82 Games and Not One Simulated!

[jaiman]

If that doesn't tell you how much I enjoy this game and continue to enjoy it, I don't know what will. As a businessman who doesn't get much time to play video games, I managed to play a full season as the Leafs without simulating one game. I ended up with a losing record and did not make the play-offs but the game mirrored hockey so very much.

For those of you who have played NHL10 this year, you owed it to yourself to at least try this game and explore what it does differently and in some cases better than its counterpart. The AI, face-offs, pinning (post xbox patch), arenas, puck physics, and broadcast camera are just a few things that I think 2k10 does better than 10 - making it the reason for to tolerate an 82 game season. It truly is unfortunate about the demise of the series for next year, because no matter how many flaws the game had, the good outweighs the bad. Let's hope 2k12 does come out for all consoles and begins to win back the true hockey fan in all of us.

[RealmK]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

If that doesn't tell you how much I enjoy this game and continue to enjoy it, I don't know what will. As a businessman who doesn't get much time to play video games, I managed to play a full season as the Leafs without simulating one game. I ended up with a losing record and did not make the play-offs but the game mirrored hockey so very much.

For those of you who have played NHL10 this year, you owed it to yourself to at least try this game and explore what it does differently and in some cases better than its counterpart. The AI, face-offs, pinning (post xbox patch), arenas, puck physics, and broadcast camera are just a few things that I think 2k10 does better than 10 - making it the reason for to tolerate an 82 game season. It truly is unfortunate about the demise of the series for next year, because no matter how many flaws the game had, the good outweighs the bad. Let's hope 2k12 does come out for all consoles and begins to win back the true hockey fan in all of us.

I'll give you that the offensive AI is a bit more dynamic, and the puck flips around a little more even though its about as magnetic as humanly possible around sticks/goalies. But thats about where it ends even with the patch. The defensive AI (and I know the flaws in the skating engine are half the reason) is downright atrocious, I mean when you watch Dmen skate/warp away from loose pucks multiple times over a course of a game, only to have it turn into frustrating goals against, you know theres a problem. As is the goalie AI. (which again I think prolly has alot to do with the skating/animations engine being as stiff as they are)

I do still like the "feel" of a 2k hockey game which is prolly why I still play it, but I'm pretty suprised that anyone praises 2k10 as much as they do, overall its got a long way to go towards being a great game like 2k3 and 2k5 were. To be honest though and this is really a nod towards the potential I think the series still has, NHL2k10 feels alot like NHL07 did to me. Some good parts they oughta keep, and some bad parts that need a whole ton of polishing/replacing.

Serious question for those that love 2k10, do you guys play with auto line changes and don't mind that lines don't change half as much as they should or have you guys just grown accustomed to the unituitive line change system that gives very little feedback on line fatigue?

[savoie2006]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

Yeah, I play with Auto Line Changes. Usually when you dump the puck, your team will change. Sometimes only the D will get changed out and I'll have to dump it again to get the forwards changed, but that's cool with me.

[RealmK]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

Yeah, I play with Auto Line Changes. Usually when you dump the puck, your team will change. Sometimes only the D will get changed out and I'll have to dump it again to get the forwards changed, but that's cool with me.

Thanks for a reply savoie, I wish I could just play it like that and have it not bother me. I hate not having much control over what line is out against another line, I guess 10 kinda spoiled me in that way with adding home last changes and having the fatigue of all your lines easy to read and right there when you need it.

Its kinda like the 2k Nav thing as well, like the VC teams got together one day and said "hey lets design a completely awful menu system and make it progressively worse every year!" and its now creeping its way into the actual in game systems as well. Hate hate hate 2k nav with every nerve ending in my body.

[Radja]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

i think the line change ai needs to be changed. i am thinking about going to the manual system now that i am getting better with the pro stick.

it needs work, but at least for me it is not a game killer.

as for the defensive AI, it does need a little work too. but players do dumb things in real life. heck, i am shark fan. nabakov will give up at least two bonehead gift goals in the playoff series the sharks are destined to lose this season. if they would happen in a video game, we would say "nabakov would never do that", but he does. every playoff loss.

simulating a sport in a video game has to take into consideration that players do not always do what they are supposed to. i apply this reasoning to all games i play. i only get mad if EVERY TIME the AI does something. then it becomes an exploit and it loses the fun.

now for all i know, your complaint can be an every time thing. if so, i haven't really noticed and i hope i never do. i am having fun.

