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Matthew Coe

Home Town: Wallburg, NC
Sports: Football, Baseball, Basketball, MMA
Games: I play almost every sports game.
Teams: Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Bobcats, Cincinnati Reds, Appalachian State Mountaineers
OS Username: JohnDoe8865
Tags: mattc81 (XBL)
Monday, July 16, 2012
11:28 AM - July 16, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


5. Harrison Barnes - Golden State

Barnes shooting stroke should make him a very popular rookie among gamers. Barnes is a bit of enigma in real life. More cerebral than he's given credit for, Barnes studied players who he thought had outplayed him. How that part of his game translates into NBA 2K13 remains to be seen.

Barnes should rate highly in all of the usual athleticism categories. He's a prototypical NBA small forward physically. His biggest critics have knocked him because he hasn't lived up to the hype he had coming out of high school and he lacked the ability to create his own shot at UNC. Now that he's a pro however, I think Barnes will merge his ability to shoot with his strong work ethic to become a great fit in Oakland.

As a rookie, he won't be asked to create his own shot in Mark Jackson's offense. If he can be a reliable catch and shoot option, he'll be very successful and very effective in NBA 2K13.

Warriors fans, are you excited about using Harrison Barnes in NBA 2K13?

Game: NBA 2K13Reader Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / PCVotes: 75 - View All
Saturday, June 30, 2012
11:09 AM - June 30, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


#1 - Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
- Appel projects as the most MLB ready player in the 2012 draft. He could conceivably be in the Majors in just a couple of years. When you combine Appel with last year’s No. 1 pick, Gerrit Cole, and 20-year-old Jameson Taillon, it’s easy to see three top of the rotation guys that will anchor the Pirates’ staff in the near future. Appel throws four pitches (three plus pitches including a change-up with good movement) and his fastball is already Major League ready at 94-98 MPH. He threw as many as 130 pitches in a game at Stanford which suggests that he has a very strong arm already.

Appel was the No. 1 ranked prospect by Baseball America in the 2012 draft. The main reason he slipped all the way to Pittsburgh at the number eight pick is because he is represented by agent Scott Boras. Boras is notorious for being difficult to negotiate with and the signability of his players is always in question. Comparisons to Justin Verlander and Mark Prior abound. Most experts think that Appel will see the majors no later than 2015 with many saying he could be ready by 2014.

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
Friday, June 29, 2012
12:46 PM - June 29, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


#2 - Byron Buxton, OF, Appling HS (GA)
- Buxton has ridiculous physical ability. He was a standout pitcher in high school throwing 99 MPH, but MLB scouts project him to be an even better outfielder long-term. He was also a great high school football player. His baseball ceiling has been mentioned with the likes of Eric Davis, Matt Kemp and Ken Griffey Jr. His work ethic has been praised by everyone familiar with him. His tools are easily projectable to the next level. He might have the highest upside in the draft.

He projects to have ++ speed, a ++ arm, above average power when he fills out, and the ability to hit for average as he develops. Buxton will need some time to develop, he’s not expected to be ready until 2016. Buxton brings much needed excitement to the Twins organization.

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
Thursday, June 28, 2012
01:55 PM - June 28, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


#3 - Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy
- The #1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft, Correa comes in with gigantic expectations in Houston. The Astros needed quality young talent, and new GM Jeff Luhnow felt like the 17 year old Puerto Rican shortstop was the man to start a new era in Houston. Correa has above average range and great instincts in the field. His ++ arm that would allow him to move to third base if he needs to as well.

At the plate, he has excellent hand-eye coordination and good power to all fields. His bat speed is a plus as well. Comparisons include Alex Rodriguez and Troy Tulowitzki. Most projections have Correa being big league ready by 2015-2016. I think Correa looks like a future superstar.

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
11:16 AM - June 27, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


I’m torn on interleague play.

In some instances I think it’s great. I love seeing the Mets vs. Yankees, Cubs vs. White Sox, Reds vs. Indians, Dodgers vs. Angels, and Nationals vs. Orioles. These are all great series for baseball to have each regular season.

On the other hand, I’d make some changes to interleague play such as reducing it to eight games every season, with each team playing a home-and-home four-game series with their geographical rival. But that’s neither here nor there.

Aside from the debates surrounding the topic of interleague play in the real sport, I'm looking to ask a different question: does interleague play affect sports gaming?

Read More - Does Interleague Play Affect Baseball Gaming?

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS Vita / PS3Votes: 55 - View All
11:07 AM - June 27, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


#4 - Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU
- Gausman comes to Baltimore having spent the last two years at LSU becoming a power pitcher. His fastball is clocked in the mid to high 90s and he throws both a curve/changeup and a slider that will develop. He’s gone from a guy who threw the ball hard to a guy who pitches. He has a chance to be a swing and miss pitcher in the majors.

Player comparisons include Kevin Brown and Max Scherzer. Most projections have Gausman joining the O’s rotation as early as 2014 or early 2015. Gausman’s arsenal of pitches, combined with his 6’4” frame should play well in Camden Yards.

