2K Response Regarding NHL Series
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Late last night I posted an article regarding the lack of NHL 2K11 being mentioned in the list of titles for Take Two over the next fiscal year. NHL 2K had been included in the report in previous years making its omission glaring. The situation is mirroring that of College Hoops before it was officially canceled.
Chris Littmann at First Cuts was able to get comment from 2K Sports regarding the future of NHL 2K. As he points out the following statement speaks volumes as to the situation.
“We are currently in the process of evaluating our sports portfolio and have not announced any new NHL titles at this time.”
It is safe to say that if they had been questioned whether there would be an NBA 2K11 the response would have been completely different. Certainly they would have wanted to put out the fire of speculation building and it would have been easy for them to do so. That they didn’t makes it seem even more likely that NHL 2K is on the way out.
December 18, 2009 at 7:39 pm
So long, NHL 2K.
If only this meant a return to College Hoops 2K…
December 18, 2009 at 7:40 pm
personally i wouldnt feel good about nhl developers making a college basketball game.
December 18, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Neither would I, but it be nice to see 2K spend some money and effort on a worth-while game (in terms of quality anyway).
December 18, 2009 at 9:50 pm
With their MLB line struggling, I think all resources will be poured into MLB2K11.
It's a shame because I think NHL2K10 made money. It couldn't have cost more than $2M to make and it sold a combined 250,000 units. If they even make $20 per game, that's a total of $5M which means a profit of $3M.
I'm sure they want EA totals, but then again, EA gives their NHL team a lot more resources and money to play with.
December 21, 2009 at 1:15 am
They still have to pay for the license.. use of player names/logo's/etc.. they made squat and bled red.
December 18, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Well this would make Pasta 2/2 on figuring out canceled games before they were made official. Makes me feel worse about NCAA Basketball that he thinks that one won't be around next year too.
December 18, 2009 at 7:49 pm
This is sad. It's going to get down to just NBA 2K then they are gonna get bought out. Then there will never be a chance of seeing NFL 2K whatever or NCAA Football 2K whatever or College Hoops 2K whatever, this does not look good, but it's there fault.
December 18, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Good Riddance and take MLB2k along with it. Both are sorry franchises. Hey while your at it get rid of all your sports porffolio with the exception of NBA2k. Its the only sports franchise they can compete in and they are screwing that one up too. Perhaps if they downsize the sports portfolio they can concentrate on NBA 2K but I think this is the perfect opportunity to put TTI on the selling block. I am sure EA will still be interested. TTI had 26$ a share offer on the table at the time EA first wanted to buy them and now they are worth half that. TTI needs to sell now. They don't have the money to compete with EA anymore. Its time to recognize when your defeated.
Watching TTI is like watching the Spartans in the move "300". Sure they put up a good fight but in the end they were wiped out.
December 18, 2009 at 12:04 pm
To bad the majority of people like easy pick up and play arcade games and are promoted by sights like flyermainia.com who’s always spurting off proclaiming that 2k10 is un-playable, which is totally untrue.
2k10 is far more mechanical and has a ton more hockey animation then any other hockey game ever made with great AI. Unfortunately older middle aged men who can’t grow up and seem to learn anything but easy wrecks it for those who truely love hockey.
December 18, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Are you referring to flyermania.net? That's my site, and I don't know where you are coming from with that comment. I have purchased the 2k hockey game every year since 2k3, and it was my game of choice until 2k took a dump on next-gen. Add in the fact that they screw PS3 users year after year, and I have reached the end of my rope.
2k made their bed with the hockey series, and now they have to sleep in it.
December 18, 2009 at 11:04 pm
You sir are an idiot
January 5, 2010 at 9:55 am
Ha! figures you’d be first to jump on me. Don’t you have anything better to do like raise a family or get a girl friend?,
December 18, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I truly hope that this is not a beginning of the end for 2k sports……and potentially being bought out. You will be missed NHL 2K.
December 18, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Maybe EA should join in and announce no NBA Live 11, due to poor sales of Live 10, as well as no NCAA Basketball 11 due to bad sales of NCAA 10. Anyone have the official sales #'s for the basketball games this year? Live 10, 2k10, and NCAA 10?
