How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

[jyoung]

Quote:

On many shifts, the AI will hesitate and zig-zag around the red line before launching a futile dump attempt

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now:



You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

[shogunofharlem3]

Quote: Originally Posted by jyoung

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now: You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

That is brutal! I really hope this is somehow addressed in a patch if they do another. Gotta assume that can't be fixed via a tuner. That is how most of my games go. I can keep them at neutral ice for a good 30 seconds then I get bored and let them in........................then they zip around everyone, rush my goalie and smash it in.

[AdamJones113]

Good video jyoung.

Yep, horizontal hockey is nothing new to the series, especially for good defensemen. I actually discussed this with a 'dev' on the EA Forums (here's the link to the page where we first started discussing). Here's the essence of the convo:

There was actually a point this year where we felt the AI had good flow through the neutral zone. Factors like thinking they can/can't make a head man pass, determining if it will be offside, if they will gain possession back on a dump and their confidence to keep the puck if they regroup instead -- all weighed by current pressure settings, current score, etc. change their mind when they could otherwise just go ahead and gain possession or dump it in.

It is something that remains on our list to make more believable in the way they play.

The better the human defender is playing against them , the worse this scenario can get.

He was a bit vague on why the CPU doesn't just dump it in.

[bigwill33]

Quote: Originally Posted by jyoung

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now: You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

THIS! A billion likes for documenting this!

This is the most annoying and unrealistic part of this game's horrible, horrible AI system. And it is near impossible to ever get the puck off the CPU when they are doing this. And it is not even possible to skate in the manner in which the CPU gets to when doing some of this or when they are retreating in their own zone.

There needs to be fluidity and progression to hockey. The playing in this video is more akin to basketball. In hockey you would run out of room and force a dump in deep or attempt a chip on the boards. If you panic and make the wrong choice you throw a blind pass to a spot on the ice that your coach would be cursing you up and down for. Those are the only acceptable options to be programmed in these instances, but instead we get this type of action, year after year.

[hawley088]

ill come back when they completely trash this build and restart it from the ground up, i feel like ive been playing the same game since ps3 days

[MizzouRah]

Yep.. I like to hold the blue line too.. and I see that from the AI all the time, especially with the game slowed down.

[jake19ny]

Quote: Originally Posted by jyoung

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now: You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

No doubt the AI needs to be rebuilt from the ground up but I will say even with the latest crappy tuner I have found some solid sliders that eliminate a lot of that as well as the over used cross ice pass to the wide open CPU guy. I will post them tomorrow if anyone really wants to give them a try. The obe annoying thing is I have to reset sliders to default and re-enter them before each game otherwise it goes magically straight back to the nonsense.

[piffbernd]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nickflyers

100% Agreed! Allow us to customize OUR BAGMs. Allow us to edit ANYONE's ratings during a BAGM Allow us to CREATE OUR OWN DRAFT CLASSES(and share them) ala 2k Series Dynamic Rivalries Coaches(NHL 2k5 had this, geez) Basically combine NHL's gameplay w/ 2ks Franchise mode = Happy hockey fans

Agreed 100 % to this list. Player are to small and to light after a 5 years. 5 11 and 160 lbs to 180. Would be nice if we could edit that. Look at mlb the show, u can edit almost everything.