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PSN Store Update: Phrasing!
Alright, let's talk about dying lights, grim fandangos and how life is strange. No, not that recent rumor, silly-billy! We're totally referring to this week's new releases on the PlayStation Store, which include Techland's Dying Light ($60), the Grim Fandango remaster ($15) and the debut episode of teen drama Life is Strange ($5). All three of those are on PS4, while you'll also find Life is Strange on PS3 and Grim Fandango on Vita. By the by, Grim Fandango is cross-buy; if you buy it on PS4 you'll unlock it on Vita for free, and vice versa. Meanwhile, Life is Strange won't be available until Friday, January 30.
Madden predicts Patriots over Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX
With Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, it's time again to gaze deep into the crystal ball that is the latest version of EA Sports' Madden NFL to see how the game will shake out. End result? Patriots beat Seahawks, 28 to 24, thanks to four touchdowns from Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady. [Image: EA Sports]
EA Sports to send prizes to cheated junior Lions fan
On a scale from one to "wow, really?", where would you rank someone representing a football team who denies a copy of Madden 15 to a child for wearing the jersey of the opposing team? We ask because that's precisely what happened when the Dallas Cowboys took on the Detroit Lions last week. Amarillo radio station KISS FM 96.9 reports that prior to the football showdown, 10-year-old Roman participated in a game of musical chairs in hopes of snagging the grand prize: a copy of Madden 15 for PS4. Roman won fair and square, but when it turned out he was wearing a Detroit Lions jersey, he was promptly denied his prize and made to re-do an (almost surely rigged) round, where he lost. This was on a stage in front of a crowd of gathered spectators, by the way. As if that wasn't humiliating enough, his consolation prize seals the deal: the first season of Batman: The Television Series (the Adam West version, to clarify) and a Led Zeppelin CD. Because what kid doesn't enjoy '60s camp while listening to "Immigrant Song"? Roman's story has a happy ending, though. After learning of the incident, EA Sports tweeted the picture you see above. So Roman will now be receiving not only a copy of Madden 15 for PS4, but a console to play it on and a Lions mini-helmet signed by receiver Calvin Johnson. So, to come back to our original question, what value would you assign the contest organizers? [Image: EA Sports]
Best of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2014
ATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris. Desert Golfing Imagine you're stranded in the middle of a vast desert with nothing but a golf club and ball, rolling hills of sand stretching as far as the eye can see. You're not going anywhere soon. May as well play a few thousand rounds and work on your swing, right? Whoa, did you see that cactus on hole #316? Maybe it was a mirage, but I swear I found a rock on hole #537. This delightfully minimal, endless version of golf doesn't drown players in features. Instead, Desert Golfing perfectly mimics life on a desert golf course: Serene. Sometimes maddening.
Ray Rice to be removed from Madden 15 in Week 1 update
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice will be removed from Madden NFL 15 in this week's update, EA Sports confirmed with Joystiq. The change will be part of the game's next roster update, which "will take place by this Friday," the publisher said. Rice was cut by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely from the NFL after a video of his domestic violence act from February surfaced on TMZ. The league previously suspended Rice for two games for the incident, and as a result of the suspension, current rosters in Madden 15 have him fourth in the depth chart order for Ravens running backs. It's not the first time EA has adjusted its sports game rosters following an athlete's criminal act; former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was removed from NCAA 14 and Madden NFL 25 in July 2013 after being charged with murder. [Image: EA Sports]
Tiny Titan's legacy continues in EA mockumentary short
Glitches can create some of the most interesting moments in the games we play. Case in point: Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey's appearance in Madden 15. Coming in at just more than a single foot tall, Kirksey's glitched height has earned him the nickname "Tiny Titan." At first, the sight of an NFL player barely taller than the length of an actual football was just funny. Then, EA made him part of a Madden Ultimate Team solo challenge. Now, a video featuring the real Kirksey (who as far as we know, is not actually 14 inches tall) as well as a Tom Rinaldi voice impersonator give us a brief glimpse into the life of this pint-size phenom. You can check it out after the break.
