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Wednesday, July 24, 2013


Top Sports News for Wednesday, July 24, 2013

QOTD: If Braun is stripped of the 2011 MVP, what should be done with the award?
Share your response to the QOTD and today's links in the comments section below.
Blog: jmik58
Top Preseason NFL Roster Storylines Stuck
10:15 AM - July 24, 2013. Written by JohnDoe8865

The NFL Pre-Season begins in August, and while camps are on-going -- there are still several questions which will need resolving as we push towards the season. As with all NFL pre-seasons, there will be numerous questions answered about which teams are poised to make a run at the Big Bowl this year.

Inevitably, each storyline we are following also has huge impacts on this year's Madden NFL game as well. So without further adieu, here are five storylines you should be watching this pre-season:

How will New England replace Aaron Hernandez? - With Hernandez out of the picture, the New England Patriots suddenly find themselves without it's familiar two TE set that was so tough for NFL defenses to defend. The Patriots added Danny Amendola to replace Wes Welker, who left for Denver, but who replaces Hernandez's production? With Rob Gronkowski's continuing back issues, will New England even have a healthy proven TE on the opening day roster? The Patriots are still listing Tim Tebow as the 3rd string QB. Will Tebow play TE out of necessity for the Patriots in 2013-2014? Rookie TE Zach Sudfeld out of Nevada has impressed observers in OTAs and Michael Hoomanawanui and Daniel Fells return, but none of those guys strike fear into a defensive coordinator, especially as pass catchers. With the WR corps undergoing a near complete overhaul, TE was supposed to be a position of strength and consistency. It's going to be really interesting to watch the New England offense and it's progression throughout the NFL season.

Who is the QB in Philadelphia? - Mike Vick, Nick Foles, and Matt Barkley. While the competition is honestly probably between Vick and Foles, new Head Coach Chip Kelly has to make the right decision. He wants to implement an up-tempo style reminiscent of his offense at Oregon. In order to do that, he's going to need a QB who can make quick, correct decisions on the field. This is the most compelling QB competition in the NFL this offseason, and it will likely continue all throughout the preseason. Vick has the experience and the resume. Foles has youth and upside. Desean Jackson has publicly stated that he expects Vick to win the job, at least to begin the season, and that seems to be the general feeling from a lot of NFL talking heads. The wildcard here is Chip Kelly, who doesn't have an NFL track record. No one really knows which way Kelly is leaning. He comes from the Pac-12, and he's familiar with Foles. No matter what happens, it is one of the most interesting NFL storylines to follow leading up to the season.

Can RGIII still be RGIII? - Everyone who follows the NFL knows that Robert Griffin III suffered a devastating knee injury in last years playoffs against Seattle. Despite multiple knee ligament tears, many fans expect RGIII to be ready for opening day. After Adrian Peterson's incredible comeback last season, the bar has been raised for injury recovery. Griffin III is young, and has seemingly been rehabbing the right way every since the injury in January. Dr. James Andrews, the world renowned surgeon who rebuilt Adrian Peterson’s knee, has said that most players cannot recover the way that Peterson did, and Griffin III seemingly is now. He even calls them superhuman athletes. Mike Shanahan has said that he expects RGIII to 'set a record' for recovery with his comeback. As a fan of NFL football and of Robert Griffin III, I sincerely hope that he comes back at full strength and on his own timetable. It'd be a shame if he rushes back to meet fan and media expectations only to re-injure himself and potentially cut his career short. I think almost every NFL fan is hoping that RGIII comes back as strong as last season, as he is undeniably one of the most exciting players in the game.

