NHL 2K11 Cover Athlete is Ryan Kesler

[FORMULA316]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by FORMULA316

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

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]

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by savoie2006

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...

[Scottdau]

Wouldn't the mo caps help too? If you have A.O I think you might get some better mo caps, at least in my opinion. Even the skating you think would be better or at least more skilled. I could be wrong.

[savoie2006]

Quote: Originally Posted by Flyermania

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

In that case just put Gretzky on all covers, as even people who hate hockey and know nothing about it (funny how that is), will know the player and might even be attracted to the game. Is that why EA's game sells so much more? Because their player is in the news months before the game is released, so he is more recognized. I think I'm understanding EA's marketing more and more now