The season premiere of South Park focused on the epidemic of “sex addiction” spreading throughout the country which of course made Tiger Woods the biggest target.  There was a good deal of free publicity for EA Sports as the show made reference to the company and Tiger Woods 11 on multiple occasions. I mean, even look at the cover art there, they got it accurate with Rory McIlroy included. As Cartman states “EA Sports outdid themselves this time” with the version of the game they are playing. The game popped up at different times throughout the episode, but continue on to check out two segments!

The first trailer for NBA Jam has been released and includes a good amount of gameplay and catchphrase audio direct from the game. NBA Jam has been announced as a Wii exclusive with no release date yet official but it is expected to arrive in Q3 putting it between October and the end of the year. There are plans to bring it to XBL and PSN that will not happen until sometime in 2011. Continue on for the debut trailer and leave your thoughts in the comments!

Some of you may already be familiar with Marcus Stephenson. He has been around for quite some time driving community initiatives or just being accessible within the community. After running a Madden fan site for years he took a position as a Community Manager at the EA Canada studio before moving between a few different projects, most notably as a Producer on NBA Live 10. He has now left the EA Sports studio and holds the position of Game Designer for WWE Smackdown vs Raw at THQ. I had the opportunity to ask Marcus a few questions about his time at EA and his new role at THQ.

PP: What prompted the decision to leave your current position to join THQ?

MS: I chose to leave EA because the opportunity to work in a lead position on the WWE franchise was too good to pass up, and most that know me know that wrestling has always been a big passion of mine.

PP: When you started working at EA Sports what were your main interests and what was the career path you had hoped for? How does the move to THQ change those plans or is the new position what you had always hoped for?

MS: I honestly didn’t know. When I first got to EA SPORTS, I just wanted to excel in what I was doing. I tried my best to bring community to the forefront of EA SPORTS, and I think I did that. Then I wanted to make an impact on a game team (as a Producer), and leverage my community experience, to create a better game – and I think we did that (NBA LIVE). I was at a crossroads at EA SPORTS on what exactly I wanted to do next (continue down the development path, or go back into community management). I accepted a role as Sr. Community Manager for FIFA ONLINE because, well, it’s FIFA – why wouldn’t I?

The move to THQ cements in my mind what and where I want to go from a personal career perspective. The new position is something I have always hoped for because I get to work on a passion of mine, with a franchise that has been successful for a number of years, and on a team that knows where it wants to go in the future.

PP: You have previously worked on NBA Live 10 before most recently moving to FIFA Online. At the time what was the reasoning for shifting away from working on NBA Live 11? Was that something you wanted to do or were you frustrated by the situation?

MS: I had such a fun time working on NBA LIVE 10, I’ll cherish those memories making that game forever, and I’ll miss that team! Things changed once NBA LIVE 10 shipped, and we started pre production on NBA LIVE 11. It was no longer a place I saw myself.

PP: When Mike Wang departed from NBA Live to re-join 2K Sports for NBA 2K11 he cited a big reason being a change in direction for the Live series. Would you agree with that assessment, that NBA Live may be moving away from being a simulation offering? That EA Sports is not committed to the vision that Mike Wang and yourself had for the future of NBA Live?

The way I see it, things change. I can’t say the direction NBA LIVE is moving in, I can say it will be “different,” but I think it will be up to all of you on what you want from a basketball simulation. There are guys on that team that know what’s being said out there, and they’re building something pretty special I think. Mike made his decision, just like I made mine, but I wish the NBA LIVE team success, and think they’re on a path to making that happen.

PP: What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the most recent Smackdown vs Raw?

MS: I think where the SvR series has gotten to from a customization perspective, is unmatched. You can basically create anything you want from characters, to unique storylines, and share them with the community. As for “weaknesses,” I think that every area in SvR could use improvement. That’s the goal that every team should have, at least in my experience. You can feel reassured that the team knows about every issue, but we want to make sure that we’re making improvements that effect the franchise long term, and not just for a short term temporary fix. I think sports games get caught up in the quick fix that creates more problems, instead of thinking long term to ensure quality and stability.

