In the past few years THQ has increased the authenticity of videogame mixed martial arts with the UFC: Undisputed series. THQ captured the physicality and intricacies of the brutal sport. The fictitious tussles of the franchises have been bruising and glorious in execution. The series strived and succeed to a fault in its quest for realism. But the UFC license is no longer in the hands of THQ.
Although it appeared that the UFC: Undisputed franchise was one of THQ's few successes, the company sold the brand's exclusive license to Electronic Arts. Now EA Sports is tasked with developing a new UFC videogame franchise that celebrates the Undisputed series' legacy, while innovating the previous games' shortcomings.
Although this will be EA's first UFC videogame, the company had previously flirted with the genre of mixed martial arts with the release of EA Sports MMA in October 2010. The game was met with critical success, but was commercially a failure.
Here are the top 5 things that I want to see in an EA Sports' UFC game.
5. A better Career Mode
The career mode in THQ's games never felt like an authentic experience. It was a bunch of mini-games and leveling-up. The UFC purchased rival Strikeforce and its entire roster of fighters just before the release of Undisputed 3. EA now has the chance to take a fighter from smaller promotions to Strikeforce and eventually to the UFC. This would create an incredible career-mode. I would also like to see television show "The Ultimate Fighter" integrated into the career-mode, which brings me to number 9...
4. The Ultimate Fighter
EA has got to find a way to integrate one of the UFC's most powerful brand names into the fighting game. I would like a recreate the best fights in TUF history mode. I want TUF to be incorporated into the career-mode as well, players should get invited to the show after fighting in smaller promotions, if a player fails to win the show maybe he is invited to fight for Strikeforce.
3. Combined control systems from Undisputed 3 and EA Sports' MMA.
I would like to have the ability to use either games control scheme. I know this will likely be impossible but this is a list of wants. I think EA's control scheme is better suited for pick-up play action. The Undisputed controls are much more complicated with a tougher learning curve.
2. Female Fighters
With the inclusion of Strikeforce there should be female fighters such as Miesha Tate, Sarah Kaufmann, Gina Carano, Cyborg Santos, and Ronda Rousey. The women have proven that they are a draw in combat sports and it is time they get their due.
1. Fight Camps
A fighter's home base is one of the most important aspects of what makes a fighter successful. It would be awesome to have little things like Greg Jackson's camp running in high elevation at their New Mexico facility. Also creating your own camp in career-mode would be a welcomed addition as well. This feature woud also work as a better way to level-up user created fighters.
