EA Sports New York Kick Off Event

April 29th, 2010

By Eddy

A couple of times a year EA usually has a showcase for their headliner games. They give a number of media outlets the opportunity to play the games and meet with the developers.  Obviously a lot of work goes into setting up the event as it is evident that EA really cares about getting these games out to the public.  With that said, in my personal opinion it’s actually unnecessary (not to say that they shouldn’t have any events, I have way to much fun at them) but the quality of the games speak for themselves and have for a long time now.  Nowhere is this more evident that with the EA Sports line of games.  For the past decade EA Sports has consistently put out games that usually rate at the top of the list each year, and after my time with their future offerings for 2010, I am confident that things will remain the same.

So here is the recap from our visit to the Ainsworth in New York City for the EA Sports New York Kick Off.

EA Sports Active Wii Game

By Divina

Later this year, the updated EA Sports Active will be released. A fitness game much like Nintendo’s Wii Fit that gets the gamer to do some fun calorie burning exercise.  I am trying out the Wii Fit Plus now and I find it to be a lot of fun so I was interested in comparing what EA sports spin on it was.  The game offers 20 plus activities which focuses on cardio, upper-body and lower-body exercises. Activities like, mountain biking, squats, running and so on. The game also allows for the player to customize their workout routine to meet your fitness goals.  Multiple players can get in on the workout for further competition. I especially liked how the leg and arm band sensors act as a heart monitor and calorie counter. EA Sports Active is rated for everyone but the price for the bundle has not been set so stay tuned.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11

By Eddy

The game comes out for all the major consoles, but at the event I really wanted to concentrate on the Wii game.  Last year, Tiger Woods 10 introduced the Wii motion plus to the game play, which added a more fine tuned control system and frankly a bit more realism to the game.  To build on last year’s offering, players are now able to play in a first person view (True View).  Allowing you to line up your shot on the tee and see the ball at your feet.  As far as I am concerned it is the closest you can get to playing real golf at the comfort of your home.  I don’t include those ridiculously expensive golf simulators.  The game mechanics have also gotten more realistic with the Tour Pro option which measures the contact point on the ball as you swing.  This new feature is so in tuned with your actual motions that it is possible to totally miss the ball if you aren’t careful.  The game boast new courses as well as allowing you to play in the Ryders Cup as Tiger Woods or your own custom made player.  Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 will be out for all major consoles in June.

Madden NFL 11

By Eddy

Madden has been the gold standard for years, but after a while I kind of stopped playing (I know Madden Fan, blasphemy!).  The thing that made me stop is exactly the aspect that most people like and that is the complexity of the games.  I am pretty sure there are a number of people that have played Madden enough that they could competently coach a professional team during a game, at least in terms of strategy and play choice.  Unfortunately, I felt that game play was too nuanced and there were so many plays to have to filter through which really slowed down the game. I just got overwhelmed.  Well, just like those Windows 7 commercials, EA must have heard me. Madden has revised the play calling system, which now provide players with customized situational game plans, which cuts the play book down to those plays that truly apply to current situation and also speeds up the game so now instead of going through up to 350 plays you have only one.  While this might stifle some of the creativity of hardcore Madden gamers, it provides everyone else more time to actually playing the game on the field. Hardcore fans shouldn’t worry too much since the game also allows you to create your own defensive and offensive game plans to use in the new play calling system. Of course, the usual upgrades in terms of controls, graphics and online play round out the changes and combine to make Madden NFL 11 a must have when it comes out August 10th.

NCAA Football 11

By Eddy

Unfortunately, I did not get to play this one.  Seeing that my team is the Uconn Huskies you can obviously tell that I don’t really play the College football games that much.  I was able to sneak behind a couple of people and learned a couple of interesting things.  First of all, a couple of Madden tricks are starting to show up in the game including: Pro-Tak gang tackling and formation substitution.  The game has also made the presentation closer to the ESPN game broadcasts. They have also added details to each player such as hand warmers, wrist bands and knee braces.  From where I was standing the game looked great and very realistic.  NCAA Football 11 is scheduled to come out 3 days before my birthday on July 13th.

NBA Jam

By Eddy

Back from the grave comes one of the most popular basketball games in video game history, NBA Jam! I remember playing this game in middle school and not being able to get enough.  It brings back everything that made the original so fun, the 2 on 2 game play, the ability to knock over your opponents, the big headed versions of your favorite players and finally the vicious dunks.  Lest I forget the most important thing…the ability to catch fire! (my inner caveman is coming out). This game was one of the most popular at the event with a consistent crowd around the tv screen.  You could hear the whoops and hollers from the players as they attempted to pick up the game play.  As the game is for the Wii, it takes a little while to adjust to how to play with the remote and knunchucks, though it look like nobody had any issues catching on.  I took a couple of turns playing the game and must admit that it had me as enthralled as the original did.  With the improved graphics and the 3D modeling of the players as well as photos of each NBA Star it was a marked improvement over the 90’s version of the game both from the console and the arcade. Due out this fall for only the Wii, I am predicting that this one might be a big hit with kids as well as adults.

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