NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

[RaychelSnr]

This week's NHL 2K9 Developer Diary focuses three new gameplay elements in NHL 2K9 that make hockey what it is. Check out what NHL 2K9 Producer Ben Bishop had to say about the new features in his NHL 2K9 Developer Diary and then hop on over to the NHL 2K9 Screenshot Page for some new screenshots of the game!

"Hi everyone. For this development diary, I am going to talk a little bit about some of the new, unique-to-hockey features we added for NHL 2K9. As you’ve probably heard already, one of our main goals this year was to try to bring the fun back to hockey video games. When we first started designing this year’s game, we felt that there were several ways we could help to accomplish that. One of them was doing the Wii version, which we’ve talked about quite a bit, and another was adding a simpler control scheme to allow for players with any level of experience to jump in and be able to play with little-to-no learning curve."

[kai123]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

thanks for the info, the playoff beards look nice.

[wurstman3000]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

Link doesn't work, you have to remove the admin part of the address.

[ChaseB]

Link doesn't work, you have to remove the admin part of the address.

It should be fixed now.

[asu666]

I'm happy to see that 2K Hockey is making another run to the top. I think NHL 09 is going to be pretty tough to beat, but some of the new features and little extras like the opening ice movie sequence in 2K9 and the improved feel of the gameplay convinced me to preorder both.

[goheat]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

Any idea if in-game saves are available on the Wii version? Particularly in season/franchise mode?

[bigwill33]

Those are some neat features I think. It is good to see 2k listening to feedback of fans wanting more atmosphere and details in their game. I hate how some sports games lack playoff intensity and with beards and the celebration this game should add a little realism into your post season. I also noticed the Stanley Cup Playoffs patch on the ice, just like in real life... nice touch!

EA may still have them beat in game play overall this year, but 2k is doing some of the little things right and that is good for the genre.

[QN_52]

EA will never have 2K hockey beat in SIM gameplay...period.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

EA will never have 2K hockey beat in SIM gameplay...period.

eh I felt 08 played more of a sim style game than 2k8 vs the AI at least. With the addition of stick lifts this year, better puck physics and more human like goalies, I'd imagine its prolly leaning even more in a sim direction.

[Eddie1967]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

EA will never have 2K hockey beat in SIM gameplay...period.

You are so right. 2k hockey is all sim. EA has a lot of catching up to do in that department. Things that NHL 09 has 2k hockey had years ago.

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

You are so right. 2k hockey is all sim. EA has a lot of catching up to do in that department. Things that NHL 09 has 2k hockey had years ago.

C'mon now Eddie, you and I both know that each game has some serious issues that make them both not "sim". Many people and reviewers would say that EA has not only caught up to 2k, but passed them in many regards.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

Its really kind of a role reversal. EA making the more sim title and addressing the fanbase/fixing the issues they bring up, while 2k seems to be content to not really go all out and fix the issues they have. I'm really really disappointed with 2k's controls this year for the 2nd year in a row, and the goalies still don't come out of the crease to cut down angles, its almost like the're programed to stay inside the crease which leads to more floppy save attempts.

Never mind how many years I begged on 2k wishlists for stick lifts only to have EA get it done instead. I also don't get where people think 2k's puck physics are all that good, pucks go through skates, sticks, and don't rebound realistically when being blocked, the puck just dies, its been that way for years now, how about they fix it?

All this talk about bringing the fun back, and zamboni driving and playoff beards, Sure its cool and all, but it seems like the focus is on the wrong things, the gameplay needs a major update, ai especially and we're getting playoff beards.. yay I guess.

[tabulaRasa]

I hear what you say Realm, but come on as if the puck physics are better in NHL from EA. NHL2k9 is questionable at many things as you said, but the physics aren´t worse than those in 08 in any way. The insane puck rebounds in EAs game THAT ACCELARATE are friggin crazy.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

I hear what you say Realm, but come on as if the puck physics are better in NHL from EA. NHL2k9 is questionable at many things as you said, but the physics aren´t worse than those in 08 in any way. The insane puck rebounds in EAs game THAT ACCELARATE are friggin crazy.

You're right, the're by no means perfect in 08, and most likely not in 09 (though I like the impressions I've read so far) but I get tired of hearing how great 2k's puck physics are when I've played the game year in year out and its just not true. Don't take me the wrong way, 2k9's demo has alot of good in it, but on the whole it just doesn't feel like the development focus is in the right direction. Really what kills it for me is the half *** rip off of the skill stick, I mean how many more years will we have the stiff canned deking animations in 2k hockey? This is the 4th iteration on next gen/current gen and we're still using stick deke animations from 2k4 ffs.

[Eddie1967]

Re: NHL 2K9 Developer Diary #3 - Ben Bishop, Producer

You're right, the're by no means perfect in 08, and most likely not in 09 (though I like the impressions I've read so far) but I get tired of hearing how great 2k's puck physics are when I've played the game year in year out and its just not true. Don't take me the wrong way, 2k9's demo has alot of good in it, but on the whole it just doesn't feel like the development focus is in the right direction. Really what kills it for me is the half *** rip off of the skill stick, I mean how many more years will we have the stiff canned deking animations in 2k hockey? This is the 4th iteration on next gen/current gen and we're still using stick deke animations from 2k4 ffs.

Nothing but noise realm. Rinse and repeat. We've heard it all before. You won't be purchasing now you can move on.