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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.
Get your game on with Mario Hoops, kupo!
The folks over at Siliconera were kind enough to drop us a note about their one-on-one experience with Mario Hoops: 3 on 3, and their glowing praise has us ready to get off the bench and into the game. The simple stylus commands we recently saw are fully elaborated at Siliconera and the game seems easy to pick up. And if the stylus isn't for you? That's cool, just turn it off in the options mode and use a more traditional control scheme instead. Mario Hoops is stuffed with features, from mini-games like dribble races to booby traps on the court. Nothing like a basket that fights back when you roll up for a dunk, eh?And thanks to Square-Enix on the development side, several unlockable characters with roots in the Final Fantasy series turn up. A moogle, a white mage, a black mage, a ninja, and a cactuar are included. Think the black mage's special move will demonstrate his mastery of the dark art of destruction? For now, we can only dream.
EA finally putting ESPN license to good use
In a welcome shift from their standard corporate policy, EA is finally putting their expensive partnership with ESPN to good use:At EA Studio Showcase, the next level of ESPN integration was displayed in NBA Live 07 for the Xbox 360, and it is finally something worth all the cash EA paid for this 15 year partnership. When online, not only will you have the ESPN ticker at the bottom of the screen updating you on the latest news and scores, but you will be able to listen to streaming podcasts of ESPN Radio, including Mike & Mike and The Dan Patrick Show.But that's only the beginning.ESPN Original Programming is also in the mix, enabling you to back out of your game and watch shows like the latest Pardon the Interruption, all within NBA Live.Play your Dynasty, watch for the big news to hit the ticker, then after your game check out Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon as they debate the hot topic, only to go right back into your season.Sure beats a logo slapped in the corner of the screen. Will this kind of stuff convince anybody to buy NBA Live 07?[Thanks Matt T]
Moogle joins Mario Hoops team roster
A recent Famitsu scan seems to indicate that the obscenely colorful cast of Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 will be joined by a fluffy Final Fantasy favorite -- Moogle. Franchise crossovers are always amusing, though we thought that Square Enix would at least have the good sense to toss Quina Quen from Final Fantasy IX in there. We're convinced that Mario would rather have a freakish, grammatically challenged cook on his team as opposed to a little white creature that's probably a bit crap at playing basketball. [Via 4CR]
NBA Live 07 to be launch title, Mavericks win Finals
If you're a basketball aficionado you may be interested to know that NBA Live 07 is slated to be one of EA's lineups for the PS3 launch. By "one of" I'm of course alluding to their tendency to include an army of sports games for November and the Sony console as well. You may also be interested in the fact that they've predicted who will take the cake in the NBA Finals coming up via their NBA Live 07 simulation (though we don't know for which console). Hope this doesn't ruin anything for you, but it's Dallas Mavericks over the Heat.Sorry Miami fans.
HDTV Listings for May 2, 2006
What we're watching: The playoffs are heating up, as the Heat start from scratch against the suddenly-competitive Chicago Bulls and Phoenix tries to avoid an early exit against the seventh-seeded LA Lakers. Also not to be forgotten are new episodes of Veronica Mars, Law & Order SVU and The Unit, among others.Definitely looks like an NBA night, we have to see if the MVP will step up under adversity or fade away.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for April 22, 2006
What we're watching: NBA Playoffs time is here. The best basketball between the best teams (except for the Eastern conference, three teams under .500? Weak.) Lebron, Gilbert, Dwyane, Carmelo, Ron-ron, Timmay and all their rowdy friends are in HD all day on ABC and ESPN, you gotta love it.Also on deck is some evening NASCAR action from Phoenix, you gotta watch that, if there is one more girlfriend fight they may as well add Jell-o wrestling to the schedule (not a bad thing).Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listing for April 11, 2006
What we're watching: Once again, you have the choice between a program about a man divinely chosen as a leader for his people, and The Ten Commandments on ABC. One has the guy who was in Heist, while The Unit features an assassinated ex-President who sells car insurance. We'll call it a push.Don't forget, tonight is the night for the NBA's dual-skycam broadcast of a game between the Spurs and Supersonics so be sure to check that out. There's also some new series on WB, Pepper Dennis is about a spunky female reporter etc. etc., it might be worth a look at 9 p.m.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for April 7, 2006
What we're watching: NBA, NBA, NBA. The Western Conference stars continue to shine tonight with Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant all showing out in a doubleheader on ESPN. If you like your round balls slightly smaller size, theres always MLB action on INHD as the Rockies face the Padres at 10 p.m.Of course if the dramatics of basketball players arguing foul calls and major league managers arguing foul balls just aren't enough, please consider Discovery-HD's offering of Puccini's Tosca, "a fiery Roman melodrama of lust, betrayal and revenge". Sounds like the Lakers to me.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
NBA announces new dual-Skycam broadcast plans
For the first time, an NBA game will utilize two "SkyCams" during the April 11th meeting between the Seattle Supersonics and the San Antonio Spurs (lot of Ss there). Instead of using two center court cameras like most NBA games, they will use the suspended high definition skycams to give the impression of sitting about 10 rows up from the floor.Two robotic high definition cameras above each backboard plus one at center court on the scorers table will give a unique "you are there" perspective for this game. For the audio, it will be in 5.1 surround, with the focus given to on court and arena sounds, much like the recent "silent game" in Orlando. Rick Kamla will host the game, checking in from various spots around the arena as well.This is great, I really feel like the NBA "gets" high definition and are looking to build around it for better quality broadcasts. The only real complaint I've had so far is that the camera angles don't seem to take advantage of HD's aspect ratio and detail enough, and I hope that these changes will enhance the experience. All we need now is for ESPN, ABC and TNT to take the hint, shut up blabbering on-air personalities and give us just basketball, raw and uncut.
Hoops 2K6 sparks Mediocrity Madness
News of interest to video game basketball fans who occasionally take a break to watch the real thing: CBS Sports commentators will use the engine from College Hoops 2K6 to analyze plays during coverage of the NCAA Tournament (the same way Monday Night Football used Madden). Millions of casual hoops fans will tune in and see an afterthought Xbox 360 title that looks disappointingly similar to the regular Xbox version. Call it Mediocrity Madness. I know the road to the Final Four is a long haul, but could we please get a real next-gen College Hoops game for 2K7.
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.
Shane Battier won't travel without his games
Former Dukie and current Memphis Grizzlies Forward Shane Battier takes his games on the road. According to the March 13th edition of Sports Illustrated, his travel bag is stuffed with all sorts of gaming paraphernalia, including:
