Peace Out 2KSports

[dykwfm]

As much as I hate to say this as I have been a loyal 2K supporter for the last 2 years, they are ages behind EA in too many areas. Areas that are too important so when its time to put up $60 of my hard earned money I just dont feel I am getting enough with 2K.

I was intrigued by the new features I saw about NHL09 a few weeks back so I picked up NHL08 to check out the current game and was blown away by how much better it was than 2K8.

Graphics:
I mean we are on next-gen consoles are we not? So I hate to see how people say graphics dont matter. Umm yes they do. I paid $350 for a next gen console and own a 1080P plasma TV. Graphics matter. Why is it that with 2K we are still playing on pretty much the same graphics engine from the Dreamcast/PS2 days (because if you didnt know, we are) The newer engine that was revamped for 2K7 was just a rework of the older one. WAY BEHIND in graphics. If 2K's graphics were acceptable I'd still be playing on a PS2. Go watch some 2K-2K5 videos on Youtube. An obvious difference of course, but is 2K8 that much better??? No!

Gameplay:
The adaptive AI in EA is enough in this area, but Ill up the ante to include:

(1) Settings - (why with 2K do we all need to adjust sliders for the first 4 months till we get playable settings) How is that acceptable?

(2) Flow - There is no cycling in 2K, simple. Skate up and down the ice setting up drive-bys or shots from the point hoping for a deflection. I hate to be so blunt here but thats what 2K8's offensive strategy amounts to. Is that hockey? This ties into my mention above of adaptive AI. The AI in EA is so smart if you do the same thing twice they are all over you and the commentators start mentioning your lack of strategy.

(3) Sliders - The one thing I hate about 2K is the adjustment of sliders. If I want to play an online game, a league game, or a game offline ALL 3 will be on different settings!!! Its just retarded to have to learn how to play on slower settings, faster settings, theres like a dozen different variations here.

(4) Checking - In NHL08/09 Martin St Louis doesnt freightrain Zdeno Chara. End of story. Nor is there 60 checks at the end of a game.

Innovation: This one is big with me. . Let's see. Be A Pro. The EASHL. Stick Lifts. Skill Stick. A Penalty for shooting the puck over the glass in the defensive zone. Actual roster updates!!! Players actually look like themselves. Need I go on?

Depth: People mention 2K as having more depth? Thats funny. When you play a franchise in 2K8 why is it that all your minor league players have no picture? BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE UP PEOPLE! Yet EA has complete & playable AHL teams. I was blown away. Not to mention 2 European leagues.

Controls: Yet again, 2K is years behind. Once you use the EA Skill Stick you will NEVER GO BACK. Period. You have to actually be paying attention to where you stickhandle and put your shot.....translation you have to actually have skill to score!

Commentary: This is low on the importance scale. But it is still something in the game so it should matter. The EA commentary is free-flowing. Makes mention of repetetive play. Just sounds GREAT. 2K's however, is just stale. To the point that I played all of 2K8 with commentary off because when I picked up 2K8 I noticed the commentary was the same lame commentary from 2K7 that I turned off towards the end of 2K7. But yet I understand that 2K has the Sharks commentators for this year. Im here to say from the video I saw that has commentary in it. Its still lame. New people, same choppy, LATE comments. (You shoot and 4 seconds later they say you shoot)

All in all. Im sure there will be fanboy disagreement here. And thats fine. I understand. I too was loyal to 2K but they have simply dropped the ball year after year. Which is why I explained how and why they drop the ball above.

$60 of my hard earned money isnt going to someone thats 2nd best when I can get a better product elsewhere.

So in closing, it was fun while it lasted. But its time to leave the minors. I hope to see some of you over in the big leagues come September when the games release.

[joker07]

2k8 was KUSH game.... 2k9 does not exists ... , it will "NHL VC01 K9" , I hope as you !

[RoadDoggFL]

Au revoir.

[Savoie06]

The only part I'll disagree with the OP on is the checking.The magnetic hip checking in 08 as bad as the bulldozing checks in 2K8.Also only SOME of the players resemble their real life counterparts(mostly the big name players).Sliders will need some adjusting I'm sure as not even EA's plays that realistically by default,though it does play better than 2K8 does by default.Finally,the AI is definately better in EA's,especially on Offense(though the CPU mostly takes 1 Timers).On Defense,it's a little too passive and they don't shut you down really.Actually it's not too hard to get an open shot on the CPU if you work the puck around a little.The only thing that saves the CPU is the super goalies.Something 2K did quite right.However,once you learn some of the cheese goals,the goalies are worthless in 08,and you can score at will.I have not learned this scoring methods and don't care to,but read some of the EA forums and you'll learn all about them.

