-
The Line Drive for December 17
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦2K has posted a poll regarding how layup timing should be handled in NBA 2K19.
♦NBA 2K18 briefly leaked the alternate Nike City uniforms still yet to be revealed.
♦The breakdown of ratings changes from the latest Madden NFL 18 roster update.
♦Details on the latest new program rolled out in Madden NFL 18 Ultimate Team.
♦NBA Playgrounds will be a new addition to Microsoft Game Pass for January.
♦Website launched for the upcoming 2K League with all the latest news.
♦Make sure to vote for Best Gameplay of 2017 w/more categories going up this week.
♦NBA 2K18 finished 4th, Madden NFL 18 5th, FIFA 18 7th in November NPD.
♦NBA Live 18 will be going on sale for just $10 on PlayStation 4 this week.
♦Details on new Finest program live now in MLB The Show 17 Diamond Dynasty.
♦Details on latest Ranked Season rewards in MLB The Show 17 Diamond Dynasty.
♦Details on the latest content update to go out for Need for Speed Payback.
♦Details on the latest patch and various fixes made for Rocket League.
♦Blu-ray releases this week include Dunkirk, Lego Ninjago and Dark Knight Trilogy 4K. -
PRP: Sports Game of the Year 2017
A wide open field in 2017 has resulted in the most unpredictable and fascinating Sports Game of the Year voting yet! While many of the games were fantastic in general they all had some serious flaws that detracted from their full potential, and because of that expect there to be no consensus “best” game that will sweep its way to a victory.
Will MLB The Show 17 repeat off last year’s MLB 16 win? Will NBA 2K18 bounce back or fall even further after the award-winning 2K16Â preceded 2K17 slipping to third? Will Madden NFL 18 continue the upward trajectory that saw Madden 17 finish the highest ever for the series as runner-up last year? Or will another game come from farther back in the pack in a surprise result?
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.
-
First look at Tennis World Tour gameplay
After five years without a new tennis game there are now two that will be releasing in the first half of 2018. The one first announced was Tennis World Tour which comes from a new studio called Breakpoint that employs some developers formerly of the Top Spin series.
Out of the PlayStation Experience event is the first opportunity to see the game in action, as well as having the release window trimmed down from spring to May specifically. That means it’ll be hitting the market second – and in close proximity to the French Open and Wimbledon – but also that it still has a decent amount of time for improvement to be shown from this first display.
-
Set custom audibles right from the play call screen with latest update to Madden NFL 18
The latest patch for Madden NFL 18 has not just delivered some improvements and fixes but added a brand new useful feature to the game. Known as “Audibles on the Fly” the feature allows for custom audibles to be set right from the play call screen by formation and can be utilized in every mode and on both offense and defense.
Additionally the update affects gameplay and Franchise Mode where the play call screen lag has been fixed and the ability to turn on injuries with Competitive play style added.  Read more
-
End of Year Community Awards: Best Gameplay of 2017
With 2017 coming to a close it’s time to start looking back on the developments that have taken place and acknowledge the various efforts in sports gaming. To start is the first category in the annual Community Awards. You can check out the winners from previous years here.
The categories to look forward to include Sports Game of the Year, Best New or Non-Yearly Sports Game, Best Mobile Game, Best Racing Game, Best Online Play, Best Presentation, Best Franchise Mode, Best Career Mode, Best Post-Release Support, Best New Feature, and Best Team-Building Mode. All winners will be announced in early January!
First up is Best Gameplay, a category that had been dominated by NBA 2K but an unusual down year for that series allowed MLB The Show break through and win for the first time. Many of the categories to come have been shaken up in the nominees but the three series most known for gameplay return to battle for the award yet again with MLB The Show 17 looking to repeat but challenged by NBA 2K18 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2018.
-
The Line Drive for December 10
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦The Yankees lineup will be high on Power low on Vision in MLB The Show 18.
♦Gameplay video of Tennis World Tour has emerged out of PS Experience.
♦New patch has added 4K for XB1 X and more features and fixes for NHL 18.
♦Everybody’s Golf is currently on sale for $20 through Amazon.
♦Initial qualifying for NBA 2K League will take place throughout January.
♦Madden is the focus of the latest podcast episode from ESPN 30 for 30.
♦Details on the latest Ultimate Team program to launch in Madden NFL 18.
♦Some changes were made to MUT Drafts in Madden NFL 18.
♦Casey Powell Lacrosse 16 is one of the new additions to Game Pass on Xbox One.
♦Details on the latest patch to the Nintendo Switch version of FIFA 18.
♦Forza Motorsport 7 won Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards.
♦Details on the latest patch with many fixes out now for Forza Motorsport 7.
♦Forza Motorsport 7 is currently on sale for $40 digital code through Amazon.
♦Looking ahead to new content coming to Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 17.
♦Despite the ban Russia will not be patched out of the Olympics DLC for Steep.
♦Details on a significant new patch that’s gone out for Sociable Soccer.
♦A new patch has added in Clubs feature and made fixes to DiRT 4.
♦The delayed port predictably turned out to be a disaster for WWE 2K18 on Switch.
♦Hawaii rep is drafting bill to prevent minors from buying games with loot boxes.
♦Year of PlayStation Plus subscription is currently just $40 through Amazon.
♦Blu-ray releases this week headlined by Kingsman 2 and Game of Thrones S7. -
Press Row Podcast: Entering Awards Season
Two of the biggest annual gaming events have just taken place between the PlayStation Experience and The Game Awards. Both were sure disappointments for anyone hoping to see sports games represented. This episode of the Press Row Podcast features discussion on the events and why, despite their place dominating sales charts and high cultural relevance, sports games continue to go without recognition.
Also in this episode a look ahead at possible features for NHL 19, the announcement of a second tennis game for early 2018, the addition of player editing to NBA Live 18, and reaction to the beating that video game publisher stocks have been taking from investors recently.
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.
-
Policing of user-created content in NBA 2K18 was an inevitability
When publishers provide the ability for consumers to customize elements in their video games and share it with others they become vulnerable to legal action should they not closely monitor it for any inappropriate content or trademark violations and respond to takedown requests from rights holders. That makes what is happening right now in NBA 2K18 a predictable outcome, as Kotaku reports that players of the game are expressing frustration over the removal of user-created t-shirts that feature logos of brands that have not authorized their use. Read more
by