Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

[Tonyferelli]

Hello NHL Community,

There is an upcoming Gamechanger event in early December. This is considered to be a very conceptual meeting and to be strongly focused on the feedback and features of game design. NHL 16 has been out in the hands of gamers and fans for around two and a half months and since making the leap to the current generation of consoles we can all agree it definitely isn't perfect.

The NHL 16 iteration of the Gamechanger's had provided valuable feedback to developers as they were on hand to provide thoughts on anything they needed 24/7. The general feeling was that the game was heading in the right direction as the previous title NHL 15 had strayed far away from what we expected to have in an NHL game. This year, so far it has had its ups, but not without its frustrations. The Gamechangers will be involved at a much earlier stage than in the past and this has the highest potential to have an impact on the direction the community wants the NHL series to go in.

In short, the purpose of this is too find out what you guys want to see in the game, how certain features should work and to gather feedback for what is already there. Reaching out to you guys can help centralize the thoughts and feedback that we have as a community so it can be documented and presented to the developers at the first Gamechanger event.

A month ago a thread was started on LG and EA forums to try and gain some feedback on what you guys thought of the gameplay and what you guys thought could change. That information has been gathered and documented, it also has helped reflect what you have seen in the recent tuners and updates.

Here is what we would be looking for:

Game Mode: What game mode you are talking about, or what game mode you'd like to see in the game. (IE: EASHL, GM, HUT, Be a Pro, General Gameplay)
Feature/Gameplay Title: The feature you are talking about. (IE: TPS, Vision Control, Hitting, Shooting)
Feature/Gameplay issue: What is the problem with the feature you mentioned? (IE: Doesn't Exist, Doesn't feel right, has bad collision detection)
Feature/Gameplay Solution: How would you solve the issue above? (IE: Increase the accuracy slightly on all shots, bump up the hitting slightly on everyone.)

There has been plenty of discussion with TPS (True Performance Skating), Vision Control, Hitting, Shooting and much more. This is just a way to get everything together so we can help mold the future of the NHL series together.

Wishlists are definitely welcome as well!

We all thank your for giving us this opportunity to represent you as a voice that can talk freely and directly to the studio. We hope to continue to bridge the gap between the developers and the community as we move forward.

Thank you,

~EA NHL Gamechangers

[TDKing]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

Bring back GM connected with the option to play shorter seasons and custom sliders. A web interface would be nice too. Also need the option for shorter season in the offline GM mode !

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Cletus]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

Talk to Adam Jones and BigWill33. I think AdamJones has a huge packet hanging around here and also one he sent to EA. I hope you're being sincere and don't let us scare you off. Weren't not exactly happy with this series, or how gamechangers were handled last year. BigWill "prophesied" that we wouldn't see much of him/them. We haven't.


This is a thread to start. http://www.operationsports.com/forum...list-time.html

[Nickflyers]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

GameMode: BAGM
Feature: Morale

This needs to be fleshed out better. It's a good start and adds some much needed immersion to the mode, but many of us have ran into issues where players that aren't fully recovered from injuries would become disgruntled and demand trades if they were scratched while still recovering.

That leaves the players with two options. Deal with an angry player and see his overall plummet and not recover or play said player and risk additional injury.

Another "bug/issue" with the morale is that it's pretty much a given if you select the 2nd option you get positive or no morale effect 90% of the time. Half the complaints don't really make much sense to begin with and really need some variety and logic behind it.

[Ovechkin962]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

This is for GM Mode. It would be great to have a extra minor league team in GM Mode, like a ECHL team where we could send our prospect that are not good enough for the AHL so they can play and develop. MLB The Show does a fantastic job at this. If I have, lets say, a 55 overall top 9 forward and I want to develop him and he is not good enough for my AHL team, I wants him to play so he can grow!

[Roscosuper]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

This is for GM Mode. It would be great to have a extra minor league team in GM Mode, like a ECHL team where we could send our prospect that are not good enough for the AHL so they can play and develop. MLB The Show does a fantastic job at this. If I have, lets say, a 55 overall top 9 forward and I want to develop him and he is not good enough for my AHL team, I wants him to play so he can grow!

I strongly agree here. Though, I understand licensing could be a problem which is why I would be in favor of fictional leagues if they supported a more "realistic" Be a GM.


For example, you could send players to a "D-League" (developmental) that could just simulate stats and progression.


