NHL 10 Officially Revealed

[Dark Prince]

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww11/StaticXL/nhl10_fighting_eagerfight01.jpg

We've heard speculation, but nothing concrete. EA Sports has officially come clean with new details regarding it's newest entry into the award winning NHL franchise. NHL 10 will overhaul it's fighting system and include a new boards mechanic to increase the pressure and provide the most realistic hockey experience yet.

A new first-person fighting engine enables players to trade punches with an NHL tough guy. Feel what it’s like to be on the ice in the skates of an NHL player to throw and dodge punches. Grab and tug an opponent’s jersey to land a punch that ignites the fans and sparks your team to victory. Challenge a skill player and an opposing team tough guy will step in to settle the score.

On ice toughness and intimidation is taken to a new level in NHL 10 where winning one-on-one battles for possession of the puck along the boards becomes a test of will and skill. Utilizing an all-new board physics engine, players can use their body to shield the puck on the boards and then kick-pass it to teammates. Bigger, stronger players pin opponents to the boards while fanatical fans bang on the glass, just like real life. Fore-check defenders, pressure the puck and finish checks to intimidate your opponent into mistakes. Players fatigue, bobble passes, and avoid collisions under threat of constant physical pressure. Inspire teammates, ignite the fans and change the momentum of a game by instigating scrums, drawing penalties, and mixing it up — all after the referee blows the whistle!

[Via Press Release]

This hockey fan is excited, first-person fighting? Scrums after the whistle? Day one purchase already...and we haven't even seen a trailer yet.

[Wilkz07]

i've got nhl 09 still in the package... it might be around the time of NHL11 that i get to 10. Though 'better fighting mechanics' in a hockey game is what we need.

They should implement a Rage meter like in the tony hawk series. NHL would beat the guy senseless or break your stick in half, in tiger woods you could option to snap your putter on a missed shot, madden you could... why is fighting in sports games a highlight? If Vince Vaughn in Swingers didn't show you how to get the blood in nhl 93 (or whatever it was) would you still need fighting in hockey games? maybe if it added points to your side, but it doesn't.

[Jackel]

Ironic ain't it...the NHL is trying to crack down on fighting, while EA sports is trying to make it a better part of the game.

[Wilkz07]

EA Sports Presents NHL Hockey Fights.

Featuring:
Ultra-realistic first person fight view
Analog stick freedom-fight control
Impact points for scoring high damage to knock opponent out of the season
Fan support and Rage meters
Heckle panel in Penalty box with custom voice recording
Skate-Stab - now with the ability to take off your skate and use it as a weapon

Includes actual hockey-style skating and puck passing mini-games.

[biosc1]

The forecheck is the main thing I'm looking forward to. Challenges along the boards is something that the 2K series implemented in the XBox 1 days and I really enjoyed it.

The fighting I could care less about. I hardly ever get in a fight in the NHL games because it's usually pointless. Now, if some guy hits my guy and I go out and fight him and that boosts the team/makes the other team more timid, then that would be a good mechanic. There needs to be more swings in momentum, home ice advantage that gets better the more you win at home, etc...

[Dark Prince]

Ironic ain't it...the NHL is trying to crack down on fighting, while EA sports is trying to make it a better part of the game.

Maybe the NHL should take some cues from EA? [/sarcasm]

[Doogie2K]

This "10" business still looks stupid.

I'd love to be excited about this (especially fighting that maybe doesn't suck!), but I haven't gotten up for an NHL game since 2K5. Doesn't compare to the real thing, I guess.

[National Kato]

I really feel like whenever a developer spends a bunch of time on enhancing their fighting engine, they do so at the cost of enhancing AI and other, hockey-centric features. I'm a fan of the aggression, physicality, and intimidation in hockey as much as the next fan. But I don't choose my hockey games on fighting engines.

And Doogie: I was like you, a longtime 2K fan...but EA's last version is hands-down the best hockey videogame you've never played.

