Press Row Podcast (general)

With Madden NFL 16 and MLB 15 The Show as the currently-available big-time sports games (not for long, though, as hockey, soccer, and hoops games are coming out quickly!) a few of our regular Press Row panelists get together to debate the merits of the two against each other. Kat, Bryan, T.J, and Rich analyze how Madden is faring three weeks after release, and compare and contrast gameplay, modes, and Ultimate Team vs Diamond Dynasty between the two games.

In addition, Kat Bailey drops by (again) to chat about her hands-on time with NBA 2K16 at the development studio. She's very impressed with what was on display and has a lot of interesting perspectives on where the game stands.

Enjoy the show!

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_148.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:11pm EDT

As we near the arrival of one of the most anticipated sports games ever - between a new Spike Lee-driven story, significantly upgraded franchise features offline and online, ambitious on-court gameplay additions, and new collaborative modes - host Rich Grisham sits down with two of the NBA 2K16 development team members to talk about what it all means. Scott O'Gallagher and Nino "Da Czar" Samuel join Rich for a wide-ranging discussion on what the NBA 2K franchise really means these days, why they think it's going to be the best basketball game ever made, and what's in store both now and the future.

Enjoy the show! 

Enjoy!

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_147.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:28am EDT

The 146th episode of the Press Row Podcast is our official Madden 16 Review Roundtable. The show is actually another two-parter; up first, host Rich Grisham is joined by Madden Creative Director Mike Young and Assistant Producer Jake Stein to talk about this year's opening cinematic. The three chat about how it came together, the thought process behind it, and the challenges experienced at launch. Up next, Rich is joined by Owen Good, Bryan Wiedey, Chris Sanner, T.J. Lauerman, and Gus Ramsey to explore Madden 16 in depth. It's one of our most popular episodes each year!

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre and Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)

Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@ChrisSnr)

Gus Ramsey, ESPN (@GusRamsey)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer  (@ThatSportsGamer)

Mike Young, EA Sports (@MySportsPhtog)

Jake Stein, EA Sports (@JStein2469)

And your host, Richard Grisham from Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run time: 2:11

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_146.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:51am EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 145 – Madden 16 Initial Impressions

The 145th episode of the Press Row Podcast is a two-parter. Up first, Rich Grisham and Bryan Wiedey talk about their first couple of days playing the brand-new Madden NFL 16 courtesy of the EA Access program. The two go over general gameplay, the new Draft Champions mode, early online experience, and the implications of the new goal-oriented systems in the Franchise mode. Up next, our friend Ian Cummings drops by to chat about his new iOS game Derby King: Quest for the Triple Crown as well as his thoughts on the Madden franchise now that it’s been several years since he was at the helm as Creative Director.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre and Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)

Ian Cummings, Derby King (@iancummings)

And your host, Richard Grisham from Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run time: 1:45

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_145.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:29am EDT

The 144th episode of the Press Row Podcast is a two-parter taking a look at this fall’s huge upcoming slate of sports games. Up first, host Rich Grisham is joined by NBA Live 16 Executive Producer Sean O’Brien and Senior Designer Ryan Santos to discuss the big announcements made by the team and the overall state of the franchise. Next, Rich chats with regular panelists Kat Bailey, T.J. Lauerman, and Owen Good about the overall sports game slate for the fall – who’s in the best position, where the challenges are, and how fans of these games are going to deal with a huge selection in a small window.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Sean O’Brien, EA Sports (@seanobs)

Ryan Santos, EA Sports (@ryansantos)

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Kat Bailey, US Gamer (@The_Katbot)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

And your host, Richard Grisham from Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 Run time: 1:25

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_144.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

The 143rd episode of the Press Row Podcast gets our panel back together for a fun summer conversation. The crew chat about what they’ve been playing, the joys of Rocket League, the jammed fall sports schedule, the EASHL beta, and a whole lot more. First-time guest Chase Becotte joins Bryan Wiedey, Owen Good, Samit Sarkar, and host Rich Grisham.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Owen Good, Polygon(@OwenGood)

Chase Becotte, Operation Sports (@ChaseBecotte)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre and HitThePass (@PastaPadre)

And your host, Richard Grisham from Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

 

Run time: 1:08

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_143.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:10am EDT

The 142nd episode of the Press Row Podcast is a two parter. Up first, producer Ryan Ferwerda joins host Rich Grisham to describe the process of building Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Golf from the ground up, including how courses are constructed, the approach to mechanics, prioritization of features, online play, and why EA Sports isn’t able to currently discuss the game’s future content roadmap. After that, Rich and Bryan Wiedey get together to talk about their initial impressions of PGA Tour golf, how it compares to The Golf Club, and what they feel EA needs to do to support the game moving forward.

