NHL 2K11 - Road to the Cup By: 2K Admin Ron | Wednesday August 18 2010 Hi everyone, My name is Ben Bishop, producer for NHL 2K11, and I’m here to talk to you a little bit about our new Road to the Cup mode, as well as offer up a few extra tidbits on other new things that have been added to the game this year.
In NHL 2K10, we had the Mii Superskills mode, which allowed you to compete with your Mii characters in events themed after the Superskills Challenge at the NHL All-Star Game. It’s a lot of fun to actually see your Mii out there pulling off hockey moves like an NHL player would, so it seemed natural to try to expand that for NHL 2K11.
Road to the Cup is our biggest new game mode addition that once again pits Mii characters against one another in an attempt to earn as many fans as possible on the way to a final competition for the Stanley Cup. Players take turns by spinning a wheel that dictates what type of mini-game or event will take place, with the winner of each one earning a set number of fans. When one player gets to 1000 fans, the final event is played to determine who gets to claim the Cup. The more fans you have going into the final event, the better chance you have of winning.
Road to the Cup offers a fun alternative to the simulation hockey that you’re going to get throughout the rest of the game. It’s best played with 4 human players, but it still works well even if you’ve got only 1 or 2 other players there to join you. And if you’re on your own, don’t worry. Single players get to face-off against a Mii-styled Ryan Kesler. There are even special Mii-style appearances by Team 2K members Joe Thornton, Rick Nash, and Marty Turco too, so keep your eye out for them.
To break down the mode a little further and give you an idea of what the experience is like, here are the possible spaces you can land on when spinning the wheel during your turn:
Multiplayer – All 4 players compete at once in a fast-paced mini-game. Single Player – One player plays an All-Star Challenge mini-game based on the Skills Competition events at the NHL All-Star Game (similar to what you might remember from our Mii Superskills mode in NHL 2K10). Mini-Rink – The 4 players are randomly placed on teams and play a 2-on-2 game to 2 goals in our mini-rink environment. Trivia – Answer NHL trivia questions to earn fans, some text based, others using player headshots to identify the correct answer. +100 Fans – Get a free 100 fans. -100 Fans – Lose 100 fans.
The events take place in the various NHL arenas, with a map of North America acting as the backdrop. When you spin the wheel and land on Multiplayer, an NHL division is chosen at random, and you get to pick from one of the teams in that division, each having a different mini-game assigned to it. Single Player events take place in Carolina’s arena, where the All-Star Game will be held this year.
Here is a list of the Multiplayer events you can choose from:
Hot Streak – Skate around the ice with a colored tail trailing behind you, which is used to try and trip up opponents. Each player starts the round with 3 lives, and the last one standing wins. Barrels of Fun – Avoid barrels moving at different rates of speed all over the ice surface. Each player has 5 lives, and again, the last one standing wins. Capture Points – Hold the puck in various locations on the ice to try to “capture” that section while the other players attempt to get it away. Most points captured when time runs out wins. Graffiti Circles – Skate over colored icons scattered all over the ice that are worth up to 4 points each to turn them into your player’s color. Most points when time runs out wins. King of the Hill – Hold the puck in the circle at center ice for as long as possible while the other players try to get it away. Whoever has held the puck in the circle for the longest when time runs out wins.
And here is a list of the Single Player events:
Fastest Skater – Skate laps around the rink as quickly as possible. The better your time, the more fans you’ll earn. Be careful on the turns. Hardest Shot – Take a slap shot on an open net. The harder your shot, the more fans you’ll earn. Accuracy Shooting – Try to hit targets placed around the perimeter of an open net. The more targets hit, the more fans you’ll earn. Breakaway Challenge – You have 6 chances to go 1-on-1 against the goalie and try to score. The more goals you get, the more fans you’ll earn.
The final event is a ton of fun, and one of the best parts is that even if you didn’t do so well leading up to it, you’ll still have a chance to make a comeback and wind up winning the Cup. Overall, we’re really excited that we were able to find a more fun and in-depth way to integrate Mii characters into the game while still keeping that tie to the sport of hockey and the NHL. Whether you’re on your own or you’ve invited a few friends over, give it a shot when you feel like taking a little break from your regular action on the ice.
