Daily Archives: April 27, 2020

J.T. Compher to represent the Avalanche in NHL Gaming Challenge – Mile High Hockey

Posted: April 27, 2020 at 4:54 pm

While the league is on hiatus, the NHL has found a way to create competition for hockey fans. Beginning April 30th, the NHL and ESL will run a four week EA SPORTS NHL20 tournament on PlayStayion 4 that will be broadcast live on both social media and the NHLs television partners. Each of the teams will be represented by at least one active player while the expansion Seattle franchise will also be a part of the tournament and will be represented by veteran NFL tight end Luke Wilson.

The Colorado Avalanche will be represented by J.T. Compher.

This is the latest step in the leagues encouragement of their players and fans to practice social distancing and take all necessary precautions during this pandemic. As a part of the NHLs Hockey at Home initiative, the tournament is being set up to raise money for COVID-19 relief and is meant to remind people that while it may be tough, whats important right now is that we all stay home as much as possible.

Starting this Thursday, Los Angeles Kings TV play-by-play announcer Alex Faust will host the series of weekly matchups, which will be released on Thursdays and Saturdays. NBC Sports will air the first series of games, beginning at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN as part of their Hockey Happy Hour programming.

In Canada, Sportsnet will air select episodes on Sportsnet ONE over four consecutive weeks, starting Friday, May 1 at 4 p.m. ET with all matchups made available on Sportsnet.ca and Sportsnet NOW.

All games will also be streamed on the NHLs social platforms: Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook Premiere and NHL.com. Fans can follow along using the hashtag #HockeyAtHome.

The NHL Foundation and Electronic Arts will donate a combined $100,000 in support of the CDC Foundations COVID-19 relief efforts.

If you have the means and would like to contribute, you can do so here.

Stay home and stay safe.

Anaheim Ducks: Cam Fowler

Arizona Coyotes: Conor Garland, Clayton Keller

Boston Bruins: Jake DeBrusk, Charlie McAvoy

Buffalo Sabres: Brandon Montour

Calgary Flames: Noah Hanifin, Matthew Tkachuk

Carolina Hurricanes: Warren Foegele

Chicago Blackhawks: Drake Caggiula, Alex DeBrincat

Columbus Blue Jackets: Elvis Merzlikins, Zach Werenski

Colorado Avalanche: J.T. Compher

Dallas Stars: Stephen Johns, Jamie Oleksiak

Detroit Redwings: Madison Bowey, Anthony Mantha

Edmonton Oilers: Caleb Jones, Darnell Nurse

Florida Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau

Los Angeles Kings: Michael Amadio, Blake Lizotte

Minnesota Wild: Devan Dubnyk, Jordan Greenway

Montreal Canadiens: Victor Mete, Nick Suzuki

Nashville Predators: Filip Forsberg

New Jersey Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood

New York Islanders: Matt Martin

New York Rangers: Chris Kreider

NHL Seattle: Luke Willson, Seattle Seahawks (NFL)

Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk, Chris Tierney

Philadelphia Flyers: James van Riemsdyk

Pittsburgh Penguins: Zach Aston-Reese, Bryan Rust

San Jose Sharks: Evander Kane, Marcus Sorensen

St Louis Blues: Colton Parayko, Robert Thomas

Tampa Bay Lightning: Tyler Johnson

Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Hyman

Vancouver Canucks: Thatcher Demko, Adam Gaudette

Vegas Golden Knights: Ryan Reaves, Alex Tuch

Washington Capitals: Evgeny Kuznetsov

Winnipeg Jets: Anthony Bitetto, Kyle Connor

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GamesRadar presents the ‘Future Games Show’ broadcast and website event in June – GamesRadar+

Posted: at 4:54 pm

GamesRadar is delighted to announce the Future Games Show, a digital showcase of the most exciting games of 2020 and beyond as we prepare for the launch of next-generation consoles PS5 and Xbox Series X later this year.

The Future Games Show is an hour-long broadcast containing exclusive trailers, announcements, and deep dives on existing AAA and indie games, focusing on current (and next-gen) consoles, mobile and streaming platforms. The Future Games Show will take place in June during the former E3 week, supported by exclusive news, previews and interviews from the editorial team at GamesRadar. Expect more details in the coming weeks.

With E3 2020 cancelled, GamesRadar is thrilled to be working with its partner, publisher and developer friends to showcase the most exciting games of 2020 and beyond, with exciting announcements planned over the coming weeks.

The Future Games Show will be broadcast worldwide on GamesRadar, the worlds fastest-growing games and entertainment site, reaching more than 30 million monthly global users. The show will be promoted across Futures network sites including PC Gamer, TechRadar, T3, Toms Guide and more, with a global reach of 150 million users. Youll be able to watch the Future Games Show on platforms including YouTube, Twitch, Twitter and more.

