No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

[FBeaule04]

There's time I feel like an idiot. I mean, to me, the ability to save a game offline and the custom season lenght are priorities, and I guess I'm not the only one.

On the other side, EA's working on things likes goalies fight (when fighting engine is a joke to begin with) and breaking glasses. They invest ressources and time in features that seems important for them.

Won't say my priorities are worth more than their priorities, but for god sake, how in the hell putting ressources so that you can have custom season and offline saving games ability are less important than gimmicks like those I mentionned just above.

Like I said, I'll continue to start with the premisse that I'm an idiot, so that's why my priorities are wrong! ;-)

[Dispatch]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

I'm sure there are valid reasons. But it's similar to not allowing the import of NCAA rookies in madden. (Not that I did that.) People want to play a certain way. If you had a full 30 user GM CCM you are talking about 2,460 games to be played. There has to be a better way. Sure you could sim games, but imagine if X team loses (star player) during a simmed game. Guys get mad, guys leave the CCM. I'm sure they had their reasons, but to say. No short season option, but hey you can sim games, to me comes off as wildly arrogant and indifferent to customer needs.

But I'm not a big NHL gamer so I can't claim to know how the masses feel.

You summed it up perfectly. People don't like to lose or face adversity. If something bad happens to their team, chances are they'll just leave.

[LuGer33]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

There's time I feel like an idiot. I mean, to me, the ability to save a game offline and the custom season lenght are priorities, and I guess I'm not the only one.

On the other side, EA's working on things likes goalies fight (when fighting engine is a joke to begin with) and breaking glasses. They invest ressources and time in features that seems important for them.

Won't say my priorities are worth more than their priorities, but for god sake, how in the hell putting ressources so that you can have custom season and offline saving games ability are less important than gimmicks like those I mentionned just above.

Like I said, I'll continue to start with the premisse that I'm an idiot, so that's why my priorities are wrong! ;-)

Well, I don't really agree with you (neither of these things are important to me) but to answer your question, they have to create new features they can market to sell the game. Are they going to have marketing / PR put together a trailer about shorter season lengths? Could "Now you can save a game offline!" be a back of the box feature that might catch someone's attention in Gamestop?

I agree these would be nice little additions, but as you said, EA has to allocate their relatively limited resources (NHL team is 1/3rd the size of FIFA) to what seems important to them...

[Simple Mathematics]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

Oh really, we can sim games?!?!?! Well, as Chris Farley once said as Matt Foley, "Well ladee-FREAKING-da!"

[NHLandPESFan]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

These are the choices that blow my mind. EA continues to take control away from the end user rather than have us tell them how we want to play our games, they tell us how they want us to play our game.

Very well said. It is my opinion that decisions like this is why their stock price continues to tank. EA's game in 09-10 was pretty good, but the last 2-3 years they have ruined the game. They ruined the EASHL with pay to win DLC and boosts and the Be a GM mode is still far behind 2k's NHL 2k8, which to refresh everyone's memory allows multiple user controlled teams in franchise mode and allows custom season length.

2k8 will be 5 years old this September (an eternity in video game time), it's absolutely pathetic that EA refuses to bring the franchise mode up to 2k8 standards, while adding other pay to win modes like Ultimate Team. I bought every EA NHL game from 1994-2011 and finally got fed up with the stagnation and didn't buy NHL 12, I won't be buying NHL 13 either.

[RealmK]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

Very well said. It is my opinion that decisions like this is why their stock price continues to tank. EA's game in 09-10 was pretty good, but the last 2-3 years they have ruined the game. They ruined the EASHL with pay to win DLC and boosts and the Be a GM mode is still far behind 2k's NHL 2k8, which to refresh everyone's memory allows multiple user controlled teams in franchise mode and allows custom season length.

2k8 will be 5 years old this September (an eternity in video game time), it's absolutely pathetic that EA refuses to bring the franchise mode up to 2k8 standards, while adding other pay to win modes like Ultimate Team. I bought every EA NHL game from 1994-2011 and finally got fed up with the stagnation and didn't buy NHL 12, I won't be buying NHL 13 either.

Ok I'll bite, does 2k8 have the real AHL? Real juniors? Does 2k8 have online team play and an actual club hockey league with prizes? I realize people don't like to look at things realistically but, what do people expect them to do with a budget and team size less than half of say a Madden or Fifa?

What are these 2k8 standards you're stating? If it's just "I can play any game on the schedule or set amount of games per season" you can keep it. I have never had the desire to play other teams games in a gm mode, just my own.

