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As both a gamer and a hockey fan, I was honoured to be invited to the EA Sports reveal of their cover athlete for this year’s NHL 11. When Richard and I get together with our friends, we usually play the 2k series, but NHL 11 might just change that. The look of the new physics engine is simply amazing. Every hit looks different and the organic look and feel that fans have been looking for has taken a huge step forward, as the stable animations of old has been scrapped. Something about it being the 20th anniversary of EA’s NHL franchise has driven the team to new heights, and in talking with Line Producer Sean Ramjagsingh it is obvious why: The NHL team tries to compete with all the sports games, not just other hockey games (the full interview follows the article).
I couldn’t get anyone to admit to any Kinect, Move, or 3D integration in the future but it seems unlikely for this iteration. However, Executive Producer Brent Nielsen promises that there will be more news in months to come – maybe a PS3 special edition? One of the new features that is being heavily promoted, mostly because it has been requested from the fans, is that sticks can now break. Once your stick as broken, you can either try to play without a stick, get one from a teammate, or get a new one from the bench, just like in real life. Sadly, there is no option to switch to a wooden stick to avoid breakage. The physics engine makes the game so dynamic that Nielsen claims they saw 25 new scenarios that they had not seen before during the E3 show. Either way, EA is pimping over 200 gameplay improvements, so I’m looking forward to this one.
Also new to this year is integration with the CHL minor league so that you can experience the Memorial Cup tournament with your favourite minor team. There is also going to be a feature like the Dynamic Season in NBA Live (which was by far the best feature in NBA Live), where updates to “a couple of thousand” game states can be pushed to consoles during the season.
The other cool thing about the reveal is that EA actually brought the cover athlete, Jonathan Toews, and top prospect Tyler Seguin to the reveal so that us peasants get to bask in their glory and badger them with questions. Find the full interviews, along with the Line Producer for the game, below.
Interview with Sean Ramjagsingh, Line Producer for NHL 11:
GN: Are you aware that 2K is not producing a sports game – an NHL game – this year? How did that affect you guys?
SR: Yes, we are. We get the same information same way as you do; through the internet, so we’re aware of that. But to be honest with you, [over] the past couple of years, our goal every single year is to be the best sports game in general. So we compete with the Maddens of the world and FIFAs of the world and that’s who we judge ourselves against and we try to raise the bar every year so that we’re on the top of that list. So whether they make a game for the PS3 or 360 doesn’t really affect us.
GN: Speaking of the PS3, from the Sony press conference at E3, it seems like there is a partnership with Sony. Are there going to be any PS3-specific features?
SR: Nope. We are partnered with Sony – we’re partnered with them for this event, but the versions will mostly be on par with each other. So no console-specific features.
GN: So no 3D integration or anything like that?
SR: No, I mean 3D’s real hot right now. We’re just going to sit back and see what other people are going to do with it. When we do something we really want to do it right, and not do it just for the sake of doing it. So definitely something we’ll look at down the road, but no plans for it right now.
GN: Any confirmation on Kinect or Move integration?
SR: Again, we’ll sit back and see how other people break ground with it and then when it’s the right time for us [we'll do it]. It’s definitely on our radar right now with Sony and Microsoft making a big push for it. But we’ll monitor to see when the time is right then you might see something.
GN: And do you watch a lot of hockey yourself?
SR: Oh yeah, I watch a lot of hockey.
GN: So what is your favourite team?
SR: Well, our studio is in Vancouver so our entire dev team are Canucks fans, so having Jonathan Toews on the cover here, you know I had to tell him: two years in a row now you knocked our team out, and he says there’s no team he likes beating better than the Canucks.
GN: Do you slip your favourite teams some ratings? Like, knock the Sedins up a couple of notches *laugh*?
SR: Well, you know we get accused of that every once in a while, but we actually have a pro scout who does the ratings for us. With the integration with the CHL this year, [we're] just making sure everyone is on par with reality. So as much as we like to and talk about that, we don’t do that.
GN: One of the biggest problems I found with last year’s EA game is the lack of goalie animation. Have you guys improved that?
SR: Yeah, you’re right. Coming off 09 there were these guys that found some glitch goals so we put some moves in just so the goalies would be able to make those saves. This year we worked on making the goalie look more natural looking and more realistic. This year you’ll actually see the goalie [as you're] coming down the ice, playing one side or cheating one way or another so that you can score a goal from the slot. Just trying to make the goalies more natural looking and less robotic.
Interview with Brampton, Ontario’s highly touted prospect Tyler Seguin:
GN: You said you played these games when you were young. When did you start and who was your favourite player?
TS: First game was NHL 97 over there on the board [They had all the old games set up on old consoles in the room - Don]. My favourite player back then was probably Wayne Gretzky. You know, I was only like 5 years old so I’d probably go with him.
GN: Is it different now?