It would be great if all leagues were integrated... sort of a world of hockey (IIHF) even if some leagues were fictional (i.e. the KHL).


If the game imitated real life (the whole resign phase is lame) but had to substitute in some made up components in place of real life counterparts, it would still be cool.


Stats need to be scaled to user settings. If I'm playing 10-minute periods, then I'm averaging around 30 faceoffs per game. Even if I play a small amount of games my stats compared with the rest of the league are off. At least an option for this would be a good idea, ya know like they had back in NHL 96.


Also, some good gameplay that includes defensive aspects of the game. Like, tie-ups and neutral zone pressure. At least a setting or mode for offline realism. I too don't want to play long games online, but when it comes to a Be a GM/Franchise/Dynasties depth, realism and options are key.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

I strongly agree here. Though, I understand licensing could be a problem which is why I would be in favor of fictional leagues if they supported a more "realistic" Be a GM.


For example, you could send players to a "D-League" (developmental) that could just simulate stats and progression.


It would be great if all leagues were integrated... sort of a world of hockey (IIHF) even if some leagues were fictional (i.e. the KHL).


If the game imitated real life (the whole resign phase is lame) but had to substitute in some made up components in place of real life counterparts, it would still be cool.


Stats need to be scaled to user settings. If I'm playing 10-minute periods, then I'm averaging around 30 faceoffs per game. Even if I play a small amount of games my stats compared with the rest of the league are off. At least an option for this would be a good idea, ya know like they had back in NHL 96.


Also, some good gameplay that includes defensive aspects of the game. Like, tie-ups and neutral zone pressure. At least a setting or mode for offline realism. I too don't want to play long games online, but when it comes to a Be a GM/Franchise/Dynasties depth, realism and options are key.

Can't agree with this enough—both with resepect to GM mode and neutral zone pressure.

I want to see less-skilled players who get bottled up in the neutral zone opt to get the puck in deep. There are already some fairly well balanced mechanics with pinning and managing speed and randomness of puck physics for defensemen turning and trying to settle and possess a puck on a dump in. The AI just needs to be more decisive about when it loses the front foot on attack.

GM mode needs to get integrated like FIFA's manager mode. I'm not sure if this is a licensing issue though—like one or more licenses forbids a mode where the leagues interact.

With the World Cup coming up, and it being an NHL property, this would be a great excuse to start the work on integrating leagues, and international competition into one mode so we could draw players for national teams from the fluid rosters of different leagues. Obviously the World Juniors (or non-IIHF licensed equivalent) would be a great top prospect tournament.

The series does a great job with licensing pretty much all of the world's important leagues, but a fake Russian League for such a mode would be great. Moscow Red Stars vs. Vladivostok Commodores would be sweet. And yeah, if the ECHL is too much of a licensing investment for not a lot of return, give us a fake second tier d-league.

[Simple Mathematics]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

We want more player separation. We want them to use more of the 1-99 scale than they currently do. We want to feel the difference between our first line and our fourth line. There needs to be a huge difference between John Scott and Sidney Crosby.

Attributes need to matter more. If a player has a low deking rating, he should be really bad at doing moves and lose the puck frequently. Sounds simple, right? But currently, lowering attributes does not make enough of a difference to reflect real life player player separation.

Roster updates - we need more of them. Period. They have to reflect the current product on TV.

Every single attribute matters. Don't just assign attributes randomly. Look up scouting reports online. Watch film on the players.

Need help with the rosters? You know where to find me. I've done the Revamped Rosters for years now.

[s_mkheidze]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

Game Mode: GM

Feature/Gameplay Title: Immersion in the mode.

Feature/Gameplay issue: It is hard for the game to hold interest for the user as there is really no reward for playing a full season and winning the cup

Feature/Gameplay Solution: Make the draft more of an event, with prospect profiles/interviews. Same with the trade deadline day....I am sure one of you has seen that there is a WHOLE DAY devoted to it on TSN and for Odin's sake, people actaully teke the day off of work to watch it. Don't just cheap out and give us the phone thing back....make it a game within the game. This game has soooooooooo much potential....achieve it.

[MizzouRah]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

BeaGM Mode

Goalies need reworked/redone.. at times they play realistic, but there are too many times where they "freeze" in the butterfly position and cheap goals go in. I don't mind an occasional cheap goal... but in almost every game there is some odd goal that has you scratch your head. Pucks going through pads, through jerseys and back out, underneath sticks that are on the ice, etc.. It's almost as if they are robots at time and have no urgency. It's time for the AI goalies to get a major overhauling.

