NHL 17 Cover Athlete Revealed as Vladimir Tarasenko, Beta Coming Soon

The vote for NHL 17 cover athlete has been going on for a while, but now EA has announced the winner of the cover spot at the 2016 NHL awards as promised. The cover athlete for NHL 17 will be none other than St. Louis Blues Forward Vladimir Tarasenko.

According to the press release from EA, over six million votes were cast on Twitter and the NHL website before Tarasenko was selected as a winner. “It’s an incredible honor to represent my teammates and all the Blues fans around the world on the cover this year,” Tarasenko said of the experience.  “As a player, it’s a big deal to be fan selected for something like the Cover Vote, and I’m excited to be involved in the game this year.”

During the event, EA also announced that an open beta would be coming to PS4 and Xbox One starting on July 28, but you can register now. The beta will feature a total of 3 playable modes, with players who sign up to become an NHL 17 Insider receiving early access to the beta. No word on how early those insiders will be getting in.

If you’re curious as to what modes you’ll be seeing in the beta, Online Versus, EA Sports Hockey League, and Hockey Ultimate Team will all be playable in the beta when it launches next month. The beta will also offer players access to the Creation Zone.

The beta will run from July 28 to August 4, so you’ve got a few days to get in and do some testing. The full game, meanwhile, will see a release on September 13 later this year. This news also comes with a new trailer for the game, which you can check out up top.

 

NHL 17 Cover Athlete Revealed as Vladimir Tarasenko, Beta Coming Soon

E3 2016: What Sports Games Will We See at E3?

We’re just under a week away from E3, and we figured now would be better than ever to discuss what we’d like to see going into the trade show. Last year we talked about the sports games we expected to see at E3, and this year we’re going to do the same.

So, what games will we see at E3? Do keep in mind that, as far as we can tell, some of these may not be officially confirmed for the show this year! This list should be considered speculative as a result.

Madden 

Madden is a sports gaming staple, and one of the big pillars for EA Sports. Since EA has already started talking about some of the new features we’ll see in the game, and since EA is showing the game off at EA Play, it’s safe to say that we’ll hear more about it during their press conference this year.

As to what news we’ll get on the franchise? Only time will tell. Hopefully we’ll hear something about new game modes, but until then, you can check out our article addressing your top 10 questions on Madden 17 to get up to speed on what we know so far about the game.

We’ll be checking out the game at EA play, so we’ll have more coverage on the game for you next week!

FIFA 

Like Madden, FIFA is often considered to be one of the big EA Sports titles, with a major presence at E3 every year. The game has been confirmed for EA Play, so it’s safe to say we’ll hear more about it in Los Angeles next week.

With PES getting the jump on the franchise by talking about their game earlier, I’d expect to see EA make a big FIFA reveal during their press conference. Will that include the cover athlete for the game? I’d hope so.

Game Informer also reports that the game will be using the Frostbite engine, as the first of many EA Sports franchises to use the engine moving forward. If this is true, we’ll probably get confirmation at E3.

NHL 

Unfortunately, the cover reveal for NHL 17 has already been spoken for. Rather than reveal the cover during E3, the winner of the NHL 17 cover vote will be announced during at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 22.

There’s still a lot to talk about, but now that we know the first trailer for the game will also be featured at that event, it’s hard to see a lot of new information being presented. The game will be at EA Play, though, so you can expect to see more of the game then.

PGA Tour 

Last year marked the first time that Rory McIlroy took over as the namesake athlete for EA’s long running PGA Tour franchise. It’s a bit odd that we haven’t seen any information on another installment, since the franchise has typically seen a release window between March and July.

With June underway and E3 coming up, and with no word on a new PGA Tour, it seems like the franchise could be another no-show in 2016. If we don’t hear about the game at E3, I’m not sure we’ll get a release this year. Unfortunately, all signs point to this one being shelved again, at least for 2016.

NBA LIVE 

We already know that NBA LIVE is getting pushed back into 2017, making it unlikely that we’ll see the game at E3, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see EA talk about the delay and what they hope to achieve by delivering the game later than usual.

With the fierce competition of the much-favored NBA 2K, I think most people would agree that NBA LIVE could use a break. Still, it’d be great to hear just what EA has planned to make the game more competitive next year.

NBA 2K

We’ve seen that Kobe Bryant will be getting his own special version of the game called “Legend Edition”, but we haven’t seen much of the game itself. Based on last year, NBA 2K likely won’t be making much of an appearance at E3 if it makes one at all.

We already got a number of big reveals at the Road to the Finals, where we learned that Paul George would be the cover athlete, along with the news of a September 20 release date and a return of the Early Tip-Off Weekend.

With 2K16 featuring a number of issues, prompting the community to band together to see them fixed, hopefully 2K can deliver a much more solid product for the 2017 season.