Defensive change in Baltimore - Exit Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Enter Elvis Dumervil and 1st round draft pick Matt Elam. The defections, however, didn't end with the retirement of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed leaving in free-agency. Paul Kruger left to become a Cleveland Brown, Bernard Pollard was cut, Dannell Ellerbe left for the sunshine of Miami and the Dolphins, and Cary Williams left for the new look Eagles. The Ravens responded by signing Chris Canty and Marcus Spears on the defensive line, FS Michael Huff and LB Daryl Smith, and drafting inside linebacker Arthur Brown to go along with Dumervil and Elam. Interestingly, Ravens senior defensive assistant Steve Spagnuolo says that this new group reminds him of the 2007 New York Giants defense. While the on the field production could be replaced with the additions, what about the leadership void? Lewis and Reed had been running the Ravens defense together since 2005. Veterans like Terrell Suggs and Lardarius Webb will have to try to become those locker room leaders, along with offensive veterans Joe Flacco and Ray Rice. 2013-2014 will be a very interesting season for the reigning Super Bowl champions, as they attempt to transition from the Lewis/Reed era, and create a new identity.

New Year, New QB Questions - Can Carson Palmer be effective as the new starting QB in Arizona after years of mediocre play in Oakland? Can Phillip Rivers return to Pro Bowl form? Can Colin Kaepernick duplicate his 2012-2013 season, especially without Michael Crabtree? Can Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck avoid the sophomore slump? How will Jay Cutler and Josh Freeman play in their contract years? Can Tony Romo become the QB that he's been paid to become? Will Cam Newton bounce back from a disappointing second season? How long does Mark Sanchez have left in New York? And what about Geno Smith? Can EJ Manuel take over and lead the Buffalo Bills back to the playoffs? Can Matt Stafford play up to his new enormous contract? These are just a sampling of the many questions surrounding NFL quarterbacks this coming season. Almost every team in the NFL outside of New England, New Orleans, and Atlanta has some kind of question mark at QB. Whether they be a full blown competitions, new faces in new places, guys who have worn out their welcome, or the incredible 2012-2013 QB class trying to avoid the notorious sophomore slump, the NFL has QB storylines galore in 2013-2014.

OS, what do you think the biggest roster storylines are heading into the NFL preseason? Is it AP's quest to top Eric Dickerson again? Percy Harvin's move to Seattle? Or something else? Comment and let your voice be heard.
Blog: JohnDoe8865
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Dissecting the WWE 2K14 Gameplay Improvements Stuck
04:58 PM - July 23, 2013. Written by Wiggy

With 2K Sports releasing a slew of new "gameplay improvements" for the upcoming WWE 2K14, there's a lot to mull over. Let's get to it.

New Navigation System

Quote:
The entire navigation system has been overhauled and reanimated including all walking, running, and dragging motions to give the game a more fluid and life-like feel and look.
This seems like a great change, as the transition between various animation states can still look pretty rugged at times. I don't think we'll see true advances in this area until the next generation, but it's nice to see them thinking about bridging from one motion to the next.

Quote:
Overall Superstar movement has been accelerated, meaning the action is faster-paced and more like what you see on WWE television.
A bit of a concern here, as the game already felt plenty fast to me. There are some other tweaks that may offset this, but I don't think the game necessarily needed to be faster.

Quote:
There is now a "starting up" animation for when Superstars begin running. This leads to a more natural-looking match, where it is more difficult to "spam" running attacks.
While the speed may have gone up, this throttling of run speed is a welcome change. It should create a more realistic run animation for the game, and less spam attacks from runs will be a boon to the game's online mode.

Quote:
Animation gestures have been added such as adjusting wrist bands, motioning for your opponent to get up, and many more to give a human-like appearance to the navigation system.
Again, any additional bridging animations they can add to supplement the personality of the game is welcome. If some of these happen naturally during gameplay, all the better.

Striking Changes

Quote:
Strikes and strike combos are now quicker and snappier, making them faster and harder to reverse.
Since the reversal system is being tweaked, this change gives a huge advantage to the initiator of a striking sequence. This might need some post-release tuning. We'll see.


Quote:
Successfully landing a strike combo now puts your opponent in a groggy state, making groggy grapples appear earlier and more frequently.
I like this change, as it will help create some move variety earlier in the match as well as reward high-risk strikers.

