Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos, will be the latest professional hockey player to grace the cover of the successful EA Sports NHL franchise. The game is set for release this September, and Electronic Arts recently made the announcement on July 22 at the NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas. Stamkos himself was thrilled by the decision. "I've grown up playing EA Sports NHL videogames so it's an honor to be chosen for the cover this year," said Stamkos.
At 21 years of age, Steven Stamkos is an excellent choice to be featured on the cover of NHL 12, as he should be one of the biggest names in hockey for years to come. In 2008, Stamkos was drafted 1st overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and after going through a learning process in his rookie season, the young forward has quickly become one of the game's most feared goal-scorers. In 2010 he scored 51 goals, which tied him for the league lead, while this year he added another 45. He also played in the NHL All-Star game this past season, and stepped up for Tampa Bay during the playoffs as they were just one win short of making it to the Stanley Cup final.
Of course, choosing a cover athlete was only one of the big challenges that EA Sports faced. When releasing practically the same game year after year, it is essential to make enough changes and improvements that will allow people to justify upgrading to the newest edition. NHL 12 producer Sean Ramjagsingh discussed many of the new features on the EA Sports website recently. The following are some of the major improvements that promise to give the game a more realistic feel.
New Full Contact Engine
Delivering big body checks is a key component to playing successful hockey, and EA Sports has improved this aspect of the game. Greater detail will now be given when checks are delivered during game-play, as players are sent flying.
Players can be knocked into the bench, through the glass, and helmets will fly off. Size and strength of players will also play a factor when it comes to hitting. Someone like Zdeno Chara will be able to deliver more bone-crunching hits than a player of smaller size such as Steve Sullivan. This also means that Chara likely won't be one of the players that will be sent flying head-over-heels after receiving a hit.
Bigger Role for Goalies
Goaltenders will now be a bigger part of the game in NHL 12, as players are able to position themselves in front of the net for screens and deflections. Goalies are now given the ability to have contact with players, which means that they can be bumped and knocked around even while in their crease.
For the first time in the EA Sports NHL franchise, goalies will also be given the ability to drop their gloves and helmets and fight with other players.
NHL Winter Classic
Each year on New Year's Day, fans look forward to watching the Winter Classic which is an outdoor NHL game. This past year's venue was Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, and this has been added to NHL 12. Players will be able to select any two teams to participate under various weather conditions in this exciting match up.
Something to Look Forward to Each Year
With improved graphics, better player intelligence, and improved controls, EA Sports always finds a way to make their NHL franchise more realistic year after year. This keeps fans happy and gives them something to look forward to come September.
References
- NHL 12: Producer's Blog. EA Sports official website.
- Lightning Forward Stamkos Becomes Face of NHL 12. The Canadian Press, June 22, 2011. TSN official website.
Jason Caravaggio - I am a university graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Education degree. Currently I am working two ...
Join the Conversation