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Author Bio
Matthew DiStaulo

Home Town: Denville, NJ
Sports: Baseball, College Basketball
Games: NBA 2k8, Madden 08
Teams: Yankees, Jets, Nets
OS Username: distauma
Tags: -
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
What Lessons to Take from FIFA 09
10:02 AM - December 17, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
Simulation sports games make up an interesting genre. They are not typically the type of games that can reel people in who are not actually fans of the sport -- hence the reason there are also arcade sports titles. However, every once in a while a title comes along that is so good that it makes non-fans want to go and watch a real-life match. MVP 2005 was one of those rare games that crossed borders, and in my book, so is FIFA 09.

Many games could learn from the latest FIFA because it does so much right. One of the things it does amazingly well is the gameplay. The highest compliment you can pay to a game is when you believe something new can happen every time you play it. Many developers are so concerned with adding new features that they forget to create the appropriate foundation for a solid simulation that is fun to play. FIFA however, has done a good job of imitating the sport with its ball physics, animations and atmosphere all in one.

Read More - What Lessons to Take from FIFA 09

Game: FIFA Soccer 09Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / PSP / NDS / PCVotes: 28 - View All
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Madden House Rules
07:19 PM - October 2, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
Do you have to instill some friendly house rules to keep the competition at an even keel when it comes to Madden? Our very own Matthew DiStaulo has been through the ringer a time or two and is here to share some advice on house rules etiquette. Check out his article Madden House Rules and share your own thoughts!

Quote:
"When news of Tom Brady’s season-ending injury came to light, there were many different reactions. My buddy whined because Brady was his first fantasy pick this year. Patriots fans mourned the potential end to their season before it really got underway. Jets fans rejoiced of course, but not for Brady’s actual misfortune; they would never revel in another's misfortune -- no, not my fellow Jets fans."

Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 88 - View All
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff Preview
02:12 PM - September 24, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
We have just posted a preview of Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff. Be sure to check it out and see how the game is progressing.

Quote:
"Just hearing the words "Tecmo Bowl" elicited from someone’s mouth gives me chills. We all have fond memories of ripping friends apart with the likes of Bo Jackson and Joe Montana, or punishing quarterbacks with Lawrence Taylor. A solid Tecmo Bowl remake that captures the essence of the original Tecmo Bowl has been needed for a long time, and it is appropriate that one is now coming to the Nintendo DS."

Game: Tecmo Bowl: KickoffReader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Wii / NDSVotes: 7 - View All
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Big Year for NBA Games
01:40 PM - September 9, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
It is a big year for NBA games, as three titles are all vying for their share of the market. Sony's NBA 09 The Inside, EA's NBA Live 09 and 2K Sports' NBA 2K9 will all be releasing soon onto store shelves and all are going to be competing for your hard earned dollar. Check out why Matthew DiStaulo believes this year, more than any year before it, is a big year for NBA games.

Quote:
"This is a big year for all NBA video games. It's a big year because I get the feeling the the market is ready to forgive and forget -- giving everyone a clean slate. Just like the Celtics quick resurgence to the top, NBA Live could do the same this year if the Live developers are able to actually make all the improvements to the game that they are boasting about."

Monday, August 25, 2008
Season Simulation with Head Coach 09
04:50 PM - August 25, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
Earlier in the week I brought you a simulation of Madden. Some surprising things occurred, such as the Cowboys being one of the worst teams in the league, and DE Justin Tuck having 140 tackles to go with a record breaking 25 sacks. Oh and the Buccaneers won it all.

Well this time we take Head Coach’s franchise for a spin and see if there are any similarities between the two. One thing that seems much more in line with what you would expect from a normal NFL season is the tackles for losses and sack numbers. Injuries also seem to play a much bigger role due to the fact that players are able to have day-to-day rather than just week-by-week ailments. Check out the full results by taking a pick at our Season Simulation with Head Coach 09.

Game: NFL Head Coach 09Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 64 - View All
Monday, August 18, 2008
Madden NFL 09 Sims the NFL Season
12:37 PM - August 18, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
Many of our staff writers here at Operation Sports are anxiously awaiting the NFL season just like a lot of you are right now as well. To hopefully curb our anxiety, Matthew DiStaulo simulated the NFL season with Madden to see what the game says about which teams should be considered favorites to win the Super Bowl. Be sure to check out our Madden season simulation and add your thoughts on how realistic (or unrealistic) the game is with its results!

Quote:
"Every year I pick up the new copy of Madden I always love simulating through the first season and seeing which players turn the corner into big time stars, teams that turn out to surprise everyone or those that under perform. Not that it necessarily holds true to life, but it is nice to see how the virtual world stacks up to the real world.

This article is going to break down the ’09 season showcasing all the major game changers, statistical leaders, injuries and victories. Will the Patriots go undefeated again? Who is going to be the next Adrian Peterson? Will Hester add to his career returns? We shall see."

Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / PSP / NDSVotes: 88 - View All
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
MLB Power Pros 2008 Review
03:51 PM - August 6, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
We have posted our review of MLB Power Pros 2008.

