What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

[jyoung]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

1) Puck physics -- as has been said, it needs to be less magnetic and more messy.

2) Goalie AI/animations -- the computer goalies are literally no fun to play against at all. I probably would've sold this game within a week had it not been for the awesome OTP mode that lets you replace AI goalies with user goalies

3) Teammate AI -- computer teammates are absolutely worthless in this game. Defenders let the other team waltz around with the puck while they just sit back and do nothing. Forwards make horrible decisions and hesitate so much with the puck on their stick that they are an automatic turnover if you don't tell them what to do with the puck.

4) Greater variety in how players "feel" and perform on the ice -- You have all these different player roles already listed in the game, and yet, for the most part, they all feel and play the same.

5) Penalties that actually get called correctly -- pretty much none of the penalties in this game work like they should. Especially with regards to interference, and the people who mash stick-lifts from the back but never get called for slashing or high sticking.

[Rattler17]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

Personally i think this game is just about as good as we can expect for the time but i look for the small things in the game when i play.

1) A crowd that is into the game and has more then 1 cheer would be nice. Maybe some sense of atmosphere like a game 7 Stanley Cup on home ice not sounding lie game 1 of the AHL season.

2) A little better board play maybe, something like 2k does where you can tie up along the boards and kick the puck around for your players.

3) The ability to upload your own sounds into the game so that we can all have our home town music for goals and such be the same and not some bad goal horn and terrible crowd cheers.

4) Penalties that are called but doesnt take my guy OUT of the play with that insane forward flip onto the ice like he was shot in the legs.

5) I guess the last thing would be the goalies, i dont think i have ever seen a goaltender flop around that much in my life. Just because a pass goes across the ice doesnt mean you need to throw yourself out of the play by laying out for noting.

[Lubey]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

I feel like a year to tune this game will make it AMAZING. Let it be known that I play mostly EASHL (about 500 games so far).

1 - Board play.

2 - Better teammate AI, especially in EASHL. I realize it's supposed to be 12 humans, but that's not always possible.

3 - Clean up the checking. It's annoying getting beat up in front of the net, and then hitting them back once and getting called for it.

4 - A new faceoff system would be nice.

5 - In the EASHL a more involved fighting system would make for many laughs.

[nyr30]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

I have posted a list already but i feel the need to bring this up again.

Interference - Seriously, this game is good there is no getting away from that but how can one of the most blatant calls in hockey not be implemented in this game??

EASHL is ridiculous, guys just taking you out when you are nowhere near the puck, thats why this game is nowhere close to being sim, it never gets called which makes the game like what a poster said on here once like "pinball hockey".

This has got to be the most infuriating thing about EASHL and to tell the truth its just utter bull****, i have recently joined a team and i play left wing but i am considering just stopping because it really isnt even close to real hockey, i dont consider getting taken out by another player before i have even touched the puck to be enjoyable whatsoever.

Basically the best teams are the ones who can cheese and get away with the flaws this game has, the game feels like every single attack is geared towards that stupid cross crease pass, some teams try it on every attack trying to force passes through the slot even when the slot is full, the thing is that stopping it can be relatively easy but why should every game be so repatitive? there is hardly any imagination from anybody and even when there is and it doesnt work straight away its right back to the cheese.

Fix this because if next year the interference, lack of real NHL rules and repetitive nature of the game continues EA will have lost me as a customer, that isnt a big deal to them i am just 1 person but i have been an EA customer from day 1, every year i have purchased this game since the day the first NHL game was released and i dont want to have to stop playing a game i do like but it does wear thin because even stopping playing EASHL and playing Dynasty is boring due to the fact the Dynasty hasnt been touched in years.

[ChiTownKid]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

5) I guess the last thing would be the goalies, i dont think i have ever seen a goaltender flop around that much in my life. Just because a pass goes across the ice doesnt mean you need to throw yourself out of the play by laying out for noting.

QFT

[tgalv]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

1) MORE WAYS TO SCORE goaltenders should be far less stonewall like. to balance this, much improved collision detection including pass interceptions, blocked shots, no more sticks, legs and bodies going right through one another. this can be downright maddening.

2) IMPROVED PASSING. one of the most important aspects of hockey, but takes zero skill and little creativity in this game. saucer pass was made almost completely useless this year, especially for it's actual intended purpose of lifting passes over sticks.

3) DIRTIER GAME. more traffic infront by AI players. more board battles, more rebound goals, more deflections

4) i think it would be fun if holding vision control and winding for a slapper cocks your stick back ready to let loose a bomb. this would be really fun online for setting up and slamming home onetimers and loose rebounds imo. would work better if a skilled pass was needed.

5) goalies need better tools handling the puck. they are downright awful and useless. having brodeur or turco in nets should be a benefit to your breakout game, not an annoyance as all they currently do is either slow down your breakout game or clear the puck down the ice randomly with their pathetic ventures.

