EA has shipped NHL 99 for the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and PC platforms. Sony's 989 Sports made a similar announcement regarding its PlayStation game NHL FaceOff '99. Can you tell professional hockey season is about to get under way?

　　EA's title features bigger body checks and harder slap-shot animations than in previous versions, as well as improved player graphics, professional sports commentators (broadcasters Daryl Reaugh and Jim Hughson for the PC and PlayStation versions of the game, ESPN's Bill Clement for the N64 version), and a new beginner level. Officially licensed from the NHL, the game includes all 27 of the league's teams, as well as an expansion draft for the Nashville Predators and all the NHL players. Teams representing the Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, and 15 other countries are featured in the game as well. The Marc Crawford's Coaching Drills game mode lets players try out their moves before using them in actual game situations. (Crawford is a Stanley Cup-winning coach.)

　　989 Sports' NHL FaceOff '99 sports motion-capture animations of St. Louis winger Scott Young and past San Jose goaltender Kelly Hrudey, as well as representations of all the NHL teams. Blueprints of NHL arenas were used to create the game's arena models. NHL FaceOff '99 features a new TV-style presentation incorporating camera "zoom-ins" and "cutaways" and commentary from New Jersey Devil play-by-play man Mike Emrick and ESPN announcer Darren Pang. 989 Sports used what it's calling "Authentic Hockey Intelligence" and "Enhanced Icon Passing" to power this 3D sports game.