FIFA 16, EA Sports' yearly installment of the popular soccer game FIFA comes out on September 22nd, and to celebrate the release of one of gaming's most popular franchises, I've created a game. It's no secret that I love FIFA. It's easily the video game I spend the most time playing on an annual basis, and part of that is because the game never really gets old the way Madden does once the NFL season ends. The gameplay and different game modes are excellent, but one of the more underrated parts of the game is definitely the soundtrack.
I'm a big believer that game soundtracks can set the atmosphere for a title, and tremendously add to the experience one has with a game. Every year, EA Sports seem to pull together an incredible list of tracks, coming from many different genres and languages out of nowhere, with most songs coming from relatively unknown artists. Over the years, I've found myself going onto to Youtube several times just to listen to the soundtracks. They are that good. This year is no different, featuring more popular artists such as Beck and Iconopop, FIFA soundtrack vets Slaptop and the Royal Concept, and a host of up and coming talents.
What I find most fascinating about the soundtrack, however, is how I end up hearing so many of the songs and artists in the time after the game's release outside of the game. I've never formally counted, but I would guess I hear at least 15 or so songs from each soundtrack in other platforms. Being on FIFA seems to be a springboard to success for many musicians. Some of the songs even turn into huge radio hits, such as Imagine Dragons' "On Top of the World" in FIFA 13 and John Newman's "Love Me Again" from FIFA 14. There's a good chance that even if you haven't played FIFA before (and you should), you'd recognize many of the game's songs.
So here's the game. If you're someone that plays FIFA, once you get the game, try to play it for a decent amount of time and learn the soundtrack (and trust me, it's easy to play FIFA for a good while). Then try and identify every time over the next year you hear one of the songs somewhere else, whether it be in a commercial, TV show, movie, on the radio, etc. Basically, make a list of each song you hear and where.
For instance, the game hasn't even been released yet, but I've already heard Bomba Estereo's "Soy Yo" in a preview for TV's Castle. The FIFA song effect has already begun for this year's game. However, you have to see the preview for it to count for you.
So essentially, that's the game. I'll probably post an update close to the release of FIFA 17 with my results for this game. But until then, I'll be playing a lot of FIFA.
Connor
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Showing posts with label Video Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video Games. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Madden 16 Cover Finalist Reactions
Today EA Sports revealed the four finalists to become the Madden 16 Cover Athlete. They are the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski, Steelers' Antonio Brown, Giants' Odell Beckham Jr., and Cardinals' Patrick Peterson. So how do I feel about the choices made, and who do I believe will win the vote?
My first reaction was a bit of shock that three out of the four finalists are receivers (two wideouts and a tight end), and that there was no quarterback option. Personally I would like to see no more than one player from any position if there's only going to be four slots.
Then, I realized that the two best players in the game were snubbed. The MVP of the league, Aaron Rodgers, is not in the running, and neither is defensive MVP J.J. Watt. I believe either one of these players would win the fan vote given the opportunity. Their exclusion is even more baffling to me because neither player has previously been on the cover. In fact, no player from the Texans has ever been on the cover, and the only Packer was Dorsey Levens who appeared on alternate versions of Madden 2000.
Now as for the players that did make it to the fan vote, I have mixed opinions concerning whether or not their performance has earned them a spot in the running.
First I'll start with Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots tight end is coming off one of his better seasons in the league, catching 82 balls for 1124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gronk is a fan favorite guy and has for the last few years has easily been considering one of the best two tight ends in the NFL along with Jimmy Graham, (I consider Gronk to be the best tight end myself, but maybe that's because he was on my fantasy team). Considering the Patriots won the Super Bowl last season, it seems fitting one of their players grace the cover, and the only main options on the team are Tom Brady and Gronkowski. Because Brady is older, and more people seem to dislike him, I feel the fun-loving party animal is the correct choice. Even during the offseason Gronk has been entertaining and has frequently made the news. I have no problem with Rob Gronkowski being in contention to become the cover athlete, and I believe he has a decent chance of doing so.
