2K Sports benches NHL sim for 2011

EA's NHL franchise have been King of the HIll for years IMO and isn't gonna look back. The hockey guys take care of the franchise better than the Madden guys and the game is always a blast to play.. In regards to the long list of glitches provided down below.. I never knew all those were in the game.. Did you surf the net for them or goof around while playing to figure them out?? I found goaltender A.I. to be a bit up & down because one game 40 + shots were barely good enough to get a few goals and other games you have 4 goals on 16 shots... NHL 12 looks more goalie focused so here's hoping you get top notch goal tending IF you have a top tier goalie

@CavemanLawyer I think it's extremely funny that you give credence to 2k for making great sim games because EA went arcade, and then later admit that 2k followed EA down the path to arcade and failed. Do you not understand that what is now considered "arcade" was at the time, considered realistic? It's easy to sit back and say a game made with the abilities of 1999 was too arcade. In fact, NHL 2001, for example, as well as 2002, did extremely well in standard video game review circles. The best part is that I just cannot believe that you think the fact that 2k sports made some good games, more than 5 years ago means that they're doing okay. If you're so experienced as you would claim, you should know that the industry now only cares what you did this year. 2k has taken a HUGE step back and totally conceded EA the title for best NHL franchise and it's been that way for a while, not just "this year." The only way EA could win so badly was because they made such a great game starting in 09 that they had the time to spend on creating and tweaking the physics engine they put into NHL 11. You imply like it was created overnight and EA just barely won the NHL battle. This is the second year 2k has benched this series and that clearly proves the point that they were in no way prepared to battle with EA.

@CavemanLawyer Apparently you can't read. I actually slammed COD for having bad network connectivity. Yea, it's pretty obvious you can't read. Halo, on the other hand, has GREAT network connectivity, given the amount of data that is being tracked and sent over the networks. Compare Halo's data requirements to a sports game, and you see why lag in a sports game is inexcusable. Do you really even know what you're talking about? Anyone who references games back to 99 and 2000 and think it actually means something in terms of game development now is also an idiot. Just because you played those games and loved the sliders doesn't mean it is in any way relevant to today's games. And actually, I played NHL '94 when it came out - so I appreciate you attempting to sound like the older, more experienced consumer, but in reality, I highly bet you're not. You talk about 2k sports being the grandfather of sim gaming. That clearly shows how little you understand about the whole topic. It's no secret that console's killed simulation games. Everyone with ANY experience knows this. I won't cite some of the perks that NHL '94 introduced because I just got on you for doing that - but I highly suggest that the next time you want to appear so high and mighty, you don't actually show all your cards on the table and clue us into how little you actually pay attention to details, both from reading what I wrote and actually playing the game.

@CavemanLawyer, what are some good shooters then?

@Kerrizma Dodgeball Advance GBA

nhl hitz should be a game mode in nhl 12

SPAM!!!!!

@Uberfinn You're probably too young to remember this but uh... The reason why so many people are on 2k's balls is simply due to the fact that 2K brought the SIM back into the NHL sports games. EA was making hilariously arcadey games from 99- on and 2K out of the blue brings out an amazingly in depth game with sliders, so many sliders, out the ass for literally everything under the sun. EA's arcade game still kept selling like hot cakes, due to neanderthals like yourself I'm sure who think CoD and Halo are good games, let alone good shooters, but anyway. So after seeing EA was making money with arcade like gameplay in 07 or 08 2K switched to being both an arcade and sim. And bombed at it. They couldn't do arcade. And reviews thrashed them for being arcade, while praising EA NHL games for being 'good' arcadey... At this time EA was starting to be more sim, and applying things 2K did YEARS ago and you people bit hook line and sinker. OH EA SIM KINGS and all that.. please, they still have barely scratched the surface on the simulations of past 2K NHL games. The new one, NHL 11, was pretty damn excellent... Just took them years to finally achieve something like that. And don't talk about networks and such. Anyone who lists 'Halo' or 'CoD' and good multiplayer together clearly has no idea what they are talking about.