December 18, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I'm glad you guys think this is good news. Once EA has no competition all we'll have to play is the garbage they put out year after year. Look at football. Madden 2005 was a masterpiece. 2k disappears, and it's been downhill ever since. When will you people get it? Competition HELPS quality
December 18, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I saw 2k10 in the Target clearance rack last weekend for 19.99. It's been out what, 2 or 3 months? This game was a monumental bust and I definitely don't see them throwing good money after bad with this series any longer.
December 18, 2009 at 11:53 pm
2k's servers work about 30% of the time for on line NHL2k8 games and they have gone back on their stated intention to provide timely roster updates. The gameplay isn't bad but they simply don't support this product and gamers figured that out three years ago. It's no surprise sales have dropped and profits have dropped and so the possibility of this product disappearing in the near future is very possible.
December 19, 2009 at 12:05 am
The worst part for 2k is the exclusivity deal they signed with MLB. They are getting crushed by The Show and that's only on one system. If MLB 2k10 is a bomb -and we have every right to believe it will be based on past performance- they are in line to lose a boat load of money on that game too. Their problem in that situation is they kinda have to make an MLB game until after 2012. What are they going to do, drop that from their roster when they have exclusivity rights for 3rd party development? 2k only has basketball, and they are starting to lose their grip on that as well. This company has really tumbled. What a fall from grace. I'm no 2k hater. It wasn't but a few years ago when I played their games almost exclusively. I just like good games, and they have not been delivering very much in that regard.
December 19, 2009 at 1:13 am
Looks like Pasta broke the story. Now Kotaku, Yahoo, and Gamespot all reporting on it.
January 21, 2010 at 2:36 am
He did break the story, hell i just got the new game informer and they even mentioned that it first broke on pastapadre.com, thought that was pretty cool.
December 18, 2009 at 7:36 pm
When was the last time you played an enjoyable NHL 2K game? Just seems like EA Sports NHL franchise has been killing it
December 18, 2009 at 9:47 pm
The 2K series used to beat out EA for sales and ratings during last gen.
NHL2K3 is still one of the best hockey games ever produced. It absolutely destroyed anything EA put out for the PS2 or Xbox.
The problem with 2K is they fell behind the 8-ball when the new consoles came out while EA regrouped and started from scratch. Their Skill Stick is pure genius as are the graphics and presentation. Just those three things have captured the market.
NHL2K10 is a very good game – especially after the latest patch.
I truly believe if 2K11 had 2K10's gameplay with EA's controls, NHL11 would have serious competition and we could see the beginning of 2K topping the throne again.
December 18, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Its not an exaggeration to say that 2K Sports will just be NBA 2K within the next two years.
December 18, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Pasta, with Ian twittering you about your top 10 sports game list, can we expect to see you have Madden at # 1?
That game's a farce, considering how long EA has been making football games. But since you and Ian are tight, I'm guessing you'll have it # 1.
December 20, 2009 at 4:58 am
+1
Madden is a lock for the #1 game on pasta's Top 10 list even though it belongs on the Ten Worst Sports Games of the year list.
December 19, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Dont understand everyone sad about this, if you put out bad games this will happen. And to all the people weeping becasue if 2ks efforts come down to just nba 2k it will narrow the chance of a return for the nfl 2k franchise. that would never happen any way EA wouldnt allow it and if you get a chance to play All Pro football 2k8 let me know if you still want a return of the nfl 2k franchise. Yes i know there were no pro teams in All Pro and that there resources were probably limited but what makes you think that they would get any more resources. this company is falling apart when it comes to the 2k sports brand.2k as a whole is successful when considering other genres. if not for sales from some other non sports titles this company would be in rough shape. I wouldnt be surprised to see 2k totally abandon their sports brand. And focus on what the do best which is not sports games.
December 20, 2009 at 4:59 am
I bet pasta and Ian Cummings went out and bought a 6-pack to celebrate this "great" news.
Additionally, they are both totally trashed off 3 beers each.
December 20, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I wish they would dump the NHL 2K series and bring back College Hoops. They'd make the same profits, and spend a lot less on licensing.
January 3, 2010 at 12:46 am
I'll be sad if NHL 2K goes, especially since Visual Concepts got the series back on track in just a year and a half. I just hope EA keeps their series on the same path it has been on and doesn't get complacent because they are the only hockey title to choose from.