Future has been the home of gaming since 1985 with the launch of Amstrad Action magazine and its innovative cover-mounted cassettes, says Content Director Daniel Dawkins. Were delighted to bring together our brilliant editorial team across brands including GamesRadar, PC Gamer, Edge Magazine, Retro Gamer, Official PlayStation Magazine and Kotaku UK to work on the Future Games Show. With its focus on console, mobile and streaming games, we believe the Future Games Show is the perfect complement to the highly successful PC Gaming Show at E3, and The Golden Joystick Awards, the worlds largest public voted games awards, which take place in November.

No title is too big - or too small - to take part: were looking for cool, interesting, games that will delight our audience. If youre interested in being part of the show, you can fill out this quick form or contact the Future Games Shows Content Director, Daniel Dawkins (daniel.dawkins@futurenet.com) directly.

For sponsorship Inquiries:

Gabrielle KesslerVP Custom Solutionsgabrielle.kessler@futurenet.com

For media inquiries:

Kendall Allen RockwellWIT Strategy for Future PLCkallen@wistrategy.com

GamesRadar will bring you all the latest updates on the Future Games Show in the weeks to come as the launch of next-generation consoles draws nearer.

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Xbox Series X games: every confirmed title for 2020 and beyond – Tom’s Guide

Posted: at 4:54 pm

Microsofts Xbox Series X is set to launch at the end of the year, so it's time to take a look at which Xbox Series X games to expect at launch at beyond.

So far weve seen the consoles design, been given a breakdown of the specs, and have seen the small tweaks made to the next-generation Xbox controller. And the Xbox Series X is shaping up to be a very impressive console from Microsoft, and one that so far beats the PS5 on pure specs alone, other than SSD performance.

But we havent seen much in the way of game footage or a solid list of launch games for Microsofts next-generation console aside from key titles such as Halo Infinite. We know there will be fairly robust backwards compatibility across multiple Xbox generations, so the Xbox Series X will definitely have games to play when it launches.

But its launching at the same time as the PS5, so the Xbox will need to ensure it has a strong lineup of games to keep Sonys console at bay. So these are all the Xbox Series X games that have been confirmed to be coming to the console, as well as a few we expect will get announced.

This is the big one. The Halo games have been associated with Xbox since Halo Combat Evolved launched with the original Xbox way back in 2001. But the series started to slip in popularity with Halo 5 Guardians, with the campaign featuring a storyline that some Halo fans werent into.

So the Halo series is due a game that catapults it back into popularity, beyond Halo: The Master Chief Collection. And Halo Infinite could be that game.

We dont know a lot about it other than a rough launch trailer and some footage that could be the opening of the game. The later shows that the next Halo will look graphically brilliant, but doesnt offer much in the way of how the game will play.

Current speculation suggests the next Halo could return to the iconic Halo rings and the open environments that made battling through the arenas of Combat Evolved, Halo 3, and Halo Reach a joy.

Wed be pretty confident that the next Halo will come with a serious suite of multiplayer modes, from deathmatches and king of the hill modes, to perhaps something of a custom co-op campaign or mini-missions as seen with Halo 4s Spartan Ops. And given Microsoft has committed to releasing all Xbox games on Windows 10, theres very likely to be cross-platform multiplayer between Xbox Series X players and PC gamers.

Halo Infinite is very likely to be a launch title for the Xbox Series X, and that could be the consoles killer app.

CD Projekt Reds Blade Runner meets Deus Ex meets The Witcher 3 sci-fi game, Cyberpunk 2077, is set to launch on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. But it will also be released on the PS5 and Xbox Series X when the consoles are out.

For the Xbox Series X, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 will have enhanced graphics features. Were not sure what those will be, but wed expect a higher resolution output and ray-tracing support. Xbox Series X users will get an enhanced version of Cyberpunk 2077 through Microsofts Smart Delivery system if they have bought the game for the Xbox One.

Gears 5 is already out on Xbox One X and Windows 10, but Microsoft showed off what the game looks like on Xbox Series X hardware. It will come with enhanced performance and visuals and possibly some extra content, but otherwise, its likely to be business as usual for Gears 5.

Microsoft used the trailer of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II to go alongside its reveal of the Xbox Series X console design at The Game Awards 2019 last December. It showed off a dark Norse fantasy setting with protagonist Senua chanting in what appeared to be a pseudo-Viking ritual, but no game footage was shown off.

We expect the sequel to Hellblade to follow in its predecessors footsteps blending third-person melee combat with adventuring, and to continue on with the portrayal of mental illness. Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios owns Ninja Theory, so Senua's Saga: Hellblade IIis set to be an Xbox Series X and PC exclusive.

Ubisofts hacker-centric Watch Dogs promised a slick open-world game of cybercrime with a moral compass. But it didnt quite hit the mark; its predecessor did a little better. However, Watch Dogs Legion looks to be something a little special. Its main thrust is that itll take place in a post-Brexit future London, where anyone can join into a legion of hackers in a form of revolution to take Englands capital back from an authoritarian regime.

