Franchise Ain’t Dead

In MLB the Show 26 Franchise Untouchables will act as a means to help prevent teams for asking for players a team see a current or future for including the CPU teams.    Video Version: https://youtu.be/uKPB0ncBQ24

We take a look/listen at a reddit post to get a glimpse of what Franchise fans want from MLB the Show 26 Video Version: https://youtu.be/SSJlvs_VyME Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/MLBTheShow/comments/1q1jp81/franchise_mode_wishlist/

Sony San Diego Studios is telling us that they are going to give us a new front office experience, so what should be expecting and asking to see from them?   Video version: https://youtu.be/DAf7BCBuC_k?si=B_QoY0JaXlinWkmm

Sony San Diego Studios has released some brief information about the upcoming MLB the Show 26 due to release sometime in March of 2026. Video version: https://youtu.be/UphKT9i33nE

High school sports present a great opportunity in sports gaming to mold your career mode player into the college & professional players we all dream of but MLB the Show & EA College Football plan on speeding us through those formative years. Video Version: https://youtu.be/d3anVvvMweU

Sony San Diego is releasing MLB the Show 25 in under 2 weeks. They recently had an hour and a half stream to showcase some thing that did not truly feel worth the time sink BUT it could be leading us in the right direction if they get it right as the game is current gen (XBox Series S/X, PS5 and Switch unfortunately) only.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/1GeDu2TbZBs?si=k4gphJlLQG1YvgvJ

MLB the Show 25 releases in less than a month and it's most popular mode for the last 20 years has been Road to the Show where you can play out your baseball fantasies from the minors to the majors. Has Sony San Diego done enough to bring people coming back for more?    Video Version: https://youtu.be/mRldVjsWnas

MLB the Show 25 begins their marketing of their newest game releasing March 14th for early access, March 18th for everyone else. So what did they add to make the game within the foul lines so players have a better experience in their 20th anniversary of The Show series?   Video Version: https://youtu.be/EZo_KCe18ok

If the Dynasty mode in EA College Football will focus on the head coach aspect of the game, with my experience in coaching sports including assisting a division 3 school in football. These are the features I want to see in future games!   Video version: https://youtu.be/WuJibTBbddI

I have become enamored with Professional Baseball Spirits 2024-2025 (aka Pro Yakyuu Spirits) given the depth of features, many of which I have asked for from MLB the Show who makes the number 1 baseball game in the world.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/gy4ELxczuiI

New MLB the Show 25 News has leaked into the public and I hope they don't expect a pat on the back. Video Version: https://youtu.be/Q9jtgzFJjCg X/Twitter: @StateFranchise

When franchise players feel like Diamond Dynasty gets all of the love from developers, we aren't just complaining into the ether. These features prove that Franchise can get better if the time is dedicated.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/C_NFGznuIbE Support the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StateoftheFranchiseGaming Twitter/X: @StateFranchise

What new myEra will we get for NBA 2K25, I speculate one will be an easy layup of a choice, the other would acknowledge the history of a rising league! Video Version: https://youtu.be/nzBKfvrZT1Y Support the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StateoftheFranchiseGaming Twitter/X: @StateFranchise

NCAA Football 14 held us down for 11 solid years but it time to move into a new generation of college football gaming with EA College Football 25 along side the podcasts first guest  @BRonSports  https://www.youtube.com/@BRonSports   Video Version: https://youtu.be/xunOwYta80E Support the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StateoftheFranchiseGaming Twitter/X: @StateFranchise

We were told 2 months ago the Teambuilder site would be out this summer BEFORE EA College Football 25 releases and we are near it's scheduled release date, so will we get it in time for early release on the 15th? Video version: https://youtu.be/0TaY6C3YaLc Support the Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber?

Teambuilder makes it's return in EA College Football 25 and while we do not know the details we can start brain storming some schools to bring back in states where there is no current FBS presence!  Video Version: https://youtu.be/1lAX3l8I1E8 Support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber? Find me on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StateFranchise

I have some gripes about MLB the Show's Free Agency and how it is constructed with some improvements I would like to see in the near future! Video Version: https://youtu.be/s4v8TI5xQUc Support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber? Find me on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StateFranchise

Proper 40-man roster management plays an integral role in your teams' success. Who gets called up following an injury? Who is on the verge of replacing a struggling player? Who gets to play in the postseason? All of these questions and many more are answered in this episode.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/vZDBeDv0Gew Support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber? Find me on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StateFranchise

I cannot reasonably tell you the last time MLB the Show Franchise received a new, game changing feature in Franchise mode in it's 19 year history. Now call me skeptical, pessimistic if you want to but I call it realistic. March to October while a brilliant name MLB the Show starting this year needs a massive upgrade with at least ONE of these NEW features I have mentioned on today's #FranchiseAintDeadPod for us franchise players to hop off their back. I honestly do not feel we have had a major upgrade in the PS4 or PS5 era and in fact have lost a couple features in the transition over to newer hardware & new platforms that is holding back people from playing the long-standing mode. March to October is a brilliant name even if the World Series ends in November but it just is NOT the mode for long time franchise heads like myself to get into. Sure you can get through seasons much quicker but it feels like extended Critical Moments with gimmicked visuals so that you feel accomplished.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/jNtadaUs1yM Support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber? Find me on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StateFranchise

In MLB the Show 22 we finally received an update to understand our financial earnings in a simpler way going from a weekly projection system to knowing for sure how much money has been made by our team over the course of a season. MLB the Show 12 did finances in a much better manner by showing us a simple balance sheet where we see where our efforts are giving our franchise teams the money needed to get better. This money can be used to upgrade training facilities, add more seats at the ball park or even spend on better talent so we can win more games. Over the next ten years there were all sorts of Reddit posts & Operation Sports posts where people attempted to figure out how much revenue we brought in without any of the control we previously enjoyed.

