Random topics and poll for today

by pastapadre
Posted May 24th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

Gametap has an early look at Fight Night Round 4 through interviews with producer Dean Richards as well as Lennox Lewis and Sugar Ray Leonard. You can check that out here. Among the topics discussed is the new physics engine, inside fighting and glancing blows.

An astute poster over at Operation Sports has uncovered that Ben Brinkman, lead producer of the last two years of the MLB 2K series, has moved on to a new job and is no longer with 2K Sports. After the news their NHL series has moved from 2K LA/Kush to the Visual Concepts studio it seems that the MLB series may be following the same path of much needed reinvention.

The list of achievements for NCAA Football 09 is out and can be found here. Some tie into new features such as the online dynasty, custom sounds, and mascot celebrations though the majority are gameplay based.

EA Sports has come out and stated that “hardcore fans should not fear our new casual sports approach” in a new article here. Initial concern over this from the community seems to have dwindled as the upcoming releases are providing accessibility by adding options and personalizing difficulty levels based on how each individual’s skills stack up. They’ve also branched out with the “Freestyle” label to keep a clear distinction between types of games.

The community asked for an option in Madden 09 to turn off the celebration light squares in the end zone after a TD and it has since been added. You’ll still be able to activate the celebrations by going to the different areas, they just won’t be displayed with the light squares.

Some info on SCEA’s NBA 09 came out. The game will be adding in both a franchise mode and “The Life” mode. There will also be “team progression”, expanded commentary, and the return of “NBA Replay” mode which is a really cool idea if only there was reason to play the game over 2K or Live. Hopefully this year SCEA’s series steps up significantly in quality and depth.

Continue leaving suggestions for things to look for at the community event coming up. For anything related to Madden/Head Coach/NCAA leave them here, and for uniform specific issues in Madden those can be left here.

The poll asks whether you feel a rewrite from the ground up and/or studio move would be an encouraging development for MLB 2K9.

{democracy:26}

Tags:

Eski

IMO, EA is stepping up to the plate big time. By taking community suggestions is huge. Taking out the lighted celebration squares will keep the “arcadey” appearance out of the game. Now let’s hope EA can fix LIVE!!

Also, if 2K is purchased by EA will it matter which studio is working on which sports game??? Please let EA get baseball back.
Eski

[quote comment="22029"]2K really needs to give up the MLB license now, the games they produce seem like they are a third class developer with no resources to make any nice graphics or anything that should be made at this point[/quote]

I agree. I have no idea why Microsoft, which owns High Heat, doesn’t produce a first party title and have the guys at EA work on it.

The 360 needs alternatives in regards to baseball games. 2K is becoming the EA of the early 2000s…
Eski

[quote comment="22029"]2K really needs to give up the MLB license now, the games they produce seem like they are a third class developer with no resources to make any nice graphics or anything that should be made at this point[/quote]

I agree. I have no idea why Microsoft, which owns High Heat, doesn’t produce a first party title and have the guys at EA work on it.

The 360 needs alternatives in regards to baseball games. 2K is becoming the EA of the early 2000s…
Eski

[quote comment="22029"]2K really needs to give up the MLB license now, the games they produce seem like they are a third class developer with no resources to make any nice graphics or anything that should be made at this point[/quote]

I agree. I have no idea why Microsoft, which owns High Heat, doesn’t produce a first party title and have the guys at EA work on it.

The 360 needs alternatives in regards to baseball games. 2K is becoming the EA of the early 2000s…
kbshowtyme

Man lm glad to see EA stepping there game up because I had my doubts but now Madden is turning into a must buy
kbshowtyme

Man lm glad to see EA stepping there game up because I had my doubts but now Madden is turning into a must buy
kbshowtyme

Man lm glad to see EA stepping there game up because I had my doubts but now Madden is turning into a must buy
Mighty Boom

Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden!
Mighty Boom

Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden!
Mighty Boom

Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden!
Gotti

[quote comment="22063"]Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden![/quote]

Hey Pasta, can you confirm for me that online weather will be available for NCAA and Madden… Thx!
Gotti

[quote comment="22063"]Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden![/quote]

Hey Pasta, can you confirm for me that online weather will be available for NCAA and Madden… Thx!
Gotti

[quote comment="22063"]Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden![/quote]

Hey Pasta, can you confirm for me that online weather will be available for NCAA and Madden… Thx!
pastapadre

[quote comment="22071"][quote comment="22063"]Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden![/quote]

