Hit The Pass - Press Row Podcast

With the late-breaking news that Madden creative director Rex Dickson has left EA Sports and the mention of the series going in a "new direction" we welcome the person that previously held that same position, Ian Cummings, on this episode of the Press Row Podcast. He's got a new mobile game that just came out right in time for the Kentucky Derby (Horse Racing Manager 2018) and he's able to provide unique perspective on what the change in leadership for Madden might mean for the long-running franchise. Later in the episode there's discussion on the just-released Super Mega Baseball 2 and an early assessment of the first event being held for the NBA 2K League. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) Ian Cummings, Third Time Games, (@iantcummings) Download Horse Racing Manager 2018: iOS - Android

Subscription services continue to provide great value and the news on three games impacted by them headlined the week in sports gaming. Discussion on this episode of the Press Row Podcast includes Super Mega Baseball 2 being offered for free to Xbox Live Gold subscribers, PES 2018 being added to the Xbox Game Pass service, and a 20% discount for PlayStation Plus subscribers on NBA Playgrounds 2 which looks to also now have a release date. Additionally there's sadness over the lack of a World Cup game and curiosity over a survey sent out by 2K Sports regarding the reasons why people may have stopped playing NBA 2K18 which hits on some industry and consumer trends. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

A summer of indie games is nearly upon us and among them are Super Mega Baseball 2, NBA Playgrounds 2, and Casey Powell Lacrosse 18. News on those three are discussed in this episode of the Press Row Podcast which also covers the revelation that Pro Evolution Soccer is losing its exclusive UEFA license and progress in a fantasy draft being held for MLB The Show 18. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

This episode of the Press Row Podcast features discussion on the recent NBA 2K League draft, playoff predictions from NBA 2K18 and Franchise Hockey Manager, and the crowning of the Favorite Sports Game Since 2010 with NBA 2K11 and NCAA Football 14 having reached the finals of the tournament.  On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Great friend of the show and founder of the sports video game podcast Adrian Todd Zuniga joins us this week! He discusses his new book Collision Theory which is available April 17 and can be pre-ordered now, his role helping craft Madden's Longshot mode last year and looking ahead on potential future options for it, his current relationship with sports video games, and more. From 1UP to The Sports Game Guy's Sports Anomaly, 4th String to Literary Death Match, Mr. Zuniga is well-known for his diverse, entertaining efforts. On the show this week: Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit the Pass (@richgrisham) Adrian Todd Zuniga (@atzuniga)

MLB The Show 18 has released and we've assembled a small panel to talk all about the game on this episode of the Press Row Podcast. Everything from Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, Franchise, gameplay, the removal of modes, predictable trouble with the servers and more is discussed at length. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) Kat Bailey, USgamer (@the_katbot) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@thatsportsgamer)

From the latest on any potential return of college sports video games to the impact Fortnite is having on the industry this episode of the Press Row Podcast tackles a number of listener-submitted questions. Additionally the results from the first round of the Favorite Game Since 2010 Tournament are revealed setting up the Elite Eight matchups. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Franchise Mode news for MLB The Show 18 is out and fans are overwhelmingly disappointed by the details, just weeks following the announcement of the removal of Online Franchise. The state of Franchise in The Show - and the sports gaming genre as a whole - is discussed in this episode of the Press Row Podcast. Then it's on to revealing the field of 16 games in the "Favorite Sports Game since 2010" tournament bracket. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer) MillsGamingTV (@MillsGamingTV)

With just two weeks until MLB The Show 18 arrives the final details on what to expect from the game are being revealed. Whether it regards the improvements and additions, or in one case a prominent subtraction, pre-release anticipation for the game has now reached its peak. The removal of Online Franchise has sparked backlash from fans of the mode, who despite being relatively low in numbers are understandably frustrated given the lack of support it has received over the last four years and because it will probably never return. Meanwhile the stalwart Road to the Show is moving towards a performance-based progression system that has removed the distribution of attribute points in favor of archetypes and attribute caps. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

2018 is shaping up to be a strong one for the sports gaming genre due in large part to independent developers. The latest game to be announced is The Golf Club 2019 which will act as the third entry in the well-regarded series that began in 2014, but concern is raised whether it will be able to sustain much less grow its consumer base in a graveyard of once annualized sports franchises. Also on this episode discussion regarding the new features revealed for MLB The Show 18's Diamond Dynasty mode and the panelists theorize why there still has been no official FIFA World Cup game announcement from EA Sports. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) MillsGamingTV (@MillsGamingTV)

After a week venturing into the history of baseball video games the Press Row Podcast returns to present day with more discussion on MLB The Show, the announcement of a Casey Powell Lacrosse sequel, the latest eSports developments for NBA 2K18 and FIFA 18, and the NPD results for January which includes an alarmingly low landing spot for EA Sports UFC 3.   On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

