Though Apple TV+ has a mountain to climb if it wants to compete with the powerhouses of Prime Video and Netflix, the platform has a big hit to carry it forward.Ted Lassohas captured the attention of many with its heartwarming storylines and fantastic character development. It’s a show that focuses on a small team in the English top flight of football/soccer, and an unlikely head coach that takes the job with zero experience in the sport.Actor Brett Goldstein alluded to the third season being the last, but the show has surprised audiences, and has even more potential outside the medium of TV.
Sports games are a-dime-a-dozen in 2022, but some developers are pushing the boundaries of the genre.Golf Story, Rocket League,andDodgeball Academiaare all games that focus on a specific sport, but don’t require any prior knowledge from the player.Apple TV’sTed Lassocould break into the video game space by adopting a similar philosophy, and utilizing its charming nature to make a football management simulator that is simpler, funnier, and less convoluted than the likes ofFootball Manager.
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Sports Games are Finding Casual Fans
Franchises likeFIFAandMaddenare often criticized for the lack of innovation as a result of EA’s commitment to annual releases, but the reality is that they always have the potential to differ drastically from what came before.FIFA 17’s “The Journey” was a well-conceived and executed attempt at bringing players a story to go with the gameplay revisions fromFIFA 16, andMadden 18’s short-lived Longshot mode was a surprisingly deep narrative. It’s not enough to just be a sports game in the modern era, as more casual gamers are finding enjoyment in the other modes that such titles have to offer.
The sports genre is more than what it was a decade ago, and the drama that comes from real-world competition makes it ripe for great stories.Ted Lassoknows this, and plot lines like the fall and rise of Jamie Tartt, Roy Kent’s battle with aging out of the sport, and Ted’s desperate bid to unite his players are all made better by the fact that it’s entirely plausible in any realfootball team in the Premier League. ATed Lassogame would be capitalizing on a growing trend, and could provoke more established franchises to offer more content that appeals to gamers who enjoy story-driven single-player modes.
How Ted Lasso Can Transition to Gaming
While TV is a rigid medium, asking nothing more than the attention of its users,Ted Lassohas plenty of themes and components that are required to make a memorable game. Strong writing, emotionally complex characters, and clever humor are staples of the show, and such elements are nowhere to be seen in most management games of late. The whole genre lacks light-hearted comedy and strong storytelling, and whileTwo Point Campusis implementing a more casual design philosophy, there’s more room for similar games.Football Manageris as serious and complex as it gets, and aTed Lassoproject in the same genre could offer some much-needed choice.
Stories in gaming typically only flourish when the characters are of a high enough quality to carry the tale.Uncharted’s somewhat familiar narrative is propped up byNathan Drake’s dashing and comedic nature, andMass Effectwould be a forgettable experience had it not been for the eclectic cast of misfit heroes.Ted Lassoprovides personalities - both series mainstays to fleeting appearances - that are lovable from the get-go, and carrying them into gaming could be a great way to extend their legacy and offer something new to sports games as a whole.
Ted Lassois currently available on Apple TV+.
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