EA now has the keys to WRC, will it result in a win or a wreck?

EA Sports WRC    

With EA now behind the WRC franchise, it's natural to feel both curious and concerned about the game's future. On the one hand, we may see exciting new tracks and modes that weren't previously available. However, there's also a risk of the game being overrun by microtransactions that detract from the overall experience. 

If the game becomes too reliant on these transactions, it should be offered as a free-to-play option instead. As long as EA Sports treats the franchise with care, I'm excited to see what they can do with it. However, I don't believe that annual sequels are necessary. A two-year gap between releases would give the game ample time to breathe and offer a chance for seasonal updates in the meantime. It will be interesting to see how the game looks, powered by Unreal Engine and developed by Codemasters, the team behind DiRT Rally.

The game will continue to feature the official WRC teams and manufacturers, with 10 current WRC, WRC2, and Junior WRC vehicles and 68 iconic rally cars from throughout the sport's history. Players will have access to EA Racenet, the company's racing companion app, to help ramp up the competition. Additionally, the game will offer 32-player cross-platform multiplayer action, as well as the ability to create custom multi-surface tournaments and more through the Clubs option. EA Sports WRC will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Store, and the EA app starting November 3, 2023, with pre-orders receiving 3 days of early access, 5 VIP Passes, and 3 Team Livery & Apparel Packs.

Sophima | Guest Contributor

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RIP to a Legend: John Madden

If you haven't heard, John Earl Madden passed away on December 28, 2021. As someone born in the second half of the 1930's it's awesome that he was able to live such a long life and see so many decades + the era's that came with them.

On the field, he was an offensive tackle, while on the sideline he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders and actually coached for ten seasons (1969 - 1978). He was an icon, multi-Emmy Award winner for his commentary work, and some would add so much more, he's the NFL Legend... John Madden.

Off the field, he was still digitally in the game by way of (the biggest duh of the day) Madden NFL video games. The video game adventure started after EA founder Trip Hawkins approached Madden for an endorsement and all that good stuff. The first game actually came to like in the late 1980s because Madden wanted the game to be up to his standards (Trip approached him four years before that initial release... so he wasn't playing back then about just any game having his name on it).

The billion-dollar franchise continues to stand as a pillar for EA, and when I heard of the unfortunate news about Madden passing, all I could think of is... they have to go harder than ever on the next installment or the one after. It might be too late for the pending game (versus a last-minute nip & tuck), but the one after would have more time for them to give it the love it needs based on the man who gave his endorsement and stuck by that until his last breath.

I'm not some super fan of the Madden Football franchise... but I do appreciate that it keeps some people coming back to support the game industry in some form because some people only play Madden.

You might even be surprised that I played a lot back in the day, maybe not as much as other games, but... I played a lot. If some of you remember Madden 95 (I played on Sega)... it was one of those games that some of us liked to take on the offline competition with. People were die-hard about it too and would put up money to raise the stakes. It was just good times, and with a certain amount of people being there... you know it was going to turn into a party, so the music turned on by itself, and food appeared out of thin air to dial up the fun.

I mention this because while I'm not a super fan, but I had great times that came to life because of the competition that a Madden NFL game delivered, and it's just a reminder to actually aim to have a great time gaming. When I go online to play multiplayer games (and even when I play offline with others), that's my main objective, because you can't get that time back... and tomorrow is never promised. Have a good damn time and aim for memorable experiences.

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Madden Bowl 2016 Update + Win a Play Session of Madden w/ an NFL Player!

Dizzamn... that trophy is almost the size of one of those old coffee machines! Ummm... I mean, check out the Madden Bowl 2016 update and winner. :p

ERIC BERRY CLAIMS MADDEN BOWL 2016 TROPHY

Zack “Serious Moe” Lane Nabs Madden Challenge Crown and Share of $50,000

February 5, 2016 – Last night in San Francisco, Kansas City Chiefs Safety Eric Berry bested Washington Redskins Tight End Jordan Reed to be named the winner of Madden Bowl XXII, presented by Xbox One. Though Reed had a chance to drive down the field and win the game, Berry’s defense held strong, sealing the victory for the new champ.

Earlier in the evening Madden NFL player Zack “Serious Moe” Lane defeated Michael “Skimbo” to win the Madden Challenge. This year’s tournament has called competitors from around the country to compete online in Draft Champions mode, with “Serious Moe” and “Skimbo” battling for the championship belt and the largest share of the $50,000 prize pool.

After the tournaments, DJ Khaled took the stage to perform some of his greatest hits, which led into a performance by Ludacris. Fall Out Boy took it home, rocking the venue and helping officially usher in Super Bowl weekend.

