Author Archive
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#5 of 2008: NBA Live 09
The NBA is one place where EA Sports now plays the role of the underdog. That isn't a familiar scenario for them. How did they react with NBA Live 09? Improved gameplay and a big investment in the future. While the game still had issues it provided an enjoyable experience with fully functioning modes and a variety of features. NBA Live 09 had the most innovative addition of any game this year with Live 365. While its value to the game remains questionable it does offer a great deal. Not o...
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Fight Night Round 4 Reveal
Earlier this week EA Sports president Peter Moore stated that the unveiling of Fight Night Round 4 would include "something never before seen in a videogame". Now, maybe I'm crazy, but a short trailer with CG footage doesn't exactly live up to that statement. That is all that was presented at the Spike VGAs on Sunday night. Nothing new about the game and no actual footage to get an idea of the direction they are taking the series. The leaked footage out of the Gamestop convention from three ...
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The Line Drive 12/14
As discussed previously the Arena Football League is in big trouble and it now looks like the 2009 season may be canceled. However they are now reconsidering the decision to scrap it. Regardless the AFL license that is available after EA Sports decided not to renew won't be appealing to any other companies. Operation Sports is running their year end awards. You can vote for them here. Categories include sports game of the year, best title for each particular sport, and best company ...
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#6 of 2008: NBA 2K9
This was the year, as we've seen with the sales numbers, that consumers overwhelmingly identified the NBA 2K series as the definitive choice for basketball gamers. Being #1 sometimes brings side effects and that has been seen through some dissatisfaction and growing pains. Outside of that though what NBA 2K9 offers is a familiar enjoyable gameplay experience. With all three basketball games this year offering something different, what 2K9 stood out in was the gameplay. That includes being...
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Tyson or Ali?
That's what EA Sports is asking in regards to who should be on the cover of Fight Night Round 4. The official site for the game went live earlier today. Right now it includes producer blog entries along with the poll as to whether Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, or both should be on the cover. With the unveiling of FNR4 coming on Sunday night one or both seem likely to join Peter Moore on stage at the VGAs. And could the tagline "no two fights are ever the same" be a hint at what Moore was ...
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Pastapadre Home Club
Playstation Home finally hit open beta yesterday. While it isn't offering much right now it seems likely that gaming companies will be adding their own spaces where they can advertise and sell Home related items of their own with potential for more. I wouldn't be surprised to see EA and 2K Sports with theirs sometime in the near future. Also you can set up clubs which can assist in launching games with members. I believe I can only host one club but that individuals are able to join a handfu...
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Madden 09 Roster Update #15 Details
The 15th roster update for Madden 09 is set to come out tomorrow. Somehow, someway, LaDainian Tomlinson remains a 99. That was actually even a topic of discussion on a podcast with the Thompson Brothers and Jonathan Crankshaw who is in charge of the roster updates. You can listen to that podcast here. What we've seen is players that start really high or really low that their performance isn't being compensated for enough because of that. Updates have inched some of them towards where they...
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#7 of 2008: Madden NFL 09
The biggest name in US sports gaming is by far Madden. Along with Fight Night they are the two sports franchises that transcend the genre. While there is a certain level of discontent surrounding Madden 09 within online communities there is no doubt that the majority continue to enjoy the franchise a great deal. This year though it was just eclipsed by several other games that either provided innovative modes and features or delivered better gameplay for their respective sports. When I fi...
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