NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

[SVCbearcat10]

I think the days of multiple titles for a given sport is over. Games are getting too expensive to make for their to be more than 1 game. Splitting the sells may result in a lose, lose sutiuation for both companies involved.

Also, I think sports games may have a smaller fan base than other games. People who love sports typically play sports or are more active, which means less time for video games. I think the dreams of competition for these annual sports releases won't ever be answered.

NHL is the only game around because it was the only game that was good. They took off last gen while 2k, for example, couldn't figure it out. They were great on Xbox/PS2, but totally sucked on 360/PS3.

[Gerg04]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I think the days of multiple titles for a given sport is over. Games are getting too expensive to make for their to be more than 1 game. Splitting the sells may result in a lose, lose sutiuation for both companies involved.

Also, I think sports games may have a smaller fan base than other games. People who love sports typically play sports or are more active, which means less time for video games. I think the dreams of competition for these annual sports releases won't ever be answered.

NHL is the only game around because it was the only game that was good. They took off last gen while 2k, for example, couldn't figure it out. They were great on Xbox/PS2, but totally sucked on 360/PS3.

I agree with you that sports, especially hockey has a lesser following than most games. However if a developer believes it can make and sell a solid product there's no way they don't make a game bc it costs too much or are worried about splitting sales. Think of the sheer number of FPS games that are/have been on the market. Apples to oranges as far as genre yes, but same principle.

A bad game is a bad game, see MLB and NHL 2k series (imo). The sales dictated it and now they don't make those games anymore. And come on man, gamers are gamers. Whether they play the sport in real life or not. Look at how many pro's play their respective sports games and video games in general. While I agree sports games (hockey especially) find it difficult to find the huge followings other games have, I don't think that was a fair assessment.

Besides absolutely flooding thr market, I can't ever see a scenario where more of the same sports titles is a bad thing. We as gamers should welcome more choices and deserve to see the competition to push theses devs to want to make THEIR game better than the other guys game. And if that leads to a clear winner and the other guy closing shop, so be it. Without competition we see the same rehashed stuff over and over. Need variety, creativity, the drive to be different and better. And these companies, namely EA, have become far too complacent and comfortable giving us the same stuff.

But, it is what it is. They sell, we buy. We should only hope to see other companies venture to share their ideas with us and give us options.

/rant

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[Nwo4Life75]

I guess EA must have pulled the video from you guys! I couldn't view it! That sucks! I hope Operation Sports isn't in trouble for leaking the footage : - (

[Nwo4Life75]

I guess EA must have pulled the video from you guys! I couldn't view it! That sucks! I hope Operation Sports isn't in trouble for leaking the footage : - (

[gabbers895]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I guess EA must have pulled the video from you guys! I couldn't view it! That sucks! I hope Operation Sports isn't in trouble for leaking the footage : - (

It wasn't on Operation Sports, its just a link to a youtube video.

[SpectralThundr]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I agree with you that sports, especially hockey has a lesser following than most games. However if a developer believes it can make and sell a solid product there's no way they don't make a game bc it costs too much or are worried about splitting sales. Think of the sheer number of FPS games that are/have been on the market. Apples to oranges as far as genre yes, but same principle.

A bad game is a bad game, see MLB and NHL 2k series (imo). The sales dictated it and now they don't make those games anymore. And come on man, gamers are gamers. Whether they play the sport in real life or not. Look at how many pro's play their respective sports games and video games in general. While I agree sports games (hockey especially) find it difficult to find the huge followings other games have, I don't think that was a fair assessment.

Besides absolutely flooding thr market, I can't ever see a scenario where more of the same sports titles is a bad thing. We as gamers should welcome more choices and deserve to see the competition to push theses devs to want to make THEIR game better than the other guys game. And if that leads to a clear winner and the other guy closing shop, so be it. Without competition we see the same rehashed stuff over and over. Need variety, creativity, the drive to be different and better. And these companies, namely EA, have become far too complacent and comfortable giving us the same stuff.

But, it is what it is. They sell, we buy. We should only hope to see other companies venture to share their ideas with us and give us options.

