How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

[AdamJones113]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

I read that 2K hired a guy to do all their ratings based on his personal rosters he'd share with earlier NBA2K titles:

http://ca.complex.com/sports/2015/09/how-nba-2k16-player-ratings-are-determined

He developed a "99-system" where the best player in history at that skill was considered a 99.
Then they'd compare current players skills against that player.

So using hockey as an example, if Gretzky was the best passer ever, in order for a player in NHL16 to get a 99, he would be considered just as good as Wayne.

I really wish the EA team would do something similar.

Absolutely. You know where he was hired from? Oh, just up the forum list, the 2k roster section. Where the devs still post.

I'd love to see that system implemented.

[Felixeur]

Funny how NHL 2k10 had 90% of the features mentioned. Please NHL 2k comeback on PC and consoles...

[jyoung]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

On many shifts, the AI will hesitate and zig-zag around the red line before launching a futile dump attempt

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now:

<iframe width="540" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F5T1Toyov4g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

[shogunofharlem3]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now:

<iframe width="540" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F5T1Toyov4g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

That is brutal! I really hope this is somehow addressed in a patch if they do another. Gotta assume that can't be fixed via a tuner. That is how most of my games go. I can keep them at neutral ice for a good 30 seconds then I get bored and let them in........................then they zip around everyone, rush my goalie and smash it in.

[AdamJones113]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

Good video jyoung.

Yep, horizontal hockey is nothing new to the series, especially for good defensemen. I actually discussed this with a 'dev' on the EA Forums (here's the link to the page where we first started discussing). Here's the essence of the convo:

There was actually a point this year where we felt the AI had good flow through the neutral zone. Factors like thinking they can/can't make a head man pass, determining if it will be offside, if they will gain possession back on a dump and their confidence to keep the puck if they regroup instead -- all weighed by current pressure settings, current score, etc. change their mind when they could otherwise just go ahead and gain possession or dump it in.

It is something that remains on our list to make more believable in the way they play.

The better the human defender is playing against them , the worse this scenario can get.

He was a bit vague on why the CPU doesn't just dump it in.

[bigwill33]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now:

<iframe width="540" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F5T1Toyov4g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

THIS! A billion likes for documenting this!

This is the most annoying and unrealistic part of this game's horrible, horrible AI system. And it is near impossible to ever get the puck off the CPU when they are doing this. And it is not even possible to skate in the manner in which the CPU gets to when doing some of this or when they are retreating in their own zone.

There needs to be fluidity and progression to hockey. The playing in this video is more akin to basketball. In hockey you would run out of room and force a dump in deep or attempt a chip on the boards. If you panic and make the wrong choice you throw a blind pass to a spot on the ice that your coach would be cursing you up and down for. Those are the only acceptable options to be programmed in these instances, but instead we get this type of action, year after year.

[hawley088]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

ill come back when they completely trash this build and restart it from the ground up, i feel like ive been playing the same game since ps3 days

[MizzouRah]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

Yep.. I like to hold the blue line too.. and I see that from the AI all the time, especially with the game slowed down.

[jake19ny]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

I didn't have a chance to grab some video footage of that AI tendency before this article went live, but here it is now:

<iframe width="540" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F5T1Toyov4g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You'll see this bizarre behavior from the AI several times a game if your defense is on one of the more conservative neutral zone settings. The AI just doesn't know what to do when you have a bunch of defenders backed up protecting the blue line.

No doubt the AI needs to be rebuilt from the ground up but I will say even with the latest crappy tuner I have found some solid sliders that eliminate a lot of that as well as the over used cross ice pass to the wide open CPU guy. I will post them tomorrow if anyone really wants to give them a try. The obe annoying thing is I have to reset sliders to default and re-enter them before each game otherwise it goes magically straight back to the nonsense.

[piffbernd]

100% Agreed! Allow us to customize OUR BAGMs.

