Interviews
2K Sports Serves Up Puckhead Paradise with NHL 2K10
September 18, 2009
2K Sports has teamed up with Alex Ovechkin two years after the rookie graced the cover of the competing EA Sports NHL 07 franchise. Alex the Great has been a phenomenon since he entered the NHL and he’s done everything but raise the coveted Stanley Cup. Ben Bishop, producer of NHL 2K10 at 2K Sports, talks about working with the Washington Capitals’ NHL superstar and what puckheads can expect in the new game in this exclusive interview.
Can you talk about your goals heading into this game?
Last year’s development cycle was quite challenging with the game being moved in-house to the team here at Visual Concepts. We had a later start than normal with a new code base, plus we had the added challenge of developing our first title for the Nintendo Wii. That said, we were definitely happy to get things back to normal this year with a regular, full length development cycle. One of our biggest goals from the very beginning was to get back to our sim roots and make sure NHL 2K10 played a very solid game of hockey. We spent a ton of time re-writing AI and working on things like strategies, positioning, and decision-making, and it makes a huge difference. We also knew we had some room for improvement with the graphics, so a lot of work went into our new player model and likenesses, new arenas and lighting, and improved uniforms and equipment. The game not only plays better this year, but it looks a lot better too.
What type of feedback did you get from fans from the last game?
Getting feedback from both fans and editors has always been key for us, but it was especially crucial for NHL 2K10. In general, fans seemed to agree that gameplay was fun, but there were lots of requests to get back to a bit more of a simulation style of play. We’ve definitely done this, but I think we’ve also struck a nice balance between a realistic game and something that is still going to be easy to pick up and enjoy for a non-NHL fan or less experienced player. Visuals is another area it seemed clear people wanted us to do more with, and we’ve stepped it up there, as well. And more specifically with gameplay, we’ve improved stickhandling, backwards skating, and the ability to customize the experience with sliders and other options, among other things, all items that fans had also asked us to work on.
Visually what are you doing new?
We have brand new player models and completely re-done player likenesses, and this makes a huge difference. Now Alex Ovechkin looks like Alex Ovechkin, all the way down to his yellow skate laces. There are a lot of smaller details that add up too, with things like jersey tucks, sweat, much more detailed and accurate logos, names, and numbers, and better looking playoff beards. Our arenas have been re-done, as well, to capture even the smallest details to make them true-to-life. Both the home and away teams now come out of the correct entrances for each arena, and we have unique introduction sequences complete with lighting effects, projected logos, and the crowd going nuts. Again, much like the way the game plays so much better this year, it has also taken a clear step up graphically, and we’re really proud of the progress we’ve made for NHL 2K10.
How have you refined the controls of the game?
The main additions to the controls this year are stumble shots and stick lifts, as outlined above. We did some additional work with stickhandling to make it more fluid and easy to use in traffic and while turning. In general though, the schemes are quite similar to 2K9. The default one lets you use either the face buttons or the right stick, and then there is a more basic one focused exclusively on the face buttons, and a more advanced one that is all about using only the sticks, bumpers, and triggers.
What’s new with multiplayer?
Aside from created teams, another really exciting aspect of online play is that it’s essentially available anywhere in the game with the press of a button. Any time you’re on a Team Select screen, you have the ability to invite a friend or look for a random online opponent to join your game. That means in a regular Quick Game, in Pond Hockey, in Mini-Rink, in Playoffs Mode, and even in Franchise. No longer do you have to go through the grind of playing the CPU for 82 games. Now you can have a different online opponent for every single game if you so desire. And not only that, but you can also play co-op, so if you have a friend who you want to help you out against the tougher teams in the league, just invite them to join your game and make it happen.
