NHL 10 General Discussion

[SteveToms]

I just won my first NHL game with the 'Yotes, a 6-3 win over the Sabres.

[FlamingInfinity]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I fought as Bouwmeester, killed the guy, but I ended up with a broken nose, and now he's out for 2 weeks. Don't fight with Jaybo, he gets injured to much in the face.

I fought Bieksa as Sjostrom. Didn't work out too well. Sjostrom ended up with a busted nose, but played through the pain. Beat the 'Nucks too.

[swo2k1]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I fought as Bouwmeester, killed the guy, but I ended up with a broken nose, and now he's out for 2 weeks. Don't fight with Jaybo, he gets injured to much in the face.

Yeah, I ended up fighting Moreau as Bouwmeester, fractured jaw out 6 - 7 weeks.

[sclitheroe]

I notice the game doesn't email post game stats for online play, even though I enabled it. I hope they fix that soon, I quite enjoyed collecting those.

[red sky]

First impressions thus far:

I find the game play to be quite a bit slower and perhaps almost too slow if they are shooting for realism.
I am not sure how I feel about the new/more realistic passing. I started getting the hang of it more however I find that it was a little slow as well.
The first person fighting isn't too bad, it is an improvement IMO but this was never a huge part of the game for me as it is.
Hitting is much more difficult, however I do like it better this way.

All in all, I really need more time to play the game. There are a few adjustments that I will need to make compared to NHL09.

[dobbles]

found a nice list of what you have to do to unlock the +5 boost for each area, and also what you have to do to unlock the various equipment that have 3 boost slots. though i know some of the boost stats can be equipped on different equipment types. for instance i got the +5 slapshot yesterday and i could equip it as my stick slot or one of my helmet slots. you can have up to 12 boosts but there are 20 different stats, so you still have to choose wisely what you want to use.

http://www.operationsports.com/eashl...ead.php?t=7764

[nickerjones]

Hey did anyone get the Kane code?? I am just curious if it was a different code for everyone or just a universal code? EB games never gave me a code when i pre-ordered. I asked and they said I would have it when i picked up the game. I picked up the game and they said they had no more. I was pissed and demanded a refund. I rented it until best buy has them. Does this mean I cant get the Kane stuff at all now?

[Cliche]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Hey did anyone get the Kane code?? I am just curious if it was a different code for everyone or just a universal code? EB games never gave me a code when i pre-ordered. I asked and they said I would have it when i picked up the game. I picked up the game and they said they had no more. I was pissed and demanded a refund. I rented it until best buy has them. Does this mean I cant get the Kane stuff at all now?

Judging from the card that was given out, the card is one of those 12 digit redeemable code ones. so in order to get the kane boost pack, you will probably have to purchase it with MS points when EA posts their NHL booster packs onto the respective stores.

[Kolbe31]

I picked up the game yesterday at lunch, endured a long afternoon at work, and was finally able to put in some time late last night. The first thing I did, which I always do, is checked out each team's jersey selections. I was disappointed to find that there have been no vintage jersey additions (with the exception of the 89 Flames red). Also, no Detroit Winter Classic jersey, which is puzzling. As you can see, jerseys are a big deal to me, so the more selection the better. Hopefully they'll add more for NHL 11. Aside from that, so far the game is awesome, and I love what they've done with the crowds. Very interactive, visually and vocally. It really adds a lot to the atmosphere.

I also played my very first game online (Xbox Live), which was really fun.

I'm just trying to get through my work day so I can get home and start my Be A GM mode. And if you were to ask me if instead of working, I was trying to figure out what trades and roster moves I will make, well I'd have to say 100% yes. Oh yeah, I'm a valuable and productive force over here.

[FlamesKickAss]

It is unlockable as well

[Staypuft]

So, I took some time yesterday to try out the different modes....and I'm so far a little disappointed with what I've seen.

I did a fantasy draft in Be a GM mode...and while that part was awesome, I've won my first 3 games on Superstar difficulty, with the opposition only scoring on me ONCE in regulation....and I know Im not that good.
Scoring goals is still very formulaic, with low shots still providing way too large rebounds to the winger crashing the net...and cross crease passes still money almost every time.

It just feels slow too...the board play doesn't help in that regard.

Be A Pro has been pretty fun so far, but yeah...just feels like it's a constant trap on the defensive side. I haven't seen upward of 20 shots in a game yet.

I'm gonna keep plugging away, but I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy the online stuff a lot more, with the human factor coming into play.

[FlamesKickAss]

I cant believe I am saying this but I spent more time playing madden when it first came out.

[dobbles]

i would like to know why this random guy can keep up with rosters, but the people at EA that are PAID TO DO THIS can't seem to figure out that a guy like tremblay is not on the heat???? i am hoping that the update next month significantly changes things. it is ridiculous that EA spends so much time developing the GM mode, and then makes you be a GM of a team that is nothing like it should be.

http://petrpuck.blogspot.com/2008/09...ent-guide.html

[Finny61]

It's certainly odd but I had a blast with Madden more as well. This feels stagnant and what gets my goat is that AI to me hasn't improved at all other then some improved goalie saves. It really kills BAP for me. And the Be a GM is really showing off how bad the trade logic is when you start the draft.

[AC]

It really seems like 1 out of every 3 goals scored is a fluke. I've seen several dump-ins get tipped into the net by the goalie.

Also passes towards the goalie from all angles (even behind the net) seem to have a high chance of going in.

[Jayems]

My initial reactions after playing for an evening.

