How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

[voodoo_magic]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

FIX THE STANLEY CUP CUT SCENE!!! THE FANS SHOULD ALL BE STANDING AND GOING NUTS(ESPECIALLY IF THE FLYERS WON IT ON HOME ICE)....NOT SITTING THERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!

Wow, yeah. It's these types of things that add up.
We should be saying look at how some of the fans have their phones out recording the celebration or how the players are pointing to the crowd or how the visiting team fans have their hands over their face/shaking their head or things like that.

[onlybygrace]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

I agree with a lot of what I've read here in the comments. However, with the exception of the point made by Nickflyers regarding the Stanley Cup celebration, I think the crowd in this game and arena atmosphere is really well done...particularly in the playoffs during tying and go ahead goals...crowd really rocks those moments.


The arena atmosphere certainly could use the option for custom music. No doubt about it...


I like the pregame info but it could be a little less generic. I agree about more stat overlays, as well; simply showing players more often with their accumulative season stats would be nice. Little things go a long way.


I really don't mind Doc even at his current level of excitement...it seems fine to me.


I've really enjoyed NHL 17, honestly. As much as any other, maybe the most.

[Nickflyers]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

I agree with a lot of what I've read here in the comments. However, with the exception of the point made by Nickflyers regarding the Stanley Cup celebration, I think the crowd in this game and arena atmosphere is really well done...particularly in the playoffs during tying and go ahead goals...crowd really rocks those moments.

I agree! When I scored an OT goal the screen rocked and the crowd got LOUD! That they have improved on greatly! Now it's just cleaning up the little things.

[xSh4dow95]

Custom goal horns and music would be a nice addition for teams with incorrect goal horns and/or generic music. Also, maybe a Fox Sports broadcast wouldn't be bad either. The presentation should be a very dynamic element within the game, but it's been unusually stale and redundant since transitioning to the newer gen consoles despite recent improvements. Honestly, I see a lot of potential in the presentation aspect of the game, but it's the subtle things being addressed that's going to deliver this franchise to where we have a great game of hockey.

[MizzouRah]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

I agree! When I scored an OT goal the screen rocked and the crowd got LOUD! That they have improved on greatly! Now it's just cleaning up the little things.

Yeah I love the screen shake!

[actionhank]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

I played my first game the other day and was disappointed with just how lifeless the arenas are - too much dead air, too little enthusiasm from Doc (there's something I never thought I'd write), and the music doesn't sound natural to what you'd hear at an arena. Custom music would go a long way towards solving this, but it just feels flat.

Also, can we please, please, PLEASE add bilingual PA announcers in Montreal? I don't want to sound like a pequiste, but hearing English-only just kills the realism and immersion. French PA announcers in Quebec stadiums would be great for QMJHL games, but that's a far second place to getting Montreal right.

Finally, I'm not a fan of the NBC overlays, probably because I don't watch NBC that much, but it also feels out of place when I'm using two Canadian teams. A well-executed generic overlay would be fine.

I also miss Jim Hughson. Just me?

There was something cool that I don't know is still a feature, but definitely was in previous FIFA titles. They had regional announcers. You could pick from I think Spanish, English, French, Italian, and maybe a few others. I remember playing with the Spanish announcer just to hear the excitement when he called a goal out loud. It would be cool to see EA do something similar.

As for the NHL series, it's hard to say. So much of the on-ice action happens in its own little world, and then the extra animations only happen in the pre-set scripted camera events. I think improving the way players move and interact with each other on the ice would be a huge improvement, but even that starts to border on gameplay issues. I've noticed a lot (and maybe it's due to slider adjustments and the AI not knowing how to handle their new speed and not being able to stop on a dime) but players seem to just run into each other, the boards, and the nets constantly. I feel like I'm skating with oil tankers out there sometimes, trying to dodge other boats.

In terms of overlays, the stats could be a lot better. As someone mentioned previously, stuff like the team's powerplay on the season should be mentioned. If I've got the top PK unit, it might be worth mentioning. They hint at those things with the announcing, but I'm never sure how accurate they actually are. It would be nice to see them say "The Blues PK is out for the first time tonight. Here's how they stack up so far this season, sitting at #1 in the league. That has got to give them some confidence going against Buffalo's 17th ranked Powerplay Unit". Even if there's not the matching dialogue, just showing the Top 5, and placing that on the screen would be great.

Showing other game's scores, especially when it directly affects your team, or in the later part of the season as teams are eliminated and start to clinch playoff spots would be a bit more immersive. One of my biggest complaints in EA has been that I feel like I just exist in my own little world, and the only time I see anything else is if I go track it down. There's no immersion in the NHL experience.

Another in-game thing I can think of is the overlays they do show also tend to get in the way. I can't count the number of times I've tried to pick which line I'm sending out, only to have the other team's next 5 games blocking my lines, preventing me from knowing exactly which line I'm picking. Something that simple shouldn't be an issue at all, and should easily be fixed by just relocating the information. Even that window however could use some work. Just popping up who they play next means nothing to me. Are they fighting for a playoff spot? Are the 5 teams they're facing all division rivals? Are all of those teams currently in playoff spots, or riding hot streaks? A boring stat just plopped on the screen is just another thing to click through, but a stat with some context and dialogue can be part of the immersive experience.

[jake19ny]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

It's been said 5 man celebrations. And I want a big goal to tie the game or win a big game to feel like it via the celebration. More stats on screen and redo the whole cup winning presentation

[NEOPARADIGM]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

They have to have 5 man goal celebrations. it is a gigantic eye-sore. No more excuses on this. If they can't do it real time, give us a cut scene like they do for the milestones.