PP: Like any yearly title gamers inevitably scrutinize and ask if enough has been done in that one year to warrant another purchase. The WWE franchise has been viewed by some as lethargic and not having made the expected big advancements or in some cases even going backwards. How do you take WWE and enhance the experience every year?

MS: Thank god for software right? If we could get everything we wanted to get into SvR, or any sports game for that matter, in one year, we’d do it. With that said, I get the complaints, and think that as long as there are ideas, there will not be a “lethargic” sense to SvR.

Wrestling games have untapped potential when compared to other sports titles. We’re thinking of things that you guys haven’t ever dreamed (or have and were spot on) so I think there’s a lot of things left in the tank that we can do from a year to year basis to make sure SvR stays fresh year in and year out. You’ll find this out soon enough!

PP: Smackdown vs Raw 2010 saw marked improvement in reviews. The consensus seemed to be that the features were great but the gameplay still needed work. How do you feel about 2010 and how has the team looked at goals for 2011?

MS: I’d agree, the team made huge strides with last year’s effort, and even in gameplay, we saw improvements (seamless transitions between grapple states, dives, etc.). We have a plan for gameplay, and we really think it’s going to make a big difference. Bryan Williams and his team are working hard to keep building off of the things you saw last year, and introduce new things – but we’re getting way ahead of ourselves here. You’ll see soon!

PP: In what ways do you and those already working on SvR take feedback from the community and how do you utilize it to improve the game?

MS: I know our team reads what the community is saying, but that’s where I think I can have an immediate impact on the team. I’m planning to bring the two way communication to the SvR series, and that means that I’ll be available anytime, and answer every question. Even if I can’t answer the question, I’ll say “I can’t answer,” which is technically an answer. My point is that the community has always played a role in the creation of SvR, but this year, I’d like to bring that to another level!

PP: With THQ in control of the WWE license until at least 2018 does the license security result in the ability to implement more creativity and innovation or are there still limitations to what can be done?

MS: I think that the license deal helps us. That was actually a big reason for me coming here, so I’m glad it was able to happen. I’d say for us, if a simulation wrestling game is what you want, then no other company is in better position to do that than us. This license helps us achieve that goal!

PP: What is there about the WWE that could be better translated to a video game?

MS: The history. The WWE has a legacy that we all can’t deny. I think whether it’s through broadcast presentation, or new modes and features, we need to leverage that history better into SvR so that when you fire up the game, you get a sense of something bigger / greater than just the 2011 / 2012 snapshot or installment of that year.

PP: Is Smackdown vs Raw intended to appeal most to WWE fans or is the game also designed to reach gamers who may not watch much WWE? If you also hope to attract the casual fans how do you balance the game to be fun for everyone?

MS: That’s a great question. I think first we obviously need to appeal to the WWE fan. They’re our lifeblood, and the reason why we’ve been so successful. But I also know that games like “Wrestlemania 2000” and “No Mercy” transcended the audience, and appealed to everyone. I think that sometimes we tie the words “casual” and “fun” together, and maybe that might be the wrong way of looking at it. My belief is that if we create the ultimate WWE simulation, then the “casual” will want to check it out because of the game’s quality and attention to detail. I think that’s where the “ultimate user control” comes in.

You take a game like NHL, and wonder why that’s been so successful. They put control right into the user’s hands which made it fun for non-hockey fans to play because THEY were shooting, THEY were moving their stick. The same thing goes for Fight Night. When you feel like YOU’RE punching, you’re having fun.

PP: THQ also owns the incredibly successful UFC Undisputed series. Do you see THQ as building a “fighting” brand and becoming known for that?

MS: I’d hope so, yes. With the WWE and UFC at the forefront of THQ, I think we’re positioning ourselves to be the leader in the sports fighting space.