The third game in the Watch Dogs series was expected to come out at the end of 2019 but its been delayed with no firmed-up release date. As such, theres a good chance it could be a next-generation Xbox Series X and PS5 game, especially as it looks like itll need a serious amount of power to build out a large open-world where any character can effectively become a player character.

Tom Clancys Rainbow Six Siege has proven to be wildly popular as a competitive shooter, with it receiving significant support and regular updates from Ubisoft. So its no surprise the game will be ported over to the Xbox Series X, likely with boosted graphics, resolution and frame rates.

Rainbow Six Quarantine, a standalone spin-off to the original game is also set to come to Microsoft's next games console, allowing for people to mix tactical shooter action with a zombie survival tension. The game is also slated for the PS5, but theres no word on cross-platform play yet.

Digital Extremes' popular massively multiplayer third-person action meets role-playing game made its debut way back in 2013. But as the years have passed by, its been improved considerably and attracted 50 million players in 2019.

And now its destined for the Xbox Series X, as noted by TechRadar. Were not sure what to expect from a next-generation port, but improved graphics and performance would be a sensible bet, and cross-platform play with the PC version and older consoles could be on the cards.

We dont really know a great deal about Daedalic Entertainments The Lord of the Rings: Gollum other than that the game will centre around The Lord of the Rings most twisted character, and will be for the next-gen consoles.

The developers CEO Carsten Fichtelmann said the game will involve tackling decisions from both the Smeagol and Gollum personalities of Gollum. The game is slated for a 2021 release, so more information is likely to surface as 2020 moves along.

Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 is the sequel to the bestselling fishing game Ultimate Fishing Simulator, and it's slated for a 2021 release on the Xbox Series X, as well as having a PC release.

Unsurprisingly, itll feature improved graphics over its predecessor. More surprising is that there will be fish AI, presumably to make catching an elusive trout more tricky. A third-person view and a dynamic water system are also expected in the sequel.

Battlefield 6 is on its way, and EA has confirmed it will come to next-generation consoles. Given the game has been multi-platform in the past, its likely to come out on Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC.

Developer DICE hasnt said what era Battlefield 6 will be set in, but it could carry on in the Second World War setting from Battlefield V. Theres no release date, but the financial folks at EA have previously said a new Battlefield game will drive growth in 2011 and into 2022.

While Forza 4 Horizon might be the automotive poster child for the Xbox One X, WRC 9 could be the car game for the Xbox Series X. Much like its predecessors, it takes place in the FIA World Rally Championship and is likely to benefit from the graphics horsepower of the next-generation to deliver realistic cars with all the real dirt and damage rallying causes them.

WRC 9 will have rallies set in New Zealand, Kenya and Japan, which are races scheduled for the 2020 WRC calendar, though they might not go ahead if the coronavirus crisis continues.

A new console would not be complete without a co-op shooter, so thats where People Can Flys Outriders comes in. Its set to arrive Holiday 2020, which means it could be a launch title for the Xbox Series X and PS5.

Theres not much information about Outriders beyond that itll be set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe." That makes it sound a bit like a game that crosses Mass Effect with Game of Thrones, but well have to wait and see how it turns out.This third-person shooter from the folks behind Bulletstorm looks to combine frenetic action with loot and upgrade systems, so we're excited to see how it plays on Xbox Series X.

Gods and Monsters is a brand-new IP from Ubisoft that mixes Ancient Greece with an action-adventure game, and looks a little like an Ubisoft take on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Its an open-world game based around the goal of saving the gods of Ancient Greece from a big bad going by the name of Typhon. Naturally, you can expect a good bit of combat with monsters plucked from Greek Mythology, such as hydras, harpies, and the odd cyclops or two.

Clearly drawing inspiration from the Ecco the Dolphin games, Orphan of the Machine is a side-scrolling adventure game that puts the player in the shoes (flippers) of a dolphin. And as its only been confirmed for the Xbox Series X, it could be an exclusive title for Microsofts console.

Theres no word on release date or much more information other than a video clip showing the game in action. But it does seem to involve poking open treasure chests and blasting enemy sealife with what looks like a weaponized sonar pulse.

Zombie survival game Dying Light 2 has been confirmed by Polish developer Techland to be coming to the Xbox Series X. E3 2019 gave us a deeper look at the game in action, but its release for the current generation of consoles has been delayed as the developer polishes off rough edges.

What extras the Xbox Series X will get from the game have yet to be revealed. But like other cross-generation games, we expect it to come with a suite of graphical enhancements as well as a performance boost.

Its been a long time since a Gothic game last popped up, but developer THQ Nordic plans to bring back the cult game from 2011. And itll be coming to the Xbox Series X.

Beyond the playable teaser trailer, there's not a lot to go off here, but THQ Nordic said the Gothic remake will remain faithful to the source material of the original Gothic. So we can expect an RPG based in a dark and gritty fantasy world. But we dont expect to see it come out on the Xbox Series X until at least 2021.