So long as it's the correct five guys, wearing the correct gear, correct numbers, etc., i can't see anyone caring if they aren't real time.. those milestone goals are great. put together 5 or 8 cutscenes for 'standard' goals and 3 or 4 more for 'big' goals and it would be more than enough.

anyway i've posted before but i think a CBC/hockey night in canada presentation package would be both appropriate and awesome for this franchise.

[rbiaci]

Haven't played NHL series since nhl11 it will take a lot to bring me back I love NBA 2k

[actionhank]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

So long as it's the correct five guys, wearing the correct gear, correct numbers, etc., i can't see anyone caring if they aren't real time.. those milestone goals are great. put together 5 or 8 cutscenes for 'standard' goals and 3 or 4 more for 'big' goals and it would be more than enough.

anyway i've posted before but i think a CBC/hockey night in canada presentation package would be both appropriate and awesome for this franchise.

I would love for more stuff to happen "On ice". There are just so many glaring cuts in the game. It would be nice to get a bit more in terms of realistic goal celebrations, and just other various things that play out on the ice without dropping to a cut scene.

The shoving and stuff after the play is nice, but it would be better to see guys start to skate off the ice, and also maybe have some better animations for various types of players. As it stands now, you just end up having a handful of pairs doing the exact same animations where they shove and grab each other. It would be cool to see stuff like scrums, guys pulling each other back, players talking to the refs between plays, after whistles, before faceoffs, etc.

Everything just has a tendency to feel very canned. You score a goal, do one of two celebrations if you're me (Jump into the boards, or scrape the ice...because the others are all just goofy) and then everyone kind of follows after you, before you glide into the boards, net or other players as it plays out, then it suddenly cuts to a player or two patting you.

Personally, I wouldn't mind more animations for just general things to break up the 5 guys skating and doing the same few things. Defenders patting their goalie, guys who are tired showing it on the ice after the whistle, players talking to each other on near miss goals, or maybe before faceoffs.

Basically just anything on ice to kind of break up the usual guys standing around, and preferably less cuts to the close ups right after. I don't mind the camera moving, or zooming, but it can kind of take you out of things to score a goal, have you lonely player jump into the glass, then quickly cut to guys mobbing you, followed by another cut to you skating down the bench, followed by replays...

[metallidevils]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

I've been a Devils fan my entire life so I have always loved listening to Doc. Having said that, the commentary in this game is probably the worst out of any sports game I've played in almost 20 years. I don't understand if/how/why EA could tell him to be totally emotionless.

[MizzouRah]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

I would love for more stuff to happen "On ice". There are just so many glaring cuts in the game. It would be nice to get a bit more in terms of realistic goal celebrations, and just other various things that play out on the ice without dropping to a cut scene.

The shoving and stuff after the play is nice, but it would be better to see guys start to skate off the ice, and also maybe have some better animations for various types of players. As it stands now, you just end up having a handful of pairs doing the exact same animations where they shove and grab each other. It would be cool to see stuff like scrums, guys pulling each other back, players talking to the refs between plays, after whistles, before faceoffs, etc.

Everything just has a tendency to feel very canned. You score a goal, do one of two celebrations if you're me (Jump into the boards, or scrape the ice...because the others are all just goofy) and then everyone kind of follows after you, before you glide into the boards, net or other players as it plays out, then it suddenly cuts to a player or two patting you.

Personally, I wouldn't mind more animations for just general things to break up the 5 guys skating and doing the same few things. Defenders patting their goalie, guys who are tired showing it on the ice after the whistle, players talking to each other on near miss goals, or maybe before faceoffs.

Basically just anything on ice to kind of break up the usual guys standing around, and preferably less cuts to the close ups right after. I don't mind the camera moving, or zooming, but it can kind of take you out of things to score a goal, have you lonely player jump into the glass, then quickly cut to guys mobbing you, followed by another cut to you skating down the bench, followed by replays...

Agreed... more of a "live" feeling to the game would be nice. Like the animation where the player looks likes he's about to blow a bubble.. LOL.. the stoppage in play stuff gets really repetitive - they have added some nice touches like the sliver stick presentation, etc.. but there is so much they can hopefully add.

[jake19ny]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

A lot of great ideas in here. Just one small addition to my wish list I posted. I may be in the minority here but I would rather they eliminate the celebration buttons and just have automatic realistic goal celebrations that fit the way the goal was scored. Just have a bunch of realistic generic celebrations along with some signature ones that some star players do. A system like MLB the show has where you can assign HR celebration swings or swing types to players would be great. You can use this on your created players or change in edit a player.

[Sportsworth]

If 2K ever made a NHL game again that would be great! My complaint about EA NHL is that you cant upload your own logos to create teams. Very limited with custom creation as far as making a team goes. Can't stand the commentary too. I'm at the point that I turned it off for good. Once again NBA 2K17 shows how commentary in sports games should be done.

[csamuelsvt]

Re: How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

I've been a Devils fan my entire life so I have always loved listening to Doc. Having said that, the commentary in this game is probably the worst out of any sports game I've played in almost 20 years. I don't understand if/how/why EA could tell him to be totally emotionless.

Welcome to another fellow Devils fan! #LGD!

The fact that they don't have Doc's great enthusiasm really disappoints me. His goal calls got a little better with NHL 17 and I hope they continue to work on them for NHL 18, ESPECIALLY in big moments/all playoff goals. It simply is not there. Also, when pinning the computer in the offensive zone or when they pin you in the defensive zone, Doc gets somewhat excited, but they did not add to this for NHL 17. It is pretty much the same as it was for NHL 16. I believe most of the commentary went towards the milestones/World Cup of Hockey

They also dont have basic "Sends it across, SCORESSSSS *insert goal scorer's full name or last name" which is one of his trademark goal calls. I, and I am sure yourself, could bring up many more trademark calls that aren't in the game yet.