User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

[onlybygrace]

Okay...I'm going to be rather blunt here but I feel moved to say the following.

For your own sake of enjoying the game you purchased, avoid getting caught in the annual circus of tuner sets that EA spits out during the NHL gaming cycle.

It's getting rediculous.

I understand the temptation that somehow these tuner sets might renew a game that you've become used to now that you've had it for three weeks, but more often than not, the tuner just screws up something and throws you right back at square one...adjusting the sliders, looking for the ever elusive sweet spot...rinse repeat...its disgusting.

Me personally...I don't have the internet at home so I play with the game just as it was shipped...and its FINE!!!

I dunno...I'm really frustrated with EA at this point regarding these tuner sets...

DO NOT GET ME WRONG HERE!!!

I really appreciate that they do give attention to the game after its been released...but the changes they choose to prioritize cause me to scratch my head. Its blatantly obvious that people would like to see more penalties, yet through 3 new tuners...its largely the same.

Okay...so what I'm saying is fine a tuner and a slider set you enjoy...and just be content and enjoy the game.

[tofubrain2]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

For your own sake of enjoying the game you purchased, avoid getting caught in the annual circus of tuner sets that EA spits out during the NHL gaming cycle.

funny, I spent probably more time editing players and line combos last year than playing. Ditto sliders sets. I've so far avoided the temptation to tweak because I get borderline OCD with it.

The only way NHL 12 played well after the litany of tuners and patches was after you deleted EVERYTHING post release that was added to it. Then a quick re-install of one of the first patch coupled with your favorite slider set and you had a game that was AWESOME to play.

One of my wishes going in that this game would not going to get tuned into the dirt and so far, it is. Once tuner 1.87 drops (84 of them later LOL) this game will fully resemble NHL 12 at that specific time. Which I'll have to revert to what I did with NHL 12 and do "surgery" to extract the unplayable cancer that EA infects this game with.

Sad, more so that I half-heartedly and FULLY expect to have to do this.

[18 eighty 5]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Good points Onlybygrace. This is just a video game, it is not going to be the ultimate virtual experience. I haven't downloaded anything either for the reasons you mentioned. I got the game to a place where I like it and can live with the rest.

[Vikes1]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Yep OBG, I've been going back and forth with the tuners/sliders every freaking day. Like you said...trying to find that, "sweet spot." And thankfully, each game varies around, so it's dang tough to find that spot.

I'm hoping now to be locked into V1.01. And the shot accuracies at 1. To avoid the scoring fests. I have a touch of OCD to begin with. And NHL '13' to this point has been really bringing it out. Hopefully I'll stop now. But dang...those new tuners are hard to not fart around with.

[kerosene31]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

I think part of the problem is that people are so fixated on the penalty issue that they ignore all the other aspects of the game. Supposedly people see slightly different penalty results with different tuners, but honestly I don't see any real difference. It has always been an issue and no tuner seems to solve it.

Obviously EA either can't or won't fix the penalties with a tuner, so why focus on it? Plus, I honestly don't see huge differences tuner to tuner. There is so much randomness to the game it is hard to gauge things.

The latest tuner plays overall a lot better than the game did out of the box for me. Many of us were destroying the AI early on, but now I get a good challenge on all star. I'm no longer able to skate through the other team like I'm Gretzky playing against some pee wees.

[Scrif]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

For me tuner 1.00 is the best. 1.01 and 1.02 made the game crazy hard, even on pro. Ive gone back to All-star, tuner 1.00 and moved 'make the cpu more difficult' slider (I think that's what its called) up a notch or two and the game is great.

1.03 showed some promise but its the aggression that ruins the game for me. Its always a pile of guys in the middle of the offensive zone just hitting eachother, which is useless - and no penalties for any of that?

[geoffstanek]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Okay...I'm going to be rather blunt here but I feel moved to say the following.

For your own sake of enjoying the game you purchased, avoid getting caught in the annual circus of tuner sets that EA spits out during the NHL gaming cycle.

It's getting rediculous.

I understand the temptation that somehow these tuner sets might renew a game that you've become used to now that you've had it for three weeks, but more often than not, the tuner just screws up something and throws you right back at square one...adjusting the sliders, looking for the ever elusive sweet spot...rinse repeat...its disgusting.

Me personally...I don't have the internet at home so I play with the game just as it was shipped...and its FINE!!!

I dunno...I'm really frustrated with EA at this point regarding these tuner sets...

DO NOT GET ME WRONG HERE!!!

I really appreciate that they do give attention to the game after its been released...but the changes they choose to prioritize cause me to scratch my head. Its blatantly obvious that people would like to see more penalties, yet through 3 new tuners...its largely the same.

Okay...so what I'm saying is fine a tuner and a slider set you enjoy...and just be content and enjoy the game.

