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NHL 12: The Intermission, Reworked
Now, I've gone at length about how much I dislike the current "replay reel into Game Scouting Report" for the intermissions in the NHL games, and I think part of that lies in how simplistic it seems. For all the emphasis given on presentation in NHL 11 (repeated commentary and cutscenes aside), it's odd that something as simple as the intermission can be disregarded like it has been. While I'm all for the game analyzing your play and giving you feedback on how to improve it or whatnot, giving vague advice without any further explanation isn't the way to go about it. So, for your approval, rather than excise the GSR for an intermission report in NHL 12, how about integrating it into a larger intermission experience.
Imagine if you will, once the period ends, you're not whisked away into a replay reel of the period past, but rather into an extensive intermission experience with elaborate graphics and that sort of thing. From there, you're given your menu which looks like this:
RESUME GAME
BOX SCORES (or "AROUND THE LEAGUE" in Playoffs/Be A GM)
- LEAGUE LEADERS
- SCORES AROUND THE LEAGUE
- STANDINGS
GAME STATS
- TOP PERFORMERS
- TEAM COMPARISON
- GAME SUMMARY
- PLAYER STATS
- SHOT CHART
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- GAME SCOUTING REPORT
- STRATEGIES
- EDIT LINES
- INJURY UPDATE
TOP HIGHLIGHTS
- SAVE OF THE PERIOD
- HIT OF THE PERIOD
SETTINGS
CUSTOM CAMERA
EXIT
Meanwhile, the menu itself is laid out as if you were a fan watching the Zamboni do its run-through. (Not literally, but the menu is set against the Zamboni in the background.) Now, an explanation of the added intermission options:
- "Around The League/Box Scores" serves as the link to your game and the league your team plays in. While in exhibition, you'd just get your simple box scores (like in NHL 94), in Be A GM/Season/Playoffs is where this menu gets its focus. There would be a "League Leaders" option where you can see the leading scorers, points getters, goalies, and etc. Also, there is the "Standings" option, which shows the league standings and whatnot. Finally, the "Box Scores" which shows the scores of games being played that night.
- Under the "Game Stats" category, you've got a "Top Performers" option, which would list the noteworthy players of merit so far in a game. Also, there is the "Shot Chart", which is exactly that, a shot chart showing successful shots.
- As noted, the Game Scouting Report hasn't been removed, but rather placed under the "Team Management" category. While the format is the same as it is right now and there will be the same adjustments and successes, the player can now highlight each bullet point and be given both a visual and oral explanation of the particular adjustment. For example if "Take Away Their Chances And Get The Puck Deep" is shown, you can highlight it and you'd hear the announcers tell you about it in greater detail, while a chart of the ice is shown, giving you a visual example of what to do. This way, it doesn't just feel like the game is saying "Here, do this" and not giving you the specifics on how to do "this".
- The "Top Highlights" menu is basically the same thing that pops up at the end of the game, but rather, it gathers the top plays, hits, and saves of a given period.
While some may object to this emphasis on something that's mostly skipped over, I'm sure people who play the EA NHL games for their dynasties and GM seasons and so on would appreciate the added changes to give a closely-knit experience that places you in a changing and expanding universe. (I know, that last bit sounds cheesy, but just go with it. :P)
Last edited by Lightbringer719; 04-24-2011 at 01:41 AM.
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04-24-2011, 01:15 AM
