We have been posting updates about the new EA Sports game 3-on-3 NHL Arcade. The game is sounding like it’s going to be a great one. I love hockey so I was very interested in finding out more about this title. While EA Sports has turned the NHL series into a solid franchise, and it’s always my personal NHL game to play each year, I liked the idea of having the option of playing an over-the-top NHL game. While Hockey fans may also like the idea, I wonder about the casual gamer and what they might want to know about the game. After all, while the Xbox Live Arcade has plenty of games to pick from, sports titles have been very limited. The ones that have been released were pretty flat. I was asked if I would be interested in sitting down with the Lead Producer of 3-on-3 NHL Arcade, Matt Maher. We had the chance for a short Q&A session over the phone.

Read on to find out why NHL 3-on-3 NHL Arcade just might be exactly what sports and causal gamers have been waiting to be released on the Xbox Live Arcade, and for links and screenshots.

While talking to Matt Mahar, I found him to be honest and proud of the new game. I know the interview is not in the usual interview format typically used, but I think our readers will get the most out of it the way I decided to write it. I had a ton of questions written down to ask, but I was pre-warned that I had about 15 minutes with Matt so I had to decide what to ask. I wanted to start off with something most gamers might be wondering. With all the new franchises and new titles EA has released this last year, why go the route of the arcade for the new 3-on-3 NHL Arcade? Matt’s response was honest and made sense. He told me that after the initial meetings on the game they found it to be a perfect game for the arcade. He also added what I already mentioned about the lack of sports games already on the arcade. Yet, I think his last comment was the one that really made a bold statement. He added that there are no NHL games on the Xbox Live Arcade so why not make 3-on-3 the first one.

If I asked those who enjoy playing hockey games to tell me their favorite NHL game that had an arcade style, I know everyone would say NHL Hitz. Midway had the knack for creating a good mix of classic play with the arcade element thrown in and to be fair it was the only series out there. So I asked Matt what die-hard NHL fans and the casual gamer could expect. He explained they went for a cartoon-like look while adding special plays that fit the 3-on-3 gameplay. Matt kept talking but I could tell he was proud as well as confident about the new game. 3-on-3 NHL Arcade will cater to both the die-hard players and the casual players. I asked Matt how he could promise this and he talked about the fact that the game would offer 2 different control schemes. The first will be very similar to the NHL series complete with the pro-stick feature. While the second control scheme would be the easier to use button-style controls. He added that there would be no change in how the game is played based on what control style gamers choose. He also said that gamers will be surprised at the specially created plays and added animations they added to the game.

Matt went on to talk about the reactions they received last weekend at the NHL All-Star game. EA took the game there and gave the fans and players a sneak peek at the game. People were eager to play it and some could not put it down. Matt even joked that each time he would go back to answer questions and see how things were going, he saw several of the same people playing each time. He also joked about wondering if they had taken breaks long enough to catch the actual All-Star game. He then talked about what the game would have and what it would not have in it. There are 40 NHL players representing each team in the NHL. Some teams will have more players but they had to limit the number of the players. Gamers will be able to pick their favorite ones and play the game with the rule book thrown out the door. The reason for no rules serves two big goals. The first is to make the arcade style work. The second is without worrying about being off sides and other rules, everyone can pick the game up and play.

There are no hidden Easter eggs and no current plans for updates, but the game sounds very solid. I personally can’t wait to play it. You also can’t check someone hard enough to break the glass. Matt admitted there were things they wanted to add but with the size restraint of the arcade title, they had to stick with a feel and style. I asked him if he regretted having restraints and he said no it really made the whole team focus to make the best game possible. Taking a look at the early screen shots, the way they adjusted the rinks and the arenas make it stand out. It’s meant to be the type of game you can pick up, play for as long as you want and just have fun. There will be several different online and offline modes. After our time was up, I thanked Matt for his time and his very honest answers. I also walked away with the feeling that EA Sports is really onto something with this new game.

3-on-3 NHL Arcade will be released in February and the price will be 800 Microsoft points. I would like to thank Matt Maher for his time and we will have more screen shots and a full review posted when the game is released. I will end this by saying I have heard producers talk about games before and at times I got the feeling they were trying to convince me how good the game would be. After talking with Matt, I got the feeling he really believes 3-on-3 NHL Arcade will speak for itself with its fun gameplay and it will cater to every gamer out there.

Interview by: Rich Reed Xboxsolution Head writer.

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Filed under: Games • Interviews • News • Release Dates • Xbox 360 • Xbox Live

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