Antonio Brown came off an incredible 2013 campaign and did even better in 2014, leading the league in both catches and receiving yards, solidifying his position as one of the best receivers in the league. If you had this guy on your fantasy team, chances are you ended up a winner. Despite the numbers Brown has put up, I don't feel he necessarily gets all the attention he deserves, and is not one of the most popular players in the league. Certainly being the face of Madden would chance that in an instant, so I think he deserves a chance to grace the cover of Madden 16, although I think the chances he wins are quite slim.
Odell Beckham Jr. Oh boy, where do I start with this guy? Everyone knows how much I love Odell, being a diehard Giants fan, and I have stated on numerous occasions that I feel he has the potential to be a Hall-of-Famer and one of the greatest receivers to ever live. However, I feel like giving OBJ this honor would be a year or two premature. I know he absolutely took over the league after missing time at the beginning of last season, but the fact of the matter is that he was just a rookie. This offseason, every team that plays the Giants will be looking extensively at how to stop OBJ, because he is that one-of-a-kind player that can instantly change the game. There is a good chance that Beckham will disappoint next season simply because everyone will expect him to be shattering records, which also may happen (and I hope it does). This isn't a knock on Odell at all, but I kind of find it unfair for a rookie hotshot to just swoop in and become the cover athlete after just one season where there may be others who deserve it more. Odell's time will come, I just don't think it has to be immediate. Now, despite me saying this, I'm fairly confident he will be the cover athlete because he absolutely took the league by storm, breaking tons of records in just 12 games. But it was just 12 games. Regardless, his face will sell copies, and that's what it's all about (slight sarcasm).
Now am I just saying this because I don't want the future of my team to be destroyed by the "Madden Curse?" I don't think so, because despite the alarming regularity to which players who are on the cover of Madden regress in the following season, I believe it can easily be attributed to the nature of the award. If a player on the cover was one of the best players in the league the previous season, they have unrealistically high goals set for them by the general public which are usually unattainable. But subconsciously I guess maybe the "Madden Curse" might have something to do with my thinking. Who knows.
Lastly, Patrick Peterson is the real surprise choice of the bunch, because while it's only fair to include a defensive player, why they chose Peterson is kind of puzzling. He isn't coming off a career season (3 interceptions) and from a pure stats standpoint it could actually be argued to be the worst of Peterson's four seasons. There are at least a handful of corners that were more consistent and effective last season, but even in terms of defense as a whole, the nomination clearly (in my mind) should have gone to J.J. Watt, the most impactful, well-rounded defensive player who excels in all facets of the game (even tight end). Other acceptable defensive choices could have been Luke Kuechly and Justin Houston, although Kuechly is really the only other well known star that would have had a reasonable chance. Overall, I don't get this decision, and I don't think that in a million years Peterson could win this contest, which kind of makes him a waste of a selection.
If I had to name my ideal cover nominees, and I was restricted to only four choices, I would choose these four: Aaron Rodgers, DeMarco Murray, Rob Gronkowski, J.J. Watt. However, I would also like to see Andrew Luck, LeVeon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Luke Kuechly. I believe those eight would make for an incredible vote. As for why I chose Gronkowski over Brown, it simply comes down to the Super Bowl. I feel a Super Bowl player should be in contention.
Who do you think should be on the cover and do you agree with my selections for who I believe should have made the ballot?
Thanks for reading,
Connor
Monday, September 1, 2014
Madden 15 First Impressions
Madden 15 came out on August 26, officially beginning Madden Season. I was able to pick up the game this on Saturday, so now that I've had a little while to play the game, I thought I'd give my first impressions. I haven't gotten into every mode yet, and I've only played about five games total, but I think a lot was revealed in those games, and I have a good idea of what Madden 15 is like.
The main focus this year seemed to be in the gameplay, more specifically on defense. Defense really does feel more engaging in this year's game, and while it will never be as fun to play as offense, there is a lot more excitement in playing D this year. The ability to time snap counts and more actively rush the quarterback are welcome additions.
One of my main gripes with Madden 25 was the fact that when you were attempting a tackle or an interception, if you were too far away to make the play, you didn't get an animation, making you feel helpless on defense. This year, for any move you make there will be an animation, leaving it really up to you to plan out your tackles, ballhawks, and when to try to cause fumbles. No longer can you simply hold down the Y button on Xbox or its Playstation counterpart to pick off any passes in your general area. Everything takes proper timing.
