2012—in addition to being a Summer Olympics year, a U.S. election year, and the end of the 13th cycle of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar (be sure to order a new Mesoamerican Long Count calendar while supplies last)—marks the 25th anniversary of the North American release of Nintendo’s original Legend of Zelda game.

This is what everyone wanted for Christmas in 1987.

The Legend of Zelda debuted in Japan in 1986 for the Famicom Disk System. (The Famicom, Japan’s version of the Nintendo Entertainment System, could attach to a floppy disk drive for data storage and retrieval.) From the Japanese release through April of this year, Nintendo had sold 62 million copies of Zelda games.

The North American version of The Legend of Zelda was a shiny, gold cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System that contained a battery for saving data. (For what it’s worth, the battery in my The Legend of Zelda cartridge expired many years ago.)

To introduce the game to the American audience and build buzz heading into the 1987 holiday shopping season, Nintendo aired a pair of commercials, neither of which captured the essence of the game or made it look terribly appealing. But somehow these two ads resonated enough with gamers and tweens with Christmas lists to make The Legend of Zelda Nintendo’s most successful game other than Super Mario Bros. and to launch one of the most successful video game franchises of all time.

Awful Legend of Zelda Commercial #1

Here’s the first one:

The kid with the spiked hair and denim jacket (the uniform for tweens in 1987) sees the Legend of Zelda article in latest edition of the Nintendo Fun Club News (the predecessor to Nintendo Power magazine) and says, “Whoa! Nice graphics! I’d like to get my hands on that game!”

The original Zelda game had plenty of selling points. Its graphics were not one of them. The graphics are blocky. Every rock is identical, as is every tree (or bush). Unlike Super Mario Bros. or 1988′s Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the graphics don’t scroll as Link, the hero, moves across the landscape. Instead the playing area is a grid of single-screen boards. And while there are plenty of NES games with less impressive graphics than Zelda, Zelda hit the market at the same time as Metroid, a graphical masterpiece by 1987 standards.

The ensuing rap (the lyrics to which I quickly memorized and never forgot) mentions “creatures from Gannon” then lists “Octoroks, Tektites, and Leevers too.” These monsters have appeared in most of the games in the Zelda series and have become part of the gamer lexicon, but in 1987 Gannon, Octorok, Tektite, and Leever were nonsense words.

The commercial fails to mention any of the game’s unique qualities.  Zelda was the only console game of its time that allowed players to save their progress without having to write down a 32-character password. Players collect items such as swords and rings; they gather gold pieces called rupees that they can use to purchase shields and bombs; they search for hidden dungeons and secret passageways. After completing the game, they go on a Second Quest that is much more difficult than the first.

Zelda was a great segue into video gaming for kids who read fantasy novels and played Dungeons & Dragons. And it was the rare game that didn’t require players to start over from the beginning every time they turned on their NES. But none of this comes across in the commercial.

One more quibble: When our archetypal 1980s nerd puts the Zelda cartridge in his NES, it is gray with a black label, like most every game Nintendo released from 1985 through 1987. But the Legend of Zelda was a shiny gold cartridge. Apparently, Nintendo thought this was a big selling point; the Zelda box had a small window so that customers could see the golden game that awaited them. But, for whatever reason, the company’s marketing department decided to pass on an opportunity to give its television audience a glimpse of the gilded cartridge.

The gilded cartridge

Awful Legend of Zelda Commercial #2

For all the flaws of the first commercial, the second may have been worse:

The actor in this commercial is comedian and voice actor John Kassir, best known as the voice of the Crypt Keeper on Tales From the Crypt. Kassir also faced off against Sinbad on Star Search in 1985.

Kassir, who appears confined to some sort of cell, yells “Zellllda!” and recites the names of characters in the game while mimicking sword play and doing whatever it is he’s doing when he says, “Leevers.”

Like the first spot, this ad includes a litany of monster names that are completely meaningless to the viewer. It adds “Peahats,” a name that manages to be more ridiculous than “Octoroks” and less intimidating than “Leevers.”

Again, we get glimpses of the game in action. And again, the commercial does nothing to put the screen shots in context or to explain why this game is special. Why should parents spend $50 on this game instead of buying Balloon Fight or Ice Climber for $25? What sets this game apart from contemporary adventure games like Castlevania and Rygar? “Peahats”?

For whatever reason, Nintendo didn't use "Gleeok" in its Zelda commercials.

When Kassir isn’t freaking out about Tektites, he’s yelling for Zelda. “Zelda” is the name of the princess that Link rescues from Gannon after he restores the Triforce and brings peace back to Hyrule. But you wouldn’t know that from this commercial. If anything, Kassir yelling “Zellllda!” brings to mind Marlon Brando yelling, “Stellllla!” But few if any 12-year-olds in 1987 were familiar with A Streetcar Named Desire.

Watching a crazy guy walk around a prison cell calling for someone named “Zelda” raises the question: Why did Nintendo call the game The Legend of Zelda?

Today when we hear the name “Zelda” we think of video games (and swords and quests and such). But prior to 1987, “Zelda” was just a woman’s name. According to the Baby Name Wizard, Zelda’s popularity peaked in the 1910s and 1920s, became obscure by the 1950s and 1960s, and disappeared from birth certificates in the 1970s. To a kid in the 1980s “Zelda” was a great aunt or one of the old ladies at church (or the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald). Nintendo may as well have called the game The Legend of Estelle.

**********

In the 1980s commercials for video games were rare. The fledgling gaming industry didn’t have a lot of money to spend on expensive TV ads. Most of the commercials that video game companies produced advertised a console—such as the NES or the Atari 7800—instead of an individual game.

But in 1987 Nintendo emptied its marketing budget on two commercials for a game that was unlike anything the company had done before. The commercials made no effort to emphasize the game’s strengths or to explain what made it unique. Instead they said: “This game has simple, overhead graphics and enemies with funny names. And it seems to involve an elderly woman.”

Despite all their obvious flaws, the commercials worked. The Legend of Zelda became the first must-have game for the NES. (Super Mario Bros. was never became a “must-have” game because it came with the console. Everyone already had it.)

When my uncle gave my sister and I an NES for Christmas in 1987, the only thing I knew about The Legend of Zelda was that I had to have it. Games such as Kid Icarus and Metroid looked more impressive and more fun (based on articles and ads in the Fun Club News), but there was a buzz about Zelda that set it apart. Maybe Nintendo’s marketing department knew exactly what it was doing with those commercials. Maybe a cryptic ad campaign based on “Octoroks, Tektites, and Leevers too” made people curious.

Or perhaps the content of the commercials didn’t matter at all. Perhaps the fact that someone actually made a commercial for a video game was enough. There weren’t any TV ads for Gradius or Commando. A game that had its own commercial had to be good.

When I acquired the game in the spring of 1988, I spent at least a month wondering around Hyrule asking myself, “What is this and why am I wasting my time with it?” But once I got the hang of it, I was obsessed. The sales figures for subsequent Zelda games tells me that I probably wasn’t alone.

Probably because this guy wrote one and another one invented Communism.

But don’t worry; you will enjoy this manifesto. You won’t be getting any strange packages in the mail and the KGB won’t be knocking on your door. Nope, this manifesto is about something actually, well, awesome: the new NBA Jam.

NBA Jam was first released in 1993 on SNES and on an arcade platform. I was still a youngster when the original game came out so I was never able to play it, but I have heard from numerous people that it was one of the best games of its time.

[Editor's note: I was old enough to play the original arcade version, and there has never been a basketball video game that was better. Bar none. End of discussion.]

In this Manifesto we are going to go over the teams, players, and unlockable legends in the new NBA Jam. We’re not going to delve deeply into the gameplay or other game features because it’s pretty much the same as the original: 2 vs. 2, no fouls, players are “on fire” after they hit three shots in a row, and – best of all – insane high flying dunks. (If you would like to watch a review of the game, here is one done by IGN.)

I know you might be wondering why I am writing an article on NBA Jam now when it was released on November 17th, 2010. Well, it’s because I wanted to play the game long enough so I would know the best teams and all the little tips and tricks to help you guys out. I am not going to play the game for two days and pump out a half-assed article. That’s not how we roll at MSF. We care about our readers and want to give them the best information possible. [Editor's note: damn straight!]

Now…let’s get to the point of this article: reviewing each team’s roster; seeing what the best rotations are for each team; and, what are the funnest lineups to play with. In my NBA Jam Manifesto Part 1, we will look at the East teams. Later, in Part 2, we will review the West teams.

A few quick notes before we begin:

• EA Sports had fan voting to determine each team’s three-man roster and some teams got a fourth player because they deemed voting to close to call.
• Players’ skills are ranked from 1 (lowest) to 10. The skill categories include: blocking; clutch; dribbling; dunking; passing; speed; strength; 2-point shooting; and 3-point shooting.
• Also, you must unlock each legend by doing special challenges and some legends didn’t make the game because of licensing problems. Team mascots are on some of the teams for which they couldn’t get any legends because of legal issues or poor basketball history.

NBA Jam Rosters and Analysis for East Teams

Atlanta Hawks

• Players: Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Mike Bibby
• Legends: Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb
• Best Team: Dominique Wilkins and Josh Smith
  
• Most Fun Team: Spud Webb and Dominique Wilkins
  

The Hawks are one of the most underrated teams in this whole game. The most important qualities of NBA Jam are shot blocking and dunking. ‘Nique and Josh Smith are excellent dunkers and Josh is a great shot blocker. Maybe the best thing about the Hawks is you can play as Spud Webb and dunk on fools like it’s 1986.

One flaw with the ‘Nique/Smith line up is poor three-point shooting, but you could always substitute Joe Johnson in.

Why is Mike Bibby in this game? His skills don’t translate well into Jam;  Jamal Crawford would of been a much better choice Hawk fans.

Boston Celtics

• Players: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo.
• Legends: Larry Bird and Kevin McHale
• Best Team: Larry Bird and Kevin Garnett
• Most Fun Team: Larry Bird and Kevin HcHale

One of the deepest teams in the East. Two great defensive stoppers in Rondo and Garnett. Three great shooters Pierce, Allen, and Larry Legend. The best Celtics lineup is Bird and Garnett. Bird is a 10 on threes so leave him near the three point line, which allows a lot open space for Garnett to create some monster jams.

If you get tired of Larry you could always replace him with Allen and Pierce. Although Rondo is an excellent defender his offensive skills don’t settle very well in Jam; it’s tough for a point guard who can’t shoot or dunk to score.

Maybe one of the coolest features for the Celtics is it features one of the best all-white starting lineups (Bird and HcHale). We will be ranking the best all-white lineups later on.

Charlotte Bobcats

• Players: Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, and Tyrus Thomas
• Mascot: Rufus Lynx
• Best Team: Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson
• Most Fun Team: Gerald Wallace and Rufus Lynx

No fat Boris Diaw? What a disappointment.

