Press Row Podcast

These are fascinating times in the sports game world, with no better illustration of changing consumer behaviors and new business models than the battle between NBA 2K16 and NBA Live 16. The tales of these two games - the dizzying sales success of 2K versus the allegedly dismal failure of Live to capture attention - provide an interesting view into how sports games are now made, marketed, and dist...

The 153rd episode of the Press Row Podcast gets a couple of our long-lost friends back on the show to chat all about the fall's sports game landscape. The crew chats about the new DLC plans for Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Golf, the struggles of NBA Live 16 vs NBA 2K16, and answer listener questions about MLB The Show, FIFA, and Madden as well.  Enjoy the show! Joining us this week: Owen Good, Polygon (@...

The 152nd episode of the Press Row Podcast lets us catch our breath and look around the jammed sports game landscape now that all of the major titles have been released. Our panel revisits aspects of NBA 2K16, Madden 16, MLB 15 The Show, Forza Motorsport 6, FIFA 16, Rocket League, and others. Which games are in our current rotations and why? Which ones have fallen out? What do we expect to change...

The 151st episode of the Press Row Podcast gets all our hoops-loving friends together to chat all about NBA 2K16. The panel discusses the on-court gameplay, the (yet again) modified controls, the online play, the controversial Spike Lee story mode, and some of the interesting moments we’ve experienced in the launch window of one of the most ambitious sports games of all time. Enjoy the show! Joini...

Press Row Podcast – Episode 150 – FIFA 16/Pro Evolution 2016 Review Roundtable The 150th (!) episode of the Press Row Podcast gets all our international football-loving friends together to chat all about the brand-new FIFA 16 as well as quite a bit of Pro Evolution 2016. The panel discusses the on-pitch gameplay, new ways to experience Ultimate Team, the controversial FUT Draft mode, and why some...

The 149th episode of the Press Row Podcast gets the our hockey-loving friends together to dive into the brand-new NHL 16. The crew dives into everything NHL has to offer, including analysis of Be A Pro, Be A GM, the returning beauty of EASHL, the overall presentation and gameplay, and a little bit of Ultimate Team as well. It’s an ice-covered episode! Enjoy the show! Joining us this week: Kat Bail...

With Madden NFL 16 and MLB 15 The Show as the currently-available big-time sports games (not for long, though, as hockey, soccer, and hoops games are coming out quickly!) a few of our regular Press Row panelists get together to debate the merits of the two against each other. Kat, Bryan, T.J, and Rich analyze how Madden is faring three weeks after release, and compare and contrast gameplay, modes,...

As we near the arrival of one of the most anticipated sports games ever - between a new Spike Lee-driven story, significantly upgraded franchise features offline and online, ambitious on-court gameplay additions, and new collaborative modes - host Rich Grisham sits down with two of the NBA 2K16 development team members to talk about what it all means. Scott O'Gallagher and Nino "Da Czar" Samuel jo...

The 146th episode of the Press Row Podcast is our official Madden 16 Review Roundtable. The show is actually another two-parter; up first, host Rich Grisham is joined by Madden Creative Director Mike Young and Assistant Producer Jake Stein to talk about this year's opening cinematic. The three chat about how it came together, the thought process behind it, and the challenges experienced at launch....

Press Row Podcast – Episode 145 – Madden 16 Initial Impressions The 145th episode of the Press Row Podcast is a two-parter. Up first, Rich Grisham and Bryan Wiedey talk about their first couple of days playing the brand-new Madden NFL 16 courtesy of the EA Access program. The two go over general gameplay, the new Draft Champions mode, early online experience, and the implications of the new goal-o...

The 144th episode of the Press Row Podcast is a two-parter taking a look at this fall’s huge upcoming slate of sports games. Up first, host Rich Grisham is joined by NBA Live 16 Executive Producer Sean O’Brien and Senior Designer Ryan Santos to discuss the big announcements made by the team and the overall state of the franchise. Next, Rich chats with regular panelists Kat Bailey, T.J. Lauerman, a...

The 143rd episode of the Press Row Podcast gets our panel back together for a fun summer conversation. The crew chat about what they’ve been playing, the joys of Rocket League, the jammed fall sports schedule, the EASHL beta, and a whole lot more. First-time guest Chase Becotte joins Bryan Wiedey, Owen Good, Samit Sarkar, and host Rich Grisham. Enjoy! Joining us this week: Owen Good, Polygon(@Owen...

