EA Sports MMA was conceived as a two-year series, alternating publication years with its Fight Night cousin. No one thought it would be getting a sequel after its major license, Strikeforce, was acquired by the UFC. But pulling the plug on MMA's servers shows the first edition's lifespan fell far short of EA Sports'…
To many, the UFC's acquisition of the competing fight series Strikeforce in March spelled the end of EA Sports MMA. While EA Sports' chief of development did not say that a sequel is in development, he did not say the label was quitting the sport altogether.
About this time last year, at E3, I was chewing the fat with a 2K Sports representative about NBA 2K11 which already looked to be the monster it would become. Long dominant in the pro basketball genre, the game with Michael Jordan on its cover was going to be 2K's Sunday punch to EA Sports. "That's the idea," the guy…
Zuffa llc, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has bought out mixed martial arts' second largest promotion, Strikeforce. The acquisition could mean only one MMA video game going forward.
EA Sports MMA's initial sales were low enough to get a fatalistic poor-mouthing from industry analysts, but the company is committed to a sequel. A producer has confirmed an EA Sports MMA 2 is coming.
Growing up, I only saw boxing on HBO. With Mike Tyson the premier fighter, it was usually over fast. Anything that wasn't seems sanitized in low-definition hindsight. That changed the first time I saw a bout fought live. In headgear.
"Fastest-growing sport" is often faint praise applied to niche competitions, but with mixed martial arts, it's no joke. Relentless violence and blink-of-an-eye knockout potential make MMA fight night for the video game generation. Can a video game do that justice?
The latest EA Sports title to hit the iPhone is EA Sports MMA - well, "MMA by EA Sports." It's $4.99 and available now on the iTunes App Store.
Randy Couture (left) and Fedor Emelianenko (right), cover stars of EA Sports MMA, have never fought in real life. They battled in-game at a launch event Tuesday, with the big Russian taking bragging rights. [Image via EA Sports]
I can speak highly of the authenticity of EA Sports MMA's Live Broadcast because, were I to fight a mixed martial arts bout in real life, I'd get wrecked exactly this bad, too.
EA Sports is not often in the position of the contender. It is with its mixed martial arts title, as THQ owns the UFC license, the leading mark. That doesn't mean EA's marketing the game like a lightweight.
The punching, kicking and sweaty grappling action of EA Sports' take on mixed martial arts will also be available not just for the Xbox 360 and PC, but for on-the-go pocket-sized bouts. This is what EA Sports MMA looks like on an iPhone.
EA Sports MMA's free demo will arrive Sept. 28 for both Xbox 360 and PS3; you'll get four fighters, four different skill levels and a tutorial.
Seventeen more fighters at the welterweight and lightweight divisions complete the EA Sports MMA roster, bringing to 60 the total number of combatants in the game.
Denmark bans energy drinks, I guess because they provide gratuitous amounts of energy or something. What's that got to do with video games? Well, EA Sports MMA is shot through with energy drink ads.
Recently, the CEO of MMA promotion Strikeforce mentioned he'd visited Cowboys Stadium. As Strikeforce is a licensing partner of the upcoming EA Sports MMA, some took that to mean the site might show up in the game. They're right.
Movin' right along - EA Sports MMA is revealing its roster piecemeal. This week we're shown 22 fighters eligible at the game's middleweight class, eight of which were also revealed as light heavyweights last week.
EA Sports MMA is revealing its roster of fighters week by week, beginning with the heavyweights last week. This week, a 17-fighter light heavyweight roster was unveiled.
Madden launch week is probably not the best time to drop pre-release hype for your sports game, unless you're EA Sports MMA. Those guys will take on anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Earlier today EA Sports revealed plans for Fight Night Champion next year, but let's not forget the publisher has a combat sports title coming out this year - EA Sports MMA, whose career mode is showcased in 17 new screens.