Bleh... bring back NHL Hitz

EA still has one thing to learn from the 2k Series - And that's presentation. I have never heard a black lady sing when the Sharks score a goal, or a cheesy song when the Flyers get one in the net. For a lot of people that is game breaking. I don't want to spend the time playing hard and scoring if I feel nothing like I do during playoff season. Use real songs from arenas, please. Instead of going out of your way to have menu soundtracks - Just spend the money on presentation and announcers that can actually pronounce "Niemi" correctly.

Too bad the 2k was a better game not too long ago then take two bught it from sega and dropped the ball

Take two should do a daring move and break into new sports franchises outside of baseball, basketball, hockey etc... I'm thinking dodgeball. when was the last great dodgeball video game franchise to exist?

I liked the 2K series more than EA's because it was more arcade like and fun to check people.

EA's NHL has been much better than 2K's NHL for a couple years now. however, it's unfortunate that EA will have an uncontested monopoly. All they seem to introduce every year is a new way to spend microsoft points on player gear/attributes and now HUT cards... If they REALLY wanted to improve NHL they would regularly patch it so that most of the same glitch goals, toe drags to skate past computer D, pause glitches, loop glitches, and attribute glitches were taken out. It's a little annoying that EA didnt and still doesnt really care about putting out a good product because they always knew their only competitor would put out an even worse POS. Hopefully another developer will... step up to the plate... and give EA a run for their money!

Wow the stupidity in comments on this website never ceases to amaze me. First of all, 2K isn't taking a "year off" because they are being nice to consumers. They got handed their butts the last few years from EA. Everyone slams EA for NBA, but the reality is 2k sports has absolutely blown at NHL, so it's the same situation. 2k isn't making money on their NHL series because it's not even CLOSE to EA's NHL game. Not even by arcade standards. The quality of the EA game is amazing, and now with the physics, it's even better. Vastly superior to even NBA 2k11. EA is miles ahead of 2K sports, but they just can't seem to put it into their NBA game for some reason. Fifa is the same situation. Amazing game. And if you're going to complain about lag and connectivity in the EA games, then I guess you haven't played any 2k game. Even the franchise player, NBA 2k11, suffers from online input lag. The MLB series did for years. Still sort of does. So does TopSpin. Sports games have lag because they don't have the effort something like Halo has put into the multiplayer. Shooters generally have better online play because they are geared towards that now. Minus Black Ops, who knows what they were thinking when they QA'd that game's online lag.

@lilboicookie You mean Madden should learn from the NHL series. Talk about something worth buying every year

so EA with no competition will still provide the same horrible online play / connectivity

EA NHL developers team seems to love hockey like we do!!! So they made the best game experience ever, Im sure this game bounds to be better and better year after year!!!! Thanks EA team!!

EA makes the best hockye game by far...so this makes sense..suprised 2K didnt drop out a while ago

This isn't EA Tiburon making the NHL games. The Canadians have been on the ball with yearly updates. The difference between 09 and 10 wasn't all that noticable. But between 10 and 11 hooooo boy did EA rock the casbah will 11. It would be practically perfect if they took the personality features from FIFA and expanded be a pro and be a gm some, and also made it so dumping the puck into the offensive zone worked for than 2% of the time. EASHL is one of the greatest multiplayer experiences I've ever had.

EA should learn from this *cough* MADDEN!!! *cough*

caketoo ... you are wrong. read the article. nhl2k games stopped in 09. or why not use wikipedia? what about the baseball games (google mlb 2k11). seriously, if you don't know the history of a company, don't comment. 2k games has been active in the sports gaming market. it hasn't just been basketball since 2k5. LMAO.

Yes EA is awful and their sports games are crap, but seriously can we get over nfl2k5 that was so long ago. T2 is busy on open world games and their sports division has done nothing but basketball since 2k5. T2 sports games will always be what could be instead of what it actually is,and theyve been crap too.

Luckily the team responsible for the NHL franchise isn't as unambitious as the slobs on the Madden team, Just about every year the EA Canada has pushed out a new major overhaul to the game, this year is no different if you watch the trailer that came out yesterday. The lack of competition is not going to hurt them.

Great, now we're going to get the same crap EA pulls with Madden on NHL. Great

2k used to make good hockey games but they hit a wall when next gen consoles came out. ever since 2007 ea has been on point with their nhl games.

