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A look at the rewrite to set pieces in FIFA 17
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Some of the biggest gameplay improvements for FIFA 17 relate to set pieces and that’s the focus of the latest video from EA Sports. Included this year are user-controlled throw-ins and fakes, free runs at penalty kicks and free kicks, and a targeting system on free and corner kicks. -
First Deal on MLB The Show 16
Unlike most sports video games, which often see retailers offering deals on them within weeks following their respective releases, MLB The Show tends to go months before any appear. Now with over three months having passed since it came out the first noteworthy deal for the PlayStation 4 version of the game can be found. Amazon has MLB The Show 16 on PS4 right now for $40 while the PS3 version has also been dropped and can currently be had for $30.
The Show this year has gone through its share of issues from troublesome server slowdown to improper account bannings. That the game is mostly brilliant otherwise is what has made incidents such as those so frustrating for consumers.
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NBA Live Mobile now officially released
With EA Sports taking some time away from the NBA Live series on consoles in its place this year is NBA Live Mobile. The game first released in February with a Canadian soft launch. Reception from players was generally very positive and my review expressed a similar sentiment towards the free-to-play game based off the Ultimate Team model.
A recent update however changed the way lineups are handled angering those who had invested in playing beforehand. A lot of time and possibly money was spent in obtaining players who no longer are allowed to be on the court together. The new structure though was probably needed for the long-term viability of the game.
NBA Live Mobile can be downloaded through iTunes for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices. The game is free-to-play but supported by digital purchases of in-game currency which is spent on packs of cards or specific cards at Auction.
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FIFA 17 global cover star goes up for vote
Lionel Messi was featured on the cover of the FIFA series four straight years beginning in 2012. For FIFA 17 his position as the global cover star is being replaced and fans will get to choose which of the four candidates get the honor. The winner will be joined another one or two players that’ll be dependent on the nation or region.
The voting is now open and runs through July 19. The options are James RodrĂguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Anthony Martial (France/Manchester United), and Marco Reus (Germany/Borussia Dortmund). Votes are cast through the official website and on social media with FIFA 16 Ultimate Team bonuses going out of a 3-Match Loan Item for 10 votes and Gold Pack for 20 votes.
FIFA 17 releases September 27 and will feature the Frostbite Engine, numerous gameplay improvements, and a new cinematic story mode. EA Access subscribers on Xbox One will get to start playing the 10 hour trial on September 21.
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Another gaming-related controversy shines light on nefarious activities
A huge controversy has arisen in the gaming world and the ramifications of how it all plays out could eventually impact the sports gaming genre. Two of the biggest Youtubers out there have been caught in a web of lies and deception after heavily promoting a “skin” gambling site for the game Counter Strike: Global Offensive that they failed to mention they actually owned. Not only were minors permitted to bet on the site but it’s possible they manipulated the results for streams in which they promoted the website. Read more
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NBA 2K17 will have an all-time great video game team in the Golden State Warriors
Did you think the 73-9 Golden State Warriors were a powerhouse in NBA 2K16? Well, prepare yourself for 2K17, as Kevin Durant is coming to make them even more unstoppable and basically the only team you’ll ever see used online.
The Warriors now have four All-Stars in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The last three MVPs reside on the team (Curry and Durant). The closest thing to what has been formed with the Warriors would probably be the 2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers which featured Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. Unlike Golden State though two of those players were no longer in their primes.
Thankfully the standard head-to-head is far from the only way to play sports video games now online. The rise of the Ultimate Team type modes – MyTeam in NBA 2K – and others variants like MyPark and 2K Pro-Am means variety is out there to experience regardless of the current state of the league.
In a simulation through NBA 2K16 back in February Durant was added to the Warriors to see what his impact would be. The team went on to win 73 games and then the NBA Finals losing only two games in the playoffs. Durant was the league MVP.
For those with NBA 2K16 consider downloading an updated user-created roster for the game which can be used in certain offline modes. The one on PS4 under Pastapadre includes all the rookies and offseason moves including Durant to the Warriors.
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The Chemistry problem affecting high value cards in FIFA Ultimate Team will be patched
Last week what was long suspected by some was finally verified. Some of the most sought-after players in FIFA Ultimate Team were not playing up to their ratings given that the Chemistry boosts were not being applied to them. That meant lower rated and cheaper player cards could actually be better performers on the pitch.
With a mode that generates hundreds of millions each year for EA Sports that is obviously a massive issue and has called into question the integrity Ultimate Team. We discussed the situation some on the most recent Press Row Podcast.
Following an investigating of the information an updated statement on the matter has been released. A patch is being worked on with hope of getting it out soon.
Our work has shown that there appear to be some differences in how fitness and chemistry apply to some FUT items. The differences appear to be the same for all FUT fans, but only applying to some FUT items, so we’re making some changes to ensure the attributes are being applied consistently across all items in the game. To do that, we’re working on a title update for FIFA 16 on PC, Xbox and PlayStation platforms, and will be deploying it as soon as possible.
This won’t be the end of the story however. It’s quite possible a class action lawsuit will materialize considering consumers had been paying money for items that were not as described.
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MLB The Show 16 account bannings have been reversed but no apology offered
Early in the week a number of very active players in MLB The Show 16’s Diamond Dynasty mode had their accounts banned preventing them from accessing any online features. Something however was clearly amiss with the situation and that became even more apparent as the days stretched on. Late last night a statement was released with the big news being that Sony San Diego went “deeper into the telemetry and are reactivating select accounts.”
The development comes after a tumultuous few days following the bannings, in which reps for the studio were publicly antagonistic with those affected and blocked many seeking answers on social media, stated plainly that the “bans would not be reversed” and no accounts would be reevaluated, but then went silent until now returning to backtrack on those declarations.
What’s missing from the statement though? An apology of any sort as well as any mention regarding compensation to make things right with the consumers who were harmed in the process. It’s not just about having unjustly snatched away access to features that were paid for but also the branding of them as cheaters and liars and the insulting manner in which they treated them when the validity of the bans was challenged. Many certainly felt helpless and the poor manner of communication understandably fed into that.
For a recap of the events and how, along with a FIFA controversy, questions have once again been raised over what it actually means to “own” a game and spend money within them, check out the latest episode of the Press Row Podcast.
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