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_142.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:39pm EDT

The 141st episode of the Press Row Podcast is a discussion between Owen Good, Samit Sarkar, and Rich Grisham all about the upcoming Rory McIlroy PGA Tour title. Does the limited number of courses and golfers – compared to previous versions – significantly hurt its chances at success? What is the approach that EA is taking with the game, now that it’s evidently not an annual release? Will PGA Tour evolve into a “golf as a service” model? How will it compare with The Golf Club? These and a number of other topics about PGA Tour are debated. Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

And your host, Richard Grisham from Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

Run time: 1:06

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_141.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:44pm EDT

The 140th episode of the Press Row Podcast features a breezy, free-wheeling discussion with regulars Kat Bailey, Bryan Wiedey, and Rich Grisham on a whole range of topics. The panel remembers with fondness when July meant NCAA Football, discusses how online leagues impacted how they continued to play games longer than they had before, looks ahead to the upcoming Rocket League title hitting PlayStation 4 (for free!) next week, wonders if arcade sports games could make a comeback, and wraps with Kat and Rich getting into a rather heated argument about FIFA's shooting mechanics on console versus the Vita. Lastly, Bryan and Rich talk about the positive reaction to their new Hit The Pass site and what it has meant to them.

Enjoy the show, and Happy Fourth of July!

Run time: 1:23

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_140.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm EDT

This week’s mega-pod includes a number of discussions centered on this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. Up first, Kat Bailey breaks down her hands-on experience with Madden NFL 16, NHL 16, FIFA 16, and Pro Evolution 2016 – lots of great details here. Next, Rich is joined by Bryan Wiedey, T.J. Lauerman, and Chris Sanner review all of the press conferences. Lastly, Ryan Lewis hops on along with T.J., Bryan, and Rich to review the underwhelming reveal of Joe Montana Football.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Kat Bailey, US Gamer (@The_Katbot)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@ChrisSnr)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Ryan Lewis, Hit The Pass (@RyanTheLou)

And your host, Richard Grisham from Hit The Pass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time: 2:15

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_139.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:02am EDT

This week’s episode gets the entire Press Row gang together to talk about what E3 2015 may hold in store for sports games. From the basic messaging we’re expecting from core titles to far-flung future-state virtual reality, this year’s E3 conference is likely to throw a lot at fans of big-time sports. Will there be any major surprises? Will hyperbole be ramped up or tempered? Will we see anything from the new wave of VR machines like Oculus or Morpheus? Join the crew as we walk through what we expect and hope this year at E3.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@ChrisSnr)

Kat Bailey, US Gamer (@The_Katbot)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

And your host, Richard Grisham from HitThePass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time: 1:14

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_138.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:10pm EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 137 –The trouble(s) with FIFA

This week’s episode is a conversation with a full panel all about FIFA – namely, EA’s relationship to the embattled global organization and the reaction to the recent announcement of the inclusion of women into this fall’s FIFA 16. To what extent should EA evaluate its partnership with FIFA, considering the damning revelations of corruption and near-slave labor building World Cup stadiums? Should we be happy that a dozen women’s national teams have been added for FIFA 16, or should we be unhappy that there’s not more that can be done with them? It’s a spirited debate that goes in several unexpected directions.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre/Hit The Pass (@pastapadre)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@ChrisSnr)

Kat Bailey, US Gamer (@The_Katbot)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

And your host, Richard Grisham from HitThePass (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time: 1:03

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_137.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:53am EDT

This week’s episode is a deep dive into the modifications and improvements in this fall’s upcoming Madden NFL 16. Host Rich Grisham is joined by two of the leading designers of Madden’s Connected Franchise Mode, including Creative Director Kolbe Launchbaugh and Designer John White. The three discuss a host of additions and changes to CFM, including the updated goals framework, new scouting and draft options, updated commissioner tools, and a host of other items.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Koble Launchbaugh, EA Sports (@KolbeL)

John White, EA Sports (@EAWhite)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time: 54 minutes

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_136.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:58am EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 135 – NHL 16 and Madden 16

This week’s episode is a two-parter. Up first, host  Rich Grisham is joined by Press Row regulars Owen Good, Chris Sanner, T.J. Lauerman, and Samit Sarkar to discuss the NHL 16 feature set reveal. The team compares last season’s PR process to this year’s as well as the overall reaction by themselves and the fans. Up next, Madden 16’s Creative Director Kolbe Launchbaugh joins Rich to describe his approach to this fall’s Madden game as well as a preview of its theme.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@Chiris_Snr)

