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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
I may be wrong, but if you are planning on killing off a game, you probably shouldn't be looking to round out it's music soundtrack. The posting was posted on January 6 and expired on January 20. All of this was after the speculation that NHL 2K11 was dead surfaced in December. Hopefully we see the game in September, because the 2K lineup of games was getting rather thin to say the least.

Quote:
2K Sports is looking for a band who can provide a song to help round out the NHL 2K11 soundtrack. NHL 2K11 is the latest in a series of critically acclaimed hockey games, due out in September 2010.

2K Games is not accepting more than 300 artist submissions. Submissions may close before the posted deadline.

Besides the amazing exposure opportunity, selected bands will be paid a $3,000 fee.

Previous acts in 2K Sports hockey games include Phoenix, MGMT, The Ramones, Bad Religion, Korn and Quiet Riot.

If chosen, band will be required to sign 2K’s standard licensing form before they receive the $3,000.
I received this link via PM but also noticed Owen Good over at Kotaku snagged it first, so head there if you want to read his take on the listing.
Blog: The Home of Sanner
You may have heard about the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit against the NCAA. Or, like me, you might not have really heard much about it until several sports writers tweeted about it yesterday.

But it's a big one for sports gamers -- much less anyone remotely involved in college athletics.

You probably have heard about the Sam Keller vs. NCAA lawsuit on how the NCAA handles licensing athlete's likenesses in video games. Well O'Bannon vs. NCAA is along the same thread, and it has to do with the NCAA licensing former player likenesses to organizations for use.

And now the lawsuit of O'Bannon vs. NCAA is moving forward.

What it means is that the NCAA's amateurism ideas are going to be put to an extreme test at least once and probably twice over the coming months. The NCAA's claims to protect amateurism and to protect student athletes from exploitation will almost certainly be unfounded when their account books face some scrutiny.

The implications for NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball (if it's still going to be a game), and NCAA Baseball (if we ever see one again) could be huge.

If O'Bannon wins his lawsuit, Keller would have a great chance, after a lot of legal wrangling, to win his as well since the fundamental claims are pretty similar with the exception one deals with former athletes and the other deals with current. And the NCAA's claim of protecting amateurism would pretty much be put to sleep as well, so college athletics themselves would be forever changed.. The next question for everyone would be, what happens in a post lawsuit world if the judges side with the athletes?

In the O'Bannon case, classic teams with accurate rosters would be a huge no-no in sports gaming. In the Keller case, athletes that even remotely resemble their real life counterparts would be considered taboo in college games, and part of Keller's claim is against customization as well. So custom rosters just might go the way of the dodo. However, that's assuming the NCAA survives the legal onslaught and somehow still is able to maintain it's claim of 'protecting' amateur athletes. There is a small chance the NCAA might be required to compensate athletes in licensing deals (or they might not be around to police licensing deals anymore) which might open the door up to real names and likenesses being used instead of the old number system.

For a lack of a better term, the future is clearly fuzzy for the NCAA. When you step into the world of the legalese, you can never be too cautious when predicting outcomes, and these cases are no exception. Since these things typically take forever to decide, we'll stay on top of these stories at OS. However, don't expect any firm resolution for quite some time.
Blog: The Home of Sanner
Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online Beta Review
01:11 PM - February 9, 2010. Posted by MMChrisS. Written by Christian McLeod
It has been about 10 years since I last played a golf game on the PC. Ever since Tiger Woods arrived on the original Playstation in 1998, I have been enthralled by the idea of console golf with my family and college roommates. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002 further solidified the series as the golf game of choice for me because of the intuitive analog-swing mechanics on the Playstation 2.

Unfortunately, the years have not been so kind to the TW franchise, with each console iteration released since 2005 feeling more and more stale and archaic -- the only saving grace being the exceptional motion controls in Tiger Woods 10 Wii.

Thankfully, EA Sports has started an open beta for Tiger Woods Online -- a free to play, browser-based PGA experience that hearkens back to the days of the PGA Tour series on the PC. The game is a breath of fresh air for a jaded golf-gaming veteran such as myself, perfectly blending old-school game mechanics with innovative online and community features.

So is the TW Online beta worth your time? Read on and find out.

