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Sports Titles Named Misleadingly?

Posted by simoniker on from the nbl-blitzball-2400 dept.

According to an accusatory column in the sports section of the New York Post, naming the 2003-season sports videogame titles as 'Sports Game Title 2004' is dishonest. The writer suggests that "..when it comes to selling video games.. Major League Baseball and all big-league sports eagerly sell their licenses and logos to manufacturers who can't or won't tell the simplest and most significant of truths.." Have you been confused by this naming method, or do you think it's fair and understandable?

2 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Retarded by pudge · · Score: 2, Interesting
    "Madden NFL 2003" was released before the 2002 NFL season. "MVP Baseball 2003" is the 2002 version. "NCAA Football 2003" was released in July, 2002. "NFL 2K3" should've been named "NFL 2K2."


    First, MVP Baseball 2003 is not "the 2002 version." That is a lie. It has 2002 stats because the 2003 stats do not exist. Duh.

    As to the others, they *all* take place in the 2002-2003 season. The seasons are all 2003, and the name of the game is 2003. He could say, "well, but the stats are 2001-2002," but that has already been dispensed with (and in the case of Madden, it isn't even true, since you can update the stats on the PS2 version to BE the 2002-2003 stats).

    Yes, he has a point with High Heat 2004. That leapfrogs an entire season, and literally makes no sense. But logical arguments can be made for all the others mentioned.
  2. Re:Oh come on by Squirrel+Killer · · Score: 2, Interesting
    This year, unsuspecting shoppers will think that two editions of the game - this year's and last year's - are the current versions.
    How hard is this to figure out? Please, show me one case where a gamer has been seriously swindled by this.
    I don't buy this moron's argument either, but I still have a problem with the naming convention. I just never thought to write it up and submit it to a nationally known newspaper.

    My problem is more historical nitpicking, expectation of league standings, and well, calling a spade a spade than it is an accusation of fraud. I can go back and play NHLPA '93 or NHL '96 on my Sega Genesis, but the team rosters I'm playing with are from the '92 and '95 seasons. The All-Star Baseball 2003 game has the Cincinnati Reds playing at Cynergy Field instead of the Great American Ballpark. If I want to play with Jeff George as my QB, which team do I choose in Madden '98? What's the earliest NBA game I can play with the Toronto Raptors? More importantly, you're playing Madden '04 against your buddy who picked the Raiders, do you pick the Rams or the Buccaners?