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[Kon Tiki]

NHL 2005 includes an overhauled skating engine. How has this changed the experience of the game?



Dave Warfield: The biggest change to skating in hockey games ever is based on the fact that players do not skate in full stride all the time, they accelerate to speed and coast. While coasting players have more control over their puck and stick handling, and are more maneuverable. The other big change is that it makes Speed burst a weapon to use strategically, you can't just skate around at full speed, you wait for your opportunities then burst, catch your breath and burst again. The combination of these changes to the skate engine with improved backskating make NHL feel very different than in previous years.

Now that EA Sports is on Xbox Live, I assume that the Xbox version will be playable online. If that's the case, could you tell us about the online features?



DW: Xbox Live is supported by NHL 2005, you will be able to play head to head against your friends, use the EASO Matchup service to find someone to play against, and see how you compete in leaderboards and tournaments that are part of EASO.

Is it hard to decide who should be the cover athlete? Does it result in any arguments?



DW: There is a lot of discussion every year about who should be on the cover, we usually end up with a short list, then look at the players traits, is he a gamer, will he be a good spokesperson for our game, and does his style match the key features that we are focusing on for that year. Markus Naslund has been an EA SPORTS gamer for many years, before he even came to Vancouver, he is a great spokesperson for the sport and our game, and his style of play is exactly what Open Ice is all about… find your Open Ice and take advantage when you have your opportunities.



Besides being the cover athlete, in what way is Markus Naslund involved with the game?



DW: Markus has been involved with the NHL team for many years, he will give us feedback on what he likes or what he thinks needs improvement. He is also key in connecting us with other players, whether they have feedback or are looking for their copy of the game. We will continue to sit down with him going forward to provide an even more authentic level of realism to the sport.

More here.