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Agility and Control Improvements Highlighted in New Video for FIFA 15
EA Sports today released a new video demonstrating the player agility and control that will be present in FIFA 15. Improved aspects include “closer control and more realistic player movement, new ball physics and crunching physical challenges”.
Leave defenders in the dust or control the ball like the world’s best footballers. Players explode into action with improved balance, cuts and closer touches when in possession, giving greater responsiveness and personality to the game’s superstars. Experience brilliant control as you keep the ball in a sprint or when searching for an opening in those close-touch situations. Players move realistically with athleticism, improved balance and closer control, giving greater responsiveness and personality to your favourite stars.
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Latest Madden NFL 15 Stream Shifts the Focus to Presentation
EA Sports held another live stream yesterday for Madden NFL 15 with the primary intention of this one to show off the presentation. The earlier stream that was all about gameplay generated a fairly unusual level of positivity for anything related to Madden, but this one hasn’t received the same type of reviews from viewers. That’s probably due in large part to deficiencies in presentation being much easier to identify on the surface than issues with gameplay. Certainly the disappointing halftime show is playing a role in the sentiment as well. There are considerable improvements that have been made however. Continue on for the archived stream and leave your thoughts in the comments! Read more
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Press Row Hangout Clips: Responding to More Viewer Questions
Four more viewer questions are discussed in the final two clips from the most recent Press Row Hangout. The topics include The Golf Club and whether there could be more unlicensed sports games in the future, when to expect the Madden NFL 15 demo, why publishers seem to be holding back information on games until later now, and what sports game release in the past generated the most anticipation for the panelists. Read more
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Breaking Down the New EA Access Subscription Service
EA Access was announced yesterday and based on the reaction there appears to be quite a lot of interest in the concept of a subscription service which provides a library of older games to play and pre-release play periods for new games. Many who were aware of EA Sports Season Ticket liked what that provided too, which EA Access appears to have improved upon in several areas and offers less in others, but that program was never actively advertised by the company so it never took off. They will likely push EA Access much more aggressively.
Interestingly it seems the exclusivity to Xbox One is not because of a special arrangement with Microsoft, but Sony not feeling that it was a beneficial program to offer. The thinking may be to avoid it becoming the norm with publishers to offer their own subscriptions on top of what consumers are already paying for with PlayStation Plus, and prevent competition with PS Now (which comparatively to Access is an awful value). If EA Access turns out to be popular though, there’s little doubt they would adopt it as well, so as to eliminate what would be perceived as an advantage for the competition. Sony is already getting heat for the decision to block their consumers from having the simple choice to subscribe if they desire to do so.
In the video podcast below I’m joined by T.J. Lauerman (@ThatSportsGamer) to discuss the EA Access program. We explain what it is, how it compares to Season Ticket, and where it could be leading consumers towards for the future.
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Importance of Franchise Mode to Madden Apparent as Consumers Wait for More Info
On Monday EA Sports turned to promoting Ultimate Team mode for Madden NFL 15. After months of consumers waiting on Franchise news, it was the most disconcerting development yet. Typically Ultimate Team is held for last, when the greatest number of people are seeking out information on the upcoming game, as the company attempts to draw in that more casual audience to their revenue-generating mode.
Franchise has been talked about in May and June in the past, when those paying attention are of a somewhat more hardcore crowd. Thankfully a blurb on retailer sites added some vague info on a couple new features to soften the frustration.
Clearly Ultimate Team is where EA would hope to push more consumers. But is that happening at a cost to Franchise mode? Whether it is or isn’t, that is going to be the perception if nothing noteworthy was implemented in the mode. I sought reaction to what it would mean if Franchise mode wasn’t improved significantly and the response was swift and emphatic. Read more
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Top Rated Defensive Tackles and Linebackers in Madden NFL 15
EA Sports has continued revealing the highest rated players going position-by-position for Madden NFL 15. The latest are the defensive tackles, middle linebackers, and outside linebackers. The schedule laid out calls for corners, safeties, and special teams through the end of the week, followed by ratings for complete team rosters at a rate of two divisions per day.
Defensive Tackle
Ndamukong Suh (97), Geno Atkins (96), Gerald McCoy + Kyle Williams (95), Jurrell Casey (93)Middle Linebacker
Patrick Willis + Navorro Bowman (96), Luke Kuechly (94), Derrick Johnson + Jerod Mayo (91)Outside Linebacker
Von Miller + Aldon Smith (96), Justin Houston + Lavonte David + Robert Mathis (93)Previously Revealed
Top 13 Rookies
Top WR, TE, DE, OL
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EA Access Announced for Xbox One; Exclusive Pre-Release Play Periods and Library of Games With Subscription
Electronic Arts today announced “EA Access” a new program that provides membership-style access to a back catalog of games plus the chance to play games up to five days prior to their release and get 10% off digital purchases. Both of those benefits are similar to the now discontinued Season Ticket. EA Access will go for $5 a month, or $30 for the full year, and is exclusive to the Xbox One. It’s in beta right now and will open to all soon.
♦EA Access membership unlocks The Vault, a collection of EA’s biggest games on Xbox One ready for you to download and play. During the beta, gamers will have unlimited access to four great EA games: FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2 and Battlefield 4, with more titles being added soon. That’s over $100 worth of games for $4.99 a month. You can play these EA favorites as much as you want with the click of a button.
♦Awesome Value– Besides the great games in The Vault, EA Access members will save 10% on purchases of EA digital content for Xbox One offered through the Xbox Games Store. From full digital-download titles like the upcoming Dragon Age Inquisition or NHL 15, to additional membership services such as Battlefield 4 Premium or even FIFA Ultimate Team points, it’s all 10% off for members.
♦Play First – Membership in EA Access lets you experience trials of new EA games up to five days before the release date. It starts with Madden NFL 15, NHL 15, FIFA 15, NBA LIVE 15, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, but more are on the way. If you decide to buy the game, your progress will carry over so you can pick up right where you left off.
Obviously this would appear to be improved value over the Season Ticket for not much more than its annual subscription cost. With the PlayStation 4 having such an advantage over the Xbox One in terms of where consumers are buying third party games – and that may be irreversible at this point – it’s a pretty huge exclusive for Microsoft to tout to those on the fence.
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Press Row Hangout Clips: Importance of Commentary and Some Viewer Questions
The next clips from the most recent Press Row Hangout involve a discussion over the importance of commentary in sports games and answering the first viewer questions. Even more of those will posted tomorrow.
Commentary is a big factor in immersion and delivering authentic television-style presentation but many complain about it and go so far as to turn it off or listen to something else when it grows tired. Is commentary an area developers should focus on more?
What consoles will lead the way in sales for Madden NFL 15, and what are the thoughts towards NBA 2K15 and NBA Live 15Â at this point when neither publisher has revealed a shred of information on the upcoming games? Read more
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