Why no NHL "Surname."

[GreenReign86]

This is a bit random, but why doesn't NHL have a surname? What I mean is; you don't call Madden 11, NFL 11, You don't call NBA Elite 11, NBA 11, you don't call MLB The Show 10, MLB 10, and you don't call Fifa 11, Soccer 11.

NHL seems to be the only game that is lacking a catchy name to go along with it's brand. I don't know what you would call it, maybe NHL Freeze 11? I don't know, but anything would be better then just plain NHL 11 imo. Would also make it easier to talk about in conversation so people don't get confused as to weather you're talking about a video game or the real life NHL. You almost have to say the year at the end of it to get people to know what you're talking about. Whereas, if you say "Madden" everyone knows that you're talking about the video game.

Just my $.02, and random thought of the day I guess.

[Majingir]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

The Fifa one is diff because Fifa actually stands for something outside of video games unlike something like madden or elite where it's just there for the purpose of the game or to make it more marketable which is why madden is part of the name.

They just call it NHL (year) because no other NHL video game can really compete with it and when NHL video game first came out, there wasn't any other real hockey game out there.

Basketball you have 2k against Live/Elite for baseball it was The Show vs 2K.


Those names just stick after years so people just accept it, when you ask someone "did you play live 10, they know what you're talking about, same for hockey games, if you ask someone "did you play nhl 10", they know what game you're talking about"

[GreenReign86]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

You have to admit though that NHL Freeze XX* has a nice ring to it. Well beggers can't be choosers I guess.




*XX - stands for random year.

[kehlis]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

You have to admit though that NHL Freeze XX* has a nice ring to it.

Not really. The current name is just fine IMO.

To be honest I think NHL freeze sounds extremely corny.


And I'm pretty sure there is no surname for this series because when it started (early 90's right??) I don't remember there being any other competition unlike the other games you mentioned so there was no need to differentiate themselves.

[GreenReign86]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

Well there really isn't any competition in baseball games. So, theoretically SCEA could just drop The Sow from it's title and become MLB XX. And no, I don't consider MLB 2k to be any real competition to MLB The Show.

[kehlis]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

Well there really isn't any competition in baseball games. So, theoretically SCEA could just drop The Sow from it's title and become MLB XX. And no, I don't consider MLB 2k to be any real competition to MLB The Show.

That's irrelevant and you missed the point I made.

As you eluded to, it's all about branding. You don't all of a sudden change your name for no reason after a long period of time.

When the NHL series started, there was no competition, thus no need to come up with any surname. When MLB the show started, there was competition thus creating the need for a surname.

And "theoretically" doesn't mean reality anyway.

[Zeekesimo]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

Gonna have to admit that NHL Freeze sounds extremely corny/arcadish/childish.

Madden is called Madden because when the game was in it's beginning stages of development 20+ years ago, they contacted John about putting his name on the game. He's always been apart of the production of the game, as well as being one of the greatest coaches/broadcasters of all time... so why not have his name on the game?

Same can be said about FIFA. They were the first and only game to get the official license from FIFA... so why not have it as your title of the video game? I'm sure part of the contract that EA has with FIFA (and Madden) is to continue to have them in their title of the video game.

And when you are talking to people about NHL, I'm sure you say something along the lines of "Oh this really cool thing happened when I was playing NHL last night" and 9 times out of ten people are going to know that you are talking about a video game and not actual hockey.

[GreenReign86]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

NHL Freeze was just one example. There are probably better ones out there, but that was the 1st that popped in my head, but meh.

[Bama83]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

You can't really compare NHL to Madden or Live. These games got those names early in their development cycle and they never rebranded (until Elite, simply because Live was a dying brand). Madden was titled due to a licensing agreement, Live probably was so named because of NBA Jam and whatnot to differentiate itself.

We now have Tiger Woods PGA Tour, which was named to thrive off Tiger's name as golf wasn't a big thing until him. We also have NHL Slapshot, which was named to differentiate itself from regular NHL.

There are more games that follow NHL's trend than not:
NCAA Football yy -> No flashy name, just NCAA.
NCAA Basketball yy -> Renamed from March Madness to give it an associated name.
FIFA yy -> FIFA is basically the worldwide futball association.
Rugby yy -> Not sure if they still make this... but it was the title.
MMA yy -> New title, name says it all.

[Bama83]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

Granted -- I wouldn't mind playing Cherry NHL 2012. Of course, how do you digitally create those suits?! HEHEHE.

[jack1535]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

NHL Freeze sounds like a kids game.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

Gretzky NHL 11?

[Gleebo]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

Better Names than NHL Freeze which is HORRIBLE:

NHL Hockey 11
NHL Hat Trick Hockey 11
NHL ICE Hockey 11
NHL Faceoff 11 (its been done , I know)
NHL In the Crease 11
NHL Center Ice 11
NHL Light the Lamp 11
NHL On Frozen Pond 11
NHL Drop the Puck 11
NHL Bend the The Twine 11
NHL Biscuit in the Basket 11
NHL 5 for Fighting 11

[Vikes1]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

Personally, I'm perfectly happy with just plain ole...NHL 11, or whatever year.

[bruingreg]

Re: Why no NHL "Surname."

the best sports game, and a title of NHL11 make it awful easy to put it in my hand at the store, pay the cashier and enjoy months and months of great gaming without worrying about a surname.