2khockey.net Exclusive Hands On Impression

[Nightbird248]

Go HERE (http://www.2khockey.net/content/87/nhl2k10/nhl-2k10-hands-on-impressions/all/1/) to read the article, is very informative :)

[stoney0ne]

the game sounds awesome... you can almost feel the ground swell of interest

[Savoie06]

Nightbird, good to see someone else on top of the info. That way if I slip up, I got some solid back up or vice versa, good lookin out.

[b-Dub]

Very good write up. :thumbsup:

Now, to just wait for a demo and then the actual game to drop.

[Nightbird248]

If you guys read at the end of the article because some actually missed it there is some exclusive gameplay footage coming to 2khockey.net so stay tuned.

[sharks14]

This was an excellent preview from a hardcore fan. Ronnie alerted me through messages on Twitter that more gameplay videos will be out by Monday and that a demo will be out on September 1! Great news!

[macpuck]

Almost everything has been positive thus far but I wish some folks would stop emphasizing that this is only the second year of the developmental cycle ... especially because 2k8 was a terrific, under-rated game. If you are going to start over and put your product in the marketplace, finish it before you sell it to the public or face the consequences. 2k9 was an unfinished, unpolished, flawed product and probably should have been sold at about $40.00 per copy. Let's not parade an assortment of pre-release excuses hinting that more time is needed before they can REALLY get it right. Granted, there are no perfect video games but this "wait 'til next year" attitude on the part of some is self-defeating.

[Nightbird248]

macpuck it actually is the 2nd year of development cycle for Visual Concepts, actually 1 1/2 years because they had maybe half of one for 2K9. 2k6-2K8 was developed by Kush I believe an before that was Tryarch from 2k5 an previous versions so the people saying that are actually correct.

[Bruins fan 4 life]

Improved AI

The AI looked pretty strong as well. I don’t remember having any issues with my defensemen not holding the line. My teammates always seemed to be in the right position for the open pass, and the opposing AI appeared pretty tenacious on both offense on defense, which is a huge factor for a good offline experience.

I’d almost given up on offline play vs. the computer the past several years due a lack of tenacity by the CPU AI, but what I saw—albeit very little—looked quite promising.

I am definitely glad to hear this. The AI in 2k9, even with slider adjustments, was continuously suspect. The defensemen holding the line coupled with the new line-change windows should lead to some nice attack zone puck movement. Also, with defensemen holding the line, the dump and chase strategy will become more effective. Hopefully the d-men won't read a dump as line change situation every time.

This is a nice write-up by a knowledgeable source. Good job! :thumbsup:

[macpuck]

Nightbird ... if you put your product in the marketplace, it had better be ready to compete and give the consumer his money's worth. If it isn't ready, then don't put yourself in a position where you lose credability and product positioning. I know too many gamers who considered themselves enthusiastic 2K boosters but, reluctantly, jumped to EA because 2K9 was not the finished product it should have been. Some of those customers are not coming back. If you don't have time to do something right, then don't do it ... or create a parallel development scheme (stay with Kush for one more year while you are developing). And, to charge $60.00 for a much lesser product (one of the most basic rules of commerce is that you don't TAKE AWAY features that you've provided in the past!) was a huge mistake, which apparently has been acknowledged by the lower price tag this time around. Don't make excuses; make a better product ... whether your developmental cycle was 1 year, 1 1/2 years or 2 years. It's like the sign says: PLAN AHEAD!

[Nightbird248]

macpuck i'm not disagreeing with you. Was just pointing out that the people who are saying this is the 2nd year of development were right as far as Visual Concepts goes. It takes a long time to make a hockey game, look at NHL series as an example: They completely changed the game from NHL 06 to NHL 07 an 07 wasn't all that good, 08 was a little better an 09 was better yet an 10 I would expect to be even better. That took them 3 years to get to where they are now excluding NHL 10 because it isn't out yet. During those years for NHL 07 an 08 who had the better game, 2K did hands down. Now take that approach to VC an the 2K NHL series. 2K Sports dumped Kush half way through 2K9 dev cycle an went with VC an they did what they could in the time they had to work with. Yes, 2K9 wasn't all that good but 2K is starting over with a new dev team in place. 2K10 will be a huge leap from 2K9 just in looks an presentation alone an based on the dev insights, gamespot video preview an the 2Ksports Hands On we got today I think 2K10 will beable to stand up to NHL 10 with no problem. Yes, it will take VC a couple years to get NHL 2K back to where it was an they had a bump in the road with 2K9. VC really couldn't plan ahead when it came to 2K9, they probably had no idea Kush was going to get the boot until it happened or very shortly before hand, within a week or two is my guess.

