EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

[SunrisePoultry]

Let me start off by giving you guys a little history so I don't come off as a "troll", "flamer", or whatever other internet names are being lobbied around these days. Yes, I signed up an account on Operation Sports just to get this across. I am from Vancouver, and I love hockey. I went to the EA building in Burnaby a few times to game test for NHL 08 and NHL 09 and have been a huge fan of this series since the glory days of NHL '94 for the Genesis. Lately the best thing about the NHL series for me has been the EASHL, which allows you to create a team online and play against other user created teams, at the same time upgrading your guy somewhat like an RPG so that he progressively gets better stats as you play more games and win. After playing this mode it was really hard for me to go back to the single player GM Mode, which I still have done every season prior to 2 years ago. I purchased this game on launch day (09/11/12) and I'm going to be selling it tomorrow (09/14/12) - EA has managed to suck everything that's fun about the online mode and then wrapped it into the most frustrating gaming experience I can recall in recent years. Here's why:

• You start off with absolutely horrible stats. It doesn't matter how you slice it, it's barely even playable - constantly missing passes, taking way too long to turn around and skate...it seriously feels like the guy I created is not a rookie but rather he actually doesn't even know how to play the game of hockey and is skating for the first time. Which leads to...
• It's not fun. And the proof I have is that last year I introduced two new friends to start playing EASHL instead of the regular GM or Season Modes since they weren't used to playing online, telling them "you HAVE to try this!!" - they were hooked right away and were huge contributors to our team. This year not only are the veterans constantly complaining about how everything is so sluggish and unplayable, but so are the rookies too, one of which just before I wrote this told me he's going back to GM Mode because "this sucks". It was the complete opposite experience of last year.
• The last point was the nail in the coffin for me, but it's clearly the biggest one. This game makes me feel like the message from EA was this: if I didn't spend MS Points right away for booster packs, then it's going to be a long, hard, difficult way to the top. We just beat a team 3-0 and during the last 30 seconds in the 3rd period they decided to quit. Last year this would result in a W and would help us progress out guy to the next level...this year it doesn't count at all! Are you kidding me?!How are we penalized for them leaving?? This has happened 4 times in 15 games and those are 4 W's we earned that were nullified because of this stupid decision made for reasons I can't seem to understand.

I've stuck by this franchise through this whole generation of gaming. Lockout or no lockout the NHL series was where it was at. Now I know that this doesn't apply to everyone, that a lot of people still will play the GM Mode, Versus Online match ups or even just indulge in the single player experience and really just have to get used to the new skating physics. But for anyone out there playing EASHL and is sharing the same kind of frustrations, or even if you're not, I would love to hear your impressions on the changes they made to this year's edition. This will be the first time I've abandoned the franchise before, but they've butchered this mode beyond belief. I'm not going to spend 150+ games to finally just make the game fun to play, it's truly a shame, EA...

[Marv_Levy]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

I agree me and my friends can't win at all. The only way for us to get better is to win games to level up. Winning games is insanely hard because our crappu 55ovr players are clearly playing against people who bought stats via the boosters. They skate circles around us, out skate us on break a ways, they are triple deeking "we can't even deek without a high risk of a give away" they can pass at full speed and catch the puck at full speed " we can't control passes of such speeds, they can aim there shots way better, and the worst part is we can't get better because the only way to get XP is by winning games for the 3rd challenge. How about just getting xp for actually playing. Not this stupid set up that basically makes people buy the boosters "
EASHL XP is earned by completing three statistical challenges: games played, grades and wins."

Let the babies who buy there way to glory play with other babies. let the people who enjoy not powering up play with other people who play without emptying there wallets....

[JezFranco]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

I'm not playing NHL online at all, but I feel with you.

It seems like a really unethical choice from EA to basically force players to buy boost packs to be able to play and enjoy.

This is a way to make money for EA, but really if it is as bad as you say I understand your will to trade it in.
Anyone willing to spend extra money on a game should of course be rewarded in someway... but those choosing not to, shouldn't be punished.

[SE7ENTEE]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

I agree with some of the thoughts you have mentioned. However, I suggest you keep playing EASHL as its true colors come out through more gameplay. Our team HATED the start of 50 overall with the slow skating, inaccurate passes, etc etc. My EASHL player is now at pro 2 with boosts unlocked through gameplay. I contemplated buying a boost pack, but instead I decided to unlock the boosts/slots by playing the game. It's actually not that bad since a lot of the slots are unlocked as your player card develops. My player is a 63 overall and there is already a HUGE difference from the initial build, which makes gameplay waaaay fun. In my opinion, the initial experience is similar to the previous NHL games. It starts off slow, but once you get your pro or vet card it gets significantly more fun.


Keep in mind that the gameplay has significantly changed to. People are still getting used to the skating AND the poke checks. Unlike previous NHL games, gone are the days where a player can deke through a whole team without getting poked (unless the team is really bad at defense). EA is trying to instill a cycling game. If you play hockey the way it's supposed to be played, it's very rewarding. However, Im not saying your team doesn't play that way. I do think that the pokes are somewhat too effective at times, which does frustrate a lot of people. Maybe that's one thing that EA can slightly change.