[Troggles]

This "10" business still looks stupid.


I don't understand the the hate for the new sports games having a "10" at the end. I played NHL 94 back in the day, not NHL 1994. I don't remember any of the 90's series of games having all four numbers. Why should these? Second of all, last year's was NHL 09, the year before that was NHL 08.

I don't understand people.

[Nameless]

Considering the enhanced fighting, intimidation and scrums after the whistle, it sounds like Sean Avery should be the cover guy for this game.

Do not want.

[Doogie2K]

I don't understand the the hate for the new sports games having a "10" at the end. I played NHL 94 back in the day, not NHL 1994. I don't remember any of the 90's series of games having all four numbers. Why should these? Second of all, last year's was NHL 09, the year before that was NHL 08.

I don't understand people.

It all comes down to whether you would actually say it in conversation. Would you say, "back in '94?" Of course you would. "Best release of '08?" Yup. "Coming out in fall '10?" No, you'd say, "fall 2010." Besides, it just doesn't look like a year.

Note also that from 2000-04, EA actually had the "20" on there.

[National Kato]

"Coming out in fall '10?" No, you'd say, "fall 2010." Besides, it just doesn't look like a year.

How old are you or the people you're talking to? Were they alive or are you referencing 1910?? No, of course not, since there weren't videogames in 1910. So the logical and reasonable assumption when you say '10' is 2010.

We're only 10 years into the 21st century. I guarantee you that years after 2000 will be referred to by their last two digits. It's natural.

[Jackel]

Side note: I'm trying to remember the name of a game and wondering if anyone ever played it

It was an old PC hockey game (not licensed by the NHL so it had fake players)...but most of the focus on the game was fighting - I specifically recall the tag line for it was "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out"

Anyone played that? for some reason this thread reminded me of this game.

[Doogie2K]

How old are you or the people you're talking to? Were they alive or are you referencing 1910?? No, of course not, since there weren't videogames in 1910. So the logical and reasonable assumption when you say '10' is 2010.

We're only 10 years into the 21st century. I guarantee you that years after 2000 will be referred to by their last two digits. It's natural.

Oh for Christ's sake. Did anyone refer to 1910 as '10, either? Never came up in any book I ever read. It just sounds weird. "2010" sounds more natural.

[Wolvie]

If this is better then NHL 09, I know I'll be picking this up day one.

Edit: and yeah... the whole argument against "10" is kinda silly. Why would they go from doing '08 and '09 to 2010? That makes no sense whatsoever.

[Doogie2K]

If this is better then NHL 09, I know I'll be picking this up day one.

Edit: and yeah... the whole argument against "10" is kinda silly. Why would they go from doing '08 and '09 to 2010? That makes no sense whatsoever.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they should have necessarily gone to "2010;" I'm just saying that "NHL 10" looks goofy, just as "Madden NFL 10" does. It looks like a sequel number, even though everyone knows it's a year.

[Dark Prince]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they should have necessarily gone to "2010;" I'm just saying that "NHL 10" looks goofy, just as "Madden NFL 10" does. It looks like a sequel number, even though everyone knows it's a year.

If everyone knows its a year, why should they even bother adding the 2010 to it then?

Technically speaking NHL 10 is a sequel you know. ;)

[cppcrusader]

... why is fighting in sports games a highlight? If Vince Vaughn in Swingers didn't show you how to get the blood in nhl 93 (or whatever it was) would you still need fighting in hockey games? maybe if it added points to your side, but it doesn't.

Of course you would still need fighting in hockey games. The reason is because the average person who doesn't follow hockey, like me, knows four things about hockey. You check other players into the boards, you get in fights, it's played on ice, and you put the puck in the other team's goal.

Of course, this is why I stick to the over the top hockey games like Hitz.

[shunoshi]

This is probably my most anticipated game of the year. I've sunk so many hours into both SP and MP NHL09. Boards play will finally make dumping the puck a viable option. I really can't wait.

