Cynietra

Eminem Not Happy About VMA Nomination [About]

Former NFL Players Suing EA Sports [With Leather]

Trill Classics: Bun B On Making His Key Records [Complex]

Little Fockers Hoping Dustin Hoffman Will Make It Not Sock [FilmDrunk] Read the rest of this entry »

NBA Jam is headed to all major consoles (PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii) sometime this fall. It’s great that it won’t be exclusive to the Wii as previously announced. But…there’s a catch depending on what system you have. PS3 and 360 owners looking to cop the game have to buy NBA Elite 11, EA’s sim basketball reboot, for $60 at retail in order to play NBA Jam. In layman’s terms, horseshit. Read the rest of this entry »

I never claimed to be a mathematician or excellent in statistics. Yet, I’d say the probability of the New Orleans Saints repeating as NFL champions just went down the commode with today’s announcement that Drew Brees will be on the cover of Madden 2011. The news isn’t 100% just yet as voting is still going on, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter all but confirmed it, leaking the news via Twitter. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll spare you all with the whole “but futbol is the World’s game” spiel. This is America and we most of us don’t play that crap. But check this out,  FIFA 10 is the best sports game I’ve played in a minute. It has more compelling features than Fight Night: Round 4 and Madden 10 , isn’t brought down with bugs like NBA 2K10 and its fun to play even if you don’t follow soccer.

The beauty of this game lies in its learning curve. If you’re new to soccer games all you need to master is basic passing, attacking and defending techniques. The default difficulty is very generous to newcomers as you don’t have to worry about squad options, advanced moves and the like. Then when you come to grips with how it plays you’ll uncover all kinds of sophisticated maneuvers, shots, formations that best suit your squad and more. You can try them out along various set pieces in the practice arena at your leisure as well. Essentially, the game gives you all the tools you need to improve before setting foot on the pitch.

FIFA 10 is better tuned to account for actual player roles than ever before. Previous iterations let users execute picture perfect crosses, through passes and seemingly unstoppable attacks for high scoring games at whim. Now it’s like EA actually paid attention to individual player abilities. For example, a player like Xavi is good at setting up strikers for a goal. Just don’t expect him to put the ball behind the net. Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the world’s best strikers, isn’t as good as Xavi when it comes to squaring up teammates for scoring opportunities. The same can be said for Messi who, despite his spectacular scoring ability, is prone to getting tackled by bigger defenders if he’s careless. These dynamics help emulate actual team play better than any team based sports game I’ve played this year. Take in the fact that the game does a decent job of incorporating randomness such as botched passes, flubbed gimme goals and the occasional screamer (thankfully these are rare) and you have a tight playing game of futbol on your hands.

There are too many modes to list here. Just know that the online play is relatively solid as is traditional local multi-player. FIFA 10 players can put their face in the game à la Fight Night: Round 4 in the virtual pro mode. From there you can choose your team, position and perform various challenges to improve your player. If you ever messed with NBA 2K10’s My Player Mode aka “The Darvin Ham Simulator” you’ll find that they’re pretty similar. The biggest difference here is virtual pro isn’t as frustrating in the early going if you know how to play. What’s more is you can import your pro into a quick match, online match and even use him in an online club with friends. The manager mode (franchise mode) is still here if all that sounds too complicated. You play games, entertain transfer offers and improve your rep as a new manager for whatever club you choose. Expectations change depending on what team you roll with. So if you pick Manchester United you’re expected to dominate Premier League. Meanwhile a team like Liverpool would look to shake things up and make a run for the title.

It may sound like EA cut me a check for this review (I wish.) But in honesty I can’t fault this game for much other than some tired commentary, fastidious game face set up and occasional online connection issues. Plus you have to pay $10 bucks to play the Live Season mode (it lets you follow top European Leagues and play their schedules.) Most everything else about this game and it’s not a hard game to learn. In closing, FIFA 10 is pretty much golden. Give it a shot if you haven’t already. Plus with the World Cup coming, it’s a great way to study up on the world’s greatest players.

Can’t wait til Sunday for the big game?  Still having trouble deciding who you want to place your wager on? Will the spread will be covered?   The good folks at EA Sports hypothetically answer all these question with their annual Super Bowl Simulation on Madden 10.  In the offensive slugfest we’re all hoping for, the Saints egde out the Colts 35-31 with Drew Brees taking home the MVP honors.

