The Blog for the Sports Gamer Three guys who love Sports Gaming rant and rave about various stuff.

Thursday Deep Thoughts

As a commenter mentioned -- Grand Slam Tennis is not the pile of awesome it seemed to be -- instead it is a typical pile of crap and it is pretty obvious no one reviewed this one in-depth before writing it up. I had the exact same experience that our readers did - easy to win early -- even championships and Grand Slam events -- and then the difficulty ramps up you can't win anything. I like the idea of a difficulty curve, but winning Wimbledon should be a career pinnacle, not something you do in the first year.

On the other hand, may I interest you in Virtua Tennis for PSVita? Now that is a game I like...the Vita is an interesting piece of hardware. Games just look so good, and if you have a PSN Visa Card, with 10x points for downloads, it makes a $39 purchase look like a $399 purchase in points, so rewards are adding up. The battery life is worse in my use than a 3DS...just a heads up. I'm at about 3.75 hours with gameplay and 3G on..blech.

Fairway Solitaire on iPad/iPhone is taking up my life right now. In addition the new Midway Arcade app and the Pinball apps are also keeping me busy. The WWE Wrestlefest is a cute idea but not a whole lot of fun.

Gee, you'll have to excuse Glen. He was too busy pleasuring himself to write about Braun's suspension being overturned. MLB can yap all it wants, but no one has had a decision overturned on appeal, and there have been quite a few appeals, so one thinks there may in fact be reasonable doubt about this one. It is also nice that an MVP was exonerated. I'm also guessing that MLB will never have Shyam Das as an arbitrator again. That's what's so stupid about arbitration  -- it happens in many cases all the time. If the company loses, then they change arbitrators.

Fairway Solitaire now available for iPad, iPhone

While checking the new apps, I saw that Fairway Solitaire is now available for iPads and iPhones...for $2.99. The free version gives you a demo like experience -- then it is an in-app purchase. Well worth it. The game has elements of the 2nd game for PC included (buy clubs in round, water and rough hazards).

Very cool!

MLB @ Bat free this year to Subscribers

MLB.com has announced their 2012 MLB.TV package. Current subscribers save $5 off the annual price. (Hey it's something). Also new this year: tablet/iphone subscribers no longer need to pay for the @Bat app on iPads and iPhones, saving you about $15. So pretty cool.

Grand Slam 2: Why isn’t anyone talking about it?

I was so busy picking up my Vita and playing it I forgot to mention earlier this week Grand Slam Tennis 2 arrived via Gamefly.

The original game, released for the Wii, was one of the first really technical implementations of the Wiimote -- it was a nice idea, but it was frustratingly difficult and not fun at all. I did have some hope after playing the demo for the "2" of this game, which was only released for the 360 and the PS3.

For whatever reason, Kinect is NOT supported by Move is, so if you want full body action, you'll have to get the PS3 version.

First off, this has the old EA Sports menus (like Madden 11, not FIFA 12), but you can work with it. The game has a lot of deep options, like create a player/season modes -- of course there's also one off games where you can play as the pros of the past (as well as present).

Graphics are gorgeous and this is one of the first Tennis games I can remember that has actual play by play. John McEnroe does a fair job, although apparently there wasn't a lot of time to record a ton of dialogue -- which means repeat "tips" -- ugh. However, some is better than none, and I'll live with it. It goes pretty well with the gameplay, except if you X out -- then the commentary won't match what's going on. It's as if he has to finish the .wav file before he goes to the next one.

The game play using the controller is basically the left stick to move and the right stick to swing. Triggers can select lobs. The game is a lot of strategy and a lot of action. In my brief time with it, I've done a lot of fist pumps on some shots I've made.

Serving is fun and playing the ball is nice. Line judges move, although I haven't seen ball boys/girls in action. Advantage is given using the player's name. That doesn't happen very often and is a nice immersive touch.

Unfortunately, it seems a full length 5 set, 6 game to win a set tennis match is painstakingly long to play and that doesn't change here. You'll want to set it at 3 game sets and most likely best of 3 otherwise you could devote a whole Breakfast at Wimbledon, which would turn into a Lunch at Wimbledon -- just for one match.