Nothing flashy about the Bobcats, just a normal team. One player I like playing as is Gerald Wallace. Wallace is one of the most athletic players in the NBA, he is an outstanding dunker and defensive player. He is the one bright spot on this bland team.

Chicago Bulls

• Players: Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, and Carlos Boozer
• Legends: Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman
• Best Team: Scottie Pippen and Derrick Rose
  
• Most Fun Team: Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen

Unfortunately Michael Jordan’s rights are tied up with 2K, so we can’t see a Jordan/Pippen combo, but Rose and Pippen should be just fine for Bulls fans. Both players are good dunkers, great dribblers, and dominate defenders. But if you feel that your lineup is too small, Joakim and Carlos are excellent big men.

One thing I would have loved to see is if you could play with Dennis Rodman in a wedding dress, but I guess not all your dreams can’t come true.

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Players: Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams, and Anderson Varejao
• Legends: Mark Price and Brad Daugherty
• Best Team: Mo Williams/Mark Price and Brad Daugherty
• Most Fun Team: Mark Price and Brad Daugherty

Now, I may be a little biased because the Cavs are my favorite team, and I play as them the most, but despite their reputation they’re not that bad of a team. Mark and Mo are great shooters, Daugherty is an 8 on dunking, and Antawn is a solid bench player.

Mo is a is a little overrated in some areas, mostly defense. There is no way he is really a 7 on steal;  just ask Rajon Rondo after he ate him up in the 2010 playoffs. But it’s common throughout the game to overrate some players’ attributes to even out the teams.

The biggest problem with the Cavs is poor shot blocking. Anderson Varejao is a 6 on blocks which leads the team.

Detroit Pistons

• Players: Ben Gordon, Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, and Charlie Villanueva
• Legends: Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer
• Best Team: Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer
• Most Fun Team: Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer

Detroit should thank God the people at EA were able to put Isiah and Laimbeer in the game because the current team is terrible. Ben Gordon and Richard Hamilton are okay, but Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva make up one of the worst combos in the game.

Good news for Detroit is Isiah and Laimbeer are one of the best legend lineups in the game, and I think Pistons fans should stick with them.

Indiana Pacers

• Players: Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavy, and T.J Ford
• Legends: Detelf Schrempf
• Best Team: Danny Granger and Detelf Schrempf
• Most Fun Team: Danny Granger and Detelf Schrempf

Too bad Reggie Miller isn’t in this game. The Pacers could really use him because Granger and Schrempf is a pretty poor lineup. Also, what is Mike Dunleavy doing in this game Pacers fans? Roy Hibbert would have been a much better choice.

Even without Miller, the Pacers do have three good three-point shooters (Granger, Dunleavy, and Schrempf), but that’s about it. It’s a shame that they weren’t able to get Miller or even Rik Smiths in the game. Had they, the Pacers would be one of the funnest teams in the game.

Miami Heat

• Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh
• Legends: Glenn Rice and Rony Seikaly
• Best Team: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
• Most Fun Team: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

LeBron and Wade not only make up one of the best teams in the game, some argue that they are one of the most dominating teams in video game history. I have not played with LeBron/Wade for the same reason I don’t worship the Devil: because I am not a evil person.

There are only two reasons why you should play as LeBron/Wade. One is that you’re from Miami and you’re a Heat fan/ Two is that the person you’re playing is Dwight Howard (We will get to that reason later…).

For how good LBJ is, he is still underrated in some areas. For example, LeBron is only a 6 on blocking, where he could easily be higher. I think the guy has had around 1,750 blocks off the backboard during his career. Also, he has a 7 in both speed and steals, which also could be higher.

Bosh is a splendid big man, even though some idiot at EA gave him 7 on clutch when every basketball fan (especially Bill Simmons) knows he has never played a big game in his life prior to this year.

Milwaukee Bucks

• Best Team: Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings, and Corey Maggette
• Mascot: Bango The Buck
• Best Team: Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut
  
• Most Fun Team: Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut

The Jennings/Bogut squad is one of the more underrated teams in Jam. Brandon is quick, a good shooter, and a superior defender while Bogut can block shots and do all the dirty work down low.

New Jersey Nets

• Players: Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, and Courtney Lee
• Legends: Drazen Petrovic and Kenny Anderson
• Best Team: Devin Harris and Brook Lopez
  
• Most Fun Team: Devin Harris and Drazen Petrovic

The Nets and the Bucks fit into the category of bad real teams but pretty good NBA Jam teams. Harris is just like Jennings: quick guard; gets lots of steals; and is a decent shooter. Same goes for Lopez and Bogut.

Playing as Drazen Petrovic is a blast. I became a big Drazen fan after I saw the 30 for 30 about him and Vlade Divac. He is super clutch, an awesome shooter, and has a pretty sweet fade.

New York Knicks

• Players: Amare Stoudemire, Danilo Gallinari, and Raymond Felton
• Legends: Patrick Ewing and John Starks
• Best Team: Patrick Ewing and Amare Stoudemire
  
• Most Fun Team: Patrick Ewing and Amare Stoudemire

I know it seems strange to start two PF/C, but surprisingly this lineup works. Patrick and Amare are both excellent shot blockers, dunkers, and have great strength. In my opinion blocks, dunks, and strength are the three most important qualities a player can have.

The biggest weakness in this lineup is both players are slow and they are not great ball handlers. But subbing in Ray Felton or Starks can speed up your team and improve your ball handling.

Orlando Magic

• Players: Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis
• Legends: Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Anderson, and Scott Skiles
• Best Team: Dwight Howard and Vince Carter
• Most Fun Team: Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal

Dwight Howard is the most dominating player in NBA Jam. Period.

