app review: 2K Sports NHL 2K11
September 15, 2010 by Steve Loopipe · Leave a Comment
One of the interesting things about the App Store is that, unlike the rest of the video game industry, there are still surprises from time to time. Such it was with NHL 2K11, which arrived with no advance warning and little fanfare one night in late August. Even more surprising, beyond the fact that this is 2K Sports’ first game in the App Store, is that 2K Sports put the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of their NHL series on hiatus for 2011 for retooling. All that adds up to a promising hockey game that really could go either way – it could set the standard for iPhone hockey games, or it could be destined for an extended stay in the penalty box.
It should be noted that, while NHL 2K11 is not necessarily the only hockey game in the App Store (even excluding the seemingly hundreds of air hockey games), it is currently the only game that is officially licensed by the NHL and contains all the current teams and rosters. What’s more, NHL 2K11 feels like a full console hockey game, even more so at times than Madden does for football games. In addition to the standard quick play, season and shootout modes, there are an impressive number of options to allow the player to customize the game precisely to his liking. For example, there are two types of offsides and three types of icing to choose from, as well as the ability to turn either of them off entirely. The now-defunct two line pass can also be turned on for hockey fans who long for the “good old days”. There are also eight different camera angles to choose from, and you’ll want to go through them, because the default angle doesn’t provide enough of a view of the ice to be able to see your teammates and pass effectively.
Though the options are closer to a full console game, the controls have been pared down to the bare essentials: A virtual stick for movement, and buttons for pass/switch player, shoot/check, and speed boost. This decision may sound limiting compared to current console hockey games, but really, this is all you need to play, and it reminds me somewhat of the old Sega Genesis NHL games (which were arguably still the most fun to play, even now). The controls themselves work fine, but my issue with them is their placement on the screen. Specifically, the three buttons are arranged in a triangle, with shoot on top and pass and speed boost below it. This is very different from most console controllers’ default button placement, where pass is on the bottom and shoot is above it; as a result, I had a lot of trouble adjusting to the controls, even after several games. What’s really surprising is that, with all the other options available, remapping the buttons isn’t one of them. Another option I was surprised not to find was pass assist, which would be extremely helpful given the limited screen real estate.
Controls aside, though, gameplay is exactly what I would expect from a full hockey game. Scoring is difficult but not impossible, and when you do get the biscuit in the basket, you definitely feel like you’ve earned the goal. That said, you can’t really get the puck in the net with finesse, due to the lack of wrist shot and deke controls; you have to score the old-fashioned way, either by deflecting the puck off a misdirection or simply shooting it where the goalie can’t reach it. You also get full control over line changes, either by allowing the game to automatically choose lines for you or even manually switching lines during a play.
The graphics are functional, but not much more than that. Player models are blocky and pixilated, and the rinks are fairly generic looking, down to the fans who look like blurry paper dolls. This is somewhat exaggerated on an iPhone 4, given that the graphics are not optimized for the Retina display. Replays are not well rendered, either, with jerky video making it difficult to determine what’s actually happening more often than not. The graphics work well enough to be able to play the game, but you won’t be using NHL 2K11 to show off your new iPhone 4.
To make matters worse, the sound is more disappointing than the graphics. There is no play-by-play commentary at all, so other than the few on-ice sound effects, the only sound you get in game is the fake crowd noise that is constantly in the background. What’s odd is that it seems like there should be at least some commentary or speech from the PA announcer, because the three stars come out at the end of a game but you can’t tell who they are except based on the number on the back of their jersey. Outside of gameplay, the menus are accompanied by some grating guitar rock that you’ll want to mute relatively quickly. To add insult to injury, you can’t play your own music in the game; the app overrides your music with its own.
If you can ignore some of the rough edges, NHL 2K11 can definitely provide a satisfying hockey experience on the iPhone. There is a lite version and this is one case where it’s worth trying before you buy to see if this game is for you. NHL 2K11 is far from perfect, but if you can get past the awkward controls and subpar presentation, there’s a lot to enjoy here for hockey fans who are looking for more than air hockey
review by Steve Loopipe
rating 3.5 out of 5 stars • App Store Link
Hockey interview
January 5, 2010 by Beatweek · Leave a Comment
What’s so good about banana splits? You get three kinds of ice cream, nuts, and chocolate fudge, plus a banana. There’s so much deliciousness in there, who could not like a good banana split? Well, the up and coming Portland, Oregon, band “Hockey” are just like a musical banana split. You get all kinds of musical influences on one record. They may just be the best band you’ve never heard of. Though, I think Absolute Punk was right when they said Hockey “if your new favorite band.” The band has been on the up-and-up since the release of their debut album, “Mind Chaos,” in late August 2009. Their video for “Song Away” was the iTunes free video of the week last October. Also in October, they played a rooftop party for SPIN magazine. To see what is on Hockey’s plate for 2010, I chatted with the lead singer, Ben Grubin. The topics of life in Seattle, where the term, “Mind Chaos,” came from, and touring with Friendly Fires came up…
Growing up, how did you get into music?
I started taking music seriously when I was about 19. I was really into Radiohead and for some reason that made me listen to music. I became less social and disappeared into the music for a lot longer.
So, Radiohead is one of your influences?