And finally, before wrapping this insight up, I also wanted to mention a couple other additions to the game that you might find interesting:
Winter Classic Mode We’ve continued our tradition of including the Winter Classic in our games this year, but now it’s significantly easier to get to, as now it’s a separate mode. Right off the main menu you’ll be able to select Winter Classic, and immediately be set up in Fenway Park with both Boston and Philadelphia wearing their Winter Classic uniforms. Fenway Park is also still an option during Quick Game if you’d like to play with two other teams there. And Wrigley Field is even available too if you want to go back one more year.
New Equipment We’ve done some updates to the equipment, with a specific focus on getting the goalies as accurate as possible. So you will be seeing new goalie pads from Reebok, Bauer, and Sherwood (Martin Brodeur model) in the game. We’ve also added Bauer’s popular new 9900 helmet worn by many of top NHL players, including Ryan Kesler.
In closing, we’re really looking forward to everyone getting a chance to play NHL 2K11. Even though we’re only on Wii this year, we really feel like we’ve delivered an authentic hockey experience, and with additional features like Road to the Cup, hopefully there’s a little something for everyone. Get your copy on Tuesday, August 24th!
NBA 2K10: Draft Combine, Part II By: SimBaller | Thursday August 13 2009 Alright, it’s time for Part II of my NBA 2K10: Draft Combine Insight! Before we move on to discussing the Draft Combine games, I want to take a quick moment to let you know that a Trial version of NBA 2K10: Draft Combine is set to be released on 8/26 (XBLA) and 9/3 (PSN), alongside the full release of the game. The Trial version allows you to create a character and take him into basic 5-on-5 scrimmages. You won’t be participating in Drills or Draft Combine games in the Trial version (this means you won’t be accruing your much needed Skill Points), but it does give you a sneak peek at what the full version of NBA 2K10: Draft Combine offers if you’re on the fence. We know the game is great; we want you to play it and come to that conclusion yourself!
Ok, with that out of the way, let’s get back to business and pick up right where we left off, shall we?
Draft Combine Games
On to the games! Your player will see plenty of game action so he can be eyed by the scouts and thus increase his draft stock. Ultimately, your success all comes down to picking up Skill Points early on (this will help you increase your player’s overall rating, which will of course impress the scouts). To do so, you will want to concentrate on getting good Teammate grades, well-rounded game stats, passing your game objectives, and finding a way to win the game.
Before each game, you’ll be given three objectives by the 2K Insider: an offensive objective, a defensive objective, and a teammate grade objective.
Let’s break these down. The Teammate Grade is the deepest barometer of how you are doing on a game-to-game basis, taking into account the quality of your shots/passes/defense, how engaged you are with the action while not being a ball hog, and how true you are to your position and team basketball. Every second that you are on the court, we are analyzing every move you make and everything going on around you. Did you slack off of your man on defense allowing him an easy jumper? Your Teammate Grade just dropped. Did you pass up a wide-open teammate only to selfishly take a shot with a man in your face? Your Teammate Grade just dropped again. The NBA scouts and coaches at the Draft Combine are looking for players to help their teams win games. They aren’t interested in someone who takes every shot while shutting out his teammates.
At the end of the game, we finish analyzing all of your data and compute your final Teammate Grade. The higher your Teammate Grade is at the end of a game, the better (for a number of reasons). The most obvious benefit, as mentioned above, is an increased number of Skill Points to improve your player with. A player pulling off an ”A-“ or better Teammate Grade is going to receive a very nice bonus to their Skill Points. Meanwhile, a player who gets lower than a C is going to actually lose Skill Points from their total. That’s not a good thing!
Next up is your offensive objective. These are based on the type of player you chose, and are scaled, difficulty-wise, to the skill level of your player. An example of an offensive objective for a Pass First Point Guard is to record 5 assists in a single game. For a Back-To-Basket Center, an example objective is to score 4 points in a single game by using post moves. The objective system was designed to take the skill set of your player and challenge you to become a better player. As you play through the Draft Combine and on into My Player mode, you will definitely see first-hand what I mean by this.
Similar to the offensive objectives, the defensive objectives will be based and scaled on your player type and ability. A Defensive Center may have the objective to block 2 shots in the game, while a Pass First Point Guard may be given the objective to hold the opposing point guard to a shooting percentage below 45%. The objectives will vary throughout the six 5-on-5 games you play. Every game presents a new set of challenges!
In addition to being judged on the three objectives, you can also earn Skill Points based on your stats, whether or not your team wins the game, the number of highlight plays your player makes, and of course, whether your team picks up the W. Win and reap the rewards, lose and go unnoticed by the scouts.
