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Big new features and other improvements for MLB The Show 17 revealed through info release schedule
MLB The Show 17 is just over two months away from release and today Sony laid out the plan for distributing information on this year’s game through blogs and videos, followed soon after by demonstrations on live streams. The first news will come on February 7 with the focus on improvements to gameplay. Detailed looks into Diamond Dynasty, Franchise Mode, Road to the Show, presentation and more will arrive throughout February and March. The schedule actually reveals quite a bit to look forward to in all of those areas of the upcoming game. Read more
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Player ratings movement in NBA 2K17 over the last month – Nikola Jokic on the rise
It’s been over a month since last checking in with the player ratings in NBA 2K17 and in that time there have been a few updates reacting to roster changes and player performance.
LeBron James remains the highest rated player in the game at 96 Overall but there have been some changes with other MVP-caliber players. Kevin Durant and James Harden (+1) are back to 95, tying with Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard as the next highest rated in 2K17.
The biggest riser over the recent stretch is Denver Nuggets’ big man Nikola Jokic. He has gone from 79 Overall in mid-December to the 85 Overall he is now. This month he’s averaging over 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while shooting over 60% from the field, 86% from the foul line, and is even over 40% from three-point range.
Notable others who have moved up are Isaiah Thomas (+3 to 91), Marc Gasol (+3 to 89), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+3 to 90), Kyle Lowry (+2 to 89), John Wall (+1 to 89), Karl Anthony Towns (+1 to 88), Kevin Love (+2 to 87), Kemba Walker (+1 to 87), Joel Embiid (+3 to 86), C.J. McCollum (+2 to 86), LaMarcus Aldrdige (+2 to 86), Harrison Barnes (+2 to 83), Devin Booker (+3 to 82), Dennis Schroeder (+4 to 81) George Hill (+2 to 82), and Ricky Rubio (+3 to 78).
Some of the names having been downgraded include Damian Lillard (-1 to 89), Paul George (-1 to 88), Andre Drummond (-2 to 86), Dwyane Wade (-3 to 84), Dwight Howard (-2 to 85), Carmelo Anthony (-2 to 84), Al Horford (-1 to 84), Pau Gasol (-2 to 82), Tristan Thompson (-2 to 79), Derrick Favors (-5 to 78), and Chandler Parsons (-3 to 75).
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Press Row Podcast: 2016 Community Awards
Now into its 8th year, the Pastapadre Community Awards have set out to recognize all the efforts made in sports gaming which go well beyond just that of naming the “Sports Game of the Year.” For 2016 the awards expanded to 12 categories and collected over 33,000 votes in the process. Sports video games are complex and rich in content, and no one game excels in every area that make them up. The Community Awards are an opportunity to help identify the standouts from specific aspects of the games and over time the annual process has been shown to identify trends for the individual franchises as well as the industry.
Bryan Wiedey and Rich Grisham reveal the results of the 2016 Pastapadre Community Awards and provide analysis of what the numbers say about the games in the latest episode of the Press Row Podcast. Find out the winners of the 2016 Sports Game of the Year, Best New/Non-Yearly Sports Game, Best Racing Game, Best Mobile Game, Best Gameplay, Best New Feature, Best Post-Release Support, Best Franchise Mode, Best Career/Story Mode, Best Team-Building Mode, Best Presentation, and Best Online Play!
Check out the podcast through iTunes for iOS, on Android with the Stitcher app, or with Pocket Casts on iOS, Android, and Windows. The show can also now be found on the recently launched Google Play Music for podcasts. Subscribe and review to help support the show! You can also listen with the streaming player below.
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The Line Drive for January 22
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦2016 top-sellers per NPD: NBA 2K17 (#4), Madden NFL 17 (#5), and FIFA 17 (#9).
♦Latest patch for NHL 17 added a new mode in Ultimate Team plus more changes.
♦Remains unclear exactly when Madden NFL 17 will be added to the EA Access Vault.
♦Backwards compatible Skate 3 will be one of the games coming to the Vault this year.
♦Nintendo Switch is already shaping up to have a dubious future for sports gaming.
♦Details on the next major updates going out soon in Madden NFL Mobile.
♦This year’s EA Play event will take place June 10-12 in Hollywood.
♦New player stat missions added to Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 16.
♦PES 2017 has become an obsession for Rich Grisham as he explains on HTP.
♦The latest game in the Pro Basketball Manager series on PC recently launched.
♦The latest news on competitive seasons and rewards in Rocket League.
♦Joe Montana Football 16 has now turned into some VR demo-like passing game.
♦Details on the latest patch to have gone out for the mountain sports game Steep.
♦Extensive article on the gambling in Counter-Strike is well worth a read.
♦Blu-ray releases this week headlined by Inferno and Sherlock S4. -
Sports gaming will get off to a disappointing start with Nintendo Switch
For long Nintendo has not been any sort of destination for sports gamers and the upcoming Switch, despite offering unique functionality that could prove beneficial to many games, doesn’t appear to be changing that perception. The system will launch without any sports games (FIFA and NBA 2K18 are coming later in the year), is under-powered compared to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and has some real cost concerns based on its initial price and additional purchases that have to be made along with it.
EA Sports is already saying that FIFA will be their only game on Switch until “the platform launches and takes off.” It’s also rumored that the FIFA game, which is being referred to as “custom built,” will utilize the last-gen gameplay engine found on 360 and PS3. NBA 2K18 will certainly be inferior to the version on other consoles as well – just the extent to which it is will remain unknown for quite some time. Nintendo’s own new IP, ARMS, does look to have some potential but third parties are what will determine how well the console is able to grow.
The success of these early games from EA Sports and 2K Sports may determine whether they continue to develop for the Switch or abandon Nintendo like they did after only one year with the Wii U. Check out my complete article on the subject that was written for Sporting News!
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Final Set of 2016 Pastapadre Community Awards Winners
After weeks of collecting votes – the total of which exceeded 33,000 – the announcement of 2016 Pastapadre Community Awards winners conclude with the final 4 of 12 total categories examined. Here are the winners of Sports Game of the Year, Best New/Non-Yearly Sports Game, Best New Feature, and Best Racing Game. Read more
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Out of the Park Baseball 18 to feature new Challenge Mode and Negro Leagues
The first news on the next edition in the PC sim-management series Out of the Park Baseball arrived today, with the reveal of several new features, release date, and pre-order details. Headlining the feature list is a new Challenge Mode and historical Negro League clubs.
Out of the Park Baseball 18 will officially release March 24 but those who pre-order the game will get to start playing on March 18. Pre-orders made before January 28 will also receive a 20% discount (down to $32) while any after that will save 10% instead (down to $36). Read more
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Madden NFL 17 roster update details heading into the Conference Championship games
The roster update reacting to Divisional Playoff Weekend is now available to download in Madden NFL 17. Aaron Rodgers has predictably received a boost in moving up a single point to 97 Overall. It’s the highest rating he’s achieved this season. Most of the players impacted in this update were active in last weekend’s games but there are a few exceptions.
Other notable movers include Tom Brady (-1 to 94), Matt Ryan (+1 to 92), Bobby Wagner (-1 to 92), Justin Houston (-5 to 91), Ezekiel Elliott (+1 to 88), James Harrison (+1 to 87), Jared Cook (+3 to 85), Dak Prescott (+1 to 85), Davante Adams (+2 to 84), Logan Ryan (+2 to 84), Chris Boswell (+1 to 82), and Justin Durant (-3 to 74). Check out all the ratings movement enacted across the league with the form here.
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