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Gameplay details for NBA 2K19
With just a few days until release of NBA 2K19, 2K Sports has released the specifics of what’s been done with gameplay for this year. Naturally that is heavy on enhancements to the AI and also includes new logic for pick-and-roll switches and double teams. Some of the improvements can be noticed in The Prelude, through MyCareer games or the scrimmage tutorial, however a lot of it will have to wait for the full game to be experienced. Read more
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The Line Drive for September 2
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Reviews are coming next week for NBA Live 19, NBA 2K19, and PES 2019.
♦All the top rated players coming in at 87+ Overall revealed for NBA 2K19
♦Eligible games to receive a $10 promo credit on pre-orders with Amazon Prime.
♦One of Madden NFL 19’s top rated players Khalil Mack was traded to the Bears.
♦Details on the considerable changes made due to beta feedback for NHL 19.
♦EA Sports revealed the top 10 rated players to begin the season in NHL 19.
♦Complete details on what to expect out Hockey Ultimate Team in NHL 19.
♦Check out the full list of songs for the soundtrack featured in FIFA 19.
♦Developer video takes a look at the swing basics for The Golf Club 2019.
♦Details on the league expansion process into year two of the NBA 2K League.
♦Latest developments on the coming Perfect Team beta for OOTP Baseball 19.
♦Details on the latest content added to Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 18.
♦Details on the latest patch including a change to progression in Rocket League.
♦The MYNBA2K19 app for iOS and Android is now available for NBA 2K19.
♦Still not in the EA Access Vault but FIFA 18 is on sale on XB1 for just $6.
♦Digital movie releases this week headlined by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. -
Press Row Podcast: Impressions Party
It was an incredibly busy week for sports games. The Golf Club 2019 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 released. NBA 2K19 has delivered The Prelude and NBA Live 19 is out through its EA Access trial. First impressions on those games and more are discussed in this episode of the Press Row Podcast, while the panel also finds time to express a high level of distress over the sheer number of quality games coming out in the next two months sports and otherwise.
Check out the podcast through iTunes 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 Prelude for NBA 2K19 is out now
Get an early start on NBA 2K19 with The Prelude which is now available to download free on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Acting as a demo of sorts for the third straight year, The Prelude offers character creation and the early portion of the story mode, which this year goes international and includes the G League, plus the 2KU scrimmage tutorial.
Progress made in The Prelude will carry over to the full game if purchased. Last year with NBA 2K18 it was The Neighborhood at the center of the experience as the MyCareer story began along with 2KU’s tutorial. 2K17 featured the collegiate portion of MyCareer mode that was playable along with what at the time was a new tutorial mode. Face scans from the MYNBA2K19 mobile app can be transferred to in-game MyPlayer. There are no regular NBA games or other modes to be played in The Prelude.
NBA 2K19 will release on September 7 with the $100 Anniversary Edition and September 11 for the standard edition. Amazon is now offering a $10 promo credit when pre-ordering either version but is limited to physical copies.
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10 hour trial for NBA Live 19 now available through EA Access on Xbox One
NBA Live 19 can now be downloaded as a timed trial with EA Access on Xbox One. Subscribers to the service will get 10 hours of playtime after which it will expire. 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 Xbox One home screen when not in use.
The 10 hours are there to play immediately but can continue to be used at any point in the future. Saves are stored so progress in any of the modes and online records and stats carry over if a full copy is purchased. The complete game is available during the trial period.
EA Access launched July 2014 and is available on Xbox One and has since been joined by Origin Access on PC. Sony has declined to offer the service through PlayStation 4 saying it doesn’t offer enough value, despite being arguably the best value in all of gaming. 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.
New this year is an additional tier for Origin Access on PC which provides the games in full with no restrictions for the entire year. Origin Access is $30 annually and the new Access Premier is $100 annually. NBA Live 19 is not available on PC but Madden NFL 19 and the upcoming FIFA 19 are part of the package.
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A look at The Neighborhood in NBA 2K19
“The Neighborhood” was introduced in NBA 2K18 and arguably represented the worst of what the game had to offer. Not only was it built around virtual currency and advertisements but it was a major culprit of time wasting. What was likely good in concept despite being overhyped was not in execution, as it took what could be accomplished in simple fashion through menus and instead made basic tasks take minutes to complete.
2K Sports has just debuted a trailer for the second year of The Neighborhood for NBA 2K19. It’s clear that at least some of the feedback was heard, as the activity within the area seems to have increased, the ways to play expanded upon in new and creative ways, and getting around appears as though it could be quicker. What isn’t likely to change is that The Neighborhood is by design going to be a hub for pushing microtransactions and that’s clear through all the upgrades that will be available for characters both in terms of customization and attributes.
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The Golf Club 2019 available now; 2K on board as publisher
The Golf Club 2019 is now available to download digitally for $50 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Steam for PC. Physical editions of the game are planned for this fall.
The third iteration in The Golf Club series comes just over a year after the release of the second. The big move was made by acquiring the PGA Tour license, taking The Golf Club from a franchise for hardcore fans of golf to one that could see its appeal widen to a much greater audience. 2K Sports has now taken on the role as publisher (joining recent addition NBA Playgrounds) and they are in place surely for expertise in how to increase sales and in order to generate digital revenue post-release. With that in mind it’s of little surprise that virtual currency in fact makes its debut in The Golf Club 2019. Read more
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The Line Drive for August 26
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Only hours left to lock in pre-order discounts w/Prime before Amazon discontinues them.
♦The Golf Club 2019 finally has an official release date announced for Tuesday, August 28.
♦EA Sports has revealed most of the top 50 rated players for the upcoming NHL 19.
♦NBA 2K19 will be adding private matchmaking to the online Pro-Am Mode.
♦The story goes international and stars Anthony Mackie in NBA 2K19’s MyCareer Mode.
♦Trailer showcases gameplay and Bill Simmons as a guest commentator in NBA 2K19.
♦LeBron James testified in the lawsuit against 2K Sports over tattoos in NBA 2K games.
♦EA Sports revealed the full soundtrack featured with NBA Live 19.
♦Details on what’s new for the online Live Run mode with NBA Live 19.
♦Details on the new feature Court Battles just announced for NBA Live 19.
♦The companion app including face scanning for iOS and Android is out now for NBA Live 19.
♦The Franchise mobile app has been updated for iOS and Android for Madden NFL 19.
♦Career Mode has gone largely untouched besides Champions League for FIFA 19.
♦Developer interview addresses questions about The Journey’s third year with FIFA 19.
♦Details on the latest gameplay patch released for EA Sports UFC 3.
♦A sequel has been announced to the 1994 game Windjammers due out sometime in 2019.
♦The Press Row Podcast can now be found among the featured podcasts on Spotify.
♦Blu-ray releases this week are headlined by Tag and Upgrade.
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