There are a lot of unconfirmed games that wed not be surprised to see come to the Xbox Series X. The next Elder Scrolls game from Bethesda, which has only had the briefest of teases, is almost certainly going to come to the Xbox Series X, as is Bethesdas mysterious sci-fi game Starfield.

The next Grand Theft Auto game from Rockstar is also likely to be a next-generation console game and thus will arrive on the Xbox Series X, given Red Dead Redemption 2 is keeping Rockstar going on the current consoles.

Wed be pretty confident that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake will also jump from the current consoles onto the next-generation machines, with improved graphics and performance, and hopefully with some extra content.

Given Microsoft owns Rare, we wouldnt be at all surprised if its nature-based game Everwild, which is in the very early stages of development comes to the Xbox Series X as an exclusive. Speaking of exclusives, theres a rare chance that a new Fable game could finally come back to the Xbox as a console exclusive. And wed not be surprised to see a new Forza game as another Xbox Series X exclusive to showcase the consoles power.

We still havent seen a major showcase of what games we can expect on the Xbox Series X. But as the Holiday 2020 launch draws nearer, Microsoft will almost certainly reveal a whole lot more games for its next-generation console.

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The 50 greatest sports video games have been ranked – GIVEMESPORT

Posted: at 4:53 pm

As the UK faces another week in lockdown, a lot of us have been dusting down an old console or system and taking a trip down memory lane.

Because of this, we decided to take a look at the best 50 sports games of all time, according to Ranker.com.

50. Deer Hunter

49. 720 degrees

48. Jeremy McGrath Supercross World

47. Arena Football

46. Bases Loaded 3

45. Ken Griffey, Jr.s Slugfest

44. MVP 06: NCAA Baseball

43. Bases Loaded 4

42. NCAA GameBreaker 2001

41. FIFA 08

40. FIFA 07

39. Madden NFL 16

38. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06

37. 2006 FIFA World Cup

36. NCAA March Madness 07

35. NHL Hitz 2002

34. NFL Blitz 20-02

33. Double Dribble

32. Def Jam Vendetta

31. NBA 2K16

Ranker.coms 50-31 consists of some of the very first games in their respective fields, and some games that are more recent. A lot of Electronic Arts (EA) games feature throughout the first 29 games in the list, and is this any surprise with the status they have in the gaming world, with some of the most successful games ever?

'720 degrees' is the oldest game so far on the list. It is amazing for a game made in 1986, which was traditionally found in an arcade, still to be competing against much newer games with amazing graphics and millions of pounds spent on them.

Bases Loaded 3 and 4 being on this list really does suggest how much of a legacy it left. These two games set the benchmark for newer baseball games such as 'MVP 06' and the MLB series.

A couple of early-ish FIFAs can also rightfully be found in the first 29. These editions were the first sort of FIFA games that really engaged the player and is also where the competitive side of FIFA was starting to emerge.

30. MLB 14: The Show

29. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX

28. 1080 degrees Avalanche

27. WWF WrestleFest

26. Xcite bike

25. Madden NFL 09

24. Mario Strikers Charged

23. FIFA 06

22. Blitz: The League II

21. Tecmo Bowl

20. Madden NFL 2005

19. Wii Sports Resort

18. Fight Night Round 4

17. Mario Tennis

16. Blades of Steel

15. FIFA 13

14. NBA 2K13

13. NBA 2K14

12. Madden NFL 08

11. Fight Night Round 3

Early NBA 2k games are really what kickstarted basketball gaming. Anticipation was always high forthem all over the world, and for there to be a breakthrough was massive. '2K13' and '14' took the basketball gaming community by storm and there are still players to this day who will load up their old PS3s and Xbox 360s to play these two.

The original 'Tecmo Bowl' was a pioneering game in its field. Another arcade game, however, what a game it was. Before the release of 'Tecmo Super Bowl' (only a year later) it was regarded as the best NFL game the world had ever seen.

The first Wii Sports game to be featured on the list is 'Wii Sports Resort', and what a game it was. If Wii Sports Resort isnt a reason to dust the old console down, we really do not know what is.

Two of the first Mario Sports games were featured in the list, and again what a couple of games they were. 'Mario Tennis', which was released in 2000, was truly one of a kind. Replacing tennis superstars for made up characters seems ridiculous. however, it was one of the best ideas next level games came up with.

'Mario Strikers Charged', which was released in 2007, was another game which seemed ridiculous, but took the gaming world by storm.

10. NFL Street

9. Madden NFL 2004

8. MVP Baseball 2005

7. NBA Street

6. ESPN NFL 2K5

5. Madden NFL 07

4. NHL 94

3. Tecmo Super Bowl

2. Punch-out!!

1. Wii Sports

We dont think anyone who has played a game of 'Wii Sports' can argue that this is the undisputed best sports game of all time. There isnt a feeling in the world that can compare to hitting the ball out of the park on Wii Sports baseball.

Nintendo, take a bow.

Other games in the top 10 seem to be dominated by NFL games, mainly EA NFL games. It cant really be argued as EA are the best in the business when it comes to producing them.

