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NCAA Will No Longer Sell Team Merchandise; Shifts More Responsibility to Schools
Last month the NCAA announced they would no longer provide a license for sports video games. The decision offered them distance from potential future claims regarding misuse of likenesses in games but will not help in the potentially monumental case brought by current and past players. Now the NCAA is taking a step back in the area of merchandising following the embarrassment of earlier this week.
The NCAA will no longer sell jerseys, numbered t-shirts, or anything that could be construed as representing a player. Those items instead will have to come directly from the schools.
That could transfer more of the focus going forward on the CLC and the schools individually. As the NCAA distances itself from these revenue streams – essentially admitting they were in the wrong – they’ll become the target instead. Given that institutions are now weighing the pros and cons of a relationship with video games, and some have reportedly already withdrawn, should they feel additional risk is being taken they may choose to take a far more cautious approach. That would bode poorly for the future of the College Football series at EA Sports.
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Many Leaning Towards Waiting for Next-Gen Versions of Games Releasing Twice
Last week polls were posted to gather some data on how consumers who plan to get an Xbox One or PlayStation 4 at launch may be approaching the franchises releasing on 360/PS3 first and later One/PS4. Lets take a look at the results and what they may be suggesting with about three months until next-gen’s arrival. Read more
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MLB 13: The Show’s Home Run Derby is Now Free to Download
Originally released in early July for $6 the standalone Home Run Derby mode taken from MLB 13: The Show has now been made available for free. The mode comes with 46 players to use in the competition including Miguel Cabrera, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Bryce Harper, Prince Fielder, Evan Longoria, and yes Ryan Braun. It can be grabbed though the website or directly from the PlayStation Store. It is unclear whether the promotion is indefinite or for a limited time so if interested make sure to secure it as soon as possible.
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Live The Life Brings Character to Career Mode in NHL 14
Be a Pro mode is evolving into Live the Life for NHL 14. Where EA Sports’ career modes have faltered most in recent years has been failing to represent a player’s dealings away from the ice or field. That will be changing with NHL 14 as now interviews, events, endorsements, and likeability will all factor into a career. Read more
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Madden NFL 25 Demo Details
EA Sports has confirmed the long rumored date of Tuesday, August 13 for the Madden NFL 25 demo and released details on what will be included. The demo will feature two matchups with the Seahawks at Packers and 49ers at Ravens. It will also include an opportunity to learn and refine abilities in the new Skills Trainer which proved effective in NCAA Football 14.
As far as quarter length or other options those have not been specified. Madden NFL 13’s demo also featured two pairings and impressively full games with five minute quarters. It however did not carry with it an extra mode like the Skills Trainer.
[UPDATE] Confirmed to be full games with five minute quarters.
Expect the rosters to be outdated enough that injuries to Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin, Brian Bulaga, and Dennis Pitta won’t be reflected. They will probably be in the starting lineups.
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NCAA Looks Even Worse Today Regarding Misappropriated Use of Likenesses
The continued hypocrisy of the NCAA shone through today as Jay Bilas exposed on Twitter how names are linked to jerseys at the official NCAA shop. Players can’t profit off their own names but the NCAA sure does and it couldn’t have been made any clearer. Searching the names of both current and former players returned results with the jersey number they wear/wore on apparel. The search functionality on the site has now been completely disabled. Read more
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Dunks Can Be Blocked in NBA 2K14
2K Sports today addressed a concern from NBA 2K13 by declaring dunks can in fact be blocked in NBA 2K14. One of the most common complaints last year was the inability to block them.
It’s not a significant release of information but at least 2K Sports is starting to talk about NBA 2K14 with eight weeks remaining until release on 360 and PS3. While it may feel as though 2K is behind typical schedule, possibly due to a conflict with promoting the next-gen version, they haven’t deviated all that much from the norm yet.
Last year by August the Jay-Z news had been announced, brief gameplay footage had emerged out of E3, the Dynasty Edition was up for pre-order, and the All-Star Weekend pre-order incentive had been offered. That’s still more than what has come out for 2K14 however with only Euroleague teams for Play Now and mention of “Path to Greatness” mode in the LeBron James themed pre-order incentive. Turning to next-gen 2K hasn’t even discussed a general philosophy let alone any specific features or technology going into the game.
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FIFA 14 Video Tackles Improvements to Shooting and Ball Physics
EA Sports has released a new video featuring footage and producer discussion for FIFA 14. The focus is on two of the very first features that were announced this year back in April with Pure Shot and Real Ball Physics. Read more
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