• Allow us to edit ANYONE's ratings during a BAGM
• Allow us to CREATE OUR OWN DRAFT CLASSES(and share them) ala 2k Series
• Dynamic Rivalries
• Coaches(NHL 2k5 had this, geez)

Basically combine NHL's gameplay w/ 2ks Franchise mode = Happy hockey fans

Agreed 100 % to this list. Player are to small and to light after a 5 years. 5 11 and 160 lbs to 180. Would be nice if we could edit that. Look at mlb the show, u can edit almost everything.

[Money99]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

Pipe dream time:
Along with rating each player at every position, it would be cool if players could get better, or learn a new position through time and experience.
Lets say you are stacked at LW but shallow at C.
You have a top LW prospect in the AHL so you move him to C over the course of a season (or more) hoping that he learns and can develop into a top-flight pivot and eventually be your #1 centre.

Claude Giroux, Mats Sundin, Stan Makita,... all three are examples of wingers turned centerman and excelled at their new position.

It would be awesome if we had that kind of managerial control over our franchise.

[actionhank]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

I hope that AI is going to be their next big thing. If AI gets to focus that the graphics and presentation just got, the game could really be great. Unfortunately, right now, it's years behind where it needs to be. The AI actually seems worse in some regards.

I scored 8 goals last night on Anaheim (realistically struggling in their season) and they left Anderson in the entire time. Granted, 8 goals in 2 periods isn't very common (still trying to get my sliders right...) the goalie should have been yanked way earlier. And it would be nice if they used the morale system in a way where in game play affected a player's morale and his attributes. From what I can see, that's not really the way it seems to work at present. Ice time seems to, but if a goalie gets lit up it should negatively affect their morale if they get left in (See Exhibit: Roy). Small behind the scenes things could make it a challenge to manage things. Maybe there's a random modifier that either gives a short term boost to your players as the goalie change snaps them 'awake' as coaches like to hope it does. Conversely, maybe there's a risk of a smaller attribute drop because the team might feel like they're not playing well. The chances and affects might depend on the player's poise rating. A team of veterans might not be as hard hit by the goalie change, but a younger team of rookies (someone like Edmonton) might be discouraged by it. They could even add a similar feature for timeouts. Give yourself the option of choosing something different to your players during the timeout, select a play, etc.
EA just needs to overhaul their AI so they can actually play hockey (I can't count the number of times in my 8 games season I've literally had a player bouncing through crowds of defenders, with no one on defense trying anything. Even when you just skate straight in, aside from the occasional body check, the defense is incredibly too passive. No sticks in lanes, they don't really poke check. You can skate straight at a defender, and until you get right on them where they're in bodycheck range, they pretty much just back up and watch you skate in. There's no backcheck pressure from the forwards, no defensive handoffs behind the net, and no one filling the slot when a defender leaves to chase a winger up to the blueline for some odd reason.

It gets to the point where you're forced to handicap your offensive playing to make up for the non-existent defense. I turn my shot accuracy down, and the power too. Then I have to neuter the passing. All to make up for the fact that the AI doesn't actively engage anyone, or setup any real sort of defensive plays.

Also, I had the weirdest bug last night, but in a good way. They were doing the usual "Leading scorer here tonight!" line about Tarasenko...but they accidentally showed his stats. Same for Elliott's stats (thought despite his 7-1 start they referenced him having ups and downs and not being reliable yet). I thought maybe I had downloaded a new tuner or something, but in the next game it was back to the goose eggs across the stat board.

[Pythons80]

That was a real scathing article, WELL DONE!!! EA has been putting very little effort into this series by the looks of it and this game/series deserves to be trashed.

[jake19ny]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

I hope that AI is going to be their next big thing. If AI gets to focus that the graphics and presentation just got, the game could really be great. Unfortunately, right now, it's years behind where it needs to be. The AI actually seems worse in some regards.