/rant

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Here's the thing in regards to 2k that I've never understood. People act like 2k is this small little indy company. They're not, I think people often forget how long Taketwo Interactive has been around and what they own for IP. Multibillion sellers like the Grand Theft Auto series, like the Civilization series, Borderlands, etc etc etc.

If TakeTwo seriously wanted to challenge EA in the sports realm, they certainly have the resources to do so. Thing is they have no desire to, and I have no doubt in my mind if EA puts the effort into NBA Live and in the long run it ends up as good or better than NBA2k, that series too will go the way of the dodo.

[Robo COP]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

Sort of random thought pertinent to the discussion on the topic about multiple sports titles and gaming and whatnot:

I just read an article that said that companies in the console business are actually losing money. Microsoft has even flirted with the idea of selling their xbox division. Gaming is going more towards the smart phone route. I think that micro transactions that are going into every game now, as much as we may hate them as gamers, are helping to save the console gaming market.

Anyway, on the topic of multiple sports titles competing. Competition can do nothing but help the overall quality of the product. The firm has to put out a superior product if they hope to make money. It's the reason why you don't see 2k making an NHL game. They haven't been able to put out a higher quality product than EA and therefore are not able to turn a profit, so why try unless you know you can make that push?

However, the possibility of competition is at least some sort of driving force to continue to innovate and keep putting out a better quality game (as well as making sure their customers come back for more obviously). But in the instance of an NHL game, EA knows that if they severely drop the ball 2K (or another company I suppose) could then make their push into the market, so they have to keep trying to improve their game year after year.

You don't have to look any further than EA to see what happens to a sports title when there is no competition. Since they have their deal with the NFL madden games have become absolutely atrocious. They're ruining the game of football that I have loved all my life in the debacle of a game they put out every year. But that is another story. And obviously the NFL is so big that they are still making plenty of money off their game to justify continuing their deal. That deal, while obviously very beneficial to EA and the NFL, is horrendous for the consumer of sports video games. But they're making more money, so why wouldn't they do it? I know I would if that were the case.

So anyway, I went on a tangent their at the end. In closing I just want to say that while the market can seem to only support the success of one game (as the inferior product just stops being made) the fact that their is still potential for competition definitely still helps out in the game progressing forward. As long as EA doesn't strike up a deal with the NHL I think it is safe to say that they will continue to at least improve on the game.

EDIT: That's one thing that I have liked about the NHL team at EA. They are continuously building on their foundation and improving that. They don't come out with new ratings or new features in the game only to remove them a year or two later rather than trying to perfect them. (I'm sure there are some cases of this, but madden does that about 53 times every day or so. Exaggeration, I know...can you tell I'm bitter?)

DOUBLE EDIT: Really looking back at the history of the whole Madden/NFL2K5 thing, if I am not mistaken, I think 2K made its push to become more of a contender in the market because they sold their game for like half price (actually I think it was $20). So being the cheaper alternative they were able to grab a fan base like that. I'm sure EA took a dip in sales and realized they needed to do something, and the rest is history.

So maybe we should hope that 2K doesn't come out with a legitimate contender on the market anytime soon haha. Might just lead us into the dark ages of hockey gaming

[jaateloauto]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I've asked this before, specifically to bwiggy but never actually get a response, what good is goalie animations if the AI is so ******** it couldn't stop a puck the size of a beach ball? NHL2k8 has to be one of the most over rated sports games in the history of sports games on a user level. The game was garbage, as was 2k10.

It's funny for how much complaining EA's AI gets, 2k gets a pass.

You've fundamentally misunderstood 2K's approach to hockey which is why people are praising the goalies and think it's still better than what EA has.

EA's approach has always been "catch every puck, whatever goes in is a glitch that our animations didn't account for".

2K's approach was "if you create a great chance, you can score even if you don't do the glitch wrister/deke at the right angle at the right second".

