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YouTube TV will let you check fantasy football scores in its mobile apps
Fantasy View only works with NFL.com fantasy leagues, however.
CBS, Comcast deal brings fantasy football to your cable box
We've seen a few attempts to put fantasy football on TV screens over the years, but despite the game's increasing popularity none have really made an impact (we never did see more fantasy leagues appear for the Xbox One). Now CBS has struck a deal with Comcast to integrate its game with the X1 platform. That's not particularly helpful if you use a different TV setup or have a fantasy league on a different platform, but those are the breaks. If you do have the right combination of circumstances, however, you can keep track of your dominating victory/crushing loss in real time without looking away from the game.
DraftKings and FanDuel's group features make daily fantasy more social
Until now, the focus for daily fantasy companies DraftKings and FanDuel has been just that: daily fantasy sports. However, both companies have announced new features that allow players to make private leagues where they can compete against a small group of friends and colleagues rather than public users of the services. With those private contests, both DraftKings and FanDuel are venturing into the world of season-long fantasy sports, something fans of regular ol' fantasy football, baseball and more are very familiar with.
DraftKings and FanDuel sue to stop New York Attorney General's ban
Following New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's request for daily fantasy sports sites DraftKings and FanDuel to stop operating in his state, the two sites filed a lawsuit against the AG. Filing a petition with the New York Supreme Court, both sites allege that Schneiderman's office illegally interfered with their business operations by threatening payment processing vendors if they didn't stop handling transactions for players in New York. The Attorney General also declared the two illegal gambling sites earlier this week, threatening to ban them if they didn't stop operations. The companies maintain that their version of fantasy sports do indeed require skill rather than luck, which separates them from regular ol' gambling.
Forget football: How fantasy sports are helping kids learn
By his second semester on the job in 2009, Eric Nelson, a civics and history teacher at North Lakes Academy in the Minneapolis suburbs, was at a loss. No matter what tool he used -- gripping news articles, an interactive map of YouTube trending videos, a failed-state index -- he couldn't manage to keep his students interested in world events for any extended period of time. "They were just zombies," he recalls.
Bing wants to help you win a fantasy football championship this season
Our own Aaron Souppouris put Cortana to work betting on English Premier League matches last season, and now Bing wants to offer more help with NFL action. Microsoft's search software has been making sports-related predictions for some time now, and this season it wants to help you dominate that fantasy football league. To lend a hand in selecting your lineup each week, Bing will offer updated player projections and suggestions for free agent pickups. Sure, ESPN, Yahoo and others already serve up a similar collection of weekly rankings, but Microsoft's search engine has a decent track record when it comes to sports (and Oscar) predictions. Bing will continue to predict games every week, much like Cortana has done since the start of last season. It'll also give you updated team power rankings every Tuesday alongside updated projections on your team's postseason chances. And as you might expect, it wants to be your home for states and other game-related info while you watch at home. You can put Bing to the test when the NFL season kicks off Thursday, September 10th. [Image credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images]
Disney is pouring $250 million into a fantasy sports site
Disney apparently doesn't think it's enough to offer sports coverage through ESPN... it wants to fuel your fantasy leagues, too. Wall Street Journal sources report that the House that Walt Built is investing $250 million into DraftKings, a fantasy sports website that lets you play for real cash. The deal is believed to be all about complementing ESPN's various platforms with ads and services that are both relevant and, of course, profitable. DraftKings is expected to spend $500 million on ESPN ads in the "coming years" -- that's a lot of money to reap from friendly rivalries and office pools. The pact wouldn't completely lock out competitors like the Comcast-backed FanDuel, but they'd undoubtedly be left reeling by losing exposure on one of the largest sports networks. [Image credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images]
Microsoft has a new NFL app for Xbox One and Windows 8
The start of a new NFL season is just around the corner, and Microsoft's been working hard to improve the experience for football fans on the Xbox One. What's different now, among other things, is that the company's NFL application is expected to be ready by Week 1; as opposed to last year, when it showed up in Week 12 because of the timing of the Xbox One's launch. This time out, there are a lot more features too, with Fantasy Football and NFL Now, the league's upcoming online video service, playing a huge role in the refreshed version. First and foremost, Microsoft wants its NFL app to feel like your own, which is why it lets you personalize it with content from team and players you're interested in, as well as different media provided by NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL Sunday Ticket and, of course, NFL Now.