Hey Pasta, can you confirm for me that online weather will be available for NCAA and Madden… Thx![/quote]

Well as far as I am aware, its no for NCAA and yes for unranked games in Madden (at least Phil Frazier had said he was 95% sure it would be in).
pastapadre

[quote comment="22071"][quote comment="22063"]Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden![/quote]

Hey Pasta, can you confirm for me that online weather will be available for NCAA and Madden… Thx![/quote]

Well as far as I am aware, its no for NCAA and yes for unranked games in Madden (at least Phil Frazier had said he was 95% sure it would be in).
pastapadre

[quote comment="22071"][quote comment="22063"]Online weather is going to be awsome! Im starting to get wrapped up in EA’s hype monster. Im amped up for NCAA and Madden![/quote]

Hey Pasta, can you confirm for me that online weather will be available for NCAA and Madden… Thx![/quote]

Well as far as I am aware, its no for NCAA and yes for unranked games in Madden (at least Phil Frazier had said he was 95% sure it would be in).
anthony

What celebration squares? This whole time I have played Madden 08 I have never seen or heard of these “celebration squares” how do you get them?
anthony

What celebration squares? This whole time I have played Madden 08 I have never seen or heard of these “celebration squares” how do you get them?
anthony

What celebration squares? This whole time I have played Madden 08 I have never seen or heard of these “celebration squares” how do you get them?
pastapadre

[quote comment="22133"]What celebration squares? This whole time I have played Madden 08 I have never seen or heard of these “celebration squares” how do you get them?[/quote]

new for this year…

http://www.pastapadre.com/2521/gamestop-begins-madden-mondays-blog
pastapadre

[quote comment="22133"]What celebration squares? This whole time I have played Madden 08 I have never seen or heard of these “celebration squares” how do you get them?[/quote]

new for this year…

http://www.pastapadre.com/2521/gamestop-begins-madden-mondays-blog
pastapadre

[quote comment="22133"]What celebration squares? This whole time I have played Madden 08 I have never seen or heard of these “celebration squares” how do you get them?[/quote]

new for this year…

http://www.pastapadre.com/2521/gamestop-begins-madden-mondays-blog
Dantecamp

Ok, I must be the only one around here who cares about Sony´s NBA franchise but these are good news. Last year´s game was a solid alternative from 2K and Live since it had a more relaxed feel to it. If you played knowing it wasn´t a simulation you could very well end up enjoying it (as I did). The Life should be awesome this year. Props to EA also for finally starting to understand what it takes to make good games: pay atention to us gamers. Madden might be great again this year. Can´t wait for the 2nd year of the Live ressurection as well.
Dantecamp

Ok, I must be the only one around here who cares about Sony´s NBA franchise but these are good news. Last year´s game was a solid alternative from 2K and Live since it had a more relaxed feel to it. If you played knowing it wasn´t a simulation you could very well end up enjoying it (as I did). The Life should be awesome this year. Props to EA also for finally starting to understand what it takes to make good games: pay atention to us gamers. Madden might be great again this year. Can´t wait for the 2nd year of the Live ressurection as well.
Dantecamp

Ok, I must be the only one around here who cares about Sony´s NBA franchise but these are good news. Last year´s game was a solid alternative from 2K and Live since it had a more relaxed feel to it. If you played knowing it wasn´t a simulation you could very well end up enjoying it (as I did). The Life should be awesome this year. Props to EA also for finally starting to understand what it takes to make good games: pay atention to us gamers. Madden might be great again this year. Can´t wait for the 2nd year of the Live ressurection as well.
Jdolla

All that talk over the past year and a half from Brinkman about how this is a 3 yr plan. I suppose it is still in tact though, just w/out Brinkman.

I don’t want a total overhaul of the MLB 2k series. It was originated back with EA MVP 2003, made tremendous strides, hit a few snags w/out the MLB license, then was implemented into MLB 2k7, and is now on track to be an awesome game next year. The reason why I don’t want to see an overhaul is because I think the game play is great. The things that need fixing are minor errors, and although there is a laundry list of them, still minor errors. The game is so advanced and plays great.