[RoadDoggFL]

Almost everything has been positive thus far but I wish some folks would stop emphasizing that this is only the second year of the developmental cycle ... especially because 2k8 was a terrific, under-rated game. If you are going to start over and put your product in the marketplace, finish it before you sell it to the public or face the consequences. 2k9 was an unfinished, unpolished, flawed product and probably should have been sold at about $40.00 per copy. Let's not parade an assortment of pre-release excuses hinting that more time is needed before they can REALLY get it right. Granted, there are no perfect video games but this "wait 'til next year" attitude on the part of some is self-defeating.

That doesn't hold up in a world with contractual obligations. You really seem to think that Visual Concepts has a limitless budget at its disposal. You don't know the details of the licensing agreement 2K has with the NHL. It could be required that a new NHL game be released every year before the start of the season or the license is nullified, so stop pretending that it's just a matter of refusing to put out an unfinished product and realize that they had to make a decision to do what they could with the situation they were put in as a result of trying to make the best decisions for the future of the franchise.

[ozwaldo1]

Sounds amazing so far... totally looking forward to it this year.. !

[macpuck]

Some things never change; Roaddog keeps apologizing for a job poorly done and dreaming up more excuses ... Hopefully, 2K10 won't require these kinds of weak excuses because 2k10 will be nothing like the extremely flawed, overpriced product that was NHL2K9. The continuing problem, however, is that NHL2k9 did a lot of damage to its brand name and EA took full advantage. If you can't understand that, then I guess you have trouble reading the sales statistics. It's hard to tell numbers that they are "pretending."

[RoadDoggFL]

Some things never change; Roaddog keeps apologizing for a job poorly done and dreaming up more excuses ... Hopefully, 2K10 won't require these kinds of weak excuses because 2k10 will be nothing like the extremely flawed, overpriced product that was NHL2K9. The continuing problem, however, is that NHL2k9 did a lot of damage to its brand name and EA took full advantage. If you can't understand that, then I guess you have trouble reading the sales statistics. It's hard to tell numbers that they are "pretending."

No, I don't have trouble reading sales statistics. But you have trouble realizing that it's entirely possible that without 2K9's release, 2K wouldn't be allowed to release 2K10. Yes, 2K's reputation took a hit. What better way to improve it than to hit one out of the park with 2K9? What happened to your ultimatums of before where if 2K didn't meet your demands for information, the series would collapse entirely? Isn't the series doomed now? Why bother posting here? It's obviously only a matter of time since your warnings were not heeded.

[Savoie06]

Look no one will argue that 2K9 was a big step back for the series, but I feel it was a necessary step back, and it this point looks like the right decision with how 2K10 is sounding. We can't change the fact the game was released as it was and as Roaddogg stated, we don't know the circumstances regarding their options at the time, so why the big fuss now? Live life looking forward and you'll find happiness much easier. Yes it's been a rough road for this series the last several years, but 2K10 is showing tons of promise and I would rather think about that, than what has been wrong in the past.

[JubeiDOK_Xbox360]

I'm surprised no one has gone ape**** over that Whalers jersey yet.

[macpuck]

Ultimatums? Do you even know what an ultimatum is? One little, old unsatsified customer like myself isn't in a position to make an ultimatum and so I would never even attempt to make one. What I make are observations and, apparently, you can't handle an opinion that doesn't correspond with yours. That's okay. I hope 2K's hockey game is as sharp and as polished as it appears it might be but the ultimatum will come ... from the paying customers.
They may say: That's an improved game and so I'll buy it.
Or they may say: After what you did to ruin 2k8 (no roster update after December) and then what you put out in 2k9, I'm not trusting you again.
Or they may say: Because of what you put out in 2K9, I went to EA and I liked it so I'll stay with them.
What I'm suggesting is that 2k9 was not just a step backward but a huge stumble backward, for good reasons or for not so good reasons.
In any case, 2K has a lot to overcome with NHL2k10. I hope they are successfull but don't be surprised if it takes two or three years to regain their market position, even if they keep improving the product.

