Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New MLB 2K7 stadiums will cost you]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/new-mlb-2k7-stadiums-will-cost-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/new-mlb-2k7-stadiums-will-cost-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/new-mlb-2k7-stadiums-will-cost-you/#commentsFiled under: ,

Previously, 2K Sports treated you to a free Olympic Stadium MLB 2K7 download, but now they're going to make you pay. Up on the Marketplace are six new stadiums to download for MLB 2K7 offered up in four convenient packages. The six stadiums (Sportsman's Park, Forbes Field, Griffith Stadium, Shibe Park, Polo Grounds and Crosley Field) can be purchased bundled together for 800 Microsoft points or in three seperate "two packs" for 300 Microsoft points each. So, if purchased together you'd save 100 Microsoft points making each stadium roughly 133 points. In "two packs" it works out to be 150 points a stadium. Get that? If you have the extra cash and really think paying a few bucks for a stadium is worth it, then go baseball fan go and spend away.

JoystiqNew MLB 2K7 stadiums will cost you originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k games2k sports2kGames2kSportsmarketplacemlb 2k7Mlb2k7xblmxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceMon, 09 Jul 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Win Cult of Rapture gamer pictures]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/win-cult-of-rapture-gamer-pictures/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/win-cult-of-rapture-gamer-pictures/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/win-cult-of-rapture-gamer-pictures/#commentsFiled under: ,

The uber exclusive and Bioshock worshipping Cult of Rapture trusted us enough to giveaway a set of rare Cult of Rapture gamer pictures to one lucky fanboy. These gamer pictures are only available to the most honorable and fanatical of Bioshock fanboys and are not purchasable off the XBLM. Let's just say you'd be the belle of the Bioshock fanboy ball if you sport these gamer pictures.

Anyway, the Cult of Rapture wants us to giveaway the gamer pictures to one worthy Bioshock fan and so, this is how you can win. From now until tonight at 9:00PM eastern, comment on this post telling us exactly why you're worthy of representing the Cult of Rapture and Bioshock. Tonight, we'll randomly choose a winner and send them the code. And, if you're curious, you can preview said gamer pictures over at the Cult of Rapture's website. Only the most hardcore of Bioshock fanboys need apply ... comment away.

JoystiqWin Cult of Rapture gamer pictures originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsbioshockcult of raptureCultOfRaptureFri, 06 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[1UP: 360 football games to run faster than PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/1up-360-football-games-to-run-faster-than-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/1up-360-football-games-to-run-faster-than-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/1up-360-football-games-to-run-faster-than-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Football is a game of split second decisions, and simulating the sport on the Xbox 360 will soon let you split those seconds more finely. 1UP is reporting that this summer's major pigskin simulators -- EA's Madden NFL 08 and NCAA Football 2008 and 2K Sports' All-Pro Football 2K8 -- will run at 60 frames per second on the Xbox 360 and 30 frames per second on the PS3. The move represents a jump from previous Madden games, which ran at 30 frames per second on all platforms, including the Xbox 360 and PS3.

While the additional frames mean smoother, more fluid animation in the 360 versions, it's still unclear how the jump will impact graphical fidelity or resolution. A comparison between both versions of last year's Madden 07 conducted by Gamespot showed the 360 version had "sharper textures on the character models in the close-up shots shown between plays." In comparing this year's games, 1UP simply stated that "All-Pro Football 2K8 definitely runs better on Xbox 360."