Crush Tiny Titan's spirits in Madden 15 challenge
By now, you might have heard of Tiny Titan, one of the more adorable glitches to pop up recently in the Madden NFL series. The little sprout of a linebacker has the heart of a champion, but also has troubles fielding kick-offs and tackling runners. Rather than ignore the glitch entirely, EA Sports opted to turn Tiny Titan into a Madden Ultimate Team solo challenge in Madden 15. Those that log in to the card-collecting, team-building mode this weekend can play against a special Browns squad on rookie difficulty with the miniature phenom leading the defense. We'd say he bites on play action passes, but it's really more of a nibble. Beating the challenge gives players a Tiny Titan collectible item that can be sold for 1,000 coins, if you don't have any kindness left in your soul. [Image: EA Sports]
Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 offers an 8-bit Madden alternative
With Madden NFL 15 now on store shelves, most virtual football fans are busy enjoying EA's latest simulation, but for those who prefer a more classic, pixelated game of football, comes Tecmo Super Bowl 2015. Thanks to the dedicated Tecmo Super Bowl fans at TecmoBowl.org, Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 combines the game's classic, NES-era pigskin action with modern rosters, offensive schemes and all 32 current NFL teams. As a hack for an NES game, Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 can be played on any platform with a viable NES emulator. The game's website offers would-be gridiron greats a detailed walkthrough on how to get the game up and running, and even a listing of various mods for those who prefer a more customized take on American football. Full details on how to set up Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 can be found at TecmoBowl.org. Of course, downloading the ROM file needed to play the mod isn't precisely legal. Something to keep in mind if you really need that up-to-date retro football fix. [Image: Koei Tecmo]
Joystiq Weekly: Amazon buys Twitch, Madden 15 review, Early Access feature and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. PAX Prime 2014 is already underway, but as fun as joining a swarm of people buzzing around video game displays can be, you don't even have to leave the house to get this weekend's highlights. Well, unless your house is a black hole for Internet and phone reception ... The point is, Joystiq is on the front lines of PAX Prime, ignoring sensible limitations to bring you a slew of news and previews. With this morning's proof that survival in numbers is a relative concept in Don't Starve Together and a reminder that thinking every MOBA is interchangeable is a mistake when it comes to Gigantic, the good stuff is already underway. There's always yesterday's reveal of Xbox One and PS4 versions of Saints Row 4 too, as well as a new, standalone expansion called Saints Row: Gat out of Hell. Stick with us until PAX Prime's conclusion on Monday, September 1, and in return we'll tell you all about the show's highlights without subjecting you to the dreaded PAX Pox. For now though, we've got a full recap of this week's news, reviews and features. Amazon's surprise acquisition of Twitch, Nintendo's new 3DS models, reviews of Madden NFL 15 and The Walking Dead's season finale, an examination of what makes Early Access such a valuable space to developers ... it's all arranged neat and orderly-like for you after the break!
Madden NFL 15 review: Getting defensive
For years, EA has presented its flag-bearing sports series as an attempt at a pixel-for-pixel simulation of professional football. It has consistently billed the latest game in the annual series as "the most authentic Madden," leaving the door open a crack for anyone outside its PR department to point out all the ways Madden is not a mirror image of the sport that dominates America's Sundays. As the NFL continues its slide towards a future where defenders that side-eye a star receiver may very well be tagged with an illegal contact penalty (it's okay folks, it's just the preseason), Madden stopped at the fork in the road this year to do a little soul-searching. The man on Madden 15's cover, Richard Sherman, made headlines for calling out the league's mandates after his team's defense shut down a league-best offense in the Super Bowl, and he's emblematic of the game's renewed focus on defense. Madden 15 is a big step in carving out the series' identity as a video game first and a football simulator second, driving a much-needed wedge between the game and the sport, while retaining what fans crave from both sides.
