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Fight Night Round 4 DLC pulled due to freezing issues

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 6th 2009 at 4:30PM }

Boxing fans who were hoping to enhance their sweet, sweet scientific exploits in Fight Night Round 4 for the Xbox 360 were recently stricken with disappointment -- the game's latest DLC, the "Champions Pack 2," hit the Xbox Live Marketplace with a fairly problematic issue which caused the system to freeze up while downloading the content. This is doubly troubling, because as we understand it, downloading is actually a pretty important step in the DLC process.

EA Sports commented on the error on its official forums, stating that the DLC has been pulled from the Marketplace until a non-glitched version can be rolled out, hopefully "before the Christmas holidays." People who managed to download the DLC without freezing can still play the game, but won't be able to access the pack's locked content until the revised DLC is released. People who managed to download half of the DLC pack before freezing can play as Evander Holyfield's torso.

It's in the debt: Introducing the EA Sports prepaid debit card

by David Hinkle { Dec 3rd 2009 at 8:15PM }

EA Sports wants to get in your wallet. We're talking about the new EA Sports DebitSmart Visa prepaid card. It works like a lot of other prepaid debit cards: you give EA money, it puts that money on the card. However, EA is trying to sweeten the deal (paying money to use money is a deal?) through the inclusion of EA Sports Reward Points, fractions of payments made with the card that are converted to points which consumers can then use toward EA Sports purchases via EA's site.

EA marketing VP Todd Sitrin calls the program "a perfect marriage of encouraging responsible spending while providing a unique reward program." History teaches us otherwise, so if you'll excuse us, we'll just be sitting in the corner, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

FIFA 10 Ultimate Team DLC pitched amid sales surge

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 1st 2009 at 9:30PM }

FIFA 10, the latest iteration of EA Sports' biggest global franchise, itself based on the world's most popular sport, is selling well. That's an understatement. Worldwide, EA estimates game sales have surpassed 4.5 million units since the October 1 launch, including a so-called record-setting first week, in which 1.7 million units were sold in Europe to make FIFA 10 the world's "fastest-selling sports video game." What better time to announce that the game will receive a fresh pair of legs?

EA today announced the pending release of FIFA 10 Ultimate Team, a DLC management mode -- introduced to the series last year (and ported to this year's slumping Madden game) -- that has been made over with a "redesigned chemistry system built around player relationships." Think: God game governing platonic dating-sim played with a deck of cards, and ... you're there. Come February, Ultimate Team will be available for download for 400

or $4.99 via Xbox Live and PSN.

Gallery: FIFA 10 Ultimate Team (DLC)

Fight Night Round 4 gets 'Rivalries' DLC this week, you get a new trailer right now

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 29th 2009 at 3:30PM }

For those of you wishing to recreate the ear-biting banality that is a boxing match between Mike Tyson (please don't hurt us!) and Evander Holyfield (the poor guy!), EA Sports is enabling just such a possibility with this week's DLC for Fight Night Round 4. Titled "Rivalries," it'll be adding three new fighters as well as some new game modes.

The DLC's trailer (found after the break) details all the new additions, as well as giving us our first in-action look at the new fighters. We'll be re-imagining Holyfield's fateful fight with Tyson getting pummeled into the ground when the DLC arrives on December 3 – call it virtual retribution.

Gallery: Fight Night Round 4 (DLC)

Continued →

This Wednesday: XBLA takes Madden NFL Arcade to the end zone

by Justin McElroy { Nov 23rd 2009 at 2:45PM }

Just in case you've taken a few exceptionally hard tackles in the past couple of weeks, we thought we'd remind you that this week's XBLA release is Madden NFL Arcade, a five-on-five, backyard-rules take on EA Sports' darling. You'll be able to pick the game up just in time for your Thanksgiving celebrations for 1200

($15).

Editor's Note: Thank you to reader TuchdwnMan449 for reminding us that it's called the "end zone" and not "the scoring rectangle thing" as our headline originally read. We pledge to improve our understanding of sports before writing future football posts.