PES 

PES 2017 is well on the way, and as our favorite soccer game in 2015, you can bet we’re excited to get our hands on the latest iteration of the franchise. Thankfully, the game is confirmed for E3, so we’ll be seeing a lot of it next week.

We’ve got plans to check out the game, you can expect to see more coverage on it soon!

We’ll be returning to E3 again next week to bring you coverage straight from the show. Are there any sports games you’d like to see this year? Let us know in the comments or on social media, and as always, stay tuned to SGO for the latest news on your favorite sports games!

E3 2016: What Sports Games Will We See at E3?

NHL 17 Q&A Reveals Skating & AI Improvements, Tons More

We’ve been getting an abundance of NHL 17 information this week, and now EA has opened up a Q&A page for fans to ask questions about the latest iteration of the game. The questions so far have revealed a number of improvements coming to NHL 17, including how skating and AI will be improved.

We’ve taken a number of the most popular questions for you to look at, which you can find below. Questions are still being answered, so if you have one you’d like to ask, I recommend heading over to Ask NHL.

Will NHL 17 be releasing a trailer at E3?

June 22 will be the first official trailer.
Can you talk about crease battles and cross crease goals from last year?

Yes. When we looked at one of the main issues for defenders it was the ability to tightly mark a player in front of the net or on the weak side.  Last year, there was a big focus on getting defensive deflections and interceptions right but this year, we really wanted to focus on that close defending of a player.  With net battles and extended stick lifts, you are given tools to tie up a player in front of the net so that you can take the goal side position and move them out from screening your goalie, tie up their stick, or simply just get in the way of them making a play.

Have you improved Be a GM this year? I feel the game mode hasn’t seen significant improvements for multiple installments.

This year we have added a lot to Franchise Mode with the inclusion of unique team owners and the ability to control finances. You can change ticket prices, budgets, perform arena upgrades/repairs, set marketing promotions, and relocate your franchise. We have also added Owner goals that are based on your owner’s personality which makes every team feel different.

Will there be any unlockable stat boosts or equipment for playing on EASHL? The rank system wasn’t enough to keep me playing.

There won’t be stat boosts in EASHL for NHL 17 – The mode is based around a balanced player class system where your skills with the controller and how you play as a team are the prime differentiator in who wins games.  However, with the amount of customization options you can unlock, there are a lot of items that will allow you to show off how far you and your team has progressed and the accomplishments you have marked along the way.

Looks like NHL17 has relocation! (pumped!) Do users get to customize jerseys, colors, names etc or are the location cities already have team suggestions with jerseys and logos?

Players will get to fully customize their jerseys, colors, names and more at the new city that they relocate to. We are excited to see the different designs and looks that our players create.

Will new Goalie AI accompany the new animations? 

Yes. In adding new blocking saves, the goalies save mechanics have been updated as well, so goalies will move their body into shots rather than making a limb based save which ultimately made them more vulnerable to be beat.  They also know to stay tighter to their posts when the puck is down low and passes and shots are coming in tight to the net.

Can you create your own team in NHL17?

Yes. You can create a team in NHL 17 leveraging the most robust customization package that we’ve ever had.

Are there going to be better ways to earn coins in HUT this year? Like solo challenges or better set completion awards?

For NHL 17 we took a look at gameplay rewards and made some changes that should increase the amount of coins the average player earns. In addition the new Dynamic Sets feature in HUT will allow you to trade in unneeded items in your collection.

As you can see, there are a lot of questions being asked and answered. If you want to see the full list, check out the website. NHL 17 will be making an appearance at EA Play which takes place during E3 this year, so you can expect to hear more about the game then. Until then, stay tuned to SGO for the latest NHL news and tips.

 

NHL 17 Q&A Reveals Skating & AI Improvements, Tons More

NHL 17 Features List Reveals World Cup of Hockey, Draft Champions

Sports gaming season is in full-swing, and the latest title to get the spotlight is EA’s NHL 17, which promises to include a number of new features. Some of those features you’ll probably be familiar with, if you’ve played other games from EA. For the first time in the NHL franchise, Draft Champions will be making an appearance.

The game will also introduce the World Cup of Hockey and Franchise mode. You can get the rundown with the full list included below, directly from EA’s NHL website.

LIVE YOUR HOCKEY FANTASY IN NEW GAME MODES

No matter how you play the game, NHL 17 delivers new modes to connect to your favorite teams and players. Feel the thrill of fantasy draft night with a star power team in Draft Champions, or play for national pride in the World Cup of Hockey. Be a GM fans experience the evolution of team management and take on the entire business in Franchise Mode, where you call the shots from concessions to arena relocation.

WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY

For the first time in EA SPORTS NHL history, play for national pride in a full International Tournament Mode. Featuring all of the official World Cup of Hockey teams, players and uniforms, take to the ice on a world stage as your national team and heroes.