ESPN dusts off its Fantasy Football app ahead of draft day
Football season will be here in a matter of weeks, so to help fantasy football enthusiasts keep tabs on their rosters, ESPN has updated its suite of apps dedicated to the task. In addition to a fresh coat of paint for the UI, you'll be able to create a team or league from within, getting alerts for scoring, injuries and more all season long. If you're unsure of your pal's contact info, invites can be sent to those social media acquaintances worthy of a clipboard. While software for Apple's mobile operating system was already equipped with both live and mock draft abilities, the Android faithful can now do the same. New versions of both the Android and iOS applications are now available for download via their respective app libraries, so you can get started with the pregame strategery.
Microsoft shows off ESPN and NFL apps for Xbox One, Yahoo and ESPN fantasy football likely for 2014
It should be obvious by now that Microsoft is doubling-down on sports apps. The company recently confirmed that ESPN is coming to Xbox One, and it inked a deal with the NFL to bring fantasy football to both Xbox and Windows. Until now, details have been scarce, except that Microsoft's partnership with the NFL would include not just fantasy games, but also Surface apps coaches could use on the sidelines. Finally, though, Microsoft is giving us a proper walk-through: it's showing off ESPN and NFL for Xbox One, NFL for Windows 8, and not one, but two coaching applications. And according to company officials, that's just the beginning: David Jurenka, Director of Sports for Xbox Entertainment Studios, tells us his group would also like to port over Yahoo and ESPN's fantasy football apps, ideally sometime in 2014. In the meantime, those NFL and ESPN apps will hit the Xbox One in November, around the time it goes on sale, but we've got a sneak peek after the break. Oh, and even if you don't plan on upgrading, you might still want to pay attention: NFL for Xbox 360 and Windows 8 are both available now.
Yahoo and NBC Sports launch 'Fantasy Football Live' and 'SportsDash with Yahoo Sports' shows for TV and the web
ESPN may well be the biggest name in both online and television sports coverage, but Yahoo and NBC Sports are doing their best usurp the worldwide leader on both fronts. The latest assault on ESPN's hegemony comes in the form of two new shows that bridge the gap between TV and online video: Fantasy Football Live - Thursday Night! and SportsDash with Yahoo Sports. Just in time for the start of the NFL season, FF Live - Thursday Night! airs weekly starting August 1st on the NBC Sports channel from 6:30-7PM ET, then continues as a web broadcast on Yahoo! Sports from 7-7:30. Naturally, the show will feature talent from both NBC and Yahoo delivering fantasy football-related info and analysis. Meanwhile, SportsDash, a SportsCenter-style highlights and analysis program launches on August 19th and will air daily on NBC Sports from noon-1PM ET. SportsDash is taking a page from the Daily Show playbook, as extended interviews and stories will be streamed online from 1-1:15PM after the TV broadcast. Perfect. Two more sources of info we can use to dominate the annual Engadget HD podcast fantasy football pick-em.
Yahoo's fantasy football apps for iOS, Android finally add live draft access
We can't believe it took until 2013, but Yahoo has finally filled in a major missing feature on its fantasy sports platform: the ability to participate in a live draft from a mobile device. Many thousands of leagues (including our annual Engadget HD Podcast group) run on Yahoo, and until this year that has occasionally meant bringing laptops into awkward places or sitting chained to a desktop at the appointed time. The updated iOS and Android apps also include support for mock drafts, so you can prepare for any possible draft-day surprises while on the go. Hit the links below to install the free apps and remember, friends don't let friends autodraft.
Fresh Flipboard, Facebook and NFL Fantasy Football apps coming to Windows 8 (update: Flipboard video)
Windows 8.1 preview was the first big announcement to come out of Build 2013, but Ballmer's not done with the software goodies. Turns out, Facebook, Flipboard and NFL Fantasy Football apps are coming to Windows 8. Naturally, we haven't seen what these (presumably) Metro-styled apps will look like, but it's good to know they're coming, right? Update: The folks at Flipboard have uploaded a (very) brief video of their new Windows 8 app, and we've embedded it after the break for your viewing pleasure.
Microsoft lands NFL partnerships for Xbox One and the football field (video)
Microsoft is clearly determined to sew up some of the best content for the Xbox One: it just revealed a special, multi-year partnership with the NFL. The two are working on an optimized experience that better integrates fantasy football, including score displays, onscreen updates and Skype. They also promise exclusive content, naturally, including a lock on translating many of these experiences to tablets. The partnership will extend to the real arenas, too -- among other technologies, Microsoft will bring Surface tablets to coaches and players to improve their communication and play calling. There aren't many more details so far, but it's evident that Microsoft wants to cater to football fans with a lot more than just its existing ESPN app.
