Author Bio
Caley RoarkHome Town: Lancaster, PA
Sports: Football, Baseball
Games: NFL 2K5, MVP 05, NBA 2k series, Civilization
Teams: Phillies, Eagles, Sixers
OS Username: CPRoark
Tags: Live: Mr Rockit
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
01:49 PM - May 3, 2017. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Beyond those positive characteristics, its online delivery means Dynasty League Baseball Online can push in updates and features seamlessly. Below are some new features added in the past few years along with some brief impressions.
Read More - Dynasty League Baseball Online: A Good Online Based Text Sim
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
03:58 PM - March 8, 2017. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
As the hype for The Show ramps up, I thought about the Goldilocks Zone and how it might apply to sports games, specifically franchise modes. You see, when trying to play through multiple years of The Show, typically, one of two things happen: I finish one full season right before Madden comes out and then quickly switch sports, or I get antsy to play out the offseason and give in to the “sim temptation.”
Neither of these outcomes are the fault of The Show, which has demonstrated consistent excellence. Instead, it’s an inherent problem when trying to play through the MLB season: simply too many games. In other words, it lies outside the Goldilocks Zone.
Read More - The Franchise Mode 'Goldilocks Zone'
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
01:29 PM - March 1, 2017. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Blizzard Mountain isn't just the DLC's name, it's also the name of the newest locale you'll visit while tearing through Australia. And yes, there is snow and skiing in the land down under (don't worry, I had to check too). Unfortunately, this new area doesn't really integrate with the main map; you'll need to catch a helicopter and a loading screen to get to the new zone.
Read More - Forza Horizon 3: Blizzard Mountain Impressions
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
11:58 AM - February 7, 2017. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Even though we are experiencing one of the most active periods on the sports calendar, it’s the doldrums for sports video games. While we are waiting for the next big release (MLB 17: The Show), here are a few mobile sports games that might make the time go more quickly.
Retro Winter Sports 1986
This title is a pure nostalgia trip; taking that into account, it’s a fun little game that offers a lot for a small price.
Basically, this is an updated, yet intentionally retro version of the old Epyx published Winter Games title that was available on multiple consoles in the late 80s. In this one, you have access to six Winter Olympics-style events: Slalom (skiing) races, speed skating, ski jumping, bobsled curling and the biathlon.
Read More - Retro Winter Sports 1986 Impressions (iOS/Android)
10:12 AM - February 7, 2017. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Even though we are experiencing one of the most active periods on the sports calendar, it’s the doldrums for sports video games. While we are waiting for the next big release (MLB 17: The Show), here are a few mobile sports games that might make the time go more quickly.MLB 9 Innings Manager
This game released last fall, but has been receiving constant updates each month. Unfortunately, even with the revised content, this game doesn’t set itself apart from the majority of other free-to-play sports games in the App Store.
Read More - MLB 9 Innings Manager Impressions (iOS)
Friday, November 18, 2016
12:32 PM - November 18, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Text sims are called that for a reason; traditionally, games in this genre are mostly text and numbers. Even modern titles like Out of the Park can look like (fun) spreadsheets at times. For veterans, there is joy to navigating walls of information; for newcomers, everything might look too daunting or, frankly, boring.
Thanks, I think, in part to the rise of mobile gaming, we are getting more “casual” text sims on the PC: those simulations that may be a little more pretty, a little less deep, but just as fun as their more time-consuming counterparts.
A recent example is Motorsport Manager, which gets its PC release a few years after a successful launch on iOS. Now backed by SEGA, this game from PlaySport is one of the nicest looking simulation/management games available, even if its depth and fun aren’t quite as commendable.
Read More - Motorsport Manager Review (PC)
12:32 PM - October 18, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Franchises that release annually have to walk a fine edge. Play it safe, and the complaints often include words like “tired” or “roster update.” Stray too far away from the core gameplay or throw in too many new features, and critics will cite gimmicks like Madden’s vision cone.
The WWE franchise has another tightrope to walk, as it needs to transform scripted events into a competitive combat game, all while incorporating the entertainment elements the brand is known for.