He can dunk just in front of the three-point line, blocks every shot in a 2 mile radius, and has Superman strength. He is so good it isn’t fair to use him.

If the person you are playing is the Heat, or any really good team, then it is fine to use Dwight. But if you’re friend is going to be Portland, don’t be a douche and destroy him with Howard. In general, try picking teams that are pretty close in talent.

Orlando Shaq is pretty fun to play with. I have played some people online that have had success with Shaq and Dwight as a team.

Scott Skiles isn’t anything to brag about, and the same goes for Nick Anderson, who you unlock after winning your first game. That challenge is called “First Game Jitters,” poking fun at Anderson after he missed four important free throws in Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals.

Philadelphia 76ers

• Players: Andre Igoudala, Elton Brand, Evan Turner, and Louis Williams
• Legends: Julius Erving and Allen Iverson
• Best Team: Allen Iverson and Julius Erving
  
• Most Fun Team: Allen Iverson and Julius Erving

Most of the unlockable legends are from the ’93 edition of Jam but I like to see when EA opens up the history books and gets stars from back in day.

Obviously Dr. J is a 10 on dunking and surprisingly is a good shot blocker as well. Add in AI’s solid passing and you will be throwing alley-oops all day long.

Toronto Raptors

• Players: DeMar DeRozan, Jarrett Jack, and Andera Bargnani
• Mascot: The Raptor
• Best Team: Andera Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan
  
• Most Fun Team: The Raptor and Andera Bargnani

Not much to say about the Raptors. They’re a pretty boring team. Bargnani is solid but not spectacular, and DeRozan and Jack both kinda suck. I would stay away from the Raptors. You will probably lose if you are them.

Washington Wizards

• Players: Yi Jianlian, Gilbert Arenas, Andray Blatche, and John Wall
• Legends: Manute Bol
• Mascot: G-Wiz
• Best Team: Gibert Arenas and Manute Bol
  
• Most Fun Team: John Wall and Manute Bol

Arenas and Wall are interchangeable, and Arenas gets the slight advantage because he is a much better shooter then Wall. You probably want to have Manute Bol as your 2nd player. Bol’s defense helps make the Wizards a pretty competitive team.

One beef I have with the Wizards is that they give Andray Blatche a 7 on 3-point shooting when his career high is 13 threes in a season.

That’s it for part 1 of my NBA Jam Manifesto. Stick around for part 2, where we will review the West rosters and create some miscellaneous top 5 lists.

The cover man for this year’s model is former Florida Gator Quarterback Tim Tebow (although I’ve heard that if you live in Oregon, you can swap the Tebow cover for Jeremiah Masoli’s mug shot).

In this post, I’ll take a quick look at the graphics, announcing, gameplay, and other features, and then I will render a final verdict on the game.

Graphics/Announcing

The graphics look stunning this year. Players look more realistic; they run and cut more smoothly then they did in previous models.

The graphics are so crisp you can see car keys hanging out USC’s players back pockets.

Also they will show instant replays of great plays right after they happen.

Like in most sports games the announcing is pretty mediocre and repetitive. And now Lee Corso is gone, so all we are left with are Herby and Brad Nessler. But it’s not that big of a deal because you’ll just block it out anyways.

It’s doesn’t matter who is in the booth because it gets annoying after a while. You could have Al Michaels and John Madden in your living room and after a while you would get pissed off at them.

Michaels: “Brandon Onda has been on fire lately, winning 11 straight online games.”

Madden: “Good point Al, but he has been on zero dates during that winning streak.”

Me: “Eff you John! All you do is talk about Brett Favre and drink all my Red Bulls.”

See what I mean.

Gameplay

The gameplay has also improved over the passed few years. Players run more realistically, they will fight for extra yards on third down, and they will make toe tapping catches near the sidelines.

What I mean by players running “more realistically” is that in previous games you could easy avoid a defender in the open field by just making a sharp 90 degree angle without slowing down. In NCAA 11, a player would have to slow down and plant his feet to make such a quick turn.

In NCAA 10, if you had a quick QB and a DE was close in pursuit for a sack, you could run a few yards back and just loop around the defender. Not in this game because defenders seem to be quicker in the pursuit of the quarterback.

Features

EA didn’t make a lot of changes during the off season, but they did improve the Online Dynasty feature. Now you will be able to recruit on your computer and iPhone devices (includes iTouch and iPad).

There aren’t any changes to the normal Dynasty Mode or Road to Glory. And don’t worry…Erin Andrews still appears in the game.

There is one major problem during online play: the system often crashes when your in the online lobby. It once took 20 minutes for me and my friend to just set up a game because the system crashed so many times.

At first I was little disappointed when EA chose not to add the LeGarrette Blount Punch-Out mini game, but I am still satisfied with the game.

Verdict

I love NCAA 11. This is one of their best games in a long time, but a few bugs and no changes to the Road to Glory mode causes it to fall short of perfection.

I am giving it a 9 out of 10.

Which of these two great basketball games is the best?

The time has come to attack this question, otherwise known as The Great Debate, systematically and with facts, proof, and evidence.

I would like to present to you the war between EA Sports and 2K Sports: NBA Live 10 vs NBA 2K10.

NBA 2K10 Analysis and Ratings

Every gamer knows very well that during the transition from PS2 to PS3 and Xbox to Xbox 360, was the point when we would really see who the true game developers would be. They would showcase their amazing graphics, game fluidity, and overall computer designing skills.

