The Blog for the Sports Gamer

Thanks for the comments and emails on the last post. I didn’t realize these substances were illegal to posess in the USA. Kinda like murder, it’s not prohibited in the MLB code, but that doesn’t mean it’s allowed in baseball.

In other news, Best Buy wins “major F-UP of the week” because they have an Xbox Live Gold Membership listed in their Sunday circular for $19.99. As everyone knows, that’s about $50 less than the actual price. Oops. They put an ‘addendum’ in the main Sunday paper and posted it front and center on their website. I think that guy is fired btw.

So right now I’m playing Winning Eleven 9 for PS2 and MLB 06 for PSP. Both games are awesome. I cannot believe how awesome this PSP game is. It’s so good, I want to play the PS2 version. The commentary is just–wow. And the game play is outstanding. I highly recomend MLB.

As far as Winning Eleven goes, well, it’s Winning Eleven!!! I will say I’m a little upset about the lack of linesmen in the game. I mean, come on, was it that hard to throw those guys in the game? The gameplay is just so much fun. Even since the PS1 days, there has never been a game like this where I’m so involved. I really feel like I control the action and scoring a goal is almost as good as an orgasm. It is just so well done. The PS2 version isn’t gorgeous, but the audio and the gameplay is still top notch, although they are beginning to suffer from EA-itis from commentary….

So many games, so little time. I think I’ll have to rent FIFA 06 just to compare for the X360, and to rack up some lame EA Gamerpoints. I can’t wait to see what ‘achievements’ there are in FIFA. Maybe “Turn game on - 200 points?” I love gamerpoints, but there’s no consistency. For Geometry wars, you can what, 20 points if you get to 1,000,000 without dying, but by getting a goal in FIFA that’s 100? Come on!

I digress. Enjoy your Sunday.

During today’s World Baseball Classic game on XM Radio, Mr. Bonds was a guest in the radio booth. Him and Bud Selig. Not at the same time, but damn it was some compelling radio.

Of course the analysts on XM were throwing Larry King-esque questions, but I have to say, I was riveted, more so than the 17-0 game they played. It was borderline hysterical hearing Selig say he’s going to look into things more based on what happened this week (I think he meant Bonds), however….

Using Steroids in the late 90’s wasn’t illegal in baseball, at least how I understand it. So, I find it hard to fault Bonds here. What was interesting about the dialog today was that he wasn’t in a fighting mood. It was actually a nice conversation….glad I tuned into XM.

Oh well, back to inflating my gamerscore lol

There’s a pretty decent MLB 2k6 (360) preview up at Gamespot today. There’s four screenshots, a couple of which are really sharp. I’m desperately hoping baseball in HD will put an end to my belief that console baseball gaming sucks. I complained about this last year too, but I can’t deal with baseball in low-res, mostly because managing your roster is akin to spending the day poking a needle into the back of your hand over and over and over again.

Anyway, this preview has some stuff on the new scouting, pitching and hitting systems (goodbye K-zone; thank god). Here’s a taste:

Beyond the mechanics, one interesting twist in pitching is the ability to choose between pinpoint and breakpoint placement. Pinpoint placement means you can choose exactly where the ball lands in the catcher’s glove. Breakpoint placement (this year’s default) is a more realistic take on the action from the mound–and has you choosing where the ball will break, but not necessarily where it will end up. Using this method, you’ll need to know the motion of your pitcher’s slider, curve, or forkball and take that into consideration when choosing your spot.

If this is implemented as well as it sounds this could be a fabulous feature. I can’t stand it when baseball games have pinpoint control over where your pitches end up.

1. American Idol: Not a gigantic shock, but a ripple. In what some people would call “America being tone deaf”, Bucky and Melissa were allowed to go into the final 12 while Gideon and Ayla were sent home. No idea what the thought pattern was here. No one expected the other two to win, but they were absolutely better than Melissa and Bucky, who both are horrid. Can’t wait for Bucky and disco night, that’s all I’m saying.

2. The Mystery Box day has arrived. If you want a chance at an Xbox 360 for $6, click here. You’ll probably get some weird crap instead, but it’s guaranteed to cost as much as $1.00, so there you go. I got a nice putter from them last week, it is legit, I got a mystery box last year. Yes, it wasn’t anything to write home about. I just bought one myself. You never know!!