The reasons behind this frame rate difference are hard to pin down. Todd Sitrin, EA Vice President of Marketing Sports Branding, told 1UP that there are trade offs in designing football simulations and that "every company making a football game this year made a decision that the best experience for the Xbox 360 included 60fps whereas the best experience for the PS3 was 30fps." Extra time and familiarity with the Xbox 360 hardware could have influenced the development, as could the purported difficulty in programming for the PS3's multi-processor architecture.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Joystiq1UP: 360 football games to run faster than PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K2K sports2kSportsall-proanimationDSEAEA-SportsElectronic-ArtsFootballfpsframesframes per secondFramesPerSecondmaddenMadden 07Madden 08Madden-07Madden-NFL-07Madden07Madden08MicrosoftNCAANintendoPS3SportsWiiXboxXbox-360Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[60 FPS: Football will be better on the 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/60-fps-football-will-be-better-on-the-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/60-fps-football-will-be-better-on-the-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/60-fps-football-will-be-better-on-the-360/#commentsFiled under:

1UP is reporting that all the heavy hitting football games coming out this year (Madden 08, NCAA Football 08, and All-Pro Football 2K8) will be running best on the Xbox 360. 30 frames smoother to be exact. 1UP says that they've confirmed with developers that the 360 versions of each football game will run at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second while the PS3 version will have to settle for 30 frames per second. What does that mean? Well, it means animations will be smoother, faster and less jarring than the PS3 version. And that's a good thing.

We aren't sure why the PS3 versions of the games are stuck at 30 FPS, but we're thinking the dev teams just didn't find it worth the extra cash to optimize it for the platform. But even if that were the case it should still put a feather in Microsoft's ego cap, because it would just further prove that the 360 is easier to develop for.

Joystiq60 FPS: Football will be better on the 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsall pro footballAllProFootballeaelectronic artsElectronicArtsmadden 08Madden08ncaancaa football 08NcaaFootball08Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: the legends of All-Pro Football 2K8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/video-the-legends-of-all-pro-football-2k8/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/video-the-legends-of-all-pro-football-2k8/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/video-the-legends-of-all-pro-football-2k8/#commentsFiled under: ,


A new trailer for All-Pro Football 2K8 has surfaced (the debut trailer is now available on Marketplace as well). This latest trailer introduces gamers to some of the legendary players that will be available in the upcoming game. The video shows off Joe Montana, Dick Butkus, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, and William "The Refrigerator" Perry. According to the video, the final game will boast over 240 legendary players, which we're assuming means there will be less than 250. We have to admit, at this point, we're really digging the presentation of All-Pro quite a bit.

JoystiqVideo: the legends of All-Pro Football 2K8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k2k games2k sports2kGames2kSportsall pro 2k8all pro football 2k8all-pro 2k8all-pro football 2k8All-pro2k8All-proFootball2k8AllPro2k8AllProFootball2k8football 2k8Football2k8take twotake two interactivetake-two interactiveTake-twoInteractiveTakeTwoTakeTwoInteractiveMon, 02 Jul 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Olympic Stadium download for MLB 2K7]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/free-olympic-stadium-download-for-mlb-2k7/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/free-olympic-stadium-download-for-mlb-2k7/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/free-olympic-stadium-download-for-mlb-2k7/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's time to dust of your copy of MLB 2K7, because there is free content to download. Make your way to the XBLM and download the Olympic Stadium for free as it's the first of presumably more in the MLB 2K7 stadium Classic Collection. And our European friends will be happy to know that the free stadium download is only available to US and Canadian Xbox Live members. But it's not like you've ever been shafted before. Honestly, we just worry that the 2K Sports labor strikes didn't make this in-game stadium structurally unsound or prevent it from having a retractable roof. That would just be bad.

JoystiqFree Olympic Stadium download for MLB 2K7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsmarketplacemlb 2k7Mlb2k7xblmxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceSat, 30 Jun 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Ace Combat 6 and The Bigs on XBLM]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/watch-ace-combat-6-and-the-bigs-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/watch-ace-combat-6-and-the-bigs-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/watch-ace-combat-6-and-the-bigs-on-xblm/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A couple of new trailers landed on Xbox Live Marketplace this morning. First we have a trailer for Ace Combat 6, it's the same cheesy trailer we saw released before, with lots of American pride and important-sounding music (think Armageddon). Our favorite moment is when a woman's voice breaks through the chaos: "I don't know a whole lot about war, but there's something I need to tell you." Yes, the cheese-factor is strong with this one. The Bigs trailer, on the other hand, is straight up balls-to-bat action (still no demo, by the way). You've got big, beefy players, flaming baseballs, and home runs so powerful that they could bring down small aircraft. For those of you without access to your 360, we've embedded it at the top of the post. Enjoy.

