How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community
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@BadaBing_0_PSN What we don't know and probably never will is: how much is Playstation and Sony involved with the decline. Are SDS's hands being forced? In this expense-growing economy, is the game as profitable as it has been in the past? I know they made a multi-year commitment to the Negro League Museum to bring those players into the game, but it sure feels like this may be the last year of the game. I hope it isn't, but with all the problems left untouched and the lack of communication from the developers, it feels like a wind-down.
I'm sure there is a steep increase in costs to keep this game going (servers, salaries, office space, corporate fees, royalties, etc.) but the real question is: are these costs too much to keep the game profitable enough to maintain, upgrade, and bring future editions to the market?
Yes, they sell hundreds of thousands of copies of the game, but with those sales come costs to keep it running. Are those costs too much for profitability - or is the margin of profitability that Playstation and/or Sony demands there?
These are some of the ramblings my brain has been tossing about as I spend my time playing a game I have loved in the past, but am slowing getting tired of.
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@aaronjw76 said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
unfortunately it's difficult to keep content fresh when they are handing out 90 cards from TA, 50+ cards from season awards, and whatever programs mixed in between.
150-200 (maybe more) free cards that people can earn.
I know there have been a lot of players to play this game but realistically, how many do you really think deserve to be in the game or that they even have the rights to?
We're going to be force fed the same cards next season and the season after that and the season after that.
How do you keep content fresh with this structure? You can't. Seasons and the shift to more collections has made it very difficult to keep content interesting and engaging. Very unfortunate.
Content is what you do with the cards much, much more than the cards themselves. Seasons have absolutely nothing to do with the content issue
Every single mode is the same as last year. No innovation.
Mini seasons remain half assed. Conquest is OK enough, but they cut the TA maps. Showdown is still showdown. Ranked, BR, and events all same as last year.They need to shake things up. Offline especially needs a new mode, and I'm sure there is a way to spice up online as well.
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this might be the best written piece that isnt just breathing fire, and threatening to quit or tearing people apart post ive seen. Bravo!
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And it's almost certainly the publishers behind the monetisation. That's the way the games industry works. Developers generally care about their product, publishers care about money and don't care about quality or customer happiness as long as the money flows.
I do think some of the staleness of content is on SDS though.
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@Blind_Bleeder said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
@BadaBing_0 What we don't know and probably never will is: how much is Playstation and Sony involved with the decline. Are SDS's hands being forced? In this expense-growing economy, is the game as profitable as it has been in the past? I know they made a multi-year commitment to the Negro League Museum to bring those players into the game, but it sure feels like this may be the last year of the game. I hope it isn't, but with all the problems left untouched and the lack of communication from the developers, it feels like a wind-down.
I'm sure there is a steep increase in costs to keep this game going (servers, salaries, office space, corporate fees, royalties, etc.) but the real question is: are these costs too much to keep the game profitable enough to maintain, upgrade, and bring future editions to the market?
Yes, they sell hundreds of thousands of copies of the game, but with those sales come costs to keep it running. Are those costs too much for profitability - or is the margin of profitability that Playstation and/or Sony demands there?
These are some of the ramblings my brain has been tossing about as I spend my time playing a game I have loved in the past, but am slowing getting tired of.
The game’s sustainability hinges not just on sales, but on its ability to maintain a loyal and satisfied player base. If players continue to feel ignored and underserved, the long-term viability of The Show could be in jeopardy. Ultimately, without insider information, we can only speculate on the internal dynamics at SDS and the financial pressures they face. However, the community's growing discontent signals a need for greater transparency and responsiveness from both SDS and its corporate overseers. If PlayStation and Sony value the franchise's legacy and its dedicated player base, they must address these issues head-on to ensure that MLB The Show remains a beloved staple for years to come.
Let's hope that SDS recognizes this sentiment and takes meaningful steps to bridge the gap with their community.
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@LIONED-33 said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
this might be the best written piece that isnt just breathing fire, and threatening to quit or tearing people apart post ive seen. Bravo!
Thank you! I'm glad the tone came across as intended. The goal is definitely to open up a constructive dialogue rather than just vent frustration. The community has a lot of passionate and dedicated players who genuinely want to see MLB The Show succeed. Hopefully, SDS takes note of this kind of feedback and engages with us more openly. It would be great to see them build on this conversation and start addressing some of the concerns we've raised. Here's to hoping for a more transparent and responsive future for the game we all love.