Koble Launchbaugh, EA Sports (@KolbeL)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time: 1:33

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_135.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:04pm EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 134 – Project CARS and Madden 16

This week’s episode is a two-parter. Up first, racing enthusiasts Greg Sewart and Pete Dodd join host Rich Grisham to deliver their initial impressions of the brand new racer Project CARS – what is impressive, what’s lacking, and the interesting approach to development and distribution that the game took. The second part is a brief discussion between Bryan Wiedey, T.J. Lauerman, and Rich about the first bit of news that has been released about this fall’s Madden 16.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Greg Sewart, Player One Podcast (@sewart)

Pete Dodd, Dodd Scientifics (@AtPeteDodd)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time: 1:17

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_134.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:07pm EDT

This week’s episode features Bryan Wiedey, Samit Sarkar, and T.J. Lauerman joining host Rich Grisham to discuss a number of topics, including the feedback from last week’s Joe Montana discussion, what each of the guests has been playing lately, the implications of EA Sports’ continued Ultimate Team money juggernaut, as well as how the various sports titles handle their social media outlets. It’s a fun show that touches on many of the games we love.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon  (@SamitSarkar)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

Run Time: 1:10

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_133.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:13pm EDT

This week’s episode features Cicero Holmes and Ryan Lewis joining host Rich Grisham to talk about a host of subjects. The three chat about how they approach their favorite sports games, whether or not the “real world” influences their attitude with the virtual equivalent, what their go-to franchise is, what they would like to get into if only there were more time, and much more. In addition, Ryan takes Cicero and Rich down the bizarre Joe Montana Football rabbit hole, offering up several theories on what that operation may actually be doing. It’s a fun episode - our 132nd - that spans sports games in the present, the past, and the future.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Cicero Holmes, Spawn on Me (@stubbystan)

Ryan Lewis  (@RyanTheLou)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time: 1:32

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_132.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:32pm EDT

Between the games we’re playing right now and talk of the games coming down the line later this year, this week’s Press Row Podcast touches all the bases. Our panel hits on playing NHL during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, whether losing the Masters hurts EA Sports’ upcoming PGA Tour game, the impact of WWE coming to the PC, our latest stories playing The Show, and the leaked information about Spike Lee contributing to the next version of NBA 2K. There’s never a dull moment in the world of sports video games!

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

Kat Bailey, USGamer (@The_Katbot)

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you. 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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at 

https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

Run Time: 1:32

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_131.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:03pm EDT

It’s been a few weeks – and before MLB The Show, Out of the Park Baseball, and RBI Baseball were released – since we last spoke with Operation Sports’ Chris Sanner, so we stopped him from chasing tornadoes for an hour to join Bryan Wiedey, T.J. Lauerman, and host Rich Grisham on this week’s Press Row Podcast. The crew chats about their latest experiences with The Show online and off, digs into Diamond Dynasty a bit more, discusses why the Metacritic number for The Show is relatively low (and why that doesn’t really matter), and much more about MLB 15 The Show. In addition, Chris talks about his wildly varying enjoyment of RBI Baseball and Out of the Park Baseball, and Bryan describes why Tap Sports Baseball is such a successful mobile hardball game. We hit all the bases this week in what has turned into a great spring for baseball video game fans.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@Chris_Snr)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

Run Time: 1:00

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_130.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:07pm EDT

This is it! One of the most anticipated episodes of the year is here, as we gather our crew for the annual MLB The Show Review Roundtable. We dive into most of what this year’s premier baseball game has to offer, including on-field gameplay, Road To The Show, Franchise, Diamond Dynasty, and more. Few games feature as varied of a sports experience than The Show, and panelists Kat Bailey, Owen Good, Samit Sarkar, and T.J. Lauerman pull no punches with host Rich Grisham as they break down everything they love and hate.  

Be sure to check out Rich Grisham’s review of MLB 15 The Show for GamesRadar right here: http://www.gamesradar.com/mlb-show-15-review/

Also check out Kat Bailey’s review of MLB 15 The Show for US Gamer right here: http://www.usgamer.net/articles/mlb-15-the-show-playstation-4-review-on-the-road-again

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Kat Bailey, US Gamer (@The_Katbot)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

Run Time: 1:38

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_129.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:41pm EDT

One of the most important sports games of the year has finally been released, which means it’s time for the Press Row Podcast community to dive in! This week’s episode culls two segments together, the Day One and Day Two Press Row Hangout Impressions episodes that aired live earlier this week. The first segment features Bryan Wiedey, T.J. Lauerman, and Samit Sarkar joining host Rich Grisham to discuss their first hands-on experiences, while in the second segment Owen Good hops in with the gang for his perspectives as well. It’s a fun episode that touches on a lot of what The Show has to offer out of the gate. 