[Dark Prince]

This is probably my most anticipated game of the year. I've sunk so many hours into both SP and MP NHL09. Boards play will finally make dumping the puck a viable option. I really can't wait.

Looks like I'm not the only one who saw how pointless dumping the puck in 09 was. Thank god they finally came up with this new mechanic.

[National Kato]

Oh for Christ's sake. Did anyone refer to 1910 as '10, either?

I don't know, you can ask your 99-year old gaming buddies, I guess. But I'm positive when you say, ''Back in '63'' people don't assume you mean 1863 or 1763 or 1563. They go to the most recent '63. Ten years or more from now, people will refer to this year as 'Oh-9' and 2010 as '10.'

Might sound odd, but that's only because you've never lived in a '10' year before, right?

[Doogie2K]

I don't know, you can ask your 99-year old gaming buddies, I guess. But I'm positive when you say, ''Back in '63'' people don't assume you mean 1863 or 1763 or 1563. They go to the most recent '63. Ten years or more from now, people will refer to this year as 'Oh-9' and 2010 as '10.'

Might sound odd, but that's only because you've never lived in a '10' year before, right?

Maybe. Like I said, I don't recall reading or hearing of any person ever refer to a year before the '20s by a two digit number in any book, video, or record, and it's not like there isn't enough media around of people discussing that period of time. Has anyone ever talked about the infamous "'19 World Series"?

There's also something to be said about whether it fits the rhythm of the language. We split infinitives because it "sounds" right, too.

[Wolvie]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they should have necessarily gone to "2010;" I'm just saying that "NHL 10" looks goofy, just as "Madden NFL 10" does. It looks like a sequel number, even though everyone knows it's a year.

It doesn't bother me, I saw the box art for Madden 10, knew that it was 2010's NFL game and moved on. I mean, even though it has a 10 on it I know it means 2010, just like '08 and '09 mean 2008 and 2009.

The main point is, EA has had that abreviated year on their box. NHL '94 was the first NHL game I owned, and it's been that way for about 15 years. Why change it now? It's fine the way it is.

[Doogie2K]

It doesn't bother me, I saw the box art for Madden 10, knew that it was 2010's NFL game and moved on. I mean, even though it has a 10 on it I know it means 2010, just like '08 and '09 mean 2008 and 2009.

The main point is, EA has had that abreviated year on their box. NHL '94 was the first NHL game I owned, and it's been that way for about 15 years. Why change it now? It's fine the way it is.

I know, and I don't expect them to change it. I can still feel that it looks goofy. Some people feel I look goofy; that's their prerogative, too.

[Khrymsyn]

This is probably my most anticipated game of the year. I've sunk so many hours into both SP and MP NHL09. Boards play will finally make dumping the puck a viable option. I really can't wait.

And with new board physics and strength and size hopefully making more of a difference you guys can stop bitching about my player being built like a brick shithouse.

[National Kato]

Still won't change a thing about your box time. ;)

[Troggles]

It's probably a good thing I never played online with you guys. I just did my first 4 player game last night in 09 and spent a majority of the time in the box. Also, 2 of our players had never played before and we lost 11-1 with me scoring the only goal. Tons of fun though.

[Khrymsyn]

Still won't change a thing about your box time. ;)

Hey, I'll have you know that I've improved on my penalty taking DRAMATICALLY.

unless by "box time" you mean something completely different.... err... ahem...

[Grandepolloloco]

This is probably my most anticipated game of the year. I've sunk so many hours into both SP and MP NHL09. Boards play will finally make dumping the puck a viable option. I really can't wait.

Boards play will not make up for your lack of skill my good man! :D

Just pass to Abe Froman I hear he's a puck hog but can score like a mofo...

This is just a preemptive... shut up krymsyn you're too big and slow .. miss the net on more breakaways! (oh wait I do that too)

[shunoshi]

I just hope they tone down the penalties. There's a fine line between too many penalties and legal rape, but the latest 09 patch jumped that line into "look at the ref funny and you're off for 2". Especially when we're talking about hitting a guy with the puck or clearing people from the crease.