Reversal System Improvements

Quote:
Reversing a grapple move now causes the reverser to do a move of his/her own automatically. This cuts down on the endless back-and-forth "reversal fest" some users complained of in WWE '13 while also making the match move faster.
I think there should be a bit of latitude with the reversals, but ultimately, this change is for the best. Maybe there could be certain chain or strike scenarios where a second reversal could take place, but the fact that all move sequences could be reversed last year ended up being too much, even though it seemed cool on paper.

Catapult Finishers

Quote:
Catching Finishers can now be executed offensively, by Irish Whipping your opponent to the ropes with a finisher stored or catapulting your opponent up when they run towards you.
Select finisher moves give you the ability to launch an opponent into the air and then hit them with a Catch Finisher on the way back down.
A subtle addition here, but it should create some pop-worthy scenarios, especially for RKOs or Sweet Chin Music. Even though these can look pretty goofy, they're a fun aspect of the game.

New OMG Moments

Quote:
New multi-man OMG Moments added to help you gain the upper-hand in multi-man matches. One OMG move can take out two opponents in one shot making it easier to get the win against multiple opponents.

- Double Attitude Adjustment
- Double Shellshock
- Double Chokeslam

New OMG Moments added to allow you to dole out even more damage using the ring environment.

- Boot-to-head on outside ringpost
- DDT on the apron
Again, these should be fun, even though they are normally rare occurrences in WWE programming. I think there should actually be more stuff involving the ring post and apron, as those cinematic moments are always entertaining within the context of a match. The one-on-two moves (Double Chokeslam, etc.) should be fun when you can pull them off, but I wonder how forgiving the timing will be on executing them.


Two Counts

Quote:
One of the most reviled bugs in WWE '13 was the dearth of two-counts. This issue has been addressed, bringing back the dramatic near falls you know and love.
A very welcome change here, as this was a frustrating aspect of last year's game. I think this bug ultimately killed a lot of the drama in matches last year, and the pinfall state needs to be right for the action to seem "real."

Final Thoughts

There are some good bug fixes in this list as well as some cool new moves and situations. I like the throttling of the sprint speed and the revised reversal system changes, for the most part, but I do wonder about the increased speed of the game. If all of these bridging animations and mannerisms end up creating a better pace for the match, some of the other changes might end up being quite meaningful.
Blog: Wiggy


Top Sports News for Tuesday, July 23, 2013

QOTD: Do you feel like Ryan Braun is still skirting responsibility with his response?

Share your response to the QOTD and today's links in the comments section below.
Blog: jmik58
Monday, July 22, 2013


Top Sports News for Monday, July 22, 2013

QOTD: Is baseball the perfect analogy for what is great (or not) about America?

Share your response to the QOTD and today's links in the comments section below.
Blog: jmik58
NHL 14's Anniversary Mode -- The Audacity of Nostalgia Stuck
11:14 AM - July 22, 2013. Written by Wiggy

With WWE 2K14 looking to use nostalgia to ingratiate itself with the public, I can't help but also feel cynical about the NHL '94 "Anniversary Mode" that is currently being trotted out by the folks at EA to get people excited for NHL 14. While the mode is clearly looking to pay tribute to one of the most beloved retro hockey games of all time, it seems to be doing so without actually acknowledging what made the older games so appealing.

It often seems that developers think nostalgia means evoking something from the past just by bringing it up. Take the example of the newer NFL Blitz or NBA Jam: On Fire Edition. These were serviceable games in their own right, to be sure, but they were definitely relying on potential buyers who would focus on the brand and what it used to mean in the retro era of sports gaming. I'd say NBA Jam: OFE got closer to realizing the "soul" of what made the old game so fun, but both just seemed to think that slapping some slightly prettier visuals on a functional game that carried the old brand was enough to satiate gamers. I'd say those games, while kind of fun, ended up really pleasing no one, as they didn't really honor the past or get people excited about the brand going forward (especially with Jam's crappy online/menu issues).