PP: What do you hope to hear gamers saying once Smackdown vs Raw 2011 is released?

MS: “SvR 2011 is so good that I’ve gotten into wrestling!”

Thanks to Marcus Stephenson for taking the time out to answer some questions! WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 is expected to release late fall/early winter.

When it was finally confirmed last week that the NHL 2K series would be halted on the 360/PS3 it was stated that NHL 2K11 would in fact be released on the Wii. At the time it made sense considering the lesser development costs and having no competition on the casual heavy console. Now though it looks like that competition has arrived as a Walmart blog posting has revealed that EA Sports will be bringing NHL 11 to the Wii.

EA is going to be bringing their NHL game to the Wii system this year for the 1^st time. They showed us a video last week and it really looks like it could be something special.

This is a significant blow to the potential of NHL 2K11 on the Wii and the future of the series on other consoles (which already appeared very bleak). The advantage that 2K11 has is the base of players that purchased last year. It will be a battle to keep those players though, let alone grow sales, when faced with another hockey offering on the market. EA NHL has become the hockey game of choice on the HD consoles with reach going far beyond just fans of the sport. That mainstream appeal will give it an edge on a console where purchases are made primarily off titles and reputations. Team sports games generally have not translated that well or sold well on the Wii. That being said the companies continue to try and tap into the large user base that the console offers.

EA Sports has posted a blog detailing many of the additions and enhancements coming to Tiger Woods 11. Tiger Woods shares the cover with Rory McIlroy, intended as a representation of how the game will allow players to choose to captain the Americans or Europeans in Ryder Cup play. Much of what else is discussed in the blog are changes made in an effort to produce a more sim experience.

It remains interesting considering the circumstances that for the first time ever the cover of the Tiger Woods franchise features more than just Tiger Woods. It would be remiss to pass this off as a coincidence just attributed to the Ryder Cup addition. This is one way to begin a transition, or prepare for the possibility of it, by gradually leaning away from reliance on a single entity as the face of a franchise. There is just too much risk involved by hitching a franchise to a single person these days. Even the idea of a cover athlete on a yearly basis is becoming more dangerous, let alone reliance on one individual over the course of their career as has been the case with Tiger Woods.

Back in December I broke the story that 2K Sports was likely benching the NHL 2K franchise. The company did not confirm that was the case at the time but they continued to let the rumors swirl which was indication enough that the series was being put to a halt.

Today 2K Sports confirmed (via Kotaku) that there will be no NHL 2K11 for the 360 and PS3 but they may return for 2K12. The series is not completely dead however as the Nintendo Wii will be will be receiving NHL 2K11.

“We’re doing that because we’re so committed to competing that the team needs a breather,” explained Feder during the Take-Two first quarter financial results conference call. ” The following year we will come back a lot stronger. We have an intention to win and we’re going to maximize the opportunity.”

It is difficult to imagine a game taking a year off and then coming back and performing better in a marketplace where any stragglers who haven’t switched to EA Sports NHL series will be doing so. Not only will 2K need to recapture those people just to break even on what they have now but they will need to find a way to get new consumers to give NHL 2K a chance. The only way they can do this is by innovating in some form or fashion that will differentiate itself from the competition. That would require an investment that does not seem viable under the current circumstances.

EA Sports has a new fighting game on the way slated to arrive in the January-March 2011 quarter as mentioned when the fiscal report was released on Monday. This of course has led to speculation as to what the game could be. Though it is difficult to nail it down specifically there are at least some possibilities that can be eliminated.

• It doesn’t appear it will be a wrestling game. Both WWE and TNA have exclusive licenses with their respective partners THQ and Southpeak.

• Def Jam has been tossed out there by some but that series was never released under the EA Sports label. It would not have been identified as a sports title on the fiscal report.

• There is no way it will be Fight Night Round 5, it would be way too close to the release of EA MMA. They are looking to keep those two titles away from each other in order to maximize sales potential.

