EA Sports Season Opener Overview
by 
Coming out of the EA Sports Season Opener event I wanted to drop a few thoughts on some of the games that were on display. I won’t have full extensive write-ups on them but from my interaction with them will now have additional insight leading up to their releases. I also had the opportunity to interview Peter Moore which I’ll be discussing in the near future. Check out the screenshot gallery for the latest images from these games.
Tiger Woods 10
Outside of Fight Night I’d say this was the game getting the most buzz. Not as much for the 360/PS3 version but more for the Wii. The Wii MotionPlus was in hand and that may end up changing the way sports gamers view the console’s offerings. The Wii version of Tiger actually outsold the other versions last year and the gap could widen now as this may very well be the version that gamers, even the hardcore, gravitate towards. Of course that all depends on how long a wait consumers will have for the controller add-on which doesn’t appear as though it will be out before these games release.
Grand Slam Tennis
It’s difficult to briefly describe how much impact the MotionPlus has but it is dramatic. Grand Slam could end up surprising people with its depth and realism while still retaining the fun factor Wii titles aim for. The visual style of the game is great. You have the ability to use just the Wii remote or you can add the nunchuck for additional control over movement. John McEnroe appears for the first time ever in a video game which helps to represent the emotion of the sport and tournament feel the game is presenting.
EA Sports Complex
Got to look around at what the Complex has to offer for Playstation Home. It is going to open up probably within the next two months with a racing mini-game and poker. Unfortunately as is the case with Home there may be wait time to actually get to play them. What EA did though to try and combat that is have several different options so as to spread everyone in the Home space out. Next up will be a golf mini-game in the mold of closest to the cup. EA is definitely putting some effort into Home.
Fight Night Round 4
I’m not going to be able to speak to the gameplay however visually FNR4 looks incredible. For anyone who is skeptical that the screenshots or trailer are representative of the game I can assure you they are. The flow is what impressed me the most. Past fighting games have seemed a little mechanical to me however I didn’t get that sense at all seeing Tyson and Ali going at it and utilizing their own unique strengths. The 60fps probably plays a part in that. I recognized FNR3 as a very good game but I was never really able to get into it. I’m still at that stage with FNR4 but it is hard not to be encouraged by where the game is headed.
March 14, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Out of these 4 games, im probably most excited about Fight Night 4 and the EA Sports complex. Mostly the EA Sports Complex because it will be one of the few enjoyable things to do while in PS Home. And Fight Night Round 4 is Looking like a killer game. the graphics ive seen so far look fantastic and the game play looks mor fluid than most other sports games out right now.
March 14, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Out of these 4 games, im probably most excited about Fight Night 4 and the EA Sports complex. Mostly the EA Sports Complex because it will be one of the few enjoyable things to do while in PS Home. And Fight Night Round 4 is looking like a killer game. The graphicsthat i have seen so far look fantastic and the game play looks mor fluid than most other sports games out right now so I expect great things from FNR4 this year.
March 15, 2009 at 1:13 am
Go Cowboys!!
March 14, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Pasta, any news on when the roster for FNR4 come out?
March 14, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Nope they didn't offer any info like that. A couple of us suggested they just start doing something like a profile every day of a different boxer included in the game. I think that would be a cool way of doing it but I don't know how they plan to release the roster or when.
March 14, 2009 at 8:54 pm
If the M+ was there and worked so well then why is Nintendo delaying it?
March 14, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Pasta are you a boxing fan?
March 14, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I wouldn't say I am. I enjoy watching the high-profile fights though.
March 14, 2009 at 10:47 pm
The people making the game aren't boxing fans, so I dont know why anyone expects Pasta would be one
March 15, 2009 at 12:04 am
Well that is just blatantly untrue but if you want to believe that go ahead. Regardless of what you think about the game the guys working on it definitely are passionate about the sport.
March 14, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I am pumped about Tiger Woods 10 and FN 4. Pasta, I know that you stated that the vids were indicative of the gameplay in FN4. However, some of Ali's jabs appeared "slow". Did the actual game move smoother, or real-time in regards to quickness, than the video shown?
Again, thanks for all that you do.