The NHL '94 Anniversary Mode seems to be doing an even worse job of paying fan service, as the mode appears to purely rely on your memories of what NHL '94 was and nothing more. The fact that the most meaningful aspects of the mode are blue ice and a star indicator is pretty sad, and it's even worse when those nostalgic presentation elements are clashed with the long-in-the-tooth announce team of the main game and all of the same presentation and packaging as the standard NHL 14 product.


Based on the extensive footage of the mode that was posted on Gamespot, very little in the gameplay really captures the spirit of NHL '94. The mode seems to play with a lot of the same movement and features of NHL 14, and other than a goofy celebration animation and some other sound effects, I'm not really getting the vibe that this mode is scratching my nostalgia itch in any meaningful way.

This is made clear, as well, when producer Sean Ramjagsingh explains how users didn't really enjoy the emulated version of NHL '94 that was included with NHL 06. He goes on to further elaborate how the team wanted to put a modern spin on the old game as well as rope in casual and old-school users. This is all well and good, but when it looks like the gameplay in the mode was short-changed and the presentation doesn't go all the way, it's hard to be that excited, as a longstanding fan of the series.

Honestly, I'm fine with a mode like this being used to increase the number of casual users who might try out the product, as the silly presentation mixed with the simplified button controls is a good baseline for new users. However, when a large portion of your audience are dedicated fans of the series, and you're trying to re-connect with players who would get excited about NHL '94, it makes me just a bit cynical when I hear that you're basically using the name "NHL '94" to get some unearned nostalgia cred for your game.

Why are there no penalties in the mode? That was only an option in the old game, and it seems odd to make it a focus. Why can't the mode be played online? That just seems lazy, especially when it's claimed that they're trying to give a modern take to an old favorite. What about more fulsome presentation in the retro style? How about some high-res pixel art and the full suite of sound effects? How about disabling the announcers and making the score overlays appropriately retro?


As for gameplay, if they were willing to add a silly new scoring animation in, why couldn't they add some retro "hit" animations and change up the type of goals scored in the mode? In fact, why not shrink the ice surface to properly emulate the more confined nature of the older games? That would really change up the pace and allow for more of the one-timers, dekes and scrambled plays of the true '94 game.

I guess I'm just ultimately disappointed when I see a wasted opportunity like this. I won't speculate as to how many resources were or weren't put into making this mode, but it seems like more time was probably needed in the oven for this to cook. If you're going to not ship a next-gen product and ask players to still plunk down money for a current-gen game that's getting a bit thin in certain feature areas, you'd think something like this mode would really shine. Unfortunately, the execution of this mode makes me think that it was either conceived for the wrong reasons or that it didn't have the resources necessary to properly tribute such an important game in the history of the franchise.
Blog: Wiggy
Friday, July 19, 2013

CVG's PES 2014 Hands On Preview



A very thorough write-up from Daniel Dawkins over at computerandvideogames.com. Some interesting tidbits:

On dribbling:

Quote:
You no longer hold L2 and perform Street Fighter-style stick taps like PES 2013, but use more intuitive right stick sweeps (controlling 'weight shift') in conjunction with the left stick (to indicate the 'ball delivery direction').
On defense:

Quote:
PES 2013's complex, multi-button, defending has been simplified. Hold X and the left stick to stand off you man (low risk), add R1 to increase pressure and move closer (medium risk) and / or double-tap x to make a tackle (high risk) - even if the ball is nowhere near. Square button calls in a second defender to help. As ever, it's a battle of timing relative to your defender's attributes.
On AI animations:

Quote:
Neymar took the lofted pass in his stride, barely losing acceleration. The transition between animations is much more natural, whereas in PES 2013, you could almost see the player switching 'off' between frames. Better yet, when the keeper rushed out to the edge of the area, Neymar's chip looked improvised - a lofted, skewing scoop with the outside of the boot, angled around the keeper's body.
What does everybody think?

FIFA 14 News:



In case you missed it, some FIFA news in the past few days.

