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NBA and Madden Patch Updates
The second patch for Madden 10 is in certification testing with MS and Sony. It is unclear when it started that process but it is reasonable to expect it to arrive by the middle of the month. Some of what is expected in the upcoming patch can be found here.
The patch for NBA 2K10 has been submitted to MS and Sony. If it clears through without any hiccups it should be out within the next two weeks. Details on what is expected from the patch can be found here. (Update: Out as of 11/6)
The first patch for NBA Live 10 that was released last week on the 360 has been approved by Sony and should be out this week (it could come at any time). The patch details can be found here. (Update: Out as of 11/5) A second patch is in the process of being submitted to MS and Sony. That patch will address some issues that were discovered after the release of the first patch. It sounds as though it will be out mid-late this month.
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Madden Ultimate Team Announced
Gamespot has a first look at Madden Ultimate Team which is similar in concept to FIFA Ultimate Team which released last year. This will be a downloadable update which will add the mode to the menu of the regular Madden 10 game. The FIFA version of Ultimate Team cost $10 however in a surprising move Madden Ultimate Team will be free. Check out the full preview here.
after loading it up for the first time…you’ll be given a randomized set of cards, enough to get you up and running right away….Those cards include players, stadiums, playbooks, coaches, injury cards, and contract cards, and the quality of the card will be reflected in its status as either a bronze, silver, or gold card….Playing games with your team, you’ll earn credits that you can then use to buy bronze, silver, or gold packs full of more cards you can use to bolster your team. You’ll also be able to spend real-world cash to buy in-game credits.
Obviously EA is looking to rake in some money off those who will pay for in-game credits but by making MUT free they have also increased the value of Madden 10. With sales showing continued strength this year this new mode could make Madden an even more appealing gift over the holidays.
Madden Ultimate Team does not have a solidified release date though EA Sports is shooting for early January. While that would coincide with the NFL Playoffs the mode is a perfect fit for the offseason. Continue on for the Gamespot video featuring MUT and leave your thoughts in the comments!
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Madden Taking Three Weeks of Roster Updates Off
EA Sports has now stated that the next roster update for Madden 10 will not be coming until November 20th. That means there will have been a three week gap between updates and just two updates in a five week span.
This is really disappointing news and any frustration is justified. While there will always be arguments as to players being over or underrated the updates this year have provided the best reflection of real life performance in the history of the franchise. This doesn’t just affect quick games and online games as anyone looking to start a franchise or online franchise won’t have the most up-to-date rosters available. Consistency is even more important than happening every single week and now we don’t even have that.
A partially automated system like NBA Live has with the Synergy daily updates would not make sense for Madden. Games are played only once a week and stats are not the driving force behind many positions in football. But if EA can’t do manual roster updates on a consistent basis than maybe some other procedure needs to be considered.
As suggested in the comments a system where roster moves (IR, trades, cuts, signings, depth chart) were done on a weekly basis while the ratings were adjusted bi-weekly or even quarterly would be a reasonable compromise.
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Week Eight Ratings Change Suggestions
Statistically there were only a handful of players who had standout games in week eight however some trends were evident. The Giants should see a drop (at least to the defense) after getting smoked in three straight games. Kurt Warner turned the ball over six times and has been inconsistent this season. Steve Slaton got benched in favor of Ryan Moats who had a big game so some changes may be in store there. Jairus Byrd has seven picks and 16 passes defensed already this season leading the league in both categories and could get pushed up a few more points this week.
For some reason EA is hesitant to drop JaMarcus Russell down more than a point each time they do, I’m guessing this is because they still want the Raiders to be a serviceable team for those who want to use them. Currently he sits as a 67 which, granted, is the lowest starter. However the ratings are supposed to be reflective of how good the players are and those who decide to play with the Raiders would know they’ve got a challenge on their hands. Artificially keeping certain players higher just because they are starters goes against the whole meaning of ratings.
Owen Daniels injury and the release of Chris Chambers should also be reflected in the next update. As always leave your thoughts in the comments on what players deserve a boost or a downgrade based on their performance in this week’s Madden 10 roster update.
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FNR4 Price Drop and DLC News
EA Sports has made two announcements relating to Fight Night Round 4. The first is that the price of the game is being dropped to $39.99 while the second relates to the next downloadable content that will be arriving next month.
In addition to including Bernard Hopkins, Sonny Liston and Evander Holyfield as playable boxers, the DLC pack will also include two all-new game modes. The first, Old School Rules brings a new take to the traditional boxing experience, while the second, Ring Rivalries, allows you to re-create some of the greatest match ups in boxing history.