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@BadaBing_0 I’m curious how many players would opt into a monthly subscription for DD?
I’m not going to be shocked if companies like EA and SDS head in that direction for access to online content.Full disclosure I would pay monthly.
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@BJDUBBYAH said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
@BadaBing_0 I’m curious how many players would opt into a monthly subscription for DD?
I’m not going to be shocked if companies like EA and SDS head in that direction for access to online content.Full disclosure I would pay monthly.
I'd only pay a monthly fee if the game price was greatly reduced, by more than half. Plus it would depend on the monthly payment. More than likely, I wouldn't buy the game if it came to a monthly subscription.
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@BJDUBBYAH said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
@BadaBing_0 I’m curious how many players would opt into a monthly subscription for DD?
I’m not going to be shocked if companies like EA and SDS head in that direction for access to online content.Full disclosure I would pay monthly.
It depends...if they were to reduce the initial price of the game to $25 or $30? Maybe. It would also depend on the monthly price and if they're actually going to maintain relevant content flow or not
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@BJDUBBYAH said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
@BadaBing_0 I’m curious how many players would opt into a monthly subscription for DD?
I’m not going to be shocked if companies like EA and SDS head in that direction for access to online content.Full disclosure I would pay monthly.
I wouldn't be inclined to opt into a monthly subscription for Diamond Dynasty (DD) in its current state. Even with a $100 version offering a full season pass, I wouldn't see it as worth the investment without significant improvements to the game. For a subscription model to be enticing, SDS would need to overhaul the game, introduce diverse modes, and consistently release playable content over time, rather than dumping a month's worth of content in one day.
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That would be the death knell for me, a monthly subscription service. The amount of content does not warrant such a move and it would kill me, but I would have to move on from The Show. I am a cheapskate however.
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@Blind_Bleeder said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
@BadaBing_0 What we don't know and probably never will is: how much is Playstation and Sony involved with the decline. Are SDS's hands being forced? In this expense-growing economy, is the game as profitable as it has been in the past? I know they made a multi-year commitment to the Negro League Museum to bring those players into the game, but it sure feels like this may be the last year of the game. I hope it isn't, but with all the problems left untouched and the lack of communication from the developers, it feels like a wind-down.
I'm sure there is a steep increase in costs to keep this game going (servers, salaries, office space, corporate fees, royalties, etc.) but the real question is: are these costs too much to keep the game profitable enough to maintain, upgrade, and bring future editions to the market?
Yes, they sell hundreds of thousands of copies of the game, but with those sales come costs to keep it running. Are those costs too much for profitability - or is the margin of profitability that Playstation and/or Sony demands there?
These are some of the ramblings my brain has been tossing about as I spend my time playing a game I have loved in the past, but am slowing getting tired of.
Why dude?? Omg WHY are you and the lot like this? Are you seriously on the payroll or related to someone on the payroll? I've literally NEVER seen ANY reasonable criticism of the things that actually matter to this game. It's not hard to put blame where it is due and it's insanely mind numbing the lengths you will go do not put a single bit of responsibility on SDS. There are no other games Sony has that are this [censored] bad. In fact they have their hands ENTIRELY inside of Spiderman and it was a contender for the game of the year and always continues to be. Sony has no problem giving devs their liberty.
So dense. So dense. I'm sorry. I am not insulting you at this point. I am just impressed by the lengths and stretching y'all do, my goodness. -
@Blind_Bleeder absolutely, and if/when we see the game released on current gen only, I want to believe a major overhaul will come with it. With a focus on all of the things you’ve outlined in your post. And I wouldn’t be shocked to see the dabbling of monthly subscription.
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@Pergo said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
I could be down with a monthly subscription if it's done right. The rewards would have to be worth it and there would have to be less of a focus on pack cards outside of the subscription tier.
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They need to make it fun again. Just some ideas I've come up with.
