Tag Archive: hockey


Double Dose of Winter Sports

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April 24, 2010

Originally Published: October 9, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Examiner.com, and Lundberg.me

Many people know that I’m a sports fan, and being a video game fan, I love all sports video games as well. In that vein, I’m providing you fine folks with a double shot of sports games with reviews for both NHL 10 and NBA LIVE 10, both from EA Sports.

We will begin with NBA LIVE 10 since there were a lot of questions coming into this season for this game. Usually, the best way to answer questions about a game is to go to the source. I had a chance to speak with NBA LIVE 10 Lead Producer Sean O’ Brien, Dynamic Season feature producer Garreth Reeder, and Lead Gameplay Designer Mike Wang about all the new features in this year’s game and improvements over last year’s version considering the entire game was rebuilt from scratch.


CLICK HERE – to listen to my interview with NBA LIVE 10 Producers Sean O’ Brien and Garreth Reeder and Gameplay Designer Mike Wang.

Since I didn’t have the time to wait for basketball season to actually start, I’m going to have to take Garreth’s word on it, but it sounds phenomenal. From what I did play in Dynasty Mode, I can say that this is the premiere basketball game out there right now and this game model, closer to what the NHL series has used the past few years, is the top of the line format for sports games.

The only knocks I have against the game is that the graphics aren’t as sharp as I would like, especially when you look at other sports games from EA Sports like Madden and NHL, and the A.I. isn’t that great for your teammates. I know I put myself at a natural disadvantage by playing with the Knicks, but when there are lanes to the basket and I am looking for guys to pass to, instead of running up those lanes, my A.I. controlled guys run to the corner or right into a double team. Very frustrating, but that’s the life of a Knicks fan, I suppose.

From what I’ve seen and heard, NBA LIVE 10 is the must have basketball game of the season.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best.

Graphics: 8.0: The looks of the game are average. Maybe the Dynamic Season takes up a lot of space on the disc so the graphics aren’t as sharp as they could be, but not the most best looking game from EA Sports.

Audio 10.0: The soundtrack of the game gets your blood pumping, and authentic cheers and boos from the Garden crowd (more boos than cheers considering the Knicks’ performance the past couple of years) are awesome. Add in Marv Albert and Steve Kerr providing authentic play-by-play and color commentary and the sound cannot get any better.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: It’s a sports sim…

Gameplay: 8.0: Garreth might be looking for a perfect score, but the A.I. could use a little more tweaking before I give this a perfect score. No lag though, a great free throw system, and basketball as authentic as it can get on a video game console still gives this a good score.

Replay Value: 10.0: If you love basketball, the Dynamic Season and Dynasty modes will keep you happy throughout the entire season and keep you playing this game for a long time.

Overall (not an average): 8.0: With the addition of Dynamic Season and the rebuilding of the game engine from the ground up, this game is just scratching the tip of its potential. It needs a little further tweaking, but this is ready to be the premiere NBA gaming franchise, starting right now.

From the hardwood we move to the ice as we look at NHL 10. Considering how in-depth NHL 09 was and how many awards it took away last year for it, all EA Sports had to do was make minor tweaks to improve on their already dominate product.

The graphics are even sharper than last year and the way the ice gets worn down as the game progresses is a beautiful thing to see.

The sound is authentic to the point that “Henrik! Henrik!” chants rise up from the Garden whenever the King makes a spectacular save and Gary Thorne and Bill Clement’s commentary are always spot on.

The most impressive thing is that the gameplay and A.I. is even sharper than last year. The puck movement and passing is more realistic and accurate than ever before and the defense reacts like a real team. If a defenseman gets beat for a breakaway, he might try to catch up now for the back check and dive and flail with his stick to try to knock the puck away.

Add in the return of all your favorite features like Dynasty Mode and Be a Pro and the inclusion of first person fist fights now and this is the greatest hockey game of all time.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best.

Graphics: 10.0: I don’t know how this game could look any better than it does. From the real-time degrading of the ice to movement of the players’ jerseys and this game is gorgeous.

Audio 10.0: The soundtrack of the game is an awesome array as always from EA Sports and Bill Clement and Gary Thorne doing an authentic feeling broadcast makes you want to jump up and shout like you’re in the Garden cheering along with a capacity crowd.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: It’s a sports sim…

Gameplay: 10.0: The best A.I. system to date combined with the best puck physics I have ever witnessed makes this game as smooth and flawless as if you were watching a game on TV.

Replay Value: 10.0: If you love hockey, there is no reason for you not to immerse yourself in the returning Dynasty or Be a Pro modes.

Overall (not an average): 10.0: What can I say? As a diehard hockey fan, I just can’t find a flaw with this game. If you love hockey, you NEED this game.

So there is your double dose of winter sports. Both of these games are sure winners if you are a fan of these sports.

-Ray Carsillo

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EA vs 2K: Round 1: Hockey

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April 18, 2010

Originally Published: October 7, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Every fall, two video game publishing juggernauts wage war with each other to see who will reign supreme in the sports video game world. EA is, of course, the favorite due to their sole rights to the NFL brand, so for the underdog 2K to dethrone the champ, they would have to contend with EA in the other two, basketball and hockey.

Traditionally, 2K takes basketball, but EA dominates hockey and, therefore, have remained the number one sports brand for years. This year, 2K planned on making a solid effort at taking the crown.

