HB STUDIOS Q&A vol. 3

[Duckdee]

I remember once upon a time when Pro evo soccer was considered the don of roundball games, despite having no licences or manager mode - Ironically instead having what was nigh on identical to World League mode - yet Fifa with it's licenses, competition et al was considered the inferior counterpart because of the gameplay, even to casual gamers.

Funny how opinions change...

But which has always sold more?

 

[markshaw]

Thats a shame about manager mode, simple mode to create by using the world league engine but with individual leagues..I think its fair that we get to moan about things we as paying customers are looking for in a game. Was suprised there wasnt a question about rucks and mauls? Would be such a success if they took even a few of us TRF members on board as advisors or something because I get the feeling the guys who make these games arent rugby blokes really.

 

[Duckdee]

Was suprised there wasnt a question about rucks and mauls?

I would imagine it's not been given serious thought yet, seeing as they're currently working on passing.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I would imagine it's not been given serious thought yet, seeing as they're currently working on passing.

They did say they were working on the rucking system in an earlier Q/A

 

[CCCakumbra]

Hmm...mixed thoughts

Looks as though they will have licenesed boots, adboards, stadiums of some degree which is a plus. I also think that it is essential that an edit mode is implemented. Edit mode in International Cricket 2010 made a poor game playable for a long period of time. I think that if the budget is as low as it currently is then an edit mode is essential and if a small selection of boots for example is added then we can assign boots to players etc.

Also I think that within edit mode, attributes editing is an absolute must because like with Rugby 08, lesser known players may start to develop into proven internationals for example from Rugby 08 Andrew Trimble, Mike Phillips, Ruan Pienaar.

There was always something wrong with Rugby 08 and I couldn't quite think what it was. But while reading the Q&A I realised that it was the repetitiveness of the passing! Regarding the passing system, I believe that adding a manual pass option like PES 2011 has put in with through balls etc would be super for this game, it means that passes may fall short of fly over players heads. Or maybe even find the player cutting an angle which made Rugby 08 so repetitive without this element being explored.

Now onto Manager mode. I could never really get into World League, I have no idea why. I would have died for a Manager Mode but possibly with the amount of feedback regarding it, HB may rethink. In addition I never really thought of a 7's mode but thinking about it, it would be incredible.

I think that create a tournament which I haven't seen mentioned would be super if they cannot secure the liceneses to the Magners League, Heinaken Cup or Aviva Premiership but their main priority should be to gain these licenses.

All in all I think that HB will deliver in terms of gameplay so instead of people saying think about the gameplay rather than licenses, they will have gameplay nailed as best as possible within their budget so I think we can safely look to Licenses and Game Modes knowing that we have a solid platform to build on

 

[markshaw]

Hmm...mixed thoughts


Now onto Manager mode. I could never really get into World League, I have no idea why. I would have died for a Manager Mode but possibly with the amount of feedback regarding it, HB may rethink. In addition I never really thought of a 7's mode but thinking about it, it would be incredible.

I didnt get World League eithe because I, like others out there, enjoy realism and feeling like were part of something real not a fantasy!

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I didnt get World League eithe because I, like others out there, enjoy realism and feeling like were part of something real not a fantasy!

Yes, but the only problem is that a true manager mode would take a lot of the development time to implement. They obviously want to use whatever engine they have and code they are building as the foundations for (possible) future installments. A certain amount of development time in this ***le is building a new game.

Rugby 2005 was the first to use it's engine type and then it was built on rather well for the great Rugby 2006. Rugby 2006 (and I am very sure of this) was the first ***le absolutely and massively pirated (mostly on the original Xbox) as the use of modded consoles had grown out of sight in that period. Consequently Rugby '08 only came out on PS2 (which was still being pirated, but not much due to the fiddly nature of modding the PS2 slims), and so sales were always going to be quite low and naturally EA weren't wanting to rush to make a game again.