As far as 09 goes,yes it will be awesome,I'm quite sure.We really don't know how much 2K will be improved yet so we can't really compare the two just yet.

[Price]

I agree with a lot of your points dykwfm but I'm not yet ready to sign off 2k yet because I hope the 360 version is much better than the wii. In general 2k has very poor advertising and communication with the people who play their games. Its really like they don't care or are on the verge of folding their hockey franchise. I don't know what happened. when NHL 2k5 came out they had EA on the ropes. 2k5 was cheaper and much much better than NHL 05. Then 2k just stopped there and let EA work on their game for several years while NHL 2k series just remained mainly the same game. The whole thing was just kind of weird.

[Savoie06]

They lost their ESPN license and their Presentation went out the window is what happened.

[dykwfm]

Here's a Youtube clip of NHL 2K4.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5181574800712796798&q=nhl+2k4+gameplay&ei=yhuNSOvyNpv0qgLZsKSaDQ

Fast forward to the 7:00 mark and listen to the public address announcer.....its the exact same as it is in 2K8......4 YEARS, and they still have the same stuff in there game!!!! Also, take note of the gameplay as well...its pretty much the same as 2K8. I mean really, 4 years! 2K Sports doesnt update ANYTHING! That deserves my money?

[dykwfm]

One other note to Savoie about the checking and things....What I am about to post is a part from an NHL09 producers blog, it addresses the checking thing you made note of:

The whole article can be found here: http://www.easports.com/nhl09/blog.jsp

1. The default defensive control setting is:

Right stick is checking
Right bumper (R1 on PS3) is poke
Holding down the right bumper/R1 is an auto poke sweep
Holding down the right bumper/R1 and using the right stick is manual poke sweep

You can switch (basically reverse of above) to a different defensive control setting:

Right stick is defaulted to poke and sweep
Hold right bumper/R1 plus right stick to check

With the choice of control you can default to the set up you will use most. Some users check a lot, and some poke a lot. Checking is NOT easier this year (as I joked with Brian on a recent podcast). It is actually harder, and that is why Brian could not throw a check. :) We got rid of the hip checks and the big warping checks. Basically checking is similar to when you have the puck. Your left stick is your skates and skating direction, while the right stick is your upper body. Last year the right stick controlled your direction when hitting, so it just did not feel right. This also makes clearing the front of the net easier. Your defensemen can stand still and just use their upper bodies to clear the slot, while they still stay in position.

[yambag021]

those espn 2k games were GREAT. no better announcers than thorne and clement....

[joker07]

2k is more sim than EA forever , EA has better PR forever , 2k has better games forever , EA has more money forever , 2k has more options for the games forever , EA is still the same forever , 2k games are for hardcore players forever, EA games are for childrens forever , EA is not popular everywhere forever , 2k is popular everywhere forever , EA want your money forever , 2k need your money forever , EA can buy 2k forever , 2k not........

[Savoie06]

2k is more sim than EA forever , EA has better PR forever , 2k has better games forever , EA has more money forever , 2k has more options for the games forever , EA is still the same forever , 2k games are for hardcore players forever, EA games are for childrens forever , EA is not popular everywhere forever , 2k is popular everywhere forever , EA want your money forever , 2k need your money forever , EA can buy 2k forever , 2k not........
and you're a loser forever :rolleyes:

[joker07]

I am the only hardcore player, not a child as you forever

[Savoie06]

Sorry dude,but playing 2K hardly makes you "hardcore" in any respect.Playing EA hardly makes you "hardcore" in any respect.It's a video game for petes sake.What could possibly be so hardcore about playing a hockey video game?Call me the child,look in the mirrior already.Your pro 2K,anti EA act is as childish as can be.Especially since it is just that,AN ACT.You play both,as do I.You have likes and dislikes about each(I think),as do I.So stop already with the crap.Everyone knows your stance on here and 2KHockey.net and everyone knows no matter what you say,you will buy both.

[joker07]

Yes I will buy both because EA wants to my money and my money needs 2k forever . I love each hockey game forever .

