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The Line Drive for April 13
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦EA’s press conference at E3 is scheduled for 1PM PT on Monday, June 10.
♦Conan O’Brien Clueless Gamer segment w/ Madden played on AT&T Stadium screen.
♦Check out the latest fighter screenshots for EA Sports UFC in the FB album.
♦Developer blog goes over how the visuals have evolved in The Golf Club.
♦Tutorial video demonstrates how to create a two-tiered green in The Golf Club.
♦Check out the hot and cold players from the latest roster update for NHL 14.
♦MLB 14: The Show received a server update which adjusted some aspects of the game.
♦A Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano fight could take place for the UFC title.
♦Have to wonder if Carano will be on the base EA UFC roster or added later as DLC.
♦Video shows some of the facial scans completed for NBA Live 15.
♦A free new track and $5 DLC car pack has released for Forza 5.
♦The 2014 NFL pre-season schedule has been released.
♦Sony announced The Last of Us Remastered for PlayStation 4 out this summer.
♦Amazon has Xbox One versions of Titanfall and Garden Warfare for $10 off.
♦New DVD/Blu-rays this week include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Ride Along. -
How Much Does The Bruce Lee Addition Matter to EA Sports UFC?
The announcement of Bruce Lee being available as a playable fighter in EA Sports UFC prompted two distinct responses. Some felt it was a huge deal and could sway them to buy the product, while others thought it was silly that someone with no association to the UFC and who didn’t really take part in competitive fighting would be included and heavily promoted for the game. The latter group would be unlikely pass on buying due to the news – the only way it would be harmful is if he was selectable for online ranked fights – so it’s ultimately a net gain for EA.
Vote in the poll below and leave any additional thoughts in the comments. Does the inclusion of Bruce Lee make you more likely to buy UFC or does it have no influence at all?
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Major Issues Being Reported With iOS Version of RBI Baseball 14
Though RBI Baseball was designed as a mobile game first the iOS version appears to be severely troubled. That’s not good news for a game that is already perceived to be overpriced at $5. Poor reviews have poured in and a large number of complaints are being seen on social media.
Many users are reporting crashing of the game – and though it seems to be at a higher rate with iPads it’s also affecting those with iPod touch and iPhones. Some people have not even been able to load into a game let alone complete one due to freezes and crashes. Other gripes include small on-screen controls, trouble hitting, inability to save or loss of season saves, and backing out of the app at any point meaning the loss of in-game progress. That is obviously not ideal or even feasible for those who need to use their phones or tablets for other functions and can’t dedicate 20+ minutes to playing a game without interruption.
Surely the game will have strong support from MLB so fixes should be expected in the weeks to come. With the wide array of devices to test for – and the differing experiences that tends to create as opposed to the generally consistent iOS – it doesn’t bode well for those waiting on the Android version to arrive in a good state.
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2014 FIFA World Cup Presentation Video
EA Sports has released a new video promoting the release of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil on Tuesday. A recent one took a look at the modes in the game and now attention turns to the presentation. That includes featuring all the stadiums, some of the actual managers, talk radio commenting on the developments, and the crowd scenes.
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Press Row Hangout: Episode 37
In the latest Press Row Hangout the topics for discussion include our progress in Road to the Show and some impressions of the mode (8:58), thoughts on the recent PS4 videos for The Show (23:18), early reaction to RBI Baseball 14 (32:03), 2014 FIFA World Cup following its demo (38:24), and another “Lightning Round” (55:55)! Also for those attending PAX East in Boston, the Press Row Podcast panel takes place on Friday April 11 with the focus on the “Crisis in Sports Gaming” and the meaning behind that is explained (49:39).
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MLB 14: The Show Video Compares The Visuals on PlayStation 3 vs PlayStation 4
A new video comparing MLB 14: The Show gameplay footage has released courtesy of Gamespot and it directly matches up the PS3 and PS4 versions of the game to show the visual enhancements that come with the new system.
It’s somewhat surprising that media directly comparing the two versions of the game has already been offered up. There’s a delicate balance SCEA has to consider in selling the PS4 version and its improvements without making the PS3 look so inferior that those still considering it would choose not to buy it. Just a little over a week has passed since that one released and it seems they immediately turned the page to completely focus on propping up the PS4. That’s a good long-term strategy but it could have been pushed another week or two and still been just as effective. Being limited to visuals though as opposed to features – of course the game will look better on the more powerful system – makes it easier to promote without offending anyone.
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Demo Confirmed for EA Sports UFC
EA Sports has now confirmed that there will be a pre-release demo for the upcoming UFC title. No date has been announced but in the past the company has released demos for NCAA Football around the same time period. In regards to UFC a potential conflict exists in that E3 takes place the week prior to the game’s release.
In recent years a demo has gone out for NCAA a week before or after E3 (which begins this year June 10th) but in the case of NCAA 13 it actually coincided with the first day of E3. June 3rd or 10th are the prime candidates for UFC’s demo considering the 17th is when it will arrive in stores.
Strategically EA could put it out a week before E3 to generate some buzz prior to the event and avoid all the extra noise or they could have it drop along with it and let fans feel as though they are involved in the spectacle. Demos for THQ’s UFC efforts drove sales through good word of mouth – their first one in particular benefited greatly from a terrific demo – and EA will be looking for the same as they launch their franchise. Earlier this week the news of Bruce Lee being on the roster was crafted with the intention of reaching consumers who normally may not have considered the game and the demo will be another tactic to do just that.
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RBI Baseball 14 Now Available on Last-Gen Consoles and iOS
RBI Baseball 14, the resurrection of the 1986-1995 series coming from MLB Advanced Media, has arrived for iOS devices and as a digital download on Xbox 360 and PS3. Though outrageously priced at $20 for consoles and $5 on mobile, considering how thin the game is on content, it hopes to tap into nostalgia and deliver some fun factor as an arcade entry into a market that has become largely devoid of them. RBI Baseball 14 will also be out for Xbox One, PS4, and Android in May or June.
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