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EA Sports MMA gameplay footage revealed during Strikeforce match
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Nov 8th 2009 at 5:30PM }
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 is that reeks of authenticity.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
EA Sports MMA signs Strikeforce league, additional fighters
by Randy Nelson { Nov 6th 2009 at 7:30PM }
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 }
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]
Moore talks digital distribution; disc-based business model 'a burning platform'
by Ben Gilbert { Oct 19th 2009 at 12:58PM }
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.
Fighter flips over his character rating in EA Sports MMA
by Griffin McElroy { Oct 2nd 2009 at 5:11PM }
Watch the video after the jump to witness the proceedings unfold in a very NSFW manner. We realize that not everyone will enjoy the violence depicted in the clip -- but we think we can all rally behind that awesome ball pit/conference table.
[Via GameDaily]
Here's the new EA Sports section of the PS Store
by David Hinkle { Oct 1st 2009 at 10:28AM }
Click image to deke into our gallery
Like Capcom before it, EA Sports now has its own dedicated section of the PlayStation Store. It's not changing the game, but simply following the same format as the Capcom section (with custom background and list of wares). Check out some more screens in our gallery below:
Gallery: EA Sports' section in the PS Store
EA Sports: 'How big can football get?' Us: 'Pretty big, we guess?'
by Ben Gilbert { Sep 21st 2009 at 7:30PM }
Gallery: FIFA 10 (360/PS3)
EA Sports Active inspires 'More Workouts' with success stories trailer
by Xav de Matos { Sep 17th 2009 at 4:15PM }
EA Sports Active: More Workouts hits stores this November. The new version of the exercise title includes over 30 new workouts and a new six week challenge mode, which can be customized for personal tastes.
Analyst: Madden 10 Wii didn't sell because of ... Madden 09 Wii
by Randy Nelson { Sep 11th 2009 at 5:40PM }
More than anything, Divnich believes that gamers' experience with last year's game on Wii influenced their decision to not give the franchise a second shot on the system. "I believe many diehard Madden fans, who transitioned from the PS2 to the Wii, made their yearly Madden purchase in 2008 and realized that the Wii could not offer the same experience they have grown accustom to (online play, realistic graphics, in-depth team management)," he told Joystiq.
The game's motion control gameplay features -- versus the familiar DualShock 2 -- might also have been a turn-off, Divnich said, likening it to the slow acceptance of console controllers for use in first-person shooters. "Anyone introduced to the FPS category through the keyboard/mouse combination even still today refuses to accept the analog controllers as a legitimate FPS controller," he remarked.
Ultimately, though, Divnich came back to the PS2-to-Wii user's experience with last year's Madden. "Avid Madden fans have the curse of knowledge ... and they know that Madden cannot offer the same experience on the Wii as it did for the PS2."
Madden curse strikes back, Polamalu suffers knee injury in season opener
by Griffin McElroy { Sep 11th 2009 at 1:20PM }
Steelers fans witnessed a horrifying scene during last night's season-opening matchup against the Tennessee Titans -- while trying to recover a blocked field goal in the first half, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu sustained an injury to his left knee, preventing him from playing out the rest of the game. If that name sounds familiar, it's because Polamalu was featured on the cover of Madden 10 -- a promotion that has proven to be troubling for NFL players due to the titular "Madden curse."
Polamalu is expected to be out for 3 - 6 weeks, making this one of the least severe examples of cosmic retribution dished out by the curse to date. However, that could just be because said retribution has to be shared between two players this year. For the sake of our fantasy football standings, we urge Larry Fitzgerald to take every safety precaution imaginable during these trying times.
FIFA 10 demo up on XBLM (except for you, America)
by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 10th 2009 at 1:00PM }
Apparently, the excluded regions will have to wait before taking their linebacker down the field and scoring a run in the other guy's hoop. The whole thing makes us want to scream like an athlete on an EA Sports cover.
Gallery: FIFA 10 (360/PS3)
Madden 10 tackles the iPhone
by Andrew Yoon { Sep 9th 2009 at 2:15PM }
click for Madden 10 iPhone gallery
There's an old (albeit imaginary) adage in the game's industry: If it can play games, Madden will undoubtedly follow. EA Sports is rushing Apple's App Store with a brand new game that takes full advantage of the iPhone's (and iPod's) touch screen. Unlike the console variants, the handheld Madden 10 experience is more accessible to the casual player. Beginners will be able to get by without thinking about the playbook, as the game automatically recommends appropriate plays. The action slows down when the quarterback has the ball, and color-coded icons appear on the screen, indicating the likelihood of making a completion.
In our brief time with the game, it was clear that EA Mobile placed a lot of effort into ensuring Madden could be played in short bursts: not only does the game launch within seconds from the iPhone menu, the game auto-saves after every play, allowing players to stop and resume a match any time they want. Hardcore football fans are likely to appreciate the added depth that casual gamers wil avoid: there are 2000 players in the game, voiced (tinny) commentary from John Madden, and a feature called "Hot Route" which allows players to manually draw plays to carry out. A ridiculous number of stats are also tracked by the game with full sorting, so you can know exactly who has the highest 3rd down conversion ratio in the league.
The game will be available for $9.99 in the App Store, though you can snag it for a discounted $7.99 today. We've been told that multiplayer is being worked on, as well as DLC, such as roster updates and "authentic jerseys."
