NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

[DDPR]

Now I'm sure you all know that they're taking a break on NHL 2K11, at least for the Xbox 360 and PS3, and waiting to release NHL 2K12 for those consoles. What do you think could make it compete? In my opinion, I believe if they just refine the hitting engine they currently have, and fix a few animations they would be pretty good. They also need to have some sort of skill stick programmed, because the buttons just don't cut it in my opinion; the skill stick is pretty much what made EA's NHL series boom, at least in my opinion.

So what do you guys think?

[Money99]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

100% agree with the skill stick.

For me, the list is pretty simple:

- skill stick.
- equivalent to EASHL.
- My player
- top notch presentation
- new skating engine where the players don't like they've got a broom up their butts.
- rebrand the name ala Triple Play/MVP, NBALive/NBA Elite.
With a new name it could create new buzz. A lot of people might not even associate with with 2K hockey games form the past. This could help. eg NHL Cup Crazy 2K12, etc.

But the absolute 2 things they must do is incorporate the skill-stick, because as you stated, that's what got EA's series off the mat. And the EASHL is incredibly popular.

[DDPR]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

100% agree with the skill stick.

For me, the list is pretty simple:

- skill stick.
- equivalent to EASHL.
- My player
- top notch presentation
- new skating engine where the players don't like they've got a broom up their butts.
- rebrand the name ala Triple Play/MVP, NBALive/NBA Elite.
With a new name it could create new buzz. A lot of people might not even associate with with 2K hockey games form the past. This could help. eg NHL Cup Crazy 2K12, etc.

But the absolute 2 things they must do is incorporate the skill-stick, because as you stated, that's what got EA's series off the mat. And the EASHL is incredibly popular.

Couldn't agree any more. I've always had a like for a name simple, but effective. Something like: National Hockey League, I think that would be nice to get it off its feet, and they could continue to keep the "NHL 2k*" with their Wii title.

[stlstudios189]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

skill stick, and better presentation. give the game some wow factor

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

It's a tall order, but the series needs to be gutted and redone completely from scratch. This series looks and feels like it did all the way back to last-gen, and it has the same bugs and issues to prove it.

It needs a new game engine, graphics overhaul, and new control scheme. Perhaps most important it needs to get back to its sim-style roots as that is what made this series different than EA's game.

They need a recognizeable face on the cover and they finally need to spend the money necessary to properly market the game and position itself against the competition.

Unfortunately I don't think any of this will happen.

[Money99]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

It's a tall order, but the series needs to be gutted and redone completely from scratch. This series looks and feels like it did all the way back to last-gen, and it has the same bugs and issues to prove it.

It needs a new game engine, graphics overhaul, and new control scheme. Perhaps most important it needs to get back to its sim-style roots as that is what made this series different than EA's game.

They need a recognizeable face on the cover and they finally need to spend the money necessary to properly market the game and position itself against the competition.

Unfortunately I don't think any of this will happen.

Great post and hard to argue any of it.

But for 2K12, Take-Two should break the bank to put Crosby (and possibly A.O too) on the front cover.

If VC is already working on the game, it has a chance. But like you said, it needs to be built from scratch and come out with a massive bang.
And they might have to come up with something radical too. Something as trend-setting as the Skill Stick.

One idea I've thought of is the ability to have multiple people share a BAP experience. Invite your buddies into your BAP so they're competing with you in going 1st overall. Who makes it to the show first? Who's the first to become captain, earn $100M, win the Cup, etc.
Something like that might turn some heads.

But like you said, I still have massive doubts that 2K12 is being worked on now, or that Take-Two has any inclination to make a hockey game for any console next year.

[GlennN]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

Man, I hope there IS a 2k12, but I just don't see them coming back. For me, the sluggish response of the controls is the number one thing to get tweaked. Number two is a better draft process - bring back some form of scouting, etc. The polish has to get better to compete with NHL series.

[alx83]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

Simpler controls, more responsive controls. Better skating animations, more responsive animations. A menu that you can actually navigate through. Better player models (I think the current ones are better than EA's actually, but they need to make them larger, and textures and jerseys need to actually resemble the real things. Let's be honest, the jerseys are horrid for the most part.). Bring back the videos on the ice (why the **** was this taken out in the first place?). My Player (Be-a-Pro).

Sadly, there won't be another NHL 2k game. Maybe sometime in the future if 2k completely takes over in basketball and has a larger budget, we might see hockey make a return. But as of now, don't expect NHL 2k12.

[BigH2k6]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

Bring back the 2k8 goalies!!

[daflyboys]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

At this point? It will take someone stealthing into the main EA shipping computers and redirecting all orders to a giant incinerator in Poughkeepsie, NY.

[acidraindrops08]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

Until they can compete with the EASHL this game doesn't have a chance. Simply put, this game just isn't as much fun to play as EA's brand, at least online. Unfortanately, the online components in todays games are usually what gets the most buzz, and what most people are interested in. I think 2K may have missed the boat on this gen. I think they should just pack it in, and rebuild for the next wave of consoles in a few years.. Sad but true

[DDPR]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

But for 2K12, Take-Two should break the bank to put Crosby (and possibly A.O too) on the front cover.

While I agree they should put great talent or a well-known player on the cover, I doubt putting Crosby on would be the right attention they would want. There's pretty hardcore anti-crosby fans out there, I'm not saying they wouldn't buy it if the game was spectacular, but I just don't think they should put someone up at that popularity at this time. I mean look, they put up Ovechkin on their last and that still didn't make a big push towards sales. Put up someone good on the cover, rename the series and get rid of the stupid "blank k blank" garbage, rework the engine or make a new one.

In my opinion, I believe they should incorporate the Eurphoria Engine (click the link for more information), along with a few tweeks so it's not too overdone and I believe they'd have a great looking game. Less "set animation" look, make it feel like you've actually just bumped into the guy, instead of having a preset animation for both the hit and the outcome of the hit.

[plaidchuck]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

More responsive controls (doesn't even have to be like the skill stick, just something that gives you more control), better goalies, better animations/physics engine/puck physics, improved AI (a never ending request for any sports game), a BAP equivalent, the AHL/tweaks of the franchise mode, and a viable online component of the game.

Many of the aspects of the franchise mode and gameplay were pretty solid for 2k10, if they could add and not subtract it would probably be overall better than EA NHL honestly.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

I echo the comments on control, feel and just overall polish. They could get it to a better level and challenge EA. It comes down to budget money really

[Money99]

Re: NHL 2K12 - What will make it compete with EA's?

I echo the comments on control, feel and just overall polish. They could get it to a better level and challenge EA. It comes down to budget money really.

Precisely.
And I don't get the impression 2K gives that much $$$ for their hockey titles.
It's kind of sad that they probably spend 10x the amount on MLB and yet NHL games sell more than baseball games.

According to VGChartz, NHL games sold a total of 1.24M copies on the 360 and PS3.
For baseball, between The Show and 2K, 870K were sold on the 360 and PS3.
In fact, NHL10 sold just as many copies on the 360 as The Show sold on the PS3.

If 2K focused more of it's resources on hockey, where there's clearly more sales, I gotta believe their profit margin would destroy anything their MLB line would bring in.