What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

[kerosene31]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

The equipment thing is going to be lame. They do this in Tiger 10 and it is really time consuming. I don't want to have to wear a pimp hat in Tiger to hit the ball as far as everyone else, and I don't want to have camo skates to skate as fast.

The problem with this setup is it gives a huge advantage to the people who can put tons of hours into the game. Those of us with real adult lives who don't want to spend a ton of time playing any one game (no matter how good) fall behind quickly.

This equipment sounds like it is unlocked in single player modes (like Tiger). So, just like in Tiger you can't go online right away unless you want to be at a huge disadvantage. You are going to have to play through a bunch of single player stuff before you get into the EASHL unless you want min stats.

When I first got Tiger10, I had to spend the entire first week just playing through the offline challenges (which I did not want to do). I just happened to be off that week so I got them done pretty quick. With NHL10, I am going to have to play through offline BAP first (which I am not sure I want to do either) to get whatever skates you need to go faster.

For those of us with jobs, families, and the need for 7 hours sleep, this is going to put us even further behind. It was already tough in the EASHL to compete with the people who get their point cards quickly.

Even though they say it is only a couple of points, it still matters. Figure that people without a lot of time are already behind in points just because of lack of playtime, now we will miss out on equipment boosts too.

The pro vs casual leagues might help this a little, but I bet you'll get people sandbagging so they can drop down and pound on lower teams.

I'm almost disappointed enough to cancel my pre-order. The game will be great if they do remove all the glitches, but face it, they are only addressing last year's glitches. People were still finding exploits even after patch #2.

If EASHL still has widespread glitching, it is going to get lame like last year.

[TDKing]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

The biggest issue of online play last year was juicing ... .

Yeah they fixed it alright, now they are SELLING you the juice Proshop? ok

[Ridgeberg]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

The equipment thing is going to be lame. They do this in Tiger 10 and it is really time consuming. I don't want to have to wear a pimp hat in Tiger to hit the ball as far as everyone else, and I don't want to have camo skates to skate as fast.

The problem with this setup is it gives a huge advantage to the people who can put tons of hours into the game. Those of us with real adult lives who don't want to spend a ton of time playing any one game (no matter how good) fall behind quickly.

This equipment sounds like it is unlocked in single player modes (like Tiger). So, just like in Tiger you can't go online right away unless you want to be at a huge disadvantage. You are going to have to play through a bunch of single player stuff before you get into the EASHL unless you want min stats.

When I first got Tiger10, I had to spend the entire first week just playing through the offline challenges (which I did not want to do). I just happened to be off that week so I got them done pretty quick. With NHL10, I am going to have to play through offline BAP first (which I am not sure I want to do either) to get whatever skates you need to go faster.

For those of us with jobs, families, and the need for 7 hours sleep, this is going to put us even further behind. It was already tough in the EASHL to compete with the people who get their point cards quickly.

Even though they say it is only a couple of points, it still matters. Figure that people without a lot of time are already behind in points just because of lack of playtime, now we will miss out on equipment boosts too.

The pro vs casual leagues might help this a little, but I bet you'll get people sandbagging so they can drop down and pound on lower teams.

I'm almost disappointed enough to cancel my pre-order. The game will be great if they do remove all the glitches, but face it, they are only addressing last year's glitches. People were still finding exploits even after patch #2.

If EASHL still has widespread glitching, it is going to get lame like last year.

I agree with you and think that your concerns are rational and valid. I wanted to point out that I remember reading in the article that Littman said "though the game will also include gold equipment packages that come with maximum attributes on them--these are packages for each player type and the packages cannot be changed." My guess is that the best equipment will be actual NHL equipment. This is a way for manufacturers to get some decent exposure, making their stuff "the best in the game." I just hope it isn't actually gold.

More to the point, it seems like the new EASHL will not be geared for realism, more like an MMORPG that they keep throwing in there.

[shakeable]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

I just hope it isn't actually gold.

Looks like it is. I definitely saw a gold goalie mask and blocker in the EASHL video 42 seconds in.

[Redshirt_EA]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

The biggest issue of online play last year was juicing - I hope they fixed that. I personally would love to see them do what they did with FNR4: Just equalize everyone's stats and have a fair game. Have everyone on a level playing field, no juicing and no glitch goals and I'll have a good time.

Juicing was fixed in the second patch of 09.

[RealmK]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

The equipment thing is going to be lame. They do this in Tiger 10 and it is really time consuming. I don't want to have to wear a pimp hat in Tiger to hit the ball as far as everyone else, and I don't want to have camo skates to skate as fast.

The problem with this setup is it gives a huge advantage to the people who can put tons of hours into the game. Those of us with real adult lives who don't want to spend a ton of time playing any one game (no matter how good) fall behind quickly.

This equipment sounds like it is unlocked in single player modes (like Tiger). So, just like in Tiger you can't go online right away unless you want to be at a huge disadvantage. You are going to have to play through a bunch of single player stuff before you get into the EASHL unless you want min stats.

When I first got Tiger10, I had to spend the entire first week just playing through the offline challenges (which I did not want to do). I just happened to be off that week so I got them done pretty quick. With NHL10, I am going to have to play through offline BAP first (which I am not sure I want to do either) to get whatever skates you need to go faster.

For those of us with jobs, families, and the need for 7 hours sleep, this is going to put us even further behind. It was already tough in the EASHL to compete with the people who get their point cards quickly.

Even though they say it is only a couple of points, it still matters. Figure that people without a lot of time are already behind in points just because of lack of playtime, now we will miss out on equipment boosts too.

The pro vs casual leagues might help this a little, but I bet you'll get people sandbagging so they can drop down and pound on lower teams.

