Almost bought this, but no franchise? No online?

[BorfStyle]

It's crazy that this game doesn't have a franchise/dynasty/multi-season mode. That's definitely the place 95% of the target audience for this type of game would spend their time. There's threads on here from months and months ago reinforcing this sentiment. Online play would be really great too (steam remote play sucks), but if you're going to add anything post-launch, please direct all effort to a continual season mode.

[Maroliver]

Yeah I can't believe there's no online multiplayer. I also heard you can't play 2 players on the same team but I can't confirm that. What a shame as the game looks cool.

[View The Phenom]

There's a number of videos explaining why Franchise wasn't feasible during development. While people may expect otherwise due to AAA titles implementing it for years, Franchise isn't something that can just be thrown in on top of the work that already needs to be done for a solid core game. There's a real trade off in focus regarding getting the foundation right, and implementing a detailed mode built on top of that.

If you're interested in potentially seeing support for a detailed mode like Franchise, support what's available today. It's not going to be built on wishes and dreams.

[BorfStyle]

Hey it's great defending indie devs and all, but this line of thinking is just so backwards. I refuse to believe that adding a mode that strings together the stats from season to season is SO MUCH HARDER to do than all the work that's been done to make the core game already. This is a feature that should be is so common to this type of game that it never should have left early access without it. "Buy this game so the next one has what you really want!" - this mentality has worn thin over the years.

[Maroliver]

Originally posted by BorfStyle:

Hey it's great defending indie devs and all, but this line of thinking is just so backwards. I refuse to believe that adding a mode that strings together the stats from season to season is SO MUCH HARDER to do than all the work that's been done to make the core game already. This is a feature that should be is so common to this type of game that it never should have left early access without it. "Buy this game so the next one has what you really want!" - this mentality has worn thin over the years.

This.

[Hucks]

A retro bowl style of franchise mode would be great. Trading for random players with high or low stats. A simple draft at end of season and a stat tracker.
Is the season mode and tourney mode in this game connected or seperate? like if you place high in season mode does it seed you into tourney mode with your season team? or do you need to start a new team just for tourney mode?

[View The Phenom]

Originally posted by BorfStyle:

Hey it's great defending indie devs and all, but this line of thinking is just so backwards. I refuse to believe that adding a mode that strings together the stats from season to season is SO MUCH HARDER to do than all the work that's been done to make the core game already. This is a feature that should be is so common to this type of game that it never should have left early access without it. "Buy this game so the next one has what you really want!" - this mentality has worn thin over the years.

It's always easier to make claims when you have little understanding of how much work goes into the process. Saying it's backwards to acknowledge the amount of work that goes into it and the reality that it's not a simple task that can be done on top of everything else doesn't make much sense either.

Just look at Super Mega Baseball as an example, which was made by a larger studio yet didn't have anything resembling Franchise mode until its third game. And even then, you have players complaining that it's not as deep as they wanted.

To make a deep mode that does more than just check the box of "included Franchise", it takes a significant amount of work. And that's not just me defending the dev, that's basically quoting how he's explained the process and ideal plans for an eventual mode.

Games take time and money to make, it's not snapping your fingers or wishing really hard for different features. And if you're looking to make a mode that is actually worth playing (and isn't just there for the sake of it), it's even harder.

[CharlieConway]

Originally posted by BorfStyle:

Hey it's great defending indie devs and all, but this line of thinking is just so backwards. I refuse to believe that adding a mode that strings together the stats from season to season is SO MUCH HARDER to do than all the work that's been done to make the core game already. This is a feature that should be is so common to this type of game that it never should have left early access without it. "Buy this game so the next one has what you really want!" - this mentality has worn thin over the years.

I mean if no one had supported the original Tecmo Bowl, they never would've had Tecmo Super Bowl 3 that had multi year seasons.

While i would also love a multi-year 'career' mode more than i want Franchise, it comes down to this: if we don't support Indie Developers now, we'll never see the games we want in the future. I've watched this game grow from the initial Early Access release last November to where it is today. The Dev has added so many things that the community asked for that would never happen in a AAA title.

So, while i hear you that it would be great to get that multi-year career mode, the Dev had to make a decision between focusing on gameplay vs Franchise Mode. If he focused on Gameplay he could release the game this year (after 3+ years of development). If he instead focused on Franchise Mode, he would have to wait another year to release the game.

