Ea Sports

"NCAA Football 13" EA Sports Xbox 360/PS3 Score: 3 out of 4 In its 20th year of making college football games, EA Sports enters "NCAA Football 13" as the strongest version of the game in the 360/PS3 era. It's not perfect and it's not revolutionary, but almost every change made from "NCAA Football 12" was meaningful and positive. On the turf, the most noticeable upgrade comes in the form of a re-tuned passing game. The spread and shotgun formations' dominance over college football is now a palpable experience in "NCAA Football 13. " Quarterbacks drop back more realistically, and the player has an enhanced ability to control the touch and direction of the ball like never before.

"Madden NFL 13" EA Sports Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 Score: 3 stars out of 4 The "Madden" series hasn't quite lived up to expectations since eliminating competing NFL franchises in 2005. Still, it is taken for granted how much EA Sports maximizes its exclusive license with the NFL to produce video games that allow fans to come as close as most ever will to an NFL field. The knock on “Madden” is that it's the same year-in and year-out. “Madden NFL 13” absolutely disproves that notion, though “different” doesn't automatically mean “better.” Like it's little brother, “NCAA Football,” this year's edition of “Madden” has fine-tuned its passing game to mirror the throw-happy offenses in the real NFL. Receivers run their routes in a less robotic fashion than previous editions, and as a quarterback, the player has a real opportunity to put the ball where they want.

Stars like Tom Brady, Marshall Faullk and Jamal Lewis have returned to television sets across America -- and not just in real life. We're talking about the latest console video games that put the all 32 NFL teams in the hands of armchair quarterbacks. This season's video football lineup is solid, with several contenders for the best football experience. To enhance the game even futher, players will be able to meet and compete online for the first time. Microsoft has begun a beta test of its Xbox Live online system with Microsoft NFL Fever 2003.

RAVENS LINEBACKER Ray Lewis can't forget the ultimate snubs. After turning in one of the best seasons ever by a defensive player, including a sensational Super Bowl performance in early 2001, the national acclaim went to his teammates. Quarterback Trent Dilfer went to Disney, and Jonathan Ogden, Michael McCrary, Rod Woodson, Shannon Sharpe and even Qadry Ismail went on the Wheaties box. Anyone but Ray Lewis. But when the NFL draft begins tomorrow, Ray Lewis is going to be all over the TV screens in commercials for Reebok and EA Sports.

News Roundup •••• Holy hell (literally), "Diablo III" finally has a release date! May 15, kids. [ Blizzard ] •••• EA Sports' football titles are both in the crowd-sourcing spirit this year. Cam Newton is leading the pack for the "Madden NFL 13" vote, and eight Heisman-winning legends are vying to share the cover of "NCAA Football 13" with RG3. It is at this juncture Game Cache would like to officially endorse Ben Roethlisberger ("Madden" curse, ya'll)

News Roundup •••• It was a busy week down in Bethesda, with the “Skyrim” developers trademarking the game's signature “Fus Ro Dah” shout. Crap, now I owe them $17. More pertient to gamers is the announcement that over 200 voice commands will be added via a free Kinect support download for Xbox 360 users later this month. [ PC Ga mer , PC Mag ] •••• ... but the National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviews says “Minecraft” is better.

COLLEGE PARK - The sights looked familiar at Cole Field House last night. Guard Juan Dixon's shot was deadly. Point guard Steve Blake broke down the opposing defense repeatedly and found the open man. Center Lonny Baxter was his old, burly self in the paint. Forward Chris Wilcox rattled the rim with a handful of dunks. And after disposing of the EA Sports All-Stars, 98-80, in its exhibition opener before an announced crowd of 10,612, Maryland must deal with the unfamiliar. On Thursday, the Terps, ranked in the top three in numerous preseason polls and intent on returning to the Final Four, will open their real season at the earliest date in school history by facing Arizona in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Et cetera Damion Rashford , a 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard from Pickering, Ontario, who played his senior year of high school at Westwind Prep in Phoenix, has joined the Loyola men's basketball program for the 2012-13 season. Rashford averaged 18.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 2011-12. He played Amateur Athletic Union ball in the Toronto area for Shane James , a 2007 Loyola graduate. More men's college basketball: Coppin State is one of 12 teams selected to participate in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The new Madden NFL won't be out for a few months but judging from the way Ray Lewis acts on the game's trailer, it's safe to say they've sold at least one. In the minute and a half long trailer, released online this week by EA Sports, Lewis lets loose an impassioned stream of dialogue that's part poetry, part prayer. He doesn't mention the game. But that's kind of beside the point. It opens with soft, somber, piano music -- none of that thumping bass that usually introduces anything selling football.

Exhibition opponent: EA Sports All-Stars Site: Comcast Center, College Park When:Tuesday, 8 p.m. TV/Radio:Comcast SportsNet/WBAL (1090 AM)