Quote:
"This IS your father’s baseball game -- do not be mistaken by the bobble-head characters, which for the record have more personality than any realistic looking character model I’ve seen in a game. After loading up the game and playing through it many times, I've realized once again that this game is still a fantastic baseball simulation."

Game: MLB Power Pros 2008Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: WiiVotes: 11 - View All
Friday, July 25, 2008
Dynamic DNA: What Does it Mean?
11:37 AM - July 25, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
With EA's recent announcement of Dynamic DNA in NBA Live 09, many gamers were left with a puzzled look in their forums posts (figuratively of course). Matthew DiStaulo checks in today with an article that explains the feature a bit and even speculates a bit on the possibilities in his article, Dynamic DNA: What does it Mean?

Quote:
"Nonetheless, many game makers consider roster updates a luxury rather than a need -- or they simply don't want to sacrifice the manpower to work on a roster update, much to the chagrin of the hardcore gaming community. The problem with that philosophy is it not only shows a lack of concern for the people who buy a company’s video game, but it doesn’t account for the unpredictability of sports as a whole. No one can accurately determine who is going to have a breakout season or a sub-par one at that."

Game: NBA Live 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / PSPVotes: 38 - View All
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
NCAA Football is Here, What It Means for Gamers
04:09 PM - July 16, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
NCAA Football 09 arrived yesterday to a mixed reaction from the community. Matthew DiStaulo checks in today with a look at what the release of NCAA Football should mean to football gamers in his article, NCAA Football is Here, What It Means for Gamers.

Quote:
"Time spent with this game will be well rewarded, especially on offense. It just feels right running the ball, waiting for holes to develop, spinning around tackles and trying to break open."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / PSPVotes: 95 - View All
Friday, July 11, 2008
NFL Head Coach 09 Preview
12:48 PM - July 11, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
We have posted a preview of NFL Head Coach 09.

Quote:
"What has EA Sports learned from the original version? Let’s say just about everything. The last edition was pretty much a model of what not to do when beginning a new franchise.

This year EA is making sure to keep the player immersed in the world of being a coach. They are doing their best to get rid of the hold-ups and the repetitiveness by keeping the action continuous."

Game: NFL Head Coach 09Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 64 - View All
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Demise of Tony Hawk Pro Skater
03:03 PM - June 19, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
When Skate busted onto the scene last year, gamers experienced a fresh new take on how skating could be done on current-gen consoles. The Demise Tony Hawk Pro Skater, written by Matthew DiStaulo, takes a look at this changing of the guard and what gamers can maybe expect next.

Quote:
"By the time American Wasteland was released it was apparent that Activision was going to pump out as many new versions based on the same old premise as possible, as long as people would buy it. They added another awful storyline that no one wanted to play through, with the same old trick system and an outdated graphics engine. I’m not so sure about our readers’ feelings on the subject, but frankly when I purchase a game based on skating, I want to spend most of my time actually skating. If I wanted to play a game with a storyline I would try for Final Fantasy or Halo."

Game: Tony Hawk's Proving GroundReader Score: Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 0 - View All
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Improving The Franchise Mode in NBA 2K
04:35 PM - June 12, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
Matthew DiStaulo checks in today with an article looking at how to best improve the franchise mode in the NBA 2k series. Be sure to check out his article, Improving the Franchise Mode in NBA 2k.

Quote:
"One thing I love about NBA 2k8 is the game play on the court. One thing I hate about NBA 2k8 is everything else. The Franchise Mode has been stale for years now, which seems to be a trend in most next generation sports games. Companies are so focused on graphics, game play, and online play that they neglect an entire sect of their customers who love flying solo. The best way to cater to this group of gamers is to give them a more in depth franchise mode."

Game: NBA 2K9Reader Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / Xbox 360Votes: 72 - View All
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Remembering World Series Baseball '95
11:37 AM - June 5, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
Matthew DiStaulo checks in today with a look at his recent trip down memory lane while playing World Series Baseball '95. DiStaulo talks about how the experience went and what developers might be missing in this day and age. Be sure to check out his article, Remembering World Series Baseball '95.

Quote:
"Thanks in no small part to the Best Sports Video Game Tournament a while back, I decided to try out World Series Baseball ’95 with a friend to4 bring back some fond memories of years gone by."

Platform: Other
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sports Gaming Remake Suggestions
12:16 PM - May 23, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
What classic sports games do you want to see remade for today? Matthew DiStaulo tries to answer that question in his latest article which you can read here.
Quote:
"After the recent Tecmo Bowl:Kickoff (DS) announcement I started thinking about other sports games that deserve remakes on the modern consoles."

Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Ideal Wii Sports Game
05:45 PM - May 15, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew DiStaulo
Operation Sports' Matthew DiStaulo checks in today with a look at what the ideal Wii sports game would consist of and which sport it would portray. Check out his article here.
Quote:
"The Wii has been a big topic of discussion lately amongst some friends and myelf. The potential for making great sports games for the system is ridiculous, and yet it has been well over a year since the Wii debuted and the best sports game the Wii has to it's name is still arguably, Wii Sports"

Platform: Wii

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