'Punch-out' narrowly misses out from claiming the top spot, however, that isnt to say it wasnt a good game. 'Punch out', which was released in 1987, featured some of the best mechanics seen from any games company at that time. It was voted as the 65th out of 523 most addictive game of all time, according to Ranker.com fans.

'NBA Street' is the only other game that can rival 'NBA 2K13' and '14' in the eyes of most basketball game fans. Although the graphics werent there, what can you really expect from a game that was released back in 2001.

Overall the list seems to feature a wide range of sports from NHL to hunting. If one thing is to come from this list by Ranker.com, it is that EA Sports have, and continue, to dominate the sporting front in the world of games.

Nintendo chip in every so often, however, when one of their games come out, expect it to be very good, as shown with 'Wii Sports' and 'Wii Sports Resort'.

With the lockdown of the UK seeming everlasting, whats your excuse for not getting your old consoles down from the loft and hopping on one of these classics?

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Major bookmakers to remove TV and radio gaming advertising during lockdown – Racing Post

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Betting and Gaming Council: said the move applied to casino, slots and bingo adverts

Television and radio adverts for gaming are to be removed during the Covid-19 lockdown by members of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in a voluntary move by the gambling industry trade body.

The move follows concerns voiced by campaigners that gambling advertising during the crisis was fuelling problem gambling.

The BGC, which represents 90 per cent of the UK's betting and gaming industry, said the move applied to casino, slots and bingo adverts. It does not yet apply to sports advertising, which will be reviewed separately when "significant sport returns".

Existing advertising slots will be replaced by safer gambling messages, donated to charities or removed from broadcast where contracts permitted, the BGC said, adding its members had committed to further increases in safer gambling messaging online.

Operators have said they will implement the changes as quickly as possible and no later than May 7, with the commitment in force "at a minimum" until June 5, only being reviewed when lockdown restrictions are relaxed.

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: "From day one of this crisis we have sought to protect customers potentially at risk, including announcing stepping up safer gambling measures as part of our ten pledges for Covid-19 in March.

"This latest move by the regulated industry further underlines our commitment to safer betting and gaming with many people cut off and feeling anxious."

The BGC said its members accounted for around 50 per cent of all gambling advertising on TV and radio, adding it hoped the National Lottery, society lotteries and other bingo operators followed suit.

Betting Gaming Council and GVC pledge to protect gamblers during crisis

Dugher added: "We have been working closely with our member companies since this crisis began to monitor the impact of betting and gaming. There hasn't been an explosion in people betting online as some had predictedin fact, the opposite is true with total revenue down by up to 60 per cent.

"Overall, gambling levels have also fallen significantly as a result of betting shops and casinos closing and the suspension of live sport. And while advertising levels on sports and casino are also down, again contrary to some assertions, we recognise that removing product advertising will act as a further safeguard during Covid-19."

Carolyn Harris MP, the chair of the Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliamentary Group, said she was pleased the BGC had listened to their concerns by taking action over advertising.

Harris tweeted: "We must prevent a rise in problem gambling during this unsettling period and this forms a crucial part of achieving this."

On the issue of sports betting advertising, which is governed by the industry's 'whistle-to-whistle' ban, the BGC said operators acknowledged that the return of sports betting would need to be treated with care in order not to trigger another issue.

Advertising during television of coverage of horseracing is not subject to the whistle-to-whistle ban.

If you are concerned about your gambling and are worried you may have a problem, clickhere to find advice on how you can receive help

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2K names new WWE games boss ahead of series refresh – GamesIndustry.biz

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2K Games has named Patrick Gilmore as its new executive producer for the WWE series.

The appointment follows criticism of last year's WWE 2K20, which received a strong negative reaction from consumers and press, with PlayStation even issuing refunds. 2K has confirmed recent reports that there will not be a WWE 2K21 this year as it takes extra time to make a game that delivers on 'quality and fun'.

However, there will be a wrestling game this Christmas in the form of WWE 2K Battlegrounds. The publisher describes the game as an over-the-top experience, and it's being developed by Saber Interactive, which is the team behind the NBA 2K Playgrounds series.

Last year's WWE game was the first title entirely developed by NBA 2K creators Visual Concepts, following the departure of long-term franchise developer Yukes. Gilmore will be part of the Visual Concepts team. He has spent 25 years in video games, having worked on Disney's Aladdin for Sega Genesis/Megadrive, Killer Instinct, Medal of Honour and has most recently worked at Amazon on the game New World.

In an open letter to fans, 2K said: "We want to address WWE 2K20. We've heard and appreciate your feedback, and continue to listen to you closely. Since launch, we've released five title updates, addressing hundreds of reported concerns, and have released four WWE 2K20 Originals DLC expansions to build on and improve the experience. We've also heard your requests to keep the WWE 2K19 servers running; they will remain active for the time being.