Gallery: Madden NFL Arcade

EA Sports Active stores open in Boston and San Francisco

by JC Fletcher { Nov 17th 2009 at 11:15PM }

If you live in Boston or San Francisco and are curious enough about EA Sports Active to go into a retail store devoted entirely to the fitness game, you're in luck! And maybe you've also learned something about the amount of curiosity you have about EA Sports Active. On November 15, EA opened two EA Sports Active stores, featuring demo units of both Active and the new EA Sports Active: More Workouts, "Active Trainers" who will show attendees how to use the game, and even a supply of games to lend out to visitors so they can try it at home. The stores also take reservations for workout sessions. They'll be open until December 14.

EA invited some bloggers to the Boston location for a tour and a workout. Not us, but fitness bloggers. You know, the people that someone might listen to if they cared about being healthy. Luckily for us, those bloggers took plenty of pictures of the inside of the Boston store. If you'd like to visit, the addresses of the stores are posted after the break.

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NHL Arcade is the Xbox Live Deal of the Week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 16th 2009 at 4:15PM }

All of you fence-sitters out there can finally (high) stick it to the man. That's right, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is this week's Xbox Live Deal of the Week. We realize that you were all agonizing about its 800

($10) price point. Now there's nothing to hold you back, as it's been marked down to an icy cool 400

($5). That's only five pucks, so skate on over to Xbox Live Marketplace and give it a try.

Add NHL Arcade to your 360 download queue

[Via Major Nelson]

Madden NFL Arcade rushes towards early Thanksgiving release

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 12th 2009 at 3:00PM }

EA has pushed up the release of its upcoming Madden NFL Arcade downloadable game, just in time for when you're lounging around in a tryptophan-included daze. Like NHL Arcade 3 on 3 before it, PS3 owners will get early access to the game: it'll be available Tuesday November 24th on PlayStation Network and Wednesday, November 25th on Xbox LIVE Arcade for $14.99 and 1200

, respectively.

Unlike its retail counterpart, NFL Arcade doesn't attempt to recreate the sport with any level of "realism." The field is much smaller and players will have to get touchdowns within four tries (no way to get a first down). The various power-ups, coupled with the smaller field, will make for much faster games and much higher scores. Its also likely to become one of the best-selling downloadable games ever, and from what we hear, EA really could use the cash.

Gallery: Madden NFL Arcade

EA Sports MMA gameplay footage revealed during Strikeforce match

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 8th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Man, we have got to get into watching Mixed Martial Arts. Not only do the sport's leagues have like, the coolest names ever, but the televised bouts also occasionally contain sneak peeks into upcoming video games. For instance, on last night's Strikeforce (so, so cool) match, the first-ever gameplay footage from EA Sports MMA was revealed. You can find it posted just after the jump.

How does it look? We have no idea. There's plenty of punching and kicking, sure, and one might say these two techniques are used intermittently -- or rather, that they are mixed. Therefore, our initial, amateur analysis of the video concludes that it reeks of authenticity.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

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EA Sports MMA signs Strikeforce league, additional fighters

by Randy Nelson { Nov 6th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Strikeforce.com

EA has announced a deal to feature the Strikeforce MMA league in its upcoming EA Sports MMA. The publisher also finalized contracts with two pro mixed martial artists currently fighting in Strikeforce, Jake shields (pictured, left) and Brett Rogers, to appear on the game's roster. Don't expect the signings to throw any fuel on the UFC vs. EA fire, however, as neither fighter has ever been on the payroll of UFC prez Dana White.

Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo, Strikeforce's commentary team, will also be recording voiceover for the game. It has yet to be revealed which, if any other leagues will be featured in the game, and if their own commentary teams will be included. Currently, we know that MMA referee "Big John" McCarthy and Strikeforce ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. will also lend their voices and likenesses to the title.

While locking up more pro talent and the Strikeforce license lends credibility to EA Sports MMA, we've still yet to see any hint of an actual video game apart from a lone screenshot released late last month. Hey, EA: You do know that, at this pace and given the nature of MMA, these guys could be retired by the time the game actually ships ... right?

Card-based Madden Ultimate Team mode coming in January

by Justin McElroy { Nov 5th 2009 at 10:06AM }

Click to open the foil wrapper on a giant version.

Well, this is a rarity: A sports game mode that's too nerdy even for us. When "Madden Ultimate Team" mode comes to Madden 10 on 360 and PS3 for free in January, you'll collect packs of cards (or buy them via the in-game store) and use those cards to compose a fantasy team, customizing everything from your head coach and stadium to your plays and players. You can then pit your ultimate team against those of other players or the CPU. Think fantasy football mixed with ... well, let's be honest, Pokemon.

