EA vs ESPN ----> NHL 2005 [Archive]

Null

08-17-2004, 01:44 PM

well, reviews and comparisons are coming in...

Which will you be getting?

EGM Scores -
EA NHL 2005 [ 6.0 ; 6.0 ; 7.0 ]
ESPN NHL 2005 [ 8.5 ; 8.5 ; 8.0 ]

Price -
EA [ 49.99 ]
ESPN [ 19.99 ; clear winner ]

Gamepro Comparisons -

Hockey Authenticity
*EA - The expected action-packed, arcade feel.
*ESPN - More realistic and true to the sport, but harder [Winner]

Career mode
*EA - RPG-like "video-game" approach
*ESPN - Fantasy hockey feel to building roster and staff [Winner]

Fighting
*EA - No meters; can opt in; great feel [Winner]
*ESPN - Great new redesign with tight new controls

Online
*EA - Tournaments and head to head only.
*ESPN - Clear winner - usuals plus leagues and even Party mode! [Winner]

Arcade mode
*EA- Free4all mode lacks creativity
*ESPN - Party mode mini-games absolutly rock! [Winner]

Skating/controls
*EA - Needs tuning- spastic, jerky feel
*ESPN - Butter-smooth and natural; handles instinctivly [Winner]

Checking
*EA - Difficult to line up and connect - needs tuning
*ESPN - Wins by a hair- hits connect easier but lack bone-crunching feel [Winner]

Graphics
*EA - Unbeatable gorgeus arenas, scary-real player faces and movements [Winner]
*ESPN - Respectable but lacks wow power.

Commentary
*EA - Same tired, no-name duo in the booth-EA needs to hire some pros
*ESPN - Gary Thorne and Bill Clement - hard to top the voices of hockey [Winner]

So which will you all be getting? my mind was made up after owning both NHL 2004 and ESPN hockey last season. ESPN was clearly better, and now with better online modes and a 19.99 price; damn, no way im saying no to that.

and i also expect some of the canadians here to come say thoes arent the voices of hockey. and i understand that but it was the magazine that said it, not me. :p

My choice. ESPN. Will i be seeing any of you online with me?

[Edit] For Joeiss, this is from Gamepro...

Espn's franchise mode is reaping the benefits of a stronge overhaul; the focus is on building your team and staff, so you can hire/fire coaches, move prospects between the minors and majors, squabble over contracts. Your minor-league team is now a fully functional team istead of just a holding pool, and scouting plays a much bigger role as you assign scouts to regions around the world, then take several different looks at promising players, even running them through some drills. It feels much more like a fantasy-sports approach, the kind of thing that sports nuts can really get lost in.

Release dates:
EA - 9.14 for PS2 // 9.20 for Xbox
ESPN - 8.30 for both PS2 and Xbox

Typhoid

08-17-2004, 02:07 PM

About the commentators for EA. They arnt no-name commentators. The EA hockey games are made in Vancouver, and the commentators for all EA hockey games have been the Vancouver Canucks commentators. It doesnt bug me, probably because i always associate their voice with hockey anyways.

( You do know each team has its own commentators right? 2 guys dont do each team in Canada...)

The guys for the Canucks are Jim Hughson, and Jeff Garret, it used to be Jim Hughson and Don Taylor ( Don Taylor is the guy who would make the "funny" comments in the games.)

But meh. Just plain Meh. I like EA hockey games, i always have.

But i think i'll pick up both.

Im picking up EA because i love ea, and im picking up ESPN, just because its gonna be like $30 cdn...

Null

08-17-2004, 02:10 PM

well no one said they werent involved with the sport. but as far as the hockey world is consirned, they're no name. same with any teams personal announcers.

i never minded EA's untill they got the goofy color comentary guy who made all the lame ass jokes thro the whole game. got sick of it then.

And it took me a while also to get over my EA attraction, i never wanted to let go of the EA brand name but once switched i havnt looked back yet. i felt like i was actually playing hockey again. instead of an arcade game.

Typhoid

08-17-2004, 02:14 PM

well no one said they werent involved with the sport. but as far as the hockey world is consirned, they're no name. same with any teams personal announcers.

Every commentator is no-name to a city that doesnt listen or watch that particular team. I cant tell you ANY other teams commentators, because i dont listen to them, so thenn they are no name to me. Its geographical. And i think they pick the Canucks guys because geographically, they have to drive down the street to do the voice acting, instead of spending tons of money and flying " name brand" hockey announcers ( please name me some)

As the hockey world is conserned then Null, name me some top notch hockey announcers, and what team they announce for.