TS: Oh it’s way different now. Now the physics that they’ve put into it, with the broken sticks and you can go change it and flip it over to people, it’s almost surreal.
GN: Speaking of broken sticks, do you prefer the wooden or composite sticks?
TS: Composite, yeah.
GN: You just had a pretty good year. I’m guessing that your rivalry with Taylor Hall will be a pretty big deal for the next few years. What do you think about that?
TS: Yeah, I’m sure it’ll continue. I think that we’re both super competitive guys chasing the same dream and goal and in this past year we’re getting better on the ice. You know, if I get 5 points in a game and he got 4, then next game he’ll try to get one more. Just examples like that.
GN: Everyone knows you’re going in the first two picks. How much does it mean to you to be the first overall pick?
TS: I think going #1 overall would obviously be something amazing. I want to be first, I want to be the best. But in the end, that was never the goal, so if that doesn’t work out then I’m not going to be sitting there crying. But if it does then I’ll be very excited.
GN: It’s probably not too politically correct to discuss this, but which of the two teams are you hoping to go to?
TS: I don’t have a preference. Both teams are phenomenal, and there can always be a trade. So I’m not really expecting anything.
GN: As a Leafs fan I have to ask: How do you feel about playing for Toronto some time in the future?
TS: Well that would be cool cause all my friends could come out here, but first thing first, I have to make the NHL still. I hope to have a great summer this year, earn a spot, and be an impact player in my rookie year.
That’s right, you heard it here first: Seguin to Toronto! Of course, this interview only served to remind me that we probably could have drafted him if we had kept our draft pick this year. And finally, we have an interview (in collaboration with MSXbox World) with Jonathan Toews, the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg native, and all around cool guy.
Interview with Jonathan Toews:
GN: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.
MSXW: What are your impressions of the game?
JT: It’s awesome. You play every game every year, and they always push the limits and it gets better and better and they’re taking it to a whole new level. The graphics are amazing. The controls and specific details of the moves you can do on the ice are so realistic. You look at every guy’s face and they’re so recognizable – [even] the equipment they use and is obviously original with what the player actually does use when he’s playing. So it’s amazing what they’ve been able to do and put it in this game.
GN: I noticed they’ve implemented the broken stick mechanic in this game. Personally do you prefer the wooden or composite sticks?
JT: I don’t think there’s anybody left with a full wood stick with the NHL so everyone seems to prefer the composite. So the unfortunate thing you have to deal with is breaking sticks in the middle of shifts. It’s part of the game, it happens, so it’s pretty cool that they brought it into this.
MSXW: I just came back from E3, and basically E3 was all about motion controllers. PlayStation has got the Move, Xbox has got Kinect, and I know for a fact this game won’t be supporting either device. But what do you think about the future in which we may be using no controllers at all, or the Move controller to control your motions?
JT: It depends on what people prefer. It’s still fun to go back and play the old school games like [on] the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Again, this game has brought it to a whole new level. With Sony’s new remote, if that’s what it evolves to I’m sure people will try it out. I dunno, we’ll see what we’ve got but I like this game.
GN: I know an external scouting agency decides all the ratings for the players for this game. But if you could give your linemate Patrick Kane a rating, what would you put his overall rating at?
JT: *joking* You have to take into consideration his defensive play, which is very sub-par. His play on the defensive side of the puck, his back-checking, physical play: really lacking. So I’d have to take his average down a little bit. Fortunately he’s a pretty gifted offensive player so taking everything into consideration, I’d give him high 70s to low 80s.
GN: *laugh* And finally, how do you feel about playing for the Leafs in the future?
JT: Playing for the Leafs? *laugh* That’s funny. In the future?
GN: In the future!
JT: I dunno, I’m going to stick in Chicago as long as I can. They’ve been great and in my opinion is the best hockey city in the NHL. You know, best of luck to your Leafs by all means but uh, I don’t think you’ll be seeing me in a Leafs jersey any time soon.
GN: Aww, you break my heart.
MSXW: Which system – Xbox or PS3?
JT: I have an Xbox, that’s kind of the leading one for me. In the playoffs we played a lot of the Wii as a team. But my first system was a Sega Genesis and that’s when I started playing the game and I kind of evolved slowly. I was always behind the game – I never had the newest system, I was always one or two behind so Sega was definitely the classic one that I mastered.
MSXW: Which game?
JT: Probably 95 or 96. Sonic and stuff and Donkey Kong games I was all over that too.
And there you have it: Gold Medalist, Stanley Cup champion, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, EA Sports NHL 11 cover athlete, and gamer. Is he dreamy or what?
Don Tam is a game enthusiast who currently resides in Toronto. He currently owns a two-year old PC, a Xbox 360 Pro and a DS Lite (black). His favourite games include Gears of War, Rock Band, Civilization IV, and pretty much anything Blizzard caresses with their gentle, godly hands.
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