Here we are with a new game on a newer console and it's likely to be running on a new engine. This is going to be the hardest part for HB, developing this game in much the way Rugby 2005 was done (from the ground up). It's a huge job, especially without one of the best resources in the world for licensing (EA Sports), so there is simply not likely to be any time for a manager mode.

Some seasons and comps are likely to be the focus this time around and I for one can understand that. Unless someone out there knows where they can get a huge cash injection (a couple of million dollars would do rather nicely) and also some more time before the world cup, then there simply won't be the resources to put in a management mode.

We all need to help make manager mode ourselves. How do we do that? Simply buy this game and make the next one viable.

That's all we can do.

 

[Hamez]

We all need to help make manager mode ourselves. How do we do that? Simply buy this game and make the next one viable.
That's all we can do.

While I definatly agree with the sentament, and I am sure the great majority of people are going to go buy this game as on the first day it's released. I am sort of worried what the game is going to be like, I Know there is only one way to find out etc, but if the game isnt that flash I dont think we should be saying "oh this is just the first if we support them we will get better and better games", I'd be quite pleased with a rehashed 08, with some all the bug fixes. Then they could improve on that in future ***les, what I am worried about is this turning out to be a World Championship Rugby and Rugby Challenge 2006. Its hard not to be cynical considering how poor the low budget sports ***les have been this gen so far. I would be very happy for it to lack many features if the game plays great, but the way HB have been talking I think this game wont be near as good as Rugby 08 or Jonah Lomu rugby.

 

[Jedi Rugby]

The only feature I was really hoping would be included is online play. Have they already commented on whether this will be included? The previous versions were brilliant multiplayer games.

To me if the game is as fun as the previous versions and I can play online I will be ecstatic. If it doesn't, I'll be disappointed but I will probably buy it anyway.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

The only feature I was really hoping would be included is online play. Have they already commented on whether this will be included? The previous versions were brilliant multiplayer games.

To me if the game is as fun as the previous versions and I can play online I will be ecstatic. If it doesn't, I'll be disappointed but I will probably buy it anyway.

If you get in front by too much, people will just quit online anyhow, so your not missing much.

 

[Rothrich]

I think I must be one of the few who doesn't care about online play at all; I think it would be a waste of resources. Surely the main focus has to be getting the core gameplay right.

Overall, I am slightly under-whelmed by the latest Q&A; I hope HB are selling the game to potential publishers better!

 

[Teh Mite]

But which has always sold more?

For more then a few years it was 60/40 to PES.

 

[Xavier116]

I was looking forward to manager's mode

 

[Jedi Rugby]

If you get in front by too much, people will just quit online anyhow, so your not missing much.

Well I disagree. Spots sims are about the only games I play. All games are more challenging against another human opponent, and the internet makes it easy to find a group of people who can play at your level.

So I take it they have confirmed there will be no online play? or have we not asked the question?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

So I take it they have confirmed there will be no online play? or have we not asked the question?

The latter,
I'm in the "innocent until proven guilty" mindset, in that i think it'll be there until they say it isn't
You don't get many/any sports games coming out these days without online
I know nothing about game making, but i'm presuming if they already have 2-4 player offline modes on it, then making the leap to online will be an easier step

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I think people should look at Rugby League Live as a good base idea of what we can probably expect in terms of game modes and online play.

 

[Duckdee]

For more then a few years it was 60/40 to PES.

That's good to know. I've never owned PES, and stopped getting FIFAs after 99 until 09. (I had a Dreamcast, and just didn't bother for the Gamecube.)

I'm going to treat this game like I did Ashes Cricket, buy it blindly to support the launch, the decide if then sequel is worth it.

 

[Saints1]

Stopping quitters is a major issue throughout all games.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That it is,
Played Fifa11 for probably the second time online last night, went 2-0 at about 60ish mins in, and the other person quit
Hate it.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I think people should look at Rugby League Live as a good base idea of what we can probably expect in terms of game modes and online play.

Absolutely, that is about exactly what we could expect. There are next to 0% sports games coming out of any level without online nowadays.