DRAFT CHAMPIONS

The new Draft Champions mode introduces the thrill of the fantasy draft with fast rounds of superstar picks. Each round challenges managers to choose the best players to build a balanced team. Immediately following your draft, take to the ice and fulfill your team’s potential by winning the Draft Championship.

FRANCHISE MODE

Fan-favorite Be a GM mode expands to complete control of an entire franchise with the addition of unique team owners. Control your favorite team and lead them to Stanley Cup glory by managing the team and the business behind the scenes. Make game-changing decisions from player personnel, ticket prices, marketing, arena upgrades, and even relocation – all from under the watchful eye of a demanding owner with challenging goals.

NEW WAYS TO PLAY FAN FAVORITE GAME MODES

Take your EA SPORTS Hockey League team to the next level by progressing through ranks to unlock customization items and give your uniform a unique look, or use the all-new Arena Creator to build the home ice you’ve always wanted. Celebrate career defining Moments in Be a Pro and immerse yourself into the most exciting Hockey Ultimate Team ever with the introduction of team Synergy, completely changing the way you build and play your dream team.

TAKE CONTROL OF THE ICE AND PLAY YOUR WAY

Own Every Zone with more end-to-end control with authentic goalies featuring positional awareness and Reactionary Save Intelligence, all-new Net Battles for offensive and defensive zone play, and dozens of thrilling new goal celebrations that capture the excitement of scoring the biggest goals on game night.

AUTHENTIC GOALTENDING

With all-new Reactionary Save Intelligence goalies will process their position, angle and the scoring situation before committing to an athletic or technical save. New motion capture replicates the technical movements of goaltenders resulting in true-to-life stances and an ability to use their body to stay big and block versus making a reactionary save.

BATTLE FOR THE ICE

In hockey, games are won and lost in front of the net. All-new Net Battle physics give you the ability to own that crucial piece of real-estate on offense or defense. Authentic battles, tie-ups, and stick play makes the battle for position in front of the net exciting thrilling and bruising chess match.

CELEBRATE WITH STYLE

After you’ve buried the puck into the back of the net all eyes are on you. Bring glory and emotion to the spotlight and celebrate using dozens of all-new player celebrations that give you a variety of ways to rub that goal into your opponent’s face and bring the crowd to their feet.

OWN EVERY ZONE

Feel complete control over the ice with improved tape-to-tape passing, puck pick-ups, and pivots. Manage your gap on the puck carrier and break up passing plays on defense with more responsive skating and stopping. Enhanced hit mechanics allow you to choose whether you close someone off at the boards, push them off the puck, or deliver a devastating body-check.

SHARPEN YOUR GAME

Whether you’re competing online for elite status or lacing up the skates for the very first time, the next generation of the critically acclaimed Visual On-Ice Trainer and Coaching Feedback tools return to teach you the skills needed to sharpen your game. Unprecedented control over gameplay settings and sliders give you the tools to go from fast, action-packed gameplay all the way to the most authentic simulation so you can play the style of hockey you love.

That’s a long list of new improvements, and if you’d like to get a more in-depth look at what’s involved with them, you can head on over to the official EA Sports NHL website. Are you excited to get your hands on the game? Let us know in the comments.

NHL 17 Features List Reveals World Cup of Hockey, Draft Champions

The NHL 17 Cover Vote Begins Today

EA Sports and the NHL have announced the cover vote for NHL 17, with a total of eight players competing for the spot. Each player represents one of the teams competing in the World Cup this year. Voting starts today, with the option to vote either through twitter using the hashtag of your choice or by voting on the NHL’s website. You can even vote as many times as you’d like.

If you’re voting through twitter, EA has provided the following table to let you know what hashtag you’ll want to be using to support your favorite athlete.

Country		Team		Player		Twitter Vote Hashtag
Team Canada		Dallas Stars		Jamie Benn		#NHL17Benn
Team USA		San Jose Sharks		Joe Pavelski		#NHL17Pavelski
Team Czech Republic		Philadelphia Flyers		Jakub Voracek		#NHL17Voracek
Team Finland		Florida Panthers		Aleksander Barkov		#NHL17Barkov
Team Russia		St. Louis Blues		Vladimir Tarasenko		#NHL17Tarasenko
Team Sweden		Tampa Bay Lightning		Victor Hedman		#NHL17Hedman
Team Europe		Los Angeles Kings		Anze Kopitar		#NHL17Kopitar
Team North America		Edmonton Oilers		Connor McDavid		#NHL17McDavid

 

EA has also released a new vision trailer today, detailing some of the improvements made in the latest iteration of their NHL franchise. The trailer offers a brief look at some of the customization. You can watch that video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJNQovjxVhk

Who’s your pick for the NHL 17 cover? Let us know in the comments.

The NHL 17 Cover Vote Begins Today