Request Or Suggestions for Future Patches / Big Ant Gaming Series

[Langeveldt]

It seems clear to me that by not properly finishing games or patching them adequately, they have been swooping in on gaps in the market and securing a cash-grab.

Spotting a vacuum in the market is a standard marketing tactic, but deceiving and shortchanging the people who pay top price for it - the 'cash-grab' - is ethically unsound.

The CEO is a bully - he blocks anyone whose view differs from his, and throws tantrums, because he is used to getting attention and having his own way. I know the type. And I strongly question his ethical character. Especially with Ashes Cricket and now the farcical-looking AO Tennis game.

This is why those who keep making excuses for this company or otherwise enabling BigAnt are part of the problem. The worst of which are the few on this forum who thank every post made by someone which appears to praise the game in some way, while keeping their criticisms of the game 'light', and - to quote Fox News - act 'Fair and Balanced', even though it's not really balanced at all. Something's up with those guys. I can't figure out if it's exaggerated optimism, naivety, or some conflict of interest going on.

I've noticed just more recently that there about 4-5 members of this forum who are starting to stand up taller now and question the morals and ethics of this company. These members comprise a group of us who have been smelling horse manure for a while now, but can see the unscrupulous nature of the tactics being used by BigAnt's manager come into much sharper focus.

Sorry, Biggs, I'm stealing your phrase again. More of us are starting to "get it", and Ross is on notice.

Agreed with all of this. However by having the stones to check out these gaps in the market and not having a lot of competition, they are pretty much guaranteed our money right? I couldn't personally say I would walk past a cricket game in a shop and not buy it because I don't like the way the developer conducts themselves.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Agreed with all of this. However by having the stones to check out these gaps in the market and not having a lot of competition, they are pretty much guaranteed our money right? I couldn't personally say I would walk past a cricket game in a shop and not buy it because I don't like the way the developer conducts themselves.

I would hope, should there be another Ashes game by Big Ant, that I will be more restrained given the release of the last two games. If it's a case of waiting a couple of weeks to see the general response or waiting a little longer for a discount. I could pick up it on PS4 now for half what I paid. Although I never expected Ashes to be a revolutionary change from DBC17 I at least expected it would be that with improvements. Even if there was just no bat pad smash it'd have been better than nothing.

 

[CaptainOZ]

Agreed with all of this. However by having the stones to check out these gaps in the market and not having a lot of competition, they are pretty much guaranteed our money right? I couldn't personally say I would walk past a cricket game in a shop and not buy it because I don't like the way the developer conducts themselves.

Yes, I guess my argument extended into the moral objection to their conduct. Unfortunately a lot of the public won't become aware of this, despite the wide availability of online reviews these days. Many will still just be uninformed consumers and buy, buy, buy... and then play it for a few hours and store it somewhere in their entertainment cabinet. BigAnt wins.

 

[Langeveldt]

Yes, I guess my argument extended into the moral objection to their conduct. Unfortunately a lot of the public won't become aware of this, despite the wide availability of online reviews these days. Many will still just be uninformed consumers and buy, buy, buy... and then play it for a few hours and store it somewhere in their entertainment cabinet. BigAnt wins.

However it does nothing for the reputation of cricket gaming. "There are no decent cricket games" puts a lot of people off buying in the first place, and as long as buggy builds are released and there is disdain for the customer, there are only so many people who will buy a game revolving around the second biggest sport on the globe.

 

[hammadahmed88]

Agreed with all of this. However by having the stones to check out these gaps in the market and not having a lot of competition, they are pretty much guaranteed our money right? I couldn't personally say I would walk past a cricket game in a shop and not buy it because I don't like the way the developer conducts themselves.

Agree with all that has been said here thus far. I was in that same position with Ashes, and despite my best efforts and hesitance, ended up buying the title anyways. I did my homework and read plenty of reviews. Most of them seemed to be positive so I went ahead. We would like to believe that we can objectively walk away from a cricket game but the love of the sport sometimes overwhelms, particularly for people like me who reside in places where cricket is not even an afterthought.

That's the one thing I think proponents of the company don't understand. Criticism doesn't stem from a place of combativeness. We'd all love for there to be an excellent cricket game, or cricket gameS in an ideal world, because essentially we are lovers of the sport. It's just appalling (I know that might be strong but it's a personal feeling) that someone would play down its competitors so harshly noting their love of the game, then proceed to subsequently employ shady tactics to squeeze every dime out of customers who have supported that said company.

In the instances when I have offered a few suggestions, it has been received with somewhat harsh push back, bordering on personal attacks. Perhaps it's because I'm not an active member of this forum. I have a life outside this game. But these suggestions are in the effort of a better game. Something the CEO would be better served to understand sooner rather than later. Like most people, I will also stick with DBC 14, update my rosters and kits, and not spend any more money on games that somehow seem to get worse with each iteration, at least for me.

