Nhl 14

[bubbsy]

outside of raw gameplay improvements, the biggest thing for me is be a gm.

i am really hoping for:
1) improvement in how u prepare for the draft (it's dry/boring at the moment)

2) Ability to negotiate with upcoming UFAs during the season so you can prepare to unload players u can't resign at the trade deadline

Also, for gameplay, why the hell haven't they returned the ability to see which forward/dlines the away team is putting out so that the home team can pick their forward/dlines accordingly?? i remember a few years back this was available for forward lines at least, not sure why it was pulled out.

[metallicat]

They have to get rid of the stupid phone system for the draft too. How ridiculous is it that you can only negotiate so many times, and then randomly the phones go away. Can't stand that.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

They have to get rid of the stupid phone system for the draft too. How ridiculous is it that you can only negotiate so many times, and then randomly the phones go away. Can't stand that.

It was a dumb attempt at a mini-game that somehow, inexplicably, remains in the game years later. I can see them doing the count-down by hours thing, but having a certain number of phones is a fail.

[Flash Walken]

The biggest fail is implement RFA rules but being unable to negotiate a contract except for a week prior to free agency.

Be A GM is maybe the most broken part of the whole game.

[Joborule]

Be A GM and GM Connected Improvements

[Nehkara]

Honestly, for the first time in living memory I might not get the latest NHL game.

I will be selling my Xbox 360 soon in preparation for getting my Xbox One in November. NHL 14 will not be released for Xbox One or PS4, so it looks like it might be September 2014 before I play again.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Be A GM and GM Connected Improvements

It would be really nice if, when they post these, they divulged some relevant details that clarify just what the hell they are talking about.

- Potential is now affected by the number of scouting visits, creating a more organic experience.
...
- CPU can sign and re-sign players during the off season for the user.

The first one needs explaining, and I have no idea what they are saying in the second one. Hasn't the CPU always been able to sign and re-sign players in the off season?

EDIT: Ah, now I get it. The game will sign and re-sign players for the user during the off-season as an alternative option to doing it themselves.

- Players develop during the season, making for a more authentic gameplay feel.

Classic EA. Reintroduce a previously removed feature. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's back...but if these are the big updates/changes then I am massively disappointed.

I'll give them a pass for this year and this year only because it is painfully clear they have been focusing their energy on the next generation consoles. If the first edition on the new systems isn't mind-blowingly revolutionary then I may throw a moderate tantrum.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Yamer

EDIT: Ah, now I get it. The game will sign and re-sign players for the user during the off-season as an alternative option to doing it themselves.

Which isn't an advantage at all considering the contracts I see computer hand out and the relative steals I am able to negotiate for my own players.

How is that even a feature, let alone a feature worth hyping?

If that's the extent of the Be A GM improvements...letting computer sign your own guys during the 1 week free agent period...Really stupid.

[bubbsy]

argh, that is a fairly disappointing announcement for the only real game mode i play a month or so after the release ....

Hopefully the raw gameplay enhancements in hitting/skating make this version worth it. On that note, it does seem troublesome that we haven't seen much as far as raw gameplay videos outside of the nhl '94 mode which was relatively painful to watch.

[Freeway]

All I want is the ability to skate around the arena with my team when we win the Stanley Cup.

[Huntingwhale]

All I want is a seamless/smooth multplayer game. NO PAUSING, no taking a min for a player to quit, only 1 player controlling the line changes, etc. But they will never get fixed as long as stupid features like NHL94 view is the main priority.

But most of all , I want another company (2K) to start making competition so that EA actually has a reason to improve the gameplay. It's pretty sad that most players of this series are hardcore NHL fans, yet most are disappointed every year with this game.

I can't wait to be upset when I start a multiplayer game and someone pauses the game, delaying it for everyone. How the hell that feature still exists in this series boggles my mind.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

All I want is a seamless/smooth multplayer game. NO PAUSING, no taking a min for a player to quit, only 1 player controlling the line changes, etc. But they will never get fixed as long as stupid features like NHL94 view is the main priority.

But most of all , I want another company (2K) to start making competition so that EA actually has a reason to improve the gameplay. It's pretty sad that most players of this series are hardcore NHL fans, yet most are disappointed every year with this game.

I can't wait to be upset when I start a multiplayer game and someone pauses the game, delaying it for everyone. How the hell that feature still exists in this series boggles my mind.

My guess (and that's all it is) is that this isn't true. The critical acclaim and the sales numbers seem to indicate that the majority are very happy with the games. I think this is a classic case of the people who are annoyed being VERY loud and assuming everybody agrees with them. There will always be a pocket of people who complain year over year yet continue to support the product, but I don't think that group is overly large (because they are certifiably insane).