2023 was a great year in gaming, so many highly acclaimed games from Life of P to Baldur's Gate 3 to High-Fi Rush, and we should have a great 2024 in store for us as well. But when most think of great games why do sports games rarely, it ever get mentioned? Do gaming reviewers not take the time out to understand these games or do they just play for a day's worth of time all the while never being the type of gamer that the game companies are attempting to appeal towards? The Game Awards came & went on December 7th 2023 and not one time did we see a trailer for an upcoming release like many other genres. Are sports gamers not respected as "gamers" or is the niche not presenting itself in a way to appeal to the more casual, less jock knowledgeable player?   Video Version can be found here: https://youtu.be/yEvrKF1Dv1s Subscribe to the YT channel State of the Franchise Gaming: https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber? Find me on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StateFranchise

WWE 2K23's latest patch 1.21 sets a bad example of how to handle community creators such as those who create characters/players, rosters & scenarios within our favorite sports video games. Offline games do not typically enjoy the plethora of updates that the more lucrative modes gain during the yearly cycle. None of us want to face cheaters & exploiters of the game but when people unearth unused & hidden assets is where we learn what these companies are keeping from us for better or for worse. Banning these folks is just a way of sweeping the lack of updates under the rug as opposed to being transparent with your consumers of why things were kept away from paying customers even if we don't like the explanation. These does not bode well for other sports video games even the ones under the Take Two umbrella. Video Version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/c/StateoftheFranchiseGaming?view_as=subscriber?sub_confirmation=1

Are CPU teams in franchise games utilizing scouting effectively? In some games, it seems like they either don't use it or take advantage of it when they do. This episode explores the balance between user and CPU team scouting strategies. Find out if there's a fair playing field and don't forget to subscribe for more gaming insights! MLB the Show built up the hype of their revamped scouting for MLB the Show 23 but was it enough to keep the attention of an ever starved fan base looking for innovative features? Full Video episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/FHHKS05gdY4?si=JpW9vXORr7JEcyyG   I was afraid MLB the Show would place something new into the game but did not bother to ensure the CPU is utilizing the features placed into the game. Madden is also notorious for the CPU teams not utilizing things like the coaching tree which means as the years go by your team almost by default will be better at managing players than the CPU teams and it will get boring to continue to dominate without being checked.

Unlike TLC I am too proud to beg for something that should be accessible by all who look to consume the beta/demo of Madden 24 (which has since ended). In 2023 EA decided it was a good idea to open up the beta to all via signup and codes to access were received via email. I received my code 3-4 days before the beta ended. I will praise them for having all modes available but look how well that worked out for them as a 'polished' game that needed to offer 50% to those in which a December update wiped out their save files.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/dIfOjYu1jS8   Find me elsewhere on social platforms here: https://linktr.ee/stateofthefranchisesports 

As it currently stands we are in the midst of Madden 24 beta testing with the game to release in August. EA College Football is possibly in limbo with college players not accepting the $500 being offered as even semi-relevant players can and will make more through an NIL deal let alone the stars & superstars. Maximum Football has pushed back it's beta testing to late summer/early fall. Legend Bowl has been out for a couple years now and is awaiting certification from the various console companies but is available on PC. College Bowl has no tentative release date. Axis Football is everywhere but PS5 and Varsity HS Football Game is set for beta testing at year's end with release (hopefully) sometime in 2024. Some may not necessarily be direct competitors to the EA Football throne but the threats are there in various forms. Video Version: https://youtu.be/gwN3k0sM5Uk   Find me elsewhere on social platforms here: https://linktr.ee/stateofthefranchisesports

Every decade or so with hardware that gets better, we typically see a hike in prices for our video game purchase. Sports video games are usually seen as nothing more than roster updates on a year to year basis unless there is a feature added to the game which changes how we experience our franchise & career modes. Are we asking for too much to see features improved upon or immersion increased rather than having features removed for the sake of adding them back years later? Systems such as the PS3 were used by the US government as a supercomputer but now we find ourselves begging for features that would help up play longer but are constantly denied or ignored.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/nP5znux_iy0 Find me elsewhere on social platforms here: https://linktr.ee/stateofthefranchisesports Article researched: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/are-video-games-really-more-expensive  

Our PCs & gaming consoles harbor the best that tech has to offer in terms of speed and power yet our sports video games play like they can't do 10 pushups for the life of them. We have down right silly trade logic, CPU teams make questionable free agent signings and despite playing in-game on the hardest of difficulties the CPU manages their team softer than Charmin tissue in a rain storm.   Video Version: https://youtu.be/7dnt8aLMT1c Find me elsewhere on social platforms here: https://linktr.ee/stateofthefranchisesports

In the 1990s through the late 2000s sports games relied on Franchise & Career modes to draw customers to their games in a time when competitive gaming consisted of local couch head to head matchups or online games versus two preset teams. Now with companies using the tactics that have been successful for mobile games, microtransactions & F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out), they have made revenue to the point where it is greater than the initial purchase on console or even rely solely on microtransactions revenue and making games free to play. Have these money making ploys caused them to neglect the foundational modes which are meant to represent the experience of running a team or being a professional player?   Video Version: https://youtu.be/g26u_SblE4I Find me elsewhere on social platforms here: https://linktr.ee/stateofthefranchisesports