2K’s NHL 2K9 is one of the most fun games you will probably play…for about 10 minutes. You can pick it right up and start playing it, but it is not long before you see everything that is wrong with this game. The controls respond poorly, the computer A.I. is ridiculously simple, and it has the most glitches in a sports game that I’ve seen in years. Not to mention the graphics look last generation at best. The effort was there, I think, but clearly not enough because they couldn’t even get the rights to use “Madison Square Garden” in the game and it’s simply referred to as “Rangers Arena”, which as a Rangers fan, infuriated me to say the least. Anyone who gets this is doing a disservice to themselves if they actually paid for it and I’d be doing a disservice by continuing to talk about it.

EA’s NHL 09 is one of the most fun games you will probably play…ever. The new “Be a Pro” mode is amazingly accurate and the old standbys like “Dynasty” mode are just as good as ever. “Be a Pro” mode sticks you in the shoes of an up and coming prospect, much like Madden’s “Superstar” mode. There are many key differences from 2K’s poor attempt that makes this game even better. First, you can choose which franchise you belong to, which is crucial. There isn’t a Rangers fan alive that wants to play for the Devils or Flyers. Next, you can start in the minors and develop your own custom player as you see fit. If you want a stronger slap shot, you can add development points that you earn based on your performance to it then.

The third, and most impressive aspect, is that you don’t control anyone else on the team. When your shift is up, you go and sit on the bench and catch your breath. If you are out of position, the entire offensive rush could collapse or you could allow an opposing player a breakaway. Even if you’re the goalie, when the action is happening on the other side of the ice, you just stand there and wait. If you love the ins and outs of hockey or want to get a more in depth understanding of the game, then this mode is for you because it will make you learn them if you want to succeed.

The other amazing feature of this game is the puck. Whatever mode you’re playing, the puck almost seems alive. The best way to describe the movement of the puck would be organic. The only other place you would see the puck bouncing around like this would be in a real life game. That’s how real it is. My talking about it does not do it justice.

If you are a hockey fan, you must get EA’s NHL 09. No other hockey game gets you closer to the real NHL experience than this. The gameplay is superb, the graphics are great, and even the sounds of players being smashed against the boards are the most accurate you will find outside of a rink. EA has done it once again and dominated in the hockey arena. Sorry, 2K. Maybe you will fare better in the next round with basketball.

-Ray Carsillo

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Defense Wins Championships

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Officially Published: October 3, 2008, at 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Being that 1050 ESPN is the official radio station of the New York Rangers and being a diehard Rangers fan myself, I felt obliged to write a short season preview as we prepare for the dropping of the first puck over in Prague. The New York Rangers hope that the old adage above holds true for their 2008-2009 NHL season. With the loss of forwards Sean Avery, Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, and Brendan Shanahan, the Rangers hope that a bolstered defense and the energy of the young guns they are using to replace these wily veteran scorers will be the right mix to take them the distance in the NHL Playoffs this year.

The acquisition of veteran defensemen Wade Redden and Dmitri Kalinin will only strengthen last year’s 4th best defense in the NHL, which was spearheaded, of course, by Vezina finalist goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The hard hitting Kalinin will be a great influence on youngsters Dan Girardi and Marc Staal and help in their continued development and Redden will help bolster the power play roster by allowing Michal Rozsival a break by coming in as the second unit’s offensive defenseman. The Rangers are hinging a lot of hope on their adding Redden to a power play that was only 22nd in the league last year.

They especially need the power play to pick it up considering all the offensive firepower they are losing and they were still only 25th in the league last year in goals forced. Adding veteran sniper Markus Nasland will make up some of the loss, but Chris Drury and Scott Gomez will be expected to pick up most of the slack and they will have to if the Rangers are to do anything this year.

Youngster Brandon Dubinsky looks like he learned a lot from his year with Jagr though as he has started the preseason on fire. You only hope that Naslund’s influence can help focus Dubinsky’s youthful energy. If this is the case, Brandon could stun a lot of people as he continues to develop into a star in this league. Also, expect Petr Prucha to make up for his sophomore slump and have a breakout year, especially since he is expected to play every night now that the Rangers have lost some depth at forward.

The Rangers are also adding a lot of players with question marks looming over their heads. The biggest one is Nikolai Zherdev who has the potential to be a big time goal scorer in this league, but seems to lose focus in a moment’s notice. Coach Tom Renney will not tolerate a lack of focus from Zherdev; he is expected to be playing on the top line and the Rangers will need him to have a big year. It’s a lot of pressure on the young man’s shoulders, but it might be just what he needs to get into shape. Pressure can turn coal into diamonds or grind it to dust, and what pressure is there when you play for Columbus? We’ll find out what he’s really made of this year in New York.

The Rangers have the base elements of a really good team. They have scorers, penalty killers, a strong check line, and a Vezina caliber goalie. They have defensemen that can score and forwards that can defend. So where will the Rangers end up? If everything gels as is expected, then they should improve on last year’s awful offense and maintain their defense. If this happens then the Rangers have the potential to threaten Pittsburgh for the Eastern Conference title. If it doesn’t happen, then, unfortunately, we Garden faithful are used to waiting another year for a chance at the cup.

There’s always the Knicks, right? Oh…Wait…Umm…Nevermind…Let’s go Rangers!!!

-Ray Carsillo

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