NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

As long as the goalies don't seem to all be a mix of Jonathan Quick this year, Jean Sebastien Giguere the year Anaheim went to the finals, and Dominik Hasek in his prime to where it seems they're cheating to make saves, and most saves are made through great positioning, then I have no problem with good goaltending. I'm tired of seeing the whip shot from the faceoff circle and short side deke goal work so often due to goalies not knowing how to position themselves correctly and giving up the post side of the net. Make teams play hockey to score, not stupid shots.

Well it's either people complain about glitch goals, or they're going to complain the goalies are too good. At least for the offline game, sliders should be able to find some sort of middle ground. We'll have to wait and see how the online portion is tuned.

[ComaFaction]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

LOVE reading this! Scoring should be harder due to defensive AI, not uber-goalies.

Did you notice that scoring chances were hard to come by? But if you did have a legit chance to score, with a scorer, you could convert?

Exactly, hopefully the enhanced AI systems means that you can beat a goalie realistically from a good scoring chance.

[canucksss]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

thanks semipro for posting these exciting points. at least there's a hope now that player differential and sim-hockey will be present in NHL 13. im glad that EA is also working with presentations upgrade, but in all honesty, just player differentials and team strategies are in effect, for me its worth buying it.

please keep us salivating for more exciting and in case non-exciting news semipro

[Segagendude]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

Definitely says something when I'm more excited about this game than I am for Madden! Lol

[JamieLeeWV]

Was their a difference between goalie styles? i.e Brodeur's style is so unique does his actions reflect this in nhl 13?

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[bukktown]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

It's funny that you mention the AI. So when I got my hands on it the first thing I wanted to do was test skating with the puck. So I picked the puck up with Parise and circled behind my net in an attempt to " bobby Orr" it. Kopitar was first on the forecheck at about the right circle, I blew by him but immediately what noticed was how the AI responded to that. Brown was on th boards at about the blue line, as soon as I went around Kopitar to the outside brown instead of skating directly at me shifted a little to the center in an attempt to " bait" me into going between him and the boards. As soon as I did scuderi stepped up and destroyed me. It was AWESOME to see the AI react like that. I also wanted to mention how much better the goalies seemed. The stupid shortside deke didn't work on quick and I tried it 3 times.

Whoa dude!

Sounds too good to be true!

[Roggie]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

Well it's either people complain about glitch goals, or they're going to complain the goalies are too good. At least for the offline game, sliders should be able to find some sort of middle ground. We'll have to wait and see how the online portion is tuned.

No, if it's done right, it won't be either. Goalies should be properly positioned the majority of a time, but shouldn't be perfect. If they're out of position and a good player sees it, they should be able to score if they hit the mark they're aiming at. Finding the balance in how often/well goalies are positionally is the key. Just something realistic, where goalies don't all behave the same and play to their strengths.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

No, if it's done right, it won't be either. Goalies should be properly positioned the majority of a time, but shouldn't be perfect. If they're out of position and a good player sees it, they should be able to score if they hit the mark they're aiming at. Finding the balance in how often/well goalies are positionally is the key. Just something realistic, where goalies don't all behave the same and play to their strengths.

I meant more in general. I totally agree with that. Though easier said then done at 60fps, for what truly is the hardest sport to replicate in a video game. It'll be interesting to see some gameplay videos as we go along here, and the demo in August.

[Roggie]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

I meant more in general. I totally agree with that. Though easier said then done at 60fps, for what truly is the hardest sport to replicate in a video game. It'll be interesting to see some gameplay videos as we go along here, and the demo in August.

That I'll agree with. Never did I mean to hint that it should be easy for them to do. If it was easy, it'd be done already. EA might have to develop a new way for the goalie to position himself instead of using the puck/body as a marker. Easy to do? Heck no. If done right, though? A ridiculously good hockey game all around with the building blocks they've got with 12 and the new changes.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

That I'll agree with. Never did I mean to hint that it should be easy for them to do. If it was easy, it'd be done already. EA might have to develop a new way for the goalie to position himself instead of using the puck/body as a marker. Easy to do? Heck no. If done right, though? A ridiculously good hockey game all around with the building blocks they've got with 12 and the new changes.

