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Today we take a look at "Sim" gaming and how it is bringing the community down to a hands off level. I decided to write this after a (sim) league game of Madden NFL 25. A game that after it was over, my opponent called me "not sim". As I sat back and looked at the stats and reflected on the game; the only thing that became clear to me was that my opponent refused to adjust his game plan and let me control the tempo of the game.
What "Sim" Used to Be
Let me start this off right... I make every attempt when playing sports games to relicate that sports' real life counterpart. Play the sport how you see it played in real life and most importantly: Don't take advantage of flaws in the AI of the game. That is what "Sim Gaming" used to stand for. Today it has become a crutch for those who refuse to adapt to what is happening in game. My image of "Sim" is to follow the sport, if your opponent is beating the tar out of you passing the ball... adjust your defense. If you don't attempt to adjust... technically YOU are "Not Sim". That, my friends, is what sports are all about. Real sports teams take advantage or "exploit" what the other team doesn't do well. They "exploit" the game plan of the other team, it is on the other team to stop them.
What "Sim" Has Become
In the "Sim" community, everything is turning into an "exploit", even the most rudimentiary parts of the games. The easiest sports games for me to use as an example are Football and Basketball. If you blitz from the edge... you aren't sim. If your opponent plays cover 4 all game and you start to kill them with screens... you aren't sim. If you run a zone defense to slow down a power forward who is beating you up in the paint... you aren't sim. If you take advantage of your opponents poor "on-ball" defense... you aren't sim. At its' core, sim has become an excuse, a reason for defeat. It has become the rationalization for refusal to change. Some folks feel that they should naturally call a play and by default... the play should be successful. User input should have no bearing, the game should correct their mistakes based on player ratings and intangibles.
What "Sim" Should Be
You are essentially the players and the coach. It is your job to put the players in the best position to be successfull. If your opponent plays weak "on-ball" defense... take him to the hole everytime down the court until he shows he can stop you. If your opponent refuses to cover the running back out of the backfield; keep throwing it to him until he is showing that he is making a reasonable attempt to correct HIS/HER deficiency. There are two sides to "sim" gaming, both should be attempted.
Punting on 4th down... yep, regular kickoffs... yep, pick and roll... yep, spot up corner three's... yep, Al staples of their respective sports. Gaming leagues aren't there to tell you how to play, they are there as an easy meet up for players. Too many leagues try and govern common sense rather than allow the fundamentals of the sport to take place. Should you go for it on 4th and 1 on your opponents 35 yard line? It's certainly debatable but there is no right or wrong answer. That situation should be up to the user and not the league.
Verdict
Hands off folks! Leave your users play by their terms when it's a judgement call. Stop restriciting the sports you are playing because it doesn't fit your view of the game. Stop using "Sim" as an excuse for losing. If you leave something open constantly, don't get mad at your opponent for taking advantage of your failure to adjust. Don't say "the game should cover that".. no, it's your responsibility. Accept your portion of the blame and stop blaming everything else associated with the game and your opponent.
What do you think? I think "Cheese" is bad, but governing the fudamentals out of the game is worse.
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