Whether it’s the VC in NBA 2K18 or the increased presence of “loot boxes” in games like Star Wars: Battlefront II and Forza Motorsport 7, the influence on development directly related to monetization efforts is at the forefront of discussion right now amongst gaming press and consumers.

In this episode of the Press Row Podcast the panel covers why it has taken until now for such immense backlash to formulate, the necessity of publishers/developers to find ways to generate digital revenue post-release, whether games focusing on single-player experiences are going extinct, and also debate the concept of loot boxes being tantamount to gambling.

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre)
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)

Sports video games are enjoying - in many cases - their most profitable releases ever. In other areas, however, there are reasons for concern. We're joined by Mat Piscatella from the NPD to explore all the angles around the big business - and big money - of sports video games. What does all of this mean to consumers? What about developers? Who are the big winners, and who stands to be left out of the party? It's a fun and fascinating look at the business behind the games that we love.

On the show this week:
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Mat Piscatella, NPD (@MatPiscatella)

Sponsor's note: GamerSaloon lets you play any game, any time, for any amount of money to win cash prizes. Compete against your friends or anyone in the GamerSaloon community in dozens of individual or team-based competitions. It's safe, secure, and fun! Sign up today by downloading the app or go to GamerSaloon.com and use the code 'pressrow' to get a 50% bonus on your initial deposit. Help the Press Row Podcast and have a lot of fun while you do it!

With the recent avalanche of releases how does a sports gaming fan choose where to spend their money and time? Matthew Kato of Game Informer is welcomed for this episode of the Press Row Podcast to help sort through all the games that have recently arrived. Discussion includes which of the soccer games is the one to get, how microtransactions are affecting series like NBA 2K and Forza, the best sports game for the unfamiliar or inexperienced, the biggest surprises and disappointments as of late, and much more!

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Sporting News/Pastapadre/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Matthew Kato, Game Informer (@MattKato)

GamerSaloon lets you play any game, any time, for any amount of money to win cash prizes. Compete against your friends or anyone in the GamerSaloon community in dozens of individual or team-based competitions. It's safe, secure, and fun! Sign up today by downloading the app or go to GamerSaloon.com and use the code 'pressrow' to get a 50% bonus on your initial deposit. Help the Press Row Podcast and have a lot of fun while you do it!

2K Sports is facing criticism from all sides over the aggressive implementation of Virtual Currency within NBA 2K18. VC is nothing new to the popular basketball franchise however, so why has this become such a story now that mainstream gaming media, Youtube personalities, and consumers are all making their voices heard on the matter? We discuss the circumstances specific to the NBA 2K series that has allowed the situation to blow up, and the necessary pursuit of digital revenue for publishers, in this episode of the Press Row Podcast.

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Sporting News/Pastapadre/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Daniel Baesel, UberYouTuber (@danielbaesel)

GamerSaloon lets you play any game, any time, for any amount of money to win cash prizes. Compete against your friends or anyone in the GamerSaloon community in dozens of individual or team-based competitions. It's safe, secure, and fun! Sign up today by downloading the app or go to GamerSaloon.com and use the code 'pressrow' to get a 50% bonus on your initial deposit. Help the Press Row Podcast and have a lot of fun while you do it!

NBA 2K18 and NBA Live 18 came upon their respective releases having traveled dramatically different paths to get there. NBA 2K has grown into the second biggest sports game in the world and is guaranteed to be a smash hit now annually. NBA Live is simply trying to recapture some credibility after eight years defined more by its cancellations than even its sub-par editions.

In this episode of the Press Row Podcast both games are examined closely, with areas such as accessibility, gameplay, franchise and story/career modes discussed. The Nintendo Switch version of NBA 2K18 is evaluated and compared to the experience on other platforms. The big post-release subjects related to NBA 2K18 - uproar over the aggressive implementation of VC and vanishing MyPlayer characters - are of course also major subjects. Each basketball game offers advantages over their competitor to consider, but which game is the right one for you?

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Sporting News/Pastapadre/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)
MillsGamingTV, Operation Sports (@MillsGamingTV)
Kat Bailey, USgamer, (@the_katbot)

GamerSaloon lets you play any game, any time, for any amount of money to win cash prizes. Compete against your friends or anyone in the GamerSaloon community in dozens of individual or team-based competitions. It's safe, secure, and fun! Sign up today by downloading the app or go to GamerSaloon.com and use the code 'pressrow' to get a 50% bonus on your initial deposit. Help the Press Row Podcast and have a lot of fun while you do it!

Kat Bailey, Editor in Chief of USgamer and longtime friend of the show, drops by for a one-on-one conversation about all the new sports games of the fall. Kat dives deep into NHL 18, Pro Evolution 2018, Madden NFL 18, and NBA 2K18. If you’re wondering what big console sports titles to check out this year, Kat lays out the pros and cons.

On the show this week:
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Kat Bailey, USgamer, (@the_katbot)

With limited-time trials available to play for NBA Live 18, NHL 18, and NBA 2K18, this episode of the Press Row Podcast covers first impressions of the three games which all have drastically different circumstances surrounding their release. Live desperately needs to recapture some credibility, NHL is stable but looking to generate new sales to casual consumers, and 2K18 is guaranteed to be a smash hit but is getting fans started early on their careers.

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Chris "MillsgamingTV," Operation Sports (@MillsGamingTV)

With Longshot in Madden NFL 18 garnering high praise this episode of the Press Row Podcast features an interview with the architects behind the franchise's first-ever story mode. Mike Young (director, co-writer) and Adrian Todd Zuniga (co-writer) join the show to discuss the process behind crafting the story first as a movie and evolution into a compelling interactive experience for the game that followed.

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Michael Young, EA Sports (@MichaelYoungCD)
Adrian Todd Zuniga, EA Sports (@atzuniga)

The sports-gaming season is now underway with the release of Madden NFL 18, and following the initial impressions show last week we're back with a panel to break down many aspects of the game in a supersized two hour episode!

Longshot story mode, Franchise mode, gameplay, MUT Squads, and more are covered in-depth, with the discussion later ending on some thoughts regarding the way the Madden and sports titles in general are poorly covered by gaming media and the way marketing strategies are being shifted towards "influencers" over websites.

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Richard Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Kat Bailey, USgamer, (@the_katbot)
Chris “MillsGamingTV,” Operation Sports (@MillsGamingTV)

Last year Madden was able to establish itself back within the upper-echelon of sports titles, finishing second in the Press Row Podcast Sports Game of the Year voting. Madden NFL 18 hopes to build on that success with the introduction of the series' first ever story mode, the return of online co-op, three new play styles, visual enhancements made possible due to the Frostbite Engine, and number of gameplay improvements.

In this episode first impressions of Madden NFL 18 are discussed, going over the changes to gameplay, Franchise, Ultimate Team, and of course the highly-anticipated Longshot. There's some agreement on where Madden stands with this edition but also places where opinions diverge. For more on Madden NFL 18 the full panel review roundtable show will go out next week!

On the show this week:

Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Chris “MillsGamingTV,” Operation Sports (@MillsGamingTV)