To me this would appear to be most likely to be a motion controlled fighting game. No titles specific to Project Natal were listed on the fiscal report but it is a near certainty that EA Sports will have launch titles for the motion capture device. Natal is slated to be out in November so this places it a few months later but it still makes sense especially if it is designed to work with the PS3 wand that is being developed also. It would explain why EA has not announced any details as of yet keeping plans under wraps until the console hardware is officially revealed.

Any ideas out there on what the game could be other than what I’ve discussed? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Earlier today Electronic Arts released their third quarter fiscal 2010 report which also included a list of titles planned for release in the coming fiscal year. All the usual suspects were listed with the exception of one. In addition to to that the rumored release date frame for a couple new franchises can be confirmed as well as the addition of a new fighting title in the works.

As I’ve been discussing the likelihood of for months it now appears a foregone conclusion that the NCAA Basketball series has been canned. It was not included on the fiscal 2011 list which had every other yearly title on it. The signs have been there for a while and included poor sales, complete lack of any post-release support, development team movement, and continued talk of trimming unprofitable titles. There is also the continued issue with collegiate player representation which has resulted in lawsuits and would end up making future college basketball offerings even less appealing than they already were. EA Sports has not made the cancellation official but that will likely happen in the near future.

There were also a few other games to take note of based on their listing in the report. Both NBA Jam and EA Sports MMA are headed towards release in the October-December quarter. I still think there are way too many sports games slated to release within a period of just a few months that it hurts their potential to an extent. Though with NCAA out of the way November is pretty wide open in advance of the holiday buying rush.

Interestingly there is an as of yet unnamed/unannounced “Fighting Title” slated for release in the January-March 2011 quarter. Let the speculation begin on that…

The last week was one of the busiest ever in terms of news and updates most of which were very substantial in relation to upcoming releases. It all started with sightings of a promotion to vote on the cover athlete for Madden 11. It turned out that three players (Drew Brees, Reggie Wayne, Jared Allen) were the eligible candidates. Brees is a certain lock and the inclusion of Allen after three DUIs was a surprise but ultimately EA shaped the contest to get the player they wanted all along so the risk involved was minimal. That Brees won the Super Bowl and was MVP of the game while Wayne is seen as a goat only establishes that even more.

In other Madden related news the Super Bowl halftime blog for Madden 11 was released offering an opportunity to hear about the vision for the game. The final roster update for Madden 10 arrived with a surprise of recently announced retired players being completely removed. As far as I’m aware its the first time off-season transactions have entered into the previous season’s game. EA Sports president Peter Moore also announced plans to bring a version of Madden to Facebook.

The biggest development that could represent a huge shift in NBA gaming came with lead gameplay designer Mike Wang departing NBA Live and rejoining NBA 2K. While both companies gave their spin on the events I recapped the situation and evaluated what it could possibly mean in the future. Needless to say the state of basketball at EA Sports is in crisis right now and it’ll be interesting to see what they do to attempt and recover. They don’t seem to plan on responding to the statements made about them which is going to leave that image of the company and a worrisome direction of Live brewing in the minds of those aware of the news for the months to come.

Exclusive screenshots for MLB 10: The Show were released at different points throughout the week. All of them can currently be found in the gallery. Another six will be posted likely sometime this evening. Also new gameplay videos, the first drawn from within the game instead of recorded off screen, were released featuring the Tigers @ Twins.

UFC Undisputed 2010 revealed Brock Lesnar as the cover athlete and offered up the first details on the game. Backbreaker appears to be starting its promotional push with the first video dev diary for the game. The two games release within a week of each other with Backbreaker out on May 18th and UFC 2010 arriving on May 25th.

EA Sports has released the first official screenshots for NBA Jam. Two of them are brand new while the other is the first one that leaked out early last month. The screens show the graphical style that includes real face images pasted on to the 2D bodies. NBA Jam currently does not have a release date but is expected out in fall of this year for the Wii. Click the thumbnails below to expand and view full size. (via Kotaku)

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