Online 09 preview

[Rei]

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/14230950/nhl-09/videos/nhl09_commentary.html

Of all the videos i've watched of 2k9 and 09 this is the one that has me sold on which game to get... for the moment anyways. Obviously if you dont play online this wont effect your decision on which game to get, so dont bother posting as it will be pointless. I've been a fan of 2k forever, i've said this so many times in this forum, i've never kept an EA hockey game for more than a couple of weeks but this year i think 09 will be my first choice.

If anyone has anything on 2k9 that looks more fun than this please post it, switching to EA this year would make me feel like i've fallen to the dark side.

[macpuck]

The dark side is at least a very different side. The game looks great but it certainly doesn't emphasize on-line league play with one player controlling one NHL team, making trades etc. etc... EA is going after a whole different concept, even more than it did last season. League play wasn't even mentioned; EA seems to be going almost exclusively with six on six gameplay with eleven other gamers making up their own player characters. I don't know if I want to make that leap. I don't want my name on the back of the jersey; I want to play with Crosby and Ovechkin. Am I misinterpretings the video?

[CellFish]

I have to admit that the feature seems interesting until you realize that what 2k9 is offering this year isn't much different. I watched every video both EA and 2k have released this year to get the best possible idea of what game I am to get and in the end, this is the conclusion I have come to : both games have 6 vs. 6 online and one is only slightly better than the other.

For EA, you will create a player with your name on the back of the jersey and you will play a specific position, like defenseman. You will then play on random teams, improving your personal and player's skills little by little. In the game, you will be given a grade based on how well you are able to maintain your position and how effective you are in your role. If you have friends, you will join them in a custom team and if you don't, you can get drafted into one of a number of online teams. No matter how you play and with whom you play, you are locked to a specific position and based on how you play, you will be graded with a mark ranging from A+ to F. I want to emphasize, once again, that the name on the back of the jersey in 09 is YOUR name as the appearance of the player is also what you choose it to be (you can make him look like you or make him look like you wish you looked). Eventually, an avatar of your player is created that is a hockey card-like image taken from an in-game screenshot.

For 2k, and I want to say that 2k hasn't really given too much information on this yet, online 6 vs. 6 is available under the name of Team Play. Like in EA's game, you will be locked to a specific position however this position can/will change with each match. In other words, you will choose whatever slot is available if you're playing in a random team and if you always want to be a right-wing, you will have to make sure you set up a game with friends and let them know beforehand. Like in EA's game, you will create an avatar however this avatar is not an in-game screenshot but rather a cartoonish representation of yourself on a hockey card. Your stats are recorded (wins / losses) but there is no log of how well you play with whatever position you have chosen (thus, you will not be able to know how effective you are as a right-wing vs. a defenseman).

Essentially, NHL 09 has taken an MMO-like approach to the online game which is quite ambitious while 2k seems to have simply tacked on the 6 vs. 6 online. Both will allow you to lock yourself into a position on the team and play with 11 other players. If you like the idea of being a rookie and earning points to get better with each game to eventually become a legend, go for EA. If you want to bypass the 'leveling up' and just play, 2k is for you. I like EA's idea myself, I just hate that it requires me to play EA's cheese-friendly game.

[Grandmaster D]

Another difference is, that there are no line changes in EAs NHL online team mode. On 2ks, you have to take into account the less good players on your chosen team, as you are locked on a position and will have to play with some different players during a game - it's a representation of whole NHL teams whereas EA lets you create teams with others.
I must say, 09 sounds a little more appealing to me in this and I like the idea of playing online with some european clubs jersey or a newly created one, but I won't have the time to play organized on a regular basis in these modes, so it doesn't matter.

[Rising Force]

The main thing that could kill EA's MMO idea before its a month old is the SLOWDOWNS, FREEZING and the players getting disconnected from a 6vs6 player game left and right.
I think EA does have the right idea, but in the end, it has to work to be useful. I can already see people bombarding EA's forums with hate posts just withing a week after the release due to the fact that the MMO wasnt as smooth as promised and promoted by EA.
Hope they prove me wrong though.

[Savoie06]

The dark side is at least a very different side. The game looks great but it certainly doesn't emphasize on-line league play with one player controlling one NHL team, making trades etc. etc... EA is going after a whole different concept, even more than it did last season. League play wasn't even mentioned; EA seems to be going almost exclusively with six on six gameplay with eleven other gamers making up their own player characters. I don't know if I want to make that leap. I don't want my name on the back of the jersey; I want to play with Crosby and Ovechkin. Am I misinterpretings the video?
Yes they are trying to sell this MMO as they should,it's huge and I'm sure took alot of work.FYI they aren't abandoning online play that already existed.This is just added on as a bonus feature.You can still play online 1 on 1,2 on2,ect.

[macpuck]

Thanks for the info. I think I now understand a bit more about what each company is trying to sell us. I guess the whole 6 vs. 6 concept is beyond my scope. Since I'm an over-65 player with suspect vision and reflexes, I don't want to hold five other guys back. In standard on-line league play, if I'm not very good, the only one it hurts is me.

[Rei]

The main thing that could kill EA's MMO idea before its a month old is the SLOWDOWNS, FREEZING and the players getting disconnected from a 6vs6 player game left and right.
I think EA does have the right idea, but in the end, it has to work to be useful. I can already see people bombarding EA's forums with hate posts just withing a week after the release due to the fact that the MMO wasnt as smooth as promised and promoted by EA.
Hope they prove me wrong though.

What game isnt laggy as crap online when it first comes out? There are so many things about online you just cant beta test, i'm sure it'll be close to unplayable online until a patch comes out.

Also there things called patches that could fix whatever problems that occur in the game... too bad 2k doesnt know what a patch is or the last 3 hockey games i've bought i could have played through a season.

[MapleLeaf16]

Ea's Be a Pro mode and Online league looks interesting but I just can't play in a 3rd person view, I need to see the entire play as it happens.

[Rising Force]

Ea's Be a Pro mode and Online league looks interesting but I just can't play in a 3rd person view, I need to see the entire play as it happens.

You DO see the entire play as it happens. Obviously you didnt check out the Video that Rei was talkin about....

And you meant you cant play FIRST PERSON view. All sport games normally play as THIRD PERSON view, where you can see the entire play :)

[SaintPatrick33]

The dark side is at least a very different side. The game looks great but it certainly doesn't emphasize on-line league play with one player controlling one NHL team, making trades etc. etc... EA is going after a whole different concept, even more than it did last season. League play wasn't even mentioned; EA seems to be going almost exclusively with six on six gameplay with eleven other gamers making up their own player characters. I don't know if I want to make that leap. I don't want my name on the back of the jersey; I want to play with Crosby and Ovechkin. Am I misinterpretings the video?

Same here I play goal 4 days a week and really dont care to be a PRO and score 200 goals a season against kids online :rotfl: I just wanna play season mode all team control which 2k has always given as real NHL superstars . Ea is basically forcing me to play online or enjoy exhibition games only , I think they figure if they continue to ignore their dynasty mode they will get more online gamers at it has no offline replay value at least for me . Just cant stand FA and retire players polution the real NHL rosters during a season oh they did add turn off trades so at least sid the kid wont be on ATL during the playoffs. :rotfl: