Is it Time to Stick a Fork in the NHL 2K Series?

[Flyermania]

Quote: Originally Posted by hyacinth1

I just checked the NHL 10 forums and can't believe all the fanboyism towards EA's game.

I think you'll find that in any forum....this (2k hockey) forum is no different.

Quote: Originally Posted by hyacinth1

I was in that same boat, where I just had played EA's game from 08 -10 and was very happy with it. Until someone told me to try 2k since it was only 20 bucks, I still resisted but then finally gave it a shot. I am glad it did. I can say that while EA's game has more modes and options, ON THE ICE, 2k beats out EA's gameplay. But there is a big asterisk to that last comment, it beats it out With the RIGHT SLIDERS.

I would offer that with some minor slider adjustments that NHL 10's gameplay is top notch. Sliders make a huge difference no matter what game you are playing. 2k's is definitely good and much improved over 2k9, but the total lack of boardplay and the CPU's lack of dumping and cycling the puck makes it an unrealistic representation of the sport for me personally.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

I agree that one of the weak points of the marketing was that they didn't start earlier like EA. Not releasing a demo just showed me they weren't confident in their product.

I just disagree with the people that said 2K didn't market the game at all. As for the Skill Stick in 2K, I don't find it as smooth as the EA skill stick. There's also probably a lot of people out there that don't mess with the controls and didn't even know 2K has a skill stick option.

I like to see competition but if 2K goes away, I'm not going to lose any sleep.

[tabulaRasa]

Too bad, I mean, it´s not like EAs sales were really affected when their NHL series got owned by 2K , 2k3-2k6. 2K sold decent then, but the problem is that EA sales aren´t affected when EA put out mediocre games in the sport divsion. EA fans are just more loyal. NHL from EA is good this generation though, it´s just that 2K can´t afford an off year it seems, unlike EA.

We all know that competetion is good for game development. So it would suck.

BTW, pastapadre isn´t really the source of non-EA material.... really the opposite

[dan77733]

Amazing how since the EA/NFL deal was announced five years ago that 2K sports and Visual Concepts may be at the end. Whats worse is the fact that if VC and 2K are done, any slim hope of an NFL 2K return would be gone. Sad day for us 2K fans.

[StormJH1]

I'm a little worried about the immediate future of hockey gaming b/c the EA NHL product, which has been clearly superior for at least 3 years, has become a little bit stale. I don't want a "competitor" like 2k Sports to leave, but the sad truth is that EA doesn't view 2k hockey as a true competitor anymore.

There are two primary reasons why gamers want "competition" in sports titles: choice and evolution. Both of those applied to the NFL game b/c both NFL 2k5 and Madden 2005 were quality products.

But can anyone point to a single innovation by 2k hockey that resulted in an innovation in NHL 08, 09, or 10? I can't. 2k8 had a great franchise mode, but NHL 09 made essentially no changes in this regard. 2k9 had a great fighting engine...NHL 10 scrapped their old fighting system and used something more like a poor man's version of Fight Night (which I don't really care for). Yes, NHL 10 finally did implement board pinning, but if that was such a big concern of EA's, why didn't the "competition" spark them to throw in board pinning after ESPN Hockey or 2k5 were released?

You could argue that the most significant innovations in this genre (most notably the skill stick) came out of the individual creativity of a design team thinking outside the box. That's because of one important axiom, which is unfortunate, but true:

"Competition" ONLY works when the underdog company has a larger budget.

That's why games like NHL 08, EA Skate, and EA MMA have succeeded or are likely to succeed in the future. When the underdog also has a smaller budget (as does 2k/Visual Concepts), they get caught playing catchup and trying to copy what's good about the superior game, rather than doing what they should be doing, which is innovating and offering something new. EA can keep throwing out their product without so much as adding something as simple as playoff beards and it will do just fine.

[savoie2006]

EA has and always will have a large fanbase.They have a very loyal fanbase. Even when the games were nothing but arcadish gameplay. As for innovation from 2K. If it wasn't for what 2K did last gen, EA may have never stepped it up like it has current gen. The ball is now is 2K's court and it's up to them to step it up. Based on 2K10, it appears that is finally starting to happen. I just hope it's not too little too late. If only Visual Concepts would have been over the series this entire time.

[Flyermania]

I agree that 2k10 was a huge step in the right direction of the series, but ultimately it all comes down to sales. And 2k10 did not sell a lot of copies on the 360 or the PS3 unfortunately. It's really too bad that 2k chooses not to market the game (in comparison to their competition as well as how they used to market the series), especially with so many low-cost social networking options. Ultimately that choice may be the end of the series.

[Lisa_Bonami]

I think the BEST business move for 2K Sports would be bought out by Microsoft.

This would give 2K the marketing muscle with MS dollars

They could also rerelease an NFL product immediately (Isnt it just a 3rd party exclusive NFL license?)

They could also incorporate the NFL Fever, NHL Rivals, NBA Inside Drive teams into the 2K Sports teams. All those games had potential back in the day but just needed some more senior sports talent (2Ksports perfect fit)

2K Sports would also reap the benefits of Microsoft's superior motion capture technology to provide more polished and lifelike animations into their games

And Microsoft could even benefit by now turning NBA 2K basketball into an Xbox 360 exclusive title (if they chose to do so to try and now create a countering sports system seller that directly compete's with Sony's PS3 MLB the Show system seller)

It could be what you call a WIN/WIN situation for BOTH parties and we could also benefit immensely as well