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]

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

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]

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

[Flyermania]

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by Flyermania

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]

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]

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.