Author Bio
Wil McCombsHome Town: Indianapolis, IN
Sports: Football, Baseball, Hockey
Games: NCAA Football, Madden, NHL, WWF No Mercy
Teams: Bears, Cubs, Illiniois, Blackhawks
OS Username: OS: Wil McCombs
Tags: -
Thursday, August 13, 2009
05:11 PM - August 13, 2009. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Try to quell your arousal Big Ten fans, our time is at hand. Big Ten football is just around the corner, which means for a few short months fans of the mid-continental eleven can enjoy interleague competition with the sweet bonus of an automatic BCS bid. But once January comes around, we might as well retreat with our tails between our collective legs and start looking forward to signing day.
I am a lifetime Big Ten fan. I grew up in Big Ten country, attended a Big Ten school for both undergrad and grad school, and currently reside comfortably within the heartland of the conference. But I am also a realist, and I realize that we are a Triple-A league to the SEC, Big 12 and to some degree, the Pac-10. We are third-rate, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Still, we always have that hope for a turnaround, and perhaps last season’s barn-burner in Tempe was a sign of sunnier days ahead. But who knows….
What follows is a short version of my take on the 2009 Big Ten season, with some NCAA Football 10 tidbits and my predictions sprinkled in as well -- not that I have ever made a dime picking winners (as my vehement pick of Alabama in last year’s Sugar Bowl on this site will dictate).
Read More - OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big 10
10:25 AM - March 13, 2009. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
"My daughter’s fiancé is worthless. All he does is play Madden all day."These words escaped the mouth of a fellow airline passenger on a flight from Long Island to Philadelphia a few weeks ago. He was not speaking to me of course, I am not the chatty-type when flying. Nevertheless, I was a little offended by his statement.
Perhaps I should not have been offended since the fiancé could very well be worthless in ways that do not relate to sports video games. Maybe he does not have a job, or maybe he does not take proper care of the man’s daughter. Still, I could not ignore the connotation when he mentioned EA Sports’ hallowed football franchise.
Cut to another scene. I am in my company’s main office conversing with a co-worker over lunch. As the conversation steered towards sports, I happened to mention my affiliation with Operation Sports, and my love for sports gaming. My co-worker gave me a funny look. "What, are you some kind of gaming nerd or something?" He still jibes me to this day.
Read More - Snapping the Sports-Gamer Stereotypes
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
04:14 PM - March 10, 2009. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Here is a discussion starter if there ever was one wrestling fans. What omissions from this roster really grind your gears? Here are a few of mine:The Macho Man Randy Savage
Um, duh. Seriously, how can you have a game titled Legends of Wrestlemania when one of the true legends is absent?
Notable 'Mania matches for the Macho Man include Wrestlemania 5 against Hulk Hogan, Wrestlemania 7 vs. The Ultimate Warrior, Wrestlemania 8 vs. Ric Flair, and of course, Wrestlemania III vs. Ricky Steamboat -- a match regarded by some as one of the greatest matches of all time.
Read More - Legends of Wrestlemania: Hoes in the Roster
Friday, February 6, 2009
01:53 PM - February 6, 2009. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Feb. 04, 2009 – National Signing Day. The best offseason day in all of sports. While I used to readily give this label to NFL Draft day, excessive media hype, substance-light coverage and an influx of under-informed fan know-it-alls have soured the once sweet taste of that special weekend in May.
National Signing Day, like college football itself, is much more of a niche product than the NFL and the NFL Draft. Fan conversations, online or otherwise, tend to be smarter and more detailed. The coverage, particularly by sites like Rivals and Scout is unparalleled. The slightly under-the-radar nature of the whole event makes it that much more enjoyable to the hardcore college football fan.
Reveling in the nine-hour ESPNU coverage this past Wednesday, all of the fanfare got me thinking: How can the NCAA Football series better emulate the landscape of modern college football recruiting?
Read More - What NCAA Recruiting Should Be
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
12:00 PM - January 27, 2009. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
The '09 year appears to have a special treat in store for wrestling-game fans, or does it?This March, THQ will unveil the first of two WWE titles for the '09 calendar year, WWE Legends of Wrestlemania. The release will come right before Wrestlemania XXV, and will feature a (currently unannounced) roster of classic WWE superstars. Apart from being an obvious marketing vehicle for the Wrestlemania pay-per-view itself, LoW will likely appeal to those older wrestling fans, as it will be laced with an intoxicating dose of nostalgia.