March 15, 2009 at 12:06 am
I probably shouldn't make judgments just on what I saw, I wasn't looking for anything specific like that. I just got the overall feeling of the flow and the quickness (especially with Tyson fighting on the inside)
March 15, 2009 at 6:31 am
Yea the only bad thing I noticed about the FN4 trailer is that Ali's jab didn't look fluid. It looked stiff & it didn't have that snap to it like an Ali signature jab. This is one thing that I hope EA gets right in the game. I hope the fighters all have signature punching styles.
March 15, 2009 at 6:06 am
Maybe EA was trying to add dramatic effect by slowing it down just a notch so that Ali and Tyson didn't look like two Energizer Bunny's in the ring. It may actually be the game speed but even if it is sluggish, it looks very fluid. lets just hope that it looks
March 15, 2009 at 8:30 pm
You got 1 week to remove your star logo buddy or else! Mr 12 years without a playoff win!
March 15, 2009 at 10:27 am
Forget sluggish, forget fluid, forget fast, forget slow. Does it resemble real boxing? Thats the only question that needs to be asked. If its too guys in there who would look sluggish in real life, then they should look sluggish. if its too fast guys, they should be all hopped up on some shit.
March 15, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Well i have to admit it, I only saw the video twice, so i wouldn't know exactly, and im not the biggest boxing fan, but like i said earlier, which i sort of doubt now due to re-watching the video again, maybe EA decided to slow down the gameplay just enough to be noticable, maybe to add effect, or maybe to hide the fact that the gamplay is so fast that its arcade like, I wont be able to know untill i purchase the game myself.
March 15, 2009 at 8:29 pm
You better take that star logo off of here before I smash your face with my Super Bowl ring! Mr 12 years without a playoff win!
March 15, 2009 at 8:33 pm
hey Ty how many playoff wins does the Dallas Starlettes have this decade? What's that 0 you say? Okay how about the last 12 years then? Surely "America's Team" must have several playoffs wins since Aikman
March 15, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Hey TY Mr. 12 Years Without A Playoff Win I will even let you count last years 1 game playoff with Philly week 17. Oh what was that yall lost that too? You mean to tell me yall went 11 years without a playoff win got to week 17 completely healthy and got blown out of the building when all yall had to do was win that last game? tsk tsk
March 15, 2009 at 8:53 pm
ELI…..Why do you Yankees always have to start something. I haven't said one single thing about the Cowboys since I got here.But when the time comes, im gonna start, and since you want to start, listen here, Just because i grew up watching the Cowboys, everyone thinks that I'm the kind of fan who thinks that the Cowboys are the best. i dont. They have NO leadership in the locker room, the coach is scared of the players, The GM is basically the Coach. 1. Im glad the Cowboys released T.O., 2. Tony Romo (ROMO!!! NOT HOMO!!!) needs to step up and grow a pair and take control of the locker room because Wade Phillips isn't gonna take a break from the donuts to do anything! 3. Do you think i haven't heard about the 12 year drought? And how many rings do the Giants have??? 3. THE Cowboys have a 5. And dont put that Pittsburgh crap with 6 rings on me, ive heard it before and could care LESS. So dont send some message to me saying "Take that star down, or else i knock u out with my ring" Cause I'll knock ya out with FIVE OF EM.
March 15, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Just in case you want to see that ring again here it is! You have to earn this ring it's not just given to you. You actually have to win a playoff game and can not ride the back of your ancestors to determine the success of your team. So Aikman doesn count buddy! Romo got to win one………which brings us to my 1st question how many playoff wins does Tony Romo and the Dallas "America's ##@#)"Starletts have in the past 12 years?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www...
March 15, 2009 at 9:05 pm
And those old super bowl ring yall have they sell them in bubblegum machines now. Check out my ring
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blo...
March 15, 2009 at 9:10 pm
and another thing! I know about Mr Jerry "Dictator" Jones problems with the new stadium. He though he could get a mega deal for the naming rights but guess what? Bad economy and nobody is buying LOL. He even having trouble selling those BS personal seat licenses. Serves him right for trying to tell the DFW area that he would cover the majority of the cost that was a bunch of BS. Charging people 80K to go to a game just ain't right.
