Paakaa10
10-02-2011, 04:34 PM
As I've been rotating playtime between NCAA Football 12, Madden NFL 12, NHL 12, and FIFA 12, it occurred to me that I have markedly different reactions to "basic" achievements in sports video games depending on which game and which sport I'm playing.
Let me define "basic" achievements as things which are simple parts of each sport; for example:
Scoring a touchdown in football.
Kicking a field goal in football.
Sacking the quarterback or making a tackle for loss in football.
Returning a punt or kickoff for a touchdown in football.
Scoring a goal in hockey.
Completing a hard check in hockey.
Making a key save in hockey.
Scoring a goal in soccer.
Converting a set piece or penalty kick.
Stopping a set piece or penalty kick.
Hitting a home run in baseball.
Striking a batter out in baseball.
Making a great defensive play to rob a hitter of a home run or just a hit in baseball.
Hitting a three-pointer in basketball.
Driving the lane for a slam dunk in basketball.
Some of the things on this list are things that would be "everyday" occurrences for professional athletes but things that sports video gamers might be hard-pressed to achieve in real-life.
Which of these "basic" sports video game achievements do you find most satisfying? Vote in the poll and--if you have a spare moment--share some thoughts on why you think that is.
My Answer:
Scoring a goal in soccer playing FIFA 12. Despite playing youth soccer for a number of years in my childhood, I never actually scored a goal. Having watched professional soccer for a while--and tuning in to multiple World Cups--I know how hard it is to convert a goal in the sport. Every time I manage to get a goal in FIFA, it feels like a real accomplishment because I have to really work at it to succeed.
Close Runner-Up:
Hitting a home run in baseball, especially in MLB 11 The Show. Never hit a home run in all my years playing Little League, and using analog controls for batting in this year's game was a bit hard to wrap my head around at first. Any time I was able to make contact solid enough to "go yard," there was a good sense of achievement.
Let me define "basic" achievements as things which are simple parts of each sport; for example:
Scoring a touchdown in football.
Kicking a field goal in football.
Sacking the quarterback or making a tackle for loss in football.
Returning a punt or kickoff for a touchdown in football.
Scoring a goal in hockey.
Completing a hard check in hockey.
Making a key save in hockey.
Scoring a goal in soccer.
Converting a set piece or penalty kick.
Stopping a set piece or penalty kick.
Hitting a home run in baseball.
Striking a batter out in baseball.
Making a great defensive play to rob a hitter of a home run or just a hit in baseball.
Hitting a three-pointer in basketball.
Driving the lane for a slam dunk in basketball.
Some of the things on this list are things that would be "everyday" occurrences for professional athletes but things that sports video gamers might be hard-pressed to achieve in real-life.
Which of these "basic" sports video game achievements do you find most satisfying? Vote in the poll and--if you have a spare moment--share some thoughts on why you think that is.
My Answer:
Scoring a goal in soccer playing FIFA 12. Despite playing youth soccer for a number of years in my childhood, I never actually scored a goal. Having watched professional soccer for a while--and tuning in to multiple World Cups--I know how hard it is to convert a goal in the sport. Every time I manage to get a goal in FIFA, it feels like a real accomplishment because I have to really work at it to succeed.
Close Runner-Up:
Hitting a home run in baseball, especially in MLB 11 The Show. Never hit a home run in all my years playing Little League, and using analog controls for batting in this year's game was a bit hard to wrap my head around at first. Any time I was able to make contact solid enough to "go yard," there was a good sense of achievement.