I found this at www.gamesdomain.com. EA has stated that a new NBA live series will not be on the PC this coming year. In fact, what they will do is just update the rosters and release the game. This anouncement really doesn't surprise me because PC sport sales are dwarfed in comparision to there console counterparts. EA stated that PC Madden will be on par with the PS2 Madden of last year. To me this is a step back for PC sports fans. If you look back at last year, the only game that was any good was NHL 2001. All the others (Madden, Fifa, NBA Live, and Triple Play) were after thoughts. EA was definitely thinking console first.

Things could be so different though! If only EA sports would utilize the PC to it's full potential. They could take advantage of the PC's massive hard drive, powerful processors, internet play, high monitor resolutions and our powerful graphics cards. I would wager that if EA made a sports game that took advantage of the high end computers (1ghz. proc, 32 mb. video card, 128 ram, internet play) that it would easily blow away any EA sports game on the PS2. 1ghz. processors and 32 mb video cards are becoming more and more prevalent in homes so the market would be there.

Believe you me, I work at EA, and we still love the PC a lot. PC is still responsible for a major chunk of the revenue stream.

And don't worry about the PC either.

Toward the end of the press day recently, they let all the employees in to see what all the games were looking like (even if you're on a development team, you never see what the other dev teams are working on.)

Anyway, they had Madden 2002 running on all four major next-gen platforms: PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, and PC. Everyone was floored by the PC version of the game, it was heads and shoulders above all the rest. Thankfully, they learned from last year's dull PC version and totally revamped it, it now feels much more like the PS2 version, but it looks even better. Graphics were higher-res, the textures were utterly gorgeous. (Our art guys are still stunned by the paltry amount of VRAM in the PS2). For example, the middle of the field was all churned up, because of all the activity that goes down there.

And if you haven't seen the Medal of Honor Allied Assault movies yet, you definitely need to. It's jaw-droppingly stunning. Most of us didn't believe you could push the Q3 engine like that. After you see that, you know the PC has regained the lead in terms of graphics. Frankly, none of the consoles, not even Xbox, can match the sheer horsepower that a top-of-the-line PC will give you in terms of graphics, processing power, and memory.

Thanks Anon. It's always fun to get some inside info.

Yes, thanks for the info. I may change my mind about Madden and get it for the PC because of this. NHL was never a question in my mind as hockey is my favorite sport.

It is interesting that your art guys comments about the VRAM of the PS/2. It makes it even more amazing what Polyphony was able to do with GT3.

-- Xaroc

GT3 rocks. Even though I suck at it. My 400+ HP Lancer Evolution VI needs some more parts, particularly of the "stay on the road" variety I think. Not to mention a new driver :-).

Try the Suburu WRX STi. It is an unholy beast!

I love the Evo. I have an RS VII cranked up to almost max now I think. It has about 550 hp and most if not all of the upgrades. The best upgrades for control are tires (try the 3rd racing tire if you have the cash), suspention and brakes (very important to control). Also note that the game will tell you a) what gear you should be in for oncoming curves and b) when you should brake to reach that gear (it starts flashing).

Here is a link to a great GT3 guide on IGN. I think you need to register (no cost) to see it but it can help with driving tips and tons of other information about which cars you can win and where etc. It is invaluable to me.


-- Xaroc

"I love the Evo. I have an RS VII cranked up to almost max now I think. It has about 550 hp and most if not all of the upgrades."

Is it better than a Y-Wing? =)

Smack ! :-)

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Quote:

Is it better than a Y-Wing? =)

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Anon,

Obviously I don't know if you truly are from EA Sports, and it really isn't relevant, but that is exactly why EA Sports gets slammed so often by hardcore sports gamers.

I have Madden 2002 PC and the gameplay is just as broken as last year's PS2 game. Yes, the game is drop dead gorgeous, but what good is a pretty game if the defensive secondary plays about as smart as Tom Green with a hangover? Why are sports games simply given a free ride just because they look so lifelike? A gorgeous strategy game with horrid AI is a bad strategy game. Same with sports games.

I get so damn worked up when companies tell us how stellar a game is by rattling off all kinds of techincal jargon about frame rates and polygons. Madden PC is a port of last year's PS2 game complete with all the warts that that game had. Even the play by play is identical. Why didn't EA fix what was broken? The number ONE complaint from Madden PS2 was the lackluster defensive secondary on long passes, and whaddya know, it's the same thing in Madden PC.

If I can take the Cleveland Browns and pass for over 400 yards every single game I am not playing a serious football game. I'm playing Rockem Sockem Football with really pretty graphics. Woo hoo.

I have played Madden for the PS2 this year as well as NCAA and it's like playing a completely different game. The PS2's gameplay is in another dimension compared to what PC users are left to deal with, and to say that Madden PC is heads and shoulders above the rest is absolutely baffling to me.

But Bill, you can see their eyes moving! They even have pupils! That's got to make it the greatest PC game ever made!

I'll stick with Sega Sports' NFL2K1, thanks.

--Dave

Try out the demo
http://madden2002.ea.com/downloads.html

I've been cheesing out in GT3 by taking my car to the final series (the GT Championship or whatever) in Beginner mode and running the Super Speedway race over and over. I can't lose, and it's $10k a win, and each win taks less than three minutes. It's an easy way to build cash :-).


I use the automatic tranny though because I haven't gotten up the nerve to try a manual in the game (I drive a stick in real life, but then again, it's easier with a real car). Anyhow, I bought a Corvette Z06 and upgraded it a bit, to around 600HP. It's even faster than than the Evo, though I need to tweak the ratios more, and the RWD handling is more comprehensible to this American veteran of muscle cars.

The quickest way to make cash is the European Championship in Amateur. If you win the first 4 races (3 laps each) you get 15 K per race plus if you save and go to the last race and quit out you have a shot at a car that sells for $300k. You can reload until you get the car, sell it and then you are set. The IGN guide explains it better than I do but it works.

I too use automatic because I have too many other things to worry about to bother (I also drive manual in real life).

I have learned to appriciate rear drive cars a lot. They turn so much easier than AWD or RWD. You can buy a variable differentiator (I think that is the name) for AWD cars that lets you put 90% of the power to the rear wheels effectively making it a RWD car. I have done this with a couple of cars to make them easier to handle.

My current favorite car is the Raybrig NSX. Tweaked out it has 1033 hp and handles incredibly neutrally for a mid-engine car. I have also made some suspension mods that make it even more manuverable.

I could probably talk about GT3 forever. I am 48% through and still having a lot of fun. The races are getting kinda long though. I really liked the 2 and 3 lappers and 5s are ok but 10s are really a pain.