Also, just because I line a guy up from my circles as he's crossing center ice and lay him out at the blue line doesn't mean it's Charging.......well, sometimes. :D

[shunoshi]

Boards play will not make up for your lack of skill my good man! :D

Just pass to Abe Froman I hear he's a puck hog but can score like a mofo...

This is just a preemptive... shut up krymsyn you're too big and slow .. miss the net on more breakaways! (oh wait I do that too)

Hah, shit, about time your ass found its way here.

As an aside, Abe Froman is a damned puck hog who thinks defensemen are only there to clean up his messes when he turns over the puck. :p

[Troggles]

I agree with the penalties in 09. I can't check a guy without getting an interference penalty any more. Even when he has the puck.

[Grandepolloloco]

Hah, shit, about time your ass found its way here.

As an aside, Abe Froman is a damned puck hog who thinks defensemen are only there to clean up his messes when he turns over the puck. :p

hah I've been here a long time just never posted. Check the join date :D

Yes yes I know I don't play defense but hey someone has to start the rush.. I can play d when I have to.. like when you are in the penalty box for 1/4th of the game I am kind of required.

[Wolvie]

I know, and I don't expect them to change it. I can still feel that it looks goofy. Some people feel I look goofy; that's their prerogative, too.

Too true. The first time I saw '00 I thought "What the fuck?" But I got used to it. And while I'm on the subject, I'm pretty sure this debate won't die until 2020.

[Khrymsyn]

This is just a preemptive... shut up krymsyn you're too big and slow .. miss the net on more breakaways! (oh wait I do that too)

=P
I'm considering moving back to a sniper. I miss the net waaaaay more now than I was back when I was setup as a sniper. Unfortunately, I'll lose some speed in the process. I'm not fast now, but at least I wasn't always completely behind the play.


I just hope they tone down the penalties. There's a fine line between too many penalties and legal rape, but the latest 09 patch jumped that line into "look at the ref funny and you're off for 2". Especially when we're talking about hitting a guy with the puck or clearing people from the crease.

While I partially agree, I don't really think it's all that bad. I'm not going to profess I'm perfect and never get called for penalties... but I WILL say 90% of the time I get penalized, I know exactly what I did before it was even called. For instance... clearing the crease. Last night I was playing D and I was KILLING guys in the crease. I literally would watch as someone came into the crease, and hit him, not even paying attention to the puck half the time. The "legal" spot in the game appears to be between the 2 circles from the closest hash to the crease itself. If even 1 foot is touching the circle, or not crossed that inner hash, you'll get called for interference (haven't checked to see if them having a foot in the crease itself is legal or not).
http://khrymsyn.infinited.net/CoG/legalcheck.jpg
Also, I think the only way you can do that is if you are actually playing a D position. If you're a winger you'll get called. The other D maneuvers are all about positioning. If you are directly behind a skater, stick lift and poke check are almost garunteed penalties. If the skater is going past you, anything is almost a garunteed penalty. Never stand directly behind or next to a skater with the puck, but a hair off, towards stick side, and you can poke and sticklift with no call.

The one thing I DO hate about the game though, is it seems once you start taking penalties, you CONSTANTLY take them.

Also, just because I line a guy up from my circles as he's crossing center ice and lay him out at the blue line doesn't mean it's Charging.......well, sometimes. :D

I swear your hits are like "warp speed Mr. Sulu". I think I've seen you lay a guy out as he was crossing the blue line, and you started your check from behind the faceoff dot in the D zone.


Yes yes I know I don't play defense but hey someone has to start the rush.. I can play d when I have to.. like when you are in the penalty box for 1/4th of the game I am kind of required.

Heck, don't even talk about shunoshi and the box... DrLabotomy makes a pretty decent forward, when it's one of the rare times he's on the ice!