NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

[canucksss]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Overhaul Blog

I disagree.. the game has become very stale for me. The amount of work they seem to have put in this year beats the last few years by a mile.

lets accept it..EA admit that they spent more time now in the AI this year as compared in the past. as mizzou mentioned...this game went downhill for me after 2009, specially in 2012..a complete waste of my hard-earned money. hopefully....HOPEFULLy...they will come through and meet expectations this year. OR AT LEAST prove that they were dead serious will all these improvements and new AI they are heavily promoting.

BRING ON THE DEMO

[The Amaizen Blue]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

I got a couple chills watching the NYI/Nashville bit.

[Retropyro]

I think this is the opposite of what MMChris had in his article yesterday about Madden and how the dev team seems to have no longer-term plan and each dumps features and seems to start over.

The last couple years have seen the NHL series only make minor tweaks and changes, but they have been on a path towards something and this year is looking like it's going to be the payoff.

[RM938]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

Question for those who are educated on the topic:

Does anyone know if they can combine licenses with other EA Sports games?

Example: If Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles stadium) was used for a Winter Classic game, could they get the rights from Madden and use the name in NHL series?

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

I think this is the opposite of what MMChris had in his article yesterday about Madden and how the dev team seems to have no longer-term plan and each dumps features and seems to start over.

The last couple years have seen the NHL series only make minor tweaks and changes, but they have been on a path towards something and this year is looking like it's going to be the payoff.

Yeah, but what the Madden dev team does and what the NHL team does are completely different. Just because both are EA Sports doesn't mean all have the same agenda.

As far as making major improvements every year in a sports title, that's just unrealistic thinking. Improvements we're seeing in NHL 13 take time to properly implement

[ucas005]

Maybe I missed it, but what does "Customize AI NEW" mean on the menu screen. 1:16

[scottyp180]

Yeah, the game to me looks so much crisper. Some of those shots on goal look like a real live broadcast to me.

yeah both the replays and the broadcast camera made the game looks very realistic; the great animations also had a lot to do with it. Love how the players race down the ice this year, makes the look faster and look as if they are actually putting effort into getting down the ice.

[Retropyro]

Yeah, but what the Madden dev team does and what the NHL team does are completely different. Just because both are EA Sports doesn't mean all have the same agenda.

As far as making major improvements every year in a sports title, that's just unrealistic thinking. Improvements we're seeing in NHL 13 take time to properly implement

That was kind of my point. EA Canada has an agenda and Tiburon so far has not.

My point about the small changes to the NHL series each year leading up to some pretty major changes this was more about people who have criticized the NHL series since NHL 10 as being stale.

People seem to be knocking them for saying they have put more time into the AI this year than the previous 3. Not thinking that this has been planned out.

[Panicshade]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

I havent't bought an EA NHL game in years so I went ahead and pre-ordered this at Amazon.

I look forward to you all beating me online...lol

[I3RIS3H]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

Last year was the biggest disappointment I've ever had with an EA hockey game. This year looks like it has 12 beaten by miles.

[Segagendude]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

Wowza. I was just happy with some of the changes, now I'm ecstatic!!
Looks phenominal! Is this their "3 year plan" coming to fruition??

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

Count me among those impressed. If this is the last great innovative cycle for this generation of console games, it looks like EA Canada is putting in some serious effort.

I have a question that any of you who know more about production schedules on these games might be able to answer. I'm guessing that these improvements weren't just worked on this last calendar year and that at least some have been in the works for a while, but due to deadlines, the development team had to push them off to refine and get them right. Am I correct in this?

I mean, I like NHL '12, but the improvements were incremental compared to what looks like is coming out next month. Were they working on these additions last year too and it just took 2-3 years in the cycle to get it ready for the public?

More than likely they were. The NHL team tends to try and not push a feature or update through to retail unless it's 100% satisfactory to their liking on implementation. I'm just about 99.9% positive the skating engine and more than likely Hockey IQ was more than just a single dev cycle worth of work.

[BobSacamano]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

Tiny little thing that makes me super happy (from the EA blog):

"Users can also now select multiple gameplay cameras as their shootout and penalty shot camera."

THAAAAAAAAAANK YOU. I hated the shootout camera. The lack of depth perception was maddening.

[Qb]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

I have a question that any of you who know more about production schedules on these games might be able to answer. I'm guessing that these improvements weren't just worked on this last calendar year and that at least some have been in the works for a while, but due to deadlines, the development team had to push them off to refine and get them right. Am I correct in this?

I mean, I like NHL '12, but the improvements were incremental compared to what looks like is coming out next month. Were they working on these additions last year too and it just took 2-3 years in the cycle to get it ready for the public?

I was told at the NHL11 community event that they were just starting to work on presentation improvements, including moving towards real-time presentation replacing canned cutscenes. So in that case, yes, it's been in the works for a while.

I can't say for certain about some of the other big items, but it stands to reason things like GM Connected, Hockey IQ, and the skating overhaul were (at least to some degree) developed over more than just the past nine or so months. My theory, and it is very much conjecture, is that they wanted to introduce True Performance Skating for NHL12, but weren't satisfied with it and ultimately decided to hold off on it. They used the same "it will change the way you play the game" line briefly to hype an upcoming announcement, revealing only the legends after that.

[Qb]

Re: NHL 13 Presentation Video and Blog

Hard to pinpoint which part is the most exciting, as everything from the new menus to RTP between plays will really give the game a new look/feel. I think the lighting upgrades could be huge, as the game has looked somewhat cartoonish, most likely due to the lack of certain shadows as they said. I know MLB The Show's lighting upgrades made a considerable difference in overall graphical appearance, so let's hope this has a big impact as well.

The new replay/highlight analysis, camera angles, and additional commentary are welcome additions as well. Can't wait to make my OTP teammates sit through my "net front presence" highlight package.

And one more thing... TRUE BROADCAST CAMERA.