FIFA 14 Features For iOS and Android Devices

Gareth Bale Shares FIFA 14 Cover with Lionel Messi in the UK, Ireland and Middle East

FIFA 14 Features 19 Officially Licensed Brazilian Clubs

Football Manager Retrospective




Here's a nice comprehensive review of the first half of the Championship Manager/Football Manager franchise, courtesy of RetroCollect. Don't know if there will be a part two (it's been a month and a half already), but for any CM/FM fans feeling nostalgic, this is a must read.

For what it's worth, here are my top 3 games in the series:

3) CM 96/97 - A sentimental favorite. I had played CM a few years already, but this was the one that got me hooked. Moving to a new country with no friends, then getting a brand spankin' new computer (with a Pentium Pro!) helped accelerate the addiction.

2) CM 01/02 - Don't know what I can say about the game that hasn't been said. It's probably, still to this day, the one game I've played that found the perfect balance between fun and depth.

1) FM 2013 - But hey, we gotta keep looking forward, right? Yes, the game pace moves a little slower now, and the press conference does tend to get rather repetitive after your first month on the job... but still, it's really impressive, when you step back and think about it, to see just what a massive game FM has become over the years, covering pretty much every aspect of a football manager's life with incredible detail.

Dishonorable mention: CM 4 - If you compare the game to just video games in general, it's really not a bad one. But in the CM/FM world, CM 4 just felt... sloppy. There were quite a few more bugs than usual, and some of which were quite severe. I still remember trying, in vain, to bump my defenders' positioning attribute (they just go straight down), and then heading over to the SI message boards and getting my first taste in heated internet debates. In the end, I left without a solution, and played on with centrebacks having 4s and 5s in position.

The heated debate, by the way, was "what constitutes gamebreaking?" Things haven't changed much, eh?

What's your favorite CM/FM game of all time?

...

Morning, boys. How's the Water?

On an off topic note...

I had a run-in yesterday on the road with a fellow motorist, who can only be described as an angry douchebucket.

You see, my neck of the woods is notorious for police speedtraps, and unless I suddenly have a surge in income (hi, OS big bosses!) there was no way in hell I'll be doing anything more than ten over the limit any time soon.

Yesterday, this fella, who I guess felt that he was stuck behind me for eternity on this two lane road, decided to finally overtake me and show me the finger while doing so. Then, at a red light, he took up the left turn lane to use his vast vocabulary of cuss words (I have to say, there was a split second when I was impressed at the amount of compound words he was able to come up with) to describe how slow I was going and how annoyed he was at being stuck behind a, erm, let's say a kitten, like me. When the light turned green, he cut back in front of me and peeled away, but not before raising his finger out the window again, just in case I didn't see it the first time.

Needless to say, I was quite pissed. Then as I drove on I wished a few unsavory thoughts upon him. Maybe I'd see him further down the road being pulled over by a cop (actually, it was more surprising that he wasn't). Maybe that might make him late for his candelight dinner with his wife, causing a big argument, and his wife leaves him. Forever. But not before keying his car on the way out. But then I remembered this:



And then I felt better about it all. I hope the video would come in handy for some of you at some point too.
Blog: kelvinmak

Top Sports News for Friday, July 19, 2013

QOTD: Do you think the NCAA can survive it's already poor image combined with the potential impact of the O'Bannon lawsuit?
Share your response to the QOTD and today's links in the comments section below.
Blog: jmik58
Thursday, July 18, 2013


Top Sports News for Thursday, July 18, 2013

QOTD: Was LeBron James your choice for Best Athlete?
Share your response to the QOTD and today's links in the comments section below.
Blog: jmik58
Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Top Sports News for Wednesday, July 17, 2013

QOTD: Why hasn't the MLB removed the connection between the ASG and World Series home-field advantage?Share your response to the QOTD and today's links in the comments section below.
Blog: jmik58
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
The Ultimate Warrior: WWE 2K14 Huckster Stuck
02:45 AM - July 16, 2013. Written by Wiggy

It's a funny thing when marketing necessity meets financial need, and we got to see that with Jim "Ultimate Warrior" Hellwig shilling for the upcoming WWE 2K14 product. As "amazing" as the commercial is, it's also a pretty sad reminder of how marginalized half of these "legends" have become in the wrestling business. After I see an ad like this, I'm left wondering: who is this ad really for? Why was it made? After the initial joke wears off, it kind of ends up being a bit depressing.