March 15, 2009 at 9:13 pm
COMPLETELY HEALTHY!!!!!! ARE YOU NUTS!!!!!!! We were without Felix Jones, Roy Williams, Anthony Henry, Our Starting Left Guard Kyle Kosier out of the game. Do you call that healthy??? This is old news, Dallas lost because they dont have the heart to win, something they had in 1992 1993 1995. and it shows so lay off its old news, you obviously dont remember that The Giants lost in the second round (Just like dallas) after a first round Bye. what happened to NYG repeating? There is nothing you can say that i haven't haerd before, as I said its all….old….news
March 15, 2009 at 9:14 pm
COMPLETELY HEALTHY!!!!!! ARE YOU NUTS!!!!!!! We were without Felix Jones, Roy Williams, Anthony Henry, Our Starting Left Guard Kyle Kosier out of the game. Do you call that healthy??? This is old news, Dallas lost because they dont have the heart to win, something they had in 1992 1993 1995. and it shows so lay off its old news, you obviously dont remember that The Giants lost in the second round (Just like dallas) after a first round Bye. what happened to NYG repeating? There is nothing you can say that i haven't haerd before, as I said its all….old….news. besides wait till the next football post comes up so we can actually argue about something that is relevant
March 15, 2009 at 9:15 pm
COMPLETELY HEALTHY!!!!!! ARE YOU NUTS!!!!!!! We were without Felix Jones, Roy Williams(The Saftey), Anthony Henry, Our Starting Left Guard Kyle Kosier out of the game. Do you call that healthy??? This is old news, Dallas lost because they dont have the heart to win, something they had in 1992 1993 1995. and it shows so lay off its old news, you obviously dont remember that The Giants lost in the second round (Just like dallas) after a first round Bye. what happened to NYG repeating? There is nothing you can say that i haven't haerd before, as I said its all….old….news. besides wait till the next football post comes up so we can actually argue about something that is relevant
March 15, 2009 at 9:26 pm
yall have been waiting till next year for 12 years LOL! Oh and week 17 everybody is banged up and don't give me those C level talent as your excuse. Roy Williams can't cover, Roy E. Williams can't catch or run proper routes, Felix Jones was a punt returner,
Anthony Henry …wasn't he just cut? Kyle Kosier pleeeeeeeeeeesssse you act like he's the second coming of Larry Allen. We got our ring and waaaaaaaaaaaaay more playoff wins than you this decade ( not to hard when you consider that yall have 0 wins) . I'm not even counting 2001 when we went to the SuperBowl. Facts are facts yall have sucked for quite some time just admit it! This is not old news this is CURRENT NEWS yall have 0 playoffs wins since the turn of the century. You shouldn't even be thinking about talking smack. If you do I'll will B-Slap you with my Super Bowl Ring!
March 15, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I'm done here this is absoutely stupid. This isn't about seat liscenses because i own one and it cost 15,000 dollars not 80k. this isn't about new stadiums, this is about the game and the love the players have for it, and dallas just dosent have that . thats my belief, and all you are doing is bringing up crap that has nothing to do with football. so please for the respect from your football peers(few if any, the way you talk) please just shut your mouth.
March 15, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Compare rings for yourself. Clearly my ring is Creme de la Creme. Compare mines to the rest of the Cowgirls rings. Notice the cheap fool's gold around America's Team rings LOL. I saw one of those rings at a pawn shop free with a socket wrench LOL.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www...
March 15, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Dallas has a weak heart that is a well know fact and you just enforced that as well. They also are 0-for this century in playoff wins. okay that's 2 facts lets continue on. Cowgirls do not have a sponsor for the stadium naming rights? FACT. Cowgirls are having trouble selling season tickets and have resorted to begging and trying squashing rumors on the radio and TV? FACT. The Cowgirls are missing a 1st round pick have a low 2nd round pick and a low 3rd round pick for this upcoming drfat. FACT. Just stating the FACTS Ty Dallas is in bad shape and will continue their phenomenal streak to 13 years
March 15, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I NEVER asked you how many Dallas has in the past 100 years all I asked was a simple questions. How many playoff wins do they have in 12 years? You can't win a super bowl without a playoff win can ya? In fact I'll take it one step further how many players on the cowboys have playoff wins? Tony choked as usual when the game gets clutch it's in his blood. You have a punk for a Head Coach, QB, OFF Coordinator & Def Coordinator. Wow that is a winning formula. I like how Mr Wade "Softy" Phillips said how he was going to get mean this year LOL I saw him at a restaurant one time and made him pay for my meal and my entourage.