3. I’ve heard very good things about Ghost Recon. Only problem is I prefer my FPS head on..trying to do tactical shit like order people around and drop recon probes at the same time I’m trying not to be shot doesn’t excite me. Those that have GR, is it more action or more tactics?

4. Watched the Unit. Damn, not a bad show. I didn’t realize that one of the people behind it is Shawn Ryan, who also does a little-known show called the Shield :).

The three of you here other than myself that enjoy footy and MLS footy at that, interesting news. Red Bull has bought the NY/NJ/East Gish Metrostars. They have changed their name to Red Bull New York but the team name is the New York Red Bulls. No idea , don’t ask.

Pretty cheap advertising investment, if you ask me. Nice job Red Bull. The old team couldn’t have been more generic. First it was NY/NJ, which is dumb. At least New England makes sense. IT’s not the Maine/New Hampshire/Vermont/Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut Patriots, you know? Damn that was dumb. And MetroStars? What kind of a lame name is that exactly? It reminds me of old Sega Master System games. “Great Football” Or “Mediocore Baseball”.

So that’s good. Houston on the other hand (last year aka San Jose) has changed their name to Houston 1836, which was very cool and European. Of course no one liked it so now they call themselves the Dynamo. If you ask me Dynamo was the perv from the Running Man trying to hump Maria Conchita Alonzo, but whatever. I believe MLS rule 1:10(a) required the team name to be really stupid.

That’s my MLS wrap. Back to other stuff.

I know I haven’t discussed the OSU hoops team that much this year, but I haven’t missed a game and continue to be in a mild state of shock at the job Thad Matta has done with this team in 2 years. This is a good team. While everyone is waiting on next year’s class with Oden and the rest of the “Thad Five” this year’s team went out and won the outright B10 title on their way to a potential 1 or 2 seed in the tourney. This team was predicted to finish mid pack in the conference. It’s just amazing.

In addition, the NCAA is about to dish out the ruling in the program for the misdeeds of the Jim O’Brien staff.

Here’s what the news is regarding that:

So basically OSU is in the clear in terms of going forward and leaving the sordid O’Brien era behind.

1. Anyone catch the Unit. I have it Tivo’ed….curious about your thoughts.
2. American Idol is very addictive as always.
3. If you’re not watching the Shield, you aren’t watching the best show on TV. I love 24, but some of the plot lines are just plain silly. So they ask for everyone’s key card, but not Lynn’s after he got robbed for it by his sister, he could just go in? There’s no retinal or thumbprint idenity checker? I mean COME ON! The Shield on the other hand seems a lot more realistic to me. And it pisses me off, like it seems too real if you know what I mean. Kavanaugh is just a bastard. Of course the funny thing is you’re in effect rooting for the bad guys. Kinda like the Sopranos….
4. Oh which reminds me, that starts on Sunday. Damn, I am a TV junkie!

What an embarassment for the USA Baseball team, getting their ass handed to them by Canada. CANADA!!! Come on! On the bright side, the pitcher that won for Canada is an A league player for the Orioles, so that’s a good sign :). I bet all those big name players aren’t so happy they didn’t sign up because the US LOST TO CANADA. Unfrigginbelievable.

In other news, nice to see the football agreement done. What’s a few hundred billion between friends. Don’t we all feel sorry for the sacrifices made by the owners and players. Right after the deal was signed, the Patriots cut Willie McGinest. It’s funny how all these sports writers talk about how football was going to become like baseball if this agreement didn’t get done. Of course most sports writers are idiots, and I have to say, I like baseball — mainly becuase a contract is a legal binding document, whereas in football, it doesn’t really matter. Willie McGinest was a true Patriot, and his contract said he was to be paid $7 million this year. The Patriots didn’t want to pay that, so they cut him. Oops. Why not just require 1 year contracts with players so that this BS doesn’t keep happening….

Nothing new, but Gamefly sent an email indicating they shipped College Hoops today. Since I’m having to blow town for the weekend I probably won’t get any time with it until Sunday night, but I’ll shoot to get some impressions up on Monday. (I’m also having Condemned: Criminal Origins sent my way, but I’m not sure how much I’ll dig into that one. It can’t be worse than Dead or Alive 4, though, right?)

I updated the play/work/and current article lists, FYI.