Null

08-17-2004, 02:20 PM

Typhoid

08-17-2004, 02:24 PM

lol. your missing it.

its not ANY teams.

Gary Thorne and Bill Clement are ESPN's announcers. thats a sports channel, a cable sports channel. they cover EVERY team, and whatever games they're assigned to they go and do a game a night thro the playoffs, US wise they're considered some of the best in the hockey world.

Now canada's announcers im not sure of. but im pretty sure i hear the same announcers covering different teams during 'Hockey Night in Canada'. They're not team specific, they're general announcers. thats what im talking about when i say the 'hockey world'

Don Cherry and his skinny sidekick, even tho they dont announce games, they'd be considered some of the best hockey analists? in the hockey world. They arent for any one team. they're for hockey in general.

No body knows any one elses personal team announcers except thier own city and fans.

Ive never heard of those first two commentators, possibly because i dont have satalite, so i dont get ESPN. And yes, Maclean and Cherry are well known, but they arnt Commentators, they are analysts, like you said.

And CBC i think has a few that do games, but you must remember, they dont do EVERY Canadian game, just 2 of them ( sometimes 1) every Saturday, i still have no idea who they are, because they only announce a mere fraction of Canuck games.

You do know, *cough* up here in Canada, we do have more than one channel that carries hockey. I think each Canadian team only has maybe, 7 games on CBC a year, ( not including playoffs) so the majority of games are announced by...yes.....the home team commentators.

Jim Hughson and John Garret do the announcing for Sportsnet Pacific, thats a sports channel too. The channel just happens to only carry Canuck games.

Null

08-17-2004, 02:29 PM

its slightly different in canada being only 6 teams. so they cover less games.

for us around detroit, most other channels are blocked out when the home channel covers it. but still, The comentary people who do any team they're assigned to are more known to the general public, obviously any city knows thier home announcers more, general hockey annoucers are more widly known.

point in case. i garentee more people in canada know the hockey night in canada announcers more the the canucks personal announcers. i'd love to see a game use thoes guys, i enjoy listening to thier games also.

and i think almost all the teams have thier announcers on the sports net cable channels. thats why its sports NET, its a network of them. redwings announcers are on the Fox sports net. for us its Fox sports Detroit.

Dyne

08-17-2004, 04:23 PM

You know what, after reading this.. I think I'm interested in buying ESPN. I mean, for that cheap.. it's a steal. I don't own any hockey games, either.

Typhoid

08-17-2004, 04:26 PM

I was wondering about extras for both games, you left that out.

Like, can you "win" or "earn" old jerseys, teams players stuff like that? Old logos and stuff? Because i know EA already has the old jerseys, but i was wondering if you can get old teams, like the Jets, or teams like that.

EDIT:

What about like, extra leagues, and international stuff? Because i know EA NHL 2004, had 3 euro leagues, and it had an awesome international thing, including "movie" clips for when you win a medal, flag raising, and anthem playing.

What about ESPN?

And EA had 20 years of dynasty.

How many does it have this year, and what about ESPN?

Null

08-17-2004, 04:54 PM

not sure. i know ESPN 04 had the old jerseys and all that. not sure about old teams, but it would be a neat idea.

i saw pics of the party mode on ESPN, it looks like a blast. lol. they said it reminds them of Mario Party games. but they're hockey ones. :)

Joeiss

08-18-2004, 12:21 AM

Thanks for making this thread, Null. I have been reading information about ESPN Hockey 2K5 for the past month or so, and I have allready decided that is that game that I am going to purchase.

I'll answer some questions and post some info/pics about the game in this post.

Announcers: Bob Cole and Harry Neal do the announcing for Toronto Maple Leafs, and Canadian teams in the playoffs only after Toronto gets knocked out. I believe all teams have their own announcing duo. But this is only for CBC games, I believe. Not sure about the radio/TSN/Sportsnet.

Price: ESPN is definitely a steal. $30 Canadian? Thanks, I'll go out and get a 24 of Canadian and this game for the price of EA's game, haha.

