Sports simulations, ostensibly, are about recreating the on-field experience in videogame form as well as possible. But as time went on, gamers wanted more out of their sports games; they wanted to try running a team as opposed to just playing for one, which is why most sports sims have some sort of franchise mode.
However, aside from 2K Sports’ MLB Front Office Manager, we haven’t really seen any games (or game modes) that focus solely on the general manager, whose job it is to maintain a team’s roster. Last year, EA Canada innovated in the playing-on-a-team space with the introduction of the vaunted Be A Pro mode, and in NHL 10 this year, they’re debuting a Be A GM mode.
In the video after the jump, you can watch NHL 10 producer Andy Agostini explain how Be A GM works. It appears to be a separate setup from the regular Dynasty mode, and quite a deep one, at that. The GM Tracker gives you a wealth of information about your team and your situation as a general manager, and as you complete tasks (such as winning the Stanley Cup or making a two-for-two trade), you’ll be able to upgrade your staff and improve your team.
Agostini explains that the dev team looked at real-life GMs and found that they’re judged on three things each year: the NHL Entry Draft, the trade deadline, and free agency. So those are the main areas you’ll concentrate on in the Be A GM mode. The video also mentions an all-new prospects game, so you’ll be drafting on real in-game experience, and it announces the return of the fantasy draft as well. Can you perform well enough to be honored as a legendary GM?
Samit Sarkar is a founding Destructoid editor and go-to Sports guy. Samit was the son of the Duke of Knees, rescued from a burning village in the afghan desert by a golden condor. He is an ace Backgammon player and lost both legs in a whaling tour. He lives for free in a nursery in Scotland where he teaches monks how to capture butterflies without hurting them.
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Woot! I know it's all fun and games (maybe) but tell the others on Podtoid to suck it. Seriously though forget all the bullshit... Podtoid needs to have an episode devoted to sports games current and old school.....hell make it a Retroforcego / Podtoid crossover with the Samit as the strongest link. Screw it all, D-Toid needs to devote a week to sports games and have everyone just go nuts with games from Football on the 2600 to NHL 10.
Bah, Samit every time I excitedly read one of your sports posts I get the feeling we're outcasts as sports gamers. A niche within a niche, oh well what can you do? NHL 09 was amazing and it looks like the new version is vastly improved once again. I really hope some of these features get implemented into the other EA series soon though since I'm not a big hockey fan. Being an AD in NCAA or the GM for a struggling NFL team is an option we should all get to have.
It would be an honor to accept this position but I have to decline as I feel that I can still contribute to the team on the ice. I will prove that you did not make a mistake in signing me to a 15-year, $10 million per season contract to be the best damn 4th liner ever!!
I'm a sucker for these kinds of modes, especially when they are kept within the core game and not made a into a separate game as a blatant cash-in attempt.
@ Guncannon- I can relate! My dad was a stats nerd before games actually kept stats for you, too. So was I, actually. I used to play seasons in the NHL games before they had them, where I would attempt to play every game on the schedule and keep all the stats. Somehow, I also had a girlfriend. I don't know how.
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1:00 AM on 07.22.2009
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@homietheclown: That would be awesome, but alas, it's a mere pipe dream.
@ Guncannon- I can relate! My dad was a stats nerd before games actually kept stats for you, too. So was I, actually. I used to play seasons in the NHL games before they had them, where I would attempt to play every game on the schedule and keep all the stats. Somehow, I also had a girlfriend. I don't know how.