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Now you can play against friends in Madden NFL 16 Draft Champions
A fourth patch for Madden NFL 16 on Xbox One and PS4 went out today adding another variation on Draft Champions. When the mode debuted at release, it was fairly limited, and offered practically no stakes which meant a high likelihood of an opponent quitting. Since then a “ranked” pay-to-enter mode was introduced to interest Ultimate Team players and with this latest patch a highly requested option has been added which will appeal to a wider audience.
Now people will be able to play against their friends online with drafted teams. Up to five games can be played against those who are on a friends list and after completing them it’s time to start over with a new team. EA has also added the ability to “reset” and draft anew every 24 hours.
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Alternate court for the Milwaukee Bucks added to NBA 2K16
Last week 2K Sports introduced the first alternate court in NBA 2K16, appearing when the Hardwood Classics uniforms are selected for the Golden State Warriors. It was notable that unlike the uniform additions that are made during the year any new floors will show up even within modes that were already in progress.
Now the other team that has an alternate court this year has received it in the game. The Milwaukee Bucks utilize the court when wearing the black alternate uniforms.
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Free-to-play myClub edition of PES 2016 out now on PS4 and PS3
The free-to-play version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 is now available to download on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. While “Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 myClub” is centered around offering the full myClub experience it also includes seven teams for use in offline exhibition matches and the Training mode. The 22GB download be queued up for PS4 here.
Based on the returns so far in yesterday’s poll, it appears people are at least open to the concept of limited FTP editions of sports games. Konami hopes to draw new consumers in to playing PES’ Ultimate Team clone, and it will be an interesting test case in North America where it has very little traction due to the dominance of FIFA in the region. The strategy of free entry to a pay-for-success mode has already been adopted somewhat with EA Access, and should it prove successful for individual titles the practice will likely spread to other sports franchises.
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Reacting to the first MLB The Show 16 news
It may be nearly four months out but some of the early details on MLB The Show 16 have already been provided. That’s not out of the norm for the series which tends to have first info on base-features and improvements out annually in early-mid December. In fact, there is far less substance this time around than in recent years of promotion.
Still there’s a lot to chew on, including one feature that is being met by a predictably mixed response, some good news on Road to the Show and a tease of two new modes to be announced at a later date, while the lack of any mention about a change to commentary has generated some consternation. I got together with Rich to discuss all the news – apologies for the audio quality as Google failed to process the Hangout and it was all that could be salvaged – and what it all means this far in advance of the game’s release.
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First glimpses at EA Sports UFC 2 gameplay
With UFC 194 nearly here, and the announcement that the winner of the main event between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo will get the second cover spot, EA Sports released very brief gameplay highlights intended to display some of the improvements that will be found in the sequel. These amount to “blink and you’ll miss them” moments, relating to the new Knockout Physics System, Next-Level Submissions, and Dynamic Grappling. It’s not much, but it’s more than would be typical from a game that could be as many as six months out from release.
Knockout Physics
A revolutionary new physics-driven hit reaction and knockout system delivers more visceral, more rewarding, and more authentic KOs than ever before. Every knockout is now unique, and finishing the fight has never been more satisfying. In the gameplay video, take a look at how Conor’s spinning heel kick connects and causes Jose to stumble backwards. With our new physics-driven hit reaction and knockout system, you get more authentic and unique KOs.Next-Level Submissions
Surprise your opponent with a flying armbar from the clinch, or with a quick transition from a knee bar to a heel hook. The addition of standing submissions and submission chaining takes UFC 2’s grappling game to the next level. In the video, pay close attention to how Aldo transitions from a rear naked choke into an armbar to finish the fight. In EA Sports UFC 2, you will be able to surprise opponents with a variety of quick transitions to put them into a submission. Additionally, the ability to do standing submissions opens the door to even more ways to finish a fight.Dynamic Grappling
For the first time in any MMA game, experience the freedom of independent fighter control in every grappling situation. Simultaneous two-fighter interaction brings the ground game to life with greater responsiveness and variety. In the video, watch as McGregor tries to land a strike but Aldo’s quick movement allows him to avoid contact and instead, is able to perform a takedown. For the first time in an MMA game, greater independent fighter control allows for more freedom in grappling situations. -
Does a limited free-to-play version of a sports game interest you?
