SDS - Content design for 2025

[TeakAUS_PSN]

I doubt SDS will even read the wall of text below, but just offering my 2 cents again in case they do.

SDS in my mind has struggled the last few years with content. They had a great pace in early 2023, but after the father's day blowback they reversed course and that led to a content light 2024. And some preferred it that way.

Note that this isnt addressing shaking up the gameplay modes, which is needed but a different topic.

The way I see it, there are three competing player mindsets:

1. Collectors vs God Squadders
   There is some overlap, but some play this game to pokemon up all the cards, and some play specifically to field a juiced team of 99s. I would suggest a few things here:
   -More is more. Especially when it comes to current season cards, its almost always better to release something than to not release it.
   -However, top end quality is also important. A drop of 10 cards (and programs should really all be 10+ cards) can't have a capper that is lackluster. And you shouldnt force people to use all 10 cards to earn that capstone, even if it is great.
   -Be smart with the 99s though. Lindor post season is the obvious example, other worthy cards were passed up (Diaz, Marte) to give a card similar to a just released 99. Under more is more you just release all 3, but if you absolutely have to reduce card count this is where you be smarter about it

2. Grinders vs People that don't want a second job
   -Make people WANT to do things, but don't make them feel OBLIGATED to them
   -You can have a fairly short program to reach the capstone, but then extend it to get more packs and xp and cosmetics. This is where you can use the individual player missions some of us really enjoy, but no one should be forced into it
   -2024 mid season is a pretty good base, programs were quick to complete. You could play an hour a day and easily finish all offline content. Now take that base, add some early cards, and extend the timeline past the capstone with some grindier stuff
   -If you put packs at the end of optional grinds you WILL get less blowback from releasing so many of them. Time is money, and some people will spend regardless. (the pack card quality should be on the level of the capstone though, not above it)
   -Repeatable conquest goals more often.

3. Offline vs Online
   -This will be more contentious I expect, but first refer to point 1 under grinders
   -I feel The Show would be better off if cards were earnable through gameplay offline OR online. It would improve the online experience more
   -I am fine with online having a faster track (though BR track in particular is already slow as molasses if you are a mediocre hitter). I am fine with offline being no sell. But those packs of 2 capstone cards? Make a grindy offline track to contain one as well. That way if I want to earn BOTH Cueto and Wagner I can, or if Wagner is my favorite player Im not forced to suffer BR to get him or pay 600K+ because apparently no one else wants to suffer BR
   -People will argue 'if online cards arent exclusive, what is the incentive?'. I dont agree with that because if a player prefers online and can get the same thing from either style of play, they will go online. If you keep the xp, packs, and stubs higher in online, people will still play online. You will likely get less habitual quitters, and people who play oddly just to get goals fastest. And you will never have to deal personally with my other side of the world connection in BR and event (though perhaps still in lower ranks, that one can be fun for me)

[beatlesnews_PSN]

@TeakAUS_PSN said in SDS - Content design for 2025:

3. Offline vs Online
   -This will be more contentious I expect, but first refer to point 1 under grinders
   -I feel The Show would be better off if cards were earnable through gameplay offline OR online. It would improve the online experience more
   -I am fine with online having a faster track (though BR track in particular is already slow as molasses if you are a mediocre hitter). I am fine with offline being no sell. But those packs of 2 capstone cards? Make a grindy offline track to contain one as well. That way if I want to earn BOTH Cueto and Wagner I can, or if Wagner is my favorite player Im not forced to suffer BR to get him or pay 600K+ because apparently no one else wants to suffer BR
   -People will argue 'if online cards arent exclusive, what is the incentive?'. I dont agree with that because if a player prefers online and can get the same thing from either style of play, they will go online. If you keep the xp, packs, and stubs higher in online, people will still play online. You will likely get less habitual quitters, and people who play oddly just to get goals fastest. And you will never have to deal personally with my other side of the world connection in BR and event (though perhaps still in lower ranks, that one can be fun for me)

Good post, especially No. 3, since I don't play online. I suggested the same thing about making an alternate way to get online cards rather than pay big bucks for them. And I think the incentive is really for the offline players, who are playing more for fun (well, I am, anyway) rather than blood.