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Russic

My guess (and that's all it is) is that this isn't true. The critical acclaim and the sales numbers seem to indicate that the majority are very happy with the games. I think this is a classic case of the people who are annoyed being VERY loud and assuming everybody agrees with them. There will always be a pocket of people who complain year over year yet continue to support the product, but I don't think that group is overly large (because they are certifiably insane).

i think the numbers are tilted due to the fact that hockey fans have NO alternative.

As a avid hockey fan, i can tell you that will be buying ea's nhl game year in and year out, regardless of its quality. I can only hope that 2k comes out again, as competition will push the best product out year to year.

[Joborule]

Goalie & Incidental Contact

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by Russic

My guess (and that's all it is) is that this isn't true. The critical acclaim and the sales numbers seem to indicate that the majority are very happy with the games. I think this is a classic case of the people who are annoyed being VERY loud and assuming everybody agrees with them. There will always be a pocket of people who complain year over year yet continue to support the product, but I don't think that group is overly large (because they are certifiably insane).

i still disagree. i think most players get annoyed and just quit playing like myself. i think if there was even a hint of an alternative, most would jump on it. while all games have problems, and all yearly sports games get complaints, i have a much better time doing yearly installments of madden or mlb the show than with nhl.

every year the ea nhl team trots out a list of 'new' features that are mostly old features that got removed because no one cared. heck, the hot and cold streak stuff, that was in my nhl07 or whatever the last year i had it on pc was...

and don't get me started about how every year they claim to improve hitting and skating. yet this year you have guys that can get checked out of the rink? and then ea makes a video about it like its funny? its f-ing insulting, thats what it is.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by dobbles

i still disagree. i think most players get annoyed and just quit playing like myself. i think if there was even a hint of an alternative, most would jump on it. while all games have problems, and all yearly sports games get complaints, i have a much better time doing yearly installments of madden or mlb the show than with nhl.

every year the ea nhl team trots out a list of 'new' features that are mostly old features that got removed because no one cared. heck, the hot and cold streak stuff, that was in my nhl07 or whatever the last year i had it on pc was...

and don't get me started about how every year they claim to improve hitting and skating. yet this year you have guys that can get checked out of the rink? and then ea makes a video about it like its funny? its f-ing insulting, thats what it is.

I get the anger, I just don't understand why people keep on buying it if they hate it so much. I totally get the guy who says "2008 was the best game and I've been playing it for 5 years", but the guy who buys it expecting things to be different is just bizarre to me.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Russic

My guess (and that's all it is) is that this isn't true. The critical acclaim and the sales numbers seem to indicate that the majority are very happy with the games. I think this is a classic case of the people who are annoyed being VERY loud and assuming everybody agrees with them. There will always be a pocket of people who complain year over year yet continue to support the product, but I don't think that group is overly large (because they are certifiably insane).

Haha, well if those people who gladly purchase the product every year are anything like me (and I do buy it every year), its because we all have a sick addiction to hockey and need our fill, and there are no other alternatives!

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Haha, well if those people who gladly purchase the product every year are anything like me (and I do buy it every year), its because we all have a sick addiction to hockey and need our fill, and there are no other alternatives!

Healthier than meth I suppose.

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by Russic

I get the anger, I just don't understand why people keep on buying it if they hate it so much. I totally get the guy who says "2008 was the best game and I've been playing it for 5 years", but the guy who buys it expecting things to be different is just bizarre to me.

totally understand. i didn't buy it last year. i shouldn't have 2 years ago, but the demo actually i felt played really well and so i was super excited for the game. then it felt pretty much like the last few and i quickly lost interest.

i think the reason people still get it is what you brought up in the previous post: its the only thing out there. especially when year after year the game fails in people eyes. if it was more hit or miss i could see certain years maybe retaining a fan base. but people would be hard pressed to still be playing the 5 year odl version no matter how much they liked it. additionally, as the focus continues to shift to online modes, its increasingly hard to stick with older versions as the community drastically shrinks. heck, can you even play 08 or 09 online anymore?

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Stick Skills

its videos like that one that give me little hope the game will ever get better. its the same terrible defensive programming. take for instance the sequence at 0:18... the defensive player #7 skates parrallel to the forward and then just glides by them into the corner never making any effort at all to play the puck or the man. the player might as well not been there. im not saying the defender had to be successful at stopping the player, but at least program the guy to TRY somethign!

at 0:58 im pretty sure another of the great EA strategies was about to occur... when the ai forward just follows the puck carrier instead of finding open space. (and i'm not saying being close is always bad as you can have drop passes or loose pucks)