NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

[gsize19]

The fact that you can not import custom music is a downer. Hopefully Sony addresses this, as this is a driver for an NHL simulation for me, the between the play atmosphere. I enjoy this years version of NHL 14 and for the first time actually have went beyond one season of BeA GM, if they can create that "wow" factor, then it will be an instant hit. The EASHL was ground breaking when it came out, then after a couple of years, you start having to battle every glitch goal rather than play the game of hockey, top that with gamers who feel that you are literally battling for a money prize or a real stanley cup, the mode over the last couple of years has lost me. I am more into what can you do for me as a gamer that looks for a hockey sim offline, because God knows, when you play online against someone, you are going to get over 50% of the time one move wonders. The online gaming world in sports isn't about simulation, these companies need to realize that when they create a game. They need to create the sim for the offline players and then add bells and whistles for those that like playing online in an arcade style gaming experience. Once they learn this, then sports gaming will be off the charts.

[drog1602]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

The new ignite engine means another eight years of excuses for poor game play.
You can bet that NHL15 will be nothing more than a port of NHL14 and a couple of gimmicks tossed in to try and sell it.

The EA sports games are all about HUT and micro transactions, that is the focus and not on quality of games.

Kinda sad when a fantasy manager sim seems more appealing than this series.

[drog1602]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

At the 20 second mark of this video you can see Crosby and Ovechkin hug, it could be a sign of things to come for celebrations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxF9sqDWU0Q

Group hugs had been in previous NHL titles (NHL10?), I will never understand why they took it out ( along with a multitude of other things). But looking at how the game plays and I guess one can understand the decision. The game play is all about one person doing it all and the team aspect has been pushed aside, so...

[Segagendude]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

If they don't bring it to PC then I'm not interested at all. XBO and PS4 are both trash (imo) and a total waste of money. Then add on exclusives and other tactics used by publishers and M$ and $ony to try and boost sales and all it does is ruin games for the people that matter, us.. The gamers.

Exclusive games are something that really bothers me. Why would you want to limit your options by only releasing on one platform and not only that but to release on the smallest of the gaming platforms, obviously those being consoles. PC will always have more players, always have more power and always have more innovation so I don't understand this whole sports games (for the most part) are not allowed on PC.

Then you won't be interested. There hasn't been a pc NHL game since 2008, and there are no plans to bring it back.

[Madwolf]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

Well from playing Madden 25 on the PS4 I know the AI will be improved a lot. For some reasons, may be hardware limitations, EA's games on current gen hardware all had a "hive mindset." They didn't seem to have individual AI until they were the active player. It's one of the reasons defense suffered on Madden and on NHL, and one of the reasons that your players just seem to be completely oblivious to what's going on when playing offense.

Everyone has had some really good suggestions on what needs to be improved, and here's a few small things from me:

- Load times - What is EA Sports' deal when it comes to load times? They're all just stupid! When you put in Madden or NHL the game takes a fortnight to get to the screen where you press start, and then you have to wait while the menu system loads! I feel like I could do my laundry in the time it takes to just get to a screen that enables you to head towards a game. It's just silly. The menu's should be so "fancy" that they keep the game from loading in under 30 seconds.

- Player progression - I know that everyone has a theory on exactly how this works. Sometimes it seems like it's okay, and other times you're scratching you're head.

- Uploaded Replays - Feel like these always end up way to short. I want the time to be longer so you get a feel for the play.

[gamerk2]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

- Load times - What is EA Sports' deal when it comes to load times? They're all just stupid! When you put in Madden or NHL the game takes a fortnight to get to the screen where you press start, and then you have to wait while the menu system loads! I feel like I could do my laundry in the time it takes to just get to a screen that enables you to head towards a game. It's just silly. The menu's should be so "fancy" that they keep the game from loading in under 30 seconds.

Loading screens are just a way to hide the time it takes to load everything into memory. And on the PS3 in particular, that's a significant issue.

[Madwolf]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

Loading screens are just a way to hide the time it takes to load everything into memory. And on the PS3 in particular, that's a significant issue.

I completely understand that, I'm just saying that it takes too long to load all that stuff. Into the game is fine, loading into the menu's is stupid! It should take 5 seconds to load menus tops.

[Bruce LeRoy]

We all should know by now that the ignite engine means nothing. It doesn't do anything that couldn't be done before. It just allows EA Sports games to borrow tech from each other. The Ignite Engine is just a marketing buzz word.

[SA1NT401]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

I believe nothing EA boasts, states or claims what can be done. Horrible developer and there products step back every year.

NHL is already dead.