JoystiqWatch Ace Combat 6 and The Bigs on XBLM originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsace combat 6Ace-CombatAce-Combat-6Ace-Combat-6-Fires-of-LiberationAceCombat6bandaibandai namcoBandaiNamcolive marketplaceLiveMarketplacemarketplacenamconamco bandaiNamco-BandaiNamcoBandaithe bigsTheBigsxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceThu, 28 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get The Darkness for only $49.99]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/get-the-darkness-for-only-49-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/get-the-darkness-for-only-49-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/get-the-darkness-for-only-49-99/#commentsFiled under: ,

Doing a second pass over our Sunday newspaper ads, we noticed that Circuit City is offering The Darkness for ten bucks cheaper than retail. This week, both online and in-store, The Darkness is available for the low, low price of $49.99, but doesn't include the 2K Sports Darkling like Gamestop offers. Oh well, $10 is $10, so save some cash and pick the game up over at the city of circuits unless you are hell-bent on getting the 2K Sports Darkling. If you are, we understand.

JoystiqGet The Darkness for only $49.99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportscircuit cityCircuitCitystarbreezethe darknessTheDarknessTue, 26 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Experience The BIGS next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/rumor-experience-the-bigs-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/rumor-experience-the-bigs-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/rumor-experience-the-bigs-next-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Xbox Domain is reporting that after a 2K Sports conference call they learned that a demo for The BIGS will making its way onto the XBLM sometime next week. No exact date was given, but the game's developers did confirm that the demo would include three innings of gameplay. In the conference call 2K Sports also made it very clear that The BIGS is not a next generation version of Midway's Slugfest almost as if Slugfest was an airborne virus that 2K Sports wants to avoid. Actually, Slugfest may be an airborne virus that we should recommend everyone stay away from. Stay tuned.

[Via Game Stooge]

JoystiqRumor: Experience The BIGS next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsmarketplacethe bigsTheBigsxblmxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceFri, 22 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[2K football rises again, 2K8 debut trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/2k-football-rises-again-2k8-debut-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/2k-football-rises-again-2k8-debut-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/2k-football-rises-again-2k8-debut-trailer/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's been a long time coming, but 2K football is back. GameTrailers has posted the debut trailer of All-Pro Football 2K8. The trailer is heavy on the hip-hop, which is to be expected based on the game's previously announced soundtrack (not to mention other 2K sports soundtracks). The All-Pro engine looks nice, with plenty of jukes, spins, and tackles on which to feast your eyes. We have to wonder though, can any non-licensed football title stand up next to the Electronic Arts Madden juggernaut? How about you? Assuming All-Pro delivers where it counts, will you pick it up over Madden?

Joystiq2K football rises again, 2K8 debut trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k2k games2k sports2kGames2kSportsall pro footballall pro football 2k8AllProFootballAllProFootball2k8take twotake two interactivetake-twotake-two interactiveTake-twoInteractiveTakeTwoTakeTwoInteractivevisual conceptsVisualConceptsMon, 11 Jun 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[All-Pro Football cover art and mad beats]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/all-pro-football-cover-art-and-mad-beats/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/all-pro-football-cover-art-and-mad-beats/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/all-pro-football-cover-art-and-mad-beats/#commentsFiled under:

2K Sports just released All-Pro Football's official box art, the game's full roster and announced the complete soundtrack. So, let's dig in. The cover art is mildly dull featuring what look to be painted caricatures of NFL legends Jerry Rice, John Elway and Barry Sanders. We say "meh". The game's roster is a little more impressive with a slew of retired NFL stars including Troy Aikman, Gale Sayers and coach Mike Ditka. Finally, the All-Pro Football soundtrack features mash-up tracks done by DJ Z-Trip and is very heavy on the hip-hop flavor. All-Pro Football cover art, soundtrack track listings, and complete roster posted after the break.