Old Jerseys: I believe this says it all. I am not sure if classic teams are in the game.. But if they are, they obviously wouldn't have player names (but you can do that manually! haha).

http://www.espnvideogames.com/_img/screens/nhl2005/espnnhl2k5_tst3_9.jpg

Dream Teams: There are 20 dream teams in this game! These teams were hand chosen by the likes of "Martin St. Louis, Jeremy Roenick, Chris Drury, Brendan Shanahan, Steve Levy, Marty Turco, Gary Thorne, Bill Clement and many more."

http://www.espnvideogames.com/_img/screens/nhl2005/espnnhl2k5_tst4_02.jpg

Franchise: Just check this out for random questions: http://www.espnvideogames.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34281

And to top it all off... Heritage Classic, anyone?

http://www.espnvideogames.com/_img/screens/nhl2005/espnnhl2k5_tst3_4.jpg

Anyways.. ESPN is going to be sweet. And the fact that you can have prospect games that you can control before you draft players, that is even better! You can see how they play and everything before you pick them. And, for contracts, you can backload or frontload them, and have signing bonuses, and bonuses for points, assists, goals and titles (like norris, son smythe, etc).

This game is gonna be sick. I will be devoting many hours in my dorm room to my Maple Leaf dynasty, haha.

Typhoid

08-18-2004, 01:13 AM

While the graphics look waaaay better than the last one, the faces are still meh. That doesnt say anything for classic jersey's eithe. :P I was talking more on an article or something.

But i will be picking up both games.

Heritage classic does look nifty, unless you can only play the two teams. :\

And im not really all to neat on the whole "dream team" idea. I play the game for real teams, past teams would be way better than dream teams IMO.

When does ESPN come out, its this month isnt it? But i also though EA was this month, thats what it said in OPM. Those dates are unreliable to me.

So at risk of sounding lame, when are the release dates again?

EDIT: Those pics are for Xbox or GC.

And i will admit, this game will give EA a run for its money. And i hate to admit it, but i am eagerly awaiting the release of this game. ( ESPN) But i am also eagerly awaiting EA, so meh.

Typhoid

08-18-2004, 01:27 AM

Double post, yes perhaps. But look at the graphics....

-------------ESPN ------------

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920673_20040811_screen003.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920673_20040803_screen001.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920673_20040803_screen005.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920673_20040803_screen007.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920673_20040803_screen010.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920673_20040727_screen008.jpg

-----------------EA-------------

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920427_20040715_screen005.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920428_20040629_screen004.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920428_20040629_screen006.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920428_20040629_screen014.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/920427_20040519_screen005.jpg

Im not making judgements, im just posting pics from both games to easily compare looks.

Null

08-18-2004, 09:16 AM

it was already said EA's got the better graphics. no question there.
although IMO, espn's make the game seem more realistic.

but compare the 2 with actual gamesplay camera angles. :p thats where it matters to me. i couldnt care less about replays.

when you get into the actual game tho, graphics mean so little. EA is a high scoring arcade style, which goals can get up into the 20's. EA hockey games always have the one way that seems to always score. This year its thier new wrap around goal. EGM already says it scores at least 50% of the time. which is just unacceptable.

ESPN is a much much more simulation style where much of the time goals stay below 4

EA is holding itself up in the hockey game community by reputation. people dont want to let go of the brand name they've held for so many years. ESPN is bulding a reputation on solid gameplay

one of the main things for me tho is the online stuff. EA has tournaments and head to head gameplay online only.
ESPN's will have all that plus leagues and party mode. :) leagues are great fun online. its like playing a season with real people.

and i wrote the release dates in the first post;

EA - 9.14 for PS2 // 9.20 for Xbox
ESPN - 8.30 for both PS2 and Xbox

Typhoid

08-18-2004, 01:10 PM

when you get into the actual game tho, graphics mean so little. EA is a high scoring arcade style, which goals can get up into the 20's. EA hockey games always have the one way that seems to always score. This year its thier new wrap around goal. EGM already says it scores at least 50% of the time. which is just unacceptable.

Then just edit the difficulty and aggression of the computer, ive never had a game go that high. In one player, the highest i got goals was i think 8. But i play on "Hard" with high aggresion, stick-checking,and blocking.

To me, graphics mean so much, because its a gme i play. I dont sim a season, i dont do that. The game is meant to be played, as in, playing the games, not simming everything.

Thats why graphics mean so much to me.

Its just to me, the graphics for the ESPN game look outdated. Judging by the horrible graphics, the gameplay better be the best gameplay ever made for any hockey game ever.

If i wanted a game that was only good for the off season stuff, sure, id get ESPN, and only ESPN, but i want a game that i ca play. A game with stunning graphics, that makes the people watching forget sometimes that it isnt real hockey.