Use any version of a player to create Dynamic Duos:
Dynamic Duos
Pair up dynamic duos like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to get "Power Surge" synergy, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer to get "Fireballers" synergy, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger to get "Double Trouble" synergy, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirex to get "Dynamic Infield" synergy, Lawrence Butler and Julio Rodriguez to get "Electric Outfield" synergy, Juan Soto and Bryce Harper, activate the "Twin Towers" synergy, Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow to get "Strikeout Kings" synergy, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado to get "Clutch Connection", Trea Turner and Byron Buxton to get "Speedsters" synergy.Dynamic Duos Past & Present
Choose combinations like Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax to form the "Dodger Dominance" synergy, Mike Trout and Ken Griffey Jr. might create the "Power and Finesse" synergy, Max Scherzer and Nolan Ryan could form the "Strikeout Kings", Kris Bryant and Ernie Banks might activate the "Cubs' Legacy" synergy.Legend Duos
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig might have a "Murderers' Row" synergy, while Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese could have a "Brooklyn Double" synergy, you could pair Willie Mays and Hank Aaron to activate the "Say Hey Hammer" synergy, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. might create the "Mr. Padre & The Iron Man" synergy, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson could team up with the "Dominant Duo" synergy.Fantasy Draft Weekend:
Host weekend-long fantasy draft events where players compete in live drafts to build their ultimate Diamond Dynasty teams. Participate in drafting sessions with real-time player selections, trade negotiations, and roster adjustments. Each player is assigned a draft position randomly or based on previous performance. The draft follows a serpentine format, where players take turns selecting players for their team. The player pool consists of current cards in DD.
Following the draft, teams compete in a series of scheduled matchups against other drafted squads. The tournament format may vary, including round-robin play, single-elimination brackets, or group stages leading to playoffs.
Based on their performance in the tournament, players earn rewards such as exclusive cards, stubs, XP, etc.
Batter/Pitcher Duels
I think this would be insanely fun if done right.
Pitcher's Duel Mode:
In this mode, players exclusively control their DD pitchers and compete against each other in full games. With both teams using CPU-controlled hitters, meaning they have zero control of stealing, subs, etc.Batter's Showcase Mode:
Conversely, in this mode, players exclusively control their DD batters and compete against each other in full games. With both teams using a completely CPU-controlled pitching staff, meaning they have no decision on when a pitcher is yanked or who comes in. -
@BadaBing_0
Good points!Like with any business, the drive for more profit may eventually conflict with pleasing your customers. At first, pleasing your customers is how you make profit then, as you expand, other opportunities come along that allows you to increase revenue, that may not be pleasing to your customer base.
Once SDS went cross-platform, they lost a bit of their identity. They went from being a unique Sony exclusive game that was different than EA and 2K, into the microtransaction/expiring card/pack-centered beast, that they are today.
When Microsoft started charging their Xbox customers a monthy fee in '17 for their online "services", Sony, then Nintendo followed. Businesses will do whatever they can get away with, in order to expand and increase revenue.
The only way a business changes their path, is if the market drives it. IOW, if a business started losing revenue, they would have to change their model, and possibly even return to the principles that made them successful. SDS has no real competitor. Therefore, any change would need to be customer driven.
Businesses that survive in the long run, take care of their employees, please their customers, and have a passion for the quality of their product. They sacrifice the rapid, short-term money grab, for a more steady and sustainable business approach. I have hope that SDS can still be the later.
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@xElRojo44x said in How SDS Has Become Disconnected from the MLB The Show Community:
Businesses that survive in the long run, take care of their employees, please their customers, and have a passion for the quality of their product. They sacrifice the rapid, short-term money grab, for a more steady and sustainable business approach. I have hope that SDS can still be the later.
SDS is the employee. Sony is the business. MLB to a degree as well.
To your analogy though, no I don't think the business treats their employee well.
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It’s nice to see a thread with some constructive thoughts. I DO agree that this year game seems more money driven and that’s unfortunate. This years Season 1 xp grind has been horrendous. They have always said “just play the game” in regard to getting rewards. That’s what people have been doing and most did not get to Rollins until the S1 recap drop. I know that was the case for me. I am NOT doing this dreadful grind for S2. I’m burnt already.
A previous gentleman brought up the lack of a competitor for SDS. I think this has a lot to do with the issues that have always been there. Until a quality competitor emerges, I just don’t believe positive changes will be made. -
I already pay a yearly subscription for the game along with a monthly fee for PSN, there’s zero chance I’d pay another fee on top of those just because they want to extract the maximum amount of revenue they can. I’ve already stopped playing for the most part and it’s only May. There’s too many other games, real life, outdoors to check out to support a game that doesn’t respect or value there customer base.
