Game Review: NHL 09

Okay I could be reviewing this game all day. But let's just cut the b.s. and go straight for Be A Pro mode. Basically you control your player and try and score goals, assists and (not) get penalties. One problem is the penalties. First you can get a lot of them, because pressing A to lift the stick is the same for hooking and high sticking. Then checking can be a cross check. It's kind of random. The fighting is sort of lame. There's three controls (punch, duck, grab) but it comes down to who punches fastest in 7 seconds. In NHL 2k7 the fighting is pretty good because you have more health and ducking actually does something. The second problem with penalties is that the other team gets a lot of them, and not legitimate penalties, thing like delay of game for knocking it over the glass. But if you turn the penalties down (or off completely in my case) it resolves the situation I guess.

Playing the game is fun though, basically you try and stay in your position (marked by arrows) and make good passes and score. You can only be out for a few minutes until you get tired and then you go off the ice, watch for a minute and then go back out. Although it's optional I did it because its realistic. Basically that's what it comes down to. Scoring as many goals and getting assists. Meeting the teams expectations of you and trying to win the cup.

Being goalie is a lot more difficult. To be honest, I enjoy 2k7's goalie system more than 09's because the 2k7 slows time down and makes you make a move. In this it's more press the thumbstick and the goalie tries to save it. The problem with not slowing it down is that you can't react to slap shots or wrap arounds in time.

Programming: 8.5/10 : I loved the Be A Pro mode, but being goalie is a pain in the ass
Graphics: 8/10 : The ice and players look great, but there's some obvious slowdown with the player animations when not playing
Story: 8.5/10 : The go from AHL to NHL and Be A Pro mode is a new view of a hockey game
Atmosphere: 8/10 : The arenas are beautifully done but the announcers are very repetitive
Multiplayer: N/A : Didn't even scratch the multiplayer yet but I'm told it's extravagant
Overall: 8.5/10 : Overall great fun but just as frustrating as any NHL game

Best Game So Far

I said I would not post unless I thought it was important but it is. My god woo!
So I was playing as my team in 2k8, the Hamilton Stingrays. Our rivals biggest rivals are the New Jersey Devils. Who we've played before. Twice actually, both wins.
First was a 4-1 slaughter and then a 5-1 whipping.
This time they came to play...
1st Period
So they start by scoring the first goal about five minutes in. I repeatedly ram the puck at the net but come up empty thanks to Brodeur, who, for those who don't know hockey is one of the greatest goalies of all time.
Second Period
We go into the second period and I tie it up 5 minutes in thanks to Lupul (who is f**king amazing, I had him scratched for some reason but finally added him to defense because we had an injured player then added him to our offensive first line and he got our teams first hat trick in his first game, go figure) .
New Jersey gets an interference penalty shortly after this but I'm unable to capitalize. New Jersey gets a goal. But I answer back immediately with Lupul, adding his second to the night. Unfortunately New Jersey gets another goal with only 30 seconds left in the period. And I'm unable to respond before the 2nd intermission.
The 3rd Period (and yes I changed my format here because its that damned important)
I'm trying my damnedest to get the puck past Brodeur but nothing works.
Finally a chance! The Devils hook Prospal and get a two minute penalty. I'm trying extra hard to no avail, "last minute of play in the third period"...did I mention I'm playing at home too?
Finally with about 40 seconds left I call in the goalie and get a 6th man out, the Devils get the puck and send it down the ice (Still a penalty) and I get Prospal to pass it to Kaberle, 25 seconds on the clock, who skates to the left of the Jersey goal, and then he fires the puck to the center where Hemsky, my defencemen unloads a rocket at the net, Brodeur just misses with his glove, GOAL! WITH ONLY 13 SECONDS LEFT! We go... into overtime...

Overtime
Overtime, being 5 minutes, always go by quickly and this is not an exception, but wow were there some close calls, Toskala worked his magic and my players would barely escape with the puck. We're going to a shoot-out baby.

