NHL-08
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EA Sports predicts Sharks as Stanley Cup champs
With the puck set to drop tomorrow night for the 2008 NHL playoffs, the prognosticators at EA Sports have once again looked into the future vicariously through the studio's latest NHL video game offering to predict the outcome of the league's 16-win battle of attrition. By way of simulation using NHL 08, EA Sports named the San Jose Sharks as the team to finally earn the right to lift Lord Stanley's Cup, defeating Eastern powerhouse Montreal in seven games. While this writer's favorite team, the Buffalo Sabres, are out playing golf, we agree that the Sharks, behind 2005-06's Hart Trophy winner Joe Thornton (not to mention former Sabres defenceman Brian Campbell), present a formidable force for any of the playoff race's 16 teams. Still, there's too much on-ice talent to write this off as gospel just yet, so we'll sit back and probably scream at the TV tomorrow evening as we wait and see if history mirrors EA's crystal ball.
NHL 08 updates roster, adds 6v6 online
Yesterday EA announced on their forums that they have dropped an update for NHL 08 that included an updated roster package and an online boost, upping the player count from 6 players (3v3) to 12 (6v6). While the online mode upgrade is much appreciated, to what is probably the best simulation sports game of 2007, it would help if the mode worked properly.The original Team Play mode (3v3) was plagued with connection issues and according to the official NHL 08 forums the March 18 update has brought those problems back with a vengeance. While we wait for the issues to be corrected, a list of roster changes can be found after the jump.[Thanks, Murph]
Eric Staal featured on NHL 08 box art
IGN revealed that Carolina Hurricanes center, Eric Staal, will be the next player on the cover of EA Sports' NHL 08. Staal was honored to have been selected by EA Sports, and says he played NHL 07 regularly. Staal played a huge part in the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup victory in the 2006 season, having accumulated 28 points in the Playoffs. The fact that they had to beat the hometown team of a particular blogger to acquire the Cup won't deter us from giving the game its fair shake.
Wondering how NHL '08 is shaping up?
Sure, hockey isn't the most popular sport in many places of the world, but the NHL series of games is a pretty big hit every year. Not quite a hit like Madden, but it's a great way for the hockey enthusiasts or the closet hockey lovers to get their sticks on the ice. EA has lifted the veil on NHL 08 and we're going to talk about what's changing.First and foremost, skate controls are going to get a major overhaul. Playing defense in last year's game was quite difficult due to lack of skater control, which is also getting overhauled. For example, the way you move your analog stick (left to right or in a semi-circle motion) will determine how your player turns. It's pretty obvious -- left to right turns the player around right away, a semi-circle motion will turn the player around in a slower, wider arc. You can dynamically switch between the two turns mid-way if you want, too. Your skating speed is affected by the amount you push the analog stick forward. Basic and intuitive, but something they needed to do.In addition to those control tweaks, there are additions to the skill stick so you can do some fancy puck work around the competition -- no doubt to liven up the online aspect of the game. You can toss the puck in 10 different directions now, so that should help in online matches as well. There's only so much you can do with left, right, and behind.Checking is getting improved -- momentum based for both players instead of the incredibly outdated "I hit you, so you fall down" method. Shooting takes on a Tiger Woods twist. Your right analog stick serves as your accuracy. With all these improvements, we have to ask: did EA even try on previous NHL titles? It sounds like these "updates" are incredibly basic things that should have been improved and changed at least five years ago. We hope there's more to come, because we'd hate to have the hockey-lovers rise up in rebellion against the lack of attention EA gives to the games.