The 142nd episode of the Press Row Podcast is a two parter. Up first, producer Ryan Ferwerda joins host Rich Grisham to describe the process of building Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Golf from the ground up, including how courses are constructed, the approach to mechanics, prioritization of features, online play, and why EA Sports isn’t able to currently discuss the game’s future content roadmap. After th...

The 140th episode of the Press Row Podcast features a breezy, free-wheeling discussion with regulars Kat Bailey, Bryan Wiedey, and Rich Grisham on a whole range of topics. The panel remembers with fondness when July meant NCAA Football, discusses how online leagues impacted how they continued to play games longer than they had before, looks ahead to the upcoming Rocket League title hitting PlaySta...

This week’s mega-pod includes a number of discussions centered on this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. Up first, Kat Bailey breaks down her hands-on experience with Madden NFL 16, NHL 16, FIFA 16, and Pro Evolution 2016 – lots of great details here. Next, Rich is joined by Bryan Wiedey, T.J. Lauerman, and Chris Sanner review all of the press conferences. Lastly, Ryan Lewis hops on along with...

This week’s episode gets the entire Press Row gang together to talk about what E3 2015 may hold in store for sports games. From the basic messaging we’re expecting from core titles to far-flung future-state virtual reality, this year’s E3 conference is likely to throw a lot at fans of big-time sports. Will there be any major surprises? Will hyperbole be ramped up or tempered? Will we see anything...

Press Row Podcast – Episode 137 –The trouble(s) with FIFA This week’s episode is a conversation with a full panel all about FIFA – namely, EA’s relationship to the embattled global organization and the reaction to the recent announcement of the inclusion of women into this fall’s FIFA 16. To what extent should EA evaluate its partnership with FIFA, considering the damning revelations of corruption...

This week’s episode is a deep dive into the modifications and improvements in this fall’s upcoming Madden NFL 16. Host Rich Grisham is joined by two of the leading designers of Madden’s Connected Franchise Mode, including Creative Director Kolbe Launchbaugh and Designer John White. The three discuss a host of additions and changes to CFM, including the updated goals framework, new scouting and dra...

Press Row Podcast – Episode 135 – NHL 16 and Madden 16 This week’s episode is a two-parter. Up first, host  Rich Grisham is joined by Press Row regulars Owen Good, Chris Sanner, T.J. Lauerman, and Samit Sarkar to discuss the NHL 16 feature set reveal. The team compares last season’s PR process to this year’s as well as the overall reaction by themselves and the fans. Up next, Madden 16’s Creative...

Press Row Podcast – Episode 134 – Project CARS and Madden 16 This week’s episode is a two-parter. Up first, racing enthusiasts Greg Sewart and Pete Dodd join host Rich Grisham to deliver their initial impressions of the brand new racer Project CARS – what is impressive, what’s lacking, and the interesting approach to development and distribution that the game took. The second part is a brief discu...

This week’s episode features Bryan Wiedey, Samit Sarkar, and T.J. Lauerman joining host Rich Grisham to discuss a number of topics, including the feedback from last week’s Joe Montana discussion, what each of the guests has been playing lately, the implications of EA Sports’ continued Ultimate Team money juggernaut, as well as how the various sports titles handle their social media outlets. It’s a...

This week’s episode features Cicero Holmes and Ryan Lewis joining host Rich Grisham to talk about a host of subjects. The three chat about how they approach their favorite sports games, whether or not the “real world” influences their attitude with the virtual equivalent, what their go-to franchise is, what they would like to get into if only there were more time, and much more. In addition, Ryan...

Between the games we’re playing right now and talk of the games coming down the line later this year, this week’s Press Row Podcast touches all the bases. Our panel hits on playing NHL during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, whether losing the Masters hurts EA Sports’ upcoming PGA Tour game, the impact of WWE coming to the PC, our latest stories playing The Show, and the leaked information about Spike Le...

It’s been a few weeks – and before MLB The Show, Out of the Park Baseball, and RBI Baseball were released – since we last spoke with Operation Sports’ Chris Sanner, so we stopped him from chasing tornadoes for an hour to join Bryan Wiedey, T.J. Lauerman, and host Rich Grisham on this week’s Press Row Podcast. The crew chats about their latest experiences with The Show online and off, digs into Dia...