2K Sports, the folks who are gearing up a new hockey game for the Wii, has also timely announced the master copy release of Top Spin 3 to mass production. The tennis simulator has gone gold for the DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360, and soon enough, tennis fans would be able to create their own avatar and grand slam against the likes of Sharapova and Federer. Details at the full story.

EA Sports' NHL 08 hasn't taken on the ice just yet but the developers are already giving everyone a clue on what's in store for the new season. One of the cool new features is a dedicated mode for the goalie position. Watch as David Litman, gameplay producer discusses it.

The goalie position is among the most underrated position in all of sports. Be it ice hockey, soccer or water polo, the goalie is often the most pressure-packed job especially when facing a savvy offensive squad. You're the last line of defense when your teammates slack off and you'll hear it from the crowd every time a shot blows by you. This year in EA Sports' NHL 08, you'll know that this isn't a job for the faint of heart.

Now that you have an idea of the pressures and thrills that being a goalie has, it's time to start thinking of ways to get excited when the opponent's offense gets more tenacious than a flaccid earthworm. In any case, you can get NHL 08 this month on the Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and the PC.

Buy: [NHL 08 (PS3)]
Buy: [NHL 08 (PC)]
Buy: [NHL 08 (Xbox 360)]

You think you've got the moves to lead breakaways and deke defenders into the boards? Do your goalie skills have what it takes to stand up to a swarm? This year 2K Sports will give you the chance to stake your big claims as it announces brand-new features in NHL 2K8.

The biggest addition this year is the Superstar moves system which realistically endow the video game's greats with fancy and effective maneuvers that the average player just can't do. It's what separates mere ice skaters from monsters on ice, so you better know what your team's ace does best.

The Superstar system was created using motion capture technology with the help of Igor Larionov who performed the moves while the developers captured the information. This results in more accurate movements than ever whenever a big move is used. Realism is at an all-time high, according to 2K Sports.

On the defensive end, the developers are addressing a factor long-criticized by hockey sim fans. Goalies have been made smarter than ever by enhancing the logic and decision-making skills of the AI. If you're tending the net, you'll have a myriad of moves to counter threats and prevent goals. Star goalie Marty Turco was consulted and like Larionov, was digitally captured for the sake of visuals.

Comments Kush Games' president Graeme Bayless:

Complementing our new ProStick feature, which gives users precision stick control, Superstar Moves bring an added layer of depth to the gameplay in NHL 2K8 by allowing gamers to execute some of the most legendary moves performed by actual NHL players.

NHL 2K8 is set for release later this year for the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 game consoles. Get your game on and prove to everyone that you're capable of miracle on ice.

Buy: [NHL 2K8 (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [NHL 2K8 (PS3)]

2K Sports has just named the cover athlete for their upcoming hockey video game, NHL 2K8 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PS2). It's none other than Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators.

In case you need reminding, Jason Spezza is one of the youngest Canadians (third, to be exact, behind greats Eric Lindros and Wayne Gretzky) to represent his country at the World Junior Hockey Championships. He was second overall pick at the 2001 NHL Draft and is well known for his speed on the ice and as a playmaker. Spezza expressed enthusiasm about NHL 2K8:

It's a great honor to be the NHL 2K8 cover athlete. The NHL 2K series has always selected some of the best players in the NHL and I'm really excited to follow in their footsteps of representing the finest hockey video game title this year.

Graeme Bayless, president at Kush Games had this to say:

We are thrilled to have Jason Spezza as our cover athlete for NHL 2K8. Spezza is a player that truly embodies the spirit of hockey which is something that we pride ourselves in with the NHL 2K series. We are very pleased to be working with a cover athlete that is such an avid gamer and who is committed to contributing valuable insight to the authenticity and development of the NHL 2K series.

Hmm... This might just be another exciting season for NHL 2K fans. We won't have too long to wait for NHL 2K8 as it is slated to slide on the shelves in September.


Buy: [NHL 2K8 (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [NHL 2K8 (PS3)]

Bust out your ice skates, your hockey stick, and the rest of your hockey team, we've got another video for the upcoming EA Sports video game, NHL 08 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC).

In the video, Meredith Gaffney, assistant producer for NHL 08, talks about customization and team creation options in the game. You can basically choose the skates you want your players to wear or the stick you want them to use. You can also test the equipment to ensure that you get what you need. Players will also get to choose team details like logos, names, and uniforms - down to your player's socks.

Better check out the video and see what we mean. We'll keep you posted on more NHL 08 news so stay tuned.