Well, I can bravely say that 2K came close to destroying EA sports in the NBA category during that period, with the release of NBA 2K7 beating Live 07 in nearly every aspect, and pretty much the same with 2K8, and 2K9.

And then there was 2K10…

Let’s look at the specifics:

NBA 2K10 Gameplay Rating: 8.9

This is 2K’s known area of dominance.

While playing this game, I felt that the pick and rolls were incredibly natural (Especially with CP3!). The dunks look simply amazing and are much better, surprisingly, with the bigger guys (Shaq, Dwight, Amare .etc).

The three point shots are fluid and look balanced. Like always, for the most accurate shot, you must release the ball at the highest point (Ray Allen is incredibly WET!).

Although everyone loves offense, the defensive side of the ball will be a bit more crucial to game players, unlike 2K9. The CPU seems to be a bit more up to the task on defense to make you feel like a rookie, so in response the “human” has the ability to call more defensive plays than in any other 2K game.

Let’s also not forget the classic “energy meter”. There is an energy meter next to the name of every player on the court, basically representing the stamina/energy left.

So overall, you should be able to appreciate the smooth and modern gameplay of 2K10.

NBA 2K10 Features Rating: 9.0

Complementing the smooth and free flowing gameplay, 2K10 also adds a mix of classic and modern features.

One of these features, like in previous versions of the 2K series, is the Living Rosters update, which allows the game to update itself with every real-life trade acquisition, injury, signing, and release. It also even updates things like changing jersey numbers as well.

Another feature is the NBA Today mode, which allows you to actually play games that will be played in the real world on that same day with updated rosters, hot streaks, and rotations.

Then there is my favorite game mode (out of both games): My Player mode.

My Player mode allows you to create a fresh new player or you can choose a default one from the Xbox Live/Playstation Network. In this mode you will be able to run your player through various drills, practices, and scrimmages as his ratings continue to increase, and eventually you will be able to have your player enter the NBA.

But, if you are not as skilled, you just might be sent down to the D-League and have to work your way up to play with the big boys. No doubt in my mind that this game mode puts the cherry on top.

NBA 2K10 The “Other” Rating: 8.0

The one thing that 2K always has me smiling about is their track selection. This game has one of the sickest soundtracks I’ve ever listened to on a sports game.

Here are a few of the songs featured on the NBA 2K10 soundtrack:

• Kenan Bell – Like This (favorite)
• The Game – Champion
• Kanye West – Amazing
• Akala – The Edge

And there are plenty others..

In conclusion, NBA 2K10 is a great game for those of you who want to do more than just play a single game over and over again, as you can explore the various game modes, which are complemented by the smooth game play.

NBA 2K10 Overall Rating: 8.6

——————–

NBA Live 10 Analysis and Ratings

Here we go EA!

You’ve shown us you can basically kill in almost every sporting category (except for MLB…Playstation bought it out). You’ve shown us that Madden’s voice on a video game can keep us entertained for over 10 years. You’ve shown us that Mike Tyson and Ali can actually fight eachother, and you’ve shown us that hockey fights can be better than actually playing a hockey game.

You’ve also shown us that FIFA..well, it’s probably your most bought game worldwide. Self-explanatory.

Yes EA, you’ve dominated in all of the previous categories. But, there is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball side of the gaming industry. Can you eventually take over this industry segment?

Maybe, maybe not.

But are you getting closer? Why, yes EA. Yes you are.

NBA Live 10 Gameplay Rating: 8.8

Those of you who are used to playing Live 09, good luck. The new installment of the Live series will take some time to get used to, and I mean that in the most positive way. Live 10’s gameplay is a bit more optional, meaning that it is much less predictable than Live 09.

For example, in Live 09, you would be in the middle of the air going for a layup and around 80% of the time the defender would be able to forecast how you would finish. In Live 10, there is a new feature which allows the player to change the direction or style of his/her layup, jump shot, or dunk.

So, imagine LeBron taking it to the rack and Dwight Howard is coming from the right; well, with the left analog stick you can switch the ball from the right hand side to the left..then you can finish it with a jam or a pretty layup (YOU DECIDE!)

As for the dribbling, it is extremely improved.

With Live 09 you could break down the defender by holding down the R2 Button and with right analog stick movement (right trigger for 360). But, with Live 10, you can simply hold the R2 Button down, and the dribbler will begin to dazzle you with his dribbling skills, then top it off with a sick crossover or step back with the right stick.

The offense in general has slown down a bit more, which allows the user to have more control of what he/she can do.

The defense is pretty much the same, except the game causes more turnovers than usual.

Oh yeah, there is a also a new feature which offers off-ball control as well. Love it!

NBA Live 10 Features Rating: 8.7

All of you who loved the NBALive365 and Dynamic DNA, prepare to fall in love again. Very similar to 2K’s Living Roster, NBA Live has a new feature called Dynamic Season.

Dynamic Season is a whole new breed of its own. Instead of being a free-for-all multiplayer affair, Dynamic Season is a single-player mode that allows you to play through a real NBA season as it happens. So if LA is playing BOS tonight, you could actually play that game, and then later that night compare your stats, to the actual games!

My personal favorite mode in Live 10 would have to be the Adidas Live Run. This is a refurbished and upgraded version of Live 09’s 5-on-5 online mode.

Live Run is a bit different though. Instead of choosing two teams and having to play a whole NBA game, you can actually have two teams of five online players. And guess what, now you can choose any NBA player you want!

Imagine having CP3, Kobe and Wade on the same team..can you say devastation?

EA may not have added as much as 2K, but they did improve nicely in each of their previously added Modes/Features.

