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Only one new rule for next season will affect Madden NFL 17
Last year the NFL instituted a new rule that moved the extra point kicks back to the 15 yard line. It should have made the most boring waste-of-time play in Madden something more interesting and strategic. Unfortunately it wasn’t the case as kicking from that distance remained practically automatic in Madden NFL 16.
Throughout the NFL season the impact of the change proved significant. Extra points were successful 94% of the time down from 99% the season prior. 71 were missed in the 2015 season compared to only 8 in 2014. There were a record-breaking number of two-point attempts, as the math says going for it every time could be the better play or as coaches chased points lost by missed kicks. Even the AFC Championship was affected by a missed extra point.
For Madden NFL 17 one of the rules approved at the league owners meetings this week could affect the video game. Touchbacks will now be brought out to the 25 yard line instead of the 20. The same rule was put into place in college football in 2012. Read more
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NHL 16 going into the EA Access Vault on Xbox One next week
The value of the EA Access subscription service will continuously build as the “Vault” gains more games from the publisher. However for sports fans there’s an ebb and flow to the worth of EA Access. From February through August the sports games are available during a stretch that they are still very relevant, providing the opportunity to “own” them without having to buy them or even sell off any retail copies that had been purchased prior to then.
Madden NFL 16 was added to the Vault in early February. NHL 16 is the next up with it slated to go in on March 29. That’s very close to the date NHL 15 went in last year, and in both cases the games will have been added in advance of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
FIFA 16 is expected to make it to the Vault late April/early May. Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is the other game in line for the EA Access Vault but when it’ll go in is less certain. It’s not an annually released series, so it makes sense that the publisher would hope to keep selling it for a longer stretch of time, however the first EA Sports UFC was added after only six months so McIlroy has already been held back much longer than that comparable game.
EA Access is $30 for a year or $5 month-to-month and in addition to the Vault subscribers receive 10 free hours with each new game and 10% off all digital transactions.
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Trackmania Turbo is available today
With the success of Rocket League the hunt is now on for competitive games that appeal to wide audiences – those that may break out of the particular genre they are considered within and reach greater numbers of consumers. One such game that could fit the bill is Trackmania Turbo which released today on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC for $40. The game just came out of an open beta where the impressions were generally positive.
Trackmania Turbo is an arcade-style racer similar in nature to the well-regarded Trials series (which instead features motorbikes) based on addictive time-based objectives and competition working up the leaderboards. In addition to the four environments built for the game it includes a track builder and sharing feature. Trackmania has actually been around since 2003 with several releases since then but this is the first time making the jump to consoles. Read more
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Review of Out of the Park Baseball 17
The long-running Out of the Park Baseball series has a stunning record of consistency. In entering its 17th edition the PC management simulator has averaged a score that exceeds 85 on Metacritic and last year hit its high mark of 91 through the review aggregator.
The reliable nature of the series – consumers know precisely what they’re getting and that it’ll be a quality product – has reached a new level this year with the introduction of MLBPA licensing and new features that capitalize on the sport’s cherished history.
Two major additions are the historic minor leagues with the real players that stretch back all the way to 1919 and a new Historical Exhibition Mode that allows for any two teams from history to go head-to-head in a single game or full series. Check out the full review of Out of the Park Baseball 17 over at Sporting News!
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The Line Drive for March 20
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Make sure to get entries in for the giveaway of MLB The Show 16!
♦The return of college sports games could hinge on a Supreme Court decision.
♦How MLB The Show 16’s top rated players differ from last year’s game.
♦EA Sports UFC 2 Review – a much needed improvement over the first game.
♦Nine famous former minor leaguers players found in Out of the Park Baseball 17.
♦The full bracket is now set in OOTP Baseball 17’s Tournament of Champions.
♦Best Buy has EA Sports UFC 2 on sale for $40 through the end of the weekend.
♦EA Sports went into detail on how they created Mike Tyson for UFC 2.
♦SCEA created a Spotify playlist of sounds and songs found in MLB The Show 16.
♦Norway will be a new women’s national team added for FIFA 17.
♦The open beta for Trackmania Turbo is now running on both Xbox One and PS4.
♦The first look at RBI Baseball 16 gameplay through a new trailer for the game.
♦Dangerous Golf has been delayed a month from May to June.
♦The PlayStation VR Bundle will open up for pre-order on Tuesday at 10am ET.
♦Amazon Prime members can still pre-order MLB The Show 16 for $48 or $56 MVP. -
Press Row Podcast: EA Sports UFC 2 Review Roundtable
EA Sports UFC 2 is undeniably a stronger product than the company’s first two efforts at the sport of MMA that released in 2010 and 2014. From the Knockout Physics System and KO Mode to new controls for transitions and the introduction of Ultimate Team there’s a lot there to be evaluated. While much of what has been done is positive there’s also submissions proving to be a non-factor and a disappointing Career Mode to consider.
How does the product stand on its own, and could this be the game that reverses the trend that has seen a decline in sales with every new UFC video game release? Owen Good (Polygon), Chris Sanner (Operation Sports), and Dylan Favorite (Hit The Pass) join me for an extended discussion of EA Sports UFC 2 on a new Press Row Podcast presented by Hit The Pass.
Check out the podcast through iTunes for iOS, on Android with the Stitcher app, or with Pocket Casts on iOS, Android, and Windows. Subscribe and review to help support the show! You can also listen with the streaming player below.
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First two college jerseys added for MyPlayer characters to wear in NBA 2K16
With the licensing in place for 10 universities to appear in NBA 2K16 it’s surprising that it took all the way until March for some official gear to show up in the game’s 2K Sports Store. Today the first two college-licensed articles were added for purchase with in-game currency.
Available now is a Steph Curry Davidson Wildcats jersey and a James Harden Sun Devils jersey. They both cost 5,000 VC. The jerseys can be worn by MyPlayers in MyPark and MyCourt.
NBA 2K16 features Arizona, Georgetown, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan, Texas, UCLA, UConn, Villanova, and Wisconsin within the MyCareer story mode. Their real logos and uniforms are utilized there but until now nowhere outside of it.
Davidson did not have a place in the story mode but 2K Sports did obtain a license from the school which allowed for Curry to appear on the cover of 2K16 in their uniform, while Anthony Davis was not able to be seen in a Kentucky jersey as the publisher did not secure their rights.
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How to get Joe Rogan in EA Sports UFC 2
The mystery fighter added to EA Sports UFC 2 yesterday is Joe Rogan. In order to unlock him as a playable character the Konami Code must be entered as the game is booting up. The video below goes through the process and includes his entrance and introduction.
While Rogan has never fought in UFC he does have a strong background in martial arts. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Taekwondo. He’s rated 86 Overall, with 87 Stand-Up, 79 Clinch, and 83 Ground, which makes him better than some other fighters in the game.
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