Nhl Video Game

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NHL 2K is a series of hockeygames by 2K Sports for the Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, iOS, and the Wii. Initially discontinued after the release of NHL 2K11 in 2010, the brand was revived on mobile devices in 2014. The games are officially licensed from the National Hockey League and NHL Players Association. While its games were released on consoles, its main competition was EA Sports' NHL video games.

History[edit]

This very different entry into the NHL video game genre is, at its most basic, NBA JAM for the ice. Your puck ignites when you start to ‘heat up’, you can literally knock the goalie and the net against the boards with a super slap shot it’s a ball! EA Sports already has the rights deals in place with the NHL, NHLPA, and various other professional leagues for its game. Presumably it could expand that to add retired players into the game.

Series beginnings[edit]

The 5 Best NHL Games Ever(& The 5 Worst) NHL video games have been coming out since the '90s. However, some of these hockey games are better than others. By Kevin Pantoja Nov 05, 2019.

The NHL 2K series first appeared on the Sega Dreamcast on February 7, 2000 as part of an exclusive lineup of Sega Sports titles. Its success led to it becoming one of the few Sega All Stars titles. A year later the developers did not release NHL 2K1, and instead opted to take a break to focus on the follow-up, NHL 2K2. NHL 2K2 was the last game released in all of North America for the Sega Dreamcast when the system was discontinued.

Multi-platform and new license[edit]

NHL 2K3 was released on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo GameCube. It was the first in the series to feature a franchise mode, and the Xbox version was the first online console hockey game. It had many improvements over its predecessor, although players complained that goalies were too hard to score on. It addressed some issues like scoring, and presentation, and was acknowledged as an exceptional sports title. Even with the lockout looming, video game fans didn't have to worry about the series being put on hiatus, as ESPN NHL 2K5 was released on August 30, 2004. Because Sega had signed a deal with Take-Two Interactive in which Global Star Software (Take-Two's low-price unit) distributed and co-published all titles in Sega's ESPN franchise, ESPN NHL 2K5 was priced at US$19.99 the day it shipped—versus the typical new-release price of US$49.99. This earned it a wide audience among more casual hockey fans on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. However, EA soon signed an agreement with ESPN to become the sole licensee of ESPN's brand in sports games on all platforms.

NHL 2K6 and 2K7[edit]

Nevertheless, NHL 2K6 was soon released, again at US$19.99, with a new deeper franchise mode, as well as other new extras (such as Bob Cole and Harry Neale providing commentary). With the Xbox 360 coming out, NHL 2K6 was released as a launch title, with a new 'goalie control' feature. NHL 2K7's new features consist of all new animations, mainly geared towards skating, and 'Cinemotion' which is designed to capture the intensity of hockey through close up angles and orchestral music.

NHL 2K8[edit]

NHL 2K8 was released in September 2007. The game features an all new face-off system which includes tie-ups, warnings, jostling, and penalties. The game also includes a new goaltending engine with improved goalies that react according to the situation. Goalies will challenge the puck carrier when appropriate, perform spectacular butterfly saves, and guard the post. Other mini features include variable attendance, better graphics, a new skating engine, authentic player equipment, and more. Jason Spezza from the Ottawa Senators was on the cover.

Nhl Video Game Wiki

NHL 2K9[edit]

NHL 2K9 was released in September 2008. Columbus Blue Jackets' captain Rick Nash is the cover athlete.^[1]NHL 2K9 was released on the Wii console in addition to the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This makes it the first NHL licensed game on the Wii.^[2]

NHL 2K10[edit]

NHL 2K10 was released on September 15, 2009 with Washington Capitals left-winger Alexander Ovechkin on the 10th Anniversary cover. It was released to lukewarm reviews on next-gen consoles, but very solid scores on the much improved Wii version, which now sported online play, Mii Integration, and Wii MotionPlus. This is also the last game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360.

NHL 2K11[edit]

NHL 2K11 was released on September 7, 2010. This time, the game was only available on the iPhone and the Nintendo Wii. On March 3, 2010 CEO Ben Feder explained that 'We have decided to reevaluate our NHL strategy and will only be releasing NHL 2K11 for the Wii in fiscal year 2010. We want to become a stronger competitor in this category and taking a year off on PS3 and Xbox 360, while focusing on making the best possible game for Wii, should allow us to accomplish that goal.' Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler is the cover athlete for the game.^[3]

Discontinuation of the series[edit]

On May 25, 2011, 2K Sports confirmed that NHL 2K12 would not be released on any platform, putting the NHL 2K series on hiatus for three years.^[4]

Revival[edit]

In September 2014, 2K Sports announced that the series would return exclusively on the iOS and Android platforms with NHL 2K.^[5] Following iterations saw a gameplay reboot to more closely resemble Take-Two Interactive's other mobile games, like WWE SuperCard.

Installments[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^NHL 2K9 Cover Athlete Announcement Operation Sports
2. ^2K Sports Announces NHL(R) 2K9 as First Official NHL and NHLPA Licensed Hockey Video Game for the Wii Console
3. ^'Canucks forward Kesler to appear on cover of NHL 2K11'. The Sports Network. 2010-03-08. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
4. ^Good, Owen (2011-05-25). 'NHL 2K12 Ain't Happening'. Kotaku. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
5. ^http://www.polygon.com/2014/9/17/6325023/2k-sports-brings-back-nhl-2k-on-mobile-platforms
6. ^'NHL 2K7 konečně vychází i v ČR!'. Hrej.cz. Retrieved May 4, 2016.

External links[edit]

EA Sports has extended two licensing deals — one with the National Hockey League and its players association, the other with the Ultimate Fighting Championship — meaning its NHL and UFC video games will continue into the newest generation of consoles.

The UFC pact is an exclusive agreement extending to 2030, the companies said in a news release. The terms of the NHL contract were not disclosed, but the parties described it as a “multi-year deal.”

EA Sports has published an NHL game every year going back to 1991’s NHL Hockey on the Sega Genesis. It took over the UFC license in 2012 from the defunct THQ, publishing its first EA Sports UFC game in 2014 and three more since. Both the UFC and NHL titles are developed by the EA Vancouver studio.

Statements announcing both deals touted large numbers of players for the latest entries in the respective franchises (UFC 4 launched in August, NHL 21 in October). Electronic Arts said that the Stipe Miocic-Daniel Cormier fight on Aug. 15, a day after UFC 4’s launch, also helped drive a bigger audience than UFC 3 got upon its release in 2018.

NHL 21 launched Oct. 16 and, at the end of the month, those who pre-ordered it got access to NHL ’94 Rewind — a reworking of the classic Sega Genesis ROM to feature the current league, teams, and players.

Nhl Video Game Franchise

The NHL and UFC games do not have any direct competitors; the last NHL game made by someone other than EA was NHL 2K11 for the Wii.