[Radja]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

oh an for me, it really isn't an EA / 2K thing. i have not played EA since 2001.

for me its a 4.99 + a $25.00 gift card thing. i was bone broke, busted and disgusted the last year or so.

you definitely get less picky when your broke.

[slickdtc]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

Serious question for those that love 2k10, do you guys play with auto line changes and don't mind that lines don't change half as much as they should or have you guys just grown accustomed to the unituitive line change system that gives very little feedback on line fatigue?

I don't understand why they don't have fatigue shown in the line change overlay (maybe it is and I don't know where it is?). Seems like that and the line are the most important things.

I've been playing on Semi-Auto so I can do a little changing myself, but I don't completely like it. Even when I try to change out my lines, sometimes it just won't (I know there's a huge delay between the press and the actual overlay popping up). I'm thinking about going to completely Manual. I was always this way with 2k3, but then afterwards it got too cumbersome with having to hit modifier + line change button or whatever, but now that it's just a up or down press of the D-pad, I may be able to get used to it. Whenever I try it, I never get accustomed to it quick enough and end up switching back. I'll have to take my time.

I liked 2k3 because you could just flick the right analog stick, though 2k3 didn't have all the poke checking features teh right analog now carries. Now I have to take my finger off the control player stick (Left analog)...

[daflyboys]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

I think on semi-auto you used to be able to change only during stoppages and not on the fly. Who knows any longer.

[jyoung]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

I agree that 2K10 has the better offline experience.

But for online play, NHL 10 wins easily.

[stlstudios189]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

82 games completed. that's awesome man. too bad you didn't make the playoffs. I agree with some other posts, I only buy the EA game if there is no other option (football, college BB) but, I HATE 2k's menus. They are terrible.

[cheechoo98]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

jaiman,

I too did an entire 82 game season + playoffs without simming - for the first time ever ( been playing video game hockey since 1996 )

And yes, my sentiments exactly about 2K10. I offered kudos and praise for the developers after my season on the other forums. They deserve it. Even though there's a lot to be bitter about with 2K10 (as I am a PS3 owner, rosters etc..) The gameplay is good with some slider tweaks. NHL 10 sat on and still sits on the shelf for me.

One of the things I love about 2K10 is the integration with online leagues through your PC. The website and stat-tracking is fantastic. And the Highleight Reelmaker and uploading have been fantastic the last couple of years.

Oh, and the Blogging integration is also fantastic. You can link highlight videos to a written blog about your games. (here's a link to mine) http://community.2ksports.com/commun...fm?blogid=1954

I'll get back to some NHL2K10 action, soon... how about you, jaiman?

[jaiman]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

Absolutely. I plan developing a little more throughout the off season and making the play-offs in year two. I will probably be simulating more games this time around though - but will play all play-off games if we make it.

[RealmK]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

I agree that 2K10 has the better offline experience.

But for online play, NHL 10 wins easily.

The sim engine isn't any better, lots of weird trades, tons of shutouts and standings generally aren't as realistic as a few claim. Its obviously opinion based on what one will put up with in terms of game breaking situations though.

I do commend jaiman for getting through a full season and playing every game though.

[RealmK]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

I think on semi-auto you used to be able to change only during stoppages and not on the fly. Who knows any longer.

Not the case anymore, its a very delayed reaction however. Say you press down to change your Dmen while dumping the puck into the offensive zone, 9 out of 10 times the line doesn't actually go off for a change til the CPU has already retrieved the puck and is storming over center ice. I can't remember if it got better with the 360 patch but this is how it is on the unpatched PS3 version anyway.

[Radja]

Re: 82 Games and Not One Simulated!

i am now convinced the manual line change is the way to go. 360 version.

it was very easy. the changes never left me off guard unless i screwed up but even then they seemed to wait until it was time to change.

i liked it. my offense was much better because i was not running lines so long. i won my first with manual line change game 6-2. my defense was much better this way.