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
11:04 AM - June 26, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


#5 - Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (FL) - Considered as much of a “sure thing” as any high school player. Almora has incredible baseball instincts and an incredible work ethic. Even at his age, Almora was considered one of the most well-rounded prospects on the 2012 draft. He possesses + range, with an average arm and average speed, but he should be the future in CF for the Cubs. The combination of his quick bat and surprising power to all fields should allow him to be a good hitter at the professional level.

Comparisons include Adam Jones and Carlos Beltran. Different projections have him being major league ready anywhere between early 2015 and late 2016. With his supreme work ethic and projectable hitting tools, I wouldn’t be against him.

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
Monday, May 7, 2012
01:44 PM - May 7, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Bo McCready


We recently asked our staff what they thought of the initial feature releases of Madden NFL 13. Read their impressions of the tweaked gameplay and presentation after the jump!

Read More - OS Roundtable: Our First Impressions of Madden's Features

Game: Madden NFL 13Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 77 - View All
Thursday, April 26, 2012
06:12 PM - April 26, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


The NL West has been one of the weakest divisions in baseball despite being home to the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants. While no team in this division looks to be taking the opportunity to dominate the division by the horns, choosing a team in this division will likely mean you will have a tough race ahead of you with so much parity.

Read More - NL West Team Strategy Guides

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
04:40 PM - April 18, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


The NL Central features the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, the oldest franchise team name in baseball in the Cincinatti Reds -- and let's not fail to mention the Brewers who will challenge for the division this year. What team should you choose in the biggest division in baseball? Read on to find out.

Read More - NL Central Team Strategy Guides

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
12:54 PM - April 18, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Bishop Tart


After yesterday's big gameplay reveals, we asked our staff what they thought of the game this year. There is a mix of excitement and healthy skepticism abound. Be sure to read on and share your thoughts at the end!

Read More - OS Roundtable: What do you think of the NCAA Football Gameplay Enhancements?

Game: NCAA Football 13Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 60 - View All
Thursday, April 12, 2012
02:23 PM - April 12, 2012. Posted by DustinT. Written by Matthew Coe

Since 2005 when the next generation of consoles were ushered in with the XBOX 360, the racing game genre has seen a healthy amount of improvements. These have ranged from simple graphical upgrades to under-the-hood systems that rely more heavily on physics and real world car performance than ever before. We've also seen an incredible breadth of interpretations of what a racing video game is and what it can be. Everything from car combat, arcade racers, hardcore simulations, licensed racing games, kart-inspired games and a few games that defy labels.

Read More - Looking at the Future of Racing Games, Where Do We Go Next?

Game: Need for Speed The RunReader Score: 5.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii / PC / 3DSVotes: 3 - View All
Friday, April 6, 2012
12:00 PM - April 6, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


With the NBA trade deadline long past, and with the dust settling on official roster updates, it’s time to see how those trades will affect your experience in NBA 2K12. We are using the post trade deadline roster from 2K for the purposes of this article. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the teams that improved, those who got worse, and those who made you say WHAT?!

Two trades happened involving draft picks so let’s quickly look at those. Leandro Barbosa goes from Toronto to Indiana. Barbosa gives the Pacers another quick perimeter player who can shoot, defend, and handle the ball. It’s impossible not to like this move.

The 76ers added SF Sam Young from Memphis in a trade for the rights to 2005 draft pick Ricky Sanchez, who will likely never play in the NBA. Young adds another body on the wing that can shoot a little bit and play decent defense. Again, there’s nothing to lose here for the Sixers, so it’s hard to be down on the move.

Read More - NBA 2K12: Post Trade Deadline Impacts

Game: NBA 2K12Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC / iOSVotes: 102 - View All
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
11:50 AM - March 28, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Bishop Tart


Total immersion is all gamers want these days. They want accurate stats, seedings and signings. Well, what better way to experience this total immersion in an MLB game than completing a 162-game season? It's one feat that many, even our staff writers, struggle with.

So staff writers, have you ever finished a 162-game season?

Read More - OS Roundtable: Have you Ever Completed a 162 Game Season?

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS VitaVotes: 55 - View All
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
11:48 AM - March 13, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Matthew Coe


Everyone who follows NBA basketball, even casually, knows the name Dwight Howard and has been bombarded by trade rumors, even before the season started. NBA fans are all too aware of the on again/off again Howard trade talk. Will he or won't he? And if not Orlando, where will DH12 be playing after the trade deadline this season? Does Orlando keep him and risk letting him walk with no compensation? Today, we're gonna take a look at trading Dwight Howard in NBA 2K12. What does it take to trade for a franchise center in NBA 2K12?

Because of NBA2K's trade engine deficiencies, we are going to control all 30 teams within 2K12's franchise mode and try not to abuse the system. Instead of examining every possible trade, we're just gonna look at some of the rumored destinations for Howard. Also of note: we're using the player salaries and roster restrictions within NBA 2K12. Here we go, let's trade for Dwight Howard!

Read More - Trading Dwight Howard in NBA 2K12

Game: NBA 2K12Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC / iOSVotes: 102 - View All