For us, it's an entry way into our franchise. That's the big reason we started this game. So we wanted to see how we could get people who don't normally watch hockey to enjoy the sport. Anyone who goes to a hockey game or plays it even once becomes a fan. The second big reason is that we love hockey and we want to see the hockey market grow. Games like Open Ice were wicked, and since there's nothing out that's like that now, it's a perfect time for it. A lot of people used to love the arcade hockey games a few years ago. The first reason was that there just is no arcade hockey game on the market right now. When you get a power-up that makes your opponent's goalie really little, you can't help but get a smile on your face.īut to us, there are two reasons we made this game. And the power-ups we have really add to that as these power-ups aren't just about hockey, they transcend to other games.

Anyone, whether they love hockey or not, can play this game and have fun. You just go on there, you pick it up right away and you're playing without having to worry about offsides or penalties.

That's right, this is EA's first original download-only sports title that will be sold online exclusively through Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network.ĮSPN caught up with producers David Littman and Matt Mahar to get the scoop on the upcoming game.ĮSPN: For gamers who are just hearing about this new title, how would you describe it?ĭavid Littman: I think this is a very accessible way for fans to play hockey without having to know the rules, without having to know players, without having to know how to score. There is even a power-up system that alters everything from a player's speed (you can make Ovechkin even faster) to shrinking the size of your opponent's goalie.īut that's not all as the game also brings back into play the fat guy, skinny guy, average guy strategy from the old NES Ice Hockey, with gamers choosing from an array of NHL stars while trying to find the right balance of speed, size, and since it's hockey, brute force.īest thing is, the game is not only extremely fun, it's only going to cost about ten bucks. The title is dominated by big-headed players pulling off big-time moves like checking goons over the boards and popping trick shots into the air before slapping them into the net. Serious, if you loved games like Jam or Open Ice back in the day, this is definitely a title you should look out for.Īnd the main reason is simple: gameplay. It's an old-school, fast and furious style hockey game that makes you feel like you need to insert tokens into your 360 or PS3 before you're allowed to play.

Sound fun? Then you'll love EA's upcoming 3 on 3 NHL Arcade.

3 on 3 nhl arcade ps3 download