 

[BaseballJunkie]

If sales are indeed up, and licensing available, maybe another developer will swoop in and make a cricket game. Here’s hoping for the cricket version of Pro Evolution Soccer

 

[Chief]

If sales are indeed up, and licensing available, maybe another developer will swoop in and make a cricket game. Here’s hoping for the cricket version of Pro Evolution Soccer

I don't think sales were up. Certainly not at retail: All depends on the digital sales which are very hard to get a handle on.

 

[CDG]

Hi BigAnt and @MattW
I have been playing career mode a lot recently and have discovered there is no way to track the age of players or your own player. I feel like this needs to be implemented as it should be a fundamental feature of the mode.
Thank you for providing a great game for us all.

 

[Chief]

I picked up Madden recently and the tutorials stuff in that is absolutely brilliant.

Every aspect of the sport explained, taught. Not what you have to do, but teaching you why to do it.

It's my new gold standard for sports games.

 

[cricket_online]

I picked up Madden recently and the tutorials stuff in that is absolutely brilliant.

Every aspect of the sport explained, taught. Not what you have to do, but teaching you why to do it.

It's my new gold standard for sports games.

My best part about the madden tutorials is when they walk you through defensive coverages (i.e. Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4, Man etc.) and how to attack them followed by a drill where you are supposed to beat the coverage by calling plays. That part is what brings a sport (nfl/football) and video games together and something everyone can appreciate.

Can you imagine how great a cricket game/Ashes Cricket would be if it explained to you what a green pitch is, how you are supposed to bat on it (i.e. leave good length deliveries outside off and focus on mostly over pitched deliveries and rely on nudges and pushes for 1s & 2s) and then there's a drill where you are supposed to wait for the right type of delivery to hit for a 4, or the advantages/disadvantages of various field types (aggressive to defensive) and how to bat and score against those field sets.

 

[Chief]

My best part about the madden tutorials is when they walk you through defensive coverages (i.e. Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4, Man etc.) and how to attack them followed by a drill where you are supposed to beat the coverage by calling plays. That part is what brings a sport (nfl/football) and video games together and something everyone can appreciate.

Can you imagine how great a cricket game/Ashes Cricket would be if it explained to you what a green pitch is, how you are supposed to bat on it (i.e. leave good length deliveries outside off and focus on mostly over pitched deliveries and rely on nudges and pushes for 1s & 2s) and then there's a drill where you are supposed to wait for the right type of delivery to hit for a 4, or the advantages/disadvantages of various field types (aggressive to defensive) and how to bat and score against those field sets.

This is *exactly* why I think it's brilliant and would improve cricket games no end - They also do more with commentary in terms of letting the player constantly know the match situation: the overall score in the game, the yards they need on downs, the basic risk level that they need to be currently taking. When to hurry and when to slow things.

 

[Dutch]

This is *exactly* why I think it's brilliant and would improve cricket games no end - They also do more with commentary in terms of letting the player constantly know the match situation: the overall score in the game, the yards they need on downs, the basic risk level that they need to be currently taking. When to hurry and when to slow things.

So if I have looked correctly this is another console only game?

 

[cricket_online]

So if I have looked correctly this is another console only game?

Yup Madden is available only on consoles. And the video below (start from 4:25 mark) gives an example of the tutorial/skills trainer in the game, i.e. how it explains the concepts to the user and help them improve...

 

[Dutch]

Yup Madden is available only on consoles. And the video below (start from 4:25 mark) gives an example of the tutorial/skills trainer in the game, i.e. how it explains the concepts to the user and help them improve...

Very neat! But again I imagine a developer with a lot more recourses and financial clout than say BA.....although I think a lot more could be done in this regard without having to cost and arm and a leg?

 

[Mr Snrub]

buy, buy, buy... and then play it for a few hours and store it somewhere in their entertainment cabinet. BigAnt wins.

With DBC'17, Rugby League Live 4, Ashes Cricket, this is basically me except I give it a dozen or so hours. Until AO Tennis. I love tennis games, have bought all Big Ant releases except La Crosse. I'm ready to back off and not purchase until a game is actually good, including cricket. Even if Big Ant get Rugby Union, my favourite gaming sport, I'll hold off.

They used to be so ambitious. Rugby League Live 2, had minor flaws and annoyances that got patched out. It was generally a well balanced and tested game though. I think that was the peak. Rugby League Live 3 was for the most part a very good game, minor issues, but most were patched out. DBC '14. A very good game, but once again with several annoyances, they mostly got patched out and then we waited almost a year for the third patch which actually made it a damn good game. No weather, odd night lighting, pitches were not really variable, but still was a very, good game experience.

What they're doing now though is poor. I typed a detailed post a year or two ago about some issues with one of the previous games. I write a fair bit into my posts to make sure I'm clear. Got told by Ross thanks for the sermon. I've noticed that as the praise faded, the disengagement with everyone began. It seems moody, sulky, petulant & head-burying. That might not be the intent, but it seems that way.

Can you imagine testers operating under that kind of environment. I imagine it's like with Mr Burns.

"But I made all the right moves, didn't I?"
"Yes sir, every move a right one".
"I see it all now, you're just a bunch of spineless yes-men. I was making all the wrong moves and you were too gutless to tell me. Isn't that right?"
"Yes sir, that's right".