NHL Rivals 2004 E3 2003 Preshow Report

Microsoft will have NHL Rivals 2004, the first game in a new hockey series, on display for the Xbox at E3 2003. One of the big new features of Rivals 2004 is its inclusion in the XSN Sports network. Using XSN, you'll be able to create your own teams, leagues, and schedules using a centralized Web site. This new Web site will have the ability to broadcast scores, standings, statistics, trade proposals, and more to any Web-based device (including cell phones). You'll play online games using Microsoft's Xbox Live service, which will support player rankings and downloadable roster updates.

Rivals 2004 promises a number of unique gameplay features to set it apart from the competition. One of these is the concept of role-playing. Each player on the ice is assigned a specific role, such as sniper, enforcer, or agitator. You'll be able to execute special moves, depending on the role of the player you're controlling. Additionally, all players' real-world personalities are also taken into account in Rivals 2004, represented in the game by a composure rating and a fighting fuse. The shorter a player's fuse, the less agitation and abuse he'll take before he decides to drop his gloves and pick a fight. Moves such as checking and hooking can be used to goad opponents into a fight. Finally, Rivals 2004 will include a special face-off system to make face-offs more interactive and skill-based than in other games. You'll be able to position your stick and try to win the puck cleanly with it, or use your feet to block the puck.

The game includes standard single game, playoff, and season modes for single-player action. For multiplayer, a couple of special modes have been included: tournament and rivalry. In tournament mode, you can quickly set up an 8-, 10-, 12-, or 16-team round-robin tournament. Rivalry mode quickly sets up traditional grudge matches between teams, such as the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, or the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche. Topped off by play-by-play and color commentary from hockey broadcasters Sam Rosen and John Davidson, Rivals 2004 should be a fresh entry in a video sports genre that's had a marked lack of competition in the past few years.

NHL Rivals 2004 is scheduled for release on the Xbox this fall. We'll have more information on the game as it becomes available.