Read More - Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online Beta Review
Game: Tiger Woods PGA Tour OnlineReader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PCVotes: 1 - View All
EA to Tackle Online Quitters in FIFA 11 (Eurogamer)
12:52 PM - February 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
Eurogamer has the scoop.

Quote:
"2010 FIFA World Cup line producer Simon Humber told Eurogamer during a recent hands-on event that the FIFA 11 team was considering rewarding "people for completing matches rather than quitting out".

"It's a complex problem. We do have the five-minute rule: if you find your connection's poor you can drop out within the first five minutes.

"After that there should be a penalty; just in the online world there are complexities that mean by the time the data comes back to our servers, something there means it doesn't award the win to the right person. So we're always looking to improve that."
Game: FIFA Soccer 11Hype Score: Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes: 0 - View All
2010 FIFA World Cup Interview (Videogamer)
12:48 PM - February 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
Videogamer has posted an interview with Simon Humber, Line Producer of 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Quote:
VG: "Some have already begun asking why World Cup isn't FIFA 10 downloadable content. What do you say to that? Why shouldn't it be FIFA 10 DLC?"

Simon: "Firstly, DLC is limited in terms of how big it can be. If we eject the disc from a 360 over there and look at it, it's a DVDs worth of data. DLC isn't set up for that at the moment. That's the first point. Secondly, this is the world's biggest sporting event. It deserves its own platform. It's only once every four years. A great many people want a World Cup game. They want something totally unique. If you were just playing the World Cup using what FIFA 10 has for presentation for stadiums etc, it wouldn't be the World Cup. We want to produce the de facto authentic tournament experience so that when you're watching games this summer and you're playing the game you feel that connection. Maybe you want to play before the game, maybe sneak in a game at half time if you can't be bothered to listen to Hansen and Lineker, and then play it afterwards. It's a big social occasion as well. Groups of people get together to watch matches, play in game modes together, just playing co-op kick off matches, co-op online matches."
Game: 2010 FIFA World CupHype Score: 9.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 2 - View All
New EA Sports NBA JAM Screenshots (ONM)
12:45 PM - February 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
The Official Nintendo Magazine website has posted some new EA Sports NBA JAM screenshots.

Quote:
"Fans of old school sports action might want to keep an eye out for NBA Jam. It's coming to Wii later on this year."
Game: EA Sports NBA JAMHype Score: 5.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: WiiVotes: 2 - View All
2010 FIFA World Cup Hands-On Previews (IGN, Eurogamer, Videogamer)
12:25 PM - February 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS.
The following sites have posted their 2010 FIFA World Cup hands-on previews.

IGN

Quote:
"Improvements stretch to the pitch itself as the grass benefits from some extra attention. It might not seem like a feature to get excited about - unless Gardener's Question Time is where you get your thrills - but the difference it makes to the game's aesthetic is immeasurable thanks to the ubiquity of the green stuff.

But the biggest improvement is multi-faceted and feeds into one thing: the atmosphere. As its producer Humber alluded earlier on, 2010 FIFA World Cup is about recreating the unique thrill of the tournament, and it's something that the team at Vancouver have captured well. In-game it's evident on the pitch itself, which becomes littered with confetti and streamers that are flung from the onlookers."

Eurogamer

Quote:
"We've made over 100 enhancements to gameplay," Humber adds. An impressive-sounding figure, but what does it mean in reality? First, the fixes. Problems with goalies coming off their lines have been addressed, as have those with chipped shots and controlling aerial balls, so players should now chest and move without freezing mid-animation. It's all about "fluidity."

Videogamer

Quote:
"So, World Cup will have the authentic FIFA broadcast captions, LED advertisement boards that glow during night games, confetti raining down on the players, fireworks on the roof, camera flashes especially during goal and trophy celebrations, and seat cards, which fans hold up before games begin. Then there's the brand new 3D crowd - yes, finally!. You know when you're watching football on the box and the camera man zooms in on the only two pretty girls in the stadium, or the nut balls wearing stupid outfits or elaborate face paint? Yeah, well, that's in the game."
Game: 2010 FIFA World CupHype Score: 9.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes: 2 - View All
MLB '10: The Show Screenshots (VSN)
10:08 AM - February 9, 2010. Posted by houtz.
VSN has posted some MLB '10: The Show screenshots.