Here's why that decision is important: he's got a family to support. He has to see a return on the time and money he's poured into this game. He couldn't keep pushing back the release any longer. He decided that the Gameplay was more important than a Franchise Mode. If he released a game with poor Gameplay and a decent Franchise he'd get roasted. If he releases the game with great Gameplay and no Franchise, he gets roasted. but at least the game plays great!

anyway, might not convince you otherwise to change your mind, and that's ok! MOST OF ALL you are entitled to your opinion!

[SAF]

^could have been a happy middle with good gameplay and a basic franchise...just saying...I don't see this game getting enough support for a #2 without a franchise mode so hopefully one will be released soon, even if it were a stripped down basic version. I'm just being realistic. I want to see this game succeed, I want to see a sequel, but right now it doesn't offer enough for me without franchise, as I could easily play old Genesis/SNES Maddens or Blitz, Mutant League, etc...that have fun gameplay and franchise. In the world of American football games, franchise/multi-season mode is a must.

[swampymux12]

Sorry you guys feel that way. All I can say is that the gameplay foundation was #1 from the beginning. Without that nobody is going to play it no matter what the franchise mode looks like. I guess if that's a deal breaker, that's a deal breaker. This is the same kind of discussion we've had over the years with Axis and Max Football... People say "I hate Madden" but then buy Madden. EA doesn't care how much you like Madden, as long as you buy Madden. Building a football game that plays well on the field is a massive undertaking. Max Football and Axis Football both have/had in depth franchise modes, yet nobody supported them because they don't play all that well on the field. Legend Bowl feels 100x better than either of those games, plus has loads of customization options. I know that franchise is important to a lot of people, but it really does take time to get it right and to get something in place that is going to be enough to satisfy people. Also, if you're willing to get into the game files, we've done a lot of things with the Legend Bowl Championship League (we're on season 2)... we have a couple of guys who are great with Excel and they have build stat tracking sheets, GM/Owner dashboards, we generated new players, held a draft, have trades, free agency, all that stuff. I know that's beyond what a lot of people are capable of doing, but this is one of those games that the more you are willing to put into it, the more you will get out of it. The game exports stats for each game, so if you really want to track your team year to year, you could do that. If you want to trade players, you could do that through spreadsheets. We have a ton of great guys/gals on the Discord community who are willing to help people learn how to do these kinds of things, so the community is definitely strong and creative. Like someone said above, nobody is probably going to convince you, but even if you jumped on the Discord and see all the cool things that are going on, maybe you'll be willing to give it a shot. Because, the bottom line always is money - if we don't support a game like this, it won't ever become all that it is capable of being. Javo is an awesome dev, he listens to the community and he wants this game to be great just as badly as any of the fans do.

[SAF]

I've posted about it before and I hate beating a dead horse, but when a game like Retro Bowl exists, and has a basic franchise, this game can too. It doesn't have to be robust, it really doesn't, I promise you it doesn't have to be perfect, you expand franchise in #2, again Retro Bowl's popularity proves this, but just give us something, stats carry over, players come and go...It's sad but true that you get no where with just top notch gameplay in a football game...Tecmo Super Bowl already exists, I can go play that.

I'll buy this in a heart beat if franchise is released. It's on my wishlist, I've been watching the updates, I'm a huge fan of this believe it or not, but I can't get into it without franchise. I know without franchise I'll play for a hour or two and be done with it, regardless of how good the gameplay is. I really want to see this succeed though, I just don't see how.

[swampymux12]

Fair enough man!

[King Javo]

Just for the record, a light franchise mode might come as an update if it makes sense. This isn't Retro Bowl BTW.

[Splinter]

I was excited to buy this game but with no Career or Franchise mode, it's a no go. I also feel mis-leaded as they stated it was going to have one. If you look on their steam page you actually see what looks like a screen shot that says Career mode. It's still up there now.

[MrDowntempo]

Originally posted by Splinter:

I was excited to buy this game but with no Career or Franchise mode, it's a no go. I also feel mis-leaded as they stated it was going to have one. If you look on their steam page you actually see what looks like a screen shot that says Career mode. It's still up there now.

There is a season mode currently it's just not mult-season.

[BorfStyle]

Appreciate the replies guys, even the semi-hostile sounding ones. I understand games take time and money, but that doesn't mean we (the potential consumer of the product) have to just shut up and smile if we don't like something, just because "indie devs gotta eat!". The "backwards way of thinking" I was referring to was just the mentality of "buy it even if it's not what you want so maybe the next one will be better". The game honestly looks really great, and that's the only reason I posted on here in a disappointed tone. It seems to have so much going for it but is just held back by one missing thing.

Very cool to hear even a "light franchise mode" could be in the works, thanks King Javo. I'll keep watching for updates.