Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

[jyoung]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

I hate how every year since NHL 10 you have to grind through a season or two of this mode just to unlock boosts to be competitive in the online portion of the game.

[plaidchuck]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

I hate how every year since NHL 10 you have to grind through a season or two of this mode just to unlock boosts to be competitive in the online portion of the game.

Agreed, beats paying for it though. And if the BAP is much improved it will be actually worth playing... (or you could have your grind rookie 9 goals a game BAP and a serious BAP)

The only thing that worries me is not hearing anything on improving human goalie controls. They've been a nightmare for two years and got even worse for NHL 11.

[code_m]

Agreed, beats paying for it though. And if the BAP is much improved it will be actually worth playing... (or you could have your grind rookie 9 goals a game BAP and a serious BAP)

The only thing that worries me is not hearing anything on improving human goalie controls. They've been a nightmare for two years and got even worse for NHL 11.

Agreed. I am scared to even think about buying this game. I like all the new features, but they have so many basic bugs they need to fix, I would not mind seeing ZERO new features.

Namely the camera system(s). Single player team play cameras are OK, but they still could use much improvement. As for Be a Pro cameras (what I mainly play) they simply suck. I mean I rarely play as a defender cause you cannot see your own character 80% of the time. Forwards aren't much better as I tend to play on the boards a lot, and too often I find the camera looking more at the stands the what is going on. Goalies probably have it the worst: Only two options, High or Low, and on my PS3 your stuck with Low at the start of every game and must change it in the start menu if you wish to use the high camera. With the Low camera you find you can't see the puck once near the goal line, and post to post play is near impossible (STILL). With the high camera you find it angles down too much with play near the net and have trouble covering the puck.

Also, new desperation saves??? This hasn't worked for human goalies since... uh? ever?

I'd just like to be able to cover it when I ask to. And as for rebounded pucks, why do I go the improper direction on a diving cover like 95% of the time?

Not being totally inept when playing outside of the crease would be a godsend. I mean I don't know a goalie out there that doesn't one-time rolling pucks to take off the pressure. Oh and back to cameras, you can't see jack-didley-squat when playing a puck behind the net... PLEASE change that.

Another bug I've seen on repeat accounts: Your doing great, your up 2-0 and the game has about 13 minutes left... the other team begins crashing the net exessively... you give up a small rebound (6 inches) and your about to cover it up when... VIOLA ! GOAL!!! ... review it, good chance the attacker's stick went THROUGH your leg to get the shot off. Ouch my physics!

[actionhank]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

I'm still hoping for some up and coming mention of game face, or at least a better face editor.
It will be a mild letdown if i'm stuck playing Be a Pro which actually looks more interesting this year, i haven't played it since 09, with the usual assortment of odd looking faces.

[kerosene31]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

I hate how every year since NHL 10 you have to grind through a season or two of this mode just to unlock boosts to be competitive in the online portion of the game.

Yep, and what's worse is the people online who will play on the easiest difficulty level (where the AI doesn't even try to stop you) and just powers through and gets all the boosts to use online.

What's the fun in that?

[RealmK]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

Yep, and what's worse is the people online who will play on the easiest difficulty level (where the AI doesn't even try to stop you) and just powers through and gets all the boosts to use online.

What's the fun in that?

Aren't most of the unlocks level specific? I seem to recall that being the case. At anyrate people bitch for realism, they adjust BAP so that you need to earn your way into the NHL and get proper ice time, and they're still bitching. I know the game has it's issues and AI has needed lots of love for awhile now but seriously guys, play the demo first.

[FBeaule04]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

Aren't most of the unlocks level specific? I seem to recall that being the case. At anyrate people bitch for realism, they adjust BAP so that you need to earn your way into the NHL and get proper ice time, and they're still bitching. I know the game has it's issues and AI has needed lots of love for awhile now but seriously guys, play the demo first.

Problem Realm is that for some boost to get unlock, you have to win a cup or 2, you have to score 200 goals, etc, etc, etc.

There's no difference if you do it on Rookie casual or SS Hardcore. That's a problem since I can score 20 goals in a game on Rookie, but on SS, I'll get my *** handed to me.

With the "earn your ice time" it's going to be even worse. If you play a normal game, it's going to take more time to unlock boost since it's normal for a rookie to have his struggle. People will put it on rookie - casual, get tons of stats and unlock everything easily. That's not if they do it by cheating online with friends.

I would be so happy that EA solves this problem by giving few generic type of players with set attributes for online mode without boost and anything. Playing field level and no more whinning about one cheating and so.