[m1ke_nyc]

Ive only played Madden next gen but from that game alone Ignite engine is not what they hyped it up to be. Now that could be different with FIFA but I havent played FIFA next gen. So going into NHL 15 I dont see what it can really do if so far its done little for Madden.

[gb069]

For me the only thing that could save the future of EA Hockey game is competition. If 2K doesn´t ressurect their hockey game the EA´s NHL will become a new Madden, and that´s really sad.

i agree..i think it's time for 2k to make a comeback...have you seen nab 2k14 for ps4? it's insane...lol ea's nba live get's a shameful rating of 4 out of 10...that sounds like the ignite engine is a shyte engine...lets agree that e.a. are a shysty bunch...i just think they need competition...and i think 2k is ready

[gb069]

Well the Ignite Engine didn't help Madden 25 or NBA Live's transition to next gen consoles so why am I to believe that NHL will be any better??? Especially since NHL production spends millions less than both Madden and NBA production crews. FIFA made the transition with slightly better visuals since the core gameplay was solid on current gen consoles. Plus EA has stiff competition with other soccer titles from other publishers. NBA Live was exposed badly as a poor attempt and venture back into the basketball market by EA because of NBA2K14 absolutely shines. Madden has no competition and honestly it's the same game whether played on current or next gen. Perhaps a slight edge visually in next gen versions, but only in replays and cut scenes. Main game play it is difficult to tell any difference. That is EA being EA...no competition so we will change our cover athlete and release the same damn game year, after year, after year. I expect nothing different for whenever they decide to release the next gen NHL. That is really disheartening for hardcore hockey fans like myself. I finally, after 10 years, did not purchase NHL14. I'm sick of the same old "are we SIM or are we ARCADE" broken, half baked game play that I've seen from this series since 08' (before that I was strictly 2KHockey on PS2, EANHL was really terrible back then IMO). Unless EA rebuilds everything and I mean everything, for NHL on Ignite I fail to see how it will be anything more than a carbon copy with better visuals.

i agree..e.a. is shady and servers are crap

[thisis_markus]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

The thing that could save all the EA Sports titles is realising that their audience will spend money no matter what.

By this, I mean that EA could easily create a fully simulation sports game and one that dabbles in the more "fun" aspects - and keep the "fun" one for things like Ultimate Team.

Be honest, most people would pay the £50/£60 for a real representation of the sport sim they are buying, those with more disposable income/kids will then also commit to buying a "Ultimate Team" version of each game as well. Even if the kids only pay for the Ultimate team version then EA will make the difference back in pack sales etc.

I'm a dreamer.

[adayinthelife]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

The thing that could save all the EA Sports titles is realising that their audience will spend money no matter what.

By this, I mean that EA could easily create a fully simulation sports game and one that dabbles in the more "fun" aspects - and keep the "fun" one for things like Ultimate Team.

Be honest, most people would pay the £50/£60 for a real representation of the sport sim they are buying, those with more disposable income/kids will then also commit to buying a "Ultimate Team" version of each game as well. Even if the kids only pay for the Ultimate team version then EA will make the difference back in pack sales etc.

I'm a dreamer.

Obviously I'd love the idea, but this would essentially double their development costs and they'd need 2 teams to crank out 2 versions of the game every single year.

To me the key really lies in working with a single engine that allows more customization to gameplay, and thus allows both sides to be happy. By all means keep the "default" version of the game the way it is, so long as you have sliders that actually work and have a big time effect on the gameplay so that I can play a more simulation style version of the same game. It's not a perfect solution, but it seems like it would be the most realistic.

[actionhank]

Re: NHL 15: What the Ignite Engine Means

Obviously I'd love the idea, but this would essentially double their development costs and they'd need 2 teams to crank out 2 versions of the game every single year.

To me the key really lies in working with a single engine that allows more customization to gameplay, and thus allows both sides to be happy. By all means keep the "default" version of the game the way it is, so long as you have sliders that actually work and have a big time effect on the gameplay so that I can play a more simulation style version of the same game. It's not a perfect solution, but it seems like it would be the most realistic.

It seems like it would be easier for them to make things complex at first, and scale them back, than it would be for them to make them simple, and try to force them to be complex.
That's what the current gameplay feels like. They started with a fun arcadey type gameplay, and said "guess we'll make it tougher.".
I'm really hoping NHL 15 steps it up. They've got the other games that have broken the ice with the new engine, so hopefully they can learn and adapt.
If they increase the customization, and physics, they'll be taking a huge step in the right directions. Same for the AI and goalies. Having defense that actually plays defense would be a nice step up.