This is just early impressions, but I'm liking this game a lot. Easily better than Top Spin so far...

Buy this so I don’t

Ebay has a deal today: $50 off a Nook Tablet -- (not Nook Color, but the new one)...it's $199. I keep trying to suppress my inherent addiction to clicking the buy button because I just got a PS Vita and I have iPads and a Kindle touch..but it's a gadget..how can I say no. Please go buy them so it's sold out and I don't have to.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170782931109

Vita Thoughts

I got the PSVita First Edition (shocking I know) and bought a 32GB card so I'd have room (+$100, Christ this is expensive).

I have five games. Hot Shots, FIFA, Uncharted, Little Deviants, and Mod Nation. Of these games, Hot Shots has an online pass requirement.

My first thoughts:

* Pain in the ass to set up. You try to bring over your PSN account, but it says you need to update your software. You are caught in an endless loop unless you say "login PSN trial" instead. Stupid.

* Once it's set up, it's nice. Screen is gorgeous, rear touch is great.

* Hot Shots Golf does not seem like it was made for touching. It's like a PSP game with touch menus. Gorgeous, and fun, not much different than the other HSG's. Lobby is NOT working at this time. Not sure why, it's "under construction".

* FIFA looks great, but rosters & kits aren't up to date (hello , Revolution kit released in December, season in March)..yet another reason why the US soccer schedule sucks. Game makes full use of the rear touch-- HOWEVER if you have hands like mine you like using the back of the console as a rest -- however on this system, it records it as a rear screen touch. Your only options are to 1)not use the rear touch screen as an input, or 2) put your hands in an awkward and uncomfortable position. #Fail. FIFA encourages you to "touch" to pass on screen. It just doesn't feel right to me. I love how you shoot on goal using the rear screen, if you don't accidentally touch it or hold it wrong.

Other thoughts:

* The time out for power save is set at one minute. Take a pee break and you've broken your connection. Change it immediately, even if your battery dies.

* Battery life makes the 3DS look like a hybrid. It goes fast when the screen is on.

* Too many icons. It takes a long time to figure out what the hell I'm doing. It does not feel intuitive.

* Controls -- dual sticks and buttons, feel great.

* Games Auto install when you put the card in. No "would you like to install" crap. Good.

* Games that require an update give you an icon and deny you access to playing until you update. Good luck finding that update. It's on the home screen of the game as an arrow icon. Who thought this was a great idea?

The case that came with first edition is a clamshell. It's big. The 4GB card is a waste..they should have put an 8 in like the people who get the console next week.

The ATT online pass is not really a pass. YOu have to pay for a month up front, then they'll give you the 2nd month free + a game. The game is Super Stardust. If you want this game and buy it now, no free game for you. Again, stupid.

So far I played more with my brand new for corporate use 32GB iPhone tonight than the VITA.

Bottom line: early adopters will love it because they have it. Launch line up is nice. Doesn't feel 100% ready for launch yet but that's the price of being an early adopter. Did I mention how nice the graphics are? Just checking.

Deep Thoughts

Well, I'm with Glen about the Whitney Houston thing. It's a sad thing, and I Wanna Dance With Somebody was a Teenager's Dream of a video if you get my drift but man, who didn't see this coming? Great voice but really didn't impact the music industry the way say Michael Jackson or even Kurt Cobain did. And like Michael, she was a long way from relevant in the music industry. However it's still sad to see people and artists you grew up with pass on. BTW, why didn't the Grammys recognize the passing of Gerry Rafferty of Baker Street fame? WTF?

In gaming news, I received my first two Vita games and my 32GB memory card. I can't believe I paid $100 for that. However, I refuse to have 23 memory cards with me at any time. The game cards are damn tiny, and it's odd getting a game box with no manual in it -- like a DVD movie without a chapter index. Not that I ever used it, it's still just weird.