Read - Soundtrack
Read - Box Art and Roster

Continue reading All-Pro Football cover art and mad beats

JoystiqAll-Pro Football cover art and mad beats originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsall proall pro footballAllProAllProFootballWed, 06 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[NMS: Up close and personal with The BIGS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/nms-up-close-and-personal-with-the-bigs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/nms-up-close-and-personal-with-the-bigs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/nms-up-close-and-personal-with-the-bigs/#commentsFiled under:

Colin Torretta headed out to the Nintendo Media Summit for the Joystiq Network to get a little hands-on time with a lot of games, including the upcoming baseball blowout from Take-Two's 2k Sports, The BIGS. The BIGS is a baseball game, sure, but it's not your average game. It's baseball made bigger, better, faster, and completely awesome ... unless, of course, you want a fully realistic experience. But come on, you can get that anywhere. Sometimes it's nice to wallow in a string of heart-wrenching moments of baseball badassery -- and that's what The BIGS promises.

And according to Colin's impressions, The BIGS delivers exactly as promised in most ways ... but not in one highly-anticipated extra. The controls sound fluid (like a beefier Wii Sports Baseball), and judging from the screenshots, we don't have much issue with the look of the game. But it seems that the promised online mode is missing from the Wii game. It's a shame, but we're starting to get used to inviting people over to enjoy the Wii at this point.

Gallery: The Bigs

JoystiqNMS: Up close and personal with The BIGS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2007 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsbaseballimpressionsnms07pujolstake twoTakeTwothe bigsTheBigsFri, 25 May 2007 08:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's swing-for-the-fences video : The Bigs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/20/todays-swing-for-the-fences-video-the-bigs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/20/todays-swing-for-the-fences-video-the-bigs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/20/todays-swing-for-the-fences-video-the-bigs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


As baseball players keep bulking up in unnatural ways, we wonder if this extreme version of the sport is what fans want to see; upcoming 2K Sports baseball game, The Bigs, seems to take that pro-girth approach. ("Big" is right there in the title.) Two trailers for this NFL Blitz- and NBA Jam-style baseball title show some of the flashy effects.

And maybe we shouldn't connect The Bigs with the current state of baseball; if we want straight simulation, we can play another title. See the trailers and decide for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Today's swing-for-the-fences video : The Bigs

JoystiqToday's swing-for-the-fences video : The Bigs originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 May 2007 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsbaseballextremehottest videoHottestVideomlbPS2PS3PSPthe bigsTheBigsvideoWiiXbox-360Sun, 20 May 2007 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take-Two saga continues: no buyers yet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/take-two-saga-continues-no-buyers-yet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/take-two-saga-continues-no-buyers-yet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/take-two-saga-continues-no-buyers-yet/#commentsFiled under:

It seems Take-Two just can't catch a break. After the golden towers of Take-Two were ransacked by angry shareholders demanding that CEO Paul Eibeler step down, Take-Two announced that it was postponing its annual meeting to come up with alternative solutions. Alternative solutions, in this case, means selling the company. TeamXbox has received word from Take-Two that the company is "unlikely to present alternative courses of action prior to the annual meeting on March 29th." In other words, it looks like Take-Two hasn't managed to find a buyer (not even Microsoft).

Expect more Take-Two drama to unfold during the company's annual meeting this Thursday.

JoystiqTake-Two saga continues: no buyers yet originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k games2k sports2kGames2kSportstake twotake two interactivetake-twotake-two interactiveTake-twoInteractiveTakeTwoTakeTwoInteractiveTue, 27 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumorang: Microsoft not buying Take-Two]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/21/rumorang-microsoft-not-buying-take-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/21/rumorang-microsoft-not-buying-take-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/21/rumorang-microsoft-not-buying-take-two/#commentsFiled under:

Quelling rumors that Microsoft is bidding on the ailing Take-Two, Shane Kim has confirmed to CNN that Microsoft has no such intention. According to the CNN article, taking over an independent publisher that creates games for multiple platforms would actually create a revenue loss, as all Take-Two's development would be shifted to the 360 alone. Said Kim, "We could never launch an acquisition bid at a third party publisher."