As always, *sniff* I am not important enough to have gotten a hands-on sneak peek at what WWE LoW has to offer. However, having bludgeoned myself with online research, I am prepared to present you with the preliminary details, as well as my always-cynical opinions and speculations.
Read More - WWE Legends of Wrestlemania Preview
Monday, January 12, 2009
05:26 PM - January 12, 2009. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Now that the dust has settled and a new National Champion has been crowned, college football fans now face a harsh truth: We must endure the long, prosaic, football-less interim until the 2009 season kicks off in August.For many of us, the culmination of the real-life NCAA football season signals the demise of the annual love affair with EA Sports’ NCAA Football, and shifts the focus to the future. While the introduction of the Online Dynasty mode will likely give NCAA 09 some added momentum this year, many gamers -- if they have not already -- will begin to discuss the new features and improvements the 2010 version will bring to the table.
There is already a lengthy NCAA Football 10 wish-list thread here on OS, but I felt it was time to begin the consolidation process.
Read More - NCAA Football 10: Time to Consolidate the Wishes
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
02:50 PM - December 30, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
It is that time of year again. Time to go Bowling.The best day/week in sports is nearly upon us. And while I hate to overlook Christmas, my favorite childhood holiday, I cannot help but feel giddy about New Year’s Day, and the veritable football feast that it will provide. New Year’s has clearly taken over Christmas in my mind, and college football is the reason why -- outdoor hockey is becoming a close second.
To prepare for this wonderful, wonderful day, I think it is appropriate to let my favorite sports game offer a possible glimpse of things to come. Thus, I spent some time watching NCAA Football 09 simulate through the four BCS bowls and the BCS National Championship game. If any of you are gamblers, I would throw these results right out the window -- as well as my corresponding predictions. But it was an interesting ride, nonetheless.
Read More - NCAA Football 09 Predicts the BCS Bowls
Monday, December 15, 2008
11:44 AM - December 15, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
2008 was a fantastic and eventful year for me. I started a new job. I moved to a new city. I got engaged. But the best part was that I got to experience one of the better years of sports gaming in recent memory, mainly because of the introduction of NCAA Football 09’s Online Dynasty mode. (Here is to hoping my fiancée does not actually read my articles…)
Although not a completely new concept, NCAA 09’s Online Dynasty provided a glimpse into a probable future of sports gaming. The dynasty/franchise has been highly buzz-worthy on the online front this year and looks to expand into other titles in 2009.
So, is it fair to call the online dynasty/franchise the future of sports gaming? Maybe. Let us discuss…
Read More - Is Online Dynasty the Future?
Friday, December 5, 2008
11:55 AM - December 5, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 seems to be an afterthought already. I am not particularly surprised.Despite SvR 09 showing some real forward momentum with Road to Wrestlemania, and especially Create-a-Finisher, the response to the THQ grappling franchise has been tepid at best. For those who have played the game, it is easy to see why. SvR 09 really has that recycled/tacked-on feel to it.
Is the series in dire straits? Certainly not. The '09 edition showed promise, but the tipping point is approaching. The game needs to start showing some significant evolution in the near future or it could alienate its niche audience.
Read More - Where Does the Smackdown Series Go From Here?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
03:55 PM - October 29, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Running the option in NCAA Football 09 requires you to unlearn a lot of what you know about running the option in NCAA and re-condition your game to be usable in the new edition. Wil McCombs checks in today with a look at how to perfect your option attack after he had some failings of his own.
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Monday, October 20, 2008
05:41 PM - October 20, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs may be late to the party, but he recently got to check out the Madden Nation TV show for the first time and he didn't like what he saw. Check out his thoughts on the Madden Nation TV show in his article The Abomination That is Madden Nation.
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
11:57 AM - October 14, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
It is almost time for many Madden and NCAAers to decide. Is the game now too easy? Would it be better if the reigning Super Bowl Champs three times over are put on the shelf for awhile to make way for other virtual career pursuits? Wil McCombs checks in today with an article on the Frynasty Tipping Point. Be sure to give it a read and decide for yourself!
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Monday, September 29, 2008
04:55 PM - September 29, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs is looking for your input on an upcoming OS Contest we are planing on running. Get more info on the planned OS Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 Create-a-Finisher Contest after the jump.
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Monday, September 15, 2008
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Friday, September 5, 2008
05:17 PM - September 5, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Are you on the fence about THQ's upcoming WWE Video Game, Smackdown vs. Raw 2009? Our very own Wil McCombs is checking in today to try to clear the air a bit and give his opinion on if the game will be worth checking out or not. Be sure to take a look at his opinion in his article, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009: One Man's Opinion.
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