Above is a screen shot of Tyler Stewart from NHL 2002

Barenaked Ladies On Ice

Electronic Arts announced today that the company has reached an agreement with Barenaked Ladies (BNL), the multi-platinum Reprise recording artists. The band will debut their previously unreleased track "It’s Only Me (The Wizard Of Magicland)" in an introductory sequence for the latest release of the top selling EA SPORTS" hockey franchise, NHL®. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"In order to stimulate the emotion of an actual NHL game, it’s important to create the realistic gameplay, camaraderie and excitement of the in-arena atmosphere," said NHL producer Dave Warfield. "Barenaked Ladies’ song ‘It’s Only Me’ in NHL 2002 epitomizes the band’s, high-energy style heard at hockey games throughout North America and offers enjoyment to hockey fans and music fans alike."

In addition to hearing Barenaked Ladies previously unreleased track, BNL fans will be able to play as band members through the Create Player feature. By entering band members’ names, players can save the musicians to the team of their choice.

"I’ve always wanted to play in the NHL, and now I can-- at least in digital form!" said BNL drummer Tyler Stewart. "Whether it’s going one-on one with Cujo in net at Air Canada Centre, or fighting for the puck with (Steven) Page and (Ed) Robertson on my side, NHL 2002 has made living my childhood dreams possible."

Download A Video Clip from NHL 2002 of Ed Robertson shooting a goal : DOWNLOAD IT NOW !

How To Skate As BNL

Skating the BNL Line Want to play as one of the member of the Barenaked Ladies? It's easy, all you have to do is use "Create A Player" feature to enter a band member's name and save the musician to the team of your choice. Here are step-by-step directions: Go to "Options" at the Main Menu. Select "Create Player/Rosters", and continue to select the "Create Player" until you reach the screen that asks for the name of the player you'd like to select. Use the controller to spell out the first name of the band member of your choice, press the "advance" button, and then enter the last name of the band member Lady you've chosen. You will be asked if you would like to create the player that matches the name you've typed. Select "YES." From there, enjoy customizing the BNL band member to your liking. You can choose his team, his position, and his skills (although we're sure that they're star players already). If you haven't already saved your 'Lady to a team, a screen will appear giving you the option to "Return to Waivers" or "Edit Lines." By selecting "Return to Waivers" you can assign the 'Lady of choice to a team. When you are done, return to the Main Menu to enter the game, then select the team where the 'Ladies are saved and experience NHL 2002 Barenaked Ladies style. If you're interested in skating all five guys at once, repeat the same "Create Player" process after you've saved each player, entering each of the band members' names at the prompt. Claim each member to the same team off waivers, and you've got yourself a star-studded line-up.

Other Key Features

• NEW Breakaway Cam: Experience the most exciting play in hockey from the athletes' ice level audio/visual perspective.
• NHL® Cards: Earn points towards the purchase of "NHL Cards" by performing game moves and reaching milestones. Cards provide the player with boosts, cheats, and other fun un-lockable features.
• EA GameStory: Tracks events during the game and tells compelling stories as they unfold. Stories are told using cinematic camerawork, clever replays, overlays, play-by-play, and color commentary.
• In-game music: Music provided by Barenaked Ladies, the multi-platinum Reprise recording artists from Toronto who will debut "It's Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland)," also to be released on their greatest hits album titled Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits / 1991-2001. Additionally, chart-topping punk band Sum 41 features its hit single "Fat Lip" as well as "Makes No Difference." Other bands in NHL 2002 include The Tea Party, Treble Charger, Jet Set Satellite, and more.
• NEW Create Player: Enhanced customization enables gamers to create themselves, as an intense power forward, or a gritty defenseman with an assortment of hairstyles and colors, mustaches, beards, eyes, and other features. Also, Barenaked Ladies fans will be able to play as band members by their names and saving the musicians to the players' team of choice.
• Precision Animation: Provides a more fluid gameplay experience, giving gamers the ability to reach for passes and kick the puck up to the stick.
• Emotion Meter: Get the crowd into the game with a huge hit, a brilliant save, or an important goal. Watch crowd intensity turn as you take the opposing team's crowd out of the game. The Emotion Meter enables the gamer to feel the excitement of the game by experiencing heightened emotion through team intensity and crowd involvement.
• Gameplay Sliders: Play the game the way you want to play. Gamers can select a level of play that suits their experience from beginner to advanced, speeding up or slowing down the level of play accordingly.
• NEW Color Commentator: Color-commentator Don Taylor joins play-by-play veteran Jim Hughson in the broadcast booth to provide insightful, and humorous game commentary.
• 6 Modes of Play: Six different modes including; "Play Now," Season Play, Career Mode, Playoff, Shootout, and Tournament.
• Official NHL and NHLPA® licensed product including all 30 NHL and 20 International teams.