[Lefty Noob]

Okay, we've had best movies and best books threads, so why not one about the best sports-related video games. Me, I'm a huge Madden and NCAA Football fan, and I used to really dig the MVP Baseball games (haven't tried the new NCAA version yet though). Anyone else into these kind of games?

[cjg11582]

I prefer to opt for some of the classics. Anyone remember "Base Wars"? With the robots playing baseball? I never enjoyed watching or playing hockey, but two of my favorite video games ever are "Mario Lemieux Hockey" on the Sega Genesis and "Wayne Gretzky's 3-D Hockey" on the 64. When it comes to football games they all pretty much run together, but one that was rather unique was "Quarterback Attack" on Sega Saturn, the participant does not play any defense but rather the entire game is from the perspective of the QB. I am sure there are numerous others that are eluding me right now.

[Lefty Noob]

No, can't say I'm familiar with Base Wars, but it sounds good.

Mario Lemieux Hockey was cool, but did you ever play Mutant League Hockey for the Genesis? Man, was that awesome.

I dug a lot of the classics, too, cjg. Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl for the NES, Cyberball and RBI Baseball in the arcades. RBI was cool because it would pick out the best players from each team's history, so I could use Fernando in relief of Koufax. I really got a kick out of that. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting...

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Okay, we've had best movies and best books threads, so why not one about the best sports-related video games. Me, I'm a huge Madden and NCAA Football fan, and I used to really dig the MVP Baseball games (haven't tried the new NCAA version yet though). Anyone else into these kind of games?

PAY DIRT...the old 70's-80's board game...with the funky green play charts...that was way cooler than madden... ...

[Wizard of Os]

Ah...now here's an excellent topic for me.

Madden does rule, but the fact is that EA Sports has shown the same disturbing tendency that many many many serialized games (especially sports games) have tended to: The emphasis on improvement in graphics over options for strategy and team creation. Bells and whistles are more important to EA, it seems, than proper reproduction of the game. Why can't you play the classic teams over a whole season anymore? That's why i love video games and why, as a young 'un, i loved APBA and Strat-O-Matic tabletop games. In EA Madden 2003, you can pit and play Butkus' Bears vs. Jim Brown's Browns, Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys vs. Chuck Noll's Steelers, Bo Jackson vs. anybody. You can create Jim Thorpe and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson (he doesn't do his should-be-patented touchdown dance, though).

Another problem comes in the company's treatment of PC users. The PC versions of these things get buggier and buggier every year. Plus, it seems the release date of the PC version as opposed to that of XBox et al gets later and later. NFL Head Coach, which was looking like the sports gamer's holy grail, was announced as a spring release. This press release came out in October; nothing further has been officially commented upon by the company as far as i know. Rumors on sites like maddenmadia.com are saying that not only will all versions of the game be released late, the PC version will be released after the others (big surprise) and will hit stores in October.

I've actually been contracted to interview an EA Sports representative, so i'll post more on this when i get it.

A bit of a digression, i realize, but relevant nonetheless.

Madden was a fantastic game. It's still my favorite -- in fact, my San Antonio Desperadoes (nee Minnesota Vikings) are currently in the NFC championship against the Omaha Warthogs (nee San Francisco 49ers) -- but i play the 2004 version, my favorite. Owner mode is hilarious, as you get to watch teams move to these obscure cities. The 2003 version is also great, if simplistic in playbook, because you get tons of all-time teams and NFL Europe to boot (i love NFL Europe!).

However, the greatest video game i have seen is EA Sports Total Club Manager. In short, this one gets an 11 out of 10 (although my friend Steve who is thoroughly addicted, says it gets superbuggy after a few seasons pass). Check out my ultra-gushy review, and get this game!

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

Os, I too am eagery waiting for NFL Head Coach. But I've never heard of EA Sports Total Club Manager. After reading your review, though, I'm convinced that I HAVE to get this game. Is it pretty much along the same lines as the Baseball Mogul games? And I'm guessing its PC only, right?

[Wizard of Os]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Os, I too am eagery waiting for NFL Head Coach. But I've never heard of EA Sports Total Club Manager. After reading your review, though, I'm convinced that I HAVE to get this game. Is it pretty much along the same lines as the Baseball Mogul games? And I'm guessing its PC only, right?

Lefty et al,

Sorry it took so long to get back to this one.

I'm not familiar with the Baseball Mogul games, so i couldn't tell you about them vs. TCM. About TCM, however: My friend Steve (who's been playing this thing until 2am for many nights) has reported that it gets REALLY buggy. I haven't faced this problem, but i haven't played it nearly as often as he and i've never gone as deep as he into the game.

As far i know, TCM is only PC. On one hand, i don't know who in the console-playing world would play a game that is mostly front desk stuff; on the other, you can import the EA Sports World Cup 2002, FIFA Football 200X, etc. clubs, of which there are probably millions (okay, a quarter of a million) console-based teams by now. Who cares? In my not so humble opinion, PC is the way to play TCM.