Normally in Madden offense is way overpowered in comparison to defense, leading to shootout 49-45 games frequently online. This has changed as well, and scores are more realistic. My three online ranked games so far have been a 21-10 win, a 31-28 loss, and a 33-21 win. I think this has a lot to do with how defenses have become stronger. Defenses now seem to read and react and won't get caught by the same money play all game long. You need to switch it up. Outside running and many of the common money plays have been nerfed this year, but feel realistic. Out routes work pretty good against man coverage, just like in real life, but shouldn't be taken as a 100% first down play like in previous years. Offense this year will be more based on playing possession football and picking up first downs rather than trying to go 80 yards on two plays. This is great news to me.
To sum up the gameplay aspect, I think it's great. People will always find blitzes and money plays that are more effective than they should be, but I don't think there will be near as many this year. The goal was realistic gameplay, and they achieved it. The great players this year will be ones who can react to their opponents and make adjustments, just the way Madden should be.
Okay, I guess that was a lot of gameplay impressions, but to me gameplay is the most important aspect of Madden, especially as someone who spends 75% of their Madden time participating in online ranked matches.
The presentation this year is top notch as well, and overall very visually appealing. I would say this is the best looking sports game on the market. The next-gen consoles really make everything look polished. Player faces are only improving, and while they aren't great, the ones with the most work put into them are the best players in the league. Stadiums are now unique as well with team-specific jumbo-trons that highlight important events on the field. There are also many new animations, that I've especially noticed in block shedding, spectacular catches, and tackles. These are a nice addition, and add to the variety that can be seen on the field.
There's a new play calling system that looks very nice in this year's game, however is not as smooth as in the previous years. The traditional horizontal box play calling has been replaced with a vertical system. My biggest issue is that it's a little confusing as to what button corresponds with which play. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but right now I'm calling the wrong play a little more than I would like to. Also new is the ability to pick a play by concept, in addition to the traditional choosing of a play type as well as coach's suggestion.
Back in the commentary booth again are both Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, supposedly with 80 hours of new dialogue in this game. Overall the commentary does sound a lit bit smoother, and I have heard some of the new lines in the game. Something I really like is that now instead saying "that linebacker made a good play on that interception" the duo will say something like "Patrick Willis will ask coach to play tight end after making that catch!" Adding in these lines really helps the game and removes a lot of the poor, generic commentary that Madden is known for.
Another new feature is the halftime show. Again, aesthetically this looks nice, but in reality it's nothing too special and something 95% of players will just skip through. It's going to take a lot more to make a pleasing halftime show, but it's an okay start.
That's enough about the in-game. Outside of the game, the set up is basically the same. Again, it looks a little nicer and that's great. Every mode that was there last year is back again, and it's all in the same places. The online hub looks the exact same as still functions nicely. Ultimate team and connected franchise mode are both back, and fundamentally the same, but with nice touches here and there that serious players will notice and appreciate, such as the weekly practice hours feature in connected franchise.
Cam Newton (aka Ace Boog1e) will guide you through the new skills trainer mode, in a role similar to John Madden himself and Trey Wingo have done in previous years. New to this is a football concepts section that deals with the fundamentals of the game. I haven't delved into this yet, but as always the practice modes are good for testing things out and refining your game.
So overall, my experience with Madden 15 has been a very strong one. The game has improved a lot, mostly in the gameplay in an effort to make the game more about playing smart football than anything else. Madden 25 last year was a bit of a disappointment for me, so I'm pleased to announce that Madden 15 could be the best Madden I've ever played, and certainly the best since Madden 12, three years ago. If you are a football fan and have a Xbox or Playstation, current-gen or next-gen, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Madden 15. I know I'll be playing it.
The main focus this year seemed to be in the gameplay, more specifically on defense. Defense really does feel more engaging in this year's game, and while it will never be as fun to play as offense, there is a lot more excitement in playing D this year. The ability to time snap counts and more actively rush the quarterback are welcome additions.
