NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

[CarryTheWeight]

Re: IGN gameplay videos

You're free to feel okay about the commentary of course. But excusing it is another thing. It's by far the worst commentary in any current video sports game, and has been for five years now (Cole and Neale were equally awful). There's simply no excuse for that. Whoever is responsible for writing, recording and programming the commentary in 2K's NHL series is apparently incompetent and shouldn't be working on the development team in that capacity. And the fact that 2K/VC continues to allow something that intregral and that poorly produced to be included in a game they're developing, tells me we're probably in for yet another half-effort on the part of 2K. NHL 2K9.5 as RealmK suggested.

Tom Hammond says hello. That guy sucks all the excitement out of Madden 09 and 10!

I don't think we should be making so many assessments on the commentary yet based on a few short videos because there may be more to it than what we've seen. Now, if we get more videos in the future or have the game in front of us then yes, I'll be in a position to agree or disagree. But right now it's way too early to tell.

And that last sentence not only applies to the commentary, but to the game itself. I learned a long time ago never to judge a game by videos only. Heck, I could even go out a limb and say that by videos only it looks like NHL 10 is the same game as NHL 09 (until you show the new goalie animations, passing, AI, forechecking, fighting, crowd and board play).

[baa7]

Re: IGN gameplay videos

Tom Hammond says hello. That guy sucks all the excitement out of Madden 09 and 10!

Oh, I agree. But Collingsworth is still very good, whereas the 2K guys are both really bad. The other thing is the announcing in 2K has been terrible for five years now. At some point one would think somebody on the development team would say enough is enough and hire people who were capable of raising the commentary to the level of EA's NHL series. The way it is now just makes the 2K/VC team look like a group of amateurs with a half-interest in the product they produce.

[baa7]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

BTW, I don't buy the "it's only a video" line of reasoning. Anybody who believes, especially at this point, that 2K10 is going to look and sound any different than the vids we just saw, isn't being realistic. And I've made no comments regarding the gameplay. I've only mentioned things that for me are a huge turnoff visually and from an audio perspective.

[CarryTheWeight]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

I'm just saying the "only a video" stuff because quite honestly, I haven't seen enough of the game yet to make a realistic assessment. If it seems like I'm blindly defending the game, I'm not. I just haven't seen enough.

[baa7]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

If it seems like I'm blindly defending the game, I'm not.

I understand. I'm just saying those vids no doubt represent the finished product that we'll be looking at and listening. Me, I don't think I'm interested in the game if the visual and audio shortcomings and issues that have plagued this series for years still haven't been addressed. I'm interested in gameplay like anyone else, but I don't have much use for games that I have to shut off the commentary and continually overlook visual issues, in order to enjoy.

[daflyboys]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

I differ from you guys regarding commentary. NHL 2K5 which had the greatest commentary of any sports game I've played, was still played out after a point in time. I have less of a problem with a repetitive animation than I do with a repeated color comment. Eventually, I turn them all off.

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Baa, why not wait until we read what all the developer have to tell us about the game and until we actually play the game, before making such statements as it will probably be 2K9.5. Ridiculous if you ask me. I can already tell you that based on the first developer blog I read, that the game will be much better than you or any other doubter thinks.

[bcgudely]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

I understand. I'm just saying those vids no doubt represent the finished product that we'll be looking at and listening. Me, I don't think I'm interested in the game if the visual and audio shortcomings and issues that have plagued this series for years still haven't been addressed. I'm interested in gameplay like anyone else, but I don't have much use for games that I have to shut off the commentary and continually overlook visual issues, in order to enjoy.

Exactly. If this was shown to us 5 months ago, then ok.. but the game comes out in a month. Nothing major is going to be changed, if anything at all. Likely going to be polishing up some areas and trying to make sure the product ships as bug-free as possible.

I'll still give it a rent, as I did 2K9. There were some things I liked about 2K9, but I thought it needed a ton of work. This doesn't really look like it got the work in the right areas. It seems to me like the visual appeal and presentation got a lot of love, while the basic hockey gameplay remains essentially the same. I haven't played it yet though, so we'll see how it turns out when the game comes out. Still hoping this one turns out to be good.. I've always liked 2K since the DC days.

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Exactly. If this was shown to us 5 months ago, then ok.. but the game comes out in a month. Nothing major is going to be changed, if anything at all. Likely going to be polishing up some areas and trying to make sure the product ships as bug-free as possible.

I'll still give it a rent, as I did 2K9. There were some things I liked about 2K9, but I thought it needed a ton of work. This doesn't really look like it got the work in the right areas. It seems to me like the visual appeal and presentation got a lot of love, while the basic hockey gameplay remains essentially the same. I haven't played it yet though, so we'll see how it turns out when the game comes out. Still hoping this one turns out to be good.. I've always liked 2K since the DC days.

