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The Line Drive for April 15
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Check out which teams have an edge in the first round of the Playoffs from NBA 2K18.
♦Details on the latest content update for Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 18.
♦Details on the Southpaw Event in MLB 18 DD that runs through the 23rd.
♦The Show is testing out faster pitch speeds and smaller PCI through Battle Royale.
♦Football Manager has made a surprise launch for $40 on the Nintendo Switch.
♦Details on the latest ratings update for EA Sports UFC 3 reflecting recent results.
♦Details on the latest roster update w/ratings changes and players added in NHL 18.
♦Fix for exporting Franchise stats is on the way with Madden NFL 18 companion app.
♦Details on the Position Heroes program for defense in Madden NFL 18 Ultimate Team.
♦New developer video on improvements to character creator for The Golf Club 2019.
♦New developer video offers overview of the coming worldwide release of AO Tennis.
♦Details on the latest patch for Rocket League following the Tournaments rollout.
♦Sign up for a chance to participate in the closed beta for the upcoming F1 2018.
♦Amazon has Tennis World Tour for pre-order and it’s $48 for Prime members.
♦Blu-ray releases this week include The Commuter and The Post. -
NBA 2K18 roster update and playoff predictions
The NBA Playoffs tip-off today and coinciding is the latest roster update for NBA 2K18. Notables on the move include Giannis Antetokounmpo (-1 to 94), DeMar DeRozan (-1 to 89), Andre Drummond (-1 to 87), Bradley Beal (-1 to 87), Al Horford (+1 to 86), Rudy Gobert (-1 to 86), Clint Capela (-1 to 86), Hassan Whiteside (-1 to 86), Ben Simmons (+1 to 85), Blake Griffin (-1 to 85), Donovan Mitchell (+1 to 84) and Carmelo Anthony (-1 to 80).
NBA 2K’s simulation engine has proven itself adept at making predictions and this year it expects a competitive first round that will result in multiple underdogs moving on. Check out the full analysis of the first round at Sporting News. The top seeds may not have an easy road ahead, injuries going into the postseason will play a big role in who advances, and LeBron James’ Cavs will flip the playoffs switch as they’ve done in the past.
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Press Row Podcast: The Road to Championships
This episode of the Press Row Podcast features discussion on the recent NBA 2K League draft, playoff predictions from NBA 2K18 and Franchise Hockey Manager, and the crowning of the Favorite Sports Game Since 2010 with NBA 2K11 and NCAA Football 14 having reached the finals of the tournament.
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 also now be found on the recently launched Google Play Music for podcasts. Subscribe and review to help support the show! You can also listen with the streaming player below.
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NHL 18 has been added to EA Access Vault
NHL 18 has today made its way into the EA Access Vault on Xbox One – just in time for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. NHL 18 is now the third EA Sports game from 2017 to have reached the Vault joining Madden NFL 18 and NBA Live 18 available in full to all subscribers.
EA Access is currently exclusive to Xbox One with Sony declining to offer the service on PS4 despite its remarkable value. EA executives have hinted that may change this year however. For $30 a year or $5 month-to-month, members get unlimited access to the back library of EA games on the console which in addition to NHL 18, NBA Live 18 and Madden NFL 18 now includes all earlier XB1 sports titles plus the likes of Battlefield 1, Titanfall 2, Skate 3, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, Star Wars Battlefront, and many others. There’s also the 10 hour trials with every EA game that begin five days before release and 10% savings on all digital purchases whether it be the actual games or microtransactions within them.
The arrival of NHL 18 to the Vault comes a couple weeks later than the series has landed on the service the past two years which were late March. FIFA 18 will be the next to join the group in the Vault and that will likely happen either late this month or early next.
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New players added with first MLB The Show 18 in-season roster update
With the notable exception of Shohei Ohtani, players are added to MLB The Show after becoming members of the MLBPA which requires having made a single appearance in a major league game. The first in-season roster update for MLB The Show 18 has gone out and includes 22 new rookies that have debuted and a number of other players added to team rosters. The first changes to player ratings won’t occur until late this month.
The highest rated rookie to be added in this first wave comes in at 79 Overall and only two have an ‘A’ grade for potential. One mistake stands out as Yonny Chirinos is missing ratings in H/9, K/9, BB/9, HR/9 and Clutch resulting in an Overall Rating of 8. This is similar to what happened with Christian Bethancourt last year when he was missing pitching attributes which made him a 6 Overall. He was fixed a week later with the update that followed. Read more
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The Line Drive for April 8
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Full details on the NBA 2K League schedule and its structure have been announced.
♦NBA 2K League presents opportunity but challenges remain for sports games in esports.
♦Cast your vote in the Finals of the Favorite Sports Game Since 2010 Tournament.
♦Changes have been made to Diamond Dynasty souvenir exchanges in MLB The Show 18.
♦OSFM rosters are available now for download from the roster vault in MLB The Show 18.
♦Details on the new Road to the Playoffs program underway in NBA Live Mobile.
♦Details on the latest roster update to have gone out for NBA Live 18.
♦Video going over gameplay changes from recent content updates in EA Sports UFC 3.
♦Stamina has been adjusted in the latest tuner update out in EA Sports UFC 3.
♦Details on the new Bizarro World program for Ultimate Team in EA Sports UFC 3.
♦Free WWE items are being added to Rocket League with codes out during WrestleMania.
♦The long-awaited Tournaments feature went live in an update for Rocket League.
♦Complete details on the latest patch to have gone out for Rocket League.
♦The release of AO Tennis across the globe is nearing with ESRB having cleared it.
♦The Team of the Year has been revealed for Hockey Ultimate Team in NHL 18.
♦Fire Pro Wrestling World available for pre-order on PS4 w/ Amazon 20% Prime discount.
♦Blu-ray releases this week include The Greatest Showman and Molly’s Game. -
New release date and trailer for Casey Powell Lacrosse 18
The “very brief” delay to the release of Casey Powell Lacrosse 18 will end up having been over a month by the time it will arrive on the new date of April 17th. The sequel to one of the most pleasant surprises to emerge in the genre from recent years will be available digitally on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Read more
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Third MLB The Show 18 patch makes more adjustments to fielding
MLB The Show 18 has now been out for exactly two weeks and in that time has received three patches. Today’s update again addresses fielding which has arguably been the most problematic gameplay-related area this year.
“Fix for user controlled player to make sure his starting direction has the correct angle and ensures he is on the right path to make any potential catch. This adjustment should help with bad angles to the ball which led to potential misses.”
In an earlier patch fielding animations were adjusted to allow for catches to be made from just outside the marker. Players not making realistic attempts at the ball and even having trouble picking it up have been amongst the most common complaints in the early days of release.
Unfortunately that is currently the only known change. The remainder of the notes provided appear to have been accidentally copied over from the patch that went out earlier this week.
Additionally, despite an ill-advised tweet today that makes it sound like he can be utilized differently than anyone else, Shohei Ohtani is still designated as a starting pitcher with no unique ability to play the field or get in the lineup as a DH on non-pitching days.
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