It made for a realistic and fun experience. In online versus and online leagues 2K still has EA NHL beat in terms of the gameplay experience. The only reason I bother with EA NHL is 6v6 EASHL. Otherwise it's a cold, heartless experience of glitch shots and artificial momentum.

[SpectralThundr]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

You've fundamentally misunderstood 2K's approach to hockey which is why people are praising the goalies and think it's still better than what EA has.

EA's approach has always been "catch every puck, whatever goes in is a glitch that our animations didn't account for".

2K's approach was "if you create a great chance, you can score even if you don't do the glitch wrister/deke at the right angle at the right second".

It made for a realistic and fun experience. In online versus and online leagues 2K still has EA NHL beat in terms of the gameplay experience. The only reason I bother with EA NHL is 6v6 EASHL. Otherwise it's a cold, heartless experience of glitch shots and artificial momentum.

I'm sorry but that's a line of junk. NHL goalies, if they can see the puck, 9 out of 10 times they're going to stop it. Not in 2k's game however, either the goalie will flop for the sake of a pretty oooh ahh animation or they'll glitch and warp out of position and let what should be routine saves turn into goals.

It very well may be it's a completely different experience online with EA's game, as I've said before I play 100% offline in GM mode and I have zero issue scoring when I have a good chance, be it from working the puck around and letting screens and deflections occur, or on a break or odd man. All on superstar which according to some is AI cheat heaven.

[jaateloauto]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I'm sorry but that's a line of junk. NHL goalies, if they can see the puck, 9 out of 10 times they're going to stop it. Not in 2k's game however, either the goalie will flop for the sake of a pretty oooh ahh animation or they'll glitch and warp out of position and let what should be routine saves turn into goals.

Yeah, that doesn't happen. Great chances often lead to goals, they're not saved 9 times out of 10. The main point in hockey is to keep the opponent from getting to good scoring opportunities. Maybe you like to play with casual sliders but that's not what happened in 2K hockey if you set the game up correctly.

It very well may be it's a completely different experience online with EA's game, as I've said before I play 100% offline in GM mode and I have zero issue scoring when I have a good chance, be it from working the puck around and letting screens and deflections occur, or on a break or odd man. All on superstar which according to some is AI cheat heaven.

Online is all I care about, I have no interest in facing the completely awful EA AI that has no idea how to play hockey.

Sort of random thought pertinent to the discussion on the topic about multiple sports titles and gaming and whatnot:

I just read an article that said that companies in the console business are actually losing money. Microsoft has even flirted with the idea of selling their xbox division. Gaming is going more towards the smart phone route. I think that micro transactions that are going into every game now, as much as we may hate them as gamers, are helping to save the console gaming market.

Xbox division has always been a loss for Microsoft since it's inception. Core gaming isn't going to suddenly go "smart phone route", nobody who likes to play games on a console or a PC is going to suddenly stop doing it so they can stare at a small screen with their hands in the way you silly person.

The mobile market is made up of entirely different set of gamers. And 99% of the revenue in mobilie comes from free to play garbage that are specifically built around microtransactions that you wouldn't hope on your worst enemy.

Anyway, on the topic of multiple sports titles competing. Competition can do nothing but help the overall quality of the product. The firm has to put out a superior product if they hope to make money. It's the reason why you don't see 2k making an NHL game. They haven't been able to put out a higher quality product than EA and therefore are not able to turn a profit, so why try unless you know you can make that push?

The yearly grind makes it difficult for two or more companies to compete on the same sport game. If you only have a year to improve it then you need a big team to get anything done which is going to cost a lot and you're still not going to make a lot of results in a year.

Being the worse of than your competitors can easily become a self-replicating cycle. Worse sales mean you have less money to spend next year and that means the game will probably again be worse than the competitors which in turn in many cases lead to the competitor dying out.

[SpectralThundr]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

Yeah, that doesn't happen. Great chances often lead to goals, they're not saved 9 times out of 10. The main point in hockey is to keep the opponent from getting to good scoring opportunities. Maybe you like to play with casual sliders but that's not what happened in 2K hockey if you set the game up correctly.

