-
The Line Drive for April 12
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦A new episode of the Press Row Podcast (Apple – Spotify) has gone live.
♦Details on the latest minor patch to have released for MLB The Show 20.
♦Details on the new content for Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 20.
♦2K Sports shared notes on the latest patch that released for NBA 2K20.
♦Deal on a digital code for the Xbox One version of NBA 2K20 for just $20.
♦The Ringer gave a mostly negative review of NBA 2K20 players tournament.
♦EA Sports acknowledged an issue with Madden Share in Madden NFL 20.
♦Another patch fixed a few exploits being utilized in Madden NFL 20.
♦New update has added team and uniform editing plus more to Retro Bowl.
♦More details were shared on new features coming to Super Mega Baseball 3.
♦Football Manager 2020 is coming soon to Xbox Game Pass on the PC.
♦Details on a minor patch that released on all platforms for FIFA 20.
♦Details on a patch released for the console versions of RBI Baseball 20.
♦Sony revealed the new DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5. -
A look at the new features for Super Mega Baseball 3
The third entry in the highly-regarded Super Mega Baseball franchise is nearing release and today brings a new developer video that goes over the top features that will debut in game.
Those features include a deep dive into the new Franchise Mode, an import tool for rosters from SMB2, a number of upgrades to modes that are carrying over and additional customization options. Originally slated for release this month it’s possible complications from COVID-19 will cause a delay however if that occurs it is not expected to be a lengthy one.
-
The Line Drive for April 5
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦All the fall sports games are looking increasingly likely to face release date delays.
♦Small server update has made some changes for online games in MLB The Show 20.
♦Details on some changes and additions in new roster update for MLB The Show 20.
♦Another patch has made some adjustments and fixes to MLB The Show 20.
♦Minor follow-up patch has fixed issues caused by earlier ones in MLB The Show 20.
♦Details on the latest Diamond Dynasty content added to MLB The Show 20.
♦Super Mega Baseball 3 devs held a Q&A session on Reddit about the upcoming game.
♦New video goes over the basics of what to expect from Super Mega Baseball 3.
♦RBI Baseball 20 has released on iOS and Android at a hefty mobile price of $7.
♦EA Sports fixed an exploit being used in competitive play in a Madden NFL 20 patch.
♦Details on a patch that includes gameplay improvements out now for NHL 20.
♦Details on the latest patch that is out for FIFA 20 now across all platforms.
♦Latest update for Retro Bowl removed the $1 paywall with uniform editor coming soon.
♦Latest patch for Rocket League has made changes to controller vibration settings.
♦Take Two has initially won the lawsuit over players’ tattoos in NBA 2K games.
♦Out on Blu-ray Dolittle and Little Women while Trolls World Tour gets digital release. -
Third patch details for MLB The Show 20
A series of patches have already rolled out in these very early days of MLB The Show 20. The first ones addressed a number of issues that had been identified and adjusted hitting difficulty. A third post-release patch just arrived and affects pitching and hitting in online play and makes a change to throw meter accuracy. Read more
-
The Line Drive for March 22
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦The fall sports games especially NBA 2K21 will quite possibly end up delayed.
♦First roster update for MLB The Show 20 fixes options and adds a top prospect.
♦Details on first post-release patch making some fixes for MLB The Show 20.
♦Details on second post-release patch with gameplay changes for MLB The Show 20.
♦Details on a minor server update that was pushed out for MLB The Show 20.
♦Super Mega Baseball 3 will have new pickoff and steal mechanics.
♦OOTP Baseball 21 through Steam or direct download has officially released.
♦New CBA will mean Franchise year 1 with expanded playoffs in Madden NFL 21.
♦Another update with a number of improvements has gone out for Retro Bowl.
♦UEFA EURO content for PES 2020 will be out April 30 despite it not taking place.
♦With season on pause NBA 2K20 has reset rosters to have no injuries reflected.
♦Details on the latest patch that has gone out with adjustments made for FIFA 20.
♦Details on the latest patch that recently went out for AO Tennis 2.
♦Out early on digital Invisible Man, The Hunt and Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker.
♦Also out this week on Blu-ray is 1917 while Onward gets an early digital release. -
Press Row Podcast: 2K is back with the NFL – plus Super Mega Baseball 3
2K shocks the world with their announcement that they are back in business with the NFL. What does this all mean? Plus Super Mega Baseball 3 is announced! We also discuss the cornonavirus at a time of great concern for all that is now dramatically disrupting all of sports and gaming.Check out the podcast through Apple Podcasts for iOS, on Android with the Stitcher app, or with Pocket Casts on iOS, Android, and Windows. The show can now also be found on Spotify! Subscribe and give the podcast five star reviews to help support the show. You can also listen with the streaming player found below.
-
Super Mega Baseball 3 coming next month
Metalhead Software today officially announced Super Mega Baseball 3. The game will feature cross-platform play across Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam with release set for April at a price of $45. Read more
-
2K and NFL partner for future non-sim games
The NFL and 2K Sports have announced their first partnership since 2004 when their last one came to an end with NFL 2K5. Football is coming back to 2K but it won’t be a return of that NFL 2K franchise. Instead they will be “non-simulation games” across multiple platforms with the first title releasing sometime in 2021. EA Sports continues to retain exclusive rights to produce simulation NFL games with Madden.
[Update] 2K has league licensing for non-sim games but do not have a deal at least at this time with the NFLPA. That means the games would have the real teams but not the real players unless they were to go the text-sim management game route.
Quantity and variety in sports gaming has been sorely needed so this could be a great shot-in-the-arm for the genre. The last licensed non-Madden football game was NFL Blitz in 2012 and NFL Street goes all the way back to 2006. 2K in the past really only explored non-sim in baseball. The BIGS and its 2009 sequel were fantastic but unfortunately didn’t sell well enough to continue.
Arcade style games have largely gone extinct in the last 10+ years. Only a few pop up from time to time and those have largely been delivered by independent developers. The market hasn’t really supported those type of games to the extent that a major publisher would be interested. Even a massive global property like the NBA has struggled to reach a decent audience with NBA 2K Playgrounds. The longtime interest for an NFL game from 2K will surely help initially but whether an arcade franchise can be successful in the long-term remains questionable.
by