NHL13 is stagnant? Have you missed the new skating engine and AI? How about multiplayer GM mode with up to 700 people per franchise setup? Ability to coach, or just GM? Among other improvements.

OH NOES SKY IS FALLING I Can't change how many games a season is!

[hollywood_cpm]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

I love threads like this...

Most of the time people bitch and moan about, "this" isn't realistic. Why don't they put "this" in, it's part of real life. I want it to be as authentic as possible to the real NHL.

Then they cry foul over not being able to play a shortened - unrealistic mind you - schedule!

Listen if you just want to play 25 games with some buddies then GM Connect probably isn't for you. And who cares if you have to sim a few games. Not a world ender. PLUS I highly doubt most people will be playing in a 30GM league, so how hard is it to pound out a few games against the computer in one night. 82 games will probably 2-3 months tops for most people. Easy enough to go 5 years deep into the dynasty elements.

[bonannogiovanni]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

There's time I feel like an idiot. I mean, to me, the ability to save a game offline and the custom season lenght are priorities, and I guess I'm not the only one.

On the other side, EA's working on things likes goalies fight (when fighting engine is a joke to begin with) and breaking glasses. They invest ressources and time in features that seems important for them.

Won't say my priorities are worth more than their priorities, but for god sake, how in the hell putting ressources so that you can have custom season and offline saving games ability are less important than gimmicks like those I mentionned just above.

Like I said, I'll continue to start with the premisse that I'm an idiot, so that's why my priorities are wrong! ;-)

Then count me in, I'm an idiot too.

[dukebeatsuncagain]

How can you consider your gameplay style "Sim", if you do not "Sim? I think simming games tests your team building and managing skills. Full seasons are the true test. They are long for a reason. The well put together teams with talent and good coaching rise to the top and the teams that go on lucky streaks eventually fall to the way side.

For example my favorite team, (different sports I know) the Cleveland Indians.

[Cardot]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

How can you consider your gameplay style "Sim", if you do not "Sim? I think simming games tests your team building and managing skills. Full seasons are the true test. They are long for a reason. The well put together teams with talent and good coaching rise to the top and the teams that go on lucky streaks eventually fall to the way side.

So along those lines, should 20 minute periods be the only option for game length?

[FBeaule04]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

Well, I don't really agree with you (neither of these things are important to me) but to answer your question, they have to create new features they can market to sell the game. Are they going to have marketing / PR put together a trailer about shorter season lengths? Could "Now you can save a game offline!" be a back of the box feature that might catch someone's attention in Gamestop?

I agree these would be nice little additions, but as you said, EA has to allocate their relatively limited resources (NHL team is 1/3rd the size of FIFA) to what seems important to them...

You know what hurts the most in what you're saying? It's the way it works and there's absolute no appreciation whatsoever for the customers who gave the chance to EA to be what it is now.

I don't know how many $$$ I've put in this company by buying their product, and in the end, ressources that could be use to say : "Thank you to our long time customer who had save games possibility on the freaking Genesis, that they can enjoy it now on the 360 in 2012!"

Nah, it's far more important to find something that will attract the eye. Hey, how many person will walk into Gamestop and say : "Oh, I might pick up NHL even if I like hockey as more I like dragster race, but the fact I can now fight with the goalie is worth 60$."

I wish I was liking shooting everything that moves around instead of sports. Because if it was the case, EA would be sent packing and eat their shorts instead of my money.

Nothing personal against you Luger, but I've really try not to see EA as a milking machine, but right now, my t*ts are a bit sensitive...

[RealmK]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

You know what hurts the most in what you're saying? It's the way it works and there's absolute no appreciation whatsoever for the customers who gave the chance to EA to be what it is now.

I don't know how many $$$ I've put in this company by buying their product, and in the end, ressources that could be use to say : "Thank you to our long time customer who had save games possibility on the freaking Genesis, that they can enjoy it now on the 360 in 2012!"

Nah, it's far more important to find something that will attract the eye. Hey, how many person will walk into Gamestop and say : "Oh, I might pick up NHL even if I like hockey as more I like dragster race, but the fact I can now fight with the goalie is worth 60$."

I wish I was liking shooting everything that moves around instead of sports. Because if it was the case, EA would be sent packing and eat their shorts instead of my money.

Nothing personal against you Luger, but I've really try not to see EA as a milking machine, but right now, my t*ts are a bit sensitive...

