Press Row Podcast
Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Episode 34

It’s the 34th Episode of the Press Row Podcast, and the whole gang is back together for a mid-summer showdown. After a bit of what they’ve been playing (and watching), the crew spends some time lamenting the seemingly never-ending technical issues around online sports gaming. There’s also some listener feedback on the topic as well. Up next is a Madden NFL 25 wishlist, then a breakdown of the latest legal woes surrounding EA Sports and their college football franchise.

After the main show, stick around for the second installment of “Let’s Play Ultimate Team” with Rich and Ultimate Team guru TJ Lauerman (@ThatSportsGamer). Also, check out the team Rich is hoping to build right here!

Joining us this week:

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@chrisSnr)

Mike Suszek, Joystiq (@mikesuszek)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@samitsarkar)

Owen Good, Kotaku (@owengood)

And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

3)      Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1:58:15

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_34.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 11:09am EDT

Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Episode 33 - One-on-One with Madden NFL Creative Director Mike Young

It’s the 33rd Episode of the Press Row Podcast, a special one-on-one interview with Madden NFL 25 Creative Director Mike Young. Rich and Mike talk about the particular important of this year’s anniversary title, how Mike approaches designing the game each year, and how the process has evolved over the course of the generation –plus lots more. Stay tuned at the end of the show for a brand new segment that we hope you’ll like, too.

Do you enjoy these types of episodes? If so, make sure to let us know. Do that in one (or all!) of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

3)      Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1:12

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_33.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 10:09am EDT

It’s the 32nd Episode of the Press Row Podcast, a mega-sized show where we interview three FIFA 14 developers about this year’s upcoming title on the PS3, 360, and PC. Up first is Lead Gameplay Producer Aaron McHardy, discussing the philosophy of FIFA’s gameplay design process and the way his team put together the features of this year’s game on the pitch. After that are Ultimate Team Creative Director Adam Shaikh and Ultimate Team Designer Tyler Blair talking about the history of Ultimate Team, how and why it’s become such an influential aspect of FIFA in particular and sports games in general, and, naturally, an in-depth look at the additions to Ultimate Team in FIFA 14.

Do you enjoy these types of episodes? If so, make sure to let us know. Do that in one (or all!) of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

3)      Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 2:00:32

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_32.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 11:39am EDT

It’s the 31st Episode of the Press Row Podcast, hot on the heels of the groundbreaking NCAA decision that removes them from their associated with EA Sports and their college football game. The panel spends quite a bit of time discussing the decision and its short- and long-term implications as well as some spirited debate about the nature of college athletics. Up next is a report about the latest information on WWE 2K13, followed by the second NCAA 14 Review Roundtable and an exploration of our favorite and least favorite aspects of the game.

Joining us this week:

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@chrisSnr)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@samitsarkar)

Owen Good, Kotaku (@owengood)

And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

3)      Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1:48:14

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_31.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 11:46am EDT

Operation Sports: Press Row Podcast - Episode 30

It’s the 30th Episode of the Press Row Podcast, featuring two distinct conversations that our community has been asking for. First up is a lengthy conversation about the state of sports video game writing in 2013; many listeners have posed questions about why it seems that so few outlets pay attention to sports gaming even though it remains one of – if not the most – important revenue sources in the industry. After that, we do a “Review Roundtable Blitz” on NCAA 14, as three of the guys on the show are knee-deep in playing it for review. Don’t worry, though, we’ll have an even longer full episode-length review roundtable on NCAA 14 in a couple of weeks.

