EA adds developers to NHL 20

[badazzleroybrown]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

The Anser is what one of the developers said last year when asked about NHL coming back to pc , He stated if the interest was there they would need to bring on more people to port it over....

[tinpanalley]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

NHL has never gotten Frostbite, which has immeasurably improved the other games that got it. It ain't because they're afraid of modding. They simply don't care about the series. It makes just enough money to keep them happy and to retain the license with the NHL. As long as they break even, they can justify retaining the license and that allows them to control the market, tiny as it is. A friend who works at Ubisoft once explained to me that NHL not being developed further makes no sense from a game dev perspective unless you actually don't need to develop it further because it allows you to make just enough money to keep it alive. Basically, he said, it's a bigger loss in the short and long run to kill it from many perspectives. So, you just keep it on life support making nothing but cosmetic changes because any more resources used than that isn't financially justifiable. Now, this news could mark a change but then they'll just get themselves into another 5-yr plan and we'll get **** games for the next 4 years. My prediction? This changes nothing. But I'm too busy playing 2K and old PC NHL games to care.

[Madwolf]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

NHL has never gotten Frostbite, which has immeasurably improved the other games that got it. It ain't because they're afraid of modding. They simply don't care about the series. It makes just enough money to keep them happy and to retain the license with the NHL. As long as they break even, they can justify retaining the license and that allows them to control the market, tiny as it is. A friend who works at Ubisoft once explained to me that NHL not being developed further makes no sense from a game dev perspective unless you actually don't need to develop it further because it allows you to make just enough money to keep it alive. Basically, he said, it's a bigger loss in the short and long run to kill it from many perspectives. So, you just keep it on life support making nothing but cosmetic changes because any more resources used than that isn't financially justifiable. Now, this news could mark a change but then they'll just get themselves into another 5-yr plan and we'll get **** games for the next 4 years. My prediction? This changes nothing. But I'm too busy playing 2K and old PC NHL games to care.

Moving to a new engine is no easy thing, and while they need to move to Frostbite, I would disagree that it has made a major difference in EA's other sports titles. Its more or less made them prettier, and slightly better gameplay wise.

Most if the problems in Madden for instance, remained the same. 18 and 19 were probably 2 of the least liked games since the jump to the current gen of consoles.

[tinpanalley]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

Moving to a new engine is no easy thing, and while they need to move to Frostbite, I would disagree that it has made a major difference in EA's other sports titles. Its more or less made them prettier, and slightly better gameplay wise.

Most if the problems in Madden for instance, remained the same. 18 and 19 were probably 2 of the least liked games since the jump to the current gen of consoles.

Ok, well I'd have to say that your opinion is in the minority of the people I've spoken to, but that's why we're in a forum. So that different ideas can interact. In my opinion it's a massive difference. But we'll be splitting hairs until the end of time.

[KoryDub]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

Frostbite, which has immeasurably improved the other games that got it.

Care to elaborate on the improvements to Madden and FIFA that cannot be measured? Because the consensus in those communities is that Frostbite has had little impact on the game overall.

[tinpanalley]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

Care to elaborate on the improvements to Madden and FIFA that cannot be measured? Because the consensus in those communities is that Frostbite has had little impact on the game overall.

Nope. Unless you have the power to put me on trial in a forum for an opinion.
But since we're nitpicking at people's opinions, "those communities" is a very vague way to express the different types of people who play EA games. There are several. They don't all have the same opinion or reason for playing the game and the ones I belong to thoroughly appreciate Frostbite.

[jake19ny]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

Nope. Unless you have the power to put me on trial in a forum for an opinion.
But since we're nitpicking at people's opinions, "those communities" is a very vague way to express the different types of people who play EA games. There are several. They don't all have the same opinion or reason for playing the game and the ones I belong to thoroughly appreciate Frostbite.

I think both of you guys are actually right. There are areas where I feel those games improved (no idea wether that’s related to Frostbite or not) and likewise legacy issues still plague EA games regardless of the move to Frostbite so I would say both points of view are valid.

[The EVHL]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

NHL has never gotten Frostbite, which has immeasurably improved the other games that got it. It ain't because they're afraid of modding. They simply don't care about the series. It makes just enough money to keep them happy and to retain the license with the NHL. As long as they break even, they can justify retaining the license and that allows them to control the market, tiny as it is. A friend who works at Ubisoft once explained to me that NHL not being developed further makes no sense from a game dev perspective unless you actually don't need to develop it further because it allows you to make just enough money to keep it alive. Basically, he said, it's a bigger loss in the short and long run to kill it from many perspectives. So, you just keep it on life support making nothing but cosmetic changes because any more resources used than that isn't financially justifiable. Now, this news could mark a change but then they'll just get themselves into another 5-yr plan and we'll get **** games for the next 4 years. My prediction? This changes nothing. But I'm too busy playing 2K and old PC NHL games to care.

People have absolutely despised FIFA 19 even in the competitive scene. Frostbite isn't the magic answer, and I don't think that engine automatically makes any game better. I thought Madden 18-19 were terrible, and I thought FIFA felt the same as it did on Ignite. Not to mention the fact that the developers on Anthem hate Frostbite due to the lack of documentation on the engine, I don't think it would be smart for NHL to make the jump. They're already understaffed as we've all heard before, so asking them to port to an engine that lacks documentation is a tall order for a small team.