Double fumbles, Kaepernicking and Manningfaces in Madden 15
We're just one day away from the launch of Madden NFL 15. Normally that means you'd have some splashy launch trailer or crazy commercial starring comedians to watch. Not today! Welcome to the modern era of video games, where your "select" buttons now read "share," and your launch trailers are now GIFs of 400-pound running backs leaping over other people. Trust us, it's better this way. Check out the double-fumble-safety that happened to us in the video after the break, as well as our gallery of totally-moving pictures of the game below. Our captions also explain some of the improvements in this year's Madden, including "overhauled" controls on defense and the football strategy drills in the Skills Trainer mode. [Image: EA Sports]
Madden NFL 15 kicks off Xbox One digital pre-loading feature
EA's Madden NFL 15 is the first Xbox One game to offer digital pre-loading options for early buyers in advance of its launch, Game Informer reports. Starting this week, players who purchase Madden NFL 15 via the Xbox One's dashboard or Xbox.com will have the game downloaded and primed for play as soon as it premieres on August 26. Microsoft announced at Gamescom last week that Forza Horizon 2 and FIFA 15 will also feature digital pre-loading, and Sony will offer similar options for future PlayStation 4 releases. EA Access subscribers can spend up to six hours with the full version of Madden NFL 15 before its public launch next week. [Image: EA Sports]
Joystiq Streams: Putting Madden 15 through its PS4 paces [UPDATE: Relive the stream!]
There's a lush place where video games and football meet, and it's not just in EA and the NFL's island industry known as Madden NFL. In the heart of August, when the temperature and light start to drop, these pastimes begin their full bloom seasons. Today, we play Madden NFL 15 not just because we are Steelers fans and Packers fans and Eagles fans. We play Madden NFL 15 not just because we thrill in the coming rush of new games from Destiny to Alien Isolation. Today we play Madden to open the season. Today we open the floodgates to fall! Whew. That got romantic. Just make sure you read all of that in Don Cheadle's voice. When you're properly psyched, get ready for a tour of Madden NFL 15 on PlayStation 4 at 4PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch. Expert Mike Suszek will show you the ins-and-outs of this year's much scrutinized entry and then join Anthony John Agnello for some spirited scrimmages. Joystiq Streams broadcasts every Tuesday and Thursday at 4PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch, but we broadcast at random times as well so make sure to follow us on Twitch to know when we go live. [Images: Electronic Arts]
Madden 15 passes CoachGlass to PS4
EA Sports will bring its playcalling and analysis app, CoachGlass, to the PS4 version of Madden 15. The second-screen features for Madden 25 will be marginally enhanced this year, offering players charts that quickly display their opponent's tendencies on either side of the ball, such as blitzing percentages and the amount of run, pass and option plays the opposing team tends to call. Additionally, players will be able to call offensive plays and use their timeouts from the app. The initial concepts for CoachGlass were briefly shown during a trailer for Microsoft's SmartGlass app during its E3 2012 press conference. EA bypassed SmartGlass features for Madden 13 that year before introducing CoachGlass for Xbox One players in last year's game. Given that EA Tiburon only noted that CoachGlass will be available for PS4 and Xbox One players this year, it seems those with Xbox 360 and PS3 copies of the game won't be able to use the app. Madden 15 will launch next Tuesday, August 26. [Image: EA Sports]
EA Access offers six pre-launch hours with Madden NFL 15
Those who subscribe to EA Access will be able to take to the gridiron in Madden NFL 15 before the rest of the world, but only for six hours, according to a tweet from the program's official Twitter account. It was recently revealed that prior to the August 26 debut of Madden NFL 15, EA would make the game available exclusively to Xbox One owners with EA Access subscriptions. Curious fans grilled the EA Access Twitter account for more information until it replied with the following: "EA Access memebers [sic] will have six gameplay hours with the full Madden NFL 15 game." If this sounds familiar, that's because it's not the first time EA has attempted to sell access to its pre-release sports games. The $25 annual EA Sports Season Ticket once offered players access to EA's releases three days before they hit store shelves. Unfortunately, those pre-release games stopped functioning once their physical counterparts hit retail shelves, forcing players to go out and pick up a copy of the game just to continue playing. [Image: EA]
Madden's weird ad campaign stars Kevin Hart, Dave Franco
The start of the NFL season and launch of Madden NFL 15 is just around the corner, which means we're in the midst of the really weird part of the football offseason. Fans are desperate for anything new on Johnny Manziel and Madden players are clamoring for the last scraps of details for the game they'll be pouring hundreds of hours into. That restlessness must have seeped into EA Sports' headquarters, as the publisher just kicked off an ad campaign that stars comedian Kevin Hart and "Neighbors" actor Dave Franco. The three-minute commercial features cameos from NFL players like 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and Broncos linebacker Von Miller, in which the players sputter "blah blah blah" for a good 15 seconds.