I'm almost disappointed enough to cancel my pre-order. The game will be great if they do remove all the glitches, but face it, they are only addressing last year's glitches. People were still finding exploits even after patch #2.

If EASHL still has widespread glitching, it is going to get lame like last year.

Way to over react. I'm not saying your concerns aren't valid but really, is someone getting an extra couple points to balance, or agility or whatever, really going to make that much of a drastic difference? You still need to play solid, positionally sound hockey and play as a team to win. I doubt a few extra stat points from some neat looking equipment is going to tip the scales all that much.

[LuGer33]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

If anyone has an account on the EA forums and has an opinion on the new gear and boosting system, I'd appreciate if they head over to this topic and vote:

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/278676.page <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_279188-->

[kerosene31]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

is someone getting an extra couple points to balance, or agility or whatever, really going to make that much of a drastic difference?

Yes. Combine the fact that the kiddies who unlock all the equipment on day 1 will be the same ones who already have higher attributes just because they play 22 1/2 hours a day.

It just gives them more advantage than they had before.

Will it be unstoppable? Probably not. However, they will boost puck possession or agility or whatever gives them just enough to get by you a few extra times a game.

Plus the idea of camo and gold equipment is stupid. I'm never one to care about realistic equipment, but this is going to be silly.

[RealmK]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

Yes. Combine the fact that the kiddies who unlock all the equipment on day 1 will be the same ones who already have higher attributes just because they play 22 1/2 hours a day.

It just gives them more advantage than they had before.

Will it be unstoppable? Probably not. However, they will boost puck possession or agility or whatever gives them just enough to get by you a few extra times a game.

Plus the idea of camo and gold equipment is stupid. I'm never one to care about realistic equipment, but this is going to be silly.

And if the kiddies try to hog the puck and do it all on their own they'll still lose to a group that has teamwork at the end of the day. Couple this with we don't even know if this type of gear is limited to just the casual league or in both casual and pro. I'm not saying don't dislike it, hell I'm not too keen on the whole idea either, but before anyone goes and cancles their preorders, wait and see how its going to work in game before getting all upset over it.

[kerosene31]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

The EASHL is a great concept, but could be ruined by the idiots.

Give someone the option of a gold helmet? They are going to cheat and glitch their way through the game until they get it. Like moths to a flame, the kiddies will come.

"WUT HAX DO I NEED 4 GOLD HELMET?!??!!?"

[bcgudely]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

It's not like this stuff is going to be that hard to get. Some of you are acting like you're going to have to dedicate 60+ hours of gametime to even stand a chance in the EASHL. Even though a few points never made that big of a difference anyway, it's not like it'll be hard to unlock a few pieces in a few sessions.

If you don't have time to play like.. 3 games in Be A Pro, or something like that to unlock a helmet until NHL 11 comes out, then why are you even worried about it? You clearly won't have time to play in the EASHL... or play any game for that matter

[RealmK]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

It's not like this stuff is going to be that hard to get. Some of you are acting like you're going to have to dedicate 60+ hours of gametime to even stand a chance in the EASHL. Even though a few points never made that big of a difference anyway, it's not like it'll be hard to unlock a few pieces in a few sessions.

If you don't have time to play like.. 3 games in Be A Pro, or something like that to unlock a helmet until NHL 11 comes out, then why are you even worried about it? You clearly won't have time to play in the EASHL... or play any game for that matter

Thank you! Thats pretty much what I was trying to get across. A few extra points really isn't going to matter to begin with, hockey is a team game, one or two kids with a gold stick isn't gonna matter much vs a whole team of sim minded guys who know what the're doing in the first place.

[kerosene31]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

We don't know what it will take to unlock useful things, but they mentioned getting to the first line in BAP. Even for a great player, that is going to take some time. I know they are improving BA, but still legitimately that is going to take more than a few games. At least if you play D.

I think last year it took me 10-15 games playing D. The ratings weren't done well so it was hard to rank up. Even if they fix that this year it is still going to take time. I don't want to rush though that.

Check out Tiger 10 and see how fun chugging through all the unlocks is. Hopefully NHL10 is much better, but it sounds like the exact same thing.

[LuGer33]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

I'm not worried so much about unlocks as much as I am about the attribute boosting equipment itself. I fully expect to unlock it all fine, that isn't the problem.

My problem is being forced to use this gear to level the playing field out there. Now you can sit here and say, "Oh, a few points don't really matter" which really might be true, but you are still at a disadvantage. The same shot, taken from the same angle, with someone using a Reebok stick with 86 wrist shot power has less of a chance of going in as someone using a gold stick with 86 wrist shot power + 3 wrist shot power thanks to the boost slot available on the equipment. That's it, there's no getting around it.

To further that point, with monthly championships, teams are going to get real competitive, and when it comes down to who makes the top spots in Division 1, the smart money says the top teams will be trying to get every advantage possible. EVERYONE will be using the fantasy gear for the extra juice, it just doesn't make any sense not to. The games aren't even going to resemble anything close to a visual ice hockey experience.

In the video, I really like the looks of Reebok Revoke goalie pads. Those are the pads I want to use. And yet, they have "no boost slots" while the crazy monster gear at the bottom does. If I want to be the best goalie I can be, and to give my team the best chance to win, I have to use those crazy pads. I don't see how anyone can think that's a good idea.

I just don't think I should be punished or at a disadvantage, however small, for preferring realistic gear over EA Sports fantasy gear, and no matter how you slice it, that's what this year's EASHL boils down to.

[armi5718]

Re: What's New In The EASHL? Gamespot Interview With Littman

Not going to lie, I'm pretty upset about the new equipment. Santa Hat? wtf? Litty man, what the hell? I'm pretty sure I can quote you as saying "I want to create the most realistic hockey experience" and a farting Santa Hat?! Give me a break. Way to water down the game.