You are absolutely correct...I have not updated the tuners at all after reading last years fiasco and resetting NHL12 and NHL13 plays great..the penalty thing is a crazy as I dont get any PP and the CPU gets 5 a game but whatever...This game plays AWESOME out of the box and the new skating engine is by far the best UPGRADE for this franchise.

[CupCrazyManiac]

funny, I spent probably more time editing players and line combos last year than playing. Ditto sliders sets. I've so far avoided the temptation to tweak because I get borderline OCD with it.



The only way NHL 12 played well after the litany of tuners and patches was after you deleted EVERYTHING post release that was added to it. Then a quick re-install of one of the first patch coupled with your favorite slider set and you had a game that was AWESOME to play.



One of my wishes going in that this game would not going to get tuned into the dirt and so far, it is. Once tuner 1.87 drops (84 of them later LOL) this game will fully resemble NHL 12 at that specific time. Which I'll have to revert to what I did with NHL 12 and do "surgery" to extract the unplayable cancer that EA infects this game with.



Sad, more so that I half-heartedly and FULLY expect to have to do this.

Absolutly agree! I play with v.1.00.
Only with the Patch and its playable..ok the penalty issue is there but...

Like u said, NHL 12 was the same...NO tuner download and its playable...with the tuner updates its unplayable...

[Simp]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Totally agree OP!

Why is it 15-20 years ago we could play the game out of the box, and have a blast without worrying so much about whether everything was 100% spot-on realistic. The games were meant to be fun and we played them in that spirit.

[Vikes1]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Obviously EA either can't or won't fix the penalties with a tuner, so why focus on it? Plus, I honestly don't see huge differences tuner to tuner. There is so much randomness to the game it is hard to gauge things.

The latest tuner plays overall a lot better than the game did out of the box for me. Many of us were destroying the AI early on, but now I get a good challenge on all star. I'm no longer able to skate through the other team like I'm Gretzky playing against some pee wees.

Yep Kerosene, I'm kinda doubting we'll see a real fix to the too few of penalties also. They said one of the tuners addressed a few the penalties already...so who knows, maybe that's all they'll do? And ya, this has been an issues for a while now with no real fix.

The randomness you mentioned within the game...yep, that does make it pretty difficult to really solve the issues we personally may have with the game. I mean...one game, problem solved! Very next game....guess not. Wth. But thankfully that randomness is there though.

As for the tuners, I agree. Their kinda fun to download, but imo too...most times it seems they don't really do a helluva a lot. But with '13', like you mentioned...there does seemed to be quite a difference between even 1.00 and 1.01./1.02. The AI does seem quite a bit more aggressive with the later tuners. Which imo is fine. Because you can adjust the aggressiveness with the sliders it need be. For me...I believe I'm very close to having things dialed in. And maybe now I can just start enjoying the new game. Instead of chasing my tail around with the tuners/sliders.

[SA1NT401]

Tuners or not. The lack of penalties kills the entire game for me.

Had a streak the other night of 6 games with 2 penalty total. I really see no reason to play a hockey game void of penalties. That is not hockey.

Sold it yesterday to my buddy for $30

[meetjsquared]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Tuners or not. The lack of penalties kills the entire game for me.

Had a streak the other night of 6 games with 2 penalty total. I really see no reason to play a hockey game void of penalties. That is not hockey.

Sold it yesterday to my buddy for $30

Agreed. But I'm probably gonna give it a go later with strictly BaGM where I'm actually just the GM and sim through games. If that doesn't work, then hopefully NBA2K13 can fill the extremely huge void that Madden and NHL are not.

How much, if any, do tuners affect simmed games?

[Vikes1]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Tuners or not. The lack of penalties kills the entire game for me.

Too bad EAC is letting this continue.

I realize the game hasn't been out very long, but this issue [report by so many] needs to be truly addressed very soon.

[meetjsquared]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

Too bad EAC is letting this continue.

I realize the game hasn't been out very long, but this issue [report by so many] needs to be truly addressed very soon.

It seems like this was a huge issue in '12, (I didn't play it, not even sure if I played '11 because of issues like this).

I get fed up with Madden and the boards for NHL had very few complaints in comparison so I got excited and got the game not realizing one of the biggest parts of the game is not properly implemented.

I don't have programming experience, but I can't believe this is that hard of an issue for them to fix with a tuner patch or something. So far they've been focused on online and HUT-related issues, and the tuner update saying more tripping/interference or whatever it was, was a complete joke.

I agree with the OP that the tuners usually try to fix one issue and screw up something else, but I've been clinging to these updates with that little bit of hope that it'll fix something, to no avail.

[Minus 80]

Re: User Beware: Avoid Tuner Madness

I've been playing mostly HUT and GM Connected. You don't get to choose tuners and sliders in those modes.

While penalties are still on the low side, the game has been playing great otherwise, no matter what tuner they throw out. it's been a lot nicer to just play the game and stop worrying about sliders.