I broke down and bought Skylanders for 3DS. Sorry, I'm having fun with it, even if it's very expensive DLC. It's still cool technology. And I still can't find the freaking individual toys or even in a set. Seriously, this is quite the fad -- almost two months after Christmas and they are still hard to come by.

Isn't the iPad 3 excitement building? I can't believe I have to buy another freaking tablet, with new cases and so forth. This is really getting insane. I think we need an iPad 2S just to stop the insanity.

Morning Quickies

1. While paying just $10 more for a 2nd game isn't a bad deal at all, don't you think that most people that wanted NBA 2K already have it? It is a nice way to create value..but it's just odd. I guess it's a nice going away present for the end of the MLB contract. Power Pros would have been better though .

2. The 18 3DS game case holder for Club Nintendo members is very cool..and already sold out.

Those iPad FLICK games are addictive.

Have a great Friday.

Special Warning for 3DS Circle Pad Pro Fans

If you are using the Nyko rechargeable battery add-on, you can't use the circle pad pro. It won't fit and the IR sensor won't line up. Lovely.

Gahh

Have you read Stephen King's 11/22/63? If not , many of the same things that conspire against time travel conspired against the Patriots. It was obvious the universe didn't want them to win from the first time they had the ball. A safety is the first scoring play on an intentional grounding play? Thankfully that only came back to bite the Patriots in the ass big time.

One can only wonder about the 300 chances the Pats had. Welker never misses catches. Branch doesn't either. Hernandez doesn't either. Every fumble was recovered by the Giants. There were like 4 penalties called in that game.

While I don't believe the Giants played well, they played well enough to win and that's all that matters. Congrats to them. New York has more to rally against New England on.

Interestingly enough, this one didn't hurt as much as it did 4 years ago. Seeing your team at the Super Bowl 5 times in 10 years will probably do that to you. I don't think much was expected of this team this year, most certainly not an AFC Championship...so there's that I guess. Yes, it's still painful, especially the way they lost. Just not as jaw dropping Baltimore wide left painful. So there's that.

Walmart Wow – Kindle Fire $199 w/$50 GC

For those Tablet-capped, please note that this week at Walmart you can pick up a Kindle Fire for the regular price of $199...but also get a $50 Walmart card. So, that is not a bad deal at all...use it to buy an Amazon GC and have some books/videos!

More on PES

Oh so I forgot to mention I played the game and well, FIFA 12 is still much better. PES 2012 has online play so that's good; the 3D is good, the new touch controls don't feel that new compared to FIFA but the player models are nowhere near as good as in FIFA.

Futbol Games

On Thursday night, I get a call from dumbass chick from Gamestop letting me know that Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 will be arriving Friday.

So I go to Gamestop and have one of those experiences where I ask myself, "why do I go to Gamestop?" I go in, trade in PES 2011 for $5.00 + $0.50 (Thanks Power Up!) and say I'm here to pick up my preorder for PES 2012. Of course the clerk is like "we don't have that". And I'm like "your dumbass chick called me" and so he goes over to the 3DS section and comes back to me and says "is this what you're looking for" and he has a copy of the EXACT SAME GAME I'm trading in. And I say, no, that's the game I'm trading in. So then he types on the computer again, and still can't find it or figure it out. He asks the other guy and he says yes we have it but we can't sell it yet. I again repeat that dumbass chick called me and their own stupid release date sheet shows a street date of 2/1, but since I'm the only dumbass in the whole world that preordered it they shipped it ground and it showed up today. He insists he got it today for a next week release, and I again remind him that dumbass chick called. He then says 'he'll have to look it up on the computer" to see if the SKU is flagged restricted. I asked if they just scanned the UPC when they rang the game up. Apparently not. So they scan it and there's no restriction and 15 freaking minutes later, I finally have this game. Getting Resident Evil for 3DS and the Circle Pad and the Vita early release should be a freaking treat.

Skylanders

I hit the jackpot today at Wal-Mart, bought 2 new 3 packs and one individual one. Brought them home, now my son isn't interested. Great. Guess I'll sell $47 worth of Skylanders on eBay for $100.

Just kidding. I'm not an a-hole. I'll just return them unopened for a refund.