The Shootout
well if you have to go into a shoot-out against anyone it shouldn't be Brodeur. And remember, it's just me here, so I'm doing the goaltending and just trying to score.

1. Crosby goes first and I try to shoot from farther away but I get too close, I make an easy save
2. Kovalev tries a midrange shot and goes off the post!, I make a glove save
3. Zubov and try some of the games Superstar Moves, first up the Through The Legs which I do too late and crash into the goalie, I make a blocker save
   
4. Hemsky goes for a Sweden '95 shot but misses the net completely, glove save
   
5. Kopitar tries a Calling the Shot, which involved me pointing at the boards then shooting at them.
6. Fuck the Superstar Moves, I take Kaberle and shoot it into Brodeurs blocker pads,
7. I take Lupul, hoping he'll work his magic but Brodeur gloves it
8. I finally like some sort of infant child learning to speak use my right control stick to move the puck around. Prospal goes up moving from side to side, he bounces the puck off his skate, deeks Brodeur and SCORES! Thank god now all I have to do is stop this last guy. He comes straight at me, moves to the right, launches the puck at the bottom left corner, my pad comes in... and knocks the puck away! I WIN! Go! Stingrays Go!

P.S. What the fuck is with the Stars system sometimes? Lupul gets in with 2 goals but Prospal, who got an assist on both of those goals and the Shoot-Out goal gets knocked out by Gionta who only got 1 goal, 1 assist and the late game penalty that helped us win, yeah the makes sense.

This Week in Fantasy Sports AND FIREFOXED

MID-POST UPDATE:
I've had enough with Internet Explorers bullshit. Every time I go to the CBSSports website the fucker closes and restarts and I'm fed up. I've downloaded Mozilla's Firefox and I'm not going back because Firefox is better. In the status bar you can control Itunes and get weather reports. It's 100% faster than IE anyway. If your thinking of switching do so.


Well this week was a mixed bag full of candy and shit. First I remember to check my College Football teams...on FRIDAY! I then realize my 8-0 winning streak is at risk because most of my players are on BYE! AH!

So I make some emergency trades and have everything sorted before any damage can be done. But guess what, I forgot to change my NFL teams on Friday, and Saturday and finally remember Sunday at 6:31 PM. All the games were at 1PM. Tony Romo is still my QB from last week. Tons of players are on BYE. Yeah. So here we go:

College Football Week 9

Niagara Maulers vs Past Masters- Projected: Maulers by 19
Actual: Niagara Maulers 147 to 55 Past Masters

Analysis: Less than half of their team was actually not on BYE weeks.
Trades: Everyone did superb but I'm gonna have to trade someone for someone not on BYE

Stingers vs B3AST- Projected: Stingers by 21

Actual: Stingers 127 to 79 B3AST
Analysis: Again everyone did their job and performed amazingly
Trades: None of my team is on BYE so none. This week I go for a 10 game winning streak!

NFL Football Week 8

Hamilton Maulers vs Jumpin- Projected: Jumpin by 42

Actual: Hamilton Maulers 97 to 64 Jumpin
Analysis: Brees made up for last week and the Giants D and Smith did excellent
Trades: Steve Smith, Brees and I'm missing two WRs because of BYE. So we'll see what happens tomorrow morning.

Maulers vs Cables Crew- Projected: Cables Crew by 22 (This is one time I wish they were right)

Actual: Maulers 43 to 100 Cables Crew
Analysis: Romo was gone and everyone but Lynch and Johnson played like crap
Trades: Don't know yet

NHL Period 3
Stingers- My team finished tied for 5th this time, much better, it got us to third in standings
Analysis: The game is much different from football, but Crosby and others are starting to perform better.

