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Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

Video: EA Sports' NHL 10 has much love for grinders and pests

By Greg Wyshynski

As we've covered before, EA Sports' NHL 10 is going to feature a slew of enhancements on what's already considered one of the best hockey titles on the market: first-person fighting, board play and some interesting ways to swing the momentum in your team's favor.

IGN had this informative teaser featuring EA Sports producer Dave Littman last week [H/T First Cuts as well]:

Fighting along the boards? Leahy recalls this being a part of a previous NHL video game, but its absence in subsequent titles would seem to indicate the technology wasn't there for it to work yet.

Without actually testing out the feature, we'll withhold judgment. But the concept seems like one of these things programmers add for the sake of hyper-realism before the gamers rise up and say it's sort of a drag. Like that 14th step in a golf swing when all you want to do is hack it like a weekend duffer. (But that's why they have difficulty settings, right?)

Still, the notion that anything in a hockey video game would be tailored for the Jay Pandolfos and Kirk Maltbys of the world is a tad odd.

That said, the "after the whistle" function is pretty much the greatest thing to happen to video gaming since the invention of giant apes throwing barrels at Italian plumbers. Face washes, cheap shots, putting the puck on the goalie after the whistle ... so, Claude Lemieux(notes) Mode then?

It's also interesting to hear Littman, a former goalie himself, pimp the fact that acrobatic saves have been introduced for the keepers in NHL 10. About time they were something more than digital impediments to fun.

Still no word on the Patrick Kane(notes) mouthpiece ripping feature. Maybe it's hidden ...

Related: When Hockey and Hollywood Collide

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47 Comments

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  1. darren m
    1. Posted by darren m Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    Looks good. In terms of board play, I had NHL 2K3 for Gamecube and it featured a limited amount of board play. If your player got caught on the boards, he'd hold the puck there with his feet, and you could choose which way you wanted him to attempt to kick it out simply by holding the control stick whatever direction you desired and pressing pass. It actually worked quite well.
  2. Crosby is better than you
    2. Posted by Crosby is better than you Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    Why do I get the feeling that 1st Person Fighting is going to be to NHL what QB Vision was to Madden?
  3. Adam V
    3. Posted by Adam V Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Let's hope that you can actually play dump and chase hockey in this one. I mean, end-to-end rushes are exciting, but not every time a team skates with the puck! Let's get gritty people!
  4. Adam V
    4. Posted by Adam V Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    And how about calling charging ONLY when you hit a player after your feet are moving? I can't tell you how many times I've glided over to someone in NHL 09, given them a great hip check, and gotten called on a charge.
  5. Max_Powers
    5. Posted by Max_Powers Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Looks cool. I don't play video games, but would watch someone play this if I were nearby.
  6. Chris
    6. Posted by Chris Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    This is just the style of play im looking for. I shoot after the whistle blows and check opponents but no reply whatsoever. This is a great improvement and i cant wait to buy it
    PS Caps Rock!
  7. Czar
    7. Posted by Czar Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    How about a mode where you can control a player away from the puck to attack another in a vicious style. Maybe have some words go over the screen with a red-tint? BERTUZZI
  8. Tim Mc
    8. Posted by Tim Mc Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    I like that they show Daniel Carcillo when they talk about the merits of fighting at the right time.
  9. Fragg
    9. Posted by Fragg Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    Hardly a feature added for the "sake of hyper-realism". Any fan of this series knows that this simple feature was a missing component that will go far to add to the hockey experience.
    For your simple tastes, I'd suggest staying with the 2k series. Zamboni's and playoff beards wheeeee! Sounds right up your alley... ;-)
  10. Ga Hockey
    10. Posted by Ga Hockey Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    Typical! the two teams not shown in this preview are Deep South teams. Getting tired o fthe yankee/canuck attitude towards southern teams. Nevermind we've won the cup5 times in the last decade or so! :(
  11. FREE_CANDY44
    11. Posted by FREE_CANDY44 Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    so does the new game include idiot wings fans standing in front of the camera at the joe?
  12. JP13
    12. Posted by JP13 Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

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    I can not wait for this game. NHL09 was amazing for the fact that they created the EASHL. This however is going to make every aspect of the game more enjoyable and realistic. I still think they should have broken sticks and double minor high sticking penalties however these improvements are awesome!!
  13. CAPSCAPSCAPS
    13. Posted by CAPSCAPSCAPS Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    seriously ga hockey? seriously, thats all you took from the preview is WAAAAAAAAAAAAH DEY NOT SHOW PANTHERS OR THRASHERS WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. i hope they forgot to put them in the game. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
  14. NYR34
    14. Posted by NYR34 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    I love how the first NHL (simply called NHL Hockey, released in 1991) for the Genesis featured after the whistle fighting. Best part is you could go with any two players. My favorite was always laying out Alexander Mogilny on one punch no matter what.
  15. books
    15. Posted by books Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    Maybe not a 'Kane mouth piece rip out' feature but how about a 'spearing Lidstrom in the nuts' one?
  16. Dave!
    16. Posted by Dave! Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    I'm still waiting for a game that matches the perfection that was Stanley Cup Hockey on the SNES.
  17. Arthur Fonzarelli
    17. Posted by Arthur Fonzarelli Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    I kind of enjoyed NHL 09's unsuspecting players after the whistle. I don't know how many times I've blasted Patrick Kane while he was adjusting his helmet.
    Some of this stuff is just making it's way back; Leahy mentioned the pinning, but also in NHL 2000 if you blasted someone after the whistle the ENTIRE TEAM came after you!
    Now if they could only learn that the puck needs to entirely cross the line for it to be a goal, that a checking-from-behind is not a two-minute penalty, and that goalies do not habitually give up nearly 70 percent of their goals underneath their armpit.
  18. samsam_muel
    18. Posted by samsam_muel Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Are you getting paid to write these game previews?
  19. Chuck
    19. Posted by Chuck Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    I dunno the board play would be okay as long as your player doesn't annoying connect to the boards like a magnet. Improved fighting is cool, and important in the real game, but I think they should put more of their time in other areas.
  20. Garth the Hoser
    20. Posted by Garth the Hoser Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:01 pm EDT

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    "Still, the notion that anything in a hockey video game would be tailored for the Jay Pandolfos and Kirk Maltbys of the world is a tad odd."
    Why? It's what the NHL has been doing for 20 years.
    Looking forward to NHL 2011, where certain teams are allowed to play with an extra skater for up to 30 seconds, games can only be played when NBC dictates, and a fidgety midget can relocate your franchise to a warm-weather state without notice.
  21. Arthur Fonzarelli
    21. Posted by Arthur Fonzarelli Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:15 pm EDT

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    ...you can take a dive!
  22. Arthur Fonzarelli
    22. Posted by Arthur Fonzarelli Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:15 pm EDT

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    *and
  23. Willy
    23. Posted by Willy Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:54 pm EDT

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    Can Jarkko Ruutu bite people in this one?
  24. Mazzy
    24. Posted by Mazzy Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:20 pm EDT

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    I wish that they made like the NBA games,
    a skills competition,
    to go along with the all-star game,
    that would be amazing,
    i no i simulate the all-star game,
    if it had a skills competition,
    i would play it in a heartbeat
    xD
  25. Mazzy
    25. Posted by Mazzy Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:20 pm EDT

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    I wish that they made like the NBA games,
    a skills competition,
    to go along with the all-star game,
    that would be amazing,
    i no i simulate the all-star game,
    if it had a skills competition,
    i would play it in a heartbeat
    xD

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