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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
06:31 AM - March 10, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
EA just sent us these Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 screenshots.
Game: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11Hype Score: Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360Votes: 0 - View All
06:29 AM - March 10, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
1up has posted their early look at EA Sports MMA.

Quote:
"The game's strike control system, mapped to the right stick, is based on Fight Night's "Total Punch" control scheme. Defense also plays a part in the game as you dodge, parry, and duck while moving around the ring. You need to be wary of your fighter's stamina; as it can be lessened by taking punches to the body, grappling, and also by missing punches you throw.

EA Tiburon promises that the game's "Flash Knockout" feature is no roll of the dice, meaning a lucky punch won't knock you out. It does mean, however, that if you take too much of a risk and stick your chin out too far, one deliberately-placed punch will drop you to the canvas."
Game: EA Sports MMAHype Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 8 - View All
06:26 AM - March 10, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
Gamespot has posted their updated hands-on preview of 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Quote:
"One new improvement is the penalty kick system, which has radically changed since the last FIFA. Each penalty kick will change in terms of difficulty depending on the events surrounding it. For example, a penalty against Fiji when you're 5-0 up will be relatively easy; while the decisive penalty in the World Cup final against Brazil will be much tougher.

The new system is based around a compsure meter that goes back and forth, moving between red in the extremities and green in the centre. The idea is to hold the shoot button when the marker is in the green area, and then perform a similar maneuver to determine the power. Meanwhile, a blue marker will appear on the screen allowing you to direct the shot, with a small marker allowing pinpoint accuracy if you landed in the green portion of the bar. The position marker only appears in the training mode though; in the real game, you have to make a judgement on how much to tweak the aim of the ball.

With the penalty taker getting more options, it's only fair that the keeper does as well, so thankfully EA Sports has improved this area as well. Keepers now do more to stop the ball than before, automatically moving their arms and legs to knock the ball if they're heading in the right direction. You can also move the keeper up and down the line and perform various taunts, moving your body to try and put the penalty taker off their shot."
Game: 2010 FIFA World CupHype Score: 9.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 2 - View All
06:24 AM - March 10, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah


Game: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11Hype Score: Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii / iPhoneVotes: 0 - View All
12:18 AM - March 10, 2010. Posted by splff3000.
IGN has posted some Madden NFL 11 hints from the EA Season Opener.

Quote:
"The average game took 63 minutes in Madden NFL 10, despite the fact that players were only playing football for 17 of those minutes. EA Sports promised that they'll deliver a faster experience in Madden NFL 11 for those who want to sit down and play for a few minutes and then get up and move on to the next activity. They gave no indication of how this would be accomplished, but if I was a betting man, I'd wager that they'll be adding a "hurry up" option to the list of presentation settings similar to what we see in this year's crop of MLB titles.

Another interesting factoid had to do with playcalling. Madden NFL 10 included 330 plays. The average user used 13 of them. I'm not exactly sure how they're going to get people to explore the playbook, but some sort of simplification is clearly needed."
Game: Madden NFL 11Hype Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 12 - View All
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
10:57 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
EA has posted another Skate 3 blog. Cuz lays some praise, answers some questions and corrects some misconceptions.

Quote:
"# The "live" gameplay footy you see circulating from our NY city press event is mostly Easy Mode as we wanted newcomers to feel comfortable with the game. Don't get your high-pop no-push knickers in a twist...Bobby Digi will keep dropping the Hardcore Mode so you can check it out in Clips of the Week.
# Open spaces exist in some areas more than others. University is pretty spacious, downtown less so and Industrial brings the noise. Object dropper can make anywhere as cluttered as you like very easily. Hey, if I can figure it out it must be easy to use. And, trust me, making something out of nothing is still a hallm*ark of Skate (like skateboarding itself). I cruise around turning crap spots into gems all day. (That doesn't sound so fun...but you get what I mean).
# Yes, you can invite your friends to freeskate your Skate.parks. You plus 5 friends. And, there is a variety of "props" you can place your custom graphic on and then add it to your park...Team Training Facilities can be branding to show it. (We'll do a Skate.park/Object Dropper Q and A soon)"
Game: Skate 3Hype Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 4 - View All
10:48 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
Check out the first 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa trailer.
Game: 2010 FIFA World CupHype Score: 9.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 2 - View All
2K Sports Signs NHL Superstar Ryan Kesler of
Vancouver Canucks as Cover Athlete for NHL® 2K11