As for parties that are interested in the company, speculation ranges from Ubisoft to Elevation Partners (of which U2's Bono is a member) to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. The article also suggests, as others have suggested in the past, that Take-Two may be sold in pieces, offering up divisions like 2K Sports and Rockstar Games instead of Take-Two being sold as a whole.

[Via DCEmu]

JoystiqRumorang: Microsoft not buying Take-Two originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsbusinessrockstarrockstar gamesRockstarGamestake twotake-twoTakeTwoWed, 21 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MLB 2K7 is going, going, gone gold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/25/mlb-2k7-is-going-going-gone-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/25/mlb-2k7-is-going-going-gone-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/25/mlb-2k7-is-going-going-gone-gold/#commentsFiled under:

On Friday, 2K Sports announced that upcoming sports game MLB 2K7 has officially gone gold. In their press release, they also confirm the February 27th release date that we reported on earlier. Now discs can be pressed, no more bugs can be fixed, and those signature style animations cannot be tweaked, because baseball is upon us. We know this game has potential, but is anyone buying MLB 2K7 guaranteed? Though, if you're a MLB baseball fan you don't have much of a choice.

[Via Game Stooge]

JoystiqMLB 2K7 is going, going, gone gold originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k2k games2k sports2kGames2kSportsmlbmlb 2k7Mlb2k7Sun, 25 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MLB 2K7 coming earlier than expected?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/mlb-2k7-coming-earlier-than-expected/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/mlb-2k7-coming-earlier-than-expected/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/mlb-2k7-coming-earlier-than-expected/#commentsFiled under:

According to SportsGamer.com, MLB 2K7 appears to be releasing a week earlier to compete with the Playstation's MLB 07: The Show. Gamestop changed the shipping date for MLB 2K7 to 2/26/07 which is the same release date as MLB 07: The Show. 2K Sports wants their MLB gem to be a success and maybe by moving the release date up a week will help deter possible MLB 07: The Show purchases. Cross your fingers and watch for the release of MLB 2K7 towards the end of the month.

[Via Game Stooge]

JoystiqMLB 2K7 coming earlier than expected? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k games2k sports2kGames2kSportseb gamesEbGamesgamestopmlb 07: the showmlb 2k7Mlb07:TheShowMlb2k7Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take Two downgraded. EA seeks 2K sports?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/take-two-downgraded-ea-seeks-2k-sports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/take-two-downgraded-ea-seeks-2k-sports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/take-two-downgraded-ea-seeks-2k-sports/#commentsFiled under:

Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities recently downgraded his assessment of Take Two Interactive stock from "hold" to "sell." While Grand Theft Auto IV is a guaranteed smash, WMS is wary of the lackluster performance of 2K Sports and "everything else." Naturally, Take Two's recent "hot coffee" scandal add to the decision, which Pachter chalks up to management decisions. Essentially, Take Two allows great freedoms to its creators, which results in groundbreaking games like GTA, but also results in sexual content making it onto a retail disc.

Pachter discussed the possibility of the company being bought, divided, and sold in pieces. It's "unlikely" according to Pachter, but he does note that EA would be the most likely candidate to purchase 2K, as it would give the company a monopoly on nearly all major sports products. Pachter said such a monopoly could be worth as much as $1 billion, though he believes 2K Sports itself could probably be had for $200 million.

