Backbreaker Fact Sheet and Screenshots

[bkfount]

Quote: Originally Posted by sb24

Football games should be about playing another person in the chess match that is play calling. Building a team to beat teams the cpu has build isnt really much fun or difficult for me. Those should be saved for text based sims or head coach.

there's also this thing called online franchises, but I guess EA haters missed out on those.

But again, people like what they like. This game was hyped up to amazing levels by the devout backbreaker cult members, but it's looking to be a niche title with bare bones functionality. 2k already tried making a football game all about gameplay, and I even bought it. Not only was it dropped in price a few months after release, but I got bored as hell with it.

In a perfect world, games appeal to different types of people. If this game doesn't, that's their loss. I'm still interested in how this game does though, for the overall health of the sports game genre. I just wonder how many chances they get at this franchise.

[CreatineKasey]

APF is my favorite football game of all time. I never played one offline season in any football game since I was like 12. I like competing against people. If I didn't play against people I wouldn't play at all. That's where I'm coming from.

I just don't get kicks out of managing teams. I do think there's enough of those games out there to keep franchisers happy. There's not a lot of choices in terms of gameplay for football games. If a lot of people still played APF I'd be on it right now... but they don't.

To me it's in some ways like trying to mix RPG elements into a FPS... and the RPG guys are clamoring for more of those elements. The problem is, the FPS end is what most of the game is about and the RPG is just a little something added on to it.

[Hassan Darkside]

Quote: Originally Posted by CreatineKasey

APF is my favorite football game of all time. I never played one offline season in any football game since I was like 12. I like competing against people. If I didn't play against people I wouldn't play at all. That's where I'm coming from. I just don't get kicks out of managing teams. I do think there's enough of those games out there to keep franchisers happy. There's not a lot of choices in terms of gameplay for football games. If a lot of people still played APF I'd be on it right now... but they don't. To me it's in some ways like trying to mix RPG elements into a FPS... and the RPG guys are clamoring for more of those elements. The problem is, the FPS end is what most of the game is about and the RPG is just a little something added on to it.

First of all, I'd say NBA 2k10 probably has the best functioning franchise mode out of all games right now. For being 5 years deep in sports games, franchise modes are in general a disappointment. I could care less about the sims like front page and whatnot. I like to play and I like to manage. I don't like one more than the other, I prefer them equal, hand-in-hand. APF plays great, but lacks in franchise and I got bored with it. Madden is passable in both gameplay and franchise, but that's about it. NCAA Football's gameplay is inferior to its franchise, so I find myself turning away from that all together.

To me, the notion of "progress" is what caters to me the most. You made a good comparison with a FPS/RPG type game. Rainbow Six Vegas was one of my favorite FPS's (if not my favorite) because of the RPG element. You had your own customized character, you unlocked all types of different camo and accessories and could customize your guy with anything from head to toe.

With sports games, I like it to be like that, just with my team. Playing exhibition/quick games feels empty and meaningless to me. It just doesn't feel like there's an overall goal I'm working toward, whether it be the Superbowl or pro-bowl or rebuilding my team into a contender.

Even if this game plays great, it might find the shelf soon just because I feel like my games are meaningless. I don't particularly like playing people either.

[CreatineKasey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ruff Ryder

Even if this game plays great, it might find the shelf soon just because I feel like my games are meaningless. I don't particularly like playing people either.

This is the big spot where I differ with many. I only play people so the perspective is a complete 180 from what I read. Games don't have meaning to me against a CPU. I find no joy in beating AI that in my opinion is meant to lose. They don't create video games that are so hard that the CPU always wins (anymore...donkey kong anyone?).

Games mean more to me when I play in leagues and tournaments. That's where I get my "kicks".

[gbeazy]

Quote: Originally Posted by CreatineKasey

This is the big spot where I differ with many. I only play people so the perspective is a complete 180 from what I read. Games don't have meaning to me against a CPU. I find no joy in beating AI that in my opinion is meant to lose. They don't create video games that are so hard that the CPU always wins (anymore...donkey kong anyone?). Games mean more to me when I play in leagues and tournaments. That's where I get my "kicks".

