The Line Drive 2/22
by 
- While it was known that NCAA Football 10 would include the procedural awareness that was discussed for Madden, the first NCAA focused offering has hit the Inside EA Blog here. The feature revealed is not an exciting one but to a small segment of the hardcore base. It is QB Auto-Pass which results in a quasi coach mode.
- As the NFL season has ended the Top 10 videos on EA Sports World for Madden will be taking on some various themes. This week it was Anquan Boldin on a new team. I of course quickly put him on the Seahawks and the highlight I submitted made the cut. You can watch it here (choose Madden Top 10 2/18).
- It was encouraged to see other media outlets such as Kotaku and 5WG picking up on the MLB 2K9 advertising story. This isn’t something that should just be brushed off as it could set a precedent if no one were to speak out against it.
- Last week Ike Diogu was traded to the Sacramento Kings but he was making future plans during All-Star Weekend. First Cuts has an article about how Diogu hopes to work in the video game business after his NBA career is over and has taken on a summer internship at EA Sports.
- Jon Robinson at ESPN has a couple interesting articles which includes how Kevin Durant played MLB 09 The Show so much over All-Star Weekend that he broke the PS3 and Reggie Bush talking about Madden.
- Madden 10 Designer Donny Moore made the statement that Pat White in Madden 10 is reminding him of Mike Vick in Madden 2004. I don’t think you’re going to increase confidence in the title by comparing a rookie QB to one of the most ridiculously dominant video game characters this decade.
February 22, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Looks like some great additions are coming out this year. Pasta when r they gonna include all of the graphic details in MLB the Show? Like which way their balls lean. I know Ryan Howard's leans to the right. MLB the Show has to do a better job of including all aspect of the game
February 22, 2009 at 5:13 pm
a 5 dollar gift in a 60 dollar package. Limited customization. Limited graphics. No true cup sizes. To automatic. MLB needs to revamp and start over
February 22, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Spend a lot of time crotch watching eh fella?
February 23, 2009 at 12:51 am
He does have a point Kenny. EA use to say "if it's in the game, it's in the game". They should include cups or allow you to customize it so you can be closer to the game.
February 22, 2009 at 8:00 pm
If 2K were to get away with this who knows where they would be putting ads next year and the changes to the stadiums they would make. Good on PP and Kotaku.
February 22, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I just read your comment about FNL on NBC. I so agree with you man. It is such a great show that now has a great balance between football and off the field stuff in season 3. I watched the whole thing on Direct TV. It was a great season and was so emotional at some points. Season 1 still is the best IMO, though.
February 22, 2009 at 9:32 pm
yo pasta ? who was the gamers asking for some auto pass crap??
February 22, 2009 at 9:35 pm
ike diogu at ea sports. does that mean all the player models will look more like his build than tony parker?
February 22, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I'm seriously fighting the urge to put a joke about an NBA player with 0 video game developing skills, working for EA sports being a perfect fit….
February 23, 2009 at 12:13 am
lots actually, it is for people that want to just call the play and then watch the game play out. Like a true coach does.
February 23, 2009 at 12:55 am
Hey Pasta,
what happened to "Backbreaker?" I know it was more of an exhibition of a company's physics engine, but I can't believe there hasn't been any news about it. Has EA or 2K looked into any of this? Those demonstration videos were really encouraging and I was hoping the game would re-set the bar for football gameplay.
February 23, 2009 at 1:08 am
If I had to guess, I'd say they're going to use the auto-pass for some kind of manager mode feature in online play or just singlepayer. It would be stupid not to. Several games already have a similar mode, but this would actually be fun and true to the playcalling skills required in football.
February 23, 2009 at 1:22 am
Why do these new pics look good but have a dream sequence touch to them?
February 23, 2009 at 1:55 am
QB Auto-Pass? Sounds like shit.
February 23, 2009 at 1:55 am
Because something is going on with EA trying to pull the wool over our eyes about something graphically, as usual.
February 23, 2009 at 1:57 am
All I know is that the shit storm that is going to ran down on EA Sports after Madden "10" enevitably disappoints is going to be fucking epic and I personally cant wait. The EA bandwagon is set to capsize.
February 23, 2009 at 2:14 am
Definitely have put them selves in a position where they have to deliver this year.
February 23, 2009 at 2:24 am
Pasta is there any information on adding authentic player cups to the game?
February 23, 2009 at 3:45 am
those are sick ps3's
February 22, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I'm seriously fighting the urge to put a joke about an NBA player who rode the bench his whole career, with 0 video game developing skills, working for EA sports being a perfect fit….
But the whole "too many ads!" thing is going a little overboard…at the end of the day do you want these video game companies to go bankrupt? even you THE SHOW fans would like more options than THE SHOW out there…
whether we like it or not, the economy stinks. 2k puts out better sports games than EA – but they don't have the deep pockets like EA does either…and let's not forget the $$$ 2k lost on the ALL PRO FOOTBALL and DON KING BOXING…they had to pay each of those players and boxers $$$ individually.
February 23, 2009 at 1:52 am
Again, its not about there being ads. But constructing billboards that don't exist in real life (you'll see it during every at bat at Wrigley) and making outfield walls taller (that does affect gameplay). It is especially ironic when 2K states they went for ultimate authenticity as their goal.
February 23, 2009 at 3:56 am
Trust me, I feel you…I look at some of those stadiums and cringe a little – elevating walls some 20 feet high to put an ad up? that's just not right.
But my questions still stand – would you rather they go bankrupt? I mean if you do just say you'd rather see them go bankrupt than destroy the sanctity of baseball gaming the way they have…
I just don't see it that way, at the end of the day it's business. and 2k will never admit to this – but financially, I know they are playing catch-up due to the loss they took with those two games I mentioned (and possibly more)…this game is one of their top sellers so they have to nurture it as such.
February 23, 2009 at 6:39 am
Wasn't auto pass on EA sports football games early this decade? so there just re-adding a feature.
February 23, 2009 at 12:20 pm
It was useless then and its useless now. EA should think about adding the "Good football game" feature in future editions.
February 23, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Co-Sign.
February 23, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Pat White being the next Michael Vick would be scary depending on the team he is drafted to
February 23, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I just came back from Indianapolis and I have to say that I can see the comparisons of Pat White to Micheal Vick. They are both similar in size ability and are both southpaw. Pat White has all of the tools that Mike Vick has except the explosion. Speed wise he is just as fast but he doesn't have the 0-60 initial start that Mike Vick has. His arm is tremendous and he can definitely start for a NFL team but unfortunately he probably will not. A lot of NFL teams have this notion that QB's should just stand in the pocket like a wooden statue. You would think that with exceptional mobile QB's today who have been successful such as a B. Roethlisberger or T.Romo the league would build on this trend. Pat White's best chance at getting on the field is as a WR or quasi-back. Don't get me wrong though if he gets a chance to play QB I see him playing well above that of Mike Vick and slightly below Roethlisberger or T.Romo.
February 24, 2009 at 10:52 pm
What a geek.
February 25, 2009 at 9:15 pm
who are you scouting for??? the detroit lions???? you think pat white will be better than mike vick??
February 23, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Why did you go to Indy? For the combine? Are you a scout? If not thats the most pathetic piece of fandom ive heard in some time.