One of my main gripes with Madden 25 was the fact that when you were attempting a tackle or an interception, if you were too far away to make the play, you didn't get an animation, making you feel helpless on defense. This year, for any move you make there will be an animation, leaving it really up to you to plan out your tackles, ballhawks, and when to try to cause fumbles. No longer can you simply hold down the Y button on Xbox or its Playstation counterpart to pick off any passes in your general area. Everything takes proper timing.
Normally in Madden offense is way overpowered in comparison to defense, leading to shootout 49-45 games frequently online. This has changed as well, and scores are more realistic. My three online ranked games so far have been a 21-10 win, a 31-28 loss, and a 33-21 win. I think this has a lot to do with how defenses have become stronger. Defenses now seem to read and react and won't get caught by the same money play all game long. You need to switch it up. Outside running and many of the common money plays have been nerfed this year, but feel realistic. Out routes work pretty good against man coverage, just like in real life, but shouldn't be taken as a 100% first down play like in previous years. Offense this year will be more based on playing possession football and picking up first downs rather than trying to go 80 yards on two plays. This is great news to me.
To sum up the gameplay aspect, I think it's great. People will always find blitzes and money plays that are more effective than they should be, but I don't think there will be near as many this year. The goal was realistic gameplay, and they achieved it. The great players this year will be ones who can react to their opponents and make adjustments, just the way Madden should be.
Okay, I guess that was a lot of gameplay impressions, but to me gameplay is the most important aspect of Madden, especially as someone who spends 75% of their Madden time participating in online ranked matches.
The presentation this year is top notch as well, and overall very visually appealing. I would say this is the best looking sports game on the market. The next-gen consoles really make everything look polished. Player faces are only improving, and while they aren't great, the ones with the most work put into them are the best players in the league. Stadiums are now unique as well with team-specific jumbo-trons that highlight important events on the field. There are also many new animations, that I've especially noticed in block shedding, spectacular catches, and tackles. These are a nice addition, and add to the variety that can be seen on the field.
There's a new play calling system that looks very nice in this year's game, however is not as smooth as in the previous years. The traditional horizontal box play calling has been replaced with a vertical system. My biggest issue is that it's a little confusing as to what button corresponds with which play. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but right now I'm calling the wrong play a little more than I would like to. Also new is the ability to pick a play by concept, in addition to the traditional choosing of a play type as well as coach's suggestion.
Back in the commentary booth again are both Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, supposedly with 80 hours of new dialogue in this game. Overall the commentary does sound a lit bit smoother, and I have heard some of the new lines in the game. Something I really like is that now instead saying "that linebacker made a good play on that interception" the duo will say something like "Patrick Willis will ask coach to play tight end after making that catch!" Adding in these lines really helps the game and removes a lot of the poor, generic commentary that Madden is known for.
Another new feature is the halftime show. Again, aesthetically this looks nice, but in reality it's nothing too special and something 95% of players will just skip through. It's going to take a lot more to make a pleasing halftime show, but it's an okay start.
That's enough about the in-game. Outside of the game, the set up is basically the same. Again, it looks a little nicer and that's great. Every mode that was there last year is back again, and it's all in the same places. The online hub looks the exact same as still functions nicely. Ultimate team and connected franchise mode are both back, and fundamentally the same, but with nice touches here and there that serious players will notice and appreciate, such as the weekly practice hours feature in connected franchise.
Cam Newton (aka Ace Boog1e) will guide you through the new skills trainer mode, in a role similar to John Madden himself and Trey Wingo have done in previous years. New to this is a football concepts section that deals with the fundamentals of the game. I haven't delved into this yet, but as always the practice modes are good for testing things out and refining your game.
So overall, my experience with Madden 15 has been a very strong one. The game has improved a lot, mostly in the gameplay in an effort to make the game more about playing smart football than anything else. Madden 25 last year was a bit of a disappointment for me, so I'm pleased to announce that Madden 15 could be the best Madden I've ever played, and certainly the best since Madden 12, three years ago. If you are a football fan and have a Xbox or Playstation, current-gen or next-gen, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Madden 15. I know I'll be playing it.
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