I think you are so much in the minority that if a game developed a game with purely your interest it would fail drastically. Look no futher than APF for ex. On-line only games are doomed before they hit the shelves.
One they have to be a sports fan-american football fan-but not NFL fan-have a console-a console connected to internet-then enjoy only playing people that belong to a community like OS, random games are unplayable bottomline. I could go deeper but the point is your type is rare.
If APF (and this is not hindsight) had a franchise I would have bought it day one. It has nothing to do with Ads/marketing etc, if they can't get the people at OS to buy it(as polls suggest) who is gonna buy it. Seeing BB fact sheet reminded me of APF's when I saw it
I think if you get you end up getting your "kicks" not many others will. Which probably means one and done (APF)

[Phobia]

Quote: Originally Posted by gbeazy

I think you are so much in the minority that if a game developed a game with purely your interest it would fail drastically. Look no futher than APF for ex. On-line only games are doomed before they hit the shelves. One they have to be a sports fan-american football fan-but not NFL fan-have a console-a console connected to internet-then enjoy only playing people that belong to a community like OS, random games are unplayable bottomline. I could go deeper but the point is your type is rare. If APF (and this is not hindsight) had a franchise I would have bought it day one. It has nothing to do with Ads/marketing etc, if they can't get the people at OS to buy it(as polls suggest) who is gonna buy it. Seeing BB fact sheet reminded me of APF's when I saw it I think if you get you end up getting your "kicks" not many others will. Which probably means one and done (APF)

I am sorry but if APF did not exist I would be miserable. APF is bottom line the best football game "chess match" on any system. The ONLY reason APF did not do well is because of lack of NFL license. Not because of the design decision.

Plus by backbreaker being like APF just gives me hope that it will be one of the best online football titles. I have my fingers crossed it is like APF, just with purely dynamic on the fly tackles. I would be in heaven.

[gbeazy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Phobia

I am sorry but if APF did not exist I would be miserable. APF is bottom line the best football game "chess match" on any system. The ONLY reason APF did not do well is because of lack of NFL license. Not because of the design decision. Plus by backbreaker being like APF just gives me hope that it will be one of the best online football titles. I have my fingers crossed it is like APF, just with purely dynamic on the fly tackles. I would be in heaven.

That's such a selfish short term outlook. Who are you gonna play against? in two years when they don't make another game and they stop supporting online (APF). I would rather play the cpu than the same est. 10-15 OSers. It's not like you don't recognize their tendencies just like you would AI.
"Chess match" would be pick the play and set controller down. Turn based. Stick skills/AI weigh too much for video game football to be comp to chess. Especially when it takes months to subjectively define money plays, cheese, sim players. What part of chess is that.
Lack of NFL was a factor but no franchise killed it in my book and others(see polls).
Hopefully this game looks at APF and goes the other way. Why not learn from their mistakes and see the Big picture.

[CreatineKasey]

Quote: Originally Posted by gbeazy

That's such a selfish short term outlook. Who are you gonna play against? in two years when they don't make another game and they stop supporting online (APF). I would rather play the cpu than the same est. 10-15 OSers. It's not like you don't recognize their tendencies just like you would AI. "Chess match" would be pick the play and set controller down. Turn based. Stick skills/AI weigh too much for video game football to be comp to chess. Especially when it takes months to subjectively define money plays, cheese, sim players. What part of chess is that. Lack of NFL was a factor but no franchise killed it in my book and others(see polls). Hopefully this game looks at APF and goes the other way. Why not learn from their mistakes and see the Big picture.

Why shouldn't I be selfish for what I want? Aren't I the one who is paying for this product? Wouldn't I want what I want in it? I don't think I'm in the vast minority by any means, but it's just an opinion. I will definitely push for my "selfish" wants in a game like this... just like franchisers do. We all should, we are the consumers. I see no point in sacrificing things I like to help some other potential consumer if I have the choice.

We aren't the ones who necessarily decide in the end, but I just make sure my voice is heard so people know there ARE numerous people who have this viewpoint. If a few of us didn't speak up it'd be all franchise talk in here.

I think Backbreaker will fail if it doesn't get gameplay down. If they have a multi-season mode that matches EA's, they still fail with no NFL and weaker gameplay. They need that thing to play outstanding to get anywhere and I think that's where their focus should be.