[Thanks, dpcough]

See Also:
NFL2K rises from the ashes
Reduced 360 target causes VG stock dip

JoystiqTake Two downgraded. EA seeks 2K sports? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k sports2kSportsbusinesseaelectronic artsElectronicArtstake twotake two interactiveTakeTwoTakeTwoInteractiveMon, 19 Feb 2007 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Of MLB2K7, Marketplace, and ugly trailers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/06/of-mlb2k7-marketplace-and-ugly-trailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/06/of-mlb2k7-marketplace-and-ugly-trailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/06/of-mlb2k7-marketplace-and-ugly-trailers/#commentsFiled under:


If you were to look at the above image of Major League Baseball 2K7, you'd probably assume that the game has some serious graphical prowess. The cloth looks real, the face is well rendered, the stubble is nice and manly. All in all, it looks pretty good, right? Okay, now go download the latest trailer off of Marketplace. It's available today. Go ahead, it won't take long; it's barely 3 MB in size. Now watch it. It's okay, we'll wait ... did you watch it? What did you notice? That's right! It looks awful. Seriously, it looks like a poorly compressed CG movie from the PS1 era. Just a note to prospective content providers: Xbox Live Marketplace is not YouTube. At least give us 480p.

We know, it seems petty to point out an ugly trailer, but the 360 was built with HD in mind. Next to so many great looking trailers, this actually makes MLB2K7 look bad by comparison. So far, people have good things to say about the game. We just want a good trailer to go with it.

JoystiqOf MLB2K7, Marketplace, and ugly trailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k2k games2k sports2kGames2kSportsmajor league baseball 2k7MajorLeagueBaseball2k7mlb 2k7Mlb2k7Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NFL2K rises from the ashes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/31/nfl2k-rises-from-the-ashes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/31/nfl2k-rises-from-the-ashes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/31/nfl2k-rises-from-the-ashes/#commentsFiled under:

If you're someone who absolutely despises EA, chances are it has something to do with NFL2K. Just over two years ago, Electronic Arts bought exclusive rights to the NFL license, effectively killing it's only competition, NFL2K. The fact that NFL2K was consistently rated as high (or higher) than EA's Madden may have had something to do with that, not to mention SEGA's ballsy move of lowering NFL2K5's price to $20, which led to it outselling Madden for the first time. EA wouldn't have any of that, so they did what they do best and bought out the competition.

Now, 2 years later, NFL2K is coming back, though not in the way many would have hoped. 2K Sports has announced that NFL2K is returning as All-Pro Football 2K8. Gamespot has posted a lengthy interview with 2K Sports' Greg Thomas, though he doesn't give away many details. No gameplay details have been announced, except that 2K Sports is out to make the best football game it can. Without the NFL license, many are suggesting that the game will feature old football legends, but 2K Sports isn't talking. At any rate, NFL2K is coming back, and that is bound to make plenty of sports fans happy. The game is expected to hit this summer.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqNFL2K rises from the ashes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today is a day that sports gamers have prayed for since the fateful morning of December 13th, 2004 when EA locked up the NFL license in an exclusive agreement, effectively shutting down their critically acclaimed rival, NFL 2K.

Not one to go quietly, 2K Sports has announced their long rumored gridiron return with All-Pro Football 2K8, slated for this Summer and for "next generation video game systems."

Gamespot sat down with Visual Concepts president Greg Thomas to cover some of the more obvious challenges they will be facing in the marketplace. With no license to work with, All-Pro Football 2K8 will be facing an uphill battle for mind share when it comes to dealing with EA's unstoppable Madden series. This doesn't seem to bother Thomas as he is "expecting this game to be a big, big seller, we're expecting our fans to be really excited, and there's a lot of fans."

JoystiqNFL2K rises from grave as All-Pro Football 2K8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter will have his mugshot plastered on the front of all copies of Major League Baseball 2K7. This should come as no big revelation, as the seven-time All Star has previously adorned the covers of the last two annual editions. Jeter has also appeared serially on game boxes for the now-deceased All-Star Baseball franchise from Acclaim.

Say what you will about Electronic Arts for lack of innovation, but at least they swap out cover athletes every year (thanks in no small part to the curse). To be fair, 2K Sports is hoping MLB 2K7 will be a reinvention of the franchise. According to designer Ben Brinkman, "First year, drill down to the core and get the core baseball game going. Year two, add some cool features, maybe some tersely modes, maybe redesign franchise. The third year, just wrap it up into a nice bow and nail it." So if not this year, expect MLB 2K9 to be the real winner.