"All of that being said, we hear you and we know you want more from the franchise, so here's what we're going to do: we are applying what we've learned to the next WWE 2K simulation game with a renewed focus on quality and fun. As part of that commitment, we are extending the production timeline and will not be releasing a WWE 2K simulation game in 2020 (T2 fiscal year 2021). We want to ensure the development team at Visual Concepts can create a great game that will entertain grizzled WWE 2K veterans, as well as newcomers who want to climb through the ropes and step into the ring for the very first time."

2K also reaffirmed its commitment to the WWE SuperCard series, which is currently in its sixth season.

The letter concluded: "2K and WWE are reaffirming a long-term commitment to expand the WWE games family in ways that directly benefit you, the fans. We are taking the time we need to deliver the quality you deserve, while at the same time offering new experiences and ways to have fun with the WWE Superstars you love... And that's the bottom line, 'cause 2K said so!"

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Week 9 simulated on FIFA 20: Here’s how MLS games could have gone – MLSsoccer.com

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Our FIFA 20 simulations return for Week 9, with plenty of action unfolding in the esports world. With real-life matches on pause, heres a sense of how the would-be MLS games could have gone.

Check out the full video, commentary and standings rundown below.

It was a rough day for the New England Revolution, who conceded three goals at home against Montreal in a 3-1 defeat. Cristian Penilla bagged a late consolation strike, but it was too little too late.

The Fire didnt disappoint at Soldier Field and took down LAFC, 3-1. A hat trick from CJ Sapong secured three points and grabbed their second win of the season.

Philly regained some momentum after falling to NYCFC last week, taking down the Crew 2-0 on the road. Sergio Santos put the game out of reach in the 95th minute, and theyre in a great Eastern Conference spot as we push towards May.

Minnesota United have been the best team in our FIFA simulations thus far, but their momentum slowed down with a 2-2 draw against Sporting. Theyre still leading the Western Conference and have the simulated games best goal differential (plus 12).

This battle between two mid-table clubs ended in a 2-2 draw. There was back-and-forth action all match, before Reto Ziegler knocked in the late equalizer for FC Dallas.

The weeks marquee matchup saw Real Salt Lake jump past Seattle with a 3-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium. Albert Rusnak again scored, but it was Jordan Morris sumptuous volley in the 93rd minute thatll be played on repeat.

In one of the weekends more surprising results, Houston took down the Galaxy on the road, 2-0. Mauro Manotas and Tommy McNamara got on the scoresheet, lifting Tab Ramos team to a huge result.

Orlandos supporters will be wishing this was a real-life result, as Tesho Akindeles tap-in gave the Lions a 1-0 win over their rivals. For Atlanta, their dominance of their fellow Southeast foe comes to a close.

The Red Bulls remain winless in the FIFA simulations after another defeat, this time dropping a 2-1 result to D.C. United. Perhaps May will see Chris Armas team turn things around.

Offseason acquisition Jurgen Locadia bagged a brace for FC Cincinnati as they picked up a 2-0 win and advanced up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference. As for San Jose, more woes continue on both sides of the park.

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Watch the best games of Muffet McGraw’s career at Notre Dame – ESPN

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Legendary Notre Dame women's basketball head coach Muffet McGraw stunned the sports world when she announced she was retiring last week.

The 64-year-old McGraw spent the past 33 years coaching the Fighting Irish, going 848-252 with two national championships. And we relive some of her most memorable victories over the past decade.

On Monday, ESPNU will air six thrilling victories that the Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer coached in, beginning at noon ET.

2 Related

Noon: Notre Dame vs. UConn (2012 Women's Final Four)

In the first of three Notre Dame-UConn clashes airing Monday, we relive an overtime thriller that featured Skylar Diggins-Smith and Kayla McBride outdueling Stefanie Dolson, Bria Hartley and Tiffany Hayes in a battle of two No. 1 seeds.

2 p.m.: Notre Dame vs. UConn (2013 regular season)

Not one ... not two ... but three overtimes. McGraw helped the Irish rally from down six in the first overtime, the Irish claimed the outright Big East regular-season title for the second straight year.

4 p.m.: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina (2015 Women's Final Four)

6 p.m.: Notre Dame vs. UConn (2018 Women's Final Four)

Future WNBA No. 1 draft pick Jackie Young scored 32 points, but Arike Ogunbowale's corner jumper in the final seconds of overtime gave UConn its first loss of the season and propelled the Irish into the title game. Speaking of which ...

8 p.m.: Notre Dame vs. Mississippi State (2018 NCAA championship game)

10 p.m.: Notre Dame vs. Florida State (2020 regular season)

McGraw didn't have a chance to end her career on top, as the Irish lost in the first round of the ACC tournament. But she did end her regular-season career with a 70-67 victory over 19th-ranked Florida State, a game in which Notre Dame rallied late to win.

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Best card games 2020: our pick of the top card games for adults – TechRadar New Zealand

Posted: at 4:53 pm

Theres simply nothing quite like playing a card game with friends. The feeling of building a deck, or having to trust in the randomness that a pile of cards can generate, is one that no other style of game can match.