Fantasy Sports

UPDATE: Denver lost 43-7 I don't think i need to say more

Well I got my computer running... AFTER REINSTALLING FUCKING VISTA! Oh and Then I had to reinstall Microsoft Office, Visio, Visual Studio, SQL Server, and Civilization and Itunes and MSN. PAIN IN MY FUCKING ASS!

Anyway:
College Football Week 8
Niagara Maulers vs Goldy's Gophers- Projected: Maulers by 34
Actual: Niagara Maulers 159 to 83 Goldy's Gophers
Analysis: Wow that is what an ass whipping looks like my friends
Trades: Meier didn't do well but who cares

Stingers vs Stephen Goodson- Projected: Stingers by 33
Actual: Stingers 118 to 83 SG
Analysis: Wow the guys at CBS were right for once
Trades: Nothing except change my TE for my reserved TE

NFL Football Week 7
God help me.
Hamilton Maulers: Brees played like shit. Right now its 96-83 for the WMDs, so it basically comes down to Denver (Pittman-WR)(Me) vs. New England (Welker-WR)(WMD) tonight. Pray for me.

Maulers: FUCK I'M AN IDIOT! DAMN YOU DALLAS COWBOYS FOR NOT PLAYING ROMO!
Yeah Romo didn't play so I got 0 points for him, and had I'd played my Reserved QB I'd be sitting pretty right now but instead it's 78-72 for Tedca123 (my reserve QB got 21 pts!) Hell even if I played my Titans D instead of Vikings I'd be in a good position.
So again I'm in the same position as before, Denver (Matt Prater - K)(Me) vs. New England (Welker-WR)(Tedca123). GO BRONCOS!


Hockey
My team is overcoming it's debacle last week and we are now mid-range: 7th in standings
Analysis: Still working out how the league works, how the stats work etc.

This Week In Fantasy Sports

First I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving (for Canadians) or Columbus Day (for Americans).
Second my computer is f**king bricked. Black screen of death. I'm typing this on my home computer but have no idea what I'm gonna do when I get to college.

Here we go:
NFL Football Week 6
Maulers vs T-Town Wildcats : Projected- Wildcats by 41
Actual: Maulers 73 to 61 Wildcats
Analysis: What a disasterous success. Romo is out for 5 weeks! And he got 28pts! Not good. My other standout Johnson-WR (12pts) had to leave the game. My Vikings defence really pulled it off this week for me though.
Trades: God! Possibly my RBs, WRs and TEs, hopefully some of my guys that were on BYE are going to do well now.

Hamilton Maulers vs Maineacs: Projected- Maineacs by 20
Actual: Hamilton Maulers 93 to 86 Maineacs
Analysis: Brees completely destroyed Oakland, everyone else did great except Fasano-TE who's been bad for two weeks now.
Trades: I'll consider trading Fasano but I think the rest of my team is pretty good.

College Football Week 7
Niagara Maulers vs There Will Be Bud- Projected: Maulers by 10
Actual: Niagara Maulers 130 to 141 There Will Be Bud
Analysis: Just didn't do good enough.
Trades: Possibly a new TE.

Stingers vs Penguins of Troy- Projected: Stingers by 15
Actual: Stingers 117 to 82 POT
Analysis: Whipped ass again. My QB was on BYE and we still won.
Trades: Nothing team is goin' great

Hockey
My team is dead last.

2008-09 Hockey Draft

I forgot about the live update thing so whatever. I'm very happy with my team, here were my picks.
Round Name- Team- Position

