An unprecedented number of sports game releases within a compressed window of just a few weeks has left both consumers and reviewers struggling to find the time and/or money for all of them. The panel in this episode of the Press Row Podcast discusses at length four of the latest games to arrive on the market - NHL 17, NBA 2K17, Pro Evolution Soccer 2017, and Forza Horizon 3.

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Samit Sarkar (@SamitSarkar), Polygon
Rich Grisham (@RichGrisham), Out of the Park Developments
Kat Bailey (@The_Katbot), USgamer
Chris "Millennium" (@MillenniumOS), Operation Sports

Now in the midst of the busiest time of the year in sports gaming, Bryan Wiedey and Rich Grisham reflect on recent releases and those right around the corner. With limited time what games rise to the top and which fall by the wayside? Between Madden NFL 17, PES 2017, NBA 2K17, NHL 17, FIFA 17, and several racers - Forza Horizon 3, Nascar Heat Evolution, F1 2016 - there's no choice but for a game to be great in order to compete in the current marketplace.

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Rich Grisham (@RichGrisham), Out of the Park Developments

One mode in Madden NFL 17 has expanded so much in terms of both content and prominence that it couldn't even fit into the Review Roundtable episode. Bryan Wiedey and T.J. Lauerman examine the revenue-driving Ultimate Team by going through its intimidating feature set and assessing what is working well and what could be improved. Has it all gotten to be a little too much for the average gamer?

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
T.J. Lauerman (@ThatSportsGamer), ThatSportsGamer

One of the most anticipated Press Row Podcast episodes on an annual basis is here with the Madden NFL 17 Review Roundtable! The panel discusses various themes of this year's game, examine where it excels, and identify the areas that need the most work going forward.

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Owen Good (@owengood), Polygon
Rich Grisham (@RichGrisham), Out of the Park Developments
Kat Bailey (@The_Katbot), USgamer
Dustin Toms (@Dustin_Toms), IGN
Chris "Millennium" (@MillenniumOS), Operation Sports

Written Reviews: Sporting News, Polygon, USgamer, Operation Sports, IGN

Madden NFL 17's release is imminent - or in the case of those with EA Access on Xbox One the season has already kicked off - and before getting to the big panel review roundtable podcast (that'll be next week) Bryan Wiedey, Owen Good, Rich Grisham, and T.J. Lauerman discuss early impressions and experiences with the game. Is this the year Madden finally returns to the upper-echelon of sports games?

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Owen Good (@owengood), Polygon
Rich Grisham (@RichGrisham), Out of the Park Developments
T.J. Lauerman (@ThatSportsGamer), ThatSportsGamer

NBA 2K17 is now just 27 days away from release. Very little is known about the game, and that's a departure from the norm this close to a product coming out - particularly one with the massive popularity of NBA 2K.

Naturally fans are seeking out info, but not only are they failing to find it on social media, they're being treated with a level of contempt by official reps for 2K Sports simply because they want to know about the game they're planning to spend $60 or more on next month.

Bryan Wiedey, Rich Grisham, and Owen Good discuss the situation and long-running antagonistic relationship between 2K Sports and their followers on social media.

On this episode:

Bryan Wiedey, @Pastapadre

Rich Grisham @RichGrisham

Owen Good @OwenGood

With four months of MLB The Show 16 now in the books it's time to evaluate just how developer Sony San Diego can improve on an all-around excellent game next year. From gameplay to the big modes (Diamond Dynasty, Franchise, Road to the Show) Press Row Podcast host Bryan Wiedey and panelists Owen Good and T.J. Lauerman go through a great number of personal suggestions and those contributed by the community. A bonus segment follows with Kat Bailey discussing NHL 17 online beta impressions and early observations of Pro Evolution Soccer 2017.

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Owen Good (@owengood), Polygon
T.J. Lauerman (@ThatSportsGamer), ThatSportsGamer
Kat Bailey (@The_KatBot), USgamer

With the release nearing of this year's main crop of sports games there's a great deal of news to catch up on. That includes the first real game info on NBA 2K17 and expected Olympics-related announcements to come soon, observations from the first Madden NFL 17 player ratings and what they mean, the potential of cross-network play for Rocket League, and impressions out of an NHL 17 press event. The show wraps up with a segment between Rich Grisham and NHL producer Sean Ramjagsingh discussing this year's game! 

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Rich Grisham (@richgrisham), Out of the Park Developments/Hit The Pass
Sean Ramjagsingh (@rammer34), EA Sports

It's the second annual Sports Game Power Rankings! Bryan Wiedey and Rich Grisham navigate the sports gaming landscape to determine which franchise stands atop the genre and how they compare to each other within. The assessment relies on criteria that includes sales, reviews, cultural impact and more, so can NBA 2K repeat or will a new series take the crown?

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Rich Grisham (@richgrisham), Out of the Park Developments/Hit The Pass

Two major controversies arose this week and they have raised questions regarding the rights of consumers who purchase video games and spend money on digital items within them.

With MLB The Show 16, developer Sony San Diego banned a relatively large number of player accounts but some users may have found themselves banished unjustly. In FIFA the integrity of Ultimate Team mode has been brought into question, with high-value player cards not having played up to the level at which they were advertised.

With those situations in mind it's fair to wonder just what is actually owned when a video game is bought, and how it's possible to determine whether you're actually getting what you're paying for with digital-based content when there's no oversight or regulation.

That's the focus this episode of the Press Row Podcast presented by Hit The Pass. What rights do consumers have or not have, given the terms of which that are required to be agreed upon in order to play the games, and what should change about the way publishers deal with consumers when they feel the need to take certain actions?

On the show this episode:

Bryan Wiedey (@pastapadre), Pastapadre/Hit The Pass/Sporting News
Rich Grisham (@richgrisham), Out of the Park Developments/Hit The Pass
TJ Lauerman (@ThatSportsGamer), ThatSportsGamer/Hit The Pass
Chris (@MillenniumOS), Operation Sports