NHL 12 Video - Stage Demo

[TNA Equalizer]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

This is such a huge upgrade it's not even funny. HUGE. I can't stress that enough. As someone who plays mainly offline and against the computer (and with computer teammates), there's nothing I hate more than when I'm doing a lot of work in the zone with the puck, and my teammates aren't rushing the net or anticipating a pass. It completely halts any play you had in mind. I can't count how many times I've curled around the half-wall with the intentions of hitting my winger driving to an open area in front of the net, and he just stands there.

This might be the number 1 thing I'm excited for. The fact that teammates will even anticipate where the puck will be in the neutral zone and defensive zone is icing on the cake. Outstanding work by them recognizing this and overhauling it. I'm stoked.

Definitely. It's something I've been excited for since community day. Good stuff by EA showing the upgrade in the AI department.

[BlueNGold]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Nice catch. Maybe they added old school teams, or just added in old school arenas. It would be pretty sweet to play at the Maple Leaf Gardens, Montreal Forum, Chicago Stadium, or MET CENTER (this would be sick).

I think you might be on to something.

I just finished watching the EA live Q&A videos with Rammer at E3 (they were posted a month ago) and he said the big feature they're holding back until closer to launch is something he's excited about and it's probably the most excited he's been for a feature they've done in his four years. But the main thing he said was it would resonate with all hockey fans, even casual fans. Maybe they added some type of classic mode with classic players and stadiums?

[DJ]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

I think you might be on to something.

I just finished watching the EA live Q&A videos with Rammer at E3 (they were posted a month ago) and he said the big feature they're holding back until closer to launch is something he's excited about and it's probably the most excited he's been for a feature they've done in his four years. But the main thing he said was it would resonate with all hockey fans, even casual fans. Maybe they added some type of classic mode with classic players and stadiums?

Man, that would be so awesome if that is the case.

I admit, I am on the bandwagon for NHL 12 now. The past few videos have gone a long way to selling me on the game. Looks like NHL 11 will be getting traded in to make room for NHL 12.

[Jattbreed]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Man, I'm just happy to see Littman again.

[FBeaule04]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Great video!

I hope that the AI improvements are there in NHL 12, it was so awful in NHL 11 that they had to do something.

What the video showed was how bad EA did their job in NHL 11 with the AI. I understand that the focus is on the online play, but you can't offer a product like that for offline modes and still be saying you test the game.

Littman video was a proof that the game wasn't tested at all for offline modes. Would have be happy to see no more D pinning themselves or W going for the corners on a breakaway, but I guess there's a limit for self-punishment in that presentation!

[SinisterAlex]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Anyone else notice the stadium looks different in the first part of the original video with Alex Ovechkin? Look at the crowd, glass, arena, etc of the NHL 11 clip then watch the NHL 12 clip.

Maybe it's just me, but does it look better and more "alive". Or do we finally have real arenas?

[Juiceman612]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Lots of gameplay footage at http://www.gamespot.com/shows/on-the...ar%3Btitle%3B1

Starts around 28:00 into the show

Thanks for this. Watching the gameplay it still seems way too easy to gain the offensive zone. Defense isn't pinching at all from what I can see. Not that they should every time, but I didn't see it at all. That's pretty disappointing. A ton of up and down too. This is frustrating to see again.

[Money99]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Thanks for this. Watching the gameplay it still seems way too easy to gain the offensive zone. Defense isn't pinching at all from what I can see. Not that they should every time, but I didn't see it at all. That's pretty disappointing. A ton of up and down too. This is frustrating to see again.

I noticed that too.
The one thing that's hard not to notice also is that every pass is tape-to-tape. It doesn't even matter if it's an errant pass or deflects off something it's always on someone's tape immediately. There are very few loose-puck moments in this game it seems.

Watch an NHL game and it's kind of turned into a trench-warfare type process. With each loose puck, comes a collision or scrap for the puck.
You don't get that in EA's game.

And it's quite obvious that the physics don't apply to board pinning. There's still a tonne of suction with size and strength playing no role in who's doing the pinning and who gets pinned.
I bet I can pin Chara with Hudler anytime I want to.

I'm still going to pick it up. I haven't really had a full-time hockey game in 2 or 3 years now.
I think I've gotten used to this series' shortcomings.
The game is what it is and until the next consoles come out, it's not going to change.
It's always going to be very north-south with no neutral zone pressure and very 'clean' gameplay.
It's still fun and I think I just need to get over my hangups. It's a game and I should simply try to enjoy it.

[Qb]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

A couple things... first, ChaseB is at this event. Hopefully he'll be able to share some insight from more hands-on time.

The "Anticipation AI" stuff is promising. Hopefully it comes off as well as can be expected. Kind of hits on what I was saying in another thread about AI players always reacting to what we're doing, thus often putting them a step (or several more) behind. I really hope the net battles and balance control are, well, balanced. Again, promising stuff.

As for the footage from Gamespot -- which I can't watch now because I'm at work -- depending on what it's from, it could be on casual gameplay settings if we're seeing non-stop tape-to-tape passing (like the E3 stuff). I know the game has a way to go when it comes to representing the type of hockey Money talks about, but the settings can make a big difference in how the game plays in many ways. And yeah, I know we're stuck with the online settings, but at least offline we have control over a lot of things.

[JezFranco]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

I actually saw Rammer miss a few passes on the gamespot video.
But most of the time, spot on.
A) Rammer is good
B) The recieving player adjusts to missed passes.

The CPU on the other hand...?

But I think passing in general could be fixed with sliders... When I play vs CPU on 11 the CPU misses a lot of passes and I usually gets a few icings, especially late in games and periods.


But agree with that the gameplay on the gamespot video was a lot of up-and-down. Actually looked a bit boring.

[d0wntime]

Re: Winter classic gameplay footage at Gamespot On The Spot

one-knee blocks and the cpu making a bank pass off the boards through the neutral zone were highlights.

[BlueNGold]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Yeah, I'm not concerned with the passing because I already know it can be adjusted with sliders. Just lower pass reception ease and you'll get a lot of missed passes and less tape to tape stuff.

[speels]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

I noticed that too.
The one thing that's hard not to notice also is that every pass is tape-to-tape. It doesn't even matter if it's an errant pass or deflects off something it's always on someone's tape immediately. There are very few loose-puck moments in this game it seems.

Watch an NHL game and it's kind of turned into a trench-warfare type process. With each loose puck, comes a collision or scrap for the puck.
You don't get that in EA's game.

And it's quite obvious that the physics don't apply to board pinning. There's still a tonne of suction with size and strength playing no role in who's doing the pinning and who gets pinned.
I bet I can pin Chara with Hudler anytime I want to.

I'm still going to pick it up. I haven't really had a full-time hockey game in 2 or 3 years now.
I think I've gotten used to this series' shortcomings.
The game is what it is and until the next consoles come out, it's not going to change.
It's always going to be very north-south with no neutral zone pressure and very 'clean' gameplay.
It's still fun and I think I just need to get over my hangups. It's a game and I should simply try to enjoy it.

Didn't we say that when the PS3 was about to come out.

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 12 Summer Showcase Video

Thanks for this. Watching the gameplay it still seems way too easy to gain the offensive zone. Defense isn't pinching at all from what I can see. Not that they should every time, but I didn't see it at all. That's pretty disappointing. A ton of up and down too. This is frustrating to see again.

This is a concern for me too.

As Qb so rightly pointed out, that at least for off-line play we do have sliders to hopefully make the play more realistic. Because at least imo...being able to with ease, nearly always gain the offensive zone is arcade hockey. Certainty not a simulation. NHL hockey is not simply up and down back and forth shoot at the net type of play.

Like Money said...most times is a battle through the zones. Not too often do you see teams just let you skate into their end without being challenged. I have my fingers crossed, that the aggression sliders are effective enough to give us a more sim like play.

[Scottdau]

Re: Winter classic gameplay footage at Gamespot On The Spot

I wish it was more sloppier. But it looks like the AI was better.