-
The NFL’s 28 clutch players according to Madden NFL 16
There are some new “Traits” that have been added for Madden NFL 16. One of them affects the frequency penalties are called on each particular player, and the others relate to the new types of catches (aggressive, possession, run after catch) implemented in the game.
The concept of “Clutch” though remains one of the more hotly debated things in sports and Madden continues to offer up a trait related to that. Players designated clutch get a ratings boost in late-game high pressure situations. It’s an exclusive group in which players are rewarded for stepping up in big moments of games and in particular in the playoffs.
In the past there have generally been between 34-38 “Clutch” players in each Madden. This year the season opens with only 28 of them. Malcolm Butler is new to the group, and that’s consistent with players having been rewarded for memorable plays in the Super Bowl – Tracy Porter and David Tyree were once classified as clutch. All the guidelines for how “Clutch” has to be earned for Madden however were broken with Jameis Winston being given the trait.
Check out the full list of “Clutch” players in Madden NFL 16 along with further analysis in the article on Sporting News.
-
NBA 2K16 offering extensive customization options with tattoos
Player customization remains one of the bigger elements of the NBA 2K series, as a user’s MyPlayer is tied into various modes including MyCareer, MyGM, and the 2K Pro-Am. For NBA 2K16 tattoos are taking on a bigger role. There are over 1,500 designs that can be moved, scaled, rotated, and layered onto a created character’s chest, back, neck, arms and legs.
Please enable Javascript to watch this video -
New system for calculating player ratings implemented for NBA 2K16
2K Sports has slowly started to trickle out ratings for NBA 2K16, and while Kevin Durant is the only real noteworthy one at this point there is a considerable shift in how the ratings are being calculated this year to discuss in the meantime.
Essentially, rather than having 99 Ratings reflect the best in the league at the present time, a 99 now represents the best in the history of the league. Read more
-
Demo for NBA Live 16 gives the game a stage to itself on September 15
EA Sports recently announced that NBA Live 16 will be getting a demo on Xbox One and Playstation 4 on Tuesday, September 15. The info on the demo was originally revealed along with all the news on the Live Pro-Am mode.
Alongside all the features of LIVE Pro-Am, you can also check out exhibition style play in Tip Off with six NBA teams (Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers), and the Learn LIVE tutorials – consisting of drills to help familiarize yourself with controls and gameplay mechanics.
This is a departure from the norm for the series which has struggled to regain its footing over the last five years. The infamous NBA Elite 11 demo, which exposed several problems and is best remembered for “Jesus Bynum”, led to its cancellation. That was the last time a pre-release demo was provided for EA’s basketball franchise.
Live 13, which would have been released as a digital download only, was cancelled before any talk of a demo even began. Live 14 had a demo that went out on the day of the game’s release, and Live 15 did not have a demo on Xbox One (6 hours of EA Access instead) while a demo went out on PS4 – but again that was on its release day.
That EA is putting the demo out early could suggest they expect the response to Live 16Â to be at least mildly positive. The game’s competition, NBA 2K16, is unlikely to offer a demo but releases on the 25th – four days before Live. Â However, Live will go out early through EA Access for a (presumably) 10 hour trial on Xbox One one day earlier. Got it? Okay. Simple right?
Two underdogs in the sports gaming genre now are taking advantage of an opening. Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 put its demo out two weeks ago, a month in advance of the game’s release and well before FIFA 16’s demo. This could be an opportunity for Live to at least get people trying and considering the product before 2K16 captures all the market attention. Consumers weren’t going to risk money on an unknown, unproven commodity.
-
FIFA 16 demo now confirmed for September 8
Earlier this month news made it out that a demo for FIFA 16 would be coming in September and that it would feature 12 clubs. EA Sports denied that the image making the rounds was from them, but notably at the time did not claim the information to be inaccurate. That’s because all the details about the demo were actually legit.
The demo will be out on September 8 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, 360, and PS3. It will include the traditional Kick-Off exhibition games, the new FIFA Ultimate Team Draft, FIFA Trainer, and Skill Games.
12 clubs will be included in the demo: United States and Germany women’s national teams, Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, River Plate, and Seattle Sounders.
Three stadiums are included to play in, two of which are new for FIFA 16. BORUSSIA-PARK and CenturyLink Field debut alongside Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.
EA Sports has been moving away from traditional demos due in part to EA Access even though that is available only on Xbox One. Most recently, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour and Madden NFL 16 went without demos. FIFA is the biggest video game in the world, which might lead some to think they could get away with not putting out a demo also, but the series is being challenged by competition (the demo for PES 2016 already went out two weeks ago) putting pressure on EA to place the game in front of consumers as well.
-
Patch being worked on to address many Madden NFL 16 bugs
While there’s a lot to like about Madden NFL 16, it’s also arguably the buggiest release for the series in recent memory. At the top of the list is the encroachment bug during gameplay, as well as several that are extremely detrimental to Connected Franchise. It’s probably wise to wait on starting up a franchise until a patch has been delivered that fixes the known issues.
[Update] Even EA is now publicly stating to wait on starting a franchise until a patch goes out.
There may not be a set time frame for when that first patch will come, but creative director Rex Dickson has indicated on Twitter it won’t be the typical mid-October wait for a community feedback-driven patch. Read more
-
MyCareer Mode is growing up in NBA 2K16
When Spike Lee was brought on to write and direct the MyCareer Mode story for NBA 2K16, many wondered what kind of influence he would have in a game that has to have widespread appeal to various demographics which includes children. Would the story end up that much grittier than those found in the first two years of the mode?
The first indication of that being yes came when the ESRB rated it E10+ for the first time ever as opposed to the usual E. Now the ESRB has revealed the reasoning for that rating along with some examples of what they found objectionable. Read more
-
Review: Madden NFL 16
Madden NFL 16 offers up some intriguing additions and improvements on the field, with new receiver-defender interactions and controls, inaccuracy from quarterbacks, and more realistic penalties – plus the introduction of the brand new Draft Champions Mode.
How are those things reconciled with what appears to be an especially buggy release for the series and disappointment with general presentation and Connected Franchise? All of that is examined and more in my reviews of the game which have gone live today.
This year I’ve put together two different reviews. One you’ll find above in video form. For the full comprehensive written review head on over to Sporting News and check it out!
by