As for people complaining about the uneven playing field....the game just came out. It doesn't matter if people pay for boosts, it's not really considered cheating because everyone will get boosts through playing. Most of the slots are unlocked when you get new cards. I got my pro card in a couple days. Quit otp games, played otp games, played some club games. Not that hard. I suggest that people play otp games and level up their guy first.

Anyways, I can truly relate to your feelings with the initial gameplay. But it's been way more fun now that my player is leveling up.

[jyoung]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

All of your player ratings problem will be solved in a few weeks if you just keep playing the game.

Or if you want to speed up the unlocking process, you can go through a 40-game season of offline Be A Pro, which will get you most of the boosts you need.

It only took me about 2 or 3 days to finish an offline season since I was just playing the last 5 minutes of every game.

[Levesque7]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

I disagree with everything.

I was able to get my player up to respectable levels within 2 days. And I don't play that much.

Also, the comment you made about not getting a Win for someone quitting anymore is totally false. I have had at least 5 wins that way already.

[ROABS]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

As others have said just give your player some time to get more xp and you will have fun. my player is a 64 and its a huge difference from when i first started last friday with the early release. A friend i play with has a boost pack that came with his game and he said his play maker is a 69 with the pack so overall its pretty much the same deal as last year since those packs made you 80 overall. One thing that helped my player was putting alot of xp into on offense was puck posession (control?) hand eye and offensive awareness. Those three attributes will help you grab the puck alot easier on offense and also when going for a loose puck.

as for the people quitting out that sucks and i dont know why they dont just make it so the team who leaves loses 3-0 like before.

[Levesque7]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

as for the people quitting out that sucks and i dont know why they dont just make it so the team who leaves loses 3-0 like before.

They did make it that way. It's exactly the same.

[ROABS]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

They did make it that way. It's exactly the same.

thats good to hear then. ive only played drop in games up to this point.

[guitarDADDY1208]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

I have found a lot of good gamers on Operation Sports, and most of them play a good sim style game, now NHL 13 is the first hockey game outside of NHL 98 that I have played so I have a learning curve of about 14 years, but you could say 28yrs since I've never even watched a hockey game. I bought the game because a lot of my friends who I game with the most on XBL all play NHL. The only reason I'm chiming in on this subject is because it is appalling to see people constantly complain about a game and say it's "broken" because its hard to win or they start off losing more than they are used to. Again I am very new to this sport so I use my knowledge of other sports to help, I know that the only way to win is to score more points than the opposition so in NHL I play defense, I do not expect to ever score a goal until I get my speed rating up so until then I allow my teammates who control the wings and center position handle the offensive side of the ice while I hang back beyond the blue line to leave myself in a better position when the puck comes the other way. Using this method our squad was able to win a game last night against a team that had already reached Elite status and had both players on the wing at 80 overall, the final score was 1-0 and we had scored our goal early. So just play the game and quit complaining. The real reason games come out and features appear broken is because of the constant griping from the consumers, use NCAA 13 for example in past games people complained about how hard it was to throw the deep pass, now we have "broken" coverages and too many big plays downfield in the passing game. When you complain that a game is too hard then the next year it will be ridiculously easy, when the game is too easy the next year it will be nearly impossible. I apologize for the rant but it just seems like nobody is ever gonna be satisfied with a game, maybe a lot of people should just stop playing video games all together.

[kerosene31]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

Our EASHL team quit and this year we are hitting GM online mode exclusively and I think that is the best choice for us. The EASHL turns into World of Warcraft. Those with more free time to play get better.

Too many people are doing things just to level up. Last year we ran into a ton of high rated players in the first weeks and I asked them how they did it. Did they buy boosts or something else? It turns out the secret is to play be a pro offline, but put the difficulty on the easiest setting and play the minimum 4 games (or whatever is needed) to get boosts. You're pretty much guaranteed to be the best player at the position on the easiest level.

Stuff like that isn't fun to me and not fun to compete against.

I wish they made a league where everyone was just in the 80-ish level range.

[m-dogg]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

I wouldn't throw in the towel yet. I actually can't agree with the original post, as this year is pretty different. My team never buys the boosts, and we unlock them all from online EASHL play -- which yes, can take some time. but we are having a blast, no trouble scoring, and have an very good record right now...mainly because you can finally play like real hockey and win.

I'm sure this will change eventually when the legend3 cards are combined with the most exploitable builds and glitch shots are discovered -- but so far this is the best this mode has ever been. we face much faster, danglier teams...but luckily they just try the same garbage from last year and we can beat them soundly with great puck movement, defense, and involving all 5 players (even the AI is useful this year).

I do wish the boosts could not be used over the caps, imagine if 81-85 was the top for every attribute? this mode would be a dream. but I give EA a ton of credit for cleaning up a LOT of the online issues that has plagued this mode for years. keep playing, we need as many hockey purists as possible online!

[Gerg04]

Our EASHL team quit and this year we are hitting GM online mode exclusively and I think that is the best choice for us. The EASHL turns into World of Warcraft. Those with more free time to play get better.

Question. Is it true you can play on the same team as a buddy in their Be a GM from separate houses?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Gerg04]

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Meaning he's online at his house, im online at mine. That'd be SICK. they need to make vs that way.


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[desi08]

Re: EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

no one mentioned the real issue here. it is not buying boost packs, but boosting players by making private online team play rooms, using one guy as fodder to be the goalie on the opposite team and then giving up goals. The other team wins, and ranks up. People will find ways to mess the system up.