Tomorrow a free-to-play version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 will go out on PS4 and PS3. It’s a unique strategy, built upon offering a few features but with a focus on providing the complete myClub experience, that looks to be another step towards a future where sports games are delivered in a different manner than the traditional yearly packaged product.
Things have been trending towards free-to-play emerging on consoles, and sports games that are struggling in the marketplace have the most incentive to experiment with it. Not only could a limited FTP version potentially lead to buying the full product, but those who maybe never would have done so anyway could end up spending money in the digital revenue-generating modes.
EA Access has started that, with the publisher bringing in sports games while they retain relevance, giving subscribers a chance to play and, their hope is, spend money in Ultimate Team. Earlier this year they also talked about the idea of “free-to-start” which is probably closer in nature to the 10 hour trials that are offered through EA Access.
So the question becomes the rate at which consumers will adopt the free-to-play model. Vote in the poll below and leave your thoughts in the comments – are you likely to give a chance to a FTP edition of a sports game that you maybe wouldn’t have otherwise?
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The Line Drive for December 6
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Check out the latest content created for Sporting News and Hit The Pass:
   •Holiday gift guide for the sports gaming fan
   •Winner of McGregor-Aldo gets second UFC 2 cover spot
   •PES attempting to change the norms of sports gaming (video)
   •Press Row Podcast: The Top Stories of 2015
   •ThatSportsGamer named his Sports Game of the Year
   •More great video content coming – subscribe to HTP Youtube channel!♦Rocket League won Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards.
♦Amazon exclusive steelbooks for Madden NFL 16 and FIFA 16 on sale for $40.
♦Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 is on sale for $35 on both Xbox One and PS4.
♦A trailer debuted at PSX for a crazy-looking game called 100ft Robot Golf.
♦Operation Sports has a guide to earning all the badges in NBA 2K16.
♦Licensed Marvel clothing has been added to the MyPlayer Store in NBA 2K16.
♦Pre-orders are up on Amazon (regular version – MVP version) for MLB The Show 16.
♦MLB The Show 16 will be priced at $40 for the PlayStation 3 version.
♦The US Women’s team is the 23rd most used team across thew world in FIFA 16.
♦FIFA Ultimate Team has for some people been down for weeks on PlayStation 3.
♦Another update with new content and improvements went out for Driveclub.
♦EA is auctioning off a spot in Madden NFL 17 with proceeds going to charity.
♦Details on a roster update that went out for NBA Live 16.
♦The jerseys for the 2016 NBA All-Star game in Toronto have been revealed.
♦The Show devs have their work cut out for them creating the new Diamondbacks uniforms.
♦Amazon has Rise of The Tomb Raider (Xbox One) for just $40.
♦Blu-ray releases this week include Ant-Man, the Marvel Phase 2 collection, and Minions. -
First trailer for MLB The Show 16; Josh Donaldson named cover athlete
At PlayStation Experience today SCEA revealed the first trailer for MLB The Show 16 featuring pre-beta footage. Additionally AL MVP Josh Donaldson has been named the cover athlete (correctly predicted here) and the game is set to release on March 29, 2016.
ShowTime
Experience baseball’s most epic moments like never before. Slow down gold glove plays, and come through in the clutch with this empowering tool that allows finer, more focused command.Immersive Road to the Show
A curated in-game experience, revamped training system that includes Game Perks, and deeper personalization that acknowledges moments throughout your career. And for the first time ever in the MLB The Show franchise, you can play an entire series of Road To The Show games without ever having to navigate the main menu between games.New Game Modes
Stay tuned, because we’ll be announcing two new modes for The Show 2016.Graphic Improvements (PS4)
MLB the Show continues to evolve in 2016, with updated graphics that make for a more authentic and immersive gaming experience.Three Different Editions
$60 Standard (Pre-order at Amazon)
$70 MVP – 5K Stubs, Packs: 1 Sponsor, 1 Opening Day, 10 Standard (Pre-order at Amazon)
$100 Digital Deluxe – 11K Stubs, Packs: 1 Sponsor, 3 Opening Day, 20 Standard
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