The DLC will go for 800 MS points on the 360 or the equivalent $10 on the PS3. No date has been set for the release other than it coming in December and full details on the new game modes have not yet been made available.
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The Line Drive 11/1/09
- The first look at EA MMA will come during the November 7th Strikeforce event on CBS. The game will be used to preview each fight before they begin.
- The original first screenshot for EA MMA, which was first found and scanned from Sports Illustrated, can now be found in the screenshot gallery.
- While I generally don’t cover WWE games it is worth noting that the license has run out for THQ and the period to extend it has now been pushed back to the end of the year. Presumably WWE has done this to give THQ more time to make the deal. If it doesn’t happen then one has to wonder if EA Sports will jump on the WWE license.
- A few outlets have given some hands-on thoughts on Madden Arcade. You can check them out at IGN or 1Up.
- Kotaku has posted up a good interview with NCAA Basketball 10 producer Connor Dougan. Mentioned in the article is that the dual-presentation took up around 60% of the development time. That right there probably explains the lack of much else being added to the game this year.
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Online Franchise Conference Championship Preview
The Pastapadre Madden 10 Online Franchise has now reached the Conference Championships. On one side it is the rematch of the real life NFC Championship from last year with the Eagles @ Cardinals. In the AFC it is the undefeated Raiders hosting the Ravens. For those of you who have expressed interest in joining the franchise keep an eye out for a post in the next week or so regarding that as there will be a handful of openings. Continue on for a preview of the two games.
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EA Strikes Back With New Blog
Earlier this week controversy arose when a 2K Sports representative criticized the way the NBA Live 10 patch was being received. Rather than respond directly to that statement it seems that EA Sports has taken another approach. With the use of their blog they are now attempting to spread the perception that NBA 2K10 has fallen off this year due consumer reaction to the problems with the game. You can check out the posting that went up earlier today here.
This is the first time where competitors have gone at each other in such a public manner. It started on Twitter, elevated with the 2K statement a few days ago, and now is being used in the marketing. Some will surely like this, believing it will bring out the best in both development teams as they try to outdo each other next year because of the rivalry. There is probably something to that. However it doesn’t make either side look good right now. With basketball being the only sport that really has direct competition it has boiled up into what we’ve seen in the last month.
Despite the advances Live has made it has issues of its own too. The latest patch has brought about a problem where the points from goaltending are not being displayed on the scoreboard for instance. EA would be better off touting some of the areas the game excels in such as the atmosphere rather than pointing out the faults of the competition which are evident without being highlighted in a blog. Personally I would just rather have each side concentrating on their own product.
Update: Kotaku has a take on the EA vs 2K war which you can check out here.
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NCAA Basketball 10 Home Court Advantage
Way back in April the Top 15 toughest places to play in NCAA Basketball 10 were determined via fan voting. EA Sports has now released a video that features a countdown of the top 10. IGN also has a quick Q&A regarding the home court advantage that will be included in the game which you can check out in its entirety here.
IGN: If I select a school that’s not on the top ten toughest places to play list for my dynasty, can I build them into such a powerhouse that they’ll eventually make it on the list?
Connor Dougan: You sure can – It’s all about taking your school and building up that powerhouse program and a big part of that is having a great home court advantage and great home record. Do that and you’ll find yourself among the top 20 Toughest Places to Play.
Atmosphere is a critical part of college basketball and having played NBA Live 10 and experienced the playoff atmosphere it is easy to recognize how much it can add to the enjoyment of the game. The video however doesn’t offer much other than a chance to hear some of the audio which does seem as though it will be impressive. Continue on to watch and leave your thoughts in the comments.
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Madden 10 Roster Update #8 Details
The eighth roster update for Madden 10 is set to be out later today or tomorrow. After taking a week off this is a significant update in terms of ratings and player movement.
Some notable changes include Matt Schaub boosted to 88, Terrell Owens down to an 85, Cedric Benson gains three and moves to 89, Sidney Rice gets moved up to an 82, Elvis Dumervil all the way to an 89, Brandon Mebane to an 86, and Jarius Byrd up to a 78. Mark Sanchez dropped to a 78 despite his impressive hot dog eating skills while JaMarcus Russell somehow only lost one point and sits at 67.
Once again the changes have been presented in image form. Continue on to check them out and leave your thoughts in the comments.
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