Elite two-way forward set to turn up the intensity and excitement on the virtual ice

New York, NY - March 9, 2010 - 2K Sports announced today they have signed Ryan Kesler, star two-way forward for the Vancouver Canucks® and 2010 Winter Olympics hero, to be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for their upcoming video game, NHL® 2K11. Kesler, a vital member of the upstart 2010 U.S. Olympic hockey team, captured the collective attention of sports fans around the world with his gritty and awe-inspiring performance, and will now look to bring the same electrifying play to NHL 2K11.

"Having the opportunity to participate in the Olympics and play in front of my home crowd was one of the best experiences of my life. To now be chosen as the next cover athlete for NHL 2K11 is another dream come true," said Kesler, alternate captain for the Vancouver Canucks. "It was awesome to work with 2K Sports last year on the NHL 2K10 commercial shoot and the outdoor motion capture session on the Las Vegas strip was incredible to be a part of. I'm looking forward to having just as much fun again, and helping them make another great hockey game this year."

Drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2003 as the 23rd overall pick in the first round, Kesler has spent his entire five-year NHL career with the Canucks. As a 2009 Selke Trophy finalist, awarded annually to the top defensive player in the league, Kesler has blossomed into one of the most feared and relentless players on the ice. Best known as a two-way forward, Kesler also set personal statistical records last season with 26 goals and 33 assists. He was honored with the Cyclone Taylor award last year as team MVP and has helped to lead the Canucks this year to the top of the Northwest division.

"Ryan is one of the most talented and exciting players to watch in the NHL today and his popularity has grown exponentially since the recent success of Team USA at the Winter Olympics," said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development for 2K. "We're thrilled to have him represent NHL 2K11 and wish him the best of luck through the rest of this season."

Being developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, NHL 2K11 is not yet rated by the ESRB and scheduled to be available for Wii in fall 2010.

2K Sports is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
Game: NHL 2K11Hype Score: Vote Now
Platform: WiiVotes: 0 - View All
09:19 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
NEED FOR SPEED SHIFT EXPANDS THE TRUE DRIVER’S
EXPERIENCE WITH EXOTIC RACING SERIES PACK

Get in the Race with Seven Celebrated New Cars on the New Riviera Track

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – March 9, 2010 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the all-new Exotic Racing Series pack for Need for Speed SHIFT. On March 18th, gamers will have access to seven phenomenal new cars and an amazing new track in the game. Highlighting this exclusive pack of cars are the McLaren MP4-12C and the legendary BMW M1. Players won’t find more brilliance, innovation, or drama than in these magnificent machines, where each is a potent mix of race car and road car. The Exotic Racing Series pack will be available worldwide on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system for $10.00 or the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system for $10.00 or 800 Microsoft Points*.

Over 50 exciting new events have also been created specifically for these cars including time challenges, endurance and sprint races. The challenging and spectacular new Riviera track boasts four unique layouts, each with daring corners, multiple blazing straight-aways and a few hairpins that will push these cars to the limit. Players that complete the package will receive an additional 125 Microsoft gamerpoints or 5 PlayStation Trophies as a reward for undertaking various exciting challenges.

The Exotic Racing Series pack cars include:
1. Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
2. BMW M1 Procar
3. GUMPERT apollo
4. Honda NSX
5. McLaren MP4-12C
6. Maserati GranTurismo S
7. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

Need for Speed SHIFT features an intense first-person crash dynamic and a signature cockpit view that delivers a true driver’s experience. The game further personalizes the experience through the all-new driver profile -- a unique persona based on the driving skill and style of each player. With a perfect ‘10’ score from GameSpy.com and G4TV.com, and 90+ scores from IGN.com, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Team Xbox.com, Game Daily.com, Gametrailers.com and more, Need for Speed SHIFT is the highest rated Need for Speed game in years.