Buy: [NHL 08 (PS3)]
Buy: [NHL 08 (PC)]
Buy: [NHL 08 (Xbox 360)]

Here's the first ever video trailer for the recently announced hockey video game NHL 2K8 that will be released on platforms Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. While the video game carries the "2K" signature, it is mainly being developed by the studio Visual Concepts Entertainment.

As always, the video clip is looking sweet and refined, a testament of 2K Sports' dedication to give players an alternative when choosing their favorite sports video game titles. Speaking of which, it was announced a while ago that the development studio will be using a proprietary NHL Signature Style that lets players simulate characters as they are in real life.

NHL 08 will be released this coming September. It will also be available to PlayStation 2 owners.

The heat is on when 2K Sports hits the ice, and NHL 2K8 (PS3, Xbox 360) stands testament to that. Introducing the Pro Stick for this installment, we may be facing the best hockey experience yet.

The most recent video posted on 2K Sports' official website features all the good things you can do with a flick of the thumb. Puckhandling never looked so real, shooting has never been so satisfying, and face offs never felt so painful. On the defense side of things, the Pro Stick is still more than enough to do various maneuvers to intercept the puck.

More than just fresh controls, NHL2K8 also boasts of amazing animation. Based on what we've seen so far, the players move like the real deal, and transition from one movement to another is very fluid.

To check out the video, just click on the Full Article link below.

EA Sports is gearing up for the next hockey season and it's armed with two powerful new tools to create some miracle on ice. Dean Richards,  producer of NHL 08 (PS3, 360, PC), recently posted a message on the IGN blogs and he introduced the Create-a-Play and On the Fly AI features. Both will satisfy simulation nuts and push realism to the next level.

The Create-a-Play option lets you design rushes and breakaway tactics with ease using a TiVo-like interface. Essentially, what it does is leave you in a mode similar to Practice and let you move a player the way you want him to in the play. You can then add new players to the mix by moving them as the first player moves in the way you want him to. It's a bit like recording in overlapping fashion to run a play to perfection.

The Create-a-Play function should be great when you have opponents playing in a certain manner that none of the preset plays can address. If you've always thought you have what it takes to coach, this is the game for you.

You'll have to be careful, though. EA Sports has listened to the calls of true-blue NHL fans and is fielding in an AI which adapts and evolves like human players do. Essentially, what the On the Fly AI does is to contour to the way you play and analyze your strategies. Run a play too often and the AI will find a way to break it up. Rely on your star too heavily, and the opposing team just might go head-hunting.

And the adaptation isn't limited to a single game. The scouting actually extends through your save file. In the playoffs where adjustments are the key, you'll have to have more than one strategy to beat the CPU.

Brush up those skating moves and juice up your plays. Don't think for a second that you'll win the Stanley Cup with a slap shot from the blue line because the AI will punish you and leave your teeth chattering in the ice.

Buy: [NHL 08 (PS3)]
Buy: [NHL 08 (Xbox 360)]

Hockey is a sport that's difficult to master, mostly because you're trying to skate properly and use the hockey stick to maneuver the puck around and score goals against the opposing team. For Electronic Arts' upcoming hockey game, NHL 08 (PS3, Xbox 360), we've got a little surprise for you. Below are two new videos for you to enjoy that should help you master the fine art of using a skill stick controls. That's right: a hockey stick isn't used for beating people up, it's for scoring goals!

In the first video, you'll be introduced to the skill stick tutorial, which will teach you the basics of maneuvering and scoring goals in NHL 08. It includes movement of the player and the puck, shooting, dodging, and performing fake maneuvers to throw your opponent off-guard. In the second video, you'll be able to hear commentary from the game's producers, Dean Richard and David Littman, as they explain the nuances of the skill stick. You'll hear them explaining how the new features for this year's game is meant to make the game more realistic, as the puck is live and in play when you're in the game.

In any case, you can find out more about the skill stick by watching the videos below. Enjoy!



Another video after the jump!

Buy: [NHL 08 (PS3)]
Buy: [NHL 08 (Xbox 360)]

Hockey fans who've been waiting for some new action on ice didn't have to wait too long for EA Sports to unveil NHL '08 for the Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and the PC as it sets a rocking tone heading into this year's E3 in Santa Monica. Check out their theme video:

As we've seen with some 15 years' worth of installments, the sports mavens at EA Sports are giving us some of the best-looking athletes on ice while showing off hard checks and lightning-fast breakaways. Not a lot has been revealed about new gameplay options and tweaks, but knowing the people behind the series, there's bound to be a handful.

The NHL franchise has been one of EA's longest-running lines of games and has come out on top or darn near it each and every time. Will the next-generation see another dynasty? Chances are that it just might.