NHL Slapshot for the Wii announced by EA Sports @ Gaming Target

Written by Nicole Kline on June 06, 2010

News: Stick or schtick?

This week, EA Sports announced the development of NHL Slapshot for the Wii, the first foray of the NHL on that console. And what better mug to attach to this brand new game than Wayne Gretzky himself? Speaking of brand new, it's also said to be shipping with a peripheral shaped like a hockey stick. This will be the first time that Nintendo has agreed to include a third-party controller peripheral, which has both the Nunchuk and the Wiimote built in. The stick won't be necessary to play the game Ц players can also use their regular old controllers. But after seeing that picture of Wayne Gretzky with that stick, who would want to?

УMaking our games as close to the real thing has always been our focus,Ф says EA Sports Creative Director, David Littman. УNow we are giving players an actual plastic hockey stick that the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers plug into. Players can then use the new NHL Slapshot Hockey Stick to do all the moves in the game.Ф

The WiiMotion Plus won't be necessary, as the two signals sent from the Nunchuk and Wiimote will be accurate enough. Accuracy will be paramount when you're getting ready to do some body checks, snap off a slap shot, or tip a light pass to your teammate. The stick itself will come in three separate pieces that snap together and will hopefully Ц packaged with the game Ц remain at $60, much like EA Sports Active.

In the tradition of EA Sports' career modes, NHL Slapshot will feature УPeewees to Pros,Ф allowing you to either choose your own 12-year-old character or allowing you to choose someone famousЕlike Gretzky. You can play this mode all the way up to 40, simulating a real hockey career.

I'm not one to fall for gimmicks, but this looks pretty freaking cool. We'll see this September whether or not the stick becomes another peripheral that collects dust next to a pile of guitars and other unwieldy controllers. My major question is: will Gretzky's kids choose to play as peewee Gretzky?