[Savoie06]

Ultimatums? Do you even know what an ultimatum is? One little, old unsatsified customer like myself isn't in a position to make an ultimatum and so I would never even attempt to make one. What I make are observations and, apparently, you can't handle an opinion that doesn't correspond with yours. That's okay. I hope 2K's hockey game is as sharp and as polished as it appears it might be but the ultimatum will come ... from the paying customers.
They may say: That's an improved game and so I'll buy it.
Or they may say: After what you put out in 2k9, I'm not trusting you again.
Or they may say: Because of what you put out in 2K9, I went to EA and I liked it so I'll stay with them.
What I'm suggesting is that 2k9 was not just a step backward but a huge stumble backward, for good reasons or for not so good reasons.
In any case, 2K has a lot to overcome with NHL2k10. I hope they are successfull but don't be surprised if it takes two or three years to regain their market position, even if they keep improving the product.
Yeah, it most likely will take 2-3 years for them to gain back their top notch form, but I think 2K10 will at least gain back some of the respect lost over the years. This way 2K11 will be looked at in a much more objective manner. It still kind of baffles me how people base opinions of 2K10 on 2K9 and not the info being released for it. It took EA 3 games to get NHL10 to what it is, so I guess it's only fair to expect similar from VC. I do think NHL2K10 will be better than any of the previous EA games still.

[Bruins fan 4 life]

Yeah, it most likely will take 2-3 years for them to gain back their top notch form, but I think 2K10 will at least gain back some of the respect lost over the years. This way 2K11 will be looked at in a much more objective manner. It still kind of baffles me how people base opinions of 2K10 on 2K9 and not the info being released for it. It took EA 3 games to get NHL10 to what it is, so I guess it's only fair to expect similar from VC. I do think NHL2K10 will be better than any of the previous EA games still.

I usually don't wear rose-colored glasses but from what I've seen and read about 2k10 my glasses are definitely beoming tinted with a red hue.

After playing ea's demo I'm leaning towards agreeing with you savoi. 2k has a legitimate shot at being better than ea's latest efforts, at least as far as head to head (human vs. human or human vs. cpu). As far as the eashl goes, I have to admit they have a pretty good thing going there, but if 2k's team-up play this year is as good as advertised they may even be catching up in that department.

[stoney0ne]

its the year of the underdog

[RoadDoggFL]

Ultimatums? Do you even know what an ultimatum is? One little, old unsatsified customer like myself isn't in a position to make an ultimatum and so I would never even attempt to make one. What I make are observations and, apparently, you can't handle an opinion that doesn't correspond with yours. That's okay. I hope 2K's hockey game is as sharp and as polished as it appears it might be but the ultimatum will come ... from the paying customers.
They may say: That's an improved game and so I'll buy it.
Or they may say: After what you did to ruin 2k8 (no roster update after December) and then what you put out in 2k9, I'm not trusting you again.
Or they may say: Because of what you put out in 2K9, I went to EA and I liked it so I'll stay with them.
What I'm suggesting is that 2k9 was not just a step backward but a huge stumble backward, for good reasons or for not so good reasons.
In any case, 2K has a lot to overcome with NHL2k10. I hope they are successfull but don't be surprised if it takes two or three years to regain their market position, even if they keep improving the product.

You've been making predictions of doom and gloom that bordered on threats for months now. So I call them ultimatums. To be honest, it was probably another chicken little frequenting these or other forums who actually did it, but all you negative people just blend into one ignorant person to me. No, 2K9 isn't the best game ever, but it is what it is and as a foundation, it looks like it just may serve its purpose in leading us to 2K10. I don't think anyone could ask for more and I don't think anyone's predicted any sort of return to dominance for 2K? Most people expect a two- to three-year recovery period for the series, to be honest.

[Savoie06]

I usually don't wear rose-colored glasses but from what I've seen and read about 2k10 my glasses are definitely beoming tinted with a red hue.

