Stadium Series

[gsize19]

Went to the Stadium Series game tonight, and man EA, you have to find a way to add these games into you game... Such a fun game and atmosphere... Wishlist 26 item I posted, but bring it up again, EA, please find a way to make it work in the NHL Series...

[kinsmen7]

Re: Stadium Series

Went to the Stadium Series game tonight, and man EA, you have to find a way to add these games into you game... Such a fun game and atmosphere... Wishlist 26 item I posted, but bring it up again, EA, please find a way to make it work in the NHL Series...

It's always been a bit weird to me that the option was there for 1 year (think it was Pittsburgh?), and never again.

I honestly miss having the all star game as part of your franchise season. I know it's not a thing this year anyway, but it was a fun little break from the grind of the regular season (if you play all 82...).

I know it'll never happen, and it's not really realistic to be able to jump into it, but adding the WJC and/or World Championships to franchise mode would be a fun change that again, would break up the grind of the season. Even if it was just an add on to player stats (the same way the CHL/SHL/Etc. are sim stats on player cards).

[MiracleMet718]

Re: Stadium Series

It's always been a bit weird to me that the option was there for 1 year (think it was Pittsburgh?), and never again.

I honestly miss having the all star game as part of your franchise season. I know it's not a thing this year anyway, but it was a fun little break from the grind of the regular season (if you play all 82...).

I know it'll never happen, and it's not really realistic to be able to jump into it, but adding the WJC and/or World Championships to franchise mode would be a fun change that again, would break up the grind of the season. Even if it was just an add on to player stats (the same way the CHL/SHL/Etc. are sim stats on player cards).

I believe they had it for two years. Definitely one in Philly for Rangers/Flyers (Citizens Bank Park) and one in Pittsburgh for Pens/Caps (Heinz Field). Then the next year the NHL had the shortened season so there was no Winter Classic and we haven’t seen it in game since.

If I had to guess, it has to do with there being multiple outdoor games every year and each being at a new venue. Each venue takes awhile to map out and build on the new engine so it would be extremely hard to get the info they needed to build it out. When they moved to current gen and rebuilt all of the NHL arenas, it took them I think 2-3 years to get all the info they needed with full access from the arenas and then build them all out. So the ask for them to do the same for each outdoor stadium just for 1 game would be a lot.

Even if they could use the assets from Madden or NCAA, they would then have to customize so many things and change it into a “hockey stadium” that it would take a lot of time to do. It would be a cool feature but unless they build a generic outdoor stadium, it would take too much time to do. And if they did use a generic outdoor stadium, people would complain that it’s not real enough.

[stlgamer09]

Re: Stadium Series

I believe they had it for two years. Definitely one in Philly for Rangers/Flyers (Citizens Bank Park) and one in Pittsburgh for Pens/Caps (Heinz Field). Then the next year the NHL had the shortened season so there was no Winter Classic and we haven’t seen it in game since.

If I had to guess, it has to do with there being multiple outdoor games every year and each being at a new venue. Each venue takes awhile to map out and build on the new engine so it would be extremely hard to get the info they needed to build it out. When they moved to current gen and rebuilt all of the NHL arenas, it took them I think 2-3 years to get all the info they needed with full access from the arenas and then build them all out. So the ask for them to do the same for each outdoor stadium just for 1 game would be a lot.

Even if they could use the assets from Madden or NCAA, they would then have to customize so many things and change it into a “hockey stadium” that it would take a lot of time to do. It would be a cool feature but unless they build a generic outdoor stadium, it would take too much time to do. And if they did use a generic outdoor stadium, people would complain that it’s not real enough.

They can't even get the real arenas correct in the game.

[MiracleMet718]

Re: Stadium Series

They can't even get the real arenas correct in the game.

They were correct when they built them for NHL 15. They just can’t keep up with all the arena updates and have left each arena as is unless they are brand new.

