-
E3/EA Play 2018 Preview
Though its relevance on the ground has been fading E3 still represents a massive yearly event for the gaming industry. The press briefings that take place prior to E3 are main draw for observers while Electronic Arts has left E3 to hold their own overlapping event known as EA Play and other companies have begun to take similar approaches.
E3 and now also EA Play have traditionally delivered new insight into the upcoming crop of sports games slated for late summer and fall. Here’s the lineup for when everything is taking place, what to expect, and where to watch. Read more
-
NBA 2K19’s $100 special edition will feature LeBron James on the cover
2K Sports today announced that LeBron James will appear on the cover of NBA 2K19’s 20th Anniversary Edition. The special edition will release on Friday, September 7 for $100. Those who would rather get the standard $60 version will be forced to wait until Tuesday, September 11.
This will be the 20th game released in the series with the first one having come out in 1999. NBA 2K10 was framed as the 10th Anniversary, for the 10 years of NBA 2K, but here with 2K19 for whatever reason it’s been decided that it’ll be referred to as the 20th anniversary.
Included in the pricey 20th Anniversary Edition is a great deal of bonus digital content such as 100K Virtual Currency ($25 worth), 50K MyTeam Points, 20 MyTeam League Packs, 10 MyTeam Heat Check Packs, LeBron James MyTeam Card, and a LeBron James MyCourt design. The special edition then is really only worth it for those who play MyTeam. The physical edition of the game only will also come with a LeBron poster, sticker sheet, and custom wristband.
Once again the game will offer The Prelude as a demo of sorts, providing an early opportunity to get started on the MyCareer Mode beginning August 31st. The September 7th date will make 2K19 the second earliest that a licensed NBA game will have ever released, supplanting 2K18 after a few years now of the series gradually moving up from its traditional early October dates.
-
Rocket League getting Jurassic World DLC
Promotional tie-ins with downloadable content for Rocket League in the past have included vehicles and other items from Back to the Future, Fast & Furious, The Dark Knight Rises as well as numerous DC properties. The next blockbuster to get the treatment with Rocket League content involves Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom which is out later this month.
The Jurassic World Car Pack DLC will be available on Monday, June 18 for $2 featuring the Jeep Wrangler in both Jurassic World and Jurassic Park branding, a T-Rex goal explosion, a JP topper, three banners and three antennas.
-
The Line Drive for June 3
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦The EA Play press briefing is scheduled for Sat. afternoon June 9 at 2ET/11PT.
♦E3 briefing for Microsoft is Sunday afternoon at 1PT and Sony is Monday night at 6PT.
♦Fire Pro Wrestling World can be pre-ordered on PS4 with 20% discount for 8/28 release.
♦Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 will be losing all licensing with ties to Borussia Dortmund.
♦The 2018 FIFA World Cup has come to FIFA 18 for free in the latest patch for the game.
♦Sign-up in order to participate in a multiplayer beta on PC with The Golf Club 2019.
♦Mid-season tournament in the NBA 2K League will take place Friday and Saturday.
♦NBA 2K18’s simulation engine predicts a 4-1 NBA Finals series win for the Warriors.
♦Details on the latest Programs and Rewards in Diamond Dynasty for MLB The Show 18.
♦Server update adjusted Ego ratings for Pennant Race mode in Super Mega Baseball 2.
♦Details on the latest patch to have gone live in Out of the Park Baseball 19.
♦Details on substantial changes to gameplay with the latest patch for EA Sports UFC 3.
♦List of fighters that have new taunts following the patch for EA Sports UFC 3.
♦Details on the NBA Finals program now underway in NBA Live Mobile.
♦Another content update has delivered the new arena Salty Shores to Rocket League.
♦Full details on everything in the latest patch that went out for Rocket League.
♦Trials Fusion is among free games offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers for June. -
Press Row Podcast: E3 2018 Expectations
With just a week until the kick-off of EA Play and E3 expectations for sports games at the briefings and on the show floor are discussed on this episode of the Press Row Podcast. Other topics include the 2018 FIFA World Cup add-on for FIFA 18 and the first feature news for Madden NFL 19 plus the move it is making to an earlier release date.
Check out the podcast through iTunes for iOS, on Android with the Stitcher app, or with Pocket Casts on iOS, Android, and Windows. Subscribe and give the podcast five star reviews to help support the show! You can also listen with the streaming player below.
-
Mario Tennis Aces demo event is underway
While both traditional tennis games this year have proven to be massive disappointments there is another nearing release that, while not attempting to be a simulation, is all but certain to deliver a complete product that is high in fun factor. Mario Tennis Aces for the Nintendo Switch is set to release on June 22 but a free demo out this weekend provides the first opportunity to spend time with the game in online battles.
The demo event has gone live and runs only through the weekend featuring the Online Tournament mode. Download the pre-launch Online Tournament demo from Nintendo eShop.
There is no restriction on how much it can be played and Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Bowser are available characters to choose from. Five others are unlockable in the demo by earning points that are distributed by winning matches: Waluigi, Toad, Spike, Rosalina, and Chain Chomp. A special classic outfit for Mario is being given out to those who play the demo that will transfer over to the full version of the game if purchased.
In addition to the Online Tournaments feature which makes up the entirety of the demo, Mario Tennis Aces will feature a single-player Adventure Mode, a motion-controlled Swing Mode, Free Play for local multiplayer, and a roster of over 15 characters.
-
New features and improvements to Ultimate Team for Madden NFL 19
Madden NFL 19 was officially announced last week along with some descriptions of the new features to expect out of the game. For the first in-depth look at Madden 19 EA Sports has detailed what to expect out of Ultimate Team. The improvements to the mode include Player Upgrades, Solo Battles, Specialist Positions, and the removal of Contracts. Read more
-
NBA Finals predicted by NBA 2K18
Traditionally 2K Sports has revealed the cover athlete with a teaser trailer for the upcoming NBA 2K game alongside the start of the NBA Finals. It’s unclear if that will be happening yet again this year but in the meantime a look ahead to the Finals with 2K18 which believes the Warriors have even a better chance of bringing home the title to the bay than oddsmakers suggest.
Check out the full details of the data pulled from over 60 simulations of the NBA Finals in the piece on Sporting News. The simulation engine has been eerily accurate again this year with its predictions and here believes the Warriors have a 94% chance of winning the title with Kevin Durant the likely Finals MVP. There’s a specific formula the Cavaliers need in order to win even with the normal heroics from LeBron James, and it simply doesn’t occur often enough to give them much of a chance at taking four games from Golden State in a series.
by