Online Versus Play:

• Finally fast skaters can get past D-men. Ridiculous it took this long. Gone are the days when sluggish D-men found sub-human speed bursts when going for a loose puck.
• It appears that you can go back to exploiting (no, not the cheating kind) weaker players. By this, I mean they can't simply mash buttons and miraculously knock over players. Take, for example, the terrible defensive practice of simply lying down in front of the net and staying there. They'll get plenty of penalties now.
• Hitting is wonky. I understand that there aren't bone-crushing hits every 5 mintues, and while I like the less hitting, it seems they turbo-boosted puck control abilities. Basically, give it to a power forward and go end to end. It's unlikely they'll knock you off the puck. Couple that with puck protect, and you have a real hard time getting them off it. This has happened several times already. Try and poke? They dive like Hemsky. Stick lift? 4-min double minor. I'm sure it's just a new system. I acutally prefer this over last year, will just have to adapt, I suppose.
• Agreed on the lame goals. 5-hole is definately easier to score this year. However, a loose puck will get through a lot of the times to an apparent hopeless tender.
• The board play is cool, but I happen to press too early sometimes and I inadvertently facewash a guy and get a penalty.

EASHL is wicked. Some hiccups with the system last night, but that always happens with EA. New room menu makes it easier to navigate and see who's in what room etc. It seems we're always matched against teams with same amount of players. Very, very, very necessary improvement.

Can't really think of more things right now. Can't wait to get the 360 league going.

[red sky]

A "review" from Down Goes Brown... a few funny comments:

http://www.downgoesbrown.com/

NHL 10: An early review

NHL 2010 reviewTuesday is one of the biggest days on an NHL fan's calendar: the release of NHL 10, the latest version of EA Sports' NHL series.

It goes without saying that a blogger as important and popular as I am would be sent an advance reviewer's copy. I had a chance to give it a try over the weekend, and the results were mixed.

Bugs
Let's get the bad news out of the way first. I'm not sure if this game was rushed onto shelves without enough time for testing, but there are a ton of bugs that simply should have been caught.

* Simming ahead several years in franchise mode can lead to unrealistic results. For example, I simmed ahead to 2011, and the game listed one of the teams as playing in "Phoenix".

* In Front Office mode, the "fire general manager" option is permanently greyed out for the New York Rangers.

* Somebody at EA needs to seriously prune the roster file to clear out guys who haven't even been in skates for years. This year's game still has guys like Jason Allison and Theo Fleury kicking around.

* While the post-whistle scrums are a nice addition, they don't feel realistic because announcer Jim Hughson fails to break into an overwrought lecture about how terrible they are.

* The financial AI is just terrible. Teams like Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia kept signing players to contracts that would clearly ruin their long-term salary cap situation.

* AI-controlled teams occasionally make roster moves they'd never make in real life. For example, in one sim I noticed the Leafs had signed another team's RFA, which of course is ridiculous since Brian Burke hates when teams do that.

* While experimenting with the GM mode, I attempted to trade a star player to Edmonton. The deal was accepted, but when I checked the Oilers roster immediately afterwards, the star player was not there.

Cheats
What major video game release these days doesn't come with a few cheats and easter eggs? Sure enough, NHL 2010 has its share.

* When you're prompted to enter your name on the opening screen, type in "Jim Balsillie" to unlock an extended of Gary Bettman giving you the finger.

* If you manage to win the Stanley Cup, hit "exit" before the handshake line finishes. When you enter the off-season, the game's musical soundtrack will be replaced by the sound of Red Wings fans crying. (Note: there is apparently no undo for this feature.)

* Enter your name as "Howard Berger" on the opening screen, and then sim a season. All 82 of your games will be scheduled during the month of November.

* Inspired by the legendary NBA Jam series, NHL 10 includes a hilarious "tiny mode" in which all the regular players on a team are comically shrunk down to a fraction of their normal size. To enable this mode, go to the Team Select screen and choose "Montreal Canadiens".


Now for the good stuff. As fans have come to expect, this year's version comes packed with new and enhanced features.

* The much-hyped "first person fighting" mode is every bit as good as advertised. When you throw a perfectly timed uppercut that connects with your unsuspecting opponent's face, you can actually see the blood splatter onto the cab's dashboard.

* The game includes an interesting new feature called "Ask Burkie". You can type in any hockey question, and a simulated Brian Burke will provide an answer. Unfortunately, due to an apparent programming error the screen lacks an "exit" button, and Burke just keeps talking and talking non-stop. Even removing the CD and unplugging the system doesn't help. I eventually had to burn my Xbox and bury the ashes in the backyard to get him to be quiet.

* In a neat bit of crossover promotion, the game will check your hard drive for any Resident Evil saved game files. If it finds any, it will replace the final zombie boss with Chris Chelios.

* The "Be A Player" mode is super realistic. In my first game against Toronto I lightly nudged one of the Leafs' skill players, and the game immediately cut to a full-motion video montage of my funeral.

* The all new board play is great fun. You can get a puck to an open teammate by using the new "kick-pass" button. In addition, when controlling Martin Havlat you can also use the "kick-groin" button.

* Players can now snatch a puck out of the air with their glove hand (note: feature does not apply to Andrew Raycroft).

* Finally, the game features an intriguing new mode in which two teams can play each other up to seven consecutive times, with the first team to win four games advancing on to play a different team. As a Leaf fan I thought this was really unqiue and creative, and hope the real NHL implements something similar in the future.

[Jayems]

You can also check out stats, leaderboards etc for the EASHL here:

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/clubs/nhl

[Tyler]

How do I increase the game speed on XBox 360? This thing seems so slow.

[dustyanddaflames]

Originally Posted by Tyler

How do I increase the game speed on XBox 360? This thing seems so slow.

Its in the game settings, after hitting right bumper once or twice