NHL 14 Video & Blog - EA Sports Hockey IQ

[Steve_OS]

EA Sports has posted an NHL 14 blog, which includes a new video discussing the improvements to Hockey IQ. Some of the improvements include providing better puck support, smarter shooting and the ability to read the play more effectively on both offense and defense.

Below are some more improvements to the AI on offense, defense, lane change logic and special teams.

Offensive AI

• Player Facing: Players will do a much better job opening up for passes/shooting opportunities. You will notice that they will better position themselves to let their own team’s shots through, and get ready for deflections and/or resulting rebounds.
• Keeping the Puck In: Players are now more aware when they are close to the blueline and will take the extra care needed in ensuring they keep the puck in the offensive zone.
• Avoiding Offsides: Players will do a better job of adjusting their route to ensure they remain onside as the play enters the zone.
• Shooting Analysis: Smarter decision making based on where the goalie is and the situation. Affects the types of shots they take and the location of the shot. For example: If they see someone on their team driving the net on an odd-man rush, they’re more likely to shoot low at the pads to produce a rebound.

Defensive AI

• Gap Control: Defenders will be more aware of the gap between themselves and the forwards as they breakout, progress through the neutral zone and into the defensive end. They will also make smarter decisions in selecting whether they should play loose or to tighten the gap by recognizing their opponent’s offensive ability versus their own defensive capabilities.
• Blueline Entry: A.I.defenders do a better job of recognizing the approach of an incoming offensive attack and will pick their moments to step up and lay a hit at the blueline, get a stick towards the puck or in the passing lane, or drop back into a more controlled gap. This will result in the need to read the defense when entering the zone and to vary the approach accordingly.
• Player Facing: A.I.defenders will do a better job of ensuring they’re facing the proper direction and are aware of where the puck is when covering point-men and forwards in front of the net.

Line Change Logic

• Players now have more awareness of the right time to change. They’ll do a better job of understanding the risks and rewards when determining whether they should come off or stay on for a critical situation, based on the opportunity vs. pressure and/or time of game.

Special Teams

• Power play logic has been improved to ensure that a team on the Power Play isn’t overly committed to attacking. This ensures that the PP team can still be defensive minded when they need to be.

Source - NHL 14 - EA Sports Hockey IQ (EA Sports)

[akula]

quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing this same old "AI Improved" every.. single.. year!!

If they were telling the truth, the AI would be amazing now while in reality it is mediocre. Waiting on a demo before I buy NHL 14.

[Peter10]

Improved line change logic? Now hopefully that works, this would be a step in the right direction.

[Al_Tito13]

This is actually the most encouraging video I've seen so far concerning NHL 14. I just hope that what we see in this video is not only some good promises that won't last long. Can't wait to get my hands on the game to be able to judge it by myself.

[Moose24x]

The only thing that really gets me intrigued in this news is the blue-line hold-in AI they mentioned. Otherwise, they've been talking about more intuitive O/D/transition AI for years and it's always the same ****.

[onac22]

Ok so far so good, but will my AI teammates still take 3/4 of my penalties? Will the cpu get called for injuries commited behind the play?

[Ghoste]

Quote: Originally Posted by Peter10

Improved line change logic? Now hopefully that works, this would be a step in the right direction.

Yeah, it was funny seeing both your defensemen head off for a change even as the opposition was coming into your zone.

-ghoste

[The Visualizer]

everything looks and sounds promising so far, but I am a little worried that it seems like the vast majority of improvements shown are going to lead to goals being scored a lot more frequently and easily.

the only real game changers that would offset more goals being scored from a defensive standpoint that I can think of are:

1-real physics when it comes to stopping sticks from being able to clip thru other players to limit the effectiveness of stickhandling in tight spaces against good defensive positioning and eliminating shots scored in traffic that should not have been on target because the shooters stick is impacted during the shot release by another stick or body.

2- better implementation of play along the boards. In NHL13 its too risky to try pinning puckhandlers in most situations because of how precise your positioning needs to be in order for you to trigger the action successfully. This mechanic needs an overhaul as its pretty useless in its current state and should be a weapon in the arsenal of a defender for dealing with puckhandlers in the corner or behind the net.