News Post

2K Sports Signs NHL All-Star Rick Nash to be Cover Athlete for NHL 2K9

06:39 PM - May 15, 2008 by Steve_OS

2K Sports Signs NHL® All-Star Rick Nash of
Columbus Blue Jackets® to be Cover Athlete for NHL 2K9

Visual Concepts to bring the fun and excitement
back to hockey video games

New York, NY – May 15, 2008 – Millions of hockey fans continue to enjoy intense Stanley Cup Playoffs action, but it’s never too early to start looking forward to next year’s NHL season. 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that three-time NHL All-Star and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Rick Nash, will be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for this year’s highly anticipated hockey video game, NHL 2K9. Visual Concepts has taken over the development duties for NHL 2K9 and are building a brand new experience from the ground up with the ultimate goal of creating an addictively fun sport simulation of the NHL that will be available this fall.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of the hockey games from 2K Sports. My idols have all been on the covers of video games as I was growing up, so to be on the cover of NHL 2K9 myself is truly incredible,” said Nash, who scored an impressive three goals in the 2008 NHL All-Star Game. “The set of new features they’re adding is really going to make this game special for hockey fans - I’m hoping they give me a couple extra points to my player rating this year!”

Nash was selected first overall in the 2002 NHL Draft and is one of the most exciting and dynamic young players in the NHL. In only his second season, at the age of 19, Nash became the youngest player in NHL history to win the “Rocket” Richard Trophy by co-leading the League with 41 goals scored. Now an established superstar in the NHL, Nash was also a member of Team Canada at the 2006 Olympics, and was named MVP of the 2007 World Championships. His deep level of involvement and work with Visual Concepts, alongside his background as an experienced gamer, provides an invaluable contribution and influence to the overall development process for creating the most fun hockey experience available.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Rick Nash be part of the 2K Sports family,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Nash is one of the marquee names in the NHL today. He is a true gamer and there is no player more fitting to represent NHL 2K9 as we bring high quality fun to hockey video games for another year.”

NHL 2K9 is being developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, and is not yet rated by the ESRB. NHL 2K9 will be available this fall for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.

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Member Comments

# 1 Steve_OS @ 05/15/08 06:44 PM

Make sure you vote for the hype score.

# 2 VanCitySportsGuy @ 05/15/08 07:05 PM

Well it looks like 2K9 is 100% confirmed.

Just knowing Kush has been removed as the developer has me interested in this game.

# 3 GrandMaster B @ 05/15/08 07:35 PM

"Rebuilt from the ground up". Good, it needed it.

# 4 RBH @ 05/15/08 11:49 PM

Glad to see that Visual Concepts is replacing Kush Games.

The NHL 2K series has been in need of a rehaul for years.

# 5 Mintsa @ 05/16/08 12:36 AM

Is this news all but guarantee that nhl 2k9 will get released or is this basically 2k going about its business until if/when an EA buyout happens ?

# 6 savoie2006 @ 05/16/08 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mintsa


	Is this news all but guarantee that nhl 2k9 will get released or is this basically 2k going about its business until if/when an EA buyout happens ?

It's Take Two going about business as usual.If EA buys them before Fall,there will be no 2K9.

# 7 ohyeahbaby123 @ 05/16/08 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv


	I think it depends how far in development the game is. Doesnt matter to me though. If it says EA on it, i will pass. Visual Concepts are the best sports gaming studio on the planet. It should be a pretty good game.

Did you even try NHL08?

# 8 Flyermania @ 05/16/08 11:10 PM

This series definitely needs an overhaul, but realistically how much can they get done "from the ground up" in one development cycle?

# 9 Spectre @ 05/17/08 03:58 AM

Thank goodness VC is taking control of the series

I expect a much, much better product this year.

# 10 bucs44 @ 05/17/08 09:32 PM

Thank god VC took over..The series has gone down drastically since 2k3 and 2k4..If VC tries to bring back the realism of those games that Treyarch accomplished and ADD graphics, atmosphere with Immersion. I think they should change announcers..perhaps Pang. Treyarch was beginning to make each player perform more individually. It would be nice to have signature animations(shots, skating, dekes, hits).

# 11 wurstman3000 @ 05/18/08 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucs44


	I think they should change announcers..

Seems like they did:
http://www.2khockey.net/forums/index...howtopic=18908
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=505636&page=7

# 12 Money99 @ 05/20/08 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrandMaster B


	"Rebuilt from the ground up". Good, it needed it.

Translation: This game will suck but will get better in each passing year.

