NHL 2K10 redefines the sports gaming experience with a new emphasis on social gaming. Whether you're a die-hard NHL fan or a casual player, NHL 2K10's pick-up-and-play controls, true-to-life authenticity and variety of on- and off-line multiplayer modes promise hours of entertainment for any gamer. Among the new features that will make this the must-have hockey game of the season include:

• New Gameplay Mechanics - Completely rewritten AI, enhanced defensive controls and stick lifts, stumble shots, a new defensive skating model and new incidental contact and small animation systems
• Enhanced Presentation - All-new rink intros for each arena, improved goal celebrations, enhanced visuals, and greatly improved, true-to-life character models, with San Jose Sharks commentators Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda returning with new broadcast commentary
• Improved Franchise Mode - NHL 2K10 features a new contract/free agency system, improved roster management, an updated financial model, dynamic player progression, and fantasy drafts
• New Franchise Co-op Play - Play a franchise season game with or against a friend on- or offline, or play a traditional game against the CPU
• Franchise Blog / 2KSports.com Integration - Publish your franchise stats and standings, and upload game highlights and screenshots to your personal page at 2KSports.com
• Enhanced Online Modes - New seamless online integration connects players in Team Up games, tracks your progress with My Player Card, and offers full league, leaderboard, tournament and 2K Share support
• Create Team Mode - Create a persistent team with friends by designing your uniforms, developing a unique team identity, and then competing against other created teams online, offline and in Franchise mode

Wii SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• New Control Scheme - Choose between fun, easy-to-use Wii Remote and Nunchuk controls and Sideways Wii Remote support, or plug in a Wii Classic Controller for three ways to play
• Full Online Modes - For the first time, enjoy full online support for Wii, including multiplayer and multi-console match-ups, downloadable rosters, online leagues, tournaments, leaderboards and Team Up mode featuring persistant created teams and regular Pick-Up Games
• WiiMotion Plus and WiiSpeak Support - Enjoy online voice chat capabilities via WiiSpeak and precise one-to-one control with WiiMotion Plus
• NHL 2K10 launches on September 15th for Wii(TM) system, Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

Chase from 2K Sports was able to get us a link for the audio of of Thursday's NHL 2K9 Developer Conference Call.

Get the MP3 HERE from Xbox America.

I also posted some quick-hitters in the forums as I listened into the call. That thread can be found HERE.

Be sure to give a listen to the call.  I think there's many fears out there that this is a "rebuilding year" for the franchise, but to be perfectly honest, it doesn't sound like Visual Concepts approached the game that way at all.  Producer Ben Bishop and online producer Jay Iwahashi give a very informative conference call, and one that shouldn't be missed.  I walked away from the call feeling that 2K Sports is putting out a very "chock-full" hockey game, and one that is very adjustable to the gamer.  Also, they really tout "accessibility" this year, making the game fun and intuitive, particulary in terms of controls (which were rather difficult for many last year.) 

I'll have more on the game and hands-on impressions later this week.  

Scott Hemphill
Consolesports.net

Puckheads everywhere for many years have celebrated 2K Sports’ NHL 2K series as the king of the virtual ice.  Last year however, EA got back into contention with a suddenly competitive NHL 07 product.  Everyone wondered how 2K Sports would respond with their new NHL 2K8 product.

I’m happy to report that hardcore NHL sim gamers should be very pleased.  This game is chock-full of hockey goodness, options, controls, strategy, and authenticity.  Like many 2K Sports games, the game is totally adjustable via tons of sliders for just about every facet of puck control, player control, aggressiveness, goalie AI…. you name it.   2K Sports delivers a pretty rich, customizable hockey sandbox for us to play in and tweak to our liking.

But lets get one thing straight:

There’s a new default control scheme that utilizes the Right Stick for puck handling.  (2K Sports calls this the Pro-Stick).  There are some fundamental differences, one of which is that the R-stick cannot shoot, only stick-handle.  Shooting is accomplished with the right bumper button, passing with the left bumper button.  At first it feels awkward, but you pick it up if you are willing to invest a small bit of time. There are some very nice in-depth tutorials for each and every control in the game. Its probably the best in game control training I've ever seen in a game. And- yes- you need it, because this game has some detailed controls.  Some may find these controls daunting, particularly if you are used to the more simplified control scheme from the competition.

However- and let me emphasize this- the game lets you customize all controls..and you can also go back to the classic NHL 2K control scheme.

After throwing myself into this game for about a day and a half- I find myself enjoying it more each game.

There are some very nice in-depth tutorials for each and every control in the game. Its probably the best in game control training I've ever seen in a game. And- yes- you need it, because this game has some detailed controls.

Going through the training is a MUST.

At first- the average player will view that as a negative, but after going through the drills, and getting into the games, you'll start to really like the amount of options you have.

I REALLY appreciate these controls on defense. Its nice to be able to put your player's stick on the ice to take away a passing lane by getting in position and clicking in the R-stick. Its nice to give a subtle hook to slow a streaking offensive player, its good to have push and elbow commands on board scrums, its nice to be able to hit the Y button to take your selected defender and get him in a context sensitive block-shot stance in front of a given shooter.

And its nice to be able to check someone and see an attempt at a check... even if it is varying degrees of effectiveness. They aren't all big booming checks...some of them -if done right- just knock a guy off balance and cause him to lose the puck...or not. Or the attempted check might just graze the player and cause him to alter his skating trajectory.

the "Intense contact controls" (i.e. the X button on D) controls the..um...cheap shots. Varying degrees of hooking, slashing, spearing and elbowing. The "Goon" players in the league can use them and are more likely to get away without a penalty, but the average Joe or offensive player will probably get sent to the sin bin for using them. So its best to use with the tough guys who are known to do a little extra...and get away with it.