Like that, EA could let the boost go for offline, concentrate on how to give XP points for overall link to the level you play (it's not normal for a human goalie that stops 32 of 35 shots on SS to receive no XP points because he was ordinary while another human goalie making 8 of 8 saves would get tons of XP points on rookie for the blank and 1.000 save %).

I know, I'm living in my own world, and it's never going to happen!

[RealmK]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

Problem Realm is that for some boost to get unlock, you have to win a cup or 2, you have to score 200 goals, etc, etc, etc.

There's no difference if you do it on Rookie casual or SS Hardcore. That's a problem since I can score 20 goals in a game on Rookie, but on SS, I'll get my *** handed to me.

With the "earn your ice time" it's going to be even worse. If you play a normal game, it's going to take more time to unlock boost since it's normal for a rookie to have his struggle. People will put it on rookie - casual, get tons of stats and unlock everything easily. That's not if they do it by cheating online with friends.

I would be so happy that EA solves this problem by giving few generic type of players with set attributes for online mode without boost and anything. Playing field level and no more whinning about one cheating and so.

Like that, EA could let the boost go for offline, concentrate on how to give XP points for overall link to the level you play (it's not normal for a human goalie that stops 32 of 35 shots on SS to receive no XP points because he was ordinary while another human goalie making 8 of 8 saves would get tons of XP points on rookie for the blank and 1.000 save %).

I know, I'm living in my own world, and it's never going to happen!

Eh I hear ya but its human nature to try and get things the easy way. No matter how EA or any other dev designs a system, when it comes to online play, people WILL try to exploit it.

[speels]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

Easiest solution would be to add an option of playing games with boosts or without.

[mikko1995]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

If I'm not wrong, FIFA uses something like, if you play in Amateur level (or whatever the easiest difficulty is), you are not applicant for leaderboards. Why NHL developers wouldn't use this with boosts, make them earn the boosts with say, Superstar level?

[Qb]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

If I'm not wrong, FIFA uses something like, if you play in Amateur level (or whatever the easiest difficulty is), you are not applicant for leaderboards. Why NHL developers wouldn't use this with boosts, make them earn the boosts with say, Superstar level?

The FIFA accomplishment system to upgrade your virtual pro is tiered. The first level of upgrades can be earned on any difficulty level. The second level must be done on semi-pro (rookie in NHL I guess) or higher. The final level of accomplishments must be completed on world class difficulty (rough equivalent of all-star) or during online play.

It works fairly well with their system, as it limits how much you can improve your player but mindlessly beating up on the CPU on easier difficulties. But to tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind if they made it so everything had to be earned on world class+ or online. Anything to keep players more within normal attribute ranges, even if FIFA does a slightly better job of this than NHL.

[kerosene31]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

Aren't most of the unlocks level specific? I seem to recall that being the case. At anyrate people bitch for realism, they adjust BAP so that you need to earn your way into the NHL and get proper ice time, and they're still bitching. I know the game has it's issues and AI has needed lots of love for awhile now but seriously guys, play the demo first.

All I know is when NHL11 came out within the first week or so there were these super boosted teams who were trashing everyone. I sent a message to a few to see what was up and if it was a hack and they said they just played offline on rookie.

[mikko1995]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Revamped Be a Pro Mode

The FIFA accomplishment system to upgrade your virtual pro is tiered. The first level of upgrades can be earned on any difficulty level. The second level must be done on semi-pro (rookie in NHL I guess) or higher. The final level of accomplishments must be completed on world class difficulty (rough equivalent of all-star) or during online play.

It works fairly well with their system, as it limits how much you can improve your player but mindlessly beating up on the CPU on easier difficulties. But to tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind if they made it so everything had to be earned on world class+ or online. Anything to keep players more within normal attribute ranges, even if FIFA does a slightly better job of this than NHL.

Ah, thanks for correcting, Qb.

[Rudolph999]

They should bring back storymode.

[shdn21]

Not nearly good enough. For a mode that has been out for a few years now, some serious improvements need to be made in order to justify a new purchase each year. In regards to BAP, fans of this mode have been asking non stop for a more immersive experience like Madden had in one of it's releases. On the ice the game is great, off the ice it sucks huge... Boring. If there were things to do off the ice then this would re-invigorate this mode. Let's interact with an agent, the public and media. Make money actually worth something, and be able to sign sponsorship deals or whatever. Even have a persona to maintain. It's all been done before with Madden, why in the world has this not been not done yet long ago? I won't be buying another release of NHL until this happens.