RaychelSnr's Blog
2K Might not know it -- but they lost the Hockey arms race 
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 01:50 PM.
2K decided to shelve it's hockey series for a year to reinvent it -- at least according to the rumors coming from high placed sources. Of course, those high placed sources happen to be a source, which happens to be the CEO, but who's counting?
But while I'm sure serious work is being done on NHL 2K12, I can't help but feel the decision is going to end up being the equivalent of a cancellation, even if it takes a while to play out.
NHL 11 is such a good playing game that it's going to be very hard to top anytime soon by an outside party, and while 2K12 might very well be a much better game, the 2K folks will still find themselves playing from behind for a few years in a very limited market.
Because in the hockey gaming market, buyers are few. Ceding ground to a competitor which is putting out a superior product, even for one year, could end up being the equivalent to the Germans giving up the beach at Normandy.
It also does not help that the stopgap measure, NHL 2K11 on the Wii, is so bad. In a market of limited buyers, you can't afford to be weak with such strong competition against you at all times.
The last 18 months could be best summed up as nothing short of a string of disasters for the NHL 2K series.
So the question here is, can 2K produce a product that is competitive with NHL in two years time? 2K has failed to produce anything worthy of a purchase since the EA NHL resurgence, so their track record is not good. Whether NHL 2K12 will blow us away or not is an important question, because the future of the series depends heavily on that series of events which will not play out for another year -- if ever.
The series is definitely in critical condition and on life support -- whether we see a miraculous recovery or the continuation of a slow, painful death is completely up to 2K at this point. I don't like their chances.
How do you see an eventual NHL 2K12 comparing to EA's series?
Chris is the Executive Editor of Operation Sports and maintains this blog on the site. He is also a native Oklahoman and avid storm chaser. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisSnr.
# 2
Money99 @ Sep 9
Interesting topic Chris. But taking a year off can only help - if done right.
First, 2K took a year off between 2K and 2K2. Actually, 2K2 was released well into the hockey season, so one could make the argument that 2K took nearly 2 years off.
Anyway, 2K3 was/is perhaps one of the best hockey games ever created. And by the next year, 2K's sales were beating EA.
So it's not impossible for a game to reset and come back strong.
However, saying that, there were two things that 2K had in it's favor when reloading;
1. EA's game wasn't that great. It was stale and old and people were looking for something different.
2. 2K grabbed the ESPN license.
If 2K has any hope at all in usurping EA, it has to get a big name on it's cover, and probably even rename/rebrand the series.
Whether you like this player or not, Take-Two should back up a Brinks truck onto Crosby's front yard and dump money until he agrees to be their coverboy.
Heck, maybe even go all in and rename the series Crosby NHL 2K12.
And because EA owns the ESPN rights now, go and get the next best thing - Versus.
NHL11 is great. It's arguably the best sports series on consoles, so 2K has a huge hill to climb.
So if they do come out with 2K12 they need to blow the socks off of new consumers.
They need to copy the Skill Stick, add Be A Pro, EASHL, refine the skating animations and really make the game look pretty.
I've suggested this several times across OS, but they need to also come up with something original.
Combine EASHL with BAP. Give the user the ability to have a number of friends join his online NHL world so they can all compete as BAP's together and on separate teams.
That's the next level. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to play your buddies, who are also in the NHL or even AHL? And wouldn't it be cool to drop the mitts with them or compete for the Art Ross or Stanley Cup.
You could recreate your very own AO>Sid grudge match.
Anyway, it's possible for 2K to reclaim the hockey crown. But they better come out with a big bang full of bells and whistles and really knock the socks off the consumer.
First, 2K took a year off between 2K and 2K2. Actually, 2K2 was released well into the hockey season, so one could make the argument that 2K took nearly 2 years off.
Anyway, 2K3 was/is perhaps one of the best hockey games ever created. And by the next year, 2K's sales were beating EA.
So it's not impossible for a game to reset and come back strong.
However, saying that, there were two things that 2K had in it's favor when reloading;
1. EA's game wasn't that great. It was stale and old and people were looking for something different.
2. 2K grabbed the ESPN license.
If 2K has any hope at all in usurping EA, it has to get a big name on it's cover, and probably even rename/rebrand the series.
Whether you like this player or not, Take-Two should back up a Brinks truck onto Crosby's front yard and dump money until he agrees to be their coverboy.
Heck, maybe even go all in and rename the series Crosby NHL 2K12.
And because EA owns the ESPN rights now, go and get the next best thing - Versus.
NHL11 is great. It's arguably the best sports series on consoles, so 2K has a huge hill to climb.
So if they do come out with 2K12 they need to blow the socks off of new consumers.
They need to copy the Skill Stick, add Be A Pro, EASHL, refine the skating animations and really make the game look pretty.
I've suggested this several times across OS, but they need to also come up with something original.
Combine EASHL with BAP. Give the user the ability to have a number of friends join his online NHL world so they can all compete as BAP's together and on separate teams.
That's the next level. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to play your buddies, who are also in the NHL or even AHL? And wouldn't it be cool to drop the mitts with them or compete for the Art Ross or Stanley Cup.
You could recreate your very own AO>Sid grudge match.
Anyway, it's possible for 2K to reclaim the hockey crown. But they better come out with a big bang full of bells and whistles and really knock the socks off the consumer.
# 3
Dazraz @ Sep 9
I'm not as sold on the EA Hockey series as many others are. Although the gameplay continually improves the rest of the modes seem to me untouched or only marginally improved.
Menu presentations, commentary, cut scenes, playoff celebrations & the general depth of the games modes are carry overs from 2010.
Dare I say EA knew they had a degree of respite in creating NHL 11 safe in the knowledge that no other title would be released.