1. Sidney Crosby- Pitsburgh Penguins- Center
2. Marc-Andre Fleury- Pitsburgh Penguins- Goalie (Frankly at this point I'm happy)
3. Alexei Kovalev- Montreal Canadiens- Right Wing
4. Thomas Vanek- Buffalo Sabres- Left Wing
5. Dustin Byfuglien- Chicago Blackhawks- Defence
6. Sergei Zubov- Dallas Stars- Defence (Had to pick two Defence up at once, they were being gobbled up by my girlfriend)
7. Vesa Toskala- Toronto Maple Leafs- Goalie (He has the best name EVER!)
8. Tomas Kaberle- Toronto Maple Leafs- Defence
9. Nicklas Backstrom- Washington Capitals- Center
10. Ales Hemsky- Edmonton Oilers- Right Wing
11. Anze Kopitar- Los Angeles Kings- Back-Up Center
12. Filip Kuba- Ottawa Senators- Defence
13. Vaclav Prospal- Tampa Bay Lightning- Left Wing
14. Kevin Bieksa- Vancouver Canucks- Back-Up Defence
15. Alex Auld- Ottawa Senators- Back-Up Goalie
16. J.P. Dumont- Nashville Predators- Back-Up Right Wing

So Week One starts on October the 9th, I can't wait, I'm sure my line-up will change before then.

Team with most players: Toronto, Pitsburgh, Ottawa with two

Week 1 in my Fantasy leagues Pt2 Pt1

College Football

My Niagara Maulers had a nice victory following our first lost to Gold's Bully's in our first game (114.75-100.5), today we won by a nice margin (102.5-75.5) against WVU Football. However that's still one of the worst scores in the league so maybe I'm just lucky. I'm gonna have to make some drastic changes if I want to stay competitive. 3 of my active players got 0 points, which isn't good.

My Stingers football team continues it's domination, our first game against Penn State Raiders we won 123.75-99.75. This time against P.O.D. we won 153.5-106 note to self don't change anything.

NHL Draft at 7oclock tonight maybe I'll do a live update of it

Week 1 in my Fantasy leagues

It's been a pretty disappointing night for my football leagues. My Yahoo league was a disaster with my QB now needing surgery (you may have heard about this). But my CBSSPORTS leagues have been really sad. OH MY GOD! Curry just got a touch down with less then 2 minutes to go! I'm one point away from a tie!
1:31 left
NO! THE BRONCOS ARE RUNNING DOWN THE CLOCK! DAM THEM TO HELL!
NO! (35 secs left)
NO!
FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK!

Okay, so its extremely disappointing for my Hamilton Maulers team which lost 76-75, thanks to Oakland not telling anyone the J. Walker wouldn't be playing. Second the Vikings defence played like ass. Everyone else play ok, by the Raiders still sucked balls losing 41-14.

Unfortunately the Vikings defence also killed my Caledonia Maulers team, which lost 94-83, the Vikings only got 2 points for me, while the Titans defence, which I had on reserve, would have gotten 25 points! The rest of the team played well. So I hate the Vikings right now.

Well that was disappointing. Hopefully after I change up my QB for Yahoo, and the defence for my Maulers teams I should do better. (Jenni's team actually did worse then me, 80-53)

Tomorrow night I draft my NHL team so I'll tell u about that then, along with the past two weeks in my college teams.

Don Cherry game?

Why does Don Cherry not have his own game brand? Look at it this way, NFL has the Madden series, why doesn't the NHL have a Don Cherry series? 2K? EA? Anybody?! He's coached, played and is a tv commentator for hockey. I'd bet that if Don was fired from Hockey Night in Canada, the CBC hq would be burned down the next day. HE WAS VOTED 7th in the Greatest Canadian Series FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! If a Canadian hockey fan is in a game store and see two games. 1 is NHL 2009. The 2nd is Don Cherry presents: NHL 2009, which do you think he's going to buy?

HO-LY SHIT.

Wow. This is... astonishing. Well I took back 2K6 two days ago. But while at a different EB Games, I spotted 2k7 for only $5! That's cheaper than 2k6! I buy it and bring it home and like before I'm having a ball (puck actually)! Of course I get into Season again and play a couple games. Then suddenly, without warning, at the end of my Flames game, the game freezes. I play the game all over again. The same. Now, this isn't the same bug as 2K6, because all it did was
2K.
2K..
2K...
2K
2K.
etc.

