NHL 2K11 Cover Athlete is Ryan Kesler

[jerk]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

Good for kes!

[Scottdau]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

You guys know that this game is essentially a Wii port of 2K10, right? My 2K sources tell me that their NHL series is unofficially dead.

EDIT: Shoulda looked at the forum, apparently that info was announced this week. I'll be REALLY surprised if there's a 2K12 in any shape or form, however.

Now this made me laugh! Why? Because you thought you had some inside info. Only problem is we knew this already.. Classic Sir.

[Scottdau]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

I would love for them to have gotten Miller, but Ryan is a good pick too.

[BooShay]

LOL poor 2k

[DrJones]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

Now this made me laugh! Why? Because you thought you had some inside info. Only problem is we knew this already.. Classic Sir.

True. I shoulda made this post in December, I suppose.

[Scottdau]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

True. I shoulda made this post in December, I suppose.

That would have been sweet! Any way I agree with you too.

[slickdtc]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

Considering this is the best pic I could find of that goal, disregard my idea:

Insert caption here.

That was the most exciting empty net goal to ever be scored, though. Well, up there with Ron Hextall's...

[FORMULA316]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

I live in Vancouver and am a Canucks fan, but Kesler is the most obscure player to ever be a coverboy for an NHL title. Having some experience with how these things operate, I'm guessing Kesler had a pre-existing deal with 2K from last year for mocap/marketing purposes, and it was tweaked. In other words, Ryan Miller would've cost more, and it's not worth it for less than a full release.

Obscure indeed. Ryan Miller would have been a more suitable candidate
to cover NHL 2K 11. Right now his name is right up there Ovi & The Kid.

[Money99]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

Obscure indeed. Ryan Miller would have been a more suitable candidate
to cover NHL 2K 11. Right now his name is right up there Ovi & The Kid.

Ryan Miller = $$$$$$
Ryan Kesler = $

That's the only reason why I can see why they picked the lesser Ryan.

[FORMULA316]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

Ryan Miller = $$$$$$
Ryan Kesler = $

That's the only reason why I can see why they picked the lesser Ryan.

True, but by how many points? Say Kesler is at $75k and Miller $150k?
I doubt the difference would be dramatically different.

Any info on what Kobe got for 2K10? Ovi for 2K10?

[DrJones]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

Ryan Miller = $$$$$$
Ryan Kesler = $

That's the only reason why I can see why they picked the lesser Ryan.

My guess is Kesler was still under contract from last year, when he did some mocap work for them. Although Patrick Kane was EA's coverboy for NHL 10, they still had Milan Lucic and John Tavares do a little PR for them. I imagine they gave serious consideration to bumping Kane for Lucic when the "20 cent" episode happened.

[DrJones]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

True, but by how many points? Say Kesler is at $75k and Miller $150k?
I doubt the difference would be dramatically different.

Any info on what Kobe got for 2K10? Ovi for 2K10?

Coverboys don't make what they used to. EA paid Sammy Sosa $250K for Triple Play 2000, and in his only press appearance, he referred to EA as "Nintendo". 3DO (in)famously paid Sosa a million bucks to appear on High Heat (and Softball Slam ). Oops. In the latter days of MVP, the going rate was about $50K and swag. Some players (Ichiro, for example) ask for the moon, that's why you never see them on boxes. Marketers have determined that who appears on the cover (with rare exceptions) doesn't really have a noticeable effect on sales.

If 2K is paying six figures for their hockey coverboys (and I doubt it), someone should be fired.

[FORMULA316]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

Coverboys don't make what they used to. EA paid Sammy Sosa $250K for Triple Play 2000, and in his only press appearance, he referred to EA as "Nintendo". 3DO (in)famously paid Sosa a million bucks to appear on High Heat (and Softball Slam ). Oops. In the latter days of MVP, the going rate was about $50K and swag. Some players (Ichiro, for example) ask for the moon, that's why you never see them on boxes. Marketers have determined that who appears on the cover (with rare exceptions) doesn't really have a noticeable effect on sales.

If 2K is paying six figures for their hockey coverboys (and I doubt it), someone should be fired.

Exactly. I was implying that there is a ceiling to which 2K or EA for
that matter would pay for Coverboys. I don't see how 2K is smart
for the frugality of signing Kesler coming off a year in which their
games sport both Kobe and Ovi.

[savoie2006]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

I don't see what the heck a "coverboy" matters personally. They make NO DIFFERENCE in how the game plays. If they did 2K10 would play alot better and NHL 10 would have Kane beating up the Zamboni driver instead of playing hockey.

[Flyermania]

Re: Ryan Kesler Cover boy for 2K11

I don't see what the heck a "coverboy" matters personally. They make NO DIFFERENCE in how the game plays. If they did 2K10 would play alot better and NHL 10 would have Kane beating up the Zamboni driver instead of playing hockey.

A recognizeable player/face on the cover might help attract a casual fan to the game...