NHL 2K10 Gameplay Videos (IGN)

[BigH2k6]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

I think a huge difference is EA's script just sounds far more authentic to begin with while 2k's aside from pretty much being 5 years old to begin with has a ton of corny lines that you just wouldnt hear during a real NHL broadcast.

Agreed. I am just wondering if EA had Thorne and Clement in the studio at the same time??

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigH2k6

Agreed. I am just wondering if EA had Thorne and Clement in the studio at the same time??

While I don't know for certain I would imagine so. They flow and play off each other so well I can't see that being possible without being there at the same time. Either that or EA has some really talented audio engineers.

[slickdtc]

The commentary thing baffles me because we know NHL 2k can do better. Everyone points to NHL 2k5 as not only the best commentary in this series, but possibly in any sports video game. Personally, I feel like MLB 09: The Show does the best job, especially with the play by play and seamless lines where they add in that variable (when they have to say a player's name, it doesn't sound robotic even though it's just added in depending on who the player is).

But we also know Visual Concepts can do a great job with commentary. I have to look no further then ESPN NFL 2k5 to show this. Though that commentary can be repetitive, it always sounded great. I don't get why NHL 2k can't get this right.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

But we also know Visual Concepts can do a great job with commentary. I have to look no further then ESPN NFL 2k5 to show this. Though that commentary can be repetitive, it always sounded great. I don't get why NHL 2k can't get this right.

Good points. No doubt 2K made a monetary commitment to Hahn and Remenda before they had any idea how inept they'd be. Which is a head-scratcher given they invested three years in Cole and Neale, so they already knew some TV personalities simply don't have the talent for this sort of thing. You'd think they'd do extensive sound tests before committing to a particular announcing team. And given how much time/money they've invested in these new guys, there's probably no way they're going to dump them now. We're no doubt stuck with them for the next few years, in the same way VC's development team is stuck.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

Either that or EA has some really talented audio engineers.

The pbp programming/engineering in EA's game is much better, for sure. But IMO it has as much to do with both the writing -- which you've pointed out -- as well as the directing. I worked in stage direction and sound design for years, and it takes a take-charge type of person with the talent and know-how to coax the best performance out of people. I listen to Thorne and Clement and I hear the people behind the scenes who put together an intelligent script, and who helped those two maximize their performance. I listen to the 2K announcers and I hear a talentless group of writers, and a sound director who obviously didn't have the balls to say, "That wasn't good; that didn't work; we need to get some excitement and flow to the dialogue."

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

The pbp programming/engineering in EA's game is much better, for sure. But IMO it has as much to do with both the writing -- which you've pointed out -- as well as the directing. I worked in stage direction and sound design for years, and it takes a take-charge type of person with the talent and know-how to coax the best performance out of people. I listen to Thorne and Clement and I hear the people behind the scenes who put together an intelligent script, and who helped those two maximize their performance. I listen to the 2K announcers and I hear a talentless group of writers, and a sound director who obviously didn't have the balls to say, "That wasn't good; that didn't work; we need to get some excitement and flow to the dialogue."

Agreed and its a shame, because VC is capable of better. Their NBA commentary is solid and for the most part fairly realistic. I wish they'd get a script writer with a clue (make the writers actually watch a few hockey games with talented commentators) Or at the very least man up when these guys are recording and get the best performance they can out of them considering they obviously don't do it for free. I know play by play is such a small thing to most people out there, but to me its always been a huge huge aspect of the presentation.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

I know play by play is such a small thing to most people out there, but to me its always been a huge huge aspect of the presentation.

I play golf games without the commentary because I prefer birds chirping anyway. But I don't play baseball, soccer, football or hockey without the commentary. For me, it's part of the gaming experience. I find it hard to get into these team sport games unless the overall atmosphere --the commentary, crowd and on-ice/on-field sounds -- are all solid.

[Flyermania]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigH2k6

Agreed. I am just wondering if EA had Thorne and Clement in the studio at the same time??

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

While I don't know for certain I would imagine so. They flow and play off each other so well I can't see that being possible without being there at the same time. Either that or EA has some really talented audio engineers.

I believe I read somewhere that they were recorded separately, but I could be mistaken.

BigH2k6, I understand your point about Drew & Randy having a script and that it is different than an actual broadcast. But they should at least be able to show improvement...heck, they ad-lib on TV so why not do the same while recording the script to make it sound more lively? I don't see how they or 2k could be overly pleased with how it sounds. The commentary goes a long way towards enhancing the presentation.