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EA Sports perfecting mediocrity
A group of NBA Live '07 fanboys have had enough of the series' annual increase in broken gameplay and have written a letter to EA expressing their displeasure. Although the focus of the letter is on NBA Live '07, with YouTube links showing the latest issues with the series, it touches on the general unhappiness with other declining EA franchises like Madden and FIFA. "At one time, EA was producing the best titles money could buy and one had little reason to look elsewhere. Now gamers have a sense that if you want the best, it's not EA."And as an aside, more than a few eyebrows were raised when press copies and reviews of NBA Live '07 came trickling in a week after the game went on shelves, almost as if EA knew they produced a sub-par product. Hollywood employs this same tactic on bad movies so they can get as much money back before the word gets out how bad things really are.Although the issues expressed by the fans of NBA Live '07 are positively valid, there is the alternative NBA 2K7 from 2K Games which was released the same day as NBA Live '07. This doesn't help Madden fans who experienced similar issues with Madden '07, but have no recourse because of EA's NFL exclusivity deal. In the case of Madden, EA also shows apparent ignorance toward reasonable proprosals by fans to fix the series.It's certainly cause for concern that EA Sports is taking the "we'll patch it later" stance toward console games this early. This is the first generation capable of console patching and ideally should be used to fix subtle errors. Instead EA is following the PC model that console gamers have fled from: ship first, patch later. It's probably time for sports gamers to show consumer activism and take their money to other franchises. That'll get EA's attention faster than any letter.
Shaq reprises role as NBA 2K7 cover athlete
Shaquille O'Neal looks to continue his illustrious games career by accepting the role of NBA 2K7 cover athlete for a second straight year. 2K Sports has implemented a new post play mechanic for this year's iteration, allowing players to perform a dazzling array of Kung fu-based maneuvers -- okay, we made that last part up.2K Sports has confirmed a September release for PS2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. The PS3 version will likely be released at the system's launch or soon after.
J.J. Redick named College Hoops 2K7 cover athlete
2K Sports just announced that Duke Blue Devils star J.J. Redick will be plastered all over the latest College Hoops 2K game -- due in the fall for the Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, and PS3. J.J. follows the company line with this brilliant PR quote: "I'm a huge video gamer and have always been a fan of the College Hoops 2K series for its authenticity and addictive gameplay. I'm very excited to be a part of 2K7 and from what I've seen so far, this game is going to be mind blowing." That's right folks, mind blowing! We've always wished for a college basketball game that would shatter our very notion of what a sports game could be. Frankly, we'd rather just settle for a game that played right and didn't freeze up or contain obvious bugs. Oh, and by the way, the official College Hoops 2K7 site doesn't list the PS3 as a platform the game will be coming to, even though this latest press release does. Take that for what it's worth.
NHL 07 benched on Nintendo platforms
Last week, when EA announced that the Washington Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin would be NHL 07's cover athlete, many fans were surprised to see that Nintendo was absent from the list of platforms* that would receive the game. Nintendojo recently contacted EA to verify the platform release list. As it turns out, NHL 07 will not be released for GameCube -- or for that matter, Wii. Currently, 2K Sports' NHL 2K7 is not scheduled for release on GameCube either. Electronic Arts publicist Jen Riley did make it a point to remind Nintendojo, "Many of our other games are continuing to support DS ... and we hope to be on Wii in the future." *NHL 07 will be available for PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox, and Xbox 360. Note that PlayStation 3 is also absent from the list.
Take-Two pledges support for Wii
According to Take-Two president and CEO Paul Eibeler, the publisher was impressed with Nintendo's E3 showing and is now committed to producing a range of titles for Wii beginning in late 2007.Eibeler focused on Wii's potential to expand Take-Two's 2K Sports series, specifically MLB. 2K is also responsible for a slew of non-sports titles, including BioShock, CivCity: Rome, Dungeon Siege, Family Guy and Prey, which may or may not find a home on Wii. Eibeler made no mention of the availability of current or future Rockstar titles for the Wii platform.
Top Spin 2 serves up demo date
Here's a racquet sport warm up while you're waiting to find out if Grand Theft Ping Pong is the real deal: According to 2K Sports Senior Producer Thorsten Moeckel, a Top Spin 2 demo will be available on Xbox Live Marketplace a "few days" before the game's April 7 release date. How important have demos been to your gaming decisions so far? Is it pretty much a necessity for every Xbox 360 game? Have you decided not to purchase a game after being disappointed with the demo?
MLB 2K6 may miss March spring training
2K Sports' exlusive 3rd-party baseball sim Major League Baseball 2K6 may be arriving a little late to the party this year.EBgames' web site is reporting that versions of the title for PS2 and Xbox will be arriving on April 10th, while the Xbox 360 and GameCube editions will be arriving fashionably late on the 24th--both of which dates fall well after the first actual MLB pitch of the season on April 2nd. The PSP version is still AWOL (under contract negotiations apparently), while GameStop has only got the PS2 listing with the March 20th date penciled in.
Earn 6,000 Xbox 360 points -- without trying
GameSpot has posted a "guide" for quickly accumulating a 6,000-point gamerscore. Wanna earn 400 points by pressing the start button for 30 minutes? How about the entire set of 1,000 points in a single game of College Hoops? Jeff Gerstmann will show you how, using these 7 games: Madden NFL 06 NBA 2K6 NBA Live 06 King Kong College Hoops 2K6 NHL 2K6 Amped 3 WARNING: While a 6,000-point gamerscore will look good on your gamercard, anyone that takes a closer look at your profile will be able to expose you for what you really are... Don't say we didn't warn you.