MLB 2K7 will come to bat Spring 2007 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, PS2, and the original Xbox.

JoystiqSurprise -- Derek Jeter to grace MLB 2K7 cover originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K2k sports2K-Sports2kSportsbaseballderek jeterDerekJeterDSKush-Gamesmajor league baseballMajorLeagueBaseballMicrosoftmlbmlb-2k7mlb2kNintendoPS2PS3PSPSportsXboxXbox-360Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Typo: vibration function cited in PS3's NBA 2K7 booklet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/03/typo-vibration-function-cited-in-ps3s-nba-2k7-booklet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/03/typo-vibration-function-cited-in-ps3s-nba-2k7-booklet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/03/typo-vibration-function-cited-in-ps3s-nba-2k7-booklet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Keen eyes have spotted this careless passage published in the PlayStation 3 version of the NBA 2K7 instruction booklet: "Once you start feeling your heart rate pumping (via controller vibration), you'll be ready to begin! Shooting free throws in 24/7: NEXT is just like shooting free throws in a normal quick game" (page 15). The rumble citation is an amusing relic of pre-Sixaxis days when the manual's authors must have assumed (or were told) the final PS3 controller would feature a standard vibration function. Guess 2K Games didn't bother to hire a knowledgeable copy editor.

Please, let's not assume this means PS3 games have 'hidden' vibration features. A typo's a typo. And PS3 launch titles won't be a'rumblin.

[Thanks, Xenokai]

JoystiqTypo: vibration function cited in PS3's NBA 2K7 booklet originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 01:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take-Two and independent advertising company, Double Fusion, have announced an agreement that will see up to nine upcoming 2K and 2K Sports titles riddled with in-game "advertising opportunities". The official press release notes that Double Fusion will be exclusively providing dynamic advertising technology across all platforms, with the exception of the Xbox and the Xbox 360. While the online implementation of ads is nothing unheard of, it's the actual description of the embedded, offline versions that prove to be a bit scary.

"Select versions of 2K and 2K Sports titles will feature integrated, hard-coded placements that will offer marketers opportunities for deep integration into gameplay and storylines, reaching users of the games whether or not they are connected to the Internet."

In-game advertising is often a tug-of-war between a subtle man in a trenchcoat and an obnoxious exhibitionist with an oily burger in his pocket. It's all a matter of balance, with the product or service demanding the player's attention, but in a way that seems natural and unobtrusive within the game's framework. The best in-game advertising often lends to the believability of the world (billboards in a dense city make complete sense), whereas the worst destroys it completely (billboards in Hyrule, not so much). Let's hope Take-Two doesn't have us taking our band of adventurers into the ancient NIVEA forest as we search for the magical PANASONIC DLP SCREEN.

(Hint: Speak to the merchant elf -- he'll give you a BMW with GPS navigation.)

JoystiqTake-Two signs in-game advertising deal originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A group of NBA Live '07 fanboys have had enough of the series' annual increase in broken gameplay and have written a letter to EA expressing their displeasure. Although the focus of the letter is on NBA Live '07, with YouTube links showing the latest issues with the series, it touches on the general unhappiness with other declining EA franchises like Madden and FIFA. "At one time, EA was producing the best titles money could buy and one had little reason to look elsewhere. Now gamers have a sense that if you want the best, it's not EA."

And as an aside, more than a few eyebrows were raised when press copies and reviews of NBA Live '07 came trickling in a week after the game went on shelves, almost as if EA knew they produced a sub-par product. Hollywood employs this same tactic on bad movies so they can get as much money back before the word gets out how bad things really are.

Although the issues expressed by the fans of NBA Live '07 are positively valid, there is the alternative NBA 2K7 from 2K Games which was released the same day as NBA Live '07. This doesn't help Madden fans who experienced similar issues with Madden '07, but have no recourse because of EA's NFL exclusivity deal. In the case of Madden, EA also shows apparent ignorance toward reasonable proprosals by fans to fix the series.

