We just received this message from EA regarding the status of the EASportsWorld.com website...

 "The EASPORTS World team has been working around the clock to upgrade our server capacity for Tiger Woods, NCAA Football and Madden fans. Progress is being made and EA is committed to the Sportsworld experience. We anticipate having a delivery date for full functionality next week and EA will keep you informed on a regular basis as we move forward. We appreciate your patience and eagerness to access our BETA program." 

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Last year's release of NHL 07- with its innovative "skill stick", really seemed to tip the balance of power in hockey sims -held by 2K sports for several years- in EA's favor.  Despite 2K having the deeper hockey product last year- (including online franchise, sliders for every imagineable facet of gameplay, custom soundtracks, etc) people really liked EA's "skill stick" controls.  I know I was on of those people.

Well, this year 2K created their own version of right stick control- called the pro stick... and gave it both offensive and defensive implications, as well as a new faceoff mechanism that uses the pro-stick (something Joe Thornton helped 2K to design).  

On the franchise side, 2K is still promising the deepest hockey franchise mode in the business, now complete with realistic CBA features such as waivers, two-way contracts, restricted and unrestricted free agents, and salary cap management. Also including a revamped off-season that boasts a brand new negotiation system, an improved draft, refurbished free agent signing, and an all-new player progression system with dynamic player types.

Also, 2K tossed in revamped goalie AI and re-done player graphics, checking, etc...

Mix all that together, and I think NHL 2K8 may be set to surprise many people who were super-impressed with the competition.  One thing near and dear to many of us is online franchise, and by all accounts- it looks like 2K's online franchise/season features are fare deeper than what NHL 08 is bringing to the table in their first attempt at online season.  (Unlike NHL 08 online season, 2K's game has online interface and player trading..)

For us online franchise veterans...that's kinda big, and it seems EA will be playing catch-up for some time as they flesh out their online seasons over the next year or two.  2K has the advantage of many years of experience in the online franchise department- in both online stability and features.

No matter what happens, its pretty awesome that we've got two hockey game franchises aggressively duking it out for our gaming dollar. We all look forward to seeing who comes out on top.

Also, be sure to check out our audio of the NHL 2K8 developer conference call that myself and Craig Gonzalez (Bangpow) got to listen-in on.   Check it out HERE.

Scott Hemphill
"Quietcool72"
Co-founder
Consolesports.net
 

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QC and I recorded the first ever ConsoleSports.net podcast this weekend.  We went over QC's experience at the Madden 08 Community Event as well as my experience at the Easton NHL 08 Communty Event as well.  So, take a listen and tell us what you think. 

Note:  If you are using IE and can't see the player, the podcast is also in the player on the right side of the front page or CLICK HERE to download.

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There's an old Season 1 Tony Soprano quote I like to use regarding sports video games...

"If you are going to show up, come heavy, or don't show up."

 Of course, we aren't talking about packing actual "heat"- but the same addage applies on the virtual gridiron.  In short- up until this time, NOBODY has shown up feature heavy on next gen in terms of football.  Of course, I'm talking about Madden 06 and Madden 07 on next-gen, as well as NCAA 07 next gen.  All three titles were pale imposters of their current-gen, relatively feature-heavy cousins.  Some will say that EA got lazy since it owns the exclusives to the NFL and NCAA football, while others point to the problems inherent to rebuilding engines on new hardware and the time needed to accomplish that.  Whatever the case might be, one fact remains:  The next gen efforts paled next to the current gen versions in terms of features.

And...features directly correlate to depth, which feeds into replayability...

However, things seem to have changed.  By all accounts, NCAA 08 Next Gen, and Madden NFL 08 Next Gen- look to be some of the most "feature-fat" offerings of any year of EA football... and I'd probably say that- at least on paper- its the biggest feature bombardments since the inception of both series'. (Madden Football on 16 bit, and Bill Walsh Football on 16 bit.

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