NBA Live 10 The “Other” Rating: 9.3

Okay, this is the category that made up my mind.

EA has always been about authenticity and originality. They have always been about making you feel like, “Hey, maybe this is digital guy really is Chauncey Billups”.

Well this year, EA did it again.

I might as well begin with “The Hangar”, which is where you first play ball as soon as you start the game. It is basically a humungous basketball court with all of the NBA greats balling inside, and the best part is, you can listen to ESPN Radio as you work on your jumpshot. Amazing!

Then there is the gear. NBA Live 10 is adding all new (or old) retro jerseys to every team, along with new style jerseys such as the Miami Heat’s “El Heat” jerseys. Sick!

Then they have added over 500 shoes to the game, with guys like Bron and Kobe rocking their new kicks throughout the year.

Then last but not least is….the CROWD!

Yes, the crowd.

EA has really outdone themselves in one of the minor categories, which in the long run will definitely pay off. By listening to real crowds from NBA games, EA has added MVP chants when D-Wade takes the court in Miami, they have added boos whenever Vince Carter gets the ball in Toronto, and so many other life-like sounds that will make the gamer believe he is actually playing a fresh game every day!

Big Props to EA!

NBA Live 10 Overall Rating: 8.9

——————–

I appreciate your patience for reading this, and don’t let this make up your mind, but only help you on choosing which game to buy (both rock!)

But…

In the end, I can happily say that EA has brought themselves back into the game!

Respectable links to watch vids:

NBA Live 10:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u0HbSG–jI
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDhbHtY7AhM

NBA 2K10

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj4omrp0V1Y
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n4EBuWJe3k

**********

You contact the author of this post at: devonnba4193@aol.com

1. I am not a “gamer”, per se. And by that I mean that while I enjoy video games, and have at times been quite into EA Sports games like NCAA Football and Madden, as well as 2KSports titles like College Hoops and the MLB 2K series, I’ve also gone entire calendar years without picking up a video game controller.
2. I’ve never owned a copy of any previous Tiger Woods game for any system, though I’ve played it from time to time.
3. I’m not into PS3s or XBOXs. I play the Wii exclusively when I play video games because I love the physical activity required.

And now with that said, you can take my next statement for whatever you feel it is worth: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the Wii is the best sports video game experience ever. It has to be. I simply do not see how any other sports video game experience could compare.

I realize that, scientifically speaking, you cannot prove a hypothesis simply by saying that you cannot imagine an alternative; but I’m not trying to be scientific here. I am offering my visceral reaction to my first week of playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, based on my relatively limited knowledge of the overall video game landscape.

Allow me to now list of some of the reasons why I am so fond of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the Wii, as well as offer you a pretty good deal on the game bundled with the Wii Motion Plus extension that I’m about to discuss:

• Click here: Buy.com Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 Bundle (includes Wii MotionPlus) for $58.99 + FREE SHIPPING! Exp 9/30/09

[Editor's Note: A reader updated me in the comments section that Buy.com may currently be out of stock if you use the link above. I'd still try there first, but if they are out you can always try Amazon at the following link: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 Wii Motion Plus Bundle]

(And for whatever it’s worth, I did not initially write this review with the intention of dropping the above affiliate link. I wrote it because I am madly in love with this game. But once I realized there were affiliate links available, I figured why not. Gotta start adding a few bucks to the coffers here and there to save up for next year’s version!)

The Wii Motion Plus controller extension is like magic

I have played Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 with the regular Wii remote, with the Nerf extension for Wii Sports that turns the Wii remote into an actual physical golf club, and with the Wii Motion Plus extension attached. There is absolutely no comparison. You get a completely different, and absolutely more realistic experience playing with the Wii Motion Plus extension. If you have a draw in your natural golf swing, chances are you will have a draw on Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10. I know this because it’s true for me, so just like on a real golf course I have to compensate for it.

(And here’s a tip: make sure when you buy Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 — and you absolutely should buy it — that you get the one bundled with the Wii Motion Plus remote extension. It’s only about $10 extra, but I think costs $24.99 by itself. You really one need one Wii Motion Plus extension too. It’s golf, so only one person can shoot at a time and it’s easy to just use one remote and hand it off after each shot.)

Where you really notice the difference between the Wii Motion Plus extension and playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 without it is on the greens.  The precision putting is stunning in its accuracy. To be a good putter in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, you literally grip the Wii remote like you are gripping an actual putter, hold your hands exactly the same as you would a putter, and use the same smooth motion to putt that you’d use on an actual green. It’s a crapshoot without the Wii Motion Plus extension, but with it you can actually feel a little bit of the confidence and competence that the real pros feel when they step up to putt.

I cannot say enough about how realistic the Wii Motion Plus makes the experience.

The Course Selection is sublime

Over the last 36 hours or so, my buddy and I played a 72-hole 1-on-1 challenge and rotated between four different courses: Wolf Creek GC, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, and TPC Sawgrass. (He beat me by 6 strokes, that bastard. I was down 8 going into the back 9 at Sawgrass, battled back to 3 down with a string of clutch birdies, and then hit my tee shot in the water trying to land it a little too perfectly the island green. Needless to say, I was distraught.)

Among the other courses I can remember being on there off the top of my head: Doral, Bethpage, Turnberry, and a bunch of other British Open, U.S. Open, and TPC courses. There are tons of options, some of which have to be unlocked through the career mode. The only course I did not see that was a noticeable omission was Augusta National, which apparently has never been a part of the Tiger Woods series or any other video game series.

I guess a tradition unlike any other is too great for us mortals to play on a video game. Oh well.