Card games have universal appeal too; some of the best card games for adults dont even have to be full of smutty humor to be enjoyable, and that means that you can enjoy them no matter what age you are, or who youre playing with.

So we've collated this little selection of some of the best card games around, that will see you building dungeons, fighting monsters and even betraying your friends.

Munchkin is undoubtedly some of the most fun you can have with a bit of cardboard; assuming youre neither a toddler nor a cat. Its a bit like Dungeons and Dragons, in that your aim is to get stronger, fight your way through monsters, and come out the other side victorious.

The main aim of Munchkin is to get to level 10 and, to do so, you have to beat monsters. Easy enough, right? Well, its made that much more difficult by the other players trying to stop you from succeeding. Alliances will be formed, friendships will develop complicated new layers, and youll all start to wonder why you keep letting the same person win each time.

Lets be honest, weve all wondered who would win in a fight between bears and babies, and this game finally gives us the chance to find out. Your aim is to build up an army of monstrous hideously mutated bears to take down the evil baby menace. The person who takes down the most babies is the winner.

Its a fairly straight-forward game, but its one of the best card games because its simplicity makes it one of the best choices for newcomers to the genre.

Everything about Boss Monster is reminiscent of a classic video game - and we love it for that. Boss Monster sees you playing as a villain and building your own dungeons. You have to try and attract adventurers into your dungeon and trick them into dying to win.

You can, of course, mess with your friends by stealing their heroes and messing up their game plans, but dont be surprised if they do the same to you as a result.

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The aim of Joking Hazard is to get your friends to laugh. Thats it, nice and easy. The tools you use to try and do this are images from Cyanide & Happiness (not family-friendly), and it will, more often than not, lead to incredibly strange jokes that dont make any sense - but are still hilarious.

Its an incredibly funny game and one thats sure to have you and your friends laughing so hard it hurts. Thats all anybody can ask for from one of the best card games for adults, more pain.

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Superheroes are a big deal. Even if youve lost interest in this genre of media, not everybody has, and thats what makes this a good choice for any household with teenagers in it. The aim here is to build a deck that lets you take down the evil villains of the Marvel universe, and you get to do it all while playing as its greatest heroes.

Marvel Champions is full of wonderful nods to long time fans, and youll love it. Just keep in mind it takes a little longer to get into than many of the other games on this list.

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This is the only game on this list that comes in a cool plastic bucket. The aim of Bucket of Doom is to build a convincing escape plan based on the item cards that you have. That means you might be trying to escape from an army of flowerpot-men using only an apron and a pair of tights.

Its one of the more inventive ones on the list, and its incredibly good fun.

This is an excellent choice for students or any other adults who have to share the same space. Each card will have a prompt of some sort on it, and each prompt will relate to your smartphone. You all have to try and complete the prompt as quickly as possible and also try and make your friends laugh.

Its good fun but can also reveal a lot about your friends Google history.

Cats can be a little bit dangerous. Everyone who owns one knows that theyre prone to absurdly random fits of excitement and energy, often occurring at 4am as youre trying to sleep. Well, did you also know that they can explode? Thats basically the premise of one of the best card games around, Exploding Kittens.

Your aim is to trick another player into drawing an exploding kitten so that they lose. Its a very simple premise, and its also one of the easiest card games to get through on this list thanks to its short playtime.

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Exploding Kittens A Card Game...

Another one for the online generation. Which, at present at least, is every generation. Its a bit like Family Fortunes, but with internet search auto-complete. Youve got to try and get as many points as possible by guessing the strange things that people have searched for online.

Its both very funny and a little bit upsetting, but hey, all the best things in life are like that.

Gloom is all about messing around with a Victorian family. The whole point is to make your family as sad as possible before they reach the endpoint of their life. Its a very mean game and not one we recommend replicating in real life. The trouble is, all of the other players will be trying to make your family happier, so you need to try and balance their misery with offsetting the potential joy your real-life friends are causing them.

This combination of dark humor and unique setting make it one of the best card games for adults available.

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Uno is one of the best card games for a reason. Its easy to learn, easy to play, and the scars it leaves will be etched into your soul for the rest of time. All you have to do is empty your hand, and youll win the game. Thats all.

Unfortunately, your former friends and traitorous family will likely impede your victory as often as they can. Just remember we warned you about this when you get hit by that reversal.

Today's best Mattel Uno deals

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Packers games without fans? It would be ‘devastating’ to Green Bay’s economy – USA TODAY

Posted: at 4:53 pm

If fans can't attend Green Bay Packers games in 2020, the economic impact will be felt throughout the community Green Bay Press-Gazette

GREEN BAY, Wis. Through recession, depression and crisis, Green Bay's economy historically held up better than much of the nation, but this time it could be different.

If the Green Bay Packers play football this year, fans might not be invited in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. That could result in a more than $150 million drain on economic activity. Hotels and restaurants would be most severely hurt, but the damage would surge throughout the economy.