I think alot of that rides on puck physics as well, I mean it's something that seems so simple, but the more realistic the puck is allow to flutter and bounce, and not be "suctioned" up by the goalie, you would think you'd see alot more sloppy goals just off of that alone.

I hear you though. Here's to hoping.

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

LOVE reading this! Scoring should be harder due to defensive AI, not uber-goalies.

Amen Money!

Yep...reading anything about the defensive AI being more aggressive towards the puck carrier is terrific news. The "Bobby Orr" statement by Semipro is very encouraging. For me anyway, the most stale thing about NHL is being able to do the "Bobby Orr" thing on each and every rush up ice. To have much more play between the blue lines and down behind the goal lines in '13', imo...would be a thing of beauty.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

Goalies need to have an organic feel to them. All games shouldn't be 2-1, 1-0, 3-2, etc.. which I see a lot in v11 and v12... some games goalies just are not on their game and weak goals should happen. There needs to be a balance and a feeling that each game is different from the one you just played. I hope all the new tweaks and skating engine finally produces that with the NHL series.

[bwiggy33]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

Goalies need to have an organic feel to them. All games shouldn't be 2-1, 1-0, 3-2, etc.. which I see a lot in v11 and v12... some games goalies just are not on their game and weak goals should happen. There needs to be a balance and a feeling that each game is different from the one you just played. I hope all the new tweaks and skating engine finally produces that with the NHL series.

Yep I fully agree. I'm not sure how they could program stuff like bad games and what not, but I know that this alone would increase the replay value of the game. There needs to be different dynamics that can play a factor. Things like back to backs, just random bad games (more for weaker goalies, less for great goalies), stamina, etc. Same goes for the players themselves. I'm sorry but even the best players in the league have bad nights. Not often, but they do. Something just needs to be programmed so we see a variety in games. My feeling with the game as it stands now is that a certain percentage of the time a shot will go in. That may just be how the game has to be programmed in order for the game to work, but I don't know since I'm not a programmer.

I just believe that any shot should have the possibility of going in, which right now it doesn't seem like it does. This is probably why we see so many of the same goals. I may be asking for way too much but it's just the way I see things as it currently stands. This alone would create many different types of games because you wouldn't know whether or not your goalie/player was going to have a bad game or not. It also would separate players because obviously the best players would play great the majority of the year and the middle to weaker players might have stretches where they play well, but then their game tapers off. It would also open up the possibility of players having an off year. These things would also play into setting lineups. Choosing when to play a scratched player or play the backup goalie. In NHL 12 you can honestly play your starting goalie every game and be fine unless he gets hurt.

Just a couple of ideas that just popped into my brain. I think it would be an extremely hard concept to program in the game but it would honestly put this game over the top. In fact if all they did for one development cycle is put some kind of logic like this in the game, I would consider it successful. It's probably not going to happen in this era of systems but just wishful thinking. Maybe EA will surprise the hell out of me and add in some type of dynamics like this for NHL 13. Sorry for the ramble

[ComaFaction]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

The first thing they need to do for that to happen is have the goalie ratings actually matter, as opposed to things like height being the primary factor for success. Once that happens, they could easily incorporate a consistency rating that acts as a randomizer before each game. Perhaps something like affecting the range of high and low for each goalie's rating and a lower CON causing the goalie to vary at a higher frequency.

[Fiddy]

Re: NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

touching on the goalies and glitch goals, i would love for the devs to code those certain hot spots where goals go in more times than not with a percentage of sorts. but with out telling us that.. say if player x tries that shot 12 times a game like most those jags do, he would be lucky to score 1 or 2 at the most.. the rest would be known by the goalie that its going to be saved automatically!! maybe that would make those jags mix up their game more etc.