The Player Customization and career modes seem incredible

I couch this statement with “seem” because I have not delved into the career mode yet myself, so I am going off of what I’ve been told by my friend and dad, both of whom have raved about the options and setup of the career mode. Plus, I’ve read in numerous other reviews that it is the most extensive and realistic career mode for any golf game ever…and perhaps even any sports game ever. After I investigate this more myself, I’ll write another post detailing the experience.

I can say that the player creation and customization options are pretty sweet. There are certainly enough facial and physical variables to create a player that looks pretty damn close to yourself or whoever you are modeling. And from kilts and sandals to slacks and golf shoes, you pretty much have every option possible for what you want your player to wear.

Online Options

Here is one of the criticisms I always hear of video games, especially golf video games: why don’t you just go out and play a real round of golf?

Look, I think there are very few people who would say that they enjoy playing Tiger Woods more than they enjoy actually being out there on a course. Absolutely, if I could round up my buddies and shoot over to Pebble Peach for a morning round on a Sunday, we’d all do it in a second.

But guess what? That might happen once in our lifetimes…if we’re lucky; and the truth is, it probably will never happen.

What is realistic is that my friends and I, scattered all across the U.S., could link our Wiis together, wake up on a Sunday morning, and play Pebble Beach while actually having to perform a legitimate golf swing on every shot. Sure, it’s virtual reality…but even the most jaded video game hater would have to admit that that is pretty cool.

And here is the other thing: I’m poor. Not destitute poor, but certainly not unpoor enough to be able to afford greens fees every weekend. What I can afford is the $50-60 bucks for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, which then gives me the ability to play some of the world’s most famous golf courses the way they were meant to be played.

If I stepped out onto the teebox at Pebble Beach tomorrow (assuming I was cool not paying rent for a month so I could afford it), I might shoot a 150. Granted, I suck, and it would still be fun…but I wouldn’t get to attempt some of the majestic approach shots from the fairway that make playing Pebble Beach such a great experience. I’d be in the water or hacking through trees just trying to make it to the green in single digits.

With a round or two of Tiger Woods to get comfortable with the swing mechanics, the distance measurements and suggestions, and the precision putting, you can competently step up from the pro tees and viscerally experience the power and frustration that Major courses bring. It may not be “real”, but it sure is fun. And fun is what video games are all about anyway; Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 just offers the most realistic fun I can possibly imagine.

One other note regarding online play: there are single-day and four-day tournaments going on constantly, which allow you to test your skills against other players from around the world. That’s just badass and something I can’t wait to delve into.

The game, of course, is not perfect. Here are a few quick-hit things that stink:

• You can’t include more than one user-controlled player in career mode. This isn’t a huge deal since I live alone, but would have sucked back in college. However, the improvements that your custom player makes do carry over when you use him or her in exhibition matches.
• There is no way to play an actual tournament with two human players, at least not that I found. My buddy and I wanted to set it up so that we could compete against other players in our 72-hole tournament. But this can only be done in Career mode, and only one player can play. So we just had to keep track of our 18-hole totals from each course ourselves, but it did give us the opportunity to rotate through some of our favorite courses.
• The announcers did not record enough statements. Scott Van Pelt from ESPN is one of them, and I think he may only have three unique statements in total. It’s pretty annoying when you hear “What a rare gem that was!” after you left a five-foot putt for par short.

Really though, those are pretty nit-picky. Overall, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is an absolutely outstanding game. I’ve been playing all exhibitions with friends so far, so I’m excited to actually delve into the career mode and enjoy the challenge of working my way up to winning Majors. There is no way to quick-sim through stuff, which I like.

The best video games, in my opinion, are ones that are challenging but fair, realistic, and filled with options that allow you to customize your experience as you become more savvy. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 offers all of that and more. Plus, the evolution of Wii sports games brought about by the Wii Motion Plus controller extender catapults the latest Tiger Woods offering into the pantheon of greatest sports video game experience ever.

As far as I am concerned, it’s the greatest.

**********

* – Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 course screenshot credit: Official Website

* – Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 addressing ball screenshot credit: Sidelineshow.com

* – Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 cover image credit: WiiGolf.net

Hey sports nerds. I have gone through a couple of years in my dynasty with The Ohio State Buckeyes and I think I have a grasp on the new recruiting in EA Sports’ best effort to date. Recruiting is overly comprehensive and unless you want the computer AI to do everything for you, you should keep reading. By the way if you let the computer recruit for you it also means you will not get the best class possible. Note: This is a “strategery” that will work for a powerhouse, since I have time for one dynasty at this point. My examples will be based off of being tOSU out of Columbus, OHIO.

Setting up your success in the preseason:

In your preseason you have many tasks before week 1 of the college football season. One of them is filling your recruiting board (up to 35 slots) with players that you will want to recruit this year. Your team will have a few positions listed as immediate needs so make sure you get someone good (or someone) because placing a walk-on high in the depth chart is a recipe for failure.

Find guys who are already highly interested in you. Keep out the guys who maybe a blue chipper but do not even list you in their top ten and already have high interest in another BCS school. I only do that if I need an immediate starter at kicker or punter and he needs to be a bad ass to compete next year.

Also, don’t worry about being perfect with your recruiting board in the preseason, because at any point in the season you can remove prospects and add other high school players. This is beneficial when a player commits to another school, or you can see the inevitable when, for example, that one blue chip defensive end from California won’t budge on his top three and you cannot crack it. Just let them have him, you can’t win them all.

