EA Sports has today announced NHL 10, the latest in its long-running hockey series.

To improve upon NHL 09--which Nick so lovingly praised--EA promises "more than 200 gameplay refinements," including a new precision passing mechanic, scoring from your knees and knocking pucks out the air, but the real treat is first-person fisticuffs.

Yank on someone's jersey then clock him one in the face and fans will erupt in delight, while your opponent's tough guys might step in to protect a 'skill' player from your blows.

A new board physics engine lets you shield the puck with your body and kick-pass, plus of course big players can pin you to the boards while crazed fans hammer on the glass.

Developed by EA Canada, NHL 10 is due out on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this fall.

Electronic Arts and EA Canada today announced their second hockey game of the season, a downloadable "no rules" take on the sport dubbed 3 on 3 NHL Arcade.

Whereas EA Canada's NHL 09, released in September, provided a more realistic simulation of the brutal on-ice antics, NHL Arcade is said to pack "fast paced action, crushing hits and loads of room to experiment." Oh, and there will be power-ups.

"Serious is not the name of this game," explained EA. "Deliver devastating checks that send your opponent over the boards and watch as he has to skate back onto the ice. If the goalie comes out of his crease to play the puck, check him...Fly down the ice with a super-speed skater, and beat a giant sprawling goalie with a trick move."

Online multiplayer will allow for up to three players on the same console to face off against another team, with ranked matches available as well.

Priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), the downloadable game will pack 40 top NHL stars and two control schemes--NHL 09's Skill Stick controls and a simpler setup for less-advanced players--when it hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in February.