The WWE has been no stranger to using aged wrestler to sell games, toys and even wrestling angles in recent years. Even before ol' Macho cashed out, he was shilling for WWE All Stars. It was sort of sad that one of the more successful and notorious wrestlers of WWF/WWE history had his last meaningful interaction with the company cutting a half-baked promo about a game that he obviously had very little connection with.

It's all the more baffling with someone like "Warrior," who has aired his grievances about the company quite publicly in the past. Here's a guy who has been pretty much disparaged by many current and past wrestlers, road agents and promoters -- even Vince McMahon notoriously called him a "lunatic" -- and here he is "happily" plugging the game and telling you to pre-order as fast as possible. Credit to the Warrior for at least looking in half-decent shape and getting all of his gear on, but I've gathered that he's a pretty committed guy when it comes to his character. If you haven't checked out his shoot interview, I'd recommend seeking it out.


Of course, there's also the fact that WWE 2K14 is a rushed product, as 2K wants to get a quick payola as fast as they can for this year's version before moving onto the next-gen iteration. When they use legends in this way, it's always as sort of an impromptu cover man -- selling the game through nostalgia and selective memory. Maybe they figure that enough of the older generation will wistfully look at the Ultimate Warrior pre-order bonus and take the plunge. Maybe they think that the new generation of fans will cherry-pick the best parts of what they know about the Ultimate Warrior and go from there. Who knows, really.

It's the same for all of these other legends, honestly. Whether it's Bret Hart or Macho or Steve Austin, it just never feels like their participation is really required. Save for Austin in the Attitude Era stuff last year, most of these legend modes/additions end up just feeling shallow and poorly conceived. Why can't there be a more fulsome realization of these guys' careers in a new game? Why is it usually just a quick character model and some kind of ladder mode?

I guess I can't help but feel weird when I see this sort of cheap pandering, as it really seems like a desperate ploy to sell a few extra copies of a generation-straddling product. The fact that Warrior's gameplay clips are saved for 15 seconds at the end of the spot (and the animations look rough) kind of speaks volumes, and you realize pretty quickly that business moves like these are pretty calculated.


I guess the slogan of the wrestling business -- anything can happen -- is appropriate here, as I expect the parade of money-strapped wrestlers to continue to step up and give a push to whatever wrestling product is willing to throw them a few shekels, history be damned.
Blog: Wiggy
Monday, July 15, 2013
OOTP 14 Now Available for 50% OFF until July 17! 
10:55 AM - July 15, 2013. Written by JohnDoe8865
If you have any interest in general manager simulations, baseball games, or anything related to either, then you owe it to yourself to try out OOTP 14. The game is on sale for the next 3 days at half off the regular price. At $19.99, the game is a steal.

Our own Caley Roark gave the game a 9/10 review score back in April.http://www.operationsports.com/revie...k-baseball-14/

If you've been on the fence about the game, now is the time to jump in!
Blog: JohnDoe8865

Top Sports News for Monday, July 15, 2013

QOTD: In the post-steroid era, should Chris Davis be credited with the single-season record if he hits 62 home runs?

1. Baltimore's Davis on record-setting* HR pace.
2. World Peace Options: China, New York, Arena Football?
3. Record-setting sprinter, Gay, tests positive.
4. Lincecum's "no-no" a blip, or sign he's back?
5. See Ya in Siberia: Kovalchuk heading to Russia.
6. Is Johnny Manziel injured?
7. Mavs entertaining Oden.
8. Not one, not two... fan catches FOUR foul balls at single game.
9. NFL Hall of Fame pretending away Aaron Hernandez.
10. Vickers' lucky number: 75.

Share your response to the QOTD and today's links in the comments section below.
Blog: jmik58
Friday, July 12, 2013