I'm glad they're rebuilding it though. The game still looked like it did on the Dreamcast.
And the controls need some fine tuning.

My hope is that VC stole some developers from Treyarch/Activision. NHL2K3 was the best game in it's era and they really had a good thing going before Kush took over.

I think Kush had great intentions and they made great strides in certain areas, but I still didn't 'feel' the game with them.

# 13 savoie2006 @ 05/20/08 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Translation: This game will suck but will get better in each passing year. I'm glad they're rebuilding it though. The game still looked like it did on the Dreamcast. And the controls need some fine tuning. My hope is that VC stole some developers from Treyarch/Activision. NHL2K3 was the best game in it's era and they really had a good thing going before Kush took over. I think Kush had great intentions and they made great strides in certain areas, but I still didn't 'feel' the game with them.

Should it see the light of day,the game can be bare bones for all I care,so long as the Gameplay is more realistic and immersive than it has been.

# 14 tabulaRasa @ 05/22/08 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucs44


	Thank god VC took over..The series has gone down drastically since 2k3 and 2k4..If VC tries to bring back the realism of those games that Treyarch accomplished and ADD graphics, atmosphere with Immersion. I think they should change announcers..perhaps Pang. Treyarch was beginning to make each player perform more individually. It would be nice to have signature animations(shots, skating, dekes, hits).

That´s funny, atleast KUSH did the best version on NHL2k, that is NHL2k5. Such an awesome hockeygame, and awesome ESPN presentation and superb PBP.

NHL2k3 which treyarch did had no emotion , piss-poor presentation, stonewall lame *** goalies, odd aiming.

# 15 FlyingFinn @ 05/23/08 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabulaRasa


	That´s funny, atleast KUSH did the best version on NHL2k, that is NHL2k5. Such an awesome hockeygame, and awesome ESPN presentation and superb PBP. NHL2k3 which treyarch did had no emotion , piss-poor presentation, stonewall lame *** goalies, odd aiming.

Yeah the brick wall goalies is what made me start creating PC editors for the series. At its time, it was held and shoulders above any hockey game ever released in terms of realism and will always be in my collection.

# 16 bad_philanthropy @ 05/25/08 03:31 AM

Hopefully this one gets a chance to be released I'm quite interested to see what VC can do. But see this is what's good about competition in sports titles. The 2k series gained ground on the EA game and become the better game and then EA was forced to fight back and did by creating their best two hockey titles to date, now 2k is forced to finally toss out the old Dreamcast engine and start new.

# 17 Money99 @ 05/29/08 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daflyboys


	But it had much better AI than K5. K5 was better H v H.

I really wish those who played NHL2K3 on the Xbox had a chance to play it on the PS2. The goalies were so different.

I had the PS2 but eventually traded it in for the 360. On the PS2, no goalie edits were needed. The 'tenders were absolutely perfect. They weren't brick-walls in the least.

I loved NHL2K3. I probably played that hockey game the most (with NHL07 coming a very close 2nd).

I still believe the NHL2K series would be the best sports series if Treyarch was still making it.

# 18 Money99 @ 05/29/08 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggro77


	Looked, yes. If only it had played as well as 2k2 did on the Dreamcast. The cpu AI in that game was incredible. If you didn't play a solid game, if you just phoned it in, the cpu would eat you alive. I got bored with the 2k series because year after year you could use the same moves, the same strategy and own the cpu.

Absolutely true! I felt that was the same for 2K3.
I remember I had to go out of town for 2 weeks for work. When I got back, I fired up my Florida franchise and played a game against the Avalanche. I got owned 9-2 from my horrible defensive play, and not moving the puck well enough through the neutral zone.
Sakic and Forsberg destroyed me from all my turnovers and running around in my own end.

That can't be said for any of the Kush created 2K games. The CPU was basically non-existent.

Another, non-gameplay, feature I loved about 2K3 is the celebrations. The players would actually congregate together to celebrate.
I also loved how the CPU would push and shove you away from the goalie after he covered-up. None of that exists now.

# 19 Jethown @ 05/30/08 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy


	Hopefully this one gets a chance to be released I'm quite interested to see what VC can do. But see this is what's good about competition in sports titles. The 2k series gained ground on the EA game and become the better game and then EA was forced to fight back and did by creating their best two hockey titles to date, now 2k is forced to finally toss out the old Dreamcast engine and start new.

QFT

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2K Sports Signs NHL All-Star Rick Nash to be Cover Athlete for NHL 2K9