From cancellations to poorly received releases, the once proud NBA Live franchise has seen its reputation dissipate entirely at the same time its competition rose to prominence. The upcoming NBA Live 18 however appears ready to reestablish some credibility and strategies ranging from a free demo to a pre-order discount are making it a safer purchase for those open to giving it another chance.

In this episode of the Press Row Podcast impressions from the just released demo are discussed as well as the impact that could come from the price discount. Additional topics include news on additions and improvements for Franchise mode in Madden NFL 18 and a delay to Super Mega Baseball 2.

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Rich Grisham, Out of the Park Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Chris “MillsGamingTV,” Operation Sports (@MillsGamingTV)

In recent years video game publishers have made dramatic shifts in how they promote their upcoming products. Whether it's holding back information longer or who it is that gets early access to spread information and media, the marketing landscape has changed as fewer games are released and they become more reliant on generating year-round digital revenue.

In this episode of the Press Row Podcast we discuss why marketing tactics are evolving and whether any consumer concerns are justified. Madden NFL 18 is currently in the hot seat with some fans for still not having shown off any gameplay despite it being under two weeks now until it goes out through the EA Access trial. Other topics include NBA Playgrounds offering $10 DLC to unlock the entire roster, NBA 2K18 on Switch releasing digital only at first, and NBA Live 18 announcing a demo but still lacking an actual release date or the ability to pre-order.

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

If it didn't already feel like sports the gaming season is just about upon us it certainly does now. Online betas for two of the upcoming games are currently active and two other highly-anticipated games have revealed details on a number of significant features and improvements.

In this episode of the Press Row Podcast the panel discusses impressions of the NHL 18 and PES 2018 betas, detailed info on improvements for the two franchise modes in NBA 2K18, and various community requests that have been tackled for Madden NFL 18.

On the show this week:
Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)
Rich Grisham, Out of the Park Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Kris Jardine, SnaggleJ (@SnaggleJ)
Chris "MillsGamingTV," Operation Sports (@MillsGamingTV)

The start of the sports gaming season is nearly upon us and in this episode of the Press Row Podcast the panel looks ahead by playing a game called "Pick One." Each person picks the one sports game they would choose this fall - and only one - then choose the one sports game franchise as their 'gotta have it.' Also discussed: impressions of Fire Pro Wrestling World and the latest with MLB The Show 17.

On the show this week:
Rich Grisham, Out of the Park Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)
T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)
Chris "MillsGamingTV," Operation Sports (@MillsGamingTV)

This last Tuesday marked what would have been the release of NCAA Football 18 had the series not been cancelled in 2013. There also hasn't been a college basketball game since 2009. How did we get to where we are now that college sports is barely represented in gaming? What is the potential for college sports to make any sort of comeback in the future?

From the lawsuits that began eight years ago to why no developer would take on such a project right now given the circumstances, alternative development ideas, favorite memories of the games, and why there is still so much passion and emotion over the subject is discussed on this episode of the Press Row Podcast.

On the show this week:

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

This episode of the Press Row Podcast looks back at the games that released and biggest stories to have developed through the mid-point of the year. MLB The Show 17, NBA Playgrounds, The Golf Club 2, ARMS, Rocket League and more are reassessed and news on eSports, digital subscription services, story modes, and new consoles are revisited.

On the show this week:

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

Nearly three years have passed since HB Studios debuted The Golf Club and now its sequel has just released. This episode of the Press Row Podcast examines The Golf Club 2 with discussion on its ultra-realistic gameplay, improvements to accessibility, new features, and unfortunate server problems.

Other topics covered during the show include patch restrictions on the Nintendo Switch discovered through NBA Playgrounds' struggles to get an update out that could threaten post-release support on the system, and whether selling special editions of games that release several days before the standard editions is an incentive to buy the former or a punishment for spending less on the latter.

On the show this week:

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

Having extensively discussed all the big news that came out of EA Play and E3 in the last two podcast episodes, Kat Bailey is now welcomed to the show to go over some hands-on impressions from the show floor for Madden NFL 18, FIFA 18, and Pro Evolution Soccer 18 before turning to a breakdown of all the news on NHL 18 which includes several confirmed features and an upcoming online beta.

On the show this week:

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

After covering the reveals from the EA Play press briefing in the last show, this episode of the Press Row Podcast features discussion on the rest of the news to come out of E3 week. That includes the Sony and Microsoft presentations (with the finalized details on the Xbox One X), more details on the Nintendo Switch version of FIFA 18 and what it means for its prospects for success, the announcement of an online beta for Pro Evolution Soccer 2018, and the disaster that E3 created by welcoming in thousands more people to the show floor.

On the show this week:

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

Sports games always take center stage at Electronic Arts' annual mid-June press briefing. Those previously linked with E3 instead now represent the kickoff to their own event EA Play. Given that the leading soccer, football, and basketball titles are always among the top selling games in both North America and worldwide every year their high-profile presence should come as no surprise.

Madden NFL 18, FIFA 18, and NBA Live 18 all were prominently featured in this weekend's EA Play press briefing. Madden had the full reveal of its new story mode to be known as "Long Shot" which has some colleges and big actors involved, FIFA had a look at its sequel to "The Journey" story mode along with some gameplay improvements, and NBA Live introduced a Career Mode called "The One" through its dual trailers.

In this episode of the Press Row Podcast host Bryan Wiedey is joined by Rich Grisham and T.J. Lauerman to go through the news and discuss what it all means for the respective franchises.

On the show this week:

Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Hit the Pass/Sporting News (@pastapadre)
Rich Grisham, Out of the Park Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)
T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@thatsportsgamer)