. How great it is to play over 100 games and still catch new animations and new phrases from the commentators and just being able to see new things. That's longativity. If you're spending more time in menus than playing the game, I'd probably conclude that the game itself isn't really that good. If VC's whole focus is bringing forth the real sport of football, let them focus on that. Afterall, I'm quite positive that these franchise posts will dissapate when videos are finally released. Those who underestimate gameplay should probably not be a gamer.

Nobody said Franchise mode was responsible for the "longevity" of 2K football. It IS, however, a very important feature in modern professional sports video games.......even college level games. You can be assured APF2K8 will lose review points because of its absence. And in Franchise mode isn't about spending more time in the menus, it's about spending SOME time in the menus and MOST of the time on the field working with the product you built. Online play is only a PORTION of the future. As evidenced by all the threads and polls here........there are alot more franchise players here than online players. Funny how in the past 2K was always able to focus on gamplay while still offering something for everybody, not just the MINORITY of gamers who prefer to play strictly online. No, the franchise talk won't go away....and you can be assurd that next year's game (if there is one) will have a franchise mode. When the game drops pay special attention to the reviews and the frequent mention of the absence of a franchise mode. I gauruntee you'll see it.

[GhostRider]

Basically I think they were having trouble figuring out a way to implement Legends in a Franchise mode...can't think of any other reason they don't have a Franchise....I would just have a small plus/minus rating boost/drop and limit the amount of seasons...oh yeah, they aren't using ratings....hmmmm...hopefully they will allow you to play against different VIP profiles in Season mode, and control quite a few, if not ALL teams...that would be just fine..

[Trevytrev11]

Maybe every legend is in their rookie year and you get to see them progress and digress as they did in real life and then retire within the same time frame they did in real life. Maybe you pick up Rice as an undervalued free agent rookie and watch him turn into the greatest.

[esmeet]

It's not the NFL. It's a fake league. Why would you want to play a franchise mode? The whole point is the All Pros. So, you play franchise and they start to retire?!?! And then you have fake football with all fake players? That doesn't sound fun.

Franchise mode doesn't make sense for a game like this. This isn't about trying to be an NFL GM.

First of all, the legends that are being included in the game won't be portrayed as the run-down players in their final seasons, they'll be in the prime of their careers. (Don't expect to see the Jerry Rice who played for the Broncos or the Emmitt Smith who played for the Cardinals!) Thus, they could be expected to last for just as many years in this game as they would have played in an NFL-sanctioned game.

Being a GM or Owner in a Franchise mode isn't just about the NFL, it's about developing a team and making personnel decisions aimed at creating a dynasty team, regardless of whether you're an NCAA team, a high school team, or an arena football team, you want to be the best and you want to be the best over a long period of time. I don't think the appeal of a Franchise/GM mode has anything to do with the NFL and has everything to do with competition.

[vip_ejc]

No I'm sorry, I have to disagree with you on that one. NO other facet is as equally as important in a football game than the actual game of football. Everything else can be anywhere from a "must have" feature to a "would be nice" addition but not one of those can pretend to be as important as gameplay. Gameplay is number one, everything else is secondary. Well since it's pretty obvious that 2K's definition of success is not out selling Madden we'll all have to see what it is that they consider success.

Any sports videogame that forces the consumer to choose between game-play or another facet is a bad product. I don't know you, but I buy videogames because they're the complete package, not solely for golden game-play.

[Nak 2k8]

screw franchise it gets very repetitive avfter a few season, But Gameplay AHHHHHH, GOOd ol 2k gameplay

[sleepytercel]

I'm not liking these new age gamers. I'm happy that I played games when gameplay was important, and feel even better that there are still companies that cater to gameplay first and then extras. I like Franchise features, but I don't need it. Gameplay is how I always seen games. If I'm staring at menus over actually playing the game, then I don't feel I have a good game. I think you newer gamers don't really realize how much gameplay actually means. If VC delivered a groudbreaking Next Gen football with stuff that's never been done before (which they've been doing for years of its time), then a sacrafice can be accepted.

Football is VC's baby. It has always been their star product, and also the one with the most focus. Their yearily implmentations far exceeds most other sports games, and their abilities have shined the most with NFL2K. It leaves me excited to see the gameplay, and if 2K5 had the amount of animations, sound, and scenerios in its engine, then imagine what they can do with a slew of extra memory and power. With the focus on gameplay over other options, it leaves me excited to see what I will be playing when it gets released.

As a long time gamer, I'm pleased to see when companies focus on gameplay first. It's tough to find games that are refreshing (since everything is a clone anymore).

[nyknicks33]

If they have online leagues all will be forgiven.

Honestly though..this isnt a big deal. Years ago, there was a football series called "Front Page Sports Football" They had the same premise..a complete customizable league..you could do everything from draft an entire league..edit divisions, schedules, playoff format, team logos, playbooks, you could creat plays..basically everything you could want. This was back in '95-97.


This was before exculsive licensing so they did have NFL Players..but the entire premise of the game was to give the player complete control of their own league and have them be able to do whatever the heck they wanted with their teams..and it played a dang good game of football.

In fact, at it's peak, it kicked Madden's tail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_Page_Sports_Football


This game can succeed and I bet it will