Unconquered

How in depth is the franchise mode for NHL 12?

I loved the 2003 version. I played it a lot. I haven't played one on the PlayStation 3 system, but I imagine it's good as well.

I'm sold.

It has the CHL (OHL, WHL, QMJHL), the professional leagues in Russia, Finland, Sweden, and a few other countries. You scout those countries for your prospects, and the cool thing is that all of them are real life prospects, not computer generated. You can also play the prospects game before the draft to see who you like the most. If you don't, your scout will tell you who he thinks was the best. By the way, you have to develop your scout. The more you develop him, the more accurate his evaluations are.

Then there's unrestricted free-agents, restricted free-agents, so you just can't go around signing all the top talent without consequences. You try and sign someone's 23-year old winger who's testing the market, but his team offered him, you may have to give up a 1st and 3rd to get him if he accepts your offer.

You also have to keep your GM rep up, it shows you what you need to do. Like scout a certain country for so many weeks, establish relationships with other organizations via trades.

There's so much more, but that's just some off the top of my head.

NHL 11 is awesome so I would assume 12 is even better. Fun to play head to head and the franchise mode kicks ass.

This discussion is funny. Being a Canadian, we prepare for the release of the NHL games every year, whereas you (mostly) southern folk probably aren't nearly as interested. It's like how i rant and rave about college ball, and people up here look at me like i'm off my meds...

I wish tickets to see my Maple Leafs were as cheap as you guys can buy Panthers or Lightning tickets! It's actually cheaper for me to travel to see them

Anybody have thoughts on nba 2k12?

Nice. I'm on the other side of the river from Detroit, so not being a UM fan here is almost blasphemous.

Hockey is a great fill-in for casual fans, as it's really physical and fast-paced.

NHL12 has a pretty extensive franchise mode, which is highlighted (for me at least) by the scouting/drafting/trades. You can deal picks, prospects, players, etc, and you can play coach and choose how to develop certain players to get what you want/need for your team. The gameplay is top notch, and obviously, you can adjust difficulty with sliders to suit your skill level.

I haven't bought either this year, but I have NHL 11 and Madden 11 and have played both demos for the 12s.

For what it's worth, I just don't think that football translates well to videogames. But NHL (and FIFA, for that matter), drive me crazy with their comeback AI.

I'd still go with NHL though man. Go Pens.

I agree. Toronto is a GREAT city to visit. Accommodations can be pricey, but it's a 1st class town for all ages/interests. A ton to do for everyone, and you wanna see a crazy sports atmosphere?? If you can snag Leafs tickets, the Air Canada Center is a rowdy barn :)

Bushido, are you talking about AAA hockey? If so, what program/years did you play? I played AAA here in Ontario.

I'm dying to visit Tally. Been a Nole since I was 10, and still haven't been to a game... As it's kinda far away. I was happy we added Pitt and 'Cuse, because both are realistic drives from here.

Oh, I know all about them. I was under the impression you were in Florida, and had to travel to Texas to reach a decent AAA program. But yeah, the DMV area has some of the best programs in the States, year after year.

I played with Sun County AAA in Windsor/Essex County in the Michigan AAA league before we joined the ALLIANCE in Ontario. Played on the same team as a few current NHL'ers, and played against a bunch from the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League).

Damn, I miss the competition, as it's only beer league for me now, although you wouldn't know it, as there are so many fights and dirty garbage that goes on. hahahah. The game itself leads to animosity. Love it.

I'm originally from Florida, but I've lived in the DMV for a while now, specifically to play hockey, haha. The clubs in Florida weren't really developed when I was playing, but I always went down on breaks from school to spend time with my family

One of the benefits of playing for the Jr Capitals is that their pro team would have practices after us sometimes, and would let us skate around with them, pass the puck around, take a few shots during warm-ups, before our coach yelled at us to get off the ice.

They take the adult-leagues out here pretty serious, surprisingly. A lot of them actually fund full uniforms, and not the cheap practice mesh jerseys. They also all set-up out of state tournament trips to Florida every year. Some even go as far as renting ice time once a week for practices, and you know that's not cheap.