You hear that EA? Every sport shouldn't be coming out labeled a new title each year. I'm all for taking years off. At best if you want the newest additions and updated roster and whatever else they can offer, do like a $15 dollar DLC or something. I mean really paying for a new game each year with minor updates or like 1 redo like last years physics isn't worth $60 - $70 bucks each year.

Interest isn't the problem, the fact is that EA has a much better Hockey game than 2K does. The "NHL" franchise is very successful, 2K needed to go back to the drawing board.

There just isn't enough fan interest in hockey in the United States to make annual NHL games, even if theyre more accessible than Madden.

I haven't played the hockey series for either since 2005. Hockey isn't my favorite sport. I'd play golf and tennis before I'd play a hockey game. lol!!

The 2K games used to destroy EA's, mainly in the 2k5 to 2k8 era. Then they decided to simplify their controls and go all arcadey. Couple that with EA's massive leap in quality at around the same time and this article isn't surprising at all.

the 2K games used to be pretty good but i stopped paying attentio once they moved to a Wii only series. EA's NHL has crushed 2K since NHL 08 and they're not showing signs of slowing down. NHL 12 is gonna rule again.

@HiramJ866 NFL 2K5 was never overrated. It was the reason EA bought the NFL license because the game was better then Madden. lol!! EA was started to get beat by 2KSport in the football race and they new it, so they had to do something drastic. If anything Madden is overrated. It's the same game every year and has been since 2006. NBA 2K11 is still the best basketball game ever created. There are still some issues with the game. It's not perfect, but is far better then any basketball game EA has released.

@HiramJ866 2K5 was the best football game I've ever played, taking into account the year it was made. By a LONG shot. Definitely not overrated. 2k5 made madden 06 look like crap. EA knew it too, which was why they bought up monopolies ALL of the NFL licenses and left 2K without the ability to compete. Then they were able to keep slingin their inferior product without competition. I think Madden has since improved but, we'll never know how good the 2K series might have been. That's business.

I've honestly always thought the NHL 2K series was just a more fun game to play. I appreciate the realism that goes into EA's franchises, but sometimes I think they lose sight of what really matters. People want to have fun while doing it as well. I'm sad 2K lost NFL licensing to EA, and now there is a monopoly on competitive titles. I certainly hope this doesn't happen with NHL as well, because they've chosen to bow out the past couple years.

@ DrKill09 2K Sports makes the best basketball game. so thats Sony makes the best Baseball EA makes the best hockey, football (pro & college) & soccer games. KingBobCat NFL 2k5 was and always will be Overrated.

as long as someone's making a hockey game I might be okay with this :)

@ DrKill09 Then you must not have played NBA 2K11. I am not the biggest 2K Sports game fan, but honestly, they did a great job with this year's NBA game.

Remember when NFL 2K5 ruled? What happened to these guys?

Really? What about a NHL game for PC? Please? Anyone?

Fine with me. 2K Sport's games are pathetic. From the gameplay to the graphics and overall presentation. EA always made the best hockey games anyway. Sony make the best baseball games. 2K Sports have nothing.

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Hockey has always been my favorite sports game even back in the PS one day's and out of all them hockey games I'm a couple from 2K are amongst them but I do enjoy EA's version of the game the best. NHL 09,10 and 11 but I do agree with Buster_Posey that EA does need someone to keep them from slacking on the quality of the game or start dumbing it up.

im still waiting on a next gen sports game.... this gen has really sucked because the ps2 and wii had such little power and ea and 2k was too cheap to use the 360 and ps3s power to make 1 game then make a weaker less feature filled game on on ps2, wii, psp and ds we were stuck in last gen useally the 2nd year after we start a new gen the games goes up a few levels this gen has to be the worst even all thanks to nintendo and sony for holding back the 360 and ps3

Sad really :( ....

i actually like the 2k games better. i have the basketball, hockey and baseball. madden was the only ea sports game i usually buy but i gave up on that. i never found nhl by ea that good except when i use to play it back in the day on the genesis.

NHL is too good of a hockey game. Its the best sports game out. Bye bye 2K

EA has made a GREAT NHL game but I want 2K to make an NHL game or else EA will sit back and turn the NHL series into the Madden series.

EA Canadia has been on the ball with NHL since 2008. It's practically perfect this year

@sleepnsurf If you dislike Hockey why are you on this page?