Do you think we’ll see this sort of stat tracking in future EA Sports games?

A super secret survey started secretly circulating specifically for an EA SPORTS subscription service. Say that five times fast, then continue reading. It looks as though EA is building a sort of perks-based subscription program for their core sports titles like Madden NFL, FIFA and Tiger Woods PGA Tour. The service is looking to add features to the gaming experience, and it doesn’t look like those who don’t spring for the plan will be losing anything.

While no price has been determined, there are a list of features:

• Discounts on all downloadable content for particiaping EA SPORTS console-based titles
• Full downloadable versions of participating titles before they come out in stores
• Exclusive membership recognition badge that appear both in-game and on your web profile
• Ability to transfer paid content from your current participating titles to future title versions
• Free and exclusive opportunities to extend your EA SPORTS experience to PC and Web
• Free and exclusive EA SPORTS downloadable content for participating console-based titles

Does any of this sound enticing to sports gamers out there? How much would you be willing to pay for your “free” items?

Source: PSU

NBA Jam: On Fire Edition will feature online roster updates with more NBA stars and legends, challenges, unlockable players, and secret teams. It is also bringing back Tag Mode and Team Fire, so you can instantly swap characters to perform consecutive cooperatives moves that will ignite the whole team. The press release also mentions that the next NBA simulation game will come out in 2012, which pretty much means we won’t see an NBA Elite ’12. Hopefully the one intended for 2012 won’t meet the same fate as its predecessor.

NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is scheduled for an October release.

From now until April 27^th, there will be a bracket-style voting campaign at the ESPN website where you can vote among 32 candidates, with each one representing a different team from the NFL. The reveal of the winner will be presented April 27^th on ESPN’s “SportsNation.” So, will you vote for your favorite player, or will you vote for your least favorite player in the hopes that the Madden curse strikes viciously this year?

Did you hear that collective crash? That was the sound of millions of piggy banks falling to their demise in unison. The reason? Nintendo of America’s COO, Reggie Fils-Aime, revealed that the 3DS will be coming March 27th at a price point of $249.99. Reggie was also kind enough to fill us in on some more information about the 3DS. Here’s a breakdown of the bigger details we have as of right now:

• The system will launch in two colors – aqua blue and cosmo black
• DSi downloads are compatible with the 3DS
• a 2GB memory card is included with the 3DS, allowing ample room for DSi downoads
• Nintendo is launching an eShop to download Game Boy and Game Boy Color games
• More than 30 games will be available by June 7th (the start of E3)
• Each 3DS will have 1 universal friend code as opposed to a separate code for each game
• Friend codes are not necessary if playing locally

We also got some details and confirmation with regards to the 3DS post-launch game library. It appears that Nintendo learned from the lack of games available after the launch of the Wii and has put together a very impressive list of 3DS games. If you’d like to see the games that Nintendo has confirmed, just click on the picture or title above for a list.

Over in Europe, Nintendo announced that European Nintendophiles would be getting their eyeballs some 3D action a couple days earlier on March 25th. We don’t have a word on price, but supposedly retailers already know, so don’t expect for that to stay a secret for too long. [Update] While we haven’t heard an official price, HMV and Game.co.uk have listed the 3DS for £229.99. Now it looks like Amazon and GameStop have gotten in on the action and are asking €249.99 for the 3DS.

We’ll keep you updated as we’re sure to get more information in the new future, so keep checking back.

For first party launch games we can look forward to:

• Pilotwings Resort
  
• nintendogs + cats
  
• Steel Diver

For first party games that are “in the works” we have:

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
• Star Fox 64 3D
• Kid Icarus: Uprising
• Mario Kart
• Animal Crossing
• Paper Mario

Here are the third party games listed as “coming soon”:

• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked from Atlus
• Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition from Capcom
  
• Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D from Capcom
• Madden NFL Football from EA SPORTS
• The Sims 3 from Electronic Arts
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from Konami
• LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars^™ from LucasArts
• Ridge Racer 3D from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
  
• and Dual Pen Sports from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
• Super Monkey Ball 3D from SEGA
  