In addition to all the other excitement, Madden Bowl attendees were able to check out the special superhero mirrors in the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice area, and fuel their night with a special pizza delivery by Papa Johns.

Madden Bowl may be over, but for the remainder of Super Bowl weekend fans needing a ride in the San Francisco Bay area can hop in an uberPOOL for the chance to play an EA SPORTS game with a professional football player.

Game on!

From the Source: EA Sports - Madden 16 Prediction

This is for the sports game fans wondering when we were going to start delivering such content. As we hammer things out, more should start to come... simply from the angle of delivering multiple experiences. So... on that note, stay tuned and game on!

OFFICIAL MADDEN NFL 16 SUPER BOWL PREDICTION CROWNS CAROLINA PANTHERS AS NFL CHAMPS

Starting Today Fans Can Make Their Own Madden NFL Super Bowl Predictions

REDWOOD CITY, Calif -- February 1, 2016 – Today Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), officially unveiled the Madden NFL 16 Super Bowl prediction, which has tabbed the Carolina Panthers as the next world champions, defeating the Denver Broncos 24 – 20. For the first time ever, fans can get in on the action for themselves by heading over to the Madden NFL 16 Super Bowl Prediction Hub and create their own outcome based on a variety of factors. Fans can then share their dream Super Bowl 50 outcome with the hashtag #MyMaddenPrediction.

Carolina set the tone early in Super Bowl 50, jumping out to a 10 – 0 lead on the strength of a huge kick return by Ted Ginn Jr., which Cam Newton finished off with a touchdown pass to Greg Olsen. The Panthers added a field goal to close the quarter, and then scored again in the 2^nd on a Jonathan Stewart rushing touchdown.

Facing a 17-point deficit at halftime, Peyton Manning decided he wasn’t going to let his Super Bowl legacy be defined by two blowout losses and rallied the Denver offense. The consummate play maker, Manning began dissecting the Carolina defense, capping off a 3^rd quarter drive with a touchdown toss to Emanuel Sanders. Denver’s defense also responded, with Aqib Talib picking off Cam Newton and setting up a Broncos field goal. Denver continued their scoring explosion, adding another filed goal and pulling to within 17 – 13.

Denver kept the momentum rolling in the 4^th, with Manning finding Demaryius Thomas for another touchdown, putting Denver up 20 – 17. Cam Newton wasn’t done writing his own Super Bowl legend though, putting the team on his back and scoring a game-winning touchdown with a determined goal line scramble. After a wild and emotional game the Panthers stood victorious, claiming Super Bowl 50 by a score of 24 – 20.

After a thrilling contest, Cam Newton claimed the Super Bowl MVP Award, completing 19 of 26 passes for 216 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jonathan Stewart added a touchdown of his own on 47 rushing yards, with Greg Olsen tallying 79 receiving yards and catching Newton’s only TD pass. On the defensive side, Josh Norman led the Panthers with 6 tackles and one interception.

Across the field, Peyton Manning completed 21 of 37 passes for Denver, tallying 241 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Demaryius Thomas was Manning’s favorite target, hauling in six receptions for 98 yards, and one touchdown. Emanuel Sanders claimed Denver’s other touchdown, alongside 65 yards on five catches. Aqib Talib provided the biggest impact for Denver’s defense, with five tackles and one interception.

The Madden NFL Super Bowl prediction is one of the most accurate and widely-celebrated in the world, correctly calling nine of the last twelve championships. Last year’s prediction not only correctly forecast the final score, but also accurately called that Tom Brady would win the Super Bowl MVP award, that New England would overcome a 10-point 3^rd quarter deficit and that Julian Edelman would score the deciding touchdown. The prediction also called for Edelman to finish the game with eight catches for 106 yards, he actually ended up with nine catches for 109.

EA Access* members can get even more football action starting tomorrow, when Madden NFL 16 enters The Vault, a growing collection of great EA games like Battlefield 4™, Dragon Age™: Inquisition and EA SPORTS™ FIFA 15 that members can play as much as they want. Players will have access to the full game, and can enjoy popular features like the new playmaker controls for receivers, defenders and quarterbacks, as well as a whole new way to play Madden NFL with Draft Champions**. EA Access members also receive a 10% discount on all EA digital purchases on Xbox One, including Madden Ultimate Team points, pre-orders, and full games.

* CONDITIONS, LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS APPLY. SEE EA.COM/EAACCESS/TERMS AND EA.COM/EAACCESS FOR DETAILS.

**INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO PLAY DRAFT CHAMPIONS.