After playing ea's demo I'm leaning towards agreeing with you savoi. 2k has a legitimate shot at being better than ea's latest efforts, at least as far as head to head (human vs. human or human vs. cpu). As far as the eashl goes, I have to admit they have a pretty good thing going there, but if 2k's team-up play this year is as good as advertised they may even be catching up in that department.
Rose colored glasses, no. I don't think it would take too much to better EA's NHL 09. After all, like you said the best thing going for it was the EASHL. I won't say it's gonna be better than NHL10, because NHL10 has alot key elements that 09 was missing. As long as the sliders work properly for 2K10 and there aren't any Franchise bugs, it should be a very solid game. Those are a couple major IFS though.

[Bruins fan 4 life]

No, 2K9 isn't the best game ever, but it is what it is and as a foundation, it looks like it just may serve its purpose in leading us to 2K10. I don't think anyone could ask for more and I don't think anyone's predicted any sort of return to dominance for 2K? Most people expect a two- to three-year recovery period for the series, to be honest.

I agree with you roaddogg, 2k9 is a nice foundation for sure. I know that I can come across as a 2k cheerleader at times but right now that's how I honestly feel. Heck, I might be one of the few people left that still enjoy playing 2k9.

With that being said however, there is one major piece of the foundation that is a pretty big flaw, the franchise freezing issues. I understand that this issue has come about from years and years of old codes being rewritten and rewritten, and now that 2k has the development of the game back in house they have it under control. If they have fixed that part of their foundation I think we will see 2k's stature and prominence rise in the hockey gaming world.

[macpuck]

That's one of the many elements of 2k9's failure that I don't understand. If 2K started over and built a new engine from scratch, then why did the franchise glitches (which were blamed on Kush) appear to be so similar? Some people actually said they were the same. I'm not discerning enough to say if they were exactly the same but how could that have happened? Was that just a coincidence?
Also, I would like to give you just a little insight on what some of us experienced with 2k8. The lack of a roster update was a HUGE issue because so many people -- contrary to popular belief -- enjoyed that game despite the reviewers inability to grasp its excellence. There was communication back and forth between various gamers and 2K in which we were promised roster updates and never received them. At that point, there was a flood of apologies from various people at 2K and even from some in the NHL. As part of expressing their regrets, a number of people from 2K acknowledged that our 2k8 experience had been damaged but promised that our patience would be rewarded with an outstanding NHL2K9 that would make us forget the blunders. Also, there was an acknowledgement that the break with Kush was poorly timed and poorly executed -- the Kush people were so annoyed with 2K that they wouldn't cooperate with the transition (one reason why no updates were available after mid-December). When 2k9 came out with flaws, missing features, franchise glitches, etc., we were extremely disappointed ... to say the least.
Okay, so I have tried to explain some of the history and some of the reasons why people are skeptical or negative or whatever you want to call it. This is the last time I will bring up any of these issues because, as a previous gamer pointed out, it is better to look ahead and deal with the present than to dwell in the past.
I hope 2K makes a huge comeback with NHL2K10. Everything I've seen so far suggests that it has a chance to be outstanding. We won't know until the game comes out. We should judge the final product, not the demo ... even though I hope 2K can do itself a favor and come up with a good demo soon.

[Flexxer27]

That's the way I remembered it but forgot all of it till now.
I guess I just moved on and enjoyed playing both game's and 2K9 still.

Got a big game tonight, game one of the best of seven, 8 minute periods.
I won the last series playing the Penguins for the first time, always stayed
away from them after reading that a lot of people were using them or the Wings
in online ranked games so I chose differently and to tell you the truth it was to
easy to win with them taking the series in five :)

I should point out however that I had lost the last three series in a row and got desperate.

[stoney0ne]

i know im the sick, only me in the world group for this


but strictly speaking for user v user games



i had a blast with 2k9

[Bruins fan 4 life]

i know im the sick, only me in the world group for this


but strictly speaking for user v user games



i had a blast with 2k9

You're not the only one stoney, I enjoyed it as well, but only with like minded players. The quick ranked matches weren't fun for me. I understand some like the arcade, up and down, no passing type, and thats fine, it's just not for me.

When two players who enjoy a more realistic type of game played head to head 2k9 was pretty nice.

And the team-up play was nice also. The group team-up games we had were fun. 2k9 did get some things right.