Hopefully with the next-gen consoles on the brink of releasing, EA makes a smart investment in a new sports-friendly engine (Not Frostbite) so that hopefully we can see some AI improvements for NHL over the upcoming 8-10 year cycle unlike this last 9 year cycle we all had to suffer through.

[bruins2012]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

I have more fun editing the rosters than actually playing the game at this point.

HEY EA, scrap most of the leagues and add roster sharing? How *** **** hard is this to figure out??

And make the rating so my C doesn’t lose a shiiit ton of points because of stick checking or how hard he fookin hits. Stagger the ratings.

EA you are incompetent.

[Money99]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

I think both of you guys are actually right. There are areas where I feel those games improved (no idea wether that’s related to Frostbite or not) and likewise legacy issues still plague EA games regardless of the move to Frostbite so I would say both points of view are valid.

Lurking in the various EA threads for their various sports games, it seems the top issue they all have in common is poor player differential and AI cheats - which allow all the CPU players to play like a superstar.

That will never change. Ever. AI is tough to program and EA won't waste time on that when those resources can be used on modes which welcome micro-transactions.

[The EVHL]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

Lurking in the various EA threads for their various sports games, it seems the top issue they all have in common is poor player differential and AI cheats - which allow all the CPU players to play like a superstar.

That will never change. Ever. AI is tough to program and EA won't waste time on that when those resources can be used on modes which welcome micro-transactions.

I don't mind the cheating as much as I mind how incredibly stupid my own AI are. I can deal with the slight technical advantages the AI get as my play recognition and stick skills can negate those. What I can't negate is my AI weakside defensemen skating to the corner rather than covering the guy standing wide open in the slot. If they can make your teammate AI offline even remotely competent, I'd be content with the AI for the most part.

[Cod]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

I'm going to dream that this means EA hired a lot of new developers to port the game to PC...


However, I bet they didn't actually add "new" developers. They just brought the old NHL developers back from the UFC games since the latter game has a solid foundation now.

[PhillsPhan26]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

I'm going to dream that this means EA hired a lot of new developers to port the game to PC...


However, I bet they didn't actually add "new" developers. They just brought the old NHL developers back from the UFC games since the latter game has a solid foundation now.

I do remember last year them putting out an add to hire. I wouldn't say it's for for PC thought. Probably to try and get ready for the new consoles. So they have to have '21 ready for next gen but don't get your hopes up...

[jake19ny]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

I don't mind the cheating as much as I mind how incredibly stupid my own AI are. I can deal with the slight technical advantages the AI get as my play recognition and stick skills can negate those. What I can't negate is my AI weakside defensemen skating to the corner rather than covering the guy standing wide open in the slot. If they can make your teammate AI offline even remotely competent, I'd be content with the AI for the most part.

This 100x
While I want an entire A.I. overhaul the CPU teammate A.I. is the top problem that renders this game unplayable. It’s braindead and wanders aimlessly at both ends. Three of the biggest standouts are:

Defensive zone.
the A.I. Dman abandons the man in the slot to wander into the corner leaving an open man for the money 1 timer.

On a two on two and I’m back skating with the puck carrier and my CPU teammate back skates with the other but at the last minute he collapses to my side leaving his guy open for the easy 1 timer again.

Offensive Zone.
This one never gets discussed but makes me nuts when I see it. If I’m in the right corner battling for a puck and the CPU (or opposing human player) wins the battle and skates behind the net to come out of the left corner, the forward on that side collapses to the center toward the net leaving a large lane for that puck carrier to skate or move the puck up the ice for a breakout. It happens regardless of corner of the ice.

These problems have been in existence for years so I’m at the point I think they are intentionally not being addressed.

We will never get the player separation we want but a roster share would give rise to the revamped roster project that helped in that area the best it could.

Better teammate A.I. and Roster Share would push me to buy but I know it ain’t happening.

[The EVHL]

Re: EA adds developers to NHL 20

This 100x
While I want an entire A.I. overhaul the CPU teammate A.I. is the top problem that renders this game unplayable. It’s braindead and wanders aimlessly at both ends. Three of the biggest standouts are:

Defensive zone.
the A.I. Dman abandons the man in the slot to wander into the corner leaving an open man for the money 1 timer.

On a two on two and I’m back skating with the puck carrier and my CPU teammate back skates with the other but at the last minute he collapses to my side leaving his guy open for the easy 1 timer again.

Offensive Zone.
This one never gets discussed but makes me nuts when I see it. If I’m in the right corner battling for a puck and the CPU (or opposing human player) wins the battle and skates behind the net to come out of the left corner, the forward on that side collapses to the center toward the net leaving a large lane for that puck carrier to skate or move the puck up the ice for a breakout. It happens regardless of corner of the ice.

These problems have been in existence for years so I’m at the point I think they are intentionally not being addressed.

We will never get the player separation we want but a roster share would give rise to the revamped roster project that helped in that area the best it could.

Better teammate A.I. and Roster Share would push me to buy but I know it ain’t happening.

The AI teammates are pathetic at forechecking...Also, I believe in the GI article the devs have already admitted that the AI wasn't touched for 20. If they are content with the AI, I am content with 19, simple as that lol.