NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

[Steve_OS]

GamingIllustrated has posted their NHL 13 interview with Associate Producer, Ben Ross.

GI: How dynamic is this AI in this year’s edition? Is it going to be–if I have a set play or I have a method that really is working for me in the first and second period, is that defense going to adjust in the third period, and is that going to carry game-to-game?

Ben Ross: If you’re playing against the AI you’re going to see a huge leap. We actually spent more time this year than the last three years combined on AI, so you’ll have a lot of help from your teammates I find myself when I play, I’m sticking as the one player as opposed to switching all the time because I can really trust them. You’ll also see them adjust throughout the game, so they may start out in the 1-3-1, but if they find that they’re not able to clog the zone like they want to and you’re getting are real dump and chase game going, they’ll switch it up. You’ll get a lot of different looks, which will keep the strategy changing. Like I say, it’s sort of that cat-and-mouse game, the pros and cons, and you’ll find that it really puts you to the test regardless.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

That's great to hear.

[jonapaloma]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

Nothing in the article that hasn't been said before.

[jesushaxyou]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

Nothing in the article that hasn't been said before.

Truth, but it's still nice to have it said again and again. Nice little reinforcement.

[jhendricks316]

"We actually spent more time this year than the last three years combined on AI..."

SHOULDN'T THIS SENTENCE RAISE EYEBROWS?

[gopher_guy]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

"We actually spent more time this year than the last three years combined on AI..."

SHOULDN'T THIS SENTENCE RAISE EYEBROWS?

It should, and has...

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

"We actually spent more time this year than the last three years combined on AI..."

SHOULDN'T THIS SENTENCE RAISE EYEBROWS?

The thing here though, is in them saying that, repeatedly at that. The AI better be something special or I think alot of folks just won't buy in next year. They did in alot of ways neglect the offline/GM player a bit for a few years there getting EASHL off the ground. It was due time for the GM guys to get a little love.

[JezFranco]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

The thing is with that quote though is that you don't know if they mean they've worked really hard this year, or if they really didn't do **** the last 3 years.

[Money99]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

The thing is with that quote though is that you don't know if they mean they've worked really hard this year, or if they really didn't do **** the last 3 years.

LOL! Yeah, that's what I was thinking too.
I guess it depends on your perception. I kind of got the feeling that they really didn't do a whole lot with AI over the last 3 years.

Very glad to hear they did more work on that.
I also liked reading that quote where someone said the leap from NHL12 to 13 is as big as it was from '06 to next-gen '07. I hope that's accurate.

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

The thing here though, is in them saying that, repeatedly at that. The AI better be something special or I think alot of folks just won't buy in next year. They did in alot of ways neglect the offline/GM player a bit for a few years there getting EASHL off the ground. It was due time for the GM guys to get a little love.

Yep RealmK...including Rammer saying..."The best AI ever in a hockey game." Like you said, I sure hope the AI is rather special/impressive. The first video of the Hockey IQ did look promising.

I'm very happy though, and I'm sure you'll agree...they seem to have their focus this year in the right areas....AI, skating physic, etc...

[Money99]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

Yep RealmK...including Rammer saying..."The best AI ever in a hockey game." Like you said, I sure hope the AI is rather special/impressive. The first video of the Hockey IQ did look promising.

I'm very happy though, and I'm sure you'll agree...they seem to have their focus this year in the right areas....AI, skating physic, etc...

Bumping what you, and Realmk have said.
The thing that really killed my enjoyment over the last few years was that when trying to play offline in a Dynasty, after 4 or 5 games, it got really stale due to every team and every player playing the same way.
I really hope the AI, along with team styles and attributes, plays a major role in ensuring a different experience when playing against various clubs.

Playing the Wings should feel entirely different than when playing the Flyers, Wild or Coyotes.
I'm praying we see that in '13.
I haven't really played a hockey game for a couple of years now and after having a lot of fun with basketball and baseball, I want to get back into it again.
I hope that NHL13 pulls me back in so that I can enjoy a hockey game for the entire Fall and Winter months.

[Qb]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

I haven't really played a hockey game for a couple of years now and after having a lot of fun with basketball and baseball, I want to get back into it again.
I hope that NHL13 pulls me back in so that I can enjoy a hockey game for the entire Fall and Winter months.

I hear you, man. My offline play has diminished each year since NHL08, which was the last time I completed a full season w/o simming (I lost in game 7 of the Finals! ). Sure a good chunk of that is from the rise of OTP, but if the offline game was compelling enough, I'd find the time to play both.

With that being said, from what I've heard from those who played the early build(s), things are most definitely heading in the right direction. I also recently heard some good news about pass reception and puck control. Obviously there's lots of time for tuning/balancing the game prior to release, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

[canucksss]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

"We actually spent more time this year than the last three years combined on AI..."

SHOULDN'T THIS SENTENCE RAISE EYEBROWS?

not only eyebrows....but my wallet is close UNTIL i rent this game and see if there are any SIGNIFICANT changes in AI and if it's worth $60+.

For 3 years been disappointed with their effort...so I will be careful this time and not be swayed by EA's marketing ploy.

[FBeaule04]

Re: NHL 13 Interview with Associate Producer Ben Ross (GamingIllustrated)

"We actually spent more time this year than the last three years combined on AI..."

SHOULDN'T THIS SENTENCE RAISE EYEBROWS?

This is why I'm getting so upset at times with EA and feel like I'm taken for an idiot. Last year, they come out swinging saying that the AI had been revamped and we'll no longer see defenseman making atrocious play on the board, the forwards dumping the puck all over the place and standing still at the blue line and goalies making dumb moves.

In the end, NHL 12 was all about that. I won't speak for online plays, it's made to be played 6 vs. 6, so the fact that the AI is more crap than Glatt in the movie Goon's won't make any difference here. But...

When you play offline and what you saw is D pinning themselves off the board without beeing pressure, AI shooting the puck over the board more often than Malkin and Giroux are packing points, you saw goalie only able to touch the puck behind the net when they are sure they going to be out of the trapezoid, and the best one, an AI programming so that a D-man will come for a change at the bench in BaP while is own team is on a 5 on 3 in their own zone makes me sick to my stomach.

No surprise anyting EA say is taken with an heavy dose of : "We'll wait and see". So far, I'm impress with what I read, what I see and what is going on at EA, but it was the same for NHL 11 and NHL 12, so I'll wait until the final product hit the shelf before saying : "Game, Set, Match" for EA.

There's two things EA as to do to make sure they are on the right track. Play 10 games on CHL level as a BaP and play 10 games on any modes, with player lock.

Have never seen one person saying over the years : "Feel like the D on the other side didn't react the right way, it's kindda odd!" No, they are saying : "Cool, I scored". So when you play and control your 5 teammates, you won't see glaring problems. When you are locked or playing BaP, everything become obvious. If you don't run around like a chicken without his head, you can see what your AI partner are doing and if it happens every game on a 10 game span, it'a sign you missed something.

Rant over I guess! ;-)