Also, be sure to check out Rich Grisham’s review of MLB 15 The Show for GamesRadar right here: http://www.gamesradar.com/mlb-show-15-review/

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

Run Time: 2:28

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_128.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:11pm EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 127 – Spring baseball and golf preview

Spring is technically here – although the weather may not agree with that – so our thoughts turn to baseball and golf. Episode 127 is a three-part show. Up first, Bryan Wiedey and T.J. Lauerman join host Rich Grisham to talk about what they’re looking forward to the most from MLB 15 The Show. Second, Rory McElroy PGA Tour Executive Producer Brent Nielsen joins Rich to chat about the recent news surrounding EA’s upcoming next-gen golf game. Lastly, Out of the Park Baseball’s Brad Cook drops by to discuss his just-released PC baseball sim, and why the new MLB license transforms the experience. 

Enjoy the show!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Brent Nielsen, EA Sports (@BrentNielsen71)

Brad Cook, Out of the Park Baseball (@bradcwriter)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at https://audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

Run Time:  1:22

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_127.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:17am EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 126 – Rumors, Facts, and Innuendo

 

Sometimes, a week in the world of sports video games can take some interesting turns. The week of March 16th, 2015 was one of those. Multiple games were either rumored to exist or potentially be delayed for extended periods of time. Episode 126 of the Press Row Podcast encapsulates three separate discussions from Sunday through Thursday about these games and more. This three-part mega-pod contains the full audio from the latest Press Row Hangout with Bryan, T.J., and Rich, a one-on-one conversation with Owen Good, and a follow-up Hangout. Topics discussed include Joe Montana Football, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Golf, MLB 15 The Show, and much more.

 

Enjoy the show!

 

Joining us this week:

 

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

 

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

 

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

 

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

 

Lastly, check out our brand new compilation page on Audioboom at audioboom.com/channel/press-row-podcast, where all of our shows are easy to access from one page.

 

Run Time:  2:05

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_126.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:26pm EDT

For the third straight year, the Press Row Podcast invaded PAX East for a panel on the state of sports games. This year’s session was titled ‘Sports Games at the Crossroads,’ which explored a number of topics. These include the continued expansion of Ultimate Team modes and their influence on overall sports game development, whether big-time sports games have gotten too difficult, and how the market could look to expand while continuing to serve its base. It was a spirited session, and we’re happy that we can deliver it to all of the listeners of the show.

Enjoy the show!

Joining us this week:

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Garnett Lee (@GarnettLee)

Kevin Larrabee, BackInMyPlay (@KevinLarrabee)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

 

Run Time:  49:00

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_125.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:57pm EDT

With all the news coming out recently about new Virtual Reality devices from Sony, Valve, Oculus Rift, and others, we thought it would be a good time to examine the possibilities for VR in the sports games we love. Will it become mainstream? Will it be a flash in the pan? Are the big guys already working on something, or will they wait to see where the market goes? 

Enjoy the show!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time:  1:28

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_124.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:26am EDT

Several of us from the Press Row Podcast recently collaborated for The Sporting News to create a Sports Game Power Rankings list. In the 123rd episode of Press Row, host Rich Grisham is joined by PastaPadre’s Bryan Wiedey and Operation Sports’ Chris Sanner to discuss the list – why it was organized the way it was, reasons for the selections, and various ways that games can move up or down as we get nearer to the start of the 2015 sports video game season next month. 

Here is a link to the Sporting News article: http://www.sportingnews.com/sport/story/2015-02-27/video-game-power-rankings-review-rating-nhl-madden-fifa-nba-live-2k15/

Enjoy the show!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@Chris_Snr)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time:  1:28

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_123.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:12pm EDT

It’s the 122nd episode of the Press Row Podcast, featuring a near-complete panel diving into two significant topics. Up first, the crew examines how Diamond Dynasty seems to (so far, at least) be a significant focus for MLB 15 The Show. Included in this segment, Samit Sarkar describes his initial impressions of The Show from a media event he attended. Up next, it’s the question that set off a raging debate this week – is NBA 2K bigger than Madden? Owen Good and Kat Bailey have written compelling pieces about it (spurred by an interview with Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick), and they, along with the rest of the team, have an intense discussion about whether or not this is the case.