In 2K7 instead it says "Would you like to save your profile?" Now know this, profiles aren't seasons. So saving your profile doesn't do SHIT! It doesn't matter if you choose yes or no. It still freezes! The whole console this time too.
Allow me to quote myself-
"Don't worry, just spend ANOTHER $80 on 2k7 which we obviously won't support and may or may not work!" Or you could go out and buy EA's NHL game."
Guess what! IT DOESN'T FUCKING WORK AND THEY DIDN'T FUCKING SUPPORT IT! UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE!
Imagine if you will for a minute, how 2K must have discussed this game in a board room meeting.
Lead guy: Hey let's make 2K7 the same as 2K6!
Others: Great idea the game was fun!
Lead guy: Hey I have a shitty idea!
Others: What?
Lead guy: Let's not fix the bug from last year.
Others: Hmmm...
Lead guy: In fact! Let's make it worse!
Others: How can we make it worse? It prevented you from playing 2K6.
Lead guy: Now we can make it so people's console freeze completely!
Others: Why would we do that sir?
Lead guy: 'Cause we would be shitting on the fans that already bought the game and 2k6 you little shit!
Oh and to quote myself again "Go f**k yourself 2k."

Outrageous!

It's unbelieveable! This weekend I bought a game for $10. 2K Sports' NHL 2K6. As I play it, I bask in a certain glow. This is my first hockey game since EA's NHL '98 for the PS1, so it's been awhile, yet I'm having a blast. There's a goalie control which is so much fun, there awesome passing controls, awesome presentation, tons and tons of stuff to do! Just one problem though. THE GAME DOESN'T F**KING WORK!

So after I learn the shit, then play a practice game, I dive right into the Season mode. I set up my team (the Blue Jackets) and face off against the Washington Captials. I win, and then I go to Exit the match and continue play and... STOP! The game doesn't freeze it just stops on the loading screen. So I reset and play again. Of course since I couldn't save my season, I have to set my lines up ALL OVER AGAIN! I win, freeze, I win, freeze, I win, freeze, I win, freeze! I'm thinking WHAT THE F**K! The consoles fine. The game isn't frozen as I can see the dots moving along. What a pile of bullshit. At first I thought, "hey it's a used game, what do you expect?" but no, I suspected something deeper. I check online, "NHL 2k6 problem", sure enough, this rabbit hole goes deep. Christ there's even a note on it's wikipedia f**king page! Board posts up to 30 pages long of people having the same problem.

Now let me explain something to you. If a game developer f**ks up, it's their goddamned duty to fix it. Here's some examples:

• Ubisoft noticed Silent Hunter had some bugs and release a patch post haste
• Bungie released the Halo 3 beta about 7-8 hours late, so they gave their fans an extra 3 days with the beta
• Hell, when Xbox Live was f'ed up over Christmas Microsoft gave EVERYONE a free game.
• CHRIST when Gamespot gave some lame f**king truck racing game a 1/10, the makers of that game even released a patch
• JESUS! EVERYONE RELEASES PATCHES! EVEN IF THE GAME IS GODDAMNED PERFECT!

So what does 2k Sports do? "You need to reformat your harddrive." Which is slang for "ERASE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE ON YOUR 360!"

Why not just shit on peoples faces? Seriously this isn't a movie. If your in a movie and and the projector catches fire, you say "we'll there's 10 dollars down the tube" Some people payed between $60-$80 for this game! Seriously 2k what are you THINKING!? Taketwo (owner of 2k) Was close to being bought out by EA. You want to guess what NHL 2k6's competition is? EA SPORTS' NHL GAME! What a way to shit on your fanbase. Basically what they said was:

"Don't worry, just spend ANOTHER $80 on 2k7 which we obviously won't support and may or may not work!" Or you could go out and buy EA's NHL game. Thank god that it only cost me 10 bucks and I'm going to return it for another game tomorrow. Go f**k yourself 2k.