The time has come for an NHL arcade title
by 
After the recent success of the New Years Day Winter Classic which was played outdoors between the Penguins and Sabres, the sport (at least temporarily) is back in the consciousness of general sports fans and more casual hockey fans. The ratings for that game represented the biggest viewing audience since 1996 and was played in front of over 70,000 fans. It was made into an event, and it seems likely that the NHL will be taking advantage of that interest and introduce them on a more regular basis in the future.
So this would seem to be a perfect opportunity to capitalize on outdoor hockey. Played out in the elements with more simplified controls and gameplay along with the arcade edge. Have only a couple players on the ice at a given time to keep the pace and excitement up. There could be venues to be played at such as open stadiums, lakes and ponds.
As highly touted as NHL 08 has been, sales expectedly pale in comparison to other sports. When you look at hockey games the appeal tends to be limited to hardcore hockey fans. However having experienced the popularity of hockey gaming in the 90s the interest has always been there just not in the package of the intensely simulation style games that both EA and 2K release right now.
So what do you think? Vote in the poll and leave your thoughts in the comments.
January 4, 2008 at 8:34 pm
If early indications of NFL Street stay true, EA should probably stick to the simulations and try to get working copies that are properly tested and do not require patches and fixes. Leave the arcade games to companies Midway.
Last great Arcade Hockey Game (which also included outdoor rinks)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51B9WY5BP1L._AA280_.jpg
The ironic thing is EA has something that would be a big seller sitting right in their closet, just begging to be pulled out for a next gen sequel.
Mutant League Hockey & Football
Give it to a NON-EA Sports Dev team and just like Mutant Hockey and Football from the Genesis era, leave “EA Sports” out of it.
January 4, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I’ve always enjoyed arcade hockey games, but they usually seem to have a “catch-up logic”, where if one team is leading, you can be sure their goalie will let up a soft goal to let the other team back in the game. An arcade hockey game with online team play for each player, including the goalie, would be too fun, IMO. I’d buy that immediately.
Some of the arcade hockey games I played were NHL Open Ice on PS1, Rock The Rink on PS1, and NHL Hitz on Xbox and PS2. Those were all good games, but had the catch-up logic.
January 4, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Its gunna be EA whol else would do it. Well NHL 08 was good just need to fix minor things and we could have a gem here.
January 4, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey 2008!!!
January 5, 2008 at 10:06 am
rock the rink for ps1 was one of the greatest games i ever played. although i am a basketball fan, i would love to see a NHL street
February 7, 2008 at 1:09 pm
if you could control the shooting, and make it better than hitz, sure!
bring back the bleeding head body checks and fights!
March 14, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I don’t know if I would buy it, but I would definitely rent an arcade hockey game. I’m a huge New York Rangers fan, and I also play. However, I’m more into sim games. But because I am such a huge hockey fan, I would still have to play it.