Enjoy the show!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Kat Bailey, USGamer (@The_Katbot)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@Chris_Snr)

Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@SamitSarkar)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time:  1:25

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_122.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:40pm EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 121 – Breaking down MLB 15’s approach

 

The first big sports game of the season is landing next month, and the crew making MLB 15 The Show has started to publicize certain aspects of their flagship PS4 title. Operation Sports’ Chris Sanner and PastaPadre’s Bryan Wiedey join host Rich Grisham to analyze the new approach for the development team – long-form live streams, detailed breakdowns of individual features – as well as discussing much of what has been revealed, from new visuals to Diamond Dynasty to licensed equipment.

 

Enjoy the show!

 

Joining us this week:

 

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@Chris_Snr)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

 

Enjoy the show!

 

Run Time:  1:10

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_121.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:34pm EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 120 – 2015 Season Preview

 

For the first time since the 2014 Game of the Year show, we get the regular gang back together to look ahead to what 2015 may have to offer. Rather than lining up each game and wondering what it will be, the crew contemplates questions such as which sports game franchise has the most at stake, whether or not any major game will dramatically shift its approach, and how potential indie sport games may disrupt or influence licensed fare. It’s great to have most of our regular crew back to kick off a new season!

 

Enjoy the show!

 

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

Owen Good, Polygon (@OwenGood)

Kat Bailey, USGamer (@The_Katbot)

Chris Sanner, Operation Sports (@Chris_Snr)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

 

Enjoy the show!

 

Run Time:  1:33

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_120.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:37pm EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 116 – The best baseball games of the past

It’s bitterly cold across much of the USA, so what better time to reflect on some of the best baseball games of past eras? A brand new guest joins the show this episode, as Chris Baker looks back at his long history of playing baseball games ‘back in the day’ and joins host Rich Grisham to compare and contrast their personal old-school baseball games. In addition, the two discuss other interesting and honorable mentions as well as listing a bunch of listener-submitted nominations. Enjoy the show!

Joining us this week:

Chris Baker (@cbake76)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

Make sure you check out Chris’ brand new book, WRONG? Retro games, you messed up our comic book heroes! Awesomely nerdy nitpicks on nearly 80 games which is available right on Amazon.

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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time:  1:28

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_116.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:02pm EDT

Happy Thanksgiving! The 111th episode of the Press Row Podcast is pulled from our live Thanksgiving Press Row Hangout, as host Rich Grisham is joined by regular panelists Bryan Wiedey from PastaPadre and T.J. Lauerman from ThatSportsGamer as well as special guest Pete Dodd from Dodd Scientifics. The crew chats about a number of topics, including Bryan’s suggestion that NBA Live move to free-to-play, the post-release support of various sports titles since their release this year, and several others. There’s nothing quite like a long Thanksgiving weekend of food and football; enjoy the show!

Joining us this week:

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)

T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)

Pete Dodd, Dodd Scientifics (@atPeteDodd)

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time:  1:15

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_111.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:11pm EDT

Press Row Podcast – Episode 101 – NHL 15 Fallout, Gus Ramsey, and Tap Sports Baseball 

The 101st episode of the Press Row Podcast run the gamut, from big-time AAA sports games to brand new mobile indie offerings. Up first, host Rich Grisham interviews NHL 15 producer Sean Ramjagsingh about the launch of EA’s pro hockey title – what went well, whether fan expectations were fair, reactions to the lack of modes that had been in previous generation versions of the game, and the future of the franchise. It’s an honest look at the extraordinary difficulties that surround making the leap from one generation to another. Up next, ESPN’s Gus Ramsey (and his new puppy Bronco!) joins Rich for his annual take on Madden 15. Lastly, Rich is joined by PastaPadre’s Bryan Wiedey to interview Mike Saperstein, the creative director of the new Tap Sports Baseball mobile game that many of our listeners have found to be a lot of fun. They discuss the ideas behind the game and how it came to life. 

Joining us this week:

Sean Ramjasingh, EA Sports (@Rammer34)

Gus Ramsey, ESPN(@GusRamsey)

Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@PastaPadre)

Michael Saperstein, Tap Sports Baseball

And your host, Richard Grisham (@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, Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/operation-sports/press-row-podcast) , and the Windows Store, so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1:52

Direct download: Press_Row_Podcast_Episode_101.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:01pm EDT