Defensive AI - bring back tie ups in front of the net, too many player get off that one timer when a D player is right next to them. They should have positional awareness, especially with regards to whom I'm controlling. I have to control a D player because if I don't, someone is always wide open in front of the goal for an easy score.

The AI as a whole needs to be more creative/dynamic. Every team ping pongs the puck around. I see some player separation.. but not near enough and definitely not much on team differential. Big teams should dump the puck in and forecheck, speedy teams should carry the puck in, etc..

More overlays/stats before/during the game. I skip the in game stuff because it's so boring and repetitive. They did add a few new overlays this year, but we need more. Would also be nice to have an around the league scoreboard during intermission.

[Tonyferelli]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

Liking the responses so far, thanks guys!

[csamuelsvt]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

BeaGM Mode

Goalies need reworked/redone.. at times they play realistic, but there are too many times where they "freeze" in the butterfly position and cheap goals go in. I don't mind an occasional cheap goal... but in almost every game there is some odd goal that has you scratch your head. Pucks going through pads, through jerseys and back out, underneath sticks that are on the ice, etc.. It's almost as if they are robots at time and have no urgency. It's time for the AI goalies to get a major overhauling.

Defensive AI - bring back tie ups in front of the net, too many player get off that one timer when a D player is right next to them. They should have positional awareness, especially with regards to whom I'm controlling. I have to control a D player because if I don't, someone is always wide open in front of the goal for an easy score.

The AI as a whole needs to be more creative/dynamic. Every team ping pongs the puck around. I see some player separation.. but not near enough and definitely not much on team differential. Big teams should dump the puck in and forecheck, speedy teams should carry the puck in, etc..

More overlays/stats before/during the game. I skip the in game stuff because it's so boring and repetitive. They did add a few new overlays this year, but we need more. Would also be nice to have an around the league scoreboard during intermission.

The goalie position needs to honestly be completely revamped and made DYNAMIC. They did some things to them that are better(more cosmetic than anything i.e. the goalies glove position is higher/better stance), but there is still plenty of warping by the A.I. and the goalies simply go down WAY too early in the butterfly position at odd times, especially when you're close in. I absolutely HATE all of the glove saves in the game as well....they just need to completely redo the position/animations and not recycle the ones that have been in since NHL '07 while adding in a few new ones. Goals that should go in after remarkable plays, do not go in, however if you take shots from the opposite blue line on the goalie, the weak shots go in...makes no sense. Anyone that has played, knows what I'm talking about.

If you want to see goalies that are dynamic, go see NHL 2K11 was it or NHL2k12 and look at how they react to the puck. The saves are beautiful to look at along with their reactions to when they give up a goal. Everything 2K did made the position look realistic

[MizzouRah]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

The goalie position needs to honestly be completely revamped and made DYNAMIC. They did some things to them that are better(more cosmetic than anything i.e. the goalies glove position is higher/better stance), but there is still plenty of warping by the A.I. and the goalies simply go down WAY too early in the butterfly position at odd times, especially when you're close in. I absolutely HATE all of the glove saves in the game as well....they just need to completely redo the position/animations and not recycle the ones that have been in since NHL '07 while adding in a few new ones. Goals that should go in after remarkable plays, do not go in, however if you take shots from the opposite blue line on the goalie, the weak shots go in...makes no sense. Anyone that has played, knows what I'm talking about.

If you want to see goalies that are dynamic, go see NHL 2K11 was it or NHL2k12 and look at how they react to the puck. The saves are beautiful to look at along with their reactions to when they give up a goal. Everything 2K did made the position look realistic

Agreed.. I absolutely hate how goalies go into a butterfly early and then glide slowly to the left or right.. meanwhile, the puck goes right in from the side. I know what you mean too.. they make a sprawling save and then you shoot one from the blue line and it goes under their pads.

GOALIES NEED A TOTAL RE-HAUL, PERIOD. Need to add a ton of animation to them as well.

