Lace up your contractually obligated $200 dollar sneakers and hit the collegiate hardwood today … assuming you’re an Xbox LIVE gold member. EA Sports has just released a demo of NCAA Basketball 10 to Xbox LIVE gold members. Silver members will be able to try it out on the 12th followed by PlayStation 3 on the 19th.

You shoot. You score. You request a multi-million dollar rookie deal so you can feed your family. Start your transition from college ball to the pros today with NCAA Basketball 10.

I’m now convinced that EA Sports has my phone tapped. I literally had a conversation on the phone last night talking about how this year’s Madden was vastly improved in so many areas over last years iteration. But that said, there were still things I missed from the last gen version of the series — things like trading cards.

Well here they are … sort of. Cards will contain players, coaches, and jersey options, but special ability or perk cards offering up things like “rocket arm” or “scrambling legs”  don’t look like they made the next-gen transition. You will however be able to collect cards and do something new with them — build a custom team. Read more…

EA Sport’s has announced the addition of three fighters via DLC for their boxing title, Fight Night Round 4. Bernard Hopkins, Sonny Liston, and Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield will be available to download in early December for $9.99 on the PlayStation Network and 800 MS Points ($10) on Xbox LIVE.

In addition, the retail price of the game will drop $10 from $49.99 to $39.99 in time for the holiday rush. Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in the same game? That sounds like an ear-biting good time to me, but don’t take my word for it, see for yourself. Read more…

As it turns out, the old G.I. Joe Saying “knowing is half the battle” applies to more than just the military. According to the press release sent to me today by EA Sports, a recent study revealed that gamers who played John Madden football were more passionate and knowledgeable about the actual game of football itself. This must also mean that those who play Grand Theft Auto are more knowledgeable and passionate about rape, car bombs, and roof top sniping.

Hit the jump for the full press release and an even funnier version of the video shown above. Read more…

EA Sports today revealed the cover athletes for the North American version of FIFA 10. The three cover athletes include Cuauhtémoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire, Sacha Kljestan of Chivas USA and Chelsea’s Frank Lampard. Okay, I’m familiar with Frank Lampard, but the two MLS players, not so much. But I bet your ass I’m not the only one left in the dark.

EA also revealed that the North American release date would indeed be October 20, a few weeks after the Euro release date of October 2. Hit the jump for a new video of FIFA 10. Read more…

For those of you who have played Fight Night Round 4, you probably noticed (and were surprised) that there wasn’t an option to change the control scheme and use the face buttons to play like in previous Fight Night games. Well EA is about to fix that with an update coming later this summer to add the face button control scheme for those who have been complaining about it, and don’t worry, it’s free. I just wonder why EA Sports didn’t just include the option in the first place. Weird.

Along with this update, a new DLC will be arriving before hand containing a new training gym, new gameplay sliders and new equipment to use on your boxer. The 360 version will also be receiving an alternate, Pizza-Hut sponsored version of Sugar Ray Leonard. And all of this DLC will be free too. Sweet, huh?

Source: Joystiq

Make less than ten baskets (6 of 16 from the field)  in your team’s first two NBA Final games, and you too can grace the cover of EA Sports NBA LIVE … assuming you look really cool with a Photoshop blur effect. Congrats Dwight Howard, aka “Superman”, now stop playing like the court is made of Kryptonite. Hit the jump for the full press release. Read more…

After a brief time of being exclusive to people who pre-ordered the game, the Fight Night Round 4 demo is now available on Xbox Live for all Gold members.

The demo has two boxers, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao.

Those with a Xbox Live Silver membership will be able to download the game next week, June 4, the same day the demo will be available for the PS3. EA Sport’s Fight Night Round 4 will hit retailers on June 30.

Fight Night Round 4 is the first game in over 21 years to feature Mike Tyson, and let me answer your first question right now: No, you can’t bite someone’s ear off.  EA goes to great lengths to capture the devastating power of the late 80’s-early 90’s Tyson rather than the hot mess that was ear-biting, post-prison Tyson.  The roster of over 40 boxers is also the first in 17 years to feature “Big” George Foreman, again, not the smiley grill salesman but the cinderblock-fisted monster who almost ended Joe Frazier’s career in the 70’s. I recently got my hands on the newest entry in EA’s successful franchise to see exactly how the skull busting will be going down.  Read more…

We just previewed Madden 10 and it seems like the team has been hard at work scrapping elements that haven’t worked for the series and creating new features in order to produce the most realistic feeling hard-nosed Sunday football game to date.  Let’s blitz through the top ten changes Madden 10 makes to famed Madden formula.

1.  Madden 10 lets players “Feel The Pressure” in the pocket and avoid It.  Since the beginning of time, Madden players have played passing offense the same way:  Running 20 yards or more into the backfield, away from the pocket, and firing a huge bomb to a downfield receiver.  They either complete that miracle pass or they’re sacked for an absurd loss.  Real NFL quarterbacks don’t do this, by the way, they stay protected in the pocket created by the offensive line.  The developers of Madden 10 found that when players were looking downfield for a receiver, the pocket didn’t feel safe because they couldn’t sense when the defense was rushing them, hence the running into the backfield.

One of Madden 10’s goals is to make the pocket feel safe again.  When looking downfield for a receiver to pass to, the controller will rumble when the quarterback is under pressure.  A quick flick of the right stick lets the quarterback execute an avoidance move to shrug away a potential sack and give the player an extra moment to complete a pass.  The avoidance moves will work better with elusive quaterbacks, like Big Ben, but even then they won’t work all the time.