A new season of baseball is once again upon us and on this episode of the Press Row Podcast we look both forward to MLB The Show 18 and back through the history of baseball video games. First it's a discussion of this week's reveal of new features for The Show. Then each panelist counts down through their top five all-time features from baseball video games. The picks are varied and span over 30 years, represent different types of games, features that have proven influential to this day, and those that were simply most memorable. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Paul Sporer, Rotographs/ESPN (@sporer) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer) Kris Jardine, SnaggleJ (@SnaggleJ) MillsGamingTV (@MillsGamingTV) Referenced in this episode MLB The Show 18 stream notes The Fantasy Baseball Black Book 2018

Over 12 years have passed since the release of Madden NFL 06 but the mere mention of the title still conjures up emotions from sports gaming fans. From an industry standpoint it also could be cited as being a major contributor to a turning point around that time in consumer distrust with not just what publishers would say about games before they released, but also what they showed.  Former lead designer for the Madden NFL series Ian Cummings joins Bryan Wiedey and Rich Grisham to discuss the events surrounding development of that game. Thanks to a piece from Glixel which included interviews with several parties involved in development we've learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes trials and tribulations and here Ian provides additional perspective and his first-person account of everything that took place. Also in this episode T.J. Lauerman goes through the first reveals for MLB The Show 18 which includes a focus on the improvements made to gameplay and the addition of new legends for Franchise and Diamond

Could Microsoft really be looking at buying Electronic Arts? What would it mean if that actually came about? The big rumor this week is discussed in this episode of the Press Row Podcast. Other topics include more thoughts on EA Sports UFC 3, what Madden NFL 18 predicts for Super Bowl 52, and the remarkable numbers being reached by the FIFA franchise. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit the Pass (@richgrisham) MillsGamingTV (@millsgamingtv)

In a look forward to the year ahead, the panelists on this episode of the Press Row Podcast go through their top five most anticipated sports games of 2018. The criteria among the panelists varied with the lists including some predictable selections, some surprising ones, and even a few hypotheticals. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit the Pass (@richgrisham) Daniel Baesal, UberYoutuber (@danielbaesel) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@thatsportsgamer) MillsGamingTV (@millsgamingtv)

It's the eight annual PCAs! Celebrating the year in sports gaming, the Pastapadre Community Awards recognize all the achievements from the genre over 12 different categories - as voted on by the community of consumers that actually plays them! The awards are handed out in this episode of the Press Row Podcast, with in-depth discussion on all the nominees and what the voting patterns say about the games and the direction of the genre.  Pastapadre, Sporting News/Hit The Pass/Pastapadre (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

It’s part 2 of our set of shows talking to various friends of the Press Row Podcast, counting down their top 3 sports games of 2017! This week, we get a bunch of great guests to join, including Ryan Lewis from 4th String, Corey Andress from Electronic Arts, Daniel Baesel (aka UberYouTuber), Matt Kato from GameInformer, and Adam Burnett & Jeff Riddolls from Franchise Hockey Manager. It’s another really fun episode with a bunch of different perspectives! Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) Ryan Lewis, 4th String (@RyanTheLou) Corey Andress, Electronic Arts (@EACoreySA) Daniel Baesel, YouTube (@danielbaesal) Matt Kato, GameInformer (@MattKato) Adam Burnett, Franchise Hockey Manager (@KnightAttack09) Jeff Riddolls, Franchise Hockey Manager (@JeffRiddolls)​

A Press Row Podcast tradition continues with a gathering of many friends of the show to tell us their favorite sports games of 2017. There are no rules other than pick your favorites! This week's episode is the first of two shows, featuring great friends Gus Ramsey in one segment and Cicero Holmes in another. Many know Gus from his days at ESPN and the Bill Simmons podcast. Cicero, one of the creative forces behind Spawn On Me, has been a contributor for years. Both played their fair share of sports games 2017 and tell host Rich Grisham their three favorites in order. Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) Gus Ramsey, Full Sail University (@gusramsey) Cicero Holmes, Spawn On Me (@stubbystan)

With the Press Row Podcast's 2017 Sports Game of the Year and Racing Game of the Year having been decided we now turn to discussing the most important stories in the sports gaming world from the last year. These stories not only impacted the games in 2017 but could influence the direction of the various franchises and even the genre and the entire industry as a whole. On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit the Pass (@richgrisham)

For the first time ever, the Press Row Podcast awards its Racing Game of the Year. 2017 was a banner year for racers, with a slew of new releases of high quality that featured every kind of racing imaginable. Simulation titles, arcade games, cars, bikes, and karts all made big noise this year. To settle on a champion, we gathered noted friends of the show and avid racing game fans Greg Sewart, Dr. Ken Parker, Pete Dodd, and Dave Benrey to count down their top three favorites and determine which stands atop the podium at the end of the year. On the show this week: Richard Grisham, Hit the Pass/OOTP Developments (@richgrisham) Greg Sewart, Player One Podcast/Generation 16 (@sewart) Pete Dodd, Doddcast (@atpetedodd) David Benrey, Telemundo (@senornascar) Dr. Ken Parker, Hit The Pass (@Chairman7)