The Blog for the Sports Gamer

Hey, if you haven’t yet signed up and want to(by sign up I mean get a 1 year subscription) to Xbox Live, and you like free games, please email me. Microsoft is running a promotion where if you’re already an XBL subscriber and you sign someone up to XBL both people get a free game from the following: Rallisport Challenge 2, Top Spin or Links. I already have them, but I’m sure we can do a giveaway or something on here. (Yes, you have to pay for your one year subscription for this to work). Just drop me a line and I’ll give you the details.

Yesterday, I received Showdown: Legends of Wrestling for the PlayStation 2, courtesy of Gamefly. Of course, ahead of time, I had checked out reviews just to see. IGN’s review quote was “Because the reality of it all, is that Showdown is a game meant for fans of wrestling and Not for fans of wrestling videogames.” Well, duh, don’t you think? How many non-soccer fans are going to play soccer games, exactly? Although IGN gave it a craptacular review, the reader score was much, much higher, which lead me to believe it wasn’t all that bad.

The game is definitely for wrestling fans from the 80s and early 90s. Everybody who’s anybody is in the game, which is great for the same group of people that still play Atari 2600 games. The match play itself isn’t awful, just different. I will say there are some collision detection issues (you throw a punch at the guy’s back and he holds his face, for example)….and of course with any wrestling game, the ‘aiming’ thing sucks. That being said, I’m having a lot of fun with the game. The cage matches are fun, the hardcore matches are fun, there’s plenty of blood in the game as well.

If I had to review it, I’d probably give it a C+ at this point. It definitely could have been better, but it’s not the worst wrestling game I’ve played. (I think that honor goes to WWF RAW for the Xbox, or Royal Rumble for the Dreamcast. Both blew chunks). Wait 2 weeks when it’ll be $19 to pick it up.

Speaking of wrestling, after playing the game, I put on RAW. I hadn’t watched it in a long time. Maybe years. I see why. Ever see those debates on the newsgroups about XM and Sirius, TiVo and Replay? Usually they say I want both to survive so that there is competition. That’s the problem with the WWE — there is no competition, there are too many wrestlers and the product is suffering big time. On the bright side, I don’t think I have ever laughed out loud more than I did in the last 15 minutes of RAW. First, we saw the ‘flashback’ from Sunday’s PPV. Of course, since you can go and buy the repeat of the PPV we got “press still photos”, like it’s some top notch boxing match from the 80s. Then we see Undertaker beat Dudleyz to save Paul Bearer, only to kill him in cement. So, they are advocating death now. Great. In addition, it made absolutely no sense. Isn’t Undertaker like pushing 50 now? Anyway, whatever.

Then, in the ‘main event’ and I use that term loosely, we have Kane vs Chris Benoit with the most stupid rules I’ve ever seen. God knows what belt it’s for at this point, as there are like 23 belts. I think it’s the WWE Heavyweight, which used to be the WCW World Title, which is different than the belt that Hogan had back in the 80s. Or something. Anyway, of course Benoit wins using the only way that he can win, but then Lita comes out — apparently she’s pregnant with Kane’s kid. Or something. So Benoit is out of it, Lita points to the belt and gives it to him, as if he’s won. Then she crotch kicks him. Then Kane gets ready to chokeslam Lita but realizes it’s his kid, so doesn’t. Then he yells at Lita. She runs away and Benoit kicks Kane. That’s how it ends. Or something. Who cares. God, that was stupid. People still watch this? Acutally they don’t based on the ratings.

Anyway, remember WrestleLine? It was a pretty great site, giving some wonderful recaps and made watching the matches a lot of fun, way back when. Then CBS Sportsline bought it. Then they killed it. Well, last month, it came back. It’s not at 100% but they are working their way back. Check it out by clicking here.

I got a bunch more invites for Gmail, email me if you want ‘em.

Got this from the Operation Sports forum.

Interesting.

1. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida

2. Neyland Stadium, Tennessee

3. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State

4. Tiger Stadium, Louisiana State

5. Autzen Stadium, Oregon

6. Husky Stadium, Washington

7. Kyle Field, Texas A&M

8. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin

9. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska

10. Sanford Stadium, Georgia

11. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa

12. Michigan Stadium, Michigan

13. Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech

14. Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State

15. Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame

16. Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson

17. Beaver Stadium, Penn State

18. Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma

19. Jordan-Hare (sp?) Stadium, Auburn

20. Carrier Dome, Syracuse

21. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama

22. KSU Stadium, Kansas State

23. Mountaineer Field, West Virginia

24. Martin Stadium, Washington State

25. Miami Stadium, Miami

A very interesting list, ya think?

I love this. The football “war” (hard to call it a war when EA Sports continually bitch-slaps Sega at the cash register every year. Maybe we should call it the football…”Alamo”) keeps getting sillier.

Sega now may release their game in late-freaking-July. Before some training camps start. Can you say, “Craptacular rosters?” Plus, who is REALLY ready for a football game in July? (Ok, I am, but I’m not normal.) Still most “run of the mill gamers” aren’t ready to plop down cash for an NFL football game until they are able to see the teams on the TV, which will be a month away in they release it in July. When will this end? Are we going to see the new versions of these games one day released three weeks after the Super Bowl? It used to be September, then late August, now late July? Doesn’t this faster development cycle mean shittier games? Well, for $20 I guess it’s worth the risk, eh?

Unfortunately, I tried to go see F 9/11, but it’s sold out. Until Monday. I’m glad the message is getting out, and in the mean time I will play PC games and catch up with the Daily Show. It will be interesting to see the weekend movie numbers. Honestly, all those theater owners that caved to the Right Wing only gave it more press, so it drove more people into a theater. Granted, while I could see Shrek 2 on any of 5 different theaters locally, I could only find one cinema showing 9/11. I’m sure O’Reilly will mention that. But then again, who cares.

Now some sports news. I picked up Indy Car 2005 for Xbox. My god, that is a hard #@$#@$ing game. It makes Toca 2 look like a cakewalk. In my unending quest to find a Shinnecock course for any golf game I own, I thought I had one for Tiger Woods on PC, but it looks like it’s just a tga file and not a course. Nonetheless, I fired up Tiger 2004 and played Pinehurst No. 2. I gave up after the 11th hole when I was +14. Man mouse swing is hard, especially after playing Links Xbox nonstop. I may have to fire up Golden Tee Golf on the PC again, that’s always fun. Anyone still play that game, btw?

I watched Caddyshack again over the weekend, and in doing some research after watching the movie, according to the actor who played Danny Noonan, “Where is Danny Noonan Now? During ABC’s coverage of the Western Open on July 3, a segment will air with me in character as Danny Noonan. Several golf professionals (Mike Weir, Lee Janzen, etc.) will be in the spot, recreating a scene from Caddyshack.” So definitely check that out next Saturday. I’m alright, don’t nobody worry ’bout me….

Yes, a quasi-political post from Bill, not Dan. Anyway, we went to see it today at a 1:15 matinee. It was a packed house. I’m not going to rail on about the movie; I’ll let you make up your own mind. Just see it. Everyone should see it and at least discuss it, whether you think it’s horseshit or not.

We saw people crying after it ended, and it received a 5 minute ovation. It was surreal. And, I kid you not, there were armed police officers in the theater during the showing and they stood at the exit as we left.

Folks, this country gets stranger and stranger by the day.

I don’t think Mike Williams, the superstud WR formerly of USC, should be allowed to step foot on a college football field again. Well, unless he’s in street clothes walking across the field after a game. ….Or if he coaches one day. Other than THAT….

Anyway.

What’s the reasoning behind allowing him to play again? Because the Clarret thing was overturned? So what? Williams left USC, hired an agent, and was ready to go play in the NFL. That’s all well and good. He’s a great player. But to say that he thought everything was a go after the intial judge ruled in favor of Clarret, and that it’s unfair and he was “caught in the middle” because the ruling was later overturned is insane. Cry me a freaking river. Who is the think tank that advised Williams in the first place?

There was ALWAYS the possibility that the NFL would win this case on appeal. The NFL was confident that they would do so. A kid that wants to play college ball STAYS IN COLLEGE and plays college ball. Williams is a grown man and I’m so sick and tired of “special people” getting special treatment. He needs to live with the choice he made. He waved goodbye to USC and said hello big bucks of the NFL before he should have. Tough shit. Your choice. Live with it.