I’m just about finished with my Fight Night testing. This is an extremely hard game to “grade” because on the one hand, the two-player game is marvelous–Fight Night on XBL or on the same machine with a buddy (my preferred method) is a ton of fun, particularly if both players are boxing fans and don’t expect the game to play like Soul Caliber.

The solo game is abysmal. I simply do not understand why the game is receiving such lavish praise; I don’t think it’s because it’s EA Sports. I think it could be that the testing wasn’t thorough enough because the more you play the career mode the worse the game gets. As a multiplayer game it’s ‘A’ level fun and solo it’s more like a C-/D+ so maybe I’ll just split the difference, I dunno yet.

I’m about to install a preview build of Baseball Mogul 2007 and I have to be honest I had no idea this series was still in production. Shows what I know.

Lastly, based on what I am reading on other forums, I may finally have a reason to buy an Xbox 360 in order to get my hands on CH 2K6.

Questions for those that have it:

-Is the sim engine any better?
-Is the NCAA selection/seeding any better?
-Is the polling AI better?
-Are fight songs in the game now?

Just curious.

Major Nelson’s Blog says there are “updates” for the following games:
King Kong
Xbox 360 Arcade: Smash TV
Xbox 360 Arcade: Hardwood Hearts
Madden NFL 06

No idea what they are for, and if you think you are ever going to get me to put Madden NFL 06 into my Xbox 360 again, you are dead wrong. I picked up all 1,000 gamer points and I’m never looking back. BTW, in year 29 of my franchise, why are guys that coached in 2005 still coaching, exactly? Where are the expansion teams? My god, this game is a turd. I better shut up, if i go on anymore in franchise mode, I’ll start sounding like Bill.

One of the awesomest things about XM Satellite Radio is the Major League Baseball license. Baseball is a game meant for radio. Who cares about NFL…that kind of money for a whopping 16 games is pretty damn dumb…but Extra Innings and XM that is awesome.

Anyhoo, the World Baseball Classic is on XM. Every game. I listened to the US-Mexico game today and the Dominican Republic - Venezuela game as well. These games were pretty fun. They were exciting. I mean the US-Mexico game wasn’t as good as say a Soccer World Cup game between the US-Mexico but it was still pretty good. Could there be Orioles players on every WBC team? Damn. Too bad about Lopez getting the L for Mexico today. Of course, he’s used to getting the L in 2-0 games from his Baltimore experience.

Thank you XM. I couldn’t hear these anywhere else. Well not including MLB gameday audio, but that requires internet access. Good luck listening to that in your car.

No need to comment. This article at SI, detailing Bonds’ history with steroids says it all. (The source material is from a new book, Game of Shadows, that will be released Wednesday.)

According to Gamestop’s website they’re now shipping College Hoops 360. I’m going to drop by Blockbuster at lunch and see if they have any copies in (hooray for coupons). If they do I’ll try to play some tonight and get some impressions online.

I really hope the delays in getting this onto shelves indicates that 2k Sports got very serious about stomping out the problems with the game that -in my eye- hurt the Xbox version. If that’s the case the wait will have been totally worth it.

UPDATE: Predictably Blockbuster has one damn copy of the game and it was already out. Since this is a never-ending problem with their hopelessly inadequate supply of 360 titles I’ve gone ahead and signed up for Gamefly, which should have College Hoops available on Wednesday. Hopefully I’ll have a copy by the weekend.

It’s not that I didn’t believe Bill Harris when he blogged that there is not title belt presentation when you become champion of your weight class. I did. But there was part of me that just thought, “nah, there’s gotta be something.” It’s the same part of me that thinks Carol-Anne might not get sucked into the TV set even on the sixth viewing of Poltergeist. Maybe it’ll be different this time.

Well, it’s not.

Last night I got to the Featherweight title bout game against my “rival” (who inexplicably becomes the champion even after I owned his ass in every fight; even the one I “lost” for throwing too many elbows). Predictably, it was another easy bout. KO in the third round. And what do I get for my troubles? A fat lot of nothing. It’s the exact same end of fight sequence you get in every other fight (outside of the additional “rival” commentary). The only indication you get that you’ve accomplished anything is that the title belt graphic is now enabled in your Trophy Case. Gee. Thanks.

There are times I really hate EA for their schizophrenic ability to be utterly brilliant and hopelessly incompetent all at the same time. This is one of them.