In other words, 2K has to do a lot of things perfectly to craft a decent and captivating WWE game. WWE 2K17 falls a little too far on the safe side and doesn’t quite go far enough with the entertainment aspect to be a truly great game. However, for wrestling fans, there is still a lot here to like.
Read More - WWE 2K17 Review (PS4/XB1)
Friday, October 14, 2016
10:47 AM - October 14, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
While you can expect a full review early next week, here are my initial thoughts after a day with WWE 2K17...
Read More - WWE 2K17 Reviewer Impressions
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
06:51 PM - October 4, 2016. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Caley Roark
Last week, the folks at Performance Designed Products sent us one of their new NFL Faceoff Controllers to use and review. These controllers, designed for the Xbox One and Windows, feature detachable faceplates with official licensed NFL team logos and graphics.
In a press release, PDP states, "the controller features advanced technology, high performance analog sticks, and a premium finish. The product will ship with an authentic replica football finish and include a code for a free NFL team faceplate that will be delivered by mail."
Read More - NFL Faceoff Controller Review (Written by: Caley Roark)
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
12:40 PM - September 27, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
The next addition on the horizon for PS4 owners is PlayStation VR, releasing on October 13. The success of this new platform, like any other, will be dependent on the quality of titles post-release. For sports fans, will there be enough offered to make PlayStation VR last once the novelty wears off?
Here’s a preview of some sports titles expected at launch...
Read More - Playstation VR Sports Titles at Launch
Monday, August 29, 2016
03:00 PM - August 29, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Last year, Madden 16 introduced Draft Champions, a mode that mixed the team-building aspect of Ultimate Team with the tension of the NFL Draft. Basically, you take a roster full of mediocre players, and through a 15-round draft you attempt to make the necessary upgrades.
Unlike your team, the mode itself hasn't seen many significant improvements this year. It remains relatively the same as its last update in Madden 16. This is more noticeable, in my opinion, because of the changes MLB The Show 2016 made to the formula in its own Battle Royale mode.
Read More - MLB's Battle Royale vs. Madden's Draft Champions
Friday, August 12, 2016
02:06 PM - August 12, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
“We think Axis Football is a lot of fun, but it's certainly not up to current standard for sports simulations in terms of graphics and depth of features.” This is the statement on the future of Axis Football at the bottom on its Steam page. It’s an important admission and perspective to keep in mind as you read my analysis of the independently developed Axis Football 2016.
Read More - Axis Football 2016 Review (PC)
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
09:55 AM - August 3, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
The non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone. In 2016, it was a relatively quiet one. Sure, there were a lot of trades, but we just didn't see the blockbusters or big names moved like we have in the past. Even some recently active teams, like the Phillies, remained quiet on Monday.
But what if things had played out differently? What other big trades might have been executed with even just the most minor of changes?
Using Out of the Park 2016, here are some "big" trades that went down on a simulated July 31st (OOTP uses the traditional date in its simulation).
Read More - Simulating the Trade Deadline in OOTP
Thursday, July 21, 2016
09:16 AM - July 21, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Rocket Ski Racing, a game originally released on iOS, made the jump to Steam last week, albeit in Early Access. In its current state, is this unique and retro racer worth your time and $10?
Read More - Rocket Ski Racing Early Access First Look
Thursday, July 7, 2016
10:11 AM - July 7, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Since its inception, the Diamond Dynasty suite of modes is something that I wanted to like. The combination of collectible card game, roster management and baseball simulation should have been right in my wheelhouse. Yet, year after year, it quickly took a backseat to the stalwart Franchise mode; then, later, the vastly improved Road to the Show.
Something about Diamond Dynasty just didn't click for me. Maybe it was its reliance on online play for a truly engaging experience. The management and collection side of things also just made building a roster a min/max experience -- simply start all of your best players and never look back.
So, imagine my internal surprise as I admit that in 2016, shortly before the All-Star Break, Diamond Dynasty has been my go-to mode. In fact, I'm hardly a month into my franchise, which I started shortly after the OS Rosters were released. What happened?
Read More - How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Diamond Dynasty
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