Rubber band effect(?)

[MizzouRah]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

Sliders help some issues.. but the horrible teammate AI? No slider will fix that unfortunately.

Or the puck going through the goalies pads...

[GlennN]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

100%. People on here just want to complain about issues that are 100% fixable with sliders. The sliders are there so that you can adjust the game play to suit you. Games too slow? Speed it up. Games too fast, slow it down. Goalies suck? Adjust them. Guys score too often, lower the shooting accuracy. USE THEM. If you don't, and continue to complain about the issues that you can easily fix, then it's your own issue.

What you say is exactly how sliders SHOULD work. As noted above, I have experimented with the poke check and stick lift sliders, eventually setting them to zero for the cpu. It is still too much poke checking and stick lifting for my liking. And before you offer more sage advice, like "protect the puck", understand that I am agreeing I am not a good player. I have no interest in competing online. I just want a videogame experience that I find fun. The sliders SHOULD do that. I love the concept. But, for me, they are not functioning as I would like.

[TuhKuelGoo]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

I've played Madden before, and I'm thinking about buying this game as my first NHL game. I know I'll only play offline franchise mode and play now, and unfixable rudder band AI would definitely spoil my experience. Is this an issue that can at least be diminished with sliders?

[drog1602]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

Honestly the game is just frustrating. So many times I have just turned off my machine after what I had seen. It's just not fun. That's not even going into the online mode, which is even worse.

Do yourself a favour and just buy an older version.

[MizzouRah]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

I started a 32 expansion mode a few weeks ago and I'm going to play key games and sim the rest so I can get through a few seasons.

I played my home opener today and it was a fantastic experience. Not one moment did I have the frustration I typically have. It's just so odd how I can have an immersive, fun game then the next 4-5 games is total frustration with goals going through pads, cheap goals, etc..

It's why it makes me believe that the game decides some things as you play rather than the ratings and your game play dictating the game.

[NinthFall]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

Why exactly does stuff like this happen when I'm leading?? Someone still wants to deny rubber band? Stupid AI? Please!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbw-HQJCPC4

[Fiddy]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

I don’t see anything there but your d man initiating a net battle, which caused an animation that pushed the goalie and kept him from getting back to make a save attempt. Not sure how that has anything to do with rubber band AI. ����*♂️

[johnnyg83]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

I'm about 20 games into my 32 team expansion and I feel like there's less rubber band than I'd initially thought. I don't think it's gone completely, but I am seeing games that aren't back and forth one goal games.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

I wonder what the "poise" stat actually does. I'm guessing it's a modifier that decreases ratings in certain situations? In this case if you have to preserve a one goal lead late, I'm guessing a low poise goalie gets a nerf?

[SeattleBattleCat]

Rubber band effect(?)

I think rubber banding is real however the severity can be (& must be) controlled by playing with the Ai sliders and even dropping back a level (eg. all-star to pro).

I say this because I too have been drawn close to the brink of insanity having unrealistic plays and goals pulled against me and goalies with save percentages of .700.

My line of thinking is if I'm not enjoying playing then I must either change the game, to make it enjoyable, or quit. Making it enjoyable versus quitting is a much better option IMO.




Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[ksteward84]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

So much pride when I mopped the floor with a team 6-0!!!

Then in another game I’m ahead 4-0 with 3 minutes left and it becomes 4-3, 6-3, 6-5, and finally 7-6. That’s 4 goals in the first 57 minutes and a flurry of 7 goals in the last 3 minutes?

[Steven547]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

I don't personally think it's in hardwired into the games programming, honestly. I'm 41 games into my Blues season and have experienced next to nothing like the things you guys have described.

I DO, however, believe that certain slider sets could lend themselves to what would be perceived as rubber banding. However, the way I have it set up, I simply just don't see it.

Also, proving it's there would require an awful lot of tests with more variables that you can shake a stick at to accommodate along the way. It's incredibly subjective. I haven't experienced come back AI issues in years, personally. Hard to get shutouts? Yeah, sure, but I'm on pace for 6 in my current season.

I think sliders effect this game dramatically.

I know, I'm late to the party here. But, I do agree. I think sliders definitely affect this "rubber band" feel. I have had quite a few games where I won with no problem.

I wish EA would chime in and give us more detail as to what the sliders affect and how they "domino" to other sliders. At least give us some sort of idea so we can adjust accordingly. When you read the description of some sliders, you get confused if it should be placed higher or lower. The wording of the sliders the can be confusing. However, each year someone asks EA for this information, EA goes silent.

Now, I'm not ruling out some sort of "rubber band AI". Heck, someone got into the code of the FIFA game on PC and found code that said something along the lines if the player is up by a goal or two, slow their speed down or something along those lines.

I understand EA wants the game to feel like "hockey", but hockey is an organic sport. Every game shouldn't feel the same. Every game I'm leading by 1-2 goals, I shouldn't be thinking the CPU is going to score with a minute left to make the game exciting. And this does happen more than not. Not every team in the real world, scores goals by pulling a goalie or with a minute left.

It happens, but not as much as it does in this game. EA should not be forcing this game to be fun. That is up to us as players and how we play the game.

[go hawkeyes]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

A little off topic, but...Does this game feature a "live" functionality? For example, in Madden or MLB you can play a game that day, with up to date stats and commentary. Does this not exist in NHL 18? Unbelievable!!

[actionhank]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

Why exactly does stuff like this happen when I'm leading?? Someone still wants to deny rubber band? Stupid AI? Please!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbw-HQJCPC4

Stuff like that happens when you're losing too. The game's AI is just not very good. It just sticks out more when you're losing your lead because of it. I've scored goals like that against the AI, and had them scored against me. It's just bad AI, bad collision physics, and goofy gameplay.

[Rifle_Man81]

Re: Rubber band effect(?)

YongYea talks about EA filing patents that adjust difficulty and matchmaking to max player engagement aka spending. To me, this all but proves implementation of ice tilt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC19cGJa-xw&t=665s