Need for Speed SHIFT is now available on the PlayStation®3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, mobile and the iPhone™. More information can be found at http://www.needforspeed.com or follow us on Twitter at NeedforSpeed.
Game: Need for Speed ShiftReader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PSP / Xbox 360Votes: 8 - View All
09:13 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
LEAD YOUR TEAM TO GLORY!
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 11 TO FEATURE RYDER CUP

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 to Support PlayStation 3 Motion Controller

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., - March 9, 2010 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that one of the most prestigious tournaments in golf, The Ryder Cup, will be featured in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 11. In addition, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 will support Sony’s new PlayStation 3 Motion Controller to give gamers an authentic interactive swing experience. The game will be available on June 8 on the Wii™, Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and iPhone™ platforms.

Gamers will select a team and square off to try and bring home The Ryder Cup for their squad in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 on all console platforms. The Ryder Cup is one of the last great sporting events to be founded in prestige rather than prize money. Choose from the U.S. or European squad and participate in the various competition formats – foursomes where players hit alternate shots, fourballs and singles which traditionally bring the biennial event to a close with players going head to head. When playing The Ryder Cup mode offline, gamers will have the option to swap matches, thus giving you the ultimate control over the outcomes of other matches.

The Ryder Cup, a competition hosted by Ryder Cup Europe LLP and the PGA of America, brings together the best American and European golfers in a team competition format, and the cover of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 is a direct reflection of the tournament – as Tiger Woods denotes the U.S. team and Rory McIlroy represents the Europeans. McIlroy, hailing from Northern Ireland and currently ranked 9th according to the Official World Golf Rankings, has posted several impressive showings early in his professional golfing career. Last year, McIlroy had five top 10 PGA TOUR finishes including a third-place tie in the 2009 PGA Championship and made the cut in all four majors. As an amateur, McIlroy also has a strong history in team play events, which include appearances in the Junior Ryder Cup and Walker Cup.

“This is a huge honor for me to be the on the cover with Tiger Woods as I grew up idolizing Tiger,” said McIlroy. “The Ryder Cup has always been my favorite sporting event and the tournament is being played at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales in 2010. Also, I’m hopeful to have an opportunity to represent the European team later in the year – it’s all very special.”

Not only will players have the ability to participate in team play but they will now be able to take a team online* via the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A first for the franchise, this all-new mode will allow up to 24 players to compete head-to-head as members of team. Team members can also talk strategy with their teammates over Xbox LIVE or PlayStation Network.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 on the Wii brings the links to your living room with two all-new enhanced swing mechanics while using the Wii MotionPlus™. The Advanced Plus swing difficulty will read rotation and swing angle while the Tour Pro swing mechanic assesses rotation, swing plane and point of contact. The Tour Pro swing features an innovative first-person camera angle from the tee box to the putting green called True View. True View creates the most immersive and authentic golf experience in any video game – you are no longer watching the golfer, you are the golfer!

Since 1986, EA has produced immersive golf experiences that give fans the ability to hit the links via an authentic gameplay experience. Since the launch of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 99 the franchise has sold more than 25 million units worldwide**. The critically acclaimed Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 on the Wii was a finalist for IGN.com’s 2009 Sports Game of the Year.
Game: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11Hype Score: Vote Now
Platform: iPhone / PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 0 - View All
09:08 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
Real-Time Simulations, Mini-Games and Customizations
Takes Players off the Pine and in the Batters Box

El Segundo, Calif. - March 9, 2010 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced the development of The Cages Pro-Style Batting Practice for Wii™. A baseball batting simulator, filled with unique mini-games focusing on hitting, gets players off the pine and active in this innovative sports game. What awaits players is a series of fun and interactive mini-games that test players' hand/eye coordination by challenging a virtual pitching machine that spits out 19 different pitches, varying in speed and difficulty.

