The robo-goalie problem

[jyoung]

Anyone who's spent some time with NHL 10 (or last year's game, for that matter) has probably noticed that the CPU goalies are insanely good -- too good, most would say.

Here is my primary theory as to why the robo-goalie problem still exists in this game:

99% of the time, the CPU goalie is never out of position.

Just watching the way goalies track the puck as it moves around the ice in NHL 10 is enough to see that they are inhumanly quick and precise when sliding through the crease and shutting down open shooting lanes.

The result is that, no matter how much you cycle the puck in NHL 10, the only time you'll ever catch the goalie out of position is on rebounds, which is the only area of their game where the CPU goalies actually feel human.

In the past, I imagine the CPU goalies were given superhuman positioning to counter the user's ability to make the equally ridiculous, tape-to-tape passes, but for some reason, when the NHL team brought in the new passing system that eliminates the user's tape-to-tape passing ability, they forgot to bring the CPU goalies back to reality, too.

Sure, there are there still ways to score on the CPU goalie, but that's not the point of this thread; my point is:

The most basic element of generating scoring chances in hockey -- cycling the puck around the ice to create an open shooting lane -- is ineffective in NHL 10 because of how inhumanly well the CPU tracks the puck and closes down shooting angles.

I think if the CPU's puck tracking and net positioning were simply toned down, we would all see a much more realistic hockey game from NHL 10.

I really hope this issue is being looked at and addressed with a future patch/tuner set.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

I think the problem isn't being out of position and it has more to do with the recovery/quickness of the goaltender. The goalie seems to be able to recover very quickly from any mistakes he has made and severely limits the amount of time you have to capitalize on the mistake.

I do not think it is as big of a problem as you make it seem, but I do think there is a robo quality to the goalies this year that could easily be fixable with a good tuner set.

[Eski33]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

I tuned the reaction time of the CPU goaltenders down to half of what the default setting is. I played one game on this setting and scored one goal, a PP goal with a shot from the point where the goalie was screened.

I have found that my issue isn't so much the goaltending as it is trying to get through the defense. Played against Calgary and I swear that no matter what, they had four guys back every time I broke out on a rush. It was nuts...Not that I mind, I like the challenge.

[DXZeke]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

Initially I was frustrated with that, but then I changed the sliders.

I'm playing on Pro.

I've got Goalies Reaction Slider at 0
I've got Goalie Screen at Max.

Since I changed that I'm scoring an average of 3 goals per game.

last game I played:
9-1 Hurricanes over New Jersey.

I've scored every each way.

Give it a shot for those of you that are frustrated.

[jsquigg]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

I disagree with the OP. I had no problems scoring last year once I got the hang of it and this year I'm still trying to generate quality scoring chances while getting used to the new passing system. On one goal I scored against Pittsburgh Fleury made the save but when he went to pull the puck in for a cover up he accidentally pulled the puck between his legs for a goal. I'm willing to bet that the same people who say the goalies are in perfect position all the time would complain if the game had them out of position at times. It just goes to show you can't make everyone happy.

[jyoung]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

Again though, the issue isn't that you can't score, it's how you can't score from moving the puck around and shooting from high percentage areas.

Goals in this game are basically limited to the following types:

-- cross-crease one timers (the only kind of one-timers you can consistently score on because of how quickly the goalie reacts to passes)

-- screens or deflections

-- rebounds (the one area in this game where goalies are fairly realistic)

-- shots so powerful that the goalie has no chance even if he gets a piece of it

-- dekes (pretty much all the stick dekes from 09 work in 10)

Those are basically the only ways to score consistently this year.

Even though it's a fundamental strategy of hockey, cycling the puck and shooting from high-percentage scoring areas simply isn't something that can generate goals in this game because of how inhumanly well the CPU tracks the puck.

[kerosene31]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

The problem with the goalies in 09 and still in 10 is they don't let shots in. Just straight on shots. At least in 10 you get rewarded for shooting with rebounds or tip in opportunities, but you still see far too few pure shots going in. Sometimes, good shooters get in good position and rip it home. Far too little of that in EA's games.

[bukktown]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

Robo goalie is definiely an issue online. My new defense strategy is not to challenge the puck carrier at all in the hopes he will actually try to beat my goalie on a breakaway deke. The lateral movement of the goalies is insane. I've only given up 2 goals in about 100 breakaway chances.

[kerosene31]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

I just played a string of EASHL games, and the teams have figured out how to score:

send low, soft shots in and let the goalie muff the rebound and generate chances that way.

You can have the puck in perfect scoring position in the slot, and you can shoot all day or try dekes and never beat the goalie.

If you are inside the hashmarks, why can't you take a hard shot and have it go in?

Every goal in the EASHL now is off a misplay by the goalie it seems. I play D and the only thing to do is hit everyone in front of the net and keep them from getting the rebound. That's very realistic to a point, but it is way overdone now.

[Vince]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

And people didn't believe me when I said on the 2k thread that this game(NHL 10) had pretty much zero goal variety...

It is absolutely useless to have an elite level sniper because clear wristers and slap shots don't go in...

[jyoung]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

You'e dead-on about the pucks just getting swallowed up even when you've got a sniper open in the middle of the slot or standing on the doorstep.

My EASHL team has barely been able to score any goals so far, and when we have, it's been from a rebound.

We've basically had to make "shoot low and crash the net" our primary offensive strategy since none of our guys have unlocked the speed boosts and we can't get breakways or odd-man rush opportunities against all these teams who just purchased them with MS points.

[Faulker]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

You'e dead-on about the pucks just getting swallowed up even when you've got a sniper open in the middle of the slot or standing on the doorstep.

My EASHL team has barely been able to score any goals so far, and when we have, it's been from a rebound.

We've basically had to make "shoot low and crash the net" our primary offensive strategy since none of our guys have unlocked the speed boosts and we can't get breakways or odd-man rush opportunities against all these teams who just purchased them with MS points.

Agree - Need to make those slot chances and high percentage shots go in..

[ComaFaction]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

In my Leafs franchise, Jason Blake has been straight sniping for me. I've scored plenty of clean goals from the slot area, usually a couple per game.

[Dudd]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

I've played about a dozen games online now, and I don't think I've seen a single goal go straight in off a wrist shot, and only one or two off of a non deflected slap shot, both by me and my opponents. My opponents are having real problems scoring goals, and I'm faring a little better, but with the exception of a couple of slap shots that were ripped home from 15 feet out and one or two breakaways out of 20 or 30 attempts, every goal is scored on either a rebound, a deflection in front of the net, or a cross crease wrist shot one timer. I'm playing guys who are just terrible and are practically begging me to take wide open shots from the slot, and I'm not even coming close to scoring. These robo goalies really need to be patched, because it's just not fun nor is it realistic to score all of your goals in this way.

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Re: The robo-goalie problem

You can't have it both ways. It's the just way it is, no sports video game can truly replicate a sport and never will. If they don't make super goalies every game is gonna be 12-10 and everybody's gonna complain about too many goals. Video hockey is always gonna have alot of great scoring chances it's just the nature sports video gaming. Do you really want every shot from a sniper in the slot to go in half the time considering you probably have a dozen chances in the game where the opportunity arises.

I've seen enough variety of goals from flukes behind the net to wrist shots as you're skating across the slot especially when there's a screen that I'm gonna complain about why I have 20 great scoring chances and I'm not scoring a good % of them. Sure most goals come off rebounds and deflections off slapshots but those are things that happen less often and needs more skill to pull off rather than passing it to a guy going thu the slot.