E3 Details: Tiger Woods, NHL, NBA '09

EA today released a whole pile of details for the upcoming '09 series of EA Sports games, including NHL 09, NBA Live 09, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09.

NHL 09:

EA SPORTS welcomes you to the future of sports gaming with NHL 09. Building on NHL 08 EA SPORTS continues to evolve the NHL franchise with innovative control enhancements, added depth and accessibility.

NHL 09 brings Be A Pro to the ice, allowing gamers to step on the ice as themselves through a dynamic camera angle. In Be A Pro Mode you will earn your own hockey card as you progress from the AHL to the NHL.

The Skill Stick system from the past two NHL games evolves yet again in NHL 09 to bring precision control to the defensive side of the puck. The all new defensive skill stick gives you 360° control over your stick's movement. Block passing lanes, poke check more effectively and for the first time ever, lift an opponent's stick to prevent a shot.

Take a proven formula, sprinkle on some innovation, throw in a whole new way to play and see for yourself why every EA SPORTS gamer will love NHL 09.

• NHL 94 Controls — Hit, pass, shoot, and score using the simplified two-button control system featured in NHL 94. Now even players new to the game can challenge the best of the best.

• Interactive Tutorial System — Ideal for newcomers to the game, or the sport in general, this all-new system will teach you how to shoot, skate and deke before you hit the ice. In addition, in-game hints will pop up to help you to keep on track.

• Create-A-Play Breakouts — The ice is your canvas and it's up to you to paint a winning strategy in both online and offline play. Create breakout plays from your own zone or set up behind your net and tell your right winger to look for the flip dump from the defenseman

• Check Hard and Fight — An All-new physics-based checking and fighting engine featuring more than 300 new animations brings a higher-level of intensity to the game. Watch players reach for the ice to soften their fall or simply get laid out on their back when you catch them with their head down in open ice. Circle your opponent, grab his jersey and settle a mid-game score.

• One-handed Dekes — NHL 09 adds another weapon to you offensive arsenal – the one handed deke. When you are skating in on a breakaway tap the puck to one hand and tuck the puck behind a sprawling goalie for the ultimate finish.

NBA Live 09:

NBA LIVE 09 is back with the best playing basketball videogame in the category that rewrites the book on authenticity and connectivity – but is still accessible enough for new users to get in on the ground floor.

New features like Pick and Roll Control, Defensive Lockdown Control, Signature Playcalling and Quickstrike Ankle-Breakers will make the NBA LIVE experience fun from beginning to end. For those in need of some extra coaching, NBA LIVE 09 takes you to training camp with the NBA Academy that gives you a chance to hone your skills.

NBA LIVE 09 has rewritten the rules and fundamentally shifted the way you look at sports simulation games. Dynamic DNA emulates - with absolute precision - an NBA player in every sense of the word and it does so dynamically.

NBA LIVE 365 takes the statistical data of DynamicDNA and brings it to life. NBA LIVE 09 is now constantly evolving and authentically reflects what you see on the court in your virtual experience. Just like the real NBA game, players get injured, free agents sign late, great players go cold and no-names breakthrough. If you're a sports fan, this is a dream come true – NBA LIVE 09 is made fresh daily all season long.

• Based on Last Night, Not Last Season – NBA LIVE 365 takes it to a whole new level of connectivity, providing you an unprecedented level of authenticity and realism. Now every game truly is different powered by DynamicDNA data updating daily.

• NBA Rewind – Think you can do it better? Rewrite history and replay last night's game with the updated statistical data that recreates identical conditions including injuries, hot/cold streaks, tendencies and player DNA.

• Pick and Roll Control — This new two-man game mechanic lets you control both the ball handler and the screener, as you set screens and run two man plays, with on court instructions popping up to guide you through each play.

• Signature Playcalling — Introducing an accessible in game playcalling system that pushes on-court visualization to guide you through the play. Linked to LIVE 365, this feature will suggest authentic plays for NBA's stars to run on the court.

• NBA Academy — Get the most out of your game and hone your skills when you jump into game with an all-new practice facility.

• Quickstrike AnkleBreakers — Force your defender to step up and guess what you'll do next. Trigger the turbo button and use the right analog stick for bold, responsive ball-handling moves to fake out your defender and create scoring opportunities.

• Lockdown Control – A new risk reward system to lock in your check on defense. Get in tight on a strong shooting guard to take away his shot, or play back to keep a quick point guard from blowing by you.

• 5 vs. 5 Online Team Play – All 10 players on the court can now be controlled by users on 10 different consoles around the world. Now the game outcome can be completely dependent on how you play as an online team.

• Online Custom Leagues — Create your own online league, with all-new drafting, trades and a single elimination playoff format.

• Be A Pro — Feel what it's like to be a part of a team and lock in as one player – online using Online Team Play, or offline in single player mode. Let NBA LIVE give you feedback and track how well you are playing your position.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09:

Tiger Woods' coach is now your coach! In Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09, Hank Haney will be there from the start to assess your skills, help you tune your clubs and give you feedback after every round as you attempt to climb the leaderboards and win the FedExCup. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 is a highly adaptable game that allows both the rookie and the seasoned veteran the ability to have a personalized and customized day on the links. This year's game also features enhancements to the online experience with a highly integrated EA SPORTS GamerNet experience as well as an all-new online engine powering Simultaneous Play.

• Performance Coach – The TOUR pros have their own coaches and now you do too. Tiger Woods real life coach Hank Haney will guide you through your career right from the start and help you improve your skills as you play each of your rounds. Haney is constantly watching your performance and assessing areas for improvement, providing you tips on how to increase your skills.

• Tune Your Clubs to Maximize Your Swing – With the all new Club Tuner you'll be able to tune your individual wedges, irons, woods and driver to customize your bag and get the most out of every club. But strategy will come into play as you must weigh the risks of club performance versus ease of use. So tune wisely!

• Dynamic Skills — All-new Dynamic Skills eliminates the chore of building your character up from scratch with skills you set at the beginning of your career. Based up on your performance after each round, your skills will go up and down.

• Enhanced EA SPORTS GamerNet — Personalize your experience on EA SPORTS GamerNet like never before. With the all new Instant Challenges you can earn points in any game mode and climb the Daily GamerNet leaderboards. These Instant Challenges - long drive, approach shots and putting, will appear throughout every round, providing a multitude of opportunities to earn GamerNet points while playing other modes.

• New Online Mode - In addition, to turn based play an all-new 4-Player Online Simultaneous Play will allow you to compete in a four person round in the same time it takes to play single player. No more waiting for your buddies to hit their golf shot. You will see ball trails from each of your playing partners as the foursome plays the hole at the same time. Finish the hole first and switch over to spectator mode where you'll see your partners characters as they finish up the hole.

• New Courses and Golfers — New challenges await with exotic new locations including Gary Player Country Club in South Africa, Wentworth Country Club in England, Sheshan Golf Club in China, Wolf Creek in Nevada and Bay Hill Country Club in Florida. Adding international flavor to the available golfers in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 are Si Re Pak, Darren Clarke, Nick Dougherty and Rory McIlroy.

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