[gator3guy]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

1. Slow things down in the offensive zone. It's so hard to actually set stuff up in the offensive zone. All you can really do is shoot. Hope you get the rebound, if not turn and play d. It seems like fast break basketball. One problem is the cpu ai plays their wingers right up tight on the point. That's fine and well if a defensemen is a threat, but watch an NHL game. The points are usually open. Even on Powerplays i feel rushed. Slow things down a bit.

2. Stop the flopping goalies. It feels like nhl 05. It's gross to see a goalie attempt a split save 10 times a game when it's completely unnecessary. Add some new animations.

3. Add more goal variety. Right now the only way to really score is with one timers and the occasional wrist shot with the sniper. I wanna see more point shots go in. I wanna see guys crash the net and bang home rebounds. Most goals in the NHL are scored on rebounds. Take note of this. Not until the patch could u even attempt to knock in a rebound. It's a little better but still has a ways to go. Also increase the percentage of goals when a guy has time and space to operate. If I cut to the slot with Alex Ovechkin and there is no one within reach and i have time, the odds of a goal are pretty good (i hope that makes sense). Improve deking. One handed dekes are pointless. I score more 5 on 5 than on breakaways. This shouldn't be the case.

4. Improve CPU AI in the offensive zone. Im sick of entering the zone and having guys cut me off at the blue line. It's so frustrating. Also it would be nice if my teammates moved around to create some space and some chances. They just stand there. I know they have the play editor but some things just happen on the fly.

5. Overhaul the penalty system. It's disgusting. It's pretty much random. I got a tripping penalty last night just laying out. The guy didn't even fall over. Interference is rarely called and that's all people do online. Takes away from the "realness." Boarding in rarely called. I want to see the "clutching" and "grabbing" penalties that are called in the NHL now.

Also tone down the hitting. It's so unrealistic. I don't want to see a guy do a 360 when i hit him without even moving. I want those hits to be rare. Like once in a blue moon when i take a run with Chara. I wanna say "O Damn!!!" Maybe once a game do you see a guy get absolutely obliterated.

[FlyingFinn]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

Disable diving when you are in the offensive zone. No real NHL player would dive to block the puck when the puck is their offensive zone. (Standard way to forecheck online) Diving in the neutral zone is questionable but I wouldn't mind if it was left in.

Call interference EVERYTIME a player is checked when he is no where near the puck.


Those 2 fixes alone would change the online experience completely and make SIM play the best way to win.

[original6]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

1. Slow things down in the offensive zone. It's so hard to actually set stuff up in the offensive zone. All you can really do is shoot. Hope you get the rebound, if not turn and play d. It seems like fast break basketball. One problem is the cpu ai plays their wingers right up tight on the point. That's fine and well if a defensemen is a threat, but watch an NHL game. The points are usually open. Even on Powerplays i feel rushed. Slow things down a bit.

2. Stop the flopping goalies. It feels like nhl 05. It's gross to see a goalie attempt a split save 10 times a game when it's completely unnecessary. Add some new animations.

3. Add more goal variety. Right now the only way to really score is with one timers and the occasional wrist shot with the sniper. I wanna see more point shots go in. I wanna see guys crash the net and bang home rebounds. Most goals in the NHL are scored on rebounds. Take note of this. Not until the patch could u even attempt to knock in a rebound. It's a little better but still has a ways to go. Also increase the percentage of goals when a guy has time and space to operate. If I cut to the slot with Alex Ovechkin and there is no one within reach and i have time, the odds of a goal are pretty good (i hope that makes sense). Improve deking. One handed dekes are pointless. I score more 5 on 5 than on breakaways. This shouldn't be the case.

4. Improve CPU AI in the offensive zone. Im sick of entering the zone and having guys cut me off at the blue line. It's so frustrating. Also it would be nice if my teammates moved around to create some space and some chances. They just stand there. I know they have the play editor but some things just happen on the fly.

5. Overhaul the penalty system. It's disgusting. It's pretty much random. I got a tripping penalty last night just laying out. The guy didn't even fall over. Interference is rarely called and that's all people do online. Takes away from the "realness." Boarding in rarely called. I want to see the "clutching" and "grabbing" penalties that are called in the NHL now.

Also tone down the hitting. It's so unrealistic. I don't want to see a guy do a 360 when i hit him without even moving. I want those hits to be rare. Like once in a blue moon when i take a run with Chara. I wanna say "O Damn!!!" Maybe once a game do you see a guy get absolutely obliterated.

Excellent list! You hit all of my biggest concerns right on the head.

[18 eighty 5]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

Improve the variety of goals. Allow for slappers and wristers and please, please, please can you do something about the cheese goals. If you want to make the gaolies superhuman make them superhuman against the cheese goals!!!