As to the comment about not being able to do the WJC/World Championships, it wouldn’t be the easiest to get it into Franchise mode but they can definitely do it because they have all of the licensing. If they really dedicated dev hours to it and made it a main focus, they could do it. But I think they have other priorities that they would like to/need to get done first before they even got there because it would be a big build to add to the mode because they’d have to consider:

- How to select junior players/prospects for WJC
- Having enough junior players for each country
- Fake players/draft eligible prospects for WJC
- Scouting the results of WJC games
- Figuring out how to make WC rosters using both NHL and non-NHL players

That’s just the simple things so there’s so much more they’d need to consider to get it right if they wanted more detail. Personally I think a better use of time would be to somehow get ECHL into franchise mode. I know only a rare few prospects play there, but it would help keep AHL roster sizes manageable so you don’t have a bunch of guys frozen to the bench there when they could just be on the ECHL roster.

[kinsmen7]

Re: Stadium Series

They were correct when they built them for NHL 15. They just can’t keep up with all the arena updates and have left each arena as is unless they are brand new.

As to the comment about not being able to do the WJC/World Championships, it wouldn’t be the easiest to get it into Franchise mode but they can definitely do it because they have all of the licensing. If they really dedicated dev hours to it and made it a main focus, they could do it. But I think they have other priorities that they would like to/need to get done first before they even got there because it would be a big build to add to the mode because they’d have to consider:

- How to select junior players/prospects for WJC
- Having enough junior players for each country
- Fake players/draft eligible prospects for WJC
- Scouting the results of WJC games
- Figuring out how to make WC rosters using both NHL and non-NHL players

That’s just the simple things so there’s so much more they’d need to consider to get it right if they wanted more detail. Personally I think a better use of time would be to somehow get ECHL into franchise mode. I know only a rare few prospects play there, but it would help keep AHL roster sizes manageable so you don’t have a bunch of guys frozen to the bench there when they could just be on the ECHL roster.

Oh I absolutely understand that it's borderline impossible to add those in, and a big factor is that I'd assume that the majority of users end up in the playoffs, which is exactly when the World Championships are anyway, so it doesn't really make sense to do anyway. I'm just spit balling things that could add an extra layer to a season, since playing 82 then the playoffs is most assuredly a grind.

Definitely agree on the ECHL. Only issue is that not every team has a direct affiliate of their own.

Random wishes on a Sunday evening while I avoid my in-laws who have been in my house for a friggin' month because we had a new baby:

-Adding in the USHL-it's not as popular as the CHL, but adding it would keep EA from having to add the NCAA, which seems like it'll never happen anyway. -Screw it, add the NCAA. I think (as a Canadian) I would have a blast rolling with a few seasons and running through the frozen 4.
-A CHL franchise mode. Draft and develop young guys, then flip 'em to the NHL entry draft over time. This would perfectly tie in to having a WJC schedule during the season, because they have the break at the same time. I chuckled0 a bit when I was typing this, because I think it'd be funny listening to the complaints about the trade-logic, or the "limited" size of trades that we could make, only because of the hilarious size of a lot of CHL trades when they involve the top tier players (724 future draft picks, and a handful of random dudes named Ryder, Appaloosa, and Hanson in exchange for 1 top ranked player, please!)

That's all. I recognize that I derailed a thread that has nothing to do with what I typed above, but also, it's nice to see some interaction on this forum.

Cheers.

[Hockeytown954]

Re: Stadium Series

Does EA normally release these jerseys in the game? The jersey and helmets are amazing.

[gsize19]

Re: Stadium Series

Does EA normally release these jerseys in the game? The jersey and helmets are amazing.

They will release them, probably with the next roster update after the trade deadline...

[gsize19]

Re: Stadium Series

Does EA normally release these jerseys in the game? The jersey and helmets are amazing.

Actually stadium series gear is in the game now...

[Hockeytown954]

Re: Stadium Series

Actually stadium series gear is in the game now...

Do you know if those would load into an active franchise?

[mercalnd]

Re: Stadium Series

Do you know if those would load into an active franchise?

To get the latest uniforms in your active franchise, you just have to make sure to have the latest roster as the active roster in the front end. It works even if your franchise uses another older roster.