EA Sports held a big reveal event at the SkyDome Rogers Centre here in Toronto this morning, announcing that Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane will be the new Cover Athlete for the upcoming video game NHL 10 and John Tavares, currently the number one pick for the upcoming NHL Draft has signed on to help promote the game's release. Both men were present for the game's early preview and managed to get in a game before taking part in a photo session designed to capture reference pictures for EA Sports to use in creating new facial models for the players that will be used in future versions of the game. 

NHL 10 Cover Athlete Patrick Kane

 

 

 

 

Patrick Kane – I think it’s pretty special. The game’s a lot more realistic, it’s fun. Now you see the fans banging on the glass or waving the towels. You’re playing up against the boards in the game with, you know using your feet and things like that. It’s pretty realistic for sure.

Do you ever play as yourself? 

Kane – Obviously you want to play as yourself in the game, get the puck and things like that, try to shoot and score and have a lot fun doing that.

Tavares – When I was young I used to create myself and put together a team of the players I looked up to and liked. It was always fun doing those kinds of things.

Kane – I’d say I was obviously more of a gamer when I was a little bit younger, but now especially with the past couple of years it’s a little hectic with hockey and things like that. When I was younger I’d play all of the time, the NHL franchise or Madden or NBA Live, I was always into the sports games and really enjoying them. Obviously one day you’re hoping to be on the cover and I remember one day when I had to have the game with Lindross on the cover or Prong and here I am now and kids will be saying the same about me, y’know, ‘I want the game with Patrick Kane on the cover’. It’s pretty amazing, you’re hearing things like ‘The youngest player to ever be on the cover’, second year in the league it’s definitely pretty special.

What do you make of the new fighting mode? 

Tavares – It’s interesting, I mean I’m not much of a fighter, but it’s a pretty cool, different perspective. It’s definitely a lot of fun. Me and Patty Kane were definitely going at it quite a bit, but then he took the last one so, I’ll have to get back at him later.

Kane – Aw, it’s pretty cool. It’s basically realistic too. You’re basically looking right at the guy and it’s like you’re getting hit too when the screen is shaking, and you can see yourself getting dizzy too.

It's a fairly realistic simulation. Are there any details that surprise you? 

Tavares – Just the control the guys have with the puck. I think the last few years, the way the defensive modes for players have stepped up and the way the game is more realistic, both the way it plays with offensive and defensive changes

Kane – I think definitely the board play for sure. Guys will be tightening you up or kicking the puck to the open guy on the other side, it’s pretty cool I tell ya. Obviously there’s different things like passing where last year everything was more like a directed act, a tape to tape pass, this year if a guy’s not there you’re throwing it into an area where the guy can catch it. It’s pretty cool, there’s a few things like when a guy catches it in the air and then puts it down. You really gotta play it to see how realistic it is.