The multi-tiered release of Madden NFL 19 is now complete and the game is fully in the wild! After last week's 90 minutes of first impressions, this review roundtable episode of the Press Row Podcast features a full panel of sports game experts discussing everything to do with Madden NFL 19 - going through areas such as gameplay, Franchise, Ultimate Team, and Longshot.

On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) Kat Bailey, USgamer (@the_katbot) Daniel Baesel, UberYoutuber (@danielbaesel) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@thatsportsgamer) Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)

Full written reviews for Madden NFL 19: Sporting News - USgamer - Polygon

Madden NFL 19 has arrived for those with EA Access and Origin Access subscriptions and is now only days away from its official release. With his complete review out on Sporting News Pastapadre talks with Rich about the game including its strengths, weaknesses, and random observations. Franchise Mode, gameplay, presentation, graphics, Longshot, and much more are covered. A number of listener questions are also addressed. Additionally the controversy over EA Sports removing a reference to Colin Kaepernick from a song on the soundtrack is discussed.

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

Counting down our favorite sports video game soundtracks in this episode of the Press Row Podcast! Beyond making the picks, and going through some listener choices, the discussion also includes how the music was influential at the time and the way in which the importance of soundtracks has evolved over the years.

Additionally the news of the week is touched upon, with initial impressions of the NHL 19 open beta and thoughts on 2K Sports now acting as the publisher for NBA Playgrounds 2.

On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer) Kris Jardine, SnaggleJ (@SnaggleJ)

Rich has returned from DC and the MLB All-Star festivities and shares thoughts on his experiences at the Home Run Derby, All-Star Game, and with the MLB HR Derby VR game.

Bryan and Rich then respond to listener questions, leading into discussions on hype levels for Madden NFL 19, intriguing teams to use in Franchise Mode, why there has been no news yet on NBA 2K19, whether 2K19 will outsell 2K18, what game has been the biggest disappointment this year, and the continued mystery of the delayed NBA Playgrounds 2.

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

We look back on the NCAA Football franchise five years after the release of the final edition in the series, NCAA Football 14, on this episode of the Press Row Podcast. The discussion includes a recap of what led to the demise of college sports video games, whether a return is possible in the five years ahead and what would need to happen for that to occur, and the various challenges a video game developer faces with college sports beyond just the current legal complications. Finally, there's some reminiscing over favorite memories playing NCAA Football, from both the panelists and listeners who supplied theirs on Twitter this week.

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

Supporting Articles:

The Reasons We Loved The NCAA Football Series (Polygon) 

Why NCAA Football (And College Sports) Video Games Haven't Returned After Five or More Years Absence (Sporting News)

Rich Grisham is joined by Kat Bailey this week to discuss the World Cup (both in real and virtual form) and look ahead to NHL 19, Madden NFL 19, FIFA 19 on Switch, and The Golf Club 2019.

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

This episode of the Press Row Podcast features extensive discussion on the brand new open-world racing game The Crew 2, a change to the commentary team for NBA Live 19, and the first player ratings for Madden NFL 19. Additionally listener questions are followed up on, which include thoughts on changes to the way games will be monitized going forward and what's happening with the mysteriously-delayed NBA Playgrounds 2.

On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) Pete Dodd, The Doddcast (@atpetedodd)

Following the avalanche of video game news out of EA Play and E3 things in the sports gaming world calmed down for a few days. However it wasn't long until business picked back up with the official reveal of NHL 19 and new info on Madden NFL 19.

This episode of the Press Row Podcast includes discussion on NHL 19's new features and Madden NFL 19's presentation improvements, plus responses to a handful of listener questions on topics such as Madden's currently-running closed beta, cross-platform play, boxing games, and more!

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

Publisher Electronic Arts held its annual EA Play press briefing on Saturday, including a first look at Madden NFL 19, FIFA 19 and NBA Live 19. Following the show additional details were provided on features for each of the respective games.

This special edition of the Press Row Podcast covers all the news from the event which includes Madden making a return to the PC after an absence of over a decade, the return of Longshot story mode for a second season, how the Madden trailer seemed awfully familiar, confirmation of FIFA securing the UEFA Champions League license, NBA Live 19 doubling down on The One career mode, and much more. We also debut the segment "Rich's Fashion Corner" for critiques of how presenters were dressed this year.

On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@thatsportsgamer)

Before the avalanche of news comes from EA Play and E3 the latest developments in the sports gaming world are discussed in this episode of the Press Row Podcast. Among those topics are NBA 2K19's reveal of the 20th Anniversary Edition (strangely for its 19th year) and who will find the $100 package worth buying, plus Terrell Owens, cover athlete for the Hall of Fame Edition of Madden NFL 19, has decided not to attend the enshrinement ceremony and how that could affect EA Sports' marketing plans. 

Then Rich Grisham has a fascinating hour long talk with Metalhead Software's Scott Drader on the fantastic Super Mega Baseball 2, going through everything from the development behind the series to decisions on how to initially sell the game which included giving it away as part of the Games with Gold program on Xbox One. 

On the show this week: Bryan Wiedey, Pastapadre/Sporting News/Hit the Pass (@pastapadre) Rich Grisham, OOTP Developments/Hit The Pass (@richgrisham) Scott Drader, Metalhead Software (@scottdrader)