Just out of curiosity how much real NHL hockey do you actually watch? You can try all the sliders in the world with NHL2k10, the AI can't even manage to perform a proper break out. Get the puck in your own end, the rest of your team is already zipping past center ice, including the D pairing. That isn't real hockey. On defense the AI can't even play positionally, it's too busy buzzing around trying to play bumper car hockey, sliders do not fix this The AI in that game is flat out broken all around period.

Online may be all you care about, good for you. Offline EA's AI is LEAGUES better than 2k10, even with the lack of neutral zone pressure.

[CupCrazyManiac]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I'll take a game with flawless online play (most EA Games) over a more polished offline mode, any day.

Disagree Big Time!!!
Iam an OFFLINE Player, just like in my real life Hockey Team, i looove to play with my friends at my house in one Team against the CPU (offline)....
Online is mostly a cheatfest and to have Fun with my Friends is awesome. Just my 2 Cents. ;-)

[PensDynasty87]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I totally agree, I'm more of a offline player myself and actually can't stand playing online. With everybody poke checking all the time, the cheating like you say, and it's a hit party. It's def. a unrealistic arcade like game when playing online to me. I'll take a authentic real life like offline BEAGM or play now game over that any day that ends in y.

[Vulcan7905]

Just out of curiosity how much real NHL hockey do you actually watch? You can try all the sliders in the world with NHL2k10, the AI can't even manage to perform a proper break out. Get the puck in your own end, the rest of your team is already zipping past center ice, including the D pairing. That isn't real hockey. On defense the AI can't even play positionally, it's too busy buzzing around trying to play bumper car hockey, sliders do not fix this The AI in that game is flat out broken all around period.

Online may be all you care about, good for you. Offline EA's AI is LEAGUES better than 2k10, even with the lack of neutral zone pressure.

I honestly don't know if you're trolling or being serious, either way, your insane. The NHL 14 AI is horrible. When they have the puck, they have no clue what to do with it half the time. Oh you have all that room to skate in and shoot? Nah, that's ok, dump it in! Hey AI, play D, Nah that's ok, they will just skate around looking at fans. Sadly, stuff that was in 2k14 is only now being added in 15. Realistic arenas and now 2 lines men and 2 refs. All these years and they add it now? Lazy Ness. The best part of 2k14 was how much you could customize players and it's what made online feel unique and not feel like everybody else with the same set of equipment. I wish 20 would at least give it another go, because then it would force EA to actually try a little bit harder.

[SpectralThundr]

Re: NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

I honestly don't know if you're trolling or being serious, either way, your insane. The NHL 14 AI is horrible. When they have the puck, they have no clue what to do with it half the time. Oh you have all that room to skate in and shoot? Nah, that's ok, dump it in! Hey AI, play D, Nah that's ok, they will just skate around looking at fans. Sadly, stuff that was in 2k14 is only now being added in 15. Realistic arenas and now 2 lines men and 2 refs. All these years and they add it now? Lazy Ness. The best part of 2k14 was how much you could customize players and it's what made online feel unique and not feel like everybody else with the same set of equipment. I wish 20 would at least give it another go, because then it would force EA to actually try a little bit harder.

Nope being serious, the major issue with the AI in EA's game is the lack of neutral zone pressure. Again we're looking at it from 2 completely different angles, you're an online player, I'm not.

EA's AI you can breakout how you'd like, either from behind the net going D to D, or the side boards. In NHL2k10 the second you touch the puck in your own zone, you're entire team, including the D pair can't wait to get to center ice to go on the attack. It's the same with positioning on defense, EA's AI will stay in position and at least try and block shots. 2k's AI is too focused on buzzing around the zone trying to hit everything that moves. Really the one complaint that could be levied against EA's AI is it can be too passive at times, but EA gives you tools to make plays. Where as with 2k's game you're stuck with flat out terrible AI regardless of sliders.

The perfect description I've found in regards to 2k10 is bumper car hockey, that's exactly what it is.

If EA can fix neutral zone pressure on higher difficulties and expand how the attributes effect slider works, I'll be pretty content.