Wow guys, really? Collectible card game battling? We thought Madden players were supposed to be the cool ones, but you're getting into some really noogie-prone territory here.

Gallery: Madden Ultimate Team mode

Lock your eyes on first EA Sports MMA screenshot

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 27th 2009 at 6:59PM }

Remember when we used to dream -- oh, so innocently -- of the days when video games would look real? Well, those days have come and gone. Games have now officially entered the realm of too real. See: the first screenshot of EA Sports' MMA (above).

Look, we're cool with realistic violence in games -- from a distance. Exploding heads, severed limbs, gratuitous gore -- it's all got to be separated by at least a sword's length; or better: the distance traveled by a bullet.

This bare, get-on-the-floor and grapple-it-out violence is just, well, confusing. Look at that balding guy's expression*. Look closer. What is that all about? It's, like, the antisocial rage it takes to snap a man's arm (against one's groin, no less) coupled with the extreme constipation indicative of training the body to destroy people (go on, squeeze it out) and the extraordinary pain brought on by a set of incisors biting into the tender flesh behind the knee -- and then it's all locked together in what appears to be pure ... ecstasy? We know the sport's all about mixing it up, but these are mixed messages. C'mon, folks, we don't need this stuff in the way of kicking ass. Games must not imitate real life.

*Ed.'s Note: Sorry dude! We don't follow the sport, and so we don't know your name. Please don't break us!

[Via Shacknews]

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Moore talks digital distribution; disc-based business model 'a burning platform'

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 19th 2009 at 12:58PM }

EA Sports head honcho Peter Moore is all about digital distribution. During a panel on monetization at the PLAY Berkley Digital Media Conference this past weekend (as reported by IGN), Moore extolled the many virtues of a digitally distributed future, when discs are a long-forgotten remnant of an old business model. "I'd say the core business model of video games is a burning platform ... absolutely," Moore said.

Thankfully for all of us disc-owning fools, Moore doesn't believe we'll be seeing a digital distribution–exclusive business model next week. "As an industry, I still think we may be as many as a decade away from saying goodbye to physical discs," he said, positing that Microsoft would likely be the first to release a download-only console (surely, not to be confused with a digital-format portable system or pc-based device). In the meantime, EA continues to ship 125-130 million discs each year while moving toward Moore's envisioned future.

Madden NFL Arcade coming to XBLA & PSN; $15 this Dec.

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 14th 2009 at 11:15AM }

Click for more highlights!

Dear Download-only Record Holder,

You had a good run -- time to move over. Madden NFL Arcade is coming to town. EA has detailed, priced and dated its bite-sized Madden for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Targeted for the holiday season, Madden Arcade is described as fast-paced, 5-on-5 football. It's a classic backyard scenario -- first to 30; 4 plays per possession; no penalties; no field goals -- draped in NFL glamour.

Following in the tradition of its arcade-football predecessors (NFL Blitz, NFL Street, etc.) and EA's 3-on-3 NHL Arcade, Madden Arcade will feature a 'toonish art style, downsized playing field (60 yards) and 13 "Game Changers" (power-ups), including the ability to freeze your opponents, turn off their passing icons, or enlist an army of lineman to pretty much guarantee a sack. Each match is customizable, too, by altering skill level, points to win and other options, and supports up to 4-player co-op on a single console or 1-vs-1 online.

Madden NFL Arcade will be released this December on XBLA (1200

) and PSN ($14.99). And shortly thereafter, the game is the odds on favorite to become the best-selling download-only title ever. How's the saying go: Don't hate the player? Hate the ...

Gallery: Madden NFL Arcade

Mask-wearing fan suing EA over likeness in Madden 09

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 4th 2009 at 5:30PM }

He might be known for wearing a bug-eyed dog mask and representing the most hardcore of Cleveland Browns fans, but John "Big Dawg" Thompson isn't down with his likeness being used in EA Sports' Madden NFL 09. No, not just because it misrepresents his jersey's number (98 in real life, 92 in the game) -- it's because EA Sports is using his likeness without ever having actually asked permission.

So John Thompson (not to be confused with that other Thompson) has filed a complaint at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas seeking restitution "in excess of $25,000." He's also looking to block EA's ability to sell the game or use "the Big Dawg character" without his expressed permission in the future. We hate to tell you, John, but that game kinda came out last year.