A friend of mine swears by EA Sports' Tiger Woods games if you like golf.

[Wizard of Os]

O, and some other great oldies.

Techmo Bo(Jackson)wl ruled, of course. RBI baseball was amazing -- i played the Yankees and would substitute Mattingly for Nettles and improve the spot in the batting order by like 40 percent.

Does anybody remember this crazy coin-op football game? It came out in the 1980s (shudder) at around the same time as the Space Invaders and PacMan-era games. You had to play two players and at either end of the table (for the game was a flat, tabletop-style game) was a big ol' Trakball. Players on offense were represented by O's and defense by Xs. Classic game, that...

[Who Dey]

Have any of you guys had a chance to play "Blitz the League?" It was a pretty controversial game at first because the NFL felt it was a negative portrayal of their league.
There are cut scenes in between games, fights in bars, random hookups in strip clubs, and other 'shenanigans' straigt out of the show "playmakers."
Anyway, I have had a blast playing it. You can train your players with "juice".
The game is all about earning money to buy better equipment, upgrades, and training facilities for you team to improve. You begin in Division III and work your way up to Division I.
If you haven't tried it, you should check it out. I've been having a blast playing it.

[Wizard of Os]

Who Dey, that's bizarre. Never heard of that game. What company makes it? And i don't suppose they have the real NFL teams or players...? Heh heh.

[Who Dey]

It's made by a company called Midway. No... Not the real players and teams, but you can design your uni's and stadium to look pretty close to any team in the NFL if you want.
You write in your city's name, and the voice over on the game reads it.

Other cool things:
Lawrence Taylor play's the evil linebacker for the New York nightmare. Be careful because when you play New York, he will send hookers to your hotel.
Dirty hits.
Graphic Injuries.
Fraternizing with Cheerleaders.
only two minute quarters, so the games go really quickly. Lots of scoring, lots of turnovers, lots of injuries.

[Nitch]

Originally Posted by Who Dey

It's made by a company called Midway. No... Not the real players and teams, but you can design your uni's and stadium to look pretty close to any team in the NFL if you want.
You write in your city's name, and the voice over on the game reads it.

Other cool things:
Lawrence Taylor play's the evil linebacker for the New York nightmare. Be careful because when you play New York, he will send hookers to your hotel.
Dirty hits.
Graphic Injuries.
Fraternizing with Cheerleaders.
only two minute quarters, so the games go really quickly. Lots of scoring, lots of turnovers, lots of injuries.

Midway has a tendence for this they did make the immortal mortal kombat seris, the game is like a rip of the old espn show playmakers. Fun but too easy. And madden on the xbox 360 was horrible no challenges, and online no one played an honest game. They ran with micheal vick on every play there was nothing you could, so i went out and sold it for fight round three a good sports game but not even close to the best. My favorite sports video games are: NBA Jam 95 Tournament edition, nfl blitz 95, nba street v3, George Formans boxing and nba 2k3. In the name of sports video games have any of you ever heard of the bill lambier game where you could have weapons and beat up the refs my friend told me of it and i was wondering if it was real.

[Lefty Noob]

Yep, I used to work at a game store in the mid 90s. I believe it was called "Bill Lambeer Combat Basketball" and it was for the SNES. Wasn't very good, if I recall.

I used to play NBA Jam all the time in the arcade. Hated the way that blasted machine always jobbed you at the end, throwing up a miracle three to win the game time after time after time. Street is a much better game series. That's a blast.

[Wizard of Os]

Originally Posted by Nitch

And madden on the xbox 360 was horrible no challenges, and online no one played an honest game. They ran with micheal vick on every play there was nothing you could, so i went out and sold it for fight round three a good sports game but not even close to the best. My favorite sports video games are: NBA Jam 95 Tournament edition, nfl blitz 95, nba street v3, George Formans boxing and nba 2k3. In the name of sports video games have any of you ever heard of the bill lambier game where you could have weapons and beat up the refs my friend told me of it and i was wondering if it was real.

See, Lefty? NBA Jam rocks! Remember how you could get (disturbingly) big heads on the arcade version? And you could play four players! Like Gauntlet!

I stand by Madden, despite the quirks and late-years breakdown of the salary cap system. Online play with it really shows the problems with sports video games in general: Ultimately, they're not sports, they're video games which are based on sports, and certain "inaccuracies" come about, like the famous Techmo Bowl Bo Jackson, who was always good for a 99-yard run from scrimmage. If running Michael Vick every play wins you the game, what are you going to do? Simulate reality? Nah -- you have to make your opponent adapt, which is a facet of real football as well. Playing the computer produces more "realistic" result

And thanks for reminding me of NFL Blitz -- i hadn't laughed so hard at a video game since that android shoot-'em-up game and not since until Burnout: Revenge.

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

Thought I'd dig up this old one and nominate two new ones - Wii Sports and Madden 07 for the Nintendo Wii. Awesome games!