If the play EA rather than 2k I will play EA with you forever , I play 2k rather than EA now , I play SIM game rather than ARCADE game forever

I will buy NHL 09 for my young children, they are like a simple game from EA and EAsports (the Sims , NFS , NHL ...) forever until the children . I have to play with them , YES , this is fun forever .

[Savoie06]

Yes I will buy both because EA wants to my money and my money needs 2k forever . I love each hockey game forever .

If the play EA rather than 2k I will play EA with you forever , I play 2k rather than EA now , I play SIM game rather than ARCADE game forever

I will buy NHL 09 for my young children, they are like a simple game from EA and EAsports (the Sims , NFS , NHL ...) forever until the children . I have to play with them , YES , this is fun forever .
But you'll play the game,in a league for them huh :rolleyes:
I have no qualms with you liking 2K over EA what so ever,but the rheteric you keep posting is old,next please.

[battlegoon]

Yes I will buy both because EA wants to my money and my money needs 2k forever . I love each hockey game forever .

If the play EA rather than 2k I will play EA with you forever , I play 2k rather than EA now , I play SIM game rather than ARCADE game forever

I will buy NHL 09 for my young children, they are like a simple game from EA and EAsports (the Sims , NFS , NHL ...) forever until the children . I have to play with them , YES , this is fun forever .

LOL ur a sim player? but u play 2k which is completely arcade, i bought it and it was worse then nhl 2000 in my opinion, it was awful especialy controls, ive bought evry 2k game qand the only good one theyve ever made was 2k5, the 2k game BLOWS, hopefully this year they can ACTUALLY make it a sim game...

[Savoie06]

Honestly,I think it isn't so much about the game as it is the player that plays it.A person can play either game arcade or sim style if they want to.2K8's over aggressive D and offense that lacks aggressiveness,make the game feel unsim.08 is the exact opposite,the Cpu D needs to be a bit more aggressive while the Cpu offense is deadly.Plus the tape to tape passing in 08 makes it feel unsim.In any case,sim or arcade style is really up to the user.

[AKA AO]

Honestly,I think it isn't so much about the game as it is the player that plays it.A person can play either game arcade or sim style if they want to.2K8's over aggressive D and offense that lacks aggressiveness,make the game feel unsim.08 is the exact opposite,the Cpu D needs to be a bit more aggressive while the Cpu offense is deadly.Plus the tape to tape passing in 08 makes it feel unsim.In any case,sim or arcade style is really up to the user.


Thank you. that about sum it up.

[joker07]

LOL ur a sim player? but u play 2k which is completely arcade, i bought it and it was worse then nhl 2000 in my opinion, it was awful especialy controls, ive bought evry 2k game qand the only good one theyve ever made was 2k5, the 2k game BLOWS, hopefully this year they can ACTUALLY make it a sim game...

I know you! You are EA.com winner of 7 awards in a money goals cheaters games forever ! 2k has not money goals forever. 2k is too hard for you forever .

[Savoie06]

I know you! You are EA.com winner of 7 awards in a money goals cheaters games forever ! 2k has not money goals forever. 2k is too hard for you forever .
I'll say it again...the "cheese" is up to the user.If you CHOOSE to discover and use such methods to score,that's fine.Of course the game is going to have flaws in the AI,find me a game that doesn't.Joker,you're a fool if you think it doesn't happen in 2K as well.As I already stated though,it's up to the USER[B].Don't fault a game for [B]idiotic kids that just want to #1 in the rankings and use exploits to try and get there.

[joker07]

I'll say it again...the "cheese" is up to the user.

HA HA HA , If you play online ranked matches (any leagues too) you have not option for cheese or not cheese play forever .You want win the match forever ! I know you are GOOD MAN and you rather lose the match .... More peoples want win and they does not address how to play but how to win forever . EA IS NOT HOCKEY BUT THE DEFENSE CHEAP GOALS FOREVER !

[OpsY]

By reading that, we can rest assured there's nothing new or better with 2K9 as they would have probably already tryed to push into our mind that the game will be better than 2k6,7 and 8 while 8 was in fact a downgrade of 7 and while 7 was just a copy of 6 with different Rosters. Now instead of fixing all their glitches and trying to make a game worth about 30$ (that they would of course charge us 60), 2K has decided to innovate.

First, let's dedicate all our ressources to the Wii and finance that with the Heavy Price paid by the 360 players. Then, let's update the rosters on 2K8 and slap a ticket saying 2k9 on front of the boxes and ship it. Anyway, we were already smart enough to Not update the rosters during the season so we can rest assured well make more millions off this game.