I don’t have anything against USC or this Williams kid in particular, but when you hire an agent, accept some cash, declare yourself a professional–that’s it. Your rah rah college days are over. Or at least they should be.

Well, it’s the 4th Quarter, Sega is behind and time is running out. The EA/Madden combo has really dominated through 3 1/2 quarters, but Sega is only one score behind. Sega is out of timeouts.

Sega is pulling out all the stops this time around. They’ve dropped the price by $30 and now they are releasing the game the same week as Madden. This is as about exciting as a political election!

Anyway, this is a *HUGE* gambit by Sega. If this fails, I think it’s Game Over. I mean, what else can you do to get people to buy your game? It beats me. Obviously having the better game doesn’t matter as Sega’s ESPN game was better last year by a mile. Why bother making a game every year if no one buys it? This would leave the whole thing over to Madden, which–don’t get me wrong it is a good game–by eliminating all competitors, where’s the incentive to innovate?

I know I’m going to buy both. Just do me a favor and give the Sega game a chance. I haven’t played this year’s yet, but don’t just buy Madden because it’s Madden, ya know?

Dear EBgames.com Customer,

Thanks for pre-ordering from EBgames.com! As an added benefit to ordering from us, we’ll keep you informed of ship date changes. We are writing to let you know that the publisher has set a new ship date for (Xbox) ESPN NFL 2K5 of 8/10/2004. As always, EBgames.com will not charge your credit card until we ship your order.

So, 8/10, there ya go.

Anyone going to see that new Michael Moore movie? Just curious.

Anyway, I just had to comment about Bill and our Sierra debate. Has the brand lost it’s identity? Absolutely. Is it still sad to see the name being retired? Yes. No reason to feel sorry, just like when Atari died some years ago (and then was brought back to life like a Phoenix (hey, good 2600 reference eh) by the company formerly known as Infogrames. It’s just a brave new world out there, that’s all I’m saying.

Anyway, back to Bill watching .mov video at 212×168 and trying to get a feel for the game. LOL.

Here’s the deal.

A: I’m blind

B: I’m not seeing the right videos

C: People who say the Xbox version looks slow are weirdos

So which is it? I went to IGN today and saw what IGN said were Xbox NCAA 2005 videos. I saw a few Michigan plays, a run by a TCU guy and a failed TE reverse (now THAT looked slow). It looked fine to me. I then watched the PS2 vids and couldn’t see a differnce. So what gives? Am I losing my mind? I know a lot of people have said that the Xbox version looks, “A hell of a lot slower” to quote one fella I know. I just don’t see it. It looks just like NCAA 2004 but with a vibrating stadium screen.

One thing that I didn’t like…the TCU guy runs for a first down and goes into celebration mode. That better be a 15 yard penalty. Keep that shit in Madden and out of NCAA.

…Dan’s wrong. No one should shed a tear that Sierra is supposedly DOA, unless you were part of the group that got canned. Then ok, be sad. I hear ya. Sierra has only Sierra to blame for this kinda thing. Be sad when superb developing houses like Looking Glass and Papyrus shut down. But Sierra? I’m as nostalgic as the next fella about the glory days of Sierra, from their graphic adventures to their sports games. But Siera hasn’t been Sierra for years. Sierra’s sports series failed because Sierra Suits had NO IDEA how to handle and manage it.

Read this, and tell me why I should feel sorry for that company.

This is just part of the cycle that this industry is going through. Soon, all we’ll have are a couple of major publishers and anonymous developers selling us shitty games that lack any kind of innovation, avoiding risk taking for the same old schlok.

Oh, wait…

According to Fuckedcompany, the layoffs you may have heard about at Vivendi Universal was actually the entire dismantling of Sierra as a company.

Now that Riddick and Ground Control 2 are out, I guess they can kill that brand name, although Sierra kind of still has some brand recognition while “Vivendi” only has a French connection to it, and not in a positive Ubisoft sort of way.

If the rumor is true, it would make sense: after all, Sierra killed Dynamix and therefore would be killed itself, right?

It was the only gaming company in recent memory that, back in the heyday was run by a woman. It is still sad that the company that made Front Page Sports is now dead. It’s just a sad, sad state of events.

As promised, here’s the link to my Chaos League preview. I’ll also have some Title Bout thoughts later today.