Players take on this true to life baseball hitting game by actively swinging at pitches with their Wii Remote™ from a pitching machine that spits out various pitches such as sliders, 12-6 curves and fast balls, all simulated from real life pitchers. The Cages Pro-Style Batting Practice is also compatible with Wii Motion Plus™ giving players an even more realistic experience! Customize your experience by editing your batters and pitchers to give them real-world physics including left vs. right hand, stance, height, weight and more. A natural learning curve allows players to develop their skills and take on up to four other players for an in-game homerun challenge! Behind all of this fun is a fitness element that tracks your cardiovascular progress by reporting on calories burned while players are obtaining their hitting goals. In addition, the use of the Wii's motion controller helps players develop their hand/eye coordination skills.

The Cages Pro-Style Batting Practice will be available on Wii in the first quarter of 2010. For more information, please visit http://www.konami.com/thecages
07:15 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by Lava.
Check out the NCAA Football 11 blog with the Executive Producer of the game.

Quote:
"As a Michigan Wolverine fan, I want an NCAA Football that resembles the Saturday afternoon experience at the Big House. The sights, the sounds, and the traditions. (And of course, the return of a winning season. ;-) But it's not just about visual presentation. It's also making sure that my team - and all 120 FBS teams that we include in the game - look, feel, and play like my team. There are style variations across teams in the NFL but if you want to see true variety, it's all about College. We recognize that NCAA Football needs to more closely model and reflect those differences as part of gameplay.

Innovation

We've always had a history of innovation on the franchise. It was the first EA SPORTS game on Xbox Live back in 2004. In 2009 it was Online Dynasty, giving you the ability to compete with your friends across the country. Or last year's web-based team creator, TeamBuilder, where (amazingly) you guys have already created more than half-a-million custom teams! By the way, these teams will all work in NCAA Football 11 as well...

Before I came onboard the NCAA franchise, I worked on a number of online games and technologies across EA SPORTS and also led the team that helped bring EA SPORTS games to Xbox Live and Sony PSN. Without giving too much away, you can probably guess that online will be a big component of some of the new areas we're exploring this year."
Game: NCAA Football 11Hype Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes: 21 - View All
01:59 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by MMChrisS. Written by TD St. Matthew-Daniel
On June 26, 2003, the basketball world ushered in what many believe was the best draft class the NBA has ever seen. Seven years later, three of the top players from the '03 draft class -- LeBron, Wade and Bosh -- have us anticipating another big summer that could change the outlook of the Association.

So through the glasses of the main teams that are looking to make a killing in the free-agency market this summer, let us take a look at how the 2010 NBA free-agent market could change NBA 2K11.

Read More - The 2010 Effect: Where the Stars Could Play in NBA 2K11
Game: NBA 2K11Hype Score: Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / PCVotes: 0 - View All
01:32 PM - March 9, 2010. Posted by DivotMaker.
Check out the first details of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, as ESPN's Jon Robinson interviews associate designer Travis Sailer. The game will feature the Ryder Cup.

Quote:
Jon: "What other improvements can gamers expect from the series this year?"

Travis: "Some of the other things we're talking about right now are just some of the little fixes. One of the big things this year was listening to all the feedback we've been getting from our community. We got a lot of really good feedback through our forums on gameplay that needed fixing, and we had a community day where we brought people together to get an early look at the game and hear what they thought about the new features. These guys know our game as good as we do, especially when it comes to the core gameplay, so we really value what they have to say.

Listening to that feedback, we went in and added variable wind gusts, so now it will be a little harder to judge the wind when you're hitting, making the game more realistic. We also added an approach green grid. So now when you're hitting your approach, you can see the grid you'd normally see when you're putting so you can judge the slopes better. Now you'll be able to see where you want to hit the ball to leave you with the easiest putt.

And then visually, we added animated skies this year, and they are going to be time of day specific per course, so you'll get different skies on every course. We also did a lot of work with characters. We added an all-new animation system and completely remodeled the characters. We even have dynamic clothes this year that will flap in the wind, and Rory, with his big old mop, you'll see his hair flapping around when you're playing on a windy day. The characters definitely look better than ever.

We also worked a lot on our cameras and presentations so that the flow of the game just looks a lot smoother. There are so many little changes that we're excited about & there's a whole new look and feel to "Tiger 11.""
Game: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11Hype Score: Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii / iPhoneVotes: 0 - View All

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