Why do people buy sports game every year?

I'm not bashing anyone who does buy sports game every year but I am a little confused why people do, I was watching these videos on youtube where people show off their game collections and give opinions on the games, I was watching them to hear real gamers opinions on games (from what i've seen, not many people like God of War, but that's just what i've seen), anyway, all the collections seem to have every sports games that have come out every year, Fifa 7, Fifa 8, Fifa 9, Fifa 10, Fifa 11, Fifa 12, etc, and I was wondering why people buy what is pretty much the same game every year.

A sport is always changing season after season. There are new players, new rules and sometimes even new clubs. People like to feel that they are 'up to date'.

same reason people play cod /thread

I would gladly pay $10-$20 for updated rosters, but sadly EA won't do that. So, I'm stuck buying each new iteration of Madden just so I can play with the new stars of the NFL. Just bring back NFL2k, and not that horrid All Pro 2K mess, the original 2K devs(Visual Concepts), then we'll see EA step their game up. They'll have to due to the stiff competition from 2K.

Another thing is the online servers for sports games usually shut down extremely quickly. I think EA shut the servers for Madden '11 down within the month that Madden '12 came out.

Another thing is the online servers for sports games usually shut down extremely quickly. I think EA shut the servers for Madden '11 down within the month that Madden '12 came out.

Vari3ty

Another thing is the online servers for sports games usually shut down extremely quickly. I think EA shut the servers for Madden '11 down within the month that Madden '12 came out.

Vari3ty

(from what i've seen, not many people like God of War, but that's just what i've seen)

RageQuitter69

Why do they dislike it? It's a pretty solid series to me. The 1st 3 anyway.

[QUOTE="RageQuitter69"]

(from what i've seen, not many people like God of War, but that's just what i've seen)

HipHopBeats

Why do they dislike it? It's a pretty solid series to me. The 1st 3 anyway.

I buy FIFA for roster/team updates and improvements. FIFA 12 is so much different to FIFA 11, but not the new additions could do with improving so there is even more incentive to get FIFA 13.

A sport is always changing season after season. There are new players, new rules and sometimes even new clubs. People like to feel that they are 'up to date'.

gameking5000

[QUOTE="gameking5000"]

A sport is always changing season after season. There are new players, new rules and sometimes even new clubs. People like to feel that they are 'up to date'.

DarkCatalyst

That's a fine and admirable goal, I admit; to pursue the real thing through videogame entertainment. But it still doesn't change the fact that it's still the same game that we play every year. It has a few improvements, here and there, they update the roster, put in a mode or two, but otherwise, it's the same as it was before.

[QUOTE="DarkCatalyst"][QUOTE="gameking5000"]

A sport is always changing season after season. There are new players, new rules and sometimes even new clubs. People like to feel that they are 'up to date'.

Metamania

That's a fine and admirable goal, I admit; to pursue the real thing through videogame entertainment. But it still doesn't change the fact that it's still the same game that we play every year. It has a few improvements, here and there, they update the roster, put in a mode or two, but otherwise, it's the same as it was before.

[QUOTE="DarkCatalyst"][QUOTE="gameking5000"]

A sport is always changing season after season. There are new players, new rules and sometimes even new clubs. People like to feel that they are 'up to date'.

Metamania

That's a fine and admirable goal, I admit; to pursue the real thing through videogame entertainment. But it still doesn't change the fact that it's still the same game that we play every year. It has a few improvements, here and there, they update the roster, put in a mode or two, but otherwise, it's the same as it was before.

[QUOTE="Metamania"]

[QUOTE="DarkCatalyst"] Not to mention that when the genre is done right, the games get closer and closer to a perfect simulation of the sport in question every year.callsignneptune

That's a fine and admirable goal, I admit; to pursue the real thing through videogame entertainment. But it still doesn't change the fact that it's still the same game that we play every year. It has a few improvements, here and there, they update the roster, put in a mode or two, but otherwise, it's the same as it was before.

Some of those, I can understand, for sure; they rely on the basic premise to keep them going. But I hear that Super Mario Galaxy 2, which received NOTHING but positive reviews, outshines its predecessor by not only sticking to the same formula, but improving it in every area. How can we explain that for certain games like that?

Those games (with the possible exception of some Mario games) add new stories and levels and different atmospheres, as for sports game take place on the same setting every time, that's fine because the developers can't reinvent the sport, i'm just confused why people buy the game game every year.

Those games (with the possible exception of some Mario games) add new stories and levels and different atmospheres, as for sports game take place on the same setting every time, that's fine because the developers can't reinvent the sport, i'm just confused why people buy the game game every year.

RageQuitter69

Because idiots have money.

Temporarily.

Because idiots have money.

Temporarily.

Am_Confucius

I don't have a problem with sports games or with anyone who plays them, but aren't some editions better than others? I mean, why buy the next release if it's not as good as the previous one?

I continually get the new Madden games because of the online community going to the newest and having the most up to date roster which is updated throughout the season.

However, it would be nice if they'd just release the new roster via the PSN and Xbox Marketplace and then the next year release a game that has substantial new features and what not. Though, they may be working on that behind the scenes right now.

same reason people play cod /thread

almasdeathchild

That was a brilliant answer.

On topic: They need to update rosters and improve the game a little bit.

I don't have a problem with sports games or with anyone who plays them, but aren't some editions better than others? I mean, why buy the next release if it's not as good as the previous one?

Fantasy721

same reason people play cod /thread

almasdeathchild

I have every Madden and NCAA game from 2000 to 2013, just like i have all the God of War, Gears of War, Forza, SSX, Assassin's Creed. Call of Duty, Battlefield. New things in each one, new sotry lines in the others. I guess you can say it's my drug.

[QUOTE="Metamania"]

[QUOTE="DarkCatalyst"] Not to mention that when the genre is done right, the games get closer and closer to a perfect simulation of the sport in question every year.DarkCatalyst

That's a fine and admirable goal, I admit; to pursue the real thing through videogame entertainment. But it still doesn't change the fact that it's still the same game that we play every year. It has a few improvements, here and there, they update the roster, put in a mode or two, but otherwise, it's the same as it was before.

Fair enough. I'm not a sports guy, so I admittedly am not the first person anyone should go to in anything or everything sports. My knowledge is very limited in it. Still, on the surface, it's the same game and I think that goes for any other genre too; no matter the characters, makeup, etc, at its core, it's still an idea ripped from another.

It depends on franchise -- some provide major improvements or control innovations year in, year out (FIFA Soccer has recently been on a hot streak, with 12 being a major step up from 11-10, which was a step up from 9, which was a step up from 8, etc.).

Madden also had some good iterations recently -- 11, for instance, really tried to improve a lot of elements from 10. However, 12 was almost exactly the same as 11, so I regret buying that. Unless I see major improvements in 12, I think I'll be declining that series this year.