Quote:
"These screenshots include images of MLB 10 the Show Cover Boy Joe Mauer, 2009 NL Cy Young Winner Tim Lincecum, Pirates RF Lastings Milledge, beautifully designed Target Stadium along with a few others."
Game: MLB '10: The ShowHype Score: 10/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3Votes: 51 - View All
Tecmo Super Bowl Video: Tracy Porter's Interception
07:05 AM - February 9, 2010. Posted by MrNFL_FanIQ.
For the third year, I've made a Tecmo re-creation of a big play from the Super Bowl. As a Colts fan, this one hurt. Plus, my video editing software decided to hate my guts, so it was difficult to make and actually didn't turn out as good as I wanted. Oh well.
FIFA 10 Ultimate Team Video: Building Squads
12:31 AM - February 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
EA Sports has posted a new FIFA 10 Ultimate Team video featuring building squads.
Game: FIFA 10 Ultimate TeamHype Score: Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes: 0 - View All
MLB '10: The Show Screenshots (Pasta Padre)
12:08 AM - February 9, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS.
Pasta Padre has posted some more MLB '10: The Show screenshots.
Game: MLB '10: The ShowHype Score: 10/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3Votes: 51 - View All
Monday, February 8, 2010
All Star Karate Announced
10:49 PM - February 8, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
THQ Springs into Action with the Announcement of All
Star Karate(TM), Currently in Development Exclusively for Wii(TM)

Latest Title in All Star Franchise Becomes First Video Game on Wii to Integrate Karate-Based Play

AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Feb 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that All Star Karate(TM) is currently in development exclusively for Wii(TM) and is scheduled for release this spring. All Star Karate, the first extension in the company's All Star franchise, which debuted with the All Star Cheer Squad(TM) cheerleading video game in 2008, will challenge players to punch, kick and chop their way through the game with play features based on real karate moves. With optional Wii MotionPlus(TM) compatibility, the game offers a true full-body experience by allowing players to experience the life of a karate trainee who is under the guidance of a wise, but humorous sensei, and is on the path toward attaining a black belt, the highest achievement level in karate.

About All Star Karate
In All Star Karate, players will follow the life of a young, martial arts novice whose noble attempt to save an elderly man from a pack of ninjas brings him face-to-face with a true karate master. The sensei, a cantankerous old-timer, offers his services and teaches his new protégé the proper techniques and disciplines of karate and guides him toward achieving the black belt. In single-player, Career mode, players will execute and master various karate moves utilizing the Wii Remote(TM) and Nunchuk, or two Wii Remotes, in order to attain the seven different colored belts or achievement levels in karate, including the black belt. Additionally, players can show off their hand, kicking and blocking techniques by sparring with a friend in Challenge mode or by creating their own move sequences to perform with the Kata Editor.

For more information on All Star Karate, as well as additional THQ titles,please visit http://www.playthq.com.
Game: All Star KarateHype Score: Vote Now
Platform: WiiVotes: 0 - View All
MLB '10: The Show Screenshots (Playstation University)
08:49 PM - February 8, 2010. Posted by backbreaker.
Playstation University has posted some MLB '10: The Show screenshots.
Game: MLB '10: The ShowHype Score: 10/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSP / PS3Votes: 51 - View All
UFC Undisputed 2010 Interview (ESPN)
08:44 PM - February 8, 2010. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Steve Noah
ESPN's Jon Robinson goes one-on-one with producer Neven Dravinski to get the early details on UFC Undisputed 2010.

Quote:
Jon: "One of the coolest features I've seen from "UFC Undisputed 2010" is the addition of signature moves and submissions tied to the superstar fighters. How is that going to work?"

Dravinski: "That's a huge advent to the series. We're doing away with the arch types of just saying some guy is a boxer/wrestler. This is going to enable us to bring a much more realistic representation of each fighter. Last year we needed to makes some tough calls on guys. They might have been really skilled in BJJ, but we couldn't see them doing the rubber guard, so we called them a wrestler. So this year, being able to pick specific moves for fighters, moves that they're known for, really helps clean a lot of that up. Now BJ Penn will do his arm trap into a rear naked choke. We even got moves like "The Salaverry" in the game this year."
Game: UFC Undisputed 2010Hype Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3Votes: 5 - View All

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