How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

[jb1]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

NHL 10 and 11 were both first day purchases for me but I havent put 11 in my PS3 for months now and the reason is mainly down to the Franchise mode. For the most part I enjoy the gameplay but I am really disappointed with the Franchise mode. Most of the issues have been raised here so no need to repeat them all but aswell as the main issues like the sim engine the Gm mode just doesn't have that overall immersion factor that other sports titles have.

It was slightly improved with at least being able to see other teams scores etc but it just still feels really lifeless to me. One improvement I would really like to see is 30 team control, it won't stop the horrible sim engine but at least it would enable some control over trades, FA issues etc.

Right now I am so frustrated with the Franchise mode that I strongly feel that I won't buy NHL12 unless there are significant improvements, whether my feelings on that change or not we'll see and it's a shame because I really enjoy most of the gameplay but I really think it's about time they sorted their Franchise related mess out.

[Therion7]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

Personally, the gameplay is so good with NHL 11, that if they DO NOT upgrade the presentation in NHL 12 in a large way, it will not get my money.

The prospect of NHL 2k12 being released is important as the presentation will probably be outstanding.

Completely agree, after much tinkering of sliders, I found a set I was happy with and I enjoy the core gameplay and goal variety. I'm not really sure what else can be added to the mechanics and whether anything drastic would be a worthwhile addition.

The presentation however is STALE. I'm pretty tired of the all black menus, the inaccurate or incomplete ice markings ( this began to really annoy in the Western Conference ) and Bill Clement in the color commentator booth. Create a custom team was slightly improved but still hampered by unnecessary limitations in terms of naming teams.

Off-ice the game is relatively lifeless in comparison to some other EA Sports titles and on it, player model accuracy is poor in terms of this gen.

NHL 11 brought a lot of really nice gameplay additions in terms of physics, sticks and dekes and the CHL, 12 needs to see a fresh coat of paint, some of the years old canned anims ditched ( 3 stars for example ) and work on the overall accuracy of presentation.

[Vikes1]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

Completely agree, after much tinkering of sliders, I found a set I was happy with and I enjoy the core gameplay and goal variety. I'm not really sure what else can be added to the mechanics and whether anything drastic would be a worthwhile addition.

The presentation however is STALE.

Right with ya Therion.

I also have found sliders that make the game play in NHL '11' very enjoyable for me. In fact...I really enjoy it a great deal. And I too am seeing a nice variety of goals and game outcomes. If they can just get the game to play a bit looser, and the defenders a little more aggressive towards the puck carrier for '12'...I'll be nearly in video hockey heaven.

And yep...the presentation could use a nice shot in the arm.

[actionhank]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

I hope it gets a nice upgrade. It's all i play. While the AI can be frustrating, and the controls sometimes maddening (I can't count the number of times i've wanted to flip my desk over when my guy makes some bonehead move...or the AI just reaches behind them, snatches the puck off my stick, then stand in place in front of my goalie just to snap a shot over his arm...)
But for the most part the gameplay is where i want it to be. I'm not saying i don't want improvements, i would love to see the game get a upgrade in hitting, the skating engine (I hate getting the puck stolen any time you try and race around a defender who makes the mistake of standing still, just because he can instantly spin and pull the puck off your stick).
But as far as NHL12, i think this year i may hold off on the pre-order. I'm enjoying the gameplay in 11 enough that i won't need to get it. Now they could definitely improve things and get me excited for it come the summer information release. And i hope they do.
Better AI and especially better goalies will be a big selling point for me, if they polish Be a GM and can convince their publisher to let them stop wasting time on dumb features like the Ultimate Hockey team that just seems like a money grab by EA, i will pre-order. But as it stands now, it's going to take some good news for that.

[tomcat]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

FIX THE PLAYER STATS FOR PETE'S SAKE!

I mean how realistic is it that Henrik Sedin ends up with 30 points and Daniel Sedin with 28 in a season where the Nucks are a playoff team and both are on the first line??? Or that Dustin Penner wins the Art Ross Trophy, followed by Olli Jokinen? Or that Marc-Andre Bergeron wins the Norris Trophy while having 60 points vs. 18 from Lidstrom?!

And fix the *** **** schedule. I refuse to play a 2nd season with any team, because the schedule gets totally screwed up. According to the game, my 2011-2012 schedule for the New York Rangers consists of only 4 game road trips and 4 game home stands. How realistic is that?! WTF?! And the highlight: I have a 4 game road trip in December. Ok, cool, that happens, right? Well the games are @Nucks, @Islanders, @Oilers, @Flyers

That would never happen in real life. The Rangers would never fly out to Vancouver, then back to New York, then to Edmonton and again back to the East Coast. They would play their West Coast games in a bunch.

Just make it right, EA.

[Therion7]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

Just make it right, EA.

Nicely summed up.

It's the only console NHL game out there. Get the NHL spot on. Get the stats, the personalities, the rinks and the jerseys as accurate as possible! Get the Winter Classic in there. It's now become a tradition and it's conspicuous by its absence in the game.

Heck, at least bring back a Zamboni and other scores!

In Pro Evolution Soccer on PS3, Konami allow you to import jpgs directly on to shirts, I'd love something like that for the ice used in singleplayer, it's a relatively simple thing to implement.

[canucksss]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

i'll just wait for several days after the release of EA NHL 2012 and see your review. if there's not much glaring difference or it will take us more than 3 months to start a decent BaGM mode, due to roster updates or bugs, i'll pass for 2012.

just like what vikes said, i found the sliders i'd really like plus the roster of Petrpuck, im still playing this game now in season 4. so i will reserve my hard earn $$$$ before buying the next version.

