Kotaku: nhl 2k9

NHL 2K9's Punk-Heavy Soundtrack

Mike Fahey — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:40:00 MDT

Can you judge a sport by the music that video game publisher puts on their game's soundtrack? I've haven't really paid attention to ice hockey since the glory days of the Sega Genesis, so I couldn't tell you much about the sport, but NHL 2K9 definitely reflects my taste in music. There's some Pennywise in there, and The Ramones, and hey, Bad Religion and The Offspring! It's like a Crazy Taxi reunion! Perhaps the reason I have trouble getting into sports games is I'm trying to get into the wrong sports, or perhaps I'm reading too much into this soundtrack press release. Does the music match the sport? Hit the jump for the full listing, which might be light on tunes with only fourteen songs, but makes up for it with sheer quality.

2K Sports Provides an Adrenaline Filled Soundtrack for NHL® 2K9
Operation Ivy, The Ramones, Mastodon, Bad Religion and more provide just the right feel for the action packed game

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced details regarding the soundtrack for NHL 2K9, which was released yesterday. NHL 2K9 features an epic music soundtrack that will blow the roof off any virtual hockey arena with some of the biggest bands and legendary artists in rock such as Bad Religion, Mastodon, NoFX, Pennywise, The Offspring, The Ramones, and many others. It will also be the first time that influential punk band Operation Ivy has ever licensed their music for inclusion in a video game.

Below is the full list of tracks in NHL 2K9:

Bad Religion — New Dark Ages
Genghis Tron — Things Don't Look Good
High On Fire — Rumors Of War
Inner Circle — Bad Boys
Joe Satriani — Crowd Chant
Mastodon — Iron Tusk
NoFX — Linoleum
Operation Ivy — Bankshot
Pennywise — Knocked Down
Protest The Hero — Goddess Gagged
Recliner — Find A Way
The Night Marchers — Closed for Inventory
The Offspring — Nitro (Youth Energy)
The Ramones — Blitzkrieg Bop

"For NHL 2K9 we wanted to create an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack that will set the mood for the intensity of hockey," said Tim Rosa, 2K Sports’ director of brand and lifestyle marketing. "We have also licensed a few of the more popular hockey stadium songs, so when a player goes to the penalty box after a fight, gamers will hear tracks such as “Bad Boys” from Inner Circle or “Knocked Down” by Pennywise after a big hit, as they do in hockey stadiums across North America. For NHL 2K9 we have licensed a great collection of songs that complement the authenticity and spirit of the game."

NHL 2K9 is now available on retail store shelves in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems. A free demo of NHL 2K9 is also available for download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®Network. The demo provides fans an opportunity to relive the excitement of this past season’s thrilling Stanley Cup™ Final in a brief three minute period as either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

NHL 2K9, rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and older by the ESRB, is now available for Xbox 360, Wii, PLAYSTATION 3 system and PlayStation 2 system. For more information about NHL 2K9, please visit http://www.2ksports.com/games/nhl2k9.

NHL 2K9 Goes Gold, Demo Available

Jim Reilly — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:00:00 MDT

2K Sports has announced today their annual hockey game has gone gold and is ready for production. If you can't wait until the September 9th releases date, downloaded demos are available right now on Xbox Live and Playstation Network. The demo allows for a short three minute period with the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Detroit Red Wings, but I don't think I need to tell you want team to play as. This is also the very first hockey game being released for the Wii, and it allows you to use the Wii Remote as a hockey stick. Let's see how that turns out, eh? Full release after the jump.

2K Sports Announces NHL® 2K9 Has Gone Gold

Hockey fans cheer with game now in production and ready to launch on September 9

August 29, 2008 – 2K Sports today announced that the highly anticipated hockey title, NHL 2K9, has gone gold and is now ready for production for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems. Dedicated fans will enjoy this on-the-ice experience like never before as NHL 2K9 brings the fun back to hockey video games on September 9 in North America.

NHL 2K9 offers brand-new gameplay features including user-friendly controls, expanded superstar moves, friendly Zamboni® competitions, a revamped fighting engine, custom Stanley Cup™ celebrations, and six-on-six online capability. As the first and only officially licensed NHL and NHLPA video game for Wii, NHL 2K9 will also provide fans with a chance to play like the pros using the Wii Remote™ as a hockey stick, a wholly unique and entertaining experience.