Think you're taking it a bit too personal. It's not like they don't listen to us. Otherwise we wouldn't have a new skating engine or GM Connected at all. They tend to add features that the community asks for the most. But they are a business at the same time.

[FBeaule04]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

Think you're taking it a bit too personal. It's not like they don't listen to us. Otherwise we wouldn't have a new skating engine or GM Connected at all. They tend to add features that the community asks for the most. But they are a business at the same time.

No, I don't take it too personal Realm, I just spoke for myself since I didn't want to speak for others. :-)

I know they are adding things every year and try to make the game better. It's not like EA's game are pure sh*t. They are good sports game overall, but with flagrant bugs, glitches and ommissions that makes me, a customer that is always asking for attention to details, shake my head.

I know there listening to the community, but in the end, they listen to their fish swimming outside the water more than the fish already in the tank. I mean, it's not like I'm asking them a new feature that would take tons of hour. Saving game while in progress is offered in every game except in EA's sports game, and it was there with the game for many years.

Outside that, I fully understand that EA Sports is now a monster with many heads and that the name of the game is selling copies. FIFA doesn't have to think about that, soccer is a global game, while hockey is regional.

If fairly honest, with the budget and ressources they have comparing with FIFA, Tiger, Madden and NCAA, NHL games are by far the best product for the ressources allowed on the sports market. I should keep that in mind in the end.

[Vikes1]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

If fairly honest, with the budget and ressources they have comparing with FIFA, Tiger, Madden and NCAA, NHL games are by far the best product for the ressources allowed on the sports market.

Imo, a very good point, FB.

While a limited budget compared to other games shouldn't imo be used as an excuse for every shortcoming of NHL...but I do certainly agree NHL's budget is something that really should be considered.

And yep FB I agree...the NHL team does imo too, do a pretty darn good job of things with what they seem to have to work with budget wise. I can't claim to know what that budget is compared to the other titles. But I think it is a pretty safe guess it is quite a bit less than the games you mentioned.

[RealmK]

Re: No Shorter Season Option in NHL 13 GM Connected Mode, But You Can Sim Games

No, I don't take it too personal Realm, I just spoke for myself since I didn't want to speak for others. :-)

I know they are adding things every year and try to make the game better. It's not like EA's game are pure sh*t. They are good sports game overall, but with flagrant bugs, glitches and ommissions that makes me, a customer that is always asking for attention to details, shake my head.

I know there listening to the community, but in the end, they listen to their fish swimming outside the water more than the fish already in the tank. I mean, it's not like I'm asking them a new feature that would take tons of hour. Saving game while in progress is offered in every game except in EA's sports game, and it was there with the game for many years.

Outside that, I fully understand that EA Sports is now a monster with many heads and that the name of the game is selling copies. FIFA doesn't have to think about that, soccer is a global game, while hockey is regional.

If fairly honest, with the budget and ressources they have comparing with FIFA, Tiger, Madden and NCAA, NHL games are by far the best product for the ressources allowed on the sports market. I should keep that in mind in the end.

I hear you. It would be amazing if NHL were given the budget of Madden, I believe all those reoccurring issues might be addressed at that point, and at a quicker pace. I'll be the first person to admit as someone who's defended the series quite a bit since the reboot, that I too felt they somewhat coasted the last couple years. But not being a fly on the wall at EAC, I'm sure there's reasons for it.

We haven't heard from Littman at all this year, or really since he was moved to the NBA Elite failed reboot, Dean is back as well, so I really wonder if there wasn't a bit of team shuffling done at EAC on this particular sku over the last year or two that might explain why the game stagnated a bit. Not that it's an excuse than anyone would care about outside of those who have a interest in the industry itself as a whole outside of just the games themselves.

I'd love to see mid game saves or the ability to set season length for those that would use it. Things like that. Those little things that people ask for every year that still haven't made their way into the product.

I honestly think, and this is obviously without playing the game yet, that this year might mark the largest jump this title has had since the 07 reboot. When you add all the components together, the new skating, GM Connected, the new AI and CPU logic (GM Brain) Strategies etc. If all of these revamps work as advertised, even if they're not totally what we, the hardcore fans would like to see, (no custom sliders/rosters in GM connected for example) It's still going to be a major improvement than what we've gotten the last couple years.

I know it's easy to get frustrated with the lack of progress, I do too. At the least I have a ton of respect for guys like you and bwiggy who voice it constructively and who actually want to discuss things rather than flame and argue.