Well no one in their right mind would argue that the visual appeal and presentation needed the love they got.

Take a look at EA's series. It's visual appeal is what gets noticed the most. The game is beautiful and it's fun to play. Alot of people though seem to overlook the games flaws due to its visual appeal. That's what I've noticed at least. NHL 09 had more than its fair share of gameplay flaws.

Now take a look at NHL2K9 which also had its fair share of gameplay flaws, but it's visual appeal lacked heavily and I think that magnified peoples opinions of the game, on top of its flaws.Also I don't think the gameplay will be anything like 2K9 once you get into the sliders and past the defaults. The same goes for NHL10, which I think will play way better than the videos have shown, once you adjust some sliders.

[baa7]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Baa, why not wait until we read what all the developer have to tell us about the game and until we actually play the game, before making such statements as it will probably be 2K9.5. Ridiculous if you ask me.

How is it ridiculous? Are you expecting the commentary to be any different when the game is released? Do you think they'll remove those glitchy post-goal animations/cutscenes? Will the goalie player models with the square shoulders and over-sized masks be fixed? The answer to those questions is undoubtably no.

Like I said, the visual and audio issues I've had a problem with in this series for 4-5 years appear to be in 2K10 as well. I was expecting nothing less than a completely revamped commentary -- re-recorded, remixed and on par with other sports games. I absolutely expected the goalie player models/masks to be fixed, given what an absolute eyesore they are. And as for the goal celebrations, please tell me how anyone on the development team who watched those ridiculous cutscenes in 2K9 could allow another version of the game to be released without fixing them first. They're flat-out ludicrous -- one of the sloppiest bits of programming I ever remember seeing in a sports game. To not fix such an obvious programming issue is simply lazy to the Nth degree.

[Scottdau]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

First off Baa, you are wrong. Experience plays a big factor in delivering lines. Randy and drew has not done the reading of lines as long as Thorne and Clem has. Trust me that makes a huge different. Plus EA still has the same old script too. The only difference is the EA guys know how to read their lines better. Also, this NHL 2K 9.5 is funny. They have better graphics and new gameplay things and you call that just a touch up. That is all EA did. But that is cool you are free to have your opinion. I can't for both games.

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Well, sorry not everything is the way you like it. I agree with what you are complaining about to an extent. I just don't see commentary in a video game as anything to take so seriously. I mean Thorne and Clement have been basically using the same lines since they were doing commentary for the 2K games. Also the post goal and other cutscenes are a minor deal to me as well and would much rather have the gameplay issues resolved before either of those.

The goalie models are rather off, but improved at least. I can live with that as well, since the skaters look much improved overall. I think the player models will be in top form for 2K11. Again though, while having beautiful graphics is nice, I'll take the gameplay first. They greatly improved the visuals over 2K9 so I'm happy the effort was there.

[Keirik]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

First off Baa, you are wrong. Experience plays a big factor in delivering lines. Randy and drew has not done the reading of lines as long as Thorne and Clem has. Trust me that makes a huge different. Plus EA still has the same old script too. The only difference is the EA guys know how to read their lines better. Also, this NHL 2K 9.5 is funny. They have better graphics and new gameplay things and you call that just a touch up. That is all EA did. But that is cool you are free to have your opinion. I can't for both games.

i'm assuming you're career is somehow related to commentating, reading script, et al since you're using terms like "you're wrong" and "trust me" as if you have some inside knowledge on the topic that the rest of us dont.

Let me know, im curious how many years you've been in the announcing business?

[Eddie1967]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

First off Baa, you are wrong. Experience plays a big factor in delivering lines. Randy and drew has not done the reading of lines as long as Thorne and Clem has. Trust me that makes a huge different. Plus EA still has the same old script too. The only difference is the EA guys know how to read their lines better. Also, this NHL 2K 9.5 is funny. They have better graphics and new gameplay things and you call that just a touch up. That is all EA did. But that is cool you are free to have your opinion. I can't for both games.

I agree Scott. Besides who cares about how good the announcing is anyway when you have great game play. I love the announcers in NHL 2k9. NFL 2k5 had generic announcers and that was the best announcing team in any sports game created, but whether it's thorne or clement or whoever it not going to make or break a hockey game. Like EA fans used to say the only thing that matters is game play.

[Scottdau]

Re: NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Well I am a teacher and on some test they are scripted. But go act and get back to me. That is hard to read lines and make it look like you aren't.