Null

08-18-2004, 01:19 PM

Yes, the game is meant to be played. And if I wanted to play an arcade hockey game, im sorry but theres better ones then EA. But i dont, i want to play HOCKEY, and hockey is not what EA makes. They make high scoring rock em sock em games.

I turned all the diffulty up on EA games, always have. problem is, as i said theres always a 'glitch' if you will to scoring. One type of thing results in goals most the times, I can remember em since NHL 94, theres always been somthin. Sure you can pretend it doesnt exist and dont use it. But on a tight game where you know you can score just by doing it and you want to win. it gets hard to ignore. even on hard settings the games ended up above 10.

on this new one, not only does the wrap around score WAY to often, but they said they cleared the nutral zone, which means now one man can just carry it the length of the ice without being touched. IMO, thats not what hockey is about. thats what an arcade hockey game is.

Do yourself a favor tho, since ESPN comes out before EA's, get to know ESPN's and give it a decent run. The game itself is so much better. I dont know why anyone would want EA's just becaue of graphics that are only better when you zoom in.

to me, while EA's look sharper graphics. ESPN's are the ones that look much more realistic. EA's look sharper, but more computer generated.

Joeiss

08-18-2004, 05:18 PM

There is no doubt that the graphics on EA's game are better, however you will not be playing the videogame on that view. You will not be seeing player faces when you are actually playing the game, only during cutscenes.

And the dream team thing is a seperate mode. There are 20 of them, and it acts as a ladder. You have to beat everybody to complete the ladder. Every team you beat, you unlock them and can use them against the higher ladder teams. There are 3 Canada teams, lol.. And 2 American teams, btw.

Typhoid

08-18-2004, 05:56 PM

Does it have Countries, and other leagues? I mean both games here, because i havent read about this for either of them, so i'll re-direct the question.

Do either games have alternate leagues ( Euro-leagues) and do they both have countries?

Joeiss

08-18-2004, 06:04 PM

I think I read somewhere that the 2K series has had euro leagues since 2k1.. not sure though.

Null

08-18-2004, 10:15 PM

yea. ESPN carries Country teams or euro leagues whatever.

and it said something about minor teams being playable or something when it talked about the dynasty or career mode.

Joeiss

08-18-2004, 11:56 PM

Null

08-19-2004, 12:01 AM

i was just reading where it said 'your minor league team is now a fully funtional team instead of just a holding spot'

whatever they mean :P i dont use career mode so dunno.

Typhoid

08-19-2004, 12:02 AM

Minor leagues are not playable in ESPN. However, as you play through your season, so does your minor league team. You will be able to see stats and stuff on every player on the team, and even edit their lines.

So you cant play the minor teams, just manage them then? ok.

To toally change the subject, in EA MVP Baseball 2004, you play MLB, AAA, and AA. You can PLAY them all. Its insane, plus the graphics are nutty in this game. And you can unlock stadiums, old players and jerseys. Best Baseball game i have ever played, i might not another in feart it wont be as good.

Fox 6

08-19-2004, 12:09 AM

I just prefer EA for some reason

Null

08-19-2004, 12:12 AM

its hard to let go. ;)

Null

08-30-2004, 12:13 PM

Wednesday, sept 1st is when NHL 2k5 comes out.

and i must say, the more i read on the game the more impressed i get at the work they've put in over last years version.

Theres 15 party games in the party mode to choose from, which look like a blast to play.
And i finally took a look at the screenshots for the web stats. i wanted stats like EA does where you can look people up on the website. but they've gone and done that with much more detail. i love stats to look at. :)

*waits for wednesday...*

Joeiss

08-30-2004, 05:29 PM

I'll probably be getting it later on tonight or tomorrow. Pfft.. release dates, you know it will come out at lease 1 day early.

Null

08-30-2004, 06:02 PM

I'll probably be getting it later on tonight or tomorrow. Pfft.. release dates, you know it will come out at lease 1 day early.

actually i cant remember the last game i didnt get a day early.

but i was just informing the simple townsfolk! :p

you gunna be playin online at all?

Joeiss

08-30-2004, 07:41 PM

maybe.. probably not tooo much though.... but you never know

whenever you want to play just im me, cuz im in university now so i am free whenever

Joeiss

09-01-2004, 05:19 PM

got it yesterday after work, and holy hell there are alot of teams from the past, lol. '93 leafs are unlockable? that is ****iing incredible.

