NHL 2K10 Developer Insights: Gameplay Mechanics Part I & II

[Money99]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

What I like about the Ovi dekes is the execution and the dekes performed are supposed to be based on player ratings which is a welcome difference from EA's everyone dekeds the same way (hoefully this is different for NHL10 )

I agree with both you and RealmK.
I think there's a happy medium between both systems.

For some complicated deke's I don't mind having some pre-set canned animations available to star players when on a breakaway or shootout.
However, for some simple moves like toe-drag, that should be allowed using the right-analog only.

I also hope that EA has fixed their stickhandling engine so that not everyone can perform the same dekes.
But for now, I'm going to believe they have fixed it and I look forward to testing out both games control schemes.

[slickdtc]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

The way I read it is the "Ovi Dekes" (dekes on the goalie) can be controlled by Left Bumper + either a face button OR a right analog flick. So hitting X and pressing left on the right analog would do the same thing, for example. The 1 on 1 dekes are different in that it's Left Bumper + face buttons pull off some moves, and then the left bumper with the right analog pulled off different moves.

But the face buttons for the 1 on 1 dekes are seemed to be more rare moves you'd see, like spins. The A button allows you to kick the puck off your skates/deke through your legs.

Anyway, I loved this insight blog. It's great getting the insight from someone we know and trust in WWTC. It's so cool seeing someone who was just a hardcore fan of the game and is now actually there helping make the game. So you know some of that stuff hardcore fans have been wanting will make it into the game because guys like WWTC and Shadow are on the NHL 2k team.

I like the new way passing is done, mostly because of how WWTC explained it: you can now pass loose pucks! I think that'll be incredible when there's a loose puck in the goal mouth and maybe you don't think your guy has the angle for the shot even if the goalie is out of position. Add that extra pass and it's a slam dunk. Great to hear dumps are done better as well; they're very important, especially when playing a sim game, but often overlooked. Glad they got some love.

Finally, and what I loved the most, the discussion on sliders. Specifically, I was thrilled to hear that difficulty is based off the sliders instead of a difficulty setting and then sliders to adjust that. That's how NFL 2k5 did it, among other 2k Sports games, and I always thought that was the best way to go about it. Like WWTC said in the article, no "under the hood, mysterious" boosts. Also, great description for the sliders and I really hope that add that in the game too (like MLB 09 The Show). Too many times I've looked at a slider and said, what exactly does this do? Everyone seems to have a different opinion on what a slider does, but when it's explained, it cuts down on that (though not totally ). Plus, WWTC gives us a nice little tip regarding speed burst and how to set it so everyone can get about 20 seconds of juice.

Excellent blog. I'm hoping the next one (due out today?) will be just as informative. It deals with stick lifts, stumble shots, and incidental contact, which I think are GREAT additions to this year's games and will play a huge role in really making the game a simulation experience. Really looking forward to hearing the Dev Insight on these features.

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

I like everything I read in this blog...really good stuff. If the siders and dekes work as WWTC says they will, it will go a long way towards the realism of this game.

Thanks for the info!

[Money99]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

slickdtc, so in NFL2K5, when you made adjustments to the sliders to make things more difficult, did the CPU get any boosts?

Would I have to worry about lesser players becoming superstars?

[slickdtc]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

slickdtc, so in NFL2K5, when you made adjustments to the sliders to make things more difficult, did the CPU get any boosts?

Would I have to worry about lesser players becoming superstars?

If they did, it was under the hood and you wouldn't be able to tell. And since WWTC said this:

The biggest change is that the difficulty levels in the game are now simply slider presets. No more under-the-hood mystery changes when going from Pro to All-Star. No more CPU ratings boosts that you cannot see.

I have a feeling there won't be any funny business.

I was more talking about how NFL 2k5 had preset difficulties, but when you changed a slider, it went from that difficulty to "Custom". So the difficulties were based off the sliders. For example, on the middle difficulty, all the sliders were even. When you bumped it down, you'd have your human sliders filled 75% of the way, while the CPU had their sliders filled 25% of the way.

[kerosene31]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

There are still going to be CPU skill boosts (speed, shooting, etc), it is just that you will be able to see (and presumably tweak) those boosts.

You're still going to see lesser players getting speed and other attribute boosts. 2k hockey typically uses speed and offensive boosts, while EA uses acceleration and turning, along with puck control.

Every sports game has some sort of artificial way to turn up the difficulty.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

If they did, it was under the hood and you wouldn't be able to tell. And since WWTC said this:



I have a feeling there won't be any funny business.

I was more talking about how NFL 2k5 had preset difficulties, but when you changed a slider, it went from that difficulty to "Custom". So the difficulties were based off the sliders. For example, on the middle difficulty, all the sliders were even. When you bumped it down, you'd have your human sliders filled 75% of the way, while the CPU had their sliders filled 25% of the way.