I scored 8 goals last night on Anaheim (realistically struggling in their season) and they left Anderson in the entire time. Granted, 8 goals in 2 periods isn't very common (still trying to get my sliders right...) the goalie should have been yanked way earlier. And it would be nice if they used the morale system in a way where in game play affected a player's morale and his attributes. From what I can see, that's not really the way it seems to work at present. Ice time seems to, but if a goalie gets lit up it should negatively affect their morale if they get left in (See Exhibit: Roy). Small behind the scenes things could make it a challenge to manage things. Maybe there's a random modifier that either gives a short term boost to your players as the goalie change snaps them 'awake' as coaches like to hope it does. Conversely, maybe there's a risk of a smaller attribute drop because the team might feel like they're not playing well. The chances and affects might depend on the player's poise rating. A team of veterans might not be as hard hit by the goalie change, but a younger team of rookies (someone like Edmonton) might be discouraged by it. They could even add a similar feature for timeouts. Give yourself the option of choosing something different to your players during the timeout, select a play, etc.
EA just needs to overhaul their AI so they can actually play hockey (I can't count the number of times in my 8 games season I've literally had a player bouncing through crowds of defenders, with no one on defense trying anything. Even when you just skate straight in, aside from the occasional body check, the defense is incredibly too passive. No sticks in lanes, they don't really poke check. You can skate straight at a defender, and until you get right on them where they're in bodycheck range, they pretty much just back up and watch you skate in. There's no backcheck pressure from the forwards, no defensive handoffs behind the net, and no one filling the slot when a defender leaves to chase a winger up to the blueline for some odd reason.

It gets to the point where you're forced to handicap your offensive playing to make up for the non-existent defense. I turn my shot accuracy down, and the power too. Then I have to neuter the passing. All to make up for the fact that the AI doesn't actively engage anyone, or setup any real sort of defensive plays.

Also, I had the weirdest bug last night, but in a good way. They were doing the usual "Leading scorer here tonight!" line about Tarasenko...but they accidentally showed his stats. Same for Elliott's stats (thought despite his 7-1 start they referenced him having ups and downs and not being reliable yet). I thought maybe I had downloaded a new tuner or something, but in the next game it was back to the goose eggs across the stat board.

Funny you mentioned scoring 8 goals and they left the goalie in. I played a game yesterday and scored my 4th goal in a 4-0 game with only 44 seconds left in the game and they switched goalies. Everything in this game is just so random instead of logical. In addition to the obvious fixes this game needs it also needs attention to certain areas of the game that are logical and important.

Line matching by the CPU
Pulling the goalie at a reasonable time (not waiting until 20 seconds left)
Swapping goalies under proper circumstance
CPU take a timeout

I'm sure there are a lot more things if I spend more time thinking about it.

[Tonic]

Re: How EA Can Bring Fans Back to NHL's Franchise Mode

I can't count the number of times in my 8 games season I've literally had a player bouncing through crowds of defenders, with no one on defense trying anything. Even when you just skate straight in, aside from the occasional body check, the defense is incredibly too passive. No sticks in lanes, they don't really poke check. You can skate straight at a defender, and until you get right on them where they're in bodycheck range, they pretty much just back up and watch you skate in. There's no backcheck pressure from the forwards, no defensive handoffs behind the net, and no one filling the slot when a defender leaves to chase a winger up to the blueline for some odd reason.

It gets to the point where you're forced to handicap your offensive playing to make up for the non-existent defense. I turn my shot accuracy down, and the power too. Then I have to neuter the passing. All to make up for the fact that the AI doesn't actively engage anyone, or setup any real sort of defensive plays.

Thank you! I've been complaining about the lack of the CPU stick checking for YEARS. That's still the underlying problem with the penalties. High sticking, slashing, and tripping are the three most commonly called penalties in the NHL, and all three require the CPU to actually stick lift or poke check.

I'm really hoping the AI gets overhauled next year now that they have a great base to work with for graphics and presentation (the things that look pretty to the casual player).