It's certainly cause for concern that EA Sports is taking the "we'll patch it later" stance toward console games this early. This is the first generation capable of console patching and ideally should be used to fix subtle errors. Instead EA is following the PC model that console gamers have fled from: ship first, patch later. It's probably time for sports gamers to show consumer activism and take their money to other franchises. That'll get EA's attention faster than any letter.

JoystiqEA Sports perfecting mediocrity originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shaq FuShaquille O'Neal looks to continue his illustrious games career by accepting the role of NBA 2K7 cover athlete for a second straight year. 2K Sports has implemented a new post play mechanic for this year's iteration, allowing players to perform a dazzling array of Kung fu-based maneuvers -- okay, we made that last part up.

2K Sports has confirmed a September release for PS2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. The PS3 version will likely be released at the system's launch or soon after.

JoystiqShaq reprises role as NBA 2K7 cover athlete originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL 07 (PS2 & PSP)Last week, when EA announced that the Washington Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin would be NHL 07's cover athlete, many fans were surprised to see that Nintendo was absent from the list of platforms* that would receive the game.

Nintendojo recently contacted EA to verify the platform release list. As it turns out, NHL 07 will not be released for GameCube -- or for that matter, Wii. Currently, 2K Sports' NHL 2K7 is not scheduled for release on GameCube either.

Electronic Arts publicist Jen Riley did make it a point to remind Nintendojo, "Many of our other games are continuing to support DS ... and we hope to be on Wii in the future."

*NHL 07 will be available for PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox, and Xbox 360. Note that PlayStation 3 is also absent from the list.

JoystiqNHL 07 benched on Nintendo platforms originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jun 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K Sports2kSportsDSEA-CanadaEA-SportsEA-Sports-NHLGameCubeMicrosoftNHLNHL 2K7NHL-07NHL-2007Nhl2k7PCPS2PS3PSPSportsWiiXboxXbox-360Wed, 28 Jun 2006 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Take-Two pledges support for Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/take-two-pledges-support-for-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/take-two-pledges-support-for-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/take-two-pledges-support-for-wii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Take-Two (Nintendo Wii)According to Take-Two president and CEO Paul Eibeler, the publisher was impressed with Nintendo's E3 showing and is now committed to producing a range of titles for Wii beginning in late 2007.

Eibeler focused on Wii's potential to expand Take-Two's 2K Sports series, specifically MLB. 2K is also responsible for a slew of non-sports titles, including BioShock, CivCity: Rome, Dungeon Siege, Family Guy and Prey, which may or may not find a home on Wii. Eibeler made no mention of the availability of current or future Rockstar titles for the Wii platform.

JoystiqTake-Two pledges support for Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's a racquet sport warm up while you're waiting to find out if Grand Theft Ping Pong is the real deal: According to 2K Sports Senior Producer Thorsten Moeckel, a Top Spin 2 demo will be available on Xbox Live Marketplace a "few days" before the game's April 7 release date.

How important have demos been to your gaming decisions so far? Is it pretty much a necessity for every Xbox 360 game? Have you decided not to purchase a game after being disappointed with the demo?

JoystiqTop Spin 2 serves up demo date originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Mar 2006 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Major League Baseball 2K6 screen of a certain New York Yankee player
2K Sports' exlusive 3rd-party baseball sim Major League Baseball 2K6 may be arriving a little late to the party this year.

EBgames' web site is reporting that versions of the title for PS2 and Xbox will be arriving on April 10th, while the Xbox 360 and GameCube editions will be arriving fashionably late on the 24th--both of which dates fall well after the first actual MLB pitch of the season on April 2nd. The PSP version is still AWOL (under contract negotiations apparently), while GameStop has only got the PS2 listing with the March 20th date penciled in.

Continue reading MLB 2K6 may miss March spring training

JoystiqMLB 2K6 may miss March spring training originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Mar 2006 23:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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