"Itll be a devastatingimpact on the Green Bay economy to not have any fans," said Brad Toll, CEO of the Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau. "This has kind of been a nightmare. This is the kind of thingyou go to the movies and see."

Packers games generate an estimated $15 million per game direct and indirect economic benefit to Brown County. With eight regular-season games, two preseason games and, this year, a Wisconsin Badgers-Notre Dame Fighting Irish collegegame scheduled for Lambeau Field, the loss could be in the neighborhood of $153 million. That does not include possiblehome playoff games, the EAA fly-in,the Ryder Cup tournament, or every convention and meeting already canceled.

Lambeau Field in Green Bay, pictured on Jan. 8.(Photo: Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

"The fact is, you just have to look around to see whats being built based on the success of the Green Bay Packers in terms of what they do represent for the economy, and just look at what the Packers are investing in themselves," said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach.

"Thats all heavily depend on tourism and people staying in this community. That is obviously of great concern."

Of course, if the state stays locked down for an extended period of time, the Packers will be just one factor in a catastrophic situation.A survey conducted by New North Inc. and other economic development agencies released last week reported that 35% of responding businesses said they would close if conditions remained as they are for three months.

RELATED: Wisconsin again sees record new cases of coronavirus as state reveals number of recovered patients, too

RELATED: NFL, season-ticket holders face decisions as questions linger about what 2020 football season will look like

Even if non-essential Wisconsin businesses were allowed to resume operations, the absence of Packers fans would be keenly felt in Green Bay. The NFL has not said if it would have games, or if it does, whether fans would be allowed to attend. Games without fans is a distinct possibility.

"Every industry is needing to be asking that question, what do we need to do so people will feel safe?" Streckenbach said. "I imagine the Packers are trying to come up with safety procedures so people will feel safe.

"Without testing and further guidance and more personal protective equipment, its going to be difficult for us to get to that plateau.We absolutely need to figure out how to get back to work. Its going to cripple our economy."

Historically, the stable Green Bay-area economy, supported bythe papermaking, transportation and food-processingindustries, provided a sound base for the Packers. The team's contribution to the economy was less, in part because many of the fans were local and because it played half its games in Milwaukee.

That changed in 1990s, when the Packers moved all their games to Lambeau Field and Green Bay resumed its place as one of the NFL's most successful franchises, increasing fan interest. The renovation of Lambeau Field in 2003 and the addition of about 7,000 seats in 2013 further altered the equation. An economic impact study conducted during the 2009 season concluded that more than 80%of fans attending Packers games traveled 50 miles or more, which meant a lot of money is imported into the community.

As a result, more hotels were built, and more bars and restaurants openedwhile existing ones expanded, driven in large part by the Packers' training camp and those 10 home games a year. Add to that the development of the Lambeau Field Atrium as a year-round tourism and meeting place and thedevelopment of Titletown District, which are all currently closed to the public.

The impact of lost meetings and conventions is at $25 million and counting, Toll said.CVB triesto re-book them for later in the year, but for those annual meetings that rotate cities, Green Bay sometimes gets bumped to the back of the line.

"You can just imagine everyone from the printer to the electrician to the utility, just small businesses themselves, one way or the other are impacted by this," Streckenbach said.

Using the 80%estimate, Packers games draw in the neighborhood of 600,000 people to Green Bay on game days.

"The influx of traffic during the NFL season for the home games does generate a lot of business for many people," said Tony Weid, CEO of Dino Stop gas and convenience stores in Green Bay. "We do see a huge increase on weekends and particularly on game days (at the Dino Stop) on Ashland Avenue. We also see big increases at our locations on interstates. Its a statewide event."

Even now, Weid said, fuel demand is down 20%-50% at area stations.

"It's definitely not good right now for many businesses," he said.

So far, two hotels closed their doorsand if the stay-at-home orders continue, others might. Toll said occupancy is running 12%-15%. Normal average occupancy is 58%.

"The tourism federation was asking for a more detailed way of getting our hotels and restaurants and entertainment venues out of this (shutdown), to come up with something substantial, more detailed," Toll said. "People need to see a light at the end of the tunnel."

In addition to lost wages and business spending, the county is losing room tax and sales tax dollars, which are funding large projects, such as the KI Convention Center, the Resch Center and Resch Expo, the new exhibition center now under construction, andothers not yet begun.

Streckenbach said work on projects underway, such as the Resch Expo, scheduled for completion by early next year, will continue, but projects that have not broken ground, such as a new convention and visitors bureau office, might be modified.

Games without fans also would affect dozens of nonprofit groups that run the concession stands at Lambeau Field, using the money to support their organizations.

It's hard to find a silver lining in present circumstances, but Toll is hopeful long term.

"I remember after 9/11, there was a lot of concern in the tourism industry that wed get to the point wed stop meeting face to face. We moved away from that when we got back to business as usual," he said.

Follow Richard Ryman on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPGor on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/

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