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Madden NFL 20 Review
The twilight of the generation tends to produce the most complete and most memorable sports games. While it’s probably the third best edition in the long-running franchise from the last decade Madden NFL 20 is not the complete package that will be recalled among those past greats. Elements introduced in the game this year however have produced a much more authentic gameplay experience and more compelling Career/Story Mode.
The X-Factors dramatically alter the way games must be approached and Face of the Franchise is fun though somewhat limited. The series’ biggest deficiency continues to be in presentation while Franchise Mode has been lagging for years and doesn’t offer much new to the experience besides the carryover of gameplay improvements. Check out the full review at Sporting News.
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NBA Live 20 has been delayed
It had become apparent in recent weeks that something was going on with NBA Live 20. Despite a nearing release date the game had not been officially announced or made available for preorder. Additionally the NBA Live website had been been completely scrubbed and contained only a single static non-game image and a roster update with next season’s transactions was pushed out in Live 19 which typically would have been held for the next edition.
The reasoned speculation was put to rest today when EA Sports made it official that NBA Live 20 has been delayed. The plan now is to release it Q3 2019 which would be October through December. Given the holiday season and intense competition for dollars at that time there isn’t really an ideal window for the game to land where it can get any traction with consumers.
The next question then is whether this “delay” will just act as a deferred cancellation. Given the history of the series that is the conclusion that would be most expected. NBA Elite 11 was delayed before it was cancelled. NBA Live 13 was delayed before it was cancelled. NBA Live 17 was delayed before it was cancelled.
However what’s being described by EA as a “different approach” to NBA Live this year could hint at a radical distribution strategy that could keep NBA Live, well, alive. One plan could be for the company to offer NBA Live 20 completely as a free-to-play game. The problem is that contractually that may not be a possibility and it would be understandable that the NBA’s favored partner Take Two/2K Sports would complain over that arrangement being allowed. The other option that comes to mind is to offer it free but isolated within a paid EA Access subscription but similar conflicts could arise in that scenario as well.
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MyGM gets a massive overhaul in NBA 2K20
The first game-related details for NBA 2K20 have arrived in the form of major changes being made to MyGM Mode. Having acted as an alternative Franchise Mode with the option of a narrative path to compliment the more customization-based MyLeague, MyGM will now look to provide a far different experience and one that is considered to be more accessible. Read more
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Press Row Podcast: Madden NFL 20 First Impressions
With Madden NFL 20 having been out through EA Access for a few days Rich Grisham and Bryan Wiedey are brought back together to discuss initial impressions of the game. Discussion in this episode of the Press Row Podcast centers on Face of the Franchise experiences and overall thoughts on gameplay and the dramatic impact that X-Factors are having on it.
Check out the podcast through Apple Podcasts for iOS, on Android with the Stitcher app, or with Pocket Casts on iOS, Android, and Windows. The show can now also be found on Spotify! Subscribe and give the podcast five star reviews to help support the show. You can also listen with the streaming player found below.
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The Line Drive for July 28
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Look for a full review of Madden NFL 20 to go up early Tuesday on Sporting News.
♦For some early M20 observations and highlights there’s this Twitter thread to follow.
♦Here are all the current X-Factors and Superstars for every team in Madden NFL 20.
♦EA Sports revealed the full soundtrack featuring 22 songs for Madden NFL 20.
♦NBA 2K20 will have a demo release on August 21 for an early start on MyCareer Mode.
♦FIFA 19 has finally been added to the EA Access Vault on all platforms.
♦Cover athletes Eden Hazard and Virgil van Dijk were announced for FIFA 20.
♦EA Sports has detailed the improvements coming to Pro Clubs in FIFA 20.
♦Prior to it opening EA Sports detailed what to look for gameplay wise in NHL 20’s beta.
♦Details on the improvements made to broadcast and presentation in NHL 20.
♦The demo for PES 2020 is scheduled to release on Tuesday for XB1, PS4, PC.
♦Psyonix revealed the upcoming content roadmap for Rocket League.
♦Amazon has Madden NFL 20 pre-orders with price guarantee listed for just $50.94.
♦Amazon has FIFA 20 pre-orders with price guarantee listed for just $50.94.
♦Amazon has NHL 20 pre-orders with price guarantee listed for just $50.94.
♦Avengers: Endgame has its digital video release coming this week. -
Open beta for NHL 20 is underway
For the fifth consecutive year EA Sports is holding an open beta for the upcoming NHL release. That beta for NHL 20 is now live on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and will run through the final day of the month.
What began with NHL 16 being limited to EASHL has since expanded to include several different modes and features. With NHL 20 that includes Online Versus, World of CHEL, and Ones and Threes showcasing the new Battle Royale-inspired Eliminator mode. Read more
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10 hour trial for Madden NFL 20 now available through EA Access and Origin Access
Madden NFL 20 can now be downloaded as a timed trial with EA Access on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and for a trial or unlimited play (Premiere service) with Origin Access on PC.
Subscribers to the base service will get 10 hours of playtime after which it will expire requiring the purchased game to continue or a second EA Access account for 10 more hours. The timer is ticking down whenever the game is loaded regardless of whether it is being played, menus are being navigated through, or if there is any activity taking place at all. Because of that make sure to exit out and close the application from the respective home screens when not in use.
The 10 hours are there to play immediately but can continue to be used even beyond release. Any progress made in the various modes and online results will carry over if a full copy is purchased. The complete game is available during the trial period.
EA Access launched July 2014 on Xbox One and last year was joined by Origin Access on PC. After being prevented by Sony from releasing the service on PS4 it was finally cleared to launch on the system today. EA Access includes the “Vault” which offers unlimited play with nearly every game from the company’s catalog this generation, 10% off all digital purchases, and the ability to play games up to five days before they release with a limited timed trial. EA Access is $30 for a full year or $5 month-to-month.
Madden NFL 20 officially releases on Tue. July 30 for the Superstar Edition which goes for $80 and includes bonus content. The standard edition is $60 and comes out Fri. Aug 2 but Amazon is selling that one for just $50.94.
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The Line Drive for July 21
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦The full soundtrack was revealed with 46 songs to sample on Spotify for NBA 2K20.
♦NBA 2K admitted player ratings are in part based on interacting with them on social media.
♦There are numerous indications NBA Live 20 could be headed towards cancellation.
♦One is that EA Sports updated the roster for NBA Live 19 with 2019-20 transactions.
♦Madden NFL 20’s early EA Access trial will likely go live Wednesday on XB1, PS4, PC.
♦EA Sports has gone deeper into detailing the gameplay improvements for FIFA 20.
♦New trailer provides glimpses at some of those gameplay improvements for FIFA 20.
♦FIFA 20 lost the license to Juventus and replacing with a team called Piemonte Calcio.
♦Developer blog goes over the improvements made to goalies for NHL 20.
♦Developer blog goes over the improvements to skating and shooting for NHL 20.
♦New patch prepares for next week’s Nintendo Switch release of Super Mega Baseball 2.
♦The latest Rocket League promotion includes a limited-time mode and new DLC.
♦OOTP Baseball 20 is on sale through Tuesday for $20 which is 50% off.
♦Management game Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2020 has set release for August 5th.
♦Amazon has Madden NFL 20 pre-orders with price guarantee listed for just $50.94.
♦Amazon has FIFA 20 pre-orders with price guarantee listed for just $50.94.
♦Amazon has NHL 20 pre-orders with price guarantee listed for just $50.94.
♦Blu-ray releases this week headlined by Hellboy and Alita: Battle Angel.
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