Throughout your player’s time in the Draft Combine, you will be aided with words of advice from the NBA 2K Insider, who will serve as your mentor. This guy, more than anyone, wants to see you succeed. After every played game, the Insider will provide (via both on-screen text as well as voice-over) invaluable feedback from your game. He’ll let you know what you did right, what you did wrong, and the things you should try and improve on if you are serious about making it in the NBA.
Getting back to the game play, the real purpose of the 5-on-5 games is to show the coaches and scouts you have what it takes to play in the NBA. After each game, your draft stock will be updated showing you an approximation of where the NBA teams are currently valuing you at. The better you do in the games, the higher your draft stock will be. If you are struggling to complete objectives, you’ll see your draft stock drop. It’s possible for your draft stock to tumble so far that NBA teams will be turning a blind eye towards you on draft night. If this happens, you still have a good chance of getting an invite to participate in the Summer Circuit, but it is by no means a given. The cool thing about My Player mode is that everyone is going to have a different path to the NBA. For you, your path starts at the Draft Combine, and it’s really important to take it one step at a time. If you are an avid player and you want to set yourself up for success, in my opinion, you NEED to get this title. I’ll elaborate more on the different paths your career can take when I post a My Player Insight down the road.
Another little perk that NBA 2K10: Draft Combine provides is the ability to compare your player against everyone else’s where Draft Combine is available to play. We have leaderboards for both Skill Points Earned and Overall Rating. Do you have what it takes to be the best in the world? If so, prove it.
So, make sure to go out and get your copy on August 26th (360 users) or September 3rd (PS3 users)! Fortunately for me, I got a bit of a head start. my 6’8 Point Forward is already uploaded to the 2K Sports servers and ready to be drafted! What type of player are you going to make? I’d like to hear some strategies on how you are going to developing your player. Personally, I’m looking forward to taking my player online and joining one of the top Crews. As for what exactly that means, you’ll just have to wait and see…
- Erick Boenisch aka SimBaller
NEXT NBA 2K10 DEVELOPER INSIGHT: “NBA Today,” by Asif Chaudhri –Monday, August 17th
Audio By: 2K Admin Ron | Wednesday February 24 2010 Hey guys, My name is Joel Simmons, Audio Director for Major League Baseball® 2K10. We've had a really exciting year for audio and broadcast in this year’s game. From Spring Training to the World Series, MLB Today (read a previous Insight about it here if you haven’t already) presents Major League Baseball within the context of what really makes a difference in a baseball season: the stories, the statistics, the trends and analysis. From player and team leaderboards, last game and series analysis, to detailed stat splits and upcoming series promos, refreshing broadcast segments are peppered throughout the presentation and gameplay. When Evan Longoria faces Justin Verlander in a Rays-Tigers series, you'll hear he's gone 3 for 9 lifetime against Verlander, or that last year Longoria hit .294 against the Tigers at Comerica Park. In the first meeting of the year between the Giants and the Dodgers, you might hear that Los Angeles is coming off a 3-game set in which they won 2 games against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, and that last year between SF and LA, the season series was 11-7 in favor of the Dodgers.
One of the first things you’ll notice in 2K10 is the addition of John Kruk to the broadcast booth. John brings a wealth of knowledge and passion about the game of baseball and his commentary on how players and teams have been performing adds a whole new dimension to the game's presentation. Throughout the season, Gary Thorne, Steve Phillips, and John Kruk will keep you up-to-date in MLB Today with what's going on in the real baseball season. The best part is that you'll also get these same breakdowns and analysis in your season or franchise. When teams in your league or division are off to a slow start in April, or have come on hot in May, you won't have to dig through menus to find that out. If you've got a tough upcoming road trip against the Braves and the Marlins, you'll hear about it in-game. What teams have the best pitching staffs over the last 30 days as you approach the All-Star Break? We'll show you. What players have been red hot with runners in scoring position, or have been the biggest threats on the base-paths? You'll hear about that too. The new broadcast keeps you updated with team rankings over the course of the entire season, displaying rankings not only in league standings, but in all of the top stat categories too. As the season winds down, we'll show you a breakdown of the Wild Card race in each league and what teams lead or trail in that race, and by how much. You'll hear about the trends of streaking or slumping players, how Kendry Morales went 2 for 4 in his last game against the Mariners, or how Justin Morneau is coming into the game following a walk-off home run last night against the White Sox. As a whole, the new broadcast features and analysis convey a wealth of information giving you that edge of knowing what really matters as the season progresses. Like the best Major League scouts, you'll be backed with real-world knowledge as you approach each matchup and situation. With these stats and analysis at your disposal, it can give you the edge to help you to become a better player and, ultimately, take YOUR team to the World Series.