[RealmK]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

1. Goalie animations- More animations on the whole would reduce the floppiness. The reason it happens now is the're just aren't enough situational save animations in the game currently.

2. Less tape to tape passing- players should be able to lead passes without having to use a flip pass.

3. Better board play/more player scrums along the boards. Even if its just adding some new animations.

4. Tightening up the collision detection/puck physics

5.More presentational overlays/stats deeper tracking of players/team streaks during the course of a season. I remember back some years, maybe 2000 or 2001 EA had implimented something called EA Gamestory that did a fairly decent even if basic job of breaking down stats over the course of a game, weather it be focusing on a hot goalie or a scorer, or a team's defensive play. Something like this would be pretty neat if implimented correctly.

[nyr30]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

Here is something that needs fixed, it was in 08 and its in 09 the *** **** AI doesnt react when you take a penalty, the puck is right at my players feet i have my finger on vision control and my player doesnt even try to gain control of the puck instead he just lets it go through his legs like some sort of idiot.

This blatant AI cheat needs to be taken out the game, it lead to a goal against as you can see. this was the 2nd goal for Toronto and as i write this i am 56 secs into the 2nd period and i am 4-0 down, Lundqvist has let in 3 real ****ty goals and has let in 4-10 shots as the AI has gained momentum, this is the sort of crap that has people pulling their hair out.

I dont mind losing hell i want to lose more to make it harder as my record is (45-11-0-5) with Catch's sliders but i dont want to be screwed over by the AI not getting my player to register when the puck is literally at his feet, i deserve to be losing this game i am not playing well but come on EA what the hell is this? i complained about this in 08 but its still there. NOTE that if the AI opponent trips me and he is called he gathers the puck straight away no skating over the top of it to give me an advantage.

I put my post in this thread as a must improvement for 2010, this happens with every user Penalty and i thought i should post a video.

I just hope everyone can see it because it isnt showing for me at the moment

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/2614616

Here is another example, my players feel like they are skating in mud because the AI momentum and this is after i just pulled a goal back to make it 4-1, where is my momentum swing? my player just skates along side the puck not registering where it is until the last minute where luckily i just get the pass away.

How is this enjoyable EA?

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/2614851

The game has so much promise but here is another one of the things that should be removed, i dont think the AI poking the puck away from my goalie when has caught it is just crap, i hold no control after that happens and i never press R1 when under pressure in my zone.

This is turning into a game that shows everything that is wrong with this game, it should be called "how to screw over the user 101".

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/2614969

Ended up losing the game 6-5 which isnt bad, man i was angry during that, i honestly think these need addressed it just doesnt make you feel like you lost a game because you made to many mistakes, instead it makes you feel cheated which isnt enjoyable in the slightest.

[Qb]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

Nyr30, I'd like to keep this thread to people's 5 item lists for gameplay improvements as much as possible. Not saying I don't want you to share your thoughts, but at some point soon I'll be going through this thread to compile a master list of all the points to send to EA. If there are a lot of posts that are off-topic (not that yours necessarily was) or in a different format, it make things a little harder on me. Thanks...

[FlyingFinn]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

1. Better Interference Calling
2. Disable Diving in Offensive Zone
3. More board play/scrums along the board. Give options to try and freeze the puck/move the puck with a skate/pin players to the boards fighting for pucks.
4. Much better puck physics/collision detection.
5. Much better Goalie AI/hold the post AI (many more animations needed as well).

[NHLandPESFan]

Re: What 5 GAMEPLAY improvements/additions would you like to see in 2010?

Many of my top 5 have been listed by others but if you are tabulating these, I will add them in anyway.
1. Interference - Like others have said, hitting and checking away from the puck gets ridiculous. The game occasionally calls it but not near as often as it should.
2. Floaty puck physics - It is hard to get rebounds because the puck stays in the air longer than it should. Flip dumps also stay in the air an obscene amount of time.
3. Goalie passes - These should be getting intercepted a lot and they rarely seem to be. People constantly pass the puck out with their goalie into a crowd of players which should be a recipe for disaster but people get away with it all the time.
4. Variety of goals - One timers and breakaways make up the vast majority of goals in this game, I try to mix it up and pass back to the point when available but I have only seen 2 goals this way from a lot of attempts.
5. Stick lift - An interesting idea but it is far too effective in this game IMO. I think it would be cool if a less than perfectly timed stick lift resulted in a high sticking penalty.

Where I am coming from: I have played hockey video games since NHL 94 on Sega Genesis. 15 years later, this game is quite good overall, I switched from 2k this year and have not regretted it. I know this is for another thread but the big thing that kept me from switching for so long is the lack of multiplayer franchise mode, this really needs to be in next year's game, otherwise I will probably stick with this one.