2K have badly got it wrong in their last 2 NHL games but I really hope a year out will see the franchise come back bigger & better than ever.
It surprises me when EA's NHL series is talked about being the best sports simulation available. I don't think the game comes close to recreating the overall experience in the same way that MLB the Show or NBA 2K does.
Menu presentations, commentary, cut scenes, playoff celebrations & the general depth of the games modes are carry overs from 2010.
Dare I say EA knew they had a degree of respite in creating NHL 11 safe in the knowledge that no other title would be released.
2K have badly got it wrong in their last 2 NHL games but I really hope a year out will see the franchise come back bigger & better than ever.
It surprises me when EA's NHL series is talked about being the best sports simulation available. I don't think the game comes close to recreating the overall experience in the same way that MLB the Show or NBA 2K does.
# 4
megamante360 @ Sep 9
2k doesn't have a chance unfortunately. EA's NHL series is arguably the best sports game out there.
# 5
eeyor @ Sep 9
Competition is allways better. That is why I will support 2k's game, just because if the gamers don't do that, the fall in quality will be unevitable in my mind. Monopolies like in Football show that quality suffers.
# 7
GamerzIgnite @ Sep 9
They'll do it the same way they always do...they'll copy proven game modes and make presentation their primary focus.
# 8
tabulaRasa @ Sep 10
Well, people forget that 2K owned EAs *** in hockey in the Xbox and ps2 era. ANd many of the features found in EAs game are direct things 2K had way before EA (boardplay,free passing,defensive stick etc)...
These dominance eras is a effect of competetion and cycles. EA would suck balls still if 2K didnīt own their butts in Xbox/Ps2 era.
REcent track record of 2K is bad, but historically they have the know how. I think the biggest problem is that 2K went the EA way of old, and lost itīs old hardcore sim and details roots. And guess what, at the same time EA when the authenticity and sim route.....
2K need to have a SIM/Hardcore base and do what they did with 2k3-2k6, making a game full of details and being true to the sport avoiding lame arcade elements. No identity crisis.
To me they should team up with the Euphoria guys, evolution, go all out physics based and steal EAs skillstick , and make the presentation and GFX in NBA2K class.
These dominance eras is a effect of competetion and cycles. EA would suck balls still if 2K didnīt own their butts in Xbox/Ps2 era.
REcent track record of 2K is bad, but historically they have the know how. I think the biggest problem is that 2K went the EA way of old, and lost itīs old hardcore sim and details roots. And guess what, at the same time EA when the authenticity and sim route.....
2K need to have a SIM/Hardcore base and do what they did with 2k3-2k6, making a game full of details and being true to the sport avoiding lame arcade elements. No identity crisis.
To me they should team up with the Euphoria guys, evolution, go all out physics based and steal EAs skillstick , and make the presentation and GFX in NBA2K class.
# 9
Tomba @ Sep 10
NHL 11 is actually one of the best playing EASports games. Evidence of the fact that even with the game NOT having an actual broadcast cam it's actually very realistic to watch playout.
Next year NHL 11 NEEDS to implement a better presentation model or it WILL get swallowed up "review-wise" by the media.
BUT they got the gameplay down so well that its just amazing to play sometime theres awesome fun to be had with it.
NHL 2k11 is on the verge of "maybe" becoming as good as their nba 2k basketball series and thats the opposite of nba elite when putting it aside NHL.
So what i mean to say is that NHL 2K11 has a better chance of becoming a good IP again then whats happening with the shift of nhl to nba elite this year
Next year NHL 11 NEEDS to implement a better presentation model or it WILL get swallowed up "review-wise" by the media.
BUT they got the gameplay down so well that its just amazing to play sometime theres awesome fun to be had with it.
NHL 2k11 is on the verge of "maybe" becoming as good as their nba 2k basketball series and thats the opposite of nba elite when putting it aside NHL.
So what i mean to say is that NHL 2K11 has a better chance of becoming a good IP again then whats happening with the shift of nhl to nba elite this year
# 10
Money99 @ Sep 10
tabulaRasa is right. It's still possible. But Take-Two can't cheap out. Their NBA team has a plethora of resources (money and developers) at it's disposal. Give hockey more tools to work with and pour money on it.
It'll take more than a pebble to fell this Goliath. Bring out the big guns!
It'll take more than a pebble to fell this Goliath. Bring out the big guns!
# 11
Dazraz @ Sep 10
2K know how to present a sport game.
If you could take the playability of EA's NHL & put in the presentation elements 2K have incorporated on their NBA & MLB games then you would have something very special.
If you could take the playability of EA's NHL & put in the presentation elements 2K have incorporated on their NBA & MLB games then you would have something very special.
# 12
Acedeck @ Sep 11
I don't think 2k is that out of it, to be quite honest. I believe this year's NHL game definitely the best version of the game to date. However, overall, the series isn't innovating at any crazy rate. It's a high quality hockey game, but it's pretty much the same core game from three, four years ago; it's just that it's getting the AI and little things right finally.
2k has the history of making a much better hockey game, up until the last three or four years. I'm not ready to write them off entirely just yet. Last year's game was actually pretty damn good. With two years off and some innovation, 2k has the potential to make an equal hockey game. Unfortunately, that won't recover market share. Even back when EA's game absolutely sucked, it outsold 2k. While 2k's game may climb back to the same level, I highly doubt they could out-muscle EA for the market share.
2k has the history of making a much better hockey game, up until the last three or four years. I'm not ready to write them off entirely just yet. Last year's game was actually pretty damn good. With two years off and some innovation, 2k has the potential to make an equal hockey game. Unfortunately, that won't recover market share. Even back when EA's game absolutely sucked, it outsold 2k. While 2k's game may climb back to the same level, I highly doubt they could out-muscle EA for the market share.
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