Joining us this week:

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@samitsarkar)

Mike Suszek, Joystiq (@mikesuszek)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

Owen Good, Kotaku (@owengood)

And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

3)      Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1:49:38

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_30.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 1:16pm EDT

Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Episode 29

Press Row Podcast – Episode 29
It’s Episode 29 of the Press Row Podcast, as the full crew gets back together to talk all about the Microsoft Xbox One DRM reversal, the NCAA 14 Demo, and a final look at the good, bad, and ugly from E3 2013! It’s another jam-packed show as the industry continues to go through an unprecedented transition, with critical events happening at breakneck speed.
Joining us on the panel:
Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)
Mike Suszek,Joystiq (@MikeSuszek)
Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@ChrisSnr)
Owen Good, Kotaku (@owengood)
Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@samitsarkar)
And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar (@richgrisham)
Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:
Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there
Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 
Respond to this post
Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!
Enjoy the show!
Run Time: 1:57:01

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_29.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 12:08pm EDT

Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Episode 28 – E3 2013 On-Site Special

It’s Episode 28 of the Press Row Podcast, a full report from the floor of E3 2013! A host of familiar faces and newcomers join host Rich Grisham in all sorts of ways. Here’s the breakdown of the action:
    •    Rich and Bryan Weidey from PastaPadre summarize everything they’ve seen on the show floor
    •    EA’s Director of Marketing Anthony Stevenson discusses E3, Madden, and NBA Live
    •    NBA Live Executive Producer Sean O’Brien joins Rich for a discussion about EA’s basketball franchise
    •    NBA Live gameplay designer Scott O’Gallagher joins Rich for a breakdown of the E3 floor demo
    •    NCAA 14 Producer Ben Haumiller discusses his E3 experience
    •    Madden gurus Zach Farley and Steve Gibbons go into detail about everything Madden 25, from current-gen to next-gen
    •    Madden NFL 25 Designer Vic Lugo goes through a detailed demonstration of next-generation physics
    •    Madden NFL 25 Designer Clint Oldenburg gives the crowd a detailed demonstration of next-generation blocking
    •    Operation Sports’ Steve Noah and Glen Wigmore close the show with an overview of everything they’ve seen at E3
It’s a very interesting episode, as some sections are straight-up interviews, while others are peeks behind the scenes of the demonstrations given in the EA Ignite Lab. The audio isn’t always optimal in the Lab but we did our best to give you as much as we can from the show floor. We hope you enjoy it!
Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:
    •    Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there
    •    Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 
    •    Respond to this post
Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast), so subscribe to it and rate it too!
Enjoy the show!
Run Time: 1:34:23

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_28_-_E3_2013_Special.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 5:00am EDT

Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Episode 27 - E3 2013 Preview

It’s Episode 27 of the Press Row Podcast, as the full crew gets together to talk E3! We discuss memories of the past as well as predictions for how sports games in particular and the industry in general will fare at the show. Some of us are positive, some of us are, shall we say, a little grumpy, but all of us have a lot of opinions on how we feel E3 2013 will be perceived. Plus, listener questions!

Joining us on the panel:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

Mike Suszek,Joystiq (@MikeSuszek)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@ChrisSnr)

Owen Good, Kotaku (@owengood)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@samitsarkar)

And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

3)      Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1:40:59

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_27.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 6:13pm EDT

Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Episode 26 - One on One with Ben Haumiller

It’s Episode 26 of the Press Row Podcast, as we welcome back 4-time guest Ben Haumiller to talk all about the new features available in online and offline Dynasty mode in this year’s NCAA 14. Ben goes into detail about the significant updates to recruiting, coaching, and more. As always. Ben’s enthusiasm for the game comes through loud and clear, as it’s an informative and entertaining session. Is it what you were hoping for?

Joining us this week:

Ben Haumiller, EA Sports (@benhaumiller)

And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

3)      Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 40:15

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_26.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 10:22am EDT

Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Episode 25 - Xbox One Reveal Rapid Reaction

It’s Episode 25 of the Press Row Podcast, a nearly-full panel reaction to the Xbox One reveal! The crew alternates between hopeful, ornery, confused, and bleep-filled as they discuss the good, bad, and ugly about Microsoft’s press conference. From the name to the hardware to the EA Sports announcements and everything in between, there are no holds barred. It’s a must-listen!

Joining us on the panel:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

Mike Suszek,Joystiq (@MikeSuszek)

Owen Good, Kotaku (@owengood)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@samitsarkar)

And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:

1)      Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast  and send us some Tweets while you’re there

2)      Email the show at PressRowPodcast@gmail.com 

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-sports-press-row/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1:19:46

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_25.m4a
Category:sports video games -- posted at: 12:06pm EDT