NBC Sports and Yahoo Sports cut a deal to fuse internet, TV coverage
While Yahoo has had a tumultuous last few years, one unit that has consistently been at the top of the heap is its sports news division. At the same time, NBC Sports has been getting a boost -- even without the NHL's help -- ever since Comcast bought NBCUniversal. Apparently between Yahoo's need to better leverage its media properties and NBC's free agency after calling it quits with Microsoft the two have found common ground and struck a deal. Although both websites will continue to operate independently, expect multi-platform crossover between TV and internet, cross-promotion with links to NBC Sports Live Extra streams from within Yahoo, new made-for-the-internet video shows combining their assets and Yahoo's fantasy sports will be the exclusive game for NBC's Rotoworld site. Check after the break for the press release and a heads up on why even non-sports fans that pay for TV may need to keep an eye on this move.
NFL adds Google+ Hangouts to fantasy football leagues for extra-personal trash talking
So your fantasy football team just clinched its spot in the virtual Super Bowl. There's now a better way to rub it in everyone's noses than snarky message board posts: Google has just teamed with the NFL to integrate Google+ Hangouts across the league's fantasy football pages. The multi-person video chat is now just a step away, whether you're trading players or checking the latest results. Google is even bending the rules slightly to allow for a full league's dozen players in one session, instead of the usual 10, and will help host talks between commentators and league participants. Hangouts at the NFL pages are already up and running -- that gives us just enough weeks to hem and haw over linebacker choices before the real NFL's schedule gets going.
Trickster Online and Pangya United want to send you to Las Vegas
SG Interactive wants to send you to Las Vegas, and all you have to do to qualify is play one of the company's MMORPGs. A new press release spills the beans, and entering the contest is as easy as completing a couple of in-game events. Said events are happening in Trickster Online and Pangya United, and one winner from each title will take home a prize pack that includes airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets to attend the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. What's the skinny on the events themselves? First up is The Pirates of Pangya Island contest. The pirate queen Kooh is challenging players to collect gold coins hidden at the 18th hole of each Pangya Island course. All you have to do is collect one coin and you'll automatically be entered into the Las Vegas trip contest. The Pangya event ends on September 21st, and the winner will be announced on the 22nd. Entering the Trickster Online contest is even easier. Rack up 100 hours of game time by September 28th and you'll be eligible to win. The victor will be announced on October 5th. [Source: SG Interactive press release]
Bill Roper reflects on Hellgate
How exactly does a well-funded studio composed of Blizzard veterans end up creating one of the more spectacular failures in recent gaming history? That's a question that Gamasutra attempts to answer in a new interview with former Flagship (and Cryptic) CEO Bill Roper. The debacle that was Hellgate: London stemmed mainly from over-ambition, Roper says, coupled with the lack of capital necessary to support the don't-release-til-it's-ready mentality that much of the staff experienced at Blizzard. "There was always the support there [at Blizzard] to say, 'You know what? If that's what you need to make this game great, then that's what we'll get for you. We'll figure it out.' It's obviously very different when you are an independent company, right, and not owned by somebody." The interview also touches on Flagship's involvement with Mythos as well as Roper's experiences dealing with the Hellgate fallout and extensive (and often personal) fan backlash. "It went from 'I didn't like your game' or 'I don't think your company makes good games' to the personal assault level," he says.
Rallycast promises "the equivalent to tabbed browsing" on HDTVs, hopefully doesn't mean memory leaks and crashes
After hitting CES with a bang, it's been a quiet year for the TV widgets movement, but Rallycast isn't giving up, going from app developer to announcing its own TV App Store for 2010. The company's CEO Jeff Allen calls its plans to allows multiple programs running at once similar to tabbed browsing on the PC. Not having to pick and choose what's running is great, but while we love our Firefox, its never ending performance issues and the already poor reputation of speed on widget televisions could be a slow, scary mix. Hopefully a year of development (and maybe some newer HDTVs at CES?) can improve performance, because the last thing we want is lag when it comes to updating fantasy football rosters, deleting that note Mom left on our Facebook page, or both. Samsung's LED TVs will support the new store, as well as "several other models" check the full PR after the break.
Fantasy soap opera league launched
SoapNet has launched Fantasy Soap League, an online game modeled on fantasy football. Instead of charting a QB's passing yards or a kicker's field goals, the Soap League tracks soap characters' "soap moments." If characters on your team of six get slapped, take off clothing, wake up from a coma, or participate in other soap staples, you score points. For $10, the site tracks progress over ten weeks.The game seems like a cool idea for soap opera fans; we hope that it gets applied to other TV shows. For example, instead of critical game bombs like Survivor, which failed to simulate island life, designers (and marketers) could have built a game rewarding viewers' predictions. Sure, this type of game would have a narrow audience, but the style could be popular with fans.