The reason why so many people don’t like MLB 2k8 is because the controls are way more complexed now. With PS2/ Xbox the controls were simple. Making for consistent competitive matches. Now that 2k8 has taken the leap into nex gen virtually all users are totally baffled. Just take the batting interface for instance (swing stick 2.0). 99% of users do not know how to induce ground balls swings by making a downward motion on the right stick, don’t know how to use the batters eye by holding the left stick in position until the ball releases from the pitcher’s hand, don’t know how to perform check swings or inside- out swings, don’t know they can move their batter left/ right with their back step. Now 2k doesn’t help matters since they’ve admitted that much of the literature in their in- game tips section is incorrect. Compound that with the advanced control scheme and you’ve got a bunch of people confused and not utilizing the controls, if they haven’t given up on the game altogether.

Only major issue to me is, and this pertains to all 2k sports titles, the online lag. Just like All Pro Football, MLB 2k8 sufers from poor online performance, but you can still partake in an enjoyable experience online. There is a noticeable difference from offline to online w/ MLB 2k8, which is no worse than APF.
Jdolla

All that talk over the past year and a half from Brinkman about how this is a 3 yr plan. I suppose it is still in tact though, just w/out Brinkman.

I don’t want a total overhaul of the MLB 2k series. It was originated back with EA MVP 2003, made tremendous strides, hit a few snags w/out the MLB license, then was implemented into MLB 2k7, and is now on track to be an awesome game next year. The reason why I don’t want to see an overhaul is because I think the game play is great. The things that need fixing are minor errors, and although there is a laundry list of them, still minor errors. The game is so advanced and plays great.

The reason why so many people don’t like MLB 2k8 is because the controls are way more complexed now. With PS2/ Xbox the controls were simple. Making for consistent competitive matches. Now that 2k8 has taken the leap into nex gen virtually all users are totally baffled. Just take the batting interface for instance (swing stick 2.0). 99% of users do not know how to induce ground balls swings by making a downward motion on the right stick, don’t know how to use the batters eye by holding the left stick in position until the ball releases from the pitcher’s hand, don’t know how to perform check swings or inside- out swings, don’t know they can move their batter left/ right with their back step. Now 2k doesn’t help matters since they’ve admitted that much of the literature in their in- game tips section is incorrect. Compound that with the advanced control scheme and you’ve got a bunch of people confused and not utilizing the controls, if they haven’t given up on the game altogether.

Only major issue to me is, and this pertains to all 2k sports titles, the online lag. Just like All Pro Football, MLB 2k8 sufers from poor online performance, but you can still partake in an enjoyable experience online. There is a noticeable difference from offline to online w/ MLB 2k8, which is no worse than APF.
Jdolla

All that talk over the past year and a half from Brinkman about how this is a 3 yr plan. I suppose it is still in tact though, just w/out Brinkman.

I don’t want a total overhaul of the MLB 2k series. It was originated back with EA MVP 2003, made tremendous strides, hit a few snags w/out the MLB license, then was implemented into MLB 2k7, and is now on track to be an awesome game next year. The reason why I don’t want to see an overhaul is because I think the game play is great. The things that need fixing are minor errors, and although there is a laundry list of them, still minor errors. The game is so advanced and plays great.

The reason why so many people don’t like MLB 2k8 is because the controls are way more complexed now. With PS2/ Xbox the controls were simple. Making for consistent competitive matches. Now that 2k8 has taken the leap into nex gen virtually all users are totally baffled. Just take the batting interface for instance (swing stick 2.0). 99% of users do not know how to induce ground balls swings by making a downward motion on the right stick, don’t know how to use the batters eye by holding the left stick in position until the ball releases from the pitcher’s hand, don’t know how to perform check swings or inside- out swings, don’t know they can move their batter left/ right with their back step. Now 2k doesn’t help matters since they’ve admitted that much of the literature in their in- game tips section is incorrect. Compound that with the advanced control scheme and you’ve got a bunch of people confused and not utilizing the controls, if they haven’t given up on the game altogether.

Only major issue to me is, and this pertains to all 2k sports titles, the online lag. Just like All Pro Football, MLB 2k8 sufers from poor online performance, but you can still partake in an enjoyable experience online. There is a noticeable difference from offline to online w/ MLB 2k8, which is no worse than APF.
boisedude

PASTA:
Do you know if the time of day changesin Madden this year?
I remember last year if you started the game at dusk the sun never went down like in NCAA. Just wondering
boisedude

PASTA:
Do you know if the time of day changesin Madden this year?
I remember last year if you started the game at dusk the sun never went down like in NCAA. Just wondering
boisedude

PASTA:
Do you know if the time of day changesin Madden this year?
I remember last year if you started the game at dusk the sun never went down like in NCAA. Just wondering