[miner7g]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

Roster sharing is a huge one; I think it would have some unexpected benefits such as having people create older era rosters, different leagues such as the unlicensed NCAA, ECHL, KHL for people to add prospects and perhaps broaden their knowledge of the scope of the game. Heck, the Russian MHL is emerging as a legitimate league, I would love for someone who has a knowledge of that league to post prospects up there. It would eliminate a lot of the complaints about inaccurate rosters. Also, more expanded editing. Why aren't you able to edit handedness, height, weight, etc.? I did a CHL update once and I found a guy that was made 5'6" in-game and was actually 6'4" (!!) in real life (Ty Stanton I believe.) It's hard to cover all your bases, and I'm not criticising, I'm just saying: Use your hardcore fans to do the work for you! I live in Burnaby, I'd actually be willing to come over and volunteer my time to editing rosters.

As well, I'm a goalie in real life, and I posted an article's worth of suggestions for goaltending. One I selfishly emphasize is goalie customization; players got love last year, and it wouldn't even be as hard as it was for players to implement! It's in the goalie gamechangers suggestion thread.

One thing I'd like to note is: The team color palettes are completely wrong. For some reason in NHL 15 the color palettes were thrown off, I'm not sure exactly why.

Anyway, I do love the direction the game is going, and the fact that you guys are reaching out to us for advice!

[actionhank]

Re: Gamechanger Event #1 - Wishlists and Gameplay Feedback

This is copied from another thread, but I can definitely only speak to Be a GM, as I haven't really played much else in the past handful of years.

Clearing the puck in this game is downright awful. When you do manage to get the puck fired in the right direction (They seem to spin and shoot at the boards, or back behind the goalie more often than not) the AI is so easily able to snatch the pucks out of the air.

I had a guy on the Oilers yesterday pull a full-on Parayko slapshot out of midair with his glove...not even 15 feet away from him. Just reached out and caught it like it was nothing.

The aiming problem hurts with using the actual puck clear (RB?) in the game. You can't accurately aim where you clear, how high it goes, or the power behind it...so it ends up just being worthless. You can't use it off the boards because you'll either just throw it straight over, or you'll just bounce it off the wall behind your player and into the slot where your AI teammates have since skated off to overwhelm the other team's worst winger 3-1 in the corner.

Defensive control and AI is really one of the biggest problems with the game currently. Offensive AI doesn't quite know where to be, but even they're more competent than the defensive AI.

There's no real accurate way to aim your poke checks, so if a player ends up really close to you, you're stuck either mashing the poke button in the hopes that it somehow hits, which 9/10 times it won't, because you're poking too far behind the player/puck. Alternatively, you can go for the stick lift, which for online play's sake makes you stop moving your feet, and generally misses or results in a penalty, or you can go for the body check that doesn't allow you to physically tie someone up while continuing to move. You just suddenly lunge at them and are likely going to miss, or connect and just be bounced off.

Defense is just frustrating. You aren't rewarded for good positioning, and maintaining any decent gap is difficult. It's made more frustrating by the fact that even if you do manage to keep a decent gap, the AI can move so frantically that you have no real chance at a poke check, or even just getting a stick/leg in front of a shot. I've started to realize playing defense in the game that it's really just more of a gamble. You can mash RB and hope to get that poke check in, but it's risky on the PK, because you're more than likely going to be down 5 on 3 if you do. The other defensive moves are more likely to pull you out of position, and even if you find a good spot, you're not going to be able to do much, because passing lanes are impossible to block, as are shots. And if you decide to lay down, you had better hope your momentum doesn't launch you through a players skates, or that they don't back over you (Had Kopitar do that to Shattenkirk this weekend) because when they trip over your still body, you're getting another penalty.

The AI itself doesn't help. Too often players don't properly pivot to play the puck/player. Last night I scored a simple goal, because as I skated in with Fabbri, Giordano followed me back towards the net. As I skated down the right side of the slot, Gio stopped just below the hash marks, but instead of playing any more defense, he just stopped and pivoted to face me. No defending, no pressure on the pass...he just sat and waited. As Fabbri got near the goal line, the other defender who was on the opposite side of the slot positioned between Fabbri and Backes decided to stop guarding the shooter and skate over to Fabbri. Unfortunately, he not only left Backes without a single Flames player within 5 feet of him, on the backdoor-side of the net...but he didn't even play the pass. He literally just skated towards Fabbri, and as the puck sailed through his skates, threw a check at Fabbri that was not only late, but missed...

Now, Backes has the easy tap in (which he nails) on a goalie that didn't pivot well to cover the shot...all because the defender that was on him skated over to cover Fabbri who should have been covered by Giordano, who was standing just below the hash marks literally doing nothing besides watching the whole thing take place. It's like Giordano was mad at Hiller, and decided to just wreck his GAA.