Other preseason jobs will be to redshirt players on your depth chart and setting up your schedule. Schedule as many home games as possible. It will help in the long run when setting up campus visits with those high school seniors. Also be careful not to redshirt a lot of true freshmen already on your roster because that will discourage a high senior in the recruiting process if early playing time is important to them. Offensive and defensive backs and receivers seem to be the positions where playing time is important.  

Executing in the Regular Season: Each week before you play your game you will have to go through recruiting via telephone. Again make sure your computer help settings are turned off, as this is a manual recruiting guide. You get 10 phone call hours per week. The columns next to your players provide information like your position and interest level on the player’s list of schools, how many schools his list is down to, gain/decline in his interest in your school, ready or scheduled campus visit, and how many schools have offered this player a scholarship and if you have or not. If a player shows a lot of interest in you early on and resides in one of your “pipeline” states (Ohio State: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida) it is a good idea to offer a scholarship right away. Or if this player is an immediate need on your next year roster.

You have 25 scholarships open to offer per season but try to get them early. Unlike past seasons of NCAA Football, it will always be 25 since you cannot get hammered by the NCAA for violations and behavioral problems.

The options in calling a recruit is a quick call or call recruit manually. These are like sales calls. Quick call provides the option to call for 5 to 60 minutes and offer a scholarship, if you have not already. The computer will then get info during the duration you call, including their priorities or if any interest was gained on a sway pitch. The goal of calling manually should be to find out what the player prioritizes from “Most” to “Very High”. If you see a pad lock icon next to that subject do not waste time trying to “sway” that player with your pitch. Watch the icon of the face on the football because its reaction is what you want to base your pitches off of. If you talk too long or about a subject they don’t care about or a subject your school has a bad rep for, then they will get mad and hang up the phone. In turn, you will probably see your school drop on his leader board the following week. Keep that football face smiling! You do that keeping it short and sweet, and by pitching about a subject that is of Most or Very High importance to the prospect.

If it is the first time you’ve called a recruit you must find the importance of a pitch to the player so quickly go to a subject your school is strong in. QBs and offensive lineman seem to enjoy a school that is a pro factory and have high coach prestige. Once you find out the prospect’s three Most, Very High and High importance categories, schedule a visit and try to get them early. Set up the player’s three activities based on their priorities and your reputation. If your school is Elite or Excellent in the category (and you beat the shit out of the team you play that week), you have a really good shot of landing that prospect.

After the visit the prospect will grade A through F how their visit went based on everything above. If you grade A with the prospect and were already #1 on their list it will probably turn into a hard or soft commitment to your school. This will free up phone call minutes in the following weeks for players who have not made a commitment yet.  

Experience Notes:

1. Don’t forget to look at the other teams in the prospect’s top 5. This is an indication what the player places as important to his decision on a school so you don’t have to waste time finding the most important pitch. Example: If you are recruiting a kid from Ohio but his top schools are Florida, LSU, and USC, then obviously proximity to home is not important to him. He may just be looking to leave his home state for school and you might want to take him off your list. Another example: If the kid has the likes of you (Ohio State), Miami OH, Akron, and Ball State but is looking for a school with conference prestige and a shot at a national title, you better hammer that home with your pitches. It works both ways.

2. Don’t ever expect more than ten hard commits to your team during the regular season. Also, don’t get scared if you only have 4 or 5. You probably have several soft commitments at that point. “Those are I.O.U.’s sir, just as good as money.” Dumb and Dumber

3. I have not found a way to steal a soft commit from another school, but it is supposed to be possible. But I have noticed late in the season that if you need to fill spots on your depth chart and keep losing players on your prospect board to other teams, go out and get someone. Try searching for a player (not blue chip) with no offers from one of your pipeline states and just offer them a scholarship with additional talk minutes. Sometimes they hard commit to your school that day. I’ve gotten at least 6 players to commit that way. Better than chasing all the 5 star guys and ending up with a walk-on on signing day. In same way I like to play football with no turnovers, I like to recruit with no walk-ons because they will never improve and always be dead depth chart weight.

4. Scheduling Visits. It seems you should schedule your prospects based on availability, your ability to play a good game against a top team, and of course win it. For example I had a couple prospects visiting a game against USC and won 17-14 in a great game. But those players graded their visit as a B just because we only won by three. Shooting for A’s and A pluses is the goal and it didn’t work there.

The Offseason:

After your bowl game, there are offseason recruiting jobs before national signing day arrives. This will be in-home visits you make to the non committed players on your prospect board. This is new and easy especially if you used your phone call minutes well during the season. Players who have you 1^st on their list don’t need to hear much before they sign with you. The in-home visit will have subjects you can promise to the prospect that will happen in their first year on campus. As you get deeper into your dynasty (and you have fulfilled your promises) your integrity will go up and unlock other crazy things to promise on in-home visits. You can promise up to three things but make sure you can keep all of them. With Ohio State, a winning record versus rivals (Illinois, Penn State, Michigan) and winning conference championship first year on campusâ are pretty safe promises. Look at the depth chart and see if you can guarantee the prospect will NOT redshirt their first year on campus. You can guarantee a national championship and a starting position and a spot on the freshman All-American team and more, but not until your integrity rises after a few promise fulfilled years at head coach.

Move on to signing day and see what you got. You can see how well you did nationally and with-in your conference. Keep in mind I have probably gotten 23 players each year as it is not imperative to use all 25 scholarships. They don’t roll over to your next recruiting season, but as long as you have a top ten class and your position needs are filled, these guys will give your program some pretty awesome years to come. Championships. With or without a Tyrelle Pryor.