Null

09-01-2004, 05:46 PM

yea. or you can goto some teams like Phoenix, and just switch em to the Winnipeg Jets Jerseys, not sure if that was in other hockey games. dont remember looking.

some of party games are funny when you get a few guys playin. some are a bit annoying like the obstical course ones. i like the shooting and passing ones tho.

Make a name online and i'll play ya sometime Joeiss.

Typhoid

09-01-2004, 06:19 PM

yea. or you can goto some teams like Phoenix, and just switch em to the Winnipeg Jets Jerseys, not sure if that was in other hockey games. dont remember looking.

Its always been like that for EA, however the team name and logo dont change, just the jersy.

I dont know if the team name changes to the jets if you change the jersey in ESPN, that would be cool.

And if its not a bother, what are the unlockable classic teams?

Im still contemplating picking it up...the mall is a whole 15 minutes away...

Joeiss

09-01-2004, 09:45 PM

There are too many unlockable classic teams to count, lol.

Typhoid

09-11-2004, 05:36 PM

Here is some things on EA's game. And im liking what Im reading.

9 More days!!!!

A handy feature added this year is the ability to take control of an up-ice player when in control of the puck. With a simple button press, you can switch control to the pass-receiving player, get him in position, and then have the puck controller make the pass. This allows for much more-accurate setups for both attacking passes and one-timers.

The addition of a wraparound move is another authentic touch, and while we weren't able to notch a wraparound goal in our limited time with the game, it's nice to have such an integral hockey play as part of your offensive arsenal. Assigning the slap shot and the wrister to separate controls, which represent additional features in this year's game, provides another layer of control when it comes to burying the biscuit.

NHL 2005's new gameplay tweaks aren't just on the scoring side of the puck, however. Playing as a defenseman, you can now call for support during a breakout situation, effectively creating double-team opportunities on the fly, a useful technique when you've got a speedy Martin St. Louis bearing down on your goalie. The defensive artificial intelligence has been tweaked for the better this year as well. We saw one instance where the defensive AI broke up a pass by lifting up the opposing teammate's stick instead of going the harsher route by laying him out (and possibly drawing a penalty in the process).

Body size has an effect on the checking animations. A smaller forward checking a defenseman nearly twice his size might result in the checking player falling on his tail or merely bouncing off his opponent. Finally, the faces and body types of players and coaches are more accurate this time around, meaning the Flyers' rotund coach Ken Hitchcock no longer has the same lean physique as the Thrashers' headman Bob Hartley.

Tune in to any NHL broadcast and you'll hear tons of talk about team chemistry--especially chemistry within specific scoring and defensive lines. NHL 2005 has taken this idea into account this year with a very cool chemistry rating that's assigned to each line you put out on the ice. A high line-chemistry rating means an added bonus for each player in the line, while a line with no chemistry could result in a ratings penalty. The rating is determined by more than just the ratings of the individual players that comprise the lines but also by the skill set and style of play (such as playmaker, scorer, or grinder). Running out three superstar scorers on the same line, while tempting in a dream team sort of way, will likely result in a low chemistry rating and subsequent penalties for all players involved. For best results, choose complementary players to find that ideal mix of talent and player type to create scoring opportunities on the ice.

Link Here (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/nhl2005/preview_6106974.html)

Typhoid

09-25-2004, 12:02 AM

AHHHHH!!!

Why did I wastem that $42 on ESPN? Why oh why.

EA NHL 2005 is f-ing gorgeous, not to mention good off the gameplay.

(And Null, the wrap around like...never works. Ive constantly tried it, and havent scored yet.)

I will admit, yes, the game is fast paced, but this can be quelled by turning down the "gamespeed"

The Dynasty is....its just....well....its hard to explain. Im still in awe of its awesomeness.

You get to select your type of GM. Be it profit-hound, gameplay veteren, Talent man. But there are like, 15 variations of things.

Plus in the Dynasty, you get to set what type of practice you want. Which is awesome.

Not to mention, if you win the conference or Stanley cup, the first home game next season they raise the banner.

The faces show emotion when they get hit or score.

Not to mention you have the 3 international European leagues, which you may like to play in the absense of the NHL this year.

Plus you can do the WCH, because this is the first game to have all the countries involved.

There are different referee types as well. Pre-game they tell you if he likes to call penalties, let it ride, or mixed. There are other things, i just cant remember.

And while its not chalked full of mini-games, it does have the "Free-4-all". Which ( I havent played it yet) i think is 4 people, all trying to score on one net with a goalie in it.