EA's subscription-gaming service launches promising early access to 'Madden 15'
EA's all-you-can-eat games service has launched, and there's a bonus if you're a fan of American Football. The developer has announced that it's only those who pay for EA Access that'll be able to play Madden NFL 15 before its launch on August 26th. Normally, of course, the company would have released a cross-platform demo to stir up demand -- but EA told Polygon that the demo was axed to keep developers focused on the main game. In addition to five days worth of early access to the title, EA Access users will be able to play FIFA 14, Battlefield 4 and Peggle 2 to their hearts content, as well as saving 10 percent on purchases of the company's games. Is that enough for you to part with your cash, or do you, like Sony, feel that the service isn't worth it?
Report: Madden NFL 15 demo only for EA Access buyers
There won't be a freely available demo of Madden NFL 15 for players to download this year, an EA rep has confirmed to Joystiq. The publisher made a habit of offering a downloadable demo for its annual pro football series since December 2005, when it launched the demo for Madden NFL 2006. A demo for the game will reportedly be available only to Xbox One owners that also subscribe to EA Access, according to an EA representative that spoke with Polygon. The publisher revealed EA Access in late July as an Xbox One subscription service offering full access to its games for $5 per month (or $30 per year). EA Access members also have the opportunity to play major EA releases on a limited basis up to five days before the game's launch. Madden 15 will launch August 26 for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360 and PS3 and will include strategy tutorials in its Skills Trainer mode, an "overhaul" to its defensive mechanics as well as the addition of player confidence in its franchise mode. [Image: EA Sports]
Madden 15's franchise mode instills confidence, wraps up ratings
EA Sports introduced its changes to Connected Franchise mode in Madden NFL 15 this week, which includes the replacement of the the series' hot/cold streak system with "game prep" and "confidence." The team-management mode now has players preparing their teams with individual position drills and activities to boost experience points and influence a dynamic confidence rating. The confidence rating fluctuates throughout the season with the highs and lows of athletes' performances. It also changes with trades, team wins and losses, and even more with blowout victories and defeats, impacting other key ratings along with it. Additionally, Madden 15's Connected Franchise mode will include a tweaked free agency system in which available athletes will take factors like a team's needs, scheme and coaching ability into account when deciding where to take their career. It will also include entirely random draft classes for a change, with randomized names, ratings and traits for all incoming rookies. That marks a departure from previous franchise draft classes that had guaranteed-to-appear stars, such as Madden 11's Aspha Savage and K.C. Williams or Madden 25's Leon Sandcastle (yes, that Leon Sandcastle).
Madden 15 gets a kick out of its top safeties
EA closed out its top athlete rankings for Madden NFL 15 this weekend with lists of the highest-rated safeties and kickers/punters in the game. Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (96 overall) as well as strong safeties Kam Chancellor of the Seahawks and the Steelers' Troy Polamalu (both 93 overall) topped the final lists for defensive players in the game. Likewise, Miami Dolphins punter Brandon Fields will be the highest-rated player in the game to boot the pigskin with his foot, thanks to his 96 overall rating. This follows EA Tiburon's gradual ratings reveal in best-of list form, in which it covered defenders, offensive players like quarterbacks and running backs as well as the NFL's best rookies. EA Sports is now in the midst of unveiling its full team ratings on a division-by-division basis. It currently has spreadsheets loaded with ratings for players in the AFC and NFC North and South divisions available on the game's site. Madden 15 will launch August 26 for PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360.
