Real Hockey Experience Comes on Wii
2K Sports has announced The REAL Hockey Experience on Wii, an NHL 2K11 cross-country tour featuring NHL players, an array of fan-friendly giveaways and contests, and hands-on play with NHL 2K11 months before it is released exclusively for the Wii system.
Traveling throughout the northern United States and Canada, 2K Sports will bring the excitement of NHL hockey to more than a dozen cities in a custom-designed NHL 2K11 recreation vehicle rigged with portable video game gear created especially for fans and gamers.
The trail of pucks, prizes and playable demos will also feature appearances by NHL stars, including Vancouver Canucks forward and NHL 2K11 cover athlete Ryan Kesler, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson, New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac and more.
“We really wanted to do something fun for this year’s NHL title to recognize our loyal fans across Canada and the United States,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports.
“Hitting the road and enabling hockey heads hands-on time with NHL 2K11 before it ships, as well as giving them access to some of hockey’s premier players, is a great way to showcase our game and passion for the sport.”
2K Sports unveiled the NHL 2K11 recreational vehicle and tour experience at this year’s E3 Expo in Los Angeles. The tour then traveled to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards’ red carpet ceremony and later returned to Los Angeles for the NHL Entry Draft.
The tour is now making its way eastward, stopping in cities rich with hockey tradition, including Vancouver, Calgary, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Philadelphia and Boston. It will conclude in New York for the celebrated launch of NHL 2K11 in September.
“The 2K Sports team really outdid themselves this year with The REAL Hockey Experience concept,” said Ryan Kesler. “When they asked if I would join them on the tour, I knew I wanted to be part of it. I’m really looking forward to meeting fans this summer and playing NHL 2K11. I hope they let me borrow it for a night!”
Fans can enjoy the tour’s party-ready gaming kiosks with playable demo copies of NHL 2K11 before the title’s release. The vehicle’s interior has also been redesigned to support multiple Wii units for on-the-road competition, as well as outside for additional pick-up-and-play action.
Fans in each city are encouraged to stop by and compete for prizes, as well as submit their photos online at www.2ksports.com/nhl2k11.