We have listened to feedback from our fans and concentrated on greatly expanding and improving the level of detail of our in-game stadium sound. This year, we've started fresh with dozens of new bat hit sound effects that are much more realistic and accurate to broadcast, revealing the location and quality of contact. How you swing the bat, whether for contact, power, or a defensive approach - this year's hitting experience sounds and feels deeper and more satisfying. Each stadium has its own unique sonic signature too. We've added over a thousand new stadium specific beats, chants, charge calls, and music clips. Our fans asked for true-to-life stadium beats and organ representation, so we modeled each stadium's organ sound to match its real-life counterpart to put you right in the stands. And for all of you Philly fans, since there is no organist in Citizen's Bank Park, there isn't one in Major League Baseball® 2K10 either. As you travel around the league throughout a season, the variety and unique character of each stadium's sound treatment provides a much more immersive experience.
We hope that everyone enjoys the new broadcast and audio presentation and are as excited about it as we are here at 2K Sports. We can't wait to hear from our fans as we find out just what the upcoming baseball season brings.
- Joel Simmons Audio Director
NEXT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2K10 DEVELOPER INSIGHT: TBD
so i am not surprised to see you have an annoying web site being that you make a sports game with the worst physics i have ever had the displeasure of trying to control. as a ball player and a gamer i have never been more frustrated playing a game, i have decent stats and yet my fielder is incapable of chasing balls down in the same time the AI take and they managed to grab it and i have better stats than said fielder. also how are you going to have a center fielder have to track a fly into left field right where the left fielder is.. come on? i can go on and on about the problems with your game but you don't pay me for that, the only reason i signed up for this was so i could tell you that i will not be playing ANY 2k games until you guys start taking the time to make sure that it's worth the already bloated prices you are asking for... never again. tayntidfate
Why does the server disconnect durring the game? I continuly have an issue with the 2k servers on baseball. It doesnt allow us to finish the game or stay conntected. If I chose tampaba and play against NY yankees it locks up. I am getting really frustrated. I dont have this problem with tiger. Only baseball
Wonder what the fatigue will be set at in that flu game? Should never get above like 60. Also, I think people playing on the highest difficulty Hall of Fame should get more than others
I wonder if this is too late to add.... and I dont know if any one thought of this....but what about a jordan challenge that requires you to duplicate the success of the 1995-1996 season (72-10 regular season record, NBA champions). Im not asking for those teams to be present from that season but to take either the 1995-96 Bulls or perhaps any team in the game currently, and have the user try and duplicate this feat or if they can, better it. I like the idea of trying to do that. I've tried several times over the years to better 72 wins and the closest I have gotten is 68 wins with LA in 2K9 (no simulations either). 72 wins is really hard especially when you play on superstar level or higher. So I'm asking is this at all possible to add as a challenge? If not as a challenge, can it become trophy or recognition of some sort. I think the community would be able to really appreciate this task and challenge. Anyone who plays thru an entire 82 game season + playoffs knows it's tough to do especially without simulating. To me theres a sort of honor by playing thru every game of a season and dealing with whatever comes up. Let me know what you think.
I wonder if this is too late to add.... and I dont know if any one thought of this....but what about a jordan challenge that requires you to duplicate the success of the 1995-1996 season (72-10 regular season record, NBA champions). Im not asking for those teams to be present from that season but to take either the 1995-96 Bulls or perhaps any team in the game currently, and have the user try and duplicate this feat or if they can, better it. I like the idea of trying to do that. I've tried several times over the years to better 72 wins and the closest I have gotten is 68 wins with LA in 2K9 (no simulations either). 72 wins is really hard especially when you play on superstar level or higher. So I'm asking is this at all possible to add as a challenge? If not as a challenge, can it become trophy or recognition of some sort. I think the community would be able to really appreciate this task and challenge. Anyone who plays thru an entire 82 game season + playoffs knows it's tough to do especially without simulating. To me theres a sort of honor by playing thru every game of a season and dealing with whatever comes up. Let me know what you think.