A free demo is now available for download through Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®Network. Fans will have an early opportunity to experience the new simplified controls and relive the excitement of this past season’s thrilling Stanley Cup Final in a brief three minute period as either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

NHL 2K9, developed by Visual Concepts, is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and older by the ESRB and will be available on September 9 for Xbox 360, Wii, PLAYSTATION 3 system and PlayStation 2 system. For more information about NHL 2K9, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/nhl2k9.

New NHL 2K9 Wii Trailer

Adam Barenblat — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MDT

A while back I was talking about how we don't have too many choices when it comes to hockey games. However, it is nice to see there's some variety in the controls when NHL 2K9 comes out for Wii in September.

A Look at the New NHL 2K9 Trailer

Adam Barenblat — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:00:00 MDT

If you live in Colorado like me, you are likely a hockey fan. It's just a shame - and I am sure some of you can relate to this - that there aren't more hockey games out there. To fuel this missing void in our lives we turn to 2K Sports every year with the newest rendition of the NHL2K franchise. In this trailer, we see some of the gameplay from NHL 2K9. Visually, I am pretty impressed with how this is coming along. The game will be hitting store shelves September 8th.

Mario Breaks From Princess Saving To Shill Some Hockey

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:40:05 MDT

2K Sports made kind of a big deal about the impending release of NHL 2K9 being "the first and only officially licensed NHL and NHLPA video game for Wii" but we didn't know how serious the Take-Two label was. They got Mario—yes, that Mario—to help drum up enthusiasm for video game hockey, waggle-style at last night's 2008 NHL Awards in Toronto. Normally, our eyes glaze over when someone brings up hockey video games that were released after NHL 94 for the Genesis, but when Mario foregos pimping his own sports ventures, we're forced to sit up and listen. Or at least write a smarmy post!

Hockey All-Star Rick Nash Gets NHL 2K9 Cover

Leigh Alexander — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:20:00 MDT

For those of you desperately anxious to know who will be the cover athlete for 2K Sports' upcoming NHL 2K9, your long winter of angst has come to an end. It'll be Columbus Blue Jackets captain and three-time NHL All-Star Rick Nash, the company announced today, and apparently Mr. Nash is a big hockey game fan. Shocking, right?

"My idols have all been on the covers of video games as I was growing up, so to be on the cover of NHL 2K9 myself is truly incredible," said Nash. "The set of new features they're adding is really going to make this game special for hockey fans - I'm hoping they give me a couple extra points to my player rating this year!"

Come to think of it, I'd be really psyched to be on a game cover, too. When 2K Sports finally makes a video game about the tooth-liberating, bone-crunching, hard hitting "sport" that is video game journalism, I'll be sending them my promo photos. I guess I'd better get going on those.

Full release after the jump.

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Millions of hockey fans continue to enjoy intense Stanley Cup Playoffs action, but it's never too early to start looking forward to next year's NHL season. 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that three-time NHL All-Star and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Rick Nash, will be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for this year's highly anticipated hockey video game, NHL 2K9. Visual Concepts has taken over the development duties for NHL 2K9 and are building a brand new experience from the ground up with the ultimate goal of creating an addictively fun sport simulation of the NHL that will be available this fall.
"I've been a longtime fan of the hockey games from 2K Sports. My idols have all been on the covers of video games as I was growing up, so to be on the cover of NHL 2K9 myself is truly incredible," said Nash, who scored an impressive three goals in the 2008 NHL All-Star Game. "The set of new features they're adding is really going to make this game special for hockey fans - I'm hoping they give me a couple extra points to my player rating this year!"

Nash was selected first overall in the 2002 NHL Draft and is one of the most exciting and dynamic young players in the NHL. In only his second season, at the age of 19, Nash became the youngest player in NHL history to win the "Rocket" Richard Trophy by co-leading the League with 41 goals scored. Now an established superstar in the NHL, Nash was also a member of Team Canada at the 2006 Olympics, and was named MVP of the 2007 World Championships. His deep level of involvement and work with Visual Concepts, alongside his background as an experienced gamer, provides an invaluable contribution and influence to the overall development process for creating the most fun hockey experience available.

"We're absolutely thrilled to have Rick Nash be part of the 2K Sports family," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "Nash is one of the marquee names in the NHL today. He is a true gamer and there is no player more fitting to represent NHL 2K9 as we bring high quality fun to hockey video games for another year."

NHL 2K9 is being developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, and is not yet rated by the ESRB. NHL 2K9 will be available this fall for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.