Read more…

Electronic Arts has announced the release date for this year’s entry in the Madden franchise, Madden NFL 10. The game will release on August 14, 2009, and of course football fans will gather that day to play each other online and curse each other out like there’s no tomorrow.

Electronic Arts has said the game will feature “online innovation that will connect Madden fans together like never before” and “an immersive broadcast presentation that captures the suspense and emotion of the NFL.”

The cover athlete will be revealed in a presentation on Friday, April 24th.

Source

It has been a vague thought of mine that this year’s Madden title will go down as one of the best in the 20+ year franchise. Each week that thought becomes even more evident as new information is released. This week however is a special one because we now have the very first official screenshot of Madden 10, and boy does it bring a lot of exhilaration.

Placed in Peter Moore’s blog, the first Madden 10 screenshot reveals some nice additions that the fans have wanted for a long while now such as on the field referees and hand towels.

Check out Peter Moore’s EA Sports blog to see what he had to say. For the first time in a long time I am actually feeling strong anticipation for Madden and I am dying to get my hands on this title. If EA pulls this one off, I would suspect that they would have won many people over who have strayed away with the “EA Sucks” conviction.

While observing my Twitter page, I noticed something that seemed very interesting and I though I would share it with you guys. Read more…

Boxing fans rejoice! The Fight Night Round 4 cover has been unveiled with two of the greatest boxers of all time on it. In response to fan voting on the official Fight Night website, Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson have been chosen to don the cover.

It looks as if we’re one step closer to actually having the sequel to one of the best boxing games ever in our grasps. As of now there is no release date or much information about the game, but I’m thinking a release sometime in the fall is imminent. I was a huge fan of the last Fight Night and can’t wait for this one.

Source: Operationsports.com

 

Even though this eagerness process repeats itself every year, nevertheless, Madden 10 is one of the most anticipated titles of 2009. To help quench some of this anticipation, Ian Cummings, the Lead Designer on Madden 10, has recently posted updates in regards to the development process on a weekly basis. This week, Cummings talks about new animations that have been added to WRs/DBs for a more overall realistic experience.

Read more…

As the Los Angeles Lakers begin their season tonight, taking on the Portland Trailblazers, I’d like to let all my fellow Lakers fans out there know that we aren’t the only ones who believe our team will go all the way. NBA Live 09 thinks we have what it takes to be champs once again! Read more…

First off, I want to applaud EA for their decision to support such a worthwhile cause. The video game publisher has joined forces with Target, the national retail chain, to distribute a limited edition “Madden 09 Pink” edition cover throughout the month of October.

The pink ribbon is the hands down identifier for the fight against breast cancer, however Green Bay’s green and yellow is no longer associated with Brett Favre. Again, this is a great cause, and I totally support it, but it puzzles me as to why EA would update the cover to include a pink ribbon yet leave Favre wearing his Green Bay uniform.

Deanna Favre, Brett’s wife, overcame her battle with breast cancer, and now runs the Deanna Favre HOPE Foundation. EA will be contributing proceeds from the sale of this limited edition version of the game to Deanna’s foundation.

Those interested in purchasing the game will have two flavors to choose from, with the Wii version ringing in at $49.99, and the 360 version retailing at $59.99. A bit strange that the PS3 version is not being added to the list, but according to the press release, it won’t be joining the fight against breast cancer this time around.

Your local Target store is the only physical location you will be able to buy it from. If you prefer to shop online, you can head on over to www.target.com or www.nlshop.com to place your order.

The full press release is available after the jump. Read more…

You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Behind the scenes wheeling and dealing can generate tasty bargains, but sometimes those bargains come with a nasty aftertaste.

In this case, it appears that EA and the NFLPA along with Players Inc. struck a deal for retired NFL player rights that was significantly below fair market value. A class action lawsuit was filed by the players in question against Players Inc, but the fun didn’t stop there. In a letter crafted by 51 year old former Buffalo Bills safety, Jeff Nixon, Madden was asked to come to the aid of his fellow Hall of Famers.

Jeff’s “Dear John” letter to the former Raider’s Head Coach is laced with incriminating quotes, the most shocking being that EA’s total cost to produce Madden each year is apparently no more than $200,000!! Read more…

Get your popcorn ready. EA Sports, in partnership with ESPN, has created a new technology called Virtual Playbook that merges real life ESPN analysts with virtual EA video game characters.

According to EA, in-studio cameras will be synchronized with in-game cameras, allowing both real and virtual people the ability to “move realistically around the studio set to demonstrate plays and scenarios.”

As a huge sports fan myself, I am interested in seeing how all of this comes together. On paper it definitely sounds like it has the potential to be a major addition to the sports broadcasting venue.

You can see EA Sports Virtual Playbook in action September 7th, on ESPN’s Sunday Countdown. The full press release is available after the jump. Read more…

The more I see, the more I believe. When I spoke to an EA/Tiburon employee at this years E3, he told me that the company was really trying to change the way they interact with their community. Well, it seems they are putting their money were their mouth is, and doing just that.

It wasn’t long ago that Levinator25, a Tiger Woods 2008 gamer, uploaded a glitch he had found in the game to Youtube. The bug allowed his virtual Tiger Woods to make a shot as he hovered over a body of water.

In a hilarious response from EA Sports, the following video claims that the “feature” was not a glitch, and calls on the real life Woods to prove it. Read more…