Going back to 2004, EA’s simulation has correctly picked each winner except for 2008 when the Giants shocked the world.  So they’ve got a track record in getting this right so that goes a long way to show how realistic the game has become, but not why I find the controls so complicated that I didn’t even buy Madden this year.  Read below as EA explains how they went about this and check out a video of the simulated highlights.

Utilizing each team’s current roster and the latest player statistics, Madden NFL 10 was able to accurately predict the outcome of both the NFC and AFC Championship games within a margin of three points for each game. EA SPORTS utilized this same simulation formula to predict the outcome of Super Bowl XLIII (Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals) with unprecedented accuracy – down to the final score and individual player statistics. EA SPORTS has correctly predicted the Super Bowl winner for five out of the last six years, since the official Madden NFL Super Bowl simulation began in 2004.

[Via]

NBA Jam is coming back.

Yes, that 1993 game brought me as much joy in that era as Baywatch bikini slow-mo jogging. The game had its obvious flaws like Michael Jordan’s absence, but in retrospect didn’t that add to his legend? As a result the sub-par Pippen/Grant combo proved to be more memorable in the process. Read the rest of this entry »

The Need for Speed series had some of the best arcade racing games out in its heyday. Then the franchise fell from grace with an annual slew of uninspired street racers. EA realized that something had to give when they put out Need for Speed: Shift its latest release. So while NFS Shift is a reboot, is it enough to revive the Need for Speed name to its former glory? Read the rest of this entry »

It’s that time again. Time for more freebies. This time around we’ve got one free Xbox copy of EA Sports NBA Live 10. It’s in the game and it’s about to be yours, snitches! Read the rest of this entry »

As promised, EA Sports delivers a round of songs for the mixtape including never before heard tracks from 88-Keys, Afrika Bambaataa, B.o.B, David Banner, De La Soul, dead Prez, Matt & Kim, Murs, Pete Rock, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Zion I and more. Read the rest of this entry »

While fans generally have their preferences preset in the war of NBA Live vs. NBA 2K, there’s no question the heads at EA Sports always prove they’re in tune with the culture with slick marketing tactics that mirror the times of the day. Read the rest of this entry »

The hype over Madden 10 has settled and it’s time to look at it with a clear head. Many critics of the series (myself included) said Madden is more or less the same year after year. That’s arguably true for previous iterations. But Madden 10 introduces a bunch of tweaks and features that separate it from the old games as the franchise steps in a new direction. Read the rest of this entry »

Splish Splash, Waterfalls! Laura Evelin For Wet Wednesdays

Showtime launching ‘Live Nude Comedy’ [EW]

EA Told Dana White MMA “Not A Real Sport” In ‘08 [SbS]

Worst Boob Jobs Ever [Yep Yep]

Man Sues ABC, Claims He Wrote ‘Lost” In 1977 [Warming Glow]

That Raven Symone Sure Knows How To Bring Out A Crowd [C&D]

5 Women The NFC East Wants Tony Romo to Date [In Game Now]

Rapper 50 Cent Removes Tattoos For Film Career [AHH]

When Comic Heroes Get Old [Gunaxin]

Derailing the Tebow Train: Six Reasons the Florida Gators Won’t Repeat [TBL]

Big Sean in XXL Mag [Slang Rap Democracy]

adidas Forum ‘Young Jeezy’ Def Jam 25th Anniversary Pack [Street Level]

Missouri Hooters Bikini Car Wash Chronicles [Epic Carnival]

The Fight Night series has long been the best boxing simulation out. Although there isn’t much competition for the title, you’d think otherwise if you noticed how EA takes care of it’s beloved boxing franchise. A lot of this has to do with it not being an annual sports series like Madden or NBA Live. Each game has dropped a few new features that drastically change how you play it. I’m going to talk about just two of the many that, to me, make it the best yet of the franchise.

Let’s start out with the revamped Total Punch Control. A lot of gamers are salty about it because you Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t do video games.

But this?

Toughness.

EA Sports, Mighty Healthy, and Game Stop link up for this shirt to recognize the release of the game’s next installment.

Image of the back after the break. Read the rest of this entry »

Focus your eyes on the next cover of EA Sports’ NBA LIVE series.

Young Mr. Howard’s statement in regards to his last career accomplishment.

“It’s an honor to be named as the cover athlete for NBA LIVE 10,” said Howard. “This year has been a crazy ride and this is a cool way to cap it off. Of course – there is one more thing I’m on the hunt for that would complete it.”

Dwight, you may have to settle for the game cover this year my friend.

Below the break, a little promo for the game with a Pretty Flaco playing the James Earl Jones role. Read the rest of this entry »