[Segagendude]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

Nicely summed up.

It's the only console NHL game out there. Get the NHL spot on. Get the stats, the personalities, the rinks and the jerseys as accurate as possible! Get the Winter Classic in there. It's now become a tradition and it's conspicuous by its absence in the game.

Heck, at least bring back a Zamboni and other scores!

In Pro Evolution Soccer on PS3, Konami allow you to import jpgs directly on to shirts, I'd love something like that for the ice used in singleplayer, it's a relatively simple thing to implement.

I thought the WC was a 2k exclusive, meaning nobody else can put it into the game?

[luby3131]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

My biggest issue is with the draft. I'm a huge draft junkie, am it makes me mad to see no name over agers and made up russians going top 5. We need some type of draft class editing, a la NBA 2k11

[DJ]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

Nicely summed up.

It's the only console NHL game out there. Get the NHL spot on. Get the stats, the personalities, the rinks and the jerseys as accurate as possible! Get the Winter Classic in there. It's now become a tradition and it's conspicuous by its absence in the game.

Heck, at least bring back a Zamboni and other scores!

In Pro Evolution Soccer on PS3, Konami allow you to import jpgs directly on to shirts, I'd love something like that for the ice used in singleplayer, it's a relatively simple thing to implement.

Yeah, this game desperately needs an injection of personality and presentation. The gameplay isn't that far off, imo, but it's hard to get invested in Be A GM when every game feels the same as the one before it.

[Broncos86]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

My beefs:

1) Fix the goalie / back up goalie situation. The back up goalie currently serves solely as a reserve in case my starter is injured. A starter playing 82 games is absurd. There needs to be progressive fatigue for goalies. Managing goalie ice time is a big part of hockey.

2) I need a solid way to see progression with my players. I love being able to look at my players in Madden and see precisely how they progressed during the offseason. Yes, the progression is shown during the season, and that's very helpful. But during the offseason, my prospects are improving and I don't know how.

3) Stats are horrendous. It's very deflating to see years of stats lost, as if they never happened. There really needs to be a deeper history of the team (not just the GM) and the players.

4) Contracts and free agency need work. I don't understand why I'm able to make ONE offer to a free agent, and I get no other chance beyond it. Often times, I make an offer, another team does one better, and I'm stone-walled. The contracts screen needs better explanation for what a "reserve" is. Better UI transparency.

5) Simming makes no sense to me. It seems like a team can win 50 games one year, then be last place the next (with little change to the roster). I don't see any perennial winners and dynasties. Player stats are all over, goalies play forever, etc.

[Franchizz]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

I chose not to pick up NHL 11 due to the overwhelming issues I had heard plagued my favorite mode. When playing BaGM, I want the most realistic approach possible to really solidify the immersion that I am an actual GM managing my team. The mode simply has felt too mechanical, with players not having enough of individualized characteristics. Take for example the real life match up between Boston and Montreal. The latter is known to be a small, easy manhandled team that must rely on speed and skill to win games, yet in NHL games they can physically dominate a team where Lucic should and would toss them aside like ragdolls if they ever tried.

I would love to see the return of chemistry from the NHL 07, albeit a bit better implemented. Player overall increasing and decreasing based on streaks is another bonus beyond what has been discussed.

At the end of the day, I have other titles available this year, primarily Mass Effect 3, and will easily skip NHL 12 if necessary improvements are not made.

[Broncos86]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

I never liked the "chemistry" idea because I felt shoehorned into a prescribed style. Whereas the Avalanche would frequently put certain people on lines that worked well, the game would actually punish me for those same lines.

What needs to happen is each role needs to feel more defined on the ice. Putting together a team of hard-checking power forwards should net a defined style of play. And as a coach, one should need to develop a game plan around that personnel. As it stands, the game play really comes down to how fast a player skates.

I shouldn't be forced into a style of play. This will simply promote a uniform style across all teams. And forcing gamers into playstyles based on the team isn't a solution. If I, as a GM, want to transform the Wild into a fast-break, high energy team, I should be allowed to do so. However, the game needs to allow this in the first place.

[savoie2006]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

5) Simming makes no sense to me. It seems like a team can win 50 games one year, then be last place the next (with little change to the roster). I don't see any perennial winners and dynasties. Player stats are all over, goalies play forever, etc.

This is a big one for me. Along with only being allowed one offer to FA's.

[DJ]

Re: How important are BeaGM mode issue fixes for you come NHL 2012?

My beefs:

1) Fix the goalie / back up goalie situation. The back up goalie currently serves solely as a reserve in case my starter is injured. A starter playing 82 games is absurd. There needs to be progressive fatigue for goalies. Managing goalie ice time is a big part of hockey.

2) I need a solid way to see progression with my players. I love being able to look at my players in Madden and see precisely how they progressed during the offseason. Yes, the progression is shown during the season, and that's very helpful. But during the offseason, my prospects are improving and I don't know how.

3) Stats are horrendous. It's very deflating to see years of stats lost, as if they never happened. There really needs to be a deeper history of the team (not just the GM) and the players.

4) Contracts and free agency need work. I don't understand why I'm able to make ONE offer to a free agent, and I get no other chance beyond it. Often times, I make an offer, another team does one better, and I'm stone-walled. The contracts screen needs better explanation for what a "reserve" is. Better UI transparency.

5) Simming makes no sense to me. It seems like a team can win 50 games one year, then be last place the next (with little change to the roster). I don't see any perennial winners and dynasties. Player stats are all over, goalies play forever, etc.

Very good points.