Im not comparing the graphics to ESPN, but these ones are god-fing-gorgeous. The jerseys look ultra real. The creases in them, the folds....aaaaahhhh...

The cut scenes ae awesome, i love them. They make it feel like its an actual game in a sense. I dont just want to play a game, i want to play a game that resembles a TV broadcast of a game.

And after the game, it shows close-up highlights of a handfull of things that happened in the game.

The fights are the same as the other for the mostpart, there is something different, considering in NHL 2004 i never lost a fight, to now, where in NHL 2005 i have never won a fight. Its frusterating.

But being a man who has both games, i feel myself proper to give my 2 cents on both games.

But i extremely reccomend buying EA NHL 2005.

Null

09-25-2004, 12:41 AM

Typhoid

09-25-2004, 01:38 AM

played it. same arcade as usual. :( was having some hopes (not much tho) for it cuz i wouldnt mind having a nice one for PC.

scored on the first 3 out of 5 wraparounds. way way too easy.
not liking much at all, dissapointing even when i had no high hopes for it.

Good for arcade fans and graphic freaks who like to play with it zoomed in as much as possible.. Reviews speak for themselves, yet to find one decent review source that doesnt totally agree with what i've been saying.

Quote from Gamespot, sums up exactly how i feel after playing it...

"any NHL fan hoping for improvement over last year's offering is going to be pretty disappointed."

You just have it out for EA dont you?

And the whole wraparound thing. Seriously, i dont know what your doing to score on them, but I cant. I can only get like, 5 attampts per game. And i have only ever scored on one fo them. So whatever your doing to score on them, tell me.

And you cant just notice the graphics from a zoomed in view. I can easily notice it from the regular "Ice" or "Broadcast" view.

And Im not an arcade fane, but I love the game, because its better. Cutscenes. jerseys, International teams, WCH, about 20 or so countries.

No stupid commentary, and no stupid puns are made in this game, unlike in ESPN.

I think Im either returning ESPN this weekend, or burning it. Mt brothers roomate Carl doesnt even want it, and he'll take a bag of crap for free.

Joeiss

09-25-2004, 01:50 AM

You just have it out for EA dont you?

You have it out for Sega dont you?

Like really, both of you were fair and tried out both games. your rippin up sega, and null is rippin up ea. who cares.

Typhoid

09-25-2004, 01:53 AM

You have it out for Sega dont you?

Like really, both of you were fair and tried out both games. your rippin up sega, and null is rippin up ea. who cares.

Im not rippin up Sega. Its a good game, but its no EA.

Other than comparing ESPN to a bag of free crap, where have i said anything bad about it?

And i didnt just try both games, I own both games, theres a difference. I spent my money on a game i wont ever play again.

The Sega game would be better IMO if the graphics were a little better. To most people, who actually play games and watch the in game cutscenes, graphics matter. But if you just simulate every game, then Sega is your bag. But if your buying a game to play, go with EA.

Null

09-25-2004, 11:29 AM

Actually man, I WANT to like EA more, EA has been my bud for over 10 years of hockey. i really really hate leaving em. but im forced to, to get a decent hockey game

and im not tryin to convince him of anything anymore. i know what he's lookin for, quick goals, unrealistic play and great graphics. he has the right game, i knew that before he bought espn.

i like to actually play a hockey game. Neither game is the best hockey game ever, they both have quite a few annoying flaws. but its pretty easy to see ESPN is the better HOCKEY game, not the better LOOKING game.
its easy to see that after playing it, and its easy to see after all the reviews for both games that my thoughts are defently not alone.

the reason i dont notice graphics much is because i play so zoomed out to actually see the ice. i care about making plays and thinking stuff while playing. not about cut sceens which is skip or turn off anyway.

Typhoid

09-27-2004, 12:20 AM

WTF!!

I went into "Free Agnets" on EA, now i expected them to have created themselves (the people who made it) Which is fine by me, because i can just move them onto an international team (MoDo or something) and not worry about them. But i was shocked to find 3 of the people in the FA, I shall say who they are, and I shall say what they do, incase you dont know.

Marc Crawoford: The Cancucks coach and player back in the 80's.
Jim Hughson: Play-by-play commentator, im sure he used to be a player

Now....this last one confuse the pants off of me.

Rick Campenelli: VJ on Muchmusic. He has neve rplayed in the NHL, nor will he. And i know its the sma eone and not a coincidence, because it has his pic in the prof. This confused me beyond no extent. So if anyone knows why Rick Campenelli is in the game, please tell me.