• Thor: God of Thunder from SEGA
  
• CRUSH 3D from SEGA
• BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE from Square Enix, Inc.
• Samurai Warriors Chronicles from Tecmo Koei America Corp.
• Dead or Alive Dimensions from Tecmo Koei America Corp.
• Asphalt 3D from Ubisoft
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow Wars from Ubisoft
• Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D from Ubisoft
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D from Ubisoft
• Rayman 3D from Ubisoft
• Rabbids Travel in Time from Ubisoft

“For the first time in franchise history, players will be able to step onto the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, experience the rich history and tradition of the Masters Tournament and begin their own journey to capture the most sought-after prize in professional golf — the Green Jacket.”

There are going to be additional features that come with the Masters being in the game. “Master Moments” are going to be a play-through of historic moments of the tournament against great golf legends. “Tiger at the Masters” is going to have you match or beat Tiger’s scores during his four Masters wins. There will also be a caddie in the game giving you tips and strategy.

Who knew golf could sound so exciting? EA is really stepping it up for their beloved golf video game. Now let’s hope Mr. Woods can do the same.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 is coming out March 29 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. The PlayStation 3 will also be getting an exclusive collector’s edition with 5 additional courses.

In the other corner, you have the GameStop pre-order, which will get you a 100^th anniversary Everlast equipment pack. It will give you gloves and shoes for a boxer in Legacy Mode. Which would you prefer to have: some new clothes or a whole freakin’ playable character?

Fight Night Champion will be coming out March 1^st for the XBox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

Source: Kotaku

“We have no plans to move away from him, but it’s a business relationship on the basis of we make the best golf game and he’s the best golfer. Both of those things need to be true in the long run for the partnership to make sense.”

While Woods’ problems with his sexual escapades may have lead to his decline, EA has not suffered from them. They intend to stay loyal to Tiger Woods and have plans for a Tiger Woods PGA Tour game for 2012.. However, they recognize that he may not regain his title as the No. 1 golfer. While it is admirable for EA to stick with Woods during a difficult period in his life, does the person on the box really matter? Would it change anything about the game and whom it appeals to?

Source: MSNBC

Do you smell that? That’s the cool, refreshing waft of honesty coming from EA. Andrew Wilson, the head of worldwide development for EA Sports, has come forward with the reason NBA Elite 11 was cancelled: It was going to be terrible. Wilson told IGN “We’re proud that we made the choice to not just put something out there that wasn’t good” adding “Ultimately, it was just going to be a bad game.”

It’s not often that a game this far along in the development cycle is simply dropped without any attempt at salvaging something from the invested time and money. It’s a bold move by EA considering the obvious lost money in addition to the potential ramifications this could have with their relationship with the NBA.

The development for NBA Elite 12 is underway by EA Canada and as of now, we have no reason to doubt its release. It will be interesting to see if we see a spike in NBA 2K11′s sales or if NBA Elite 12′s sales will be impacted by taking the year off.

FACT: Behind water polo, boxing is the most dangerous sport on Earth. Each year 8,000 boxers die in the ring.

FACT: EA Sports has never made an M rated game.

FACT: Fight Night Champion will be rated M for mature.

Here’s from EA’s official site:

Authentic Content
Fight Night Champion showcases the truest graphical representation of the sport, lifestyle, and culture of boxing with authentic and dynamic blood, realistic body damage and deformation, and mature content throughout. Experience the violence and brutality that is true to the trade.

Making the game a little bloody seems like a no brainer. The “mature content throughout” and “lifestyle and culture” portions are a little more ambiguous though. Looking at quick pieces of the trailer, an actual story mode appears to be present. Perhaps that will be the source of much of the M-rated  material? If so, is this what the franchise needs to give it a boost or could it wind up taking focus off the game’s pure boxing simulation roots? Let us know what you think.

Also of note is that the game is still actually pending an official rating from the ESRB. So the push for a Mature sticker seems to be an intentional move on the part of EA.

FACT: Fight Night Champion and all it’s realistic gory boxing action will be out for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 in 2011.