Do you all remember what they said to justifty Not updating the rosters this winter? ''All of our dev teams are working hard on Making 2K9 as best as possible''. that was a lie. the true statement should have been ''We've decided to split our dev team in 3. First share will go work on MLB2k9, their work is no longer needed on the NHL Franchise as for the next 3 years we will be shipping updated UI copies of 2K8. Second share shall make a Wii version of the 2K2 edition of the game. That way we can compensate for the accidental lost of previous edition sound files and blame the Wii for it. 3rd share will run around with leather balls and eat pork and beans all day long until release."

[joker07]

By reading that, we can rest assured there's nothing new or better with 2K9 as they would have probably already tryed to push into our mind that the game will be better than 2k6,7 and 8 while 8 was in fact a downgrade of 7 and while 7 was just a copy of 6 with different Rosters. Now instead of fixing all their glitches and trying to make a game worth about 30$ (that they would of course charge us 60), 2K has decided to innovate.

First, let's dedicate all our ressources to the Wii and finance that with the Heavy Price paid by the 360 players. Then, let's update the rosters on 2K8 and slap a ticket saying 2k9 on front of the boxes and ship it. Anyway, we were already smart enough to Not update the rosters during the season so we can rest assured well make more millions off this game.



Do you all remember what they said to justifty Not updating the rosters this winter? ''All of our dev teams are working hard on Making 2K9 as best as possible''. that was a lie. the true statement should have been ''We've decided to split our dev team in 3. First share will go work on MLB2k9, their work is no longer needed on the NHL Franchise as for the next 3 years we will be shipping updated UI copies of 2K8. Second share shall make a Wii version of the 2K2 edition of the game. That way we can compensate for the accidental lost of previous edition sound files and blame the Wii for it. 3rd share will run around with leather balls and eat pork and beans all day long until release."

OK I have news for you ! I have NHL09 now , I prepare review now , the game it is the same as NHL08 but 5-10% better in gameplay... OK you can buy rather than NHL 2k9 which is completely new game from VC it will 50% better ? OK it is your money and your mistake... 2K DO NOT MAKE THIS GAME , IT IS ONLY VC JOB !

[mcgtady]

nhl 2k everything sucks sorry, but 2k5 was awesome i still play

[joker07]

I agree with everythings what you said ,but WE MUST GIVE IT CHANCE VC FOR THEIR NHL because it is last chance maybe ....

[Savoie06]

I agree with everythings what you said ,but WE MUST GIVE IT CHANCE VC FOR THEIR NHL because it is last chance maybe ....

:lol: ...you agree with who?The person that said "NHL 2K everything sucks" or Opsy?Either way you admited 2K blows :p

[joker07]

2k Hockey have too many errors and all of them are poisoning , Ok ! If VC not a chance so this is not a good solution forever.

[Savoie06]

I feel if anyone can turn the 2K series around it's VC.Even if EA ends up with Take Two,I think VC will most likely defect and look to team up with Ubisoft or Activision.This would give them the publisher needed to continue their sports titles and help either of those companies(Activision especially) compete with EA.So even if Take Two is bought out,while it may be the end of 2K Sports,it may well just evolve into Activision or Ubisoft Sports.I think this would actually be better for everyone honestly.Time will tell what actually happens.

I know one thing for sure,it would be a race against time. As soon as EA bought Take Two they would definately be in hot pursuit of exclusive licenses from the NBA,MLB,and NHL.Hopefully all three would turn such a deal down.

[Scottishrule]

My biggest complaint is the draft. How many black guys do you know that are named Nikolai Korpistov? - And they constantly leave names out of the selection. They're are three people in the NHL with the name Campbell, yet somehow they missed it. 2K would be amazing if they put some more effort into the NHL games.

I agree with that one guy too. Players rarely look like their real counterparts. For instance, Jamal Mayers is NOT WHITE.

[Savoie06]

My biggest complaint is the draft. How many black guys do you know that are named Nikolai Korpistov? - And they constantly leave names out of the selection. They're are three people in the NHL with the name Campbell, yet somehow they missed it. 2K would be amazing if they put some more effort into the NHL games.

I agree with that one guy too. Players rarely look like their real counterparts. For instance, Jamal Mayers is NOT WHITE.
:rotfl: ...A Black Russian?

[2K Admin Ron]

This has become a flaming thread. Must be closed.