Quote:
Originally Posted by WWTC, from Dev Insight Blog





The biggest change is that the difficulty levels in the game are now simply slider presets. No more under-the-hood mystery changes when going from Pro to All-Star. No more CPU ratings boosts that you cannot see.

So wait, CPU boosts aren't the case anymore or its just now the're not hidden boosts and you can see them? Thats pretty oddly worded. How difficult is it to just make the AI smarter or use some form of adaptive ai rather than artificial boosts?

[Money99]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

Quote:
Originally Posted by WWTC, from Dev Insight Blog





The biggest change is that the difficulty levels in the game are now simply slider presets. No more under-the-hood mystery changes when going from Pro to All-Star. No more CPU ratings boosts that you cannot see.

So wait, CPU boosts aren't the case anymore or its just now the're not hidden boosts and you can see them? Thats pretty oddly worded. How difficult is it to just make the AI smarter or use some form of adaptive ai rather than artificial boosts?

I'm interested to know the answer to that as well.

On "Rookie" level would the sliders be configured so that the CPU is slower, has less accuracy on shots and passes, and sloppy goalies?

I really hope there's an 'AI Intelligence' slider so we can dictate how smart the CPU will be.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

I'm interested to know the answer to that as well.

On "Rookie" level would the sliders be configured so that the CPU is slower, has less accuracy on shots and passes, and sloppy goalies?

If this is actually the case and the AI ends up being halfassed again and completely reliant on speed boosts and the like on higher levels rather than more intelligent positioning and decisions, I'm gonna be pretty pissed.

[kai123]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

I was more talking about how NFL 2k5 had preset difficulties, but when you changed a slider, it went from that difficulty to "Custom". So the difficulties were based off the sliders. For example, on the middle difficulty, all the sliders were even. When you bumped it down, you'd have your human sliders filled 75% of the way, while the CPU had their sliders filled 25% of the way.

Yep, that way the CPU never cheated you. You were able to choose from Rookie, Pro, All Pro and Custom.

[slickdtc]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

If this is actually the case and the AI ends up being halfassed again and completely reliant on speed boosts and the like on higher levels rather than more intelligent positioning and decisions, I'm gonna be pretty pissed.

I don't think this will be the case. No one wants to play against a CPU that's only better then them because they're faster. But I guess we won't know until we get to play.

Wouldn't a smarter AI be achieved by increasing their G-O-D sliders? Then again, I guess those sliders never made them smarter, just probably boosted their ratings, which, I guess, makes them more effective.

I knew there was a reason I stopped being a slider-freak. It turns the game into a math equation.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

I don't think this will be the case. No one wants to play against a CPU that's only better then them because they're faster. But I guess we won't know until we get to play.

Wouldn't a smarter AI be achieved by increasing their G-O-D sliders? Then again, I guess those sliders never made them smarter, just probably boosted their ratings, which, I guess, makes them more effective.

I knew there was a reason I stopped being a slider-freak. It turns the game into a math equation.

You'd think increasing the G-O-D sliders would do that. Its just never been the case in 2k games and in the case of 2k9 it honesty just increased the arcadey elements, Dmen doing spin a ramas up the ice, goaltenders warping to make impossible saves etc. NHL2k's biggest weakness over the years aside from bugs and lack of polish has been awful ai. Their only game that actually got AI right was 2k3, hell they oughta just use the damn AI code from 2k3.

[kerosene31]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

I'm interested to know the answer to that as well.

On "Rookie" level would the sliders be configured so that the CPU is slower, has less accuracy on shots and passes, and sloppy goalies?

I really hope there's an 'AI Intelligence' slider so we can dictate how smart the CPU will be.

I'm not reading it that way. He says no more "hidden" CPU boosts, not the removal of boosts.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

WWTC,

Just curious.. do we have area intros during season play now instead of only exhibition and playoffs? It would be a shame to miss many of them if they are only for playoffs!

[Money99]

Re: NHL2K10 Dev Insights

From WWTC at 2khockey.net:

I'll explain the "ratings boost" thing.

NHL2K3 through 2K9:
Hall of Famer, if Human and CPU speed burst effect sliders were set to 50, the CPU is faster than you.

NHL2K10:
No matter what the difficulty, if a slider is set to 50, that is what you get. No under the hood changes based on difficulty to give the CPU a boost. You can still put the CPU Slider to 100 and the User slider to 50 if you want, but no difficulty gives the CPU faster players than you.

So with sliders, yes the CPU can have a boost over your players.
I just hope there's a slider for CPU intelligence. But it appears that it might.
I hope that today's blog will dig deeper into that aspect.