NHL All Star Marty Turco Is in the Game

Western Conference NHL All Star goalie Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars logs a lot of off-ice time playing Xbox 360™. He spent time last year providing motion-capture for the Xbox 360 NHL® 2K6 game, as well as serving as its cover athlete.

Turco's moves can still be found in the new hockey game, NHL 2K7, and the goalie still has a great relationship with 2K Sports. He was at the 55th NHL All Star Game on his home ice in Dallas to help with the videogame festivities. Turco provided commentary as the four top NHL 2K7 gamers in the U.S. competed for a custom 2007 Dodge Nitro painted with the NHL 2K7 cover art.

Turco suits up in mocap gear for 2K Sports.

Turco was on the ice during the second intermission of the NHL All Star Game, along with current NHL 2K7 cover athlete and fellow All Star Joe Thornton, to award the new Dodge Nitro to Vincent Herelle of Florida. In the third period, Turco went between the pipes, backstopping the West to an exciting 12-9 victory.

He's in the Game
Anyone who picks up either of the Xbox 360 NHL games from 2K Sports will be able to play as Turco, since he spent several days on the ice in Los Angeles as the motion capture model for both games.

"I felt like an actor out there," said Turco. "I was in full gear, but I had to imagine the puck coming at me. I had to act like a real shooter was out there so I could get my adrenaline flowing and make the game-situation saves that I wanted to portray."

On top of the animations that are used by all of the game's goalies, Turco was able to add some exclusive signature moves for his own in-game character. Turco said the mo-cap session was a real education in how videogames are made.

"My advice to anyone who picks up a copy
of NHL 2K7 is to really familiarize
yourself with the controls."

"A lot of hard work goes into mo-cap," said Turco. "With all of the optical sensors, the technicians were constantly having to warm up the devices because doing saves like the butterfly, split saves, and double stacking, the pads would get ice on them."

Crease Control
Turco worked with developer Visual Concepts to create Crease Control, the feature that allows players to control the goalie for the first time in a hockey videogame. He said that, as a gamer, it was cool for him to have a hand in this new feature, which continues to evolve as each year's game comes out.

"Xbox 360 opens up some unique opportunities for players to control the goalie in new ways," said Turco. "The video game is so fast-paced that the player has to focus on the five players moving around the ice all of the time, but breakaways allow you an opportunity to take control of the goalie."

Turco said that in the NHL, being in the right position is crucial to making a big save. Likewise, in the games, just being in the right place and anticipating the angle that the puck is going to be coming from increases your percentage of making the stop. Turco should know, he spends a lot of time playing NHL 2K7 both at home and against many of his Dallas teammates. The rule when playing against teammates is that no one can play as the Stars. Turco said he likes to mix it up and surprise his competition with different teams.

Turco likes to mix it up when he games and play as other goalies.

Lifelong Gamer
Turco said he honed his gaming skills during high school and college, where his competitive nature and love for sports translated to a love for sports videogames.

"There's so much depth and creativity in these games," said Turco. "I grew up playing games with two-button controllers. Now the controllers are loaded with buttons. My advice to anyone who picks up a copy of NHL 2K7 is to really familiarize yourself with the controls. Know what each button means on offense and defense and make the most of every possible move in the game."

Article by John Gaudiosi