Yeah, they’re not like a direct influence in terms of the music style, but just kind of a deep musical beginning force. Other than the fact that on some of their new records they go around and kind of try different things on different songs. It’s not a unified sound. I always had the idea that you can experiment from track to track within an album if you feel like it.
I think that method of thinking really shows through on how you guys put all your music together. The sound is so diverse and there are so many different things going on at one time. How would you classify your sound as a whole as far as Hockey goes?
I would need to think of a name for it! As far as stylistically, it’s like a melting pot kind of record. Almost every record is right now. I want our record to be a danceable record.
Do you find that your live shows are very energetic and do you get a good response from the crowd?
Yeah, sometimes it depends on the city and such, but we have a good response from the people. The energy in the room is usually really high and everyone’s kind of going crazy and sometimes not. Sometimes people are just kind of checking you out. It definitely has that possibility.
You guys are from Portland, Oregon. Being on a major label now, have you been on any major tours to get away from home and branch out?
We pretty much moved to Portland about three years ago. None of us are from Portland. We played 10 or 15 shows here and then kind of disappeared from the city. We’re totally not like a local band. There are definitely a few other bands that are embedded in the Portland scene a little deeper. But we’ve just haven’t been lined up to play a lot of shows here.
Do you think being signed has changed your outlook as a band on being supremely popular?
Our music and our album are exactly the same that it would have been pretty much and I think that’s the most important thing. I do think that being on a major label does changes things though because you know what their expectations are. You feel unsafe in a way because you need to get to this insane level to feel safe as a band because they don’t care as much about little bands. Like selling out the Mercury Lounge in New York City is nothing to a major label, but to us it was the most awesome thing. That has definitely been part of it because there are lofty goals. You can’t really force it though. You just make the music you make and do what you can do. The rest of it is how much it connects and how much people like it. You can’t do anything to make it catch on.
Is there any band that you have toured with that has taught you something valuable about the business?
Not really. You tour with a band that you’ve heard of before and you think they’re really cool. Then, you meet them and they’re just people and it’s cool. It’s like when we were on tour with Friendly Fires. It helps you to not worry so much about your own path like if you become huge or famous or your band gets successful. Because sometimes being in a band you get so stressed out about succeeding because you want it to continue. So, going on tour with other big bands kind of helps you to keep the human side of it and not worry about the popularity thing. When you get into your twenties, you stop caring about the popularity thing. It’s like you are still in high school though, and you still worry about those kinds of stupid things – unless you pay attention to not worrying about it.
Switching gears, I don’t know how you guys put your music together, but what do you draw from to write the music?
I basically write all the songs. We arrange the music together though, like write a solo or cut a verse. Some of the songs are very old, but most of them are from 2007.
Where did you come up with the title of “Mind Chaos?” That sounds like it could get pretty deep.
[Laughs] I think luckily it was an afterthought. It kind of reflects the fact that the album is a little bit all over the place. That wasn’t the original goal though. It’s funny when we made music we didn’t really realize how unusual it is to sound that way. It could also be harmful because people will say, well you don’t have a sound. Originally, it was a word that Jerm, our bass player, and I had for a long, long time back in college kind of to describe some sort of sociology word. Like, if you ask people a question about politics or anything really you’re almost always going to get a crazy answer, or a different answer. You know? A lot of the album is about surveying the world and looking at people’s opinions. You’re kind of being opinion-less like you’re the writer just looking at stuff. And you’re kind of being shocked at all the different ways people see things.
For those people out there who aren’t familiar with Hockey yet, why should they give your music a listen?
I don’t know, I mean some people wouldn’t want to listen to it. It just depends on what kind of music that they like—[maybe] if you like any kind of dance or electronic rock. The main thing to me that feels different than other dance music is the intention of the words or the time that was put into the lyrics. Most band lyrics are cool but just feel very hip and have that vacant hip vibe to it. It’s cool, but it is hip emptiness. This album is totally not that. The main thing that I can feel that’s different is the sound. I don’t know whose records right now sounds futuristically different as far as originality goes. Maybe some hip hop records are kind of on the cutting edge because they come up with new recording techniques.
I think you’re right on You’re very cutting edge in the way you’re taking on the lyrics thing and everything.
Nobody ever says that. Maybe I’m delusional. [Laughs]
What is on the horizon for Hockey in 2010?
We’re starting a really big tour at the end of January. We’re going to Australia and Europe, and them we’ll be coming to America for a tour too. We barely tour America at all. And we’re playing Coachella at the end of that tour. And then, I don’t know!
Learn more at HockeyBand.com
iProng Magazine issue #57: Katharine McPhee and more
January 4, 2010 by Bill Palmer · Leave a Comment
Live streaming video has officially come to the iPhone, and we take a hands on look at the Qik Live app – along with reviews of Outside, Coolibah, and Momento. And on the hardware front, we review three new iPhone and iPod batteries including a cradle and a pair of charging bricks that double as portable batteries.
And because one can never have enough good music on hand, we also talk with the lead singer of hot new band Hockey, indie sensation Noush Skaugen gives us a sneak peek at her upcoming album (you’ll hear much more from her later), M.J. Rhythm introduces himself, and we present a classic interview with Richard Patrick of Filter.
Keep an eye on iProng.com all this week, as we’ll be posting live from CES 2010 in Las Vegas, bringing you all the top new iPhone and iPod related products and more. And yes, the Flaming Lips will be in the house for our January 12th issue.
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