First NHL 15 Screenshot Revealed, Pre-Order Offers Detailed

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpectralThundr

Take Two never patched the PS3 version first of all, and one shouldn't have to use player based roster edits to get the game to play some what reasonable. If one were to say that about EA's game, to use roster edits done by the player base, you would chew EA's head off for not doing it themselves. I hate the double standard in regards to the two series, because it's obvious and sad that a publisher's name on the front of the box can have so much sway over one's opinion. From what I understand there's a huge roster edit project on these very forums that seem to be extremely popular for NHL 14, have you tried those? Accepting mediocrity from one game rather than both is flat out dishonest but that's exactly what you're doing, because of a simple "push off animation" pretty much. Not only that but all the roster edits in the world won't get 2k10's AI to break out of the zone properly, the second you control the puck your entire team is already at the opposing team's blue line. That's not hockey, it's not even remotely resembling realism. But yet it gets a pass from the same folks. Fancy that.

You act like I think NHL 2k is some ridiculously good game that I play every day. I rarely play 2k because even that game just isn't good enough for me. Just like NHL it has it's good and bad. They're both ok to play on occasion but neither game makes me want to play it every day. Really the only area of 2k I've talked about being better is goalies. I just don't get how me saying 2k's goalies are better all of a sudden means I think the entire 2k game is better. That's twice now that you've tried twisting my words so you could call me out. You need to breathe and stop thinking I'm out to bash the NHL series. From 07-09 you would have seen me praising the game. I had almost nothing to complain about. The issues they had in 07-08 were getting fixed each year and it was also improving in other areas. From 10 on, things changed. I'm not trying to hate on this game all the time, but the fact of the matter is that the game isn't good enough to not talk badly about it.

I get that the PS3 version was not patched. That's a bummer for people who played on that system. I'd be angry as well if I had it for PS3. However, now you are saying you don't want to play some game that takes so many edits yet NHL is basically in the same exact spot. I've used the revamped rosters but they don't improve the game enough for me to play, even though they do for many others. Those guys put in a ton of work.

[SpectralThundr]

Quote: Originally Posted by bwiggy33

You act like I think NHL 2k is some ridiculously good game that I play every day. I rarely play 2k because even that game just isn't good enough for me. Just like NHL it has it's good and bad. They're both ok to play on occasion but neither game makes me want to play it every day. Really the only area of 2k I've talked about being better is goalies. I just don't get how me saying 2k's goalies are better all of a sudden means I think the entire 2k game is better. That's twice now that you've tried twisting my words so you could call me out. You need to breathe and stop thinking I'm out to bash the NHL series. From 07-09 you would have seen me praising the game. I had almost nothing to complain about. The issues they had in 07-08 were getting fixed each year and it was also improving in other areas. From 10 on, things changed. I'm not trying to hate on this game all the time, but the fact of the matter is that the game isn't good enough to not talk badly about it. I get that the PS3 version was not patched. That's a bummer for people who played on that system. I'd be angry as well if I had it for PS3. However, now you are saying you don't want to play some game that takes so many edits yet NHL is basically in the same exact spot. I've used the revamped rosters but they don't improve the game enough for me to play, even though they do for many others. Those guys put in a ton of work.

I had already made the jump to PS4 by the time those rosters were done so to be honest, I haven't tried them. And thank you for clarifying, though I think this is a case of different people like different things or have higher importance on aspects of the game. Personally I think 2k's goalies while they have some ok animations, are so terrible AI wise that it somewhat cancels out the animations. I'll take a goalie that can stop a routine shot over one that pushes off any day of the week and twice on sunday.

But you're right in that EA's game certainly could stand improvement in alot of areas. AI being the main one at least in regards to neutral zone pressure and movement in the zone, I think 14 was better than 13 in the latter regard of movement, but there are still way too many times where they stand still when they should be moving to either get open for a pass, or to open up the angle.

With all that being said however, I still truly believe hockey is the hardest sport to replicate in video game form, and the memory limitations of the PS3/360 likely handcuffed EA Canada on just how much they could do while still keeping a respectable framerate and making sure that the area they make money post release was at least sound. That doesn't mean I have to like HUT or the online modes getting more attention, and hell us GM guys certainly deserve a bone to be thrown our way. But I get why attention is paid to HUT.

And to be honest, I would be very surprised that with 6 gigs of ram to play with now, that EA doesn't at least make an effort on AI going into this gen. the PS3 and 360 were not powerful machines, to be honest the PS4 and Xbone aren't all that powerful either but they do have more room now under the hood to do much more than coast like they did towards the end of last gen.

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpectralThundr

With all that being said however, I still truly believe hockey is the hardest sport to replicate in video game form, and the memory limitations of the PS3/360 likely handcuffed EA Canada on just how much they could do while still keeping a respectable framerate and making sure that the area they make money post release was at least sound. That doesn't mean I have to like HUT or the online modes getting more attention, and hell us GM guys certainly deserve a bone to be thrown our way. But I get why attention is paid to HUT. And to be honest, I would be very surprised that with 6 gigs of ram to play with now, that EA doesn't at least make an effort on AI going into this gen. the PS3 and 360 were not powerful machines, to be honest the PS4 and Xbone aren't all that powerful either but they do have more room now under the hood to do much more than coast like they did towards the end of last gen.

This 100%. Hockey is ridiculously hard to replicate through a video game, but with how the AI is programmed now I still think they could have done a whole lot better than what they did. EA just seemed to get into the mode where if it wasn't fully broke, why fix it. I hope for the best with 15, I really do. Hell why wouldn't I? It's our only hockey option and no way in hell I want to sit without a hockey game for the second year straight. This was the first year I was without a hockey game on release day since I got NHL 98 along with my Playstation for Christmas when I was 7.

[johnnyg713]

Quote: Originally Posted by snowblind89

And the thing is that all of the complaints in this thread are almost all legitimate. Nobody is denying that this won't be the best NHL game ever made- in fact I fully expect it to be. However, it's the exact same scenario as FIFA 14. FIFA 14 is by far (World Cup 2010 being runner-up) football game ever made, and yet it has tons of gameplay, online, graphical, and authenticity problems. It's really repetitive, but the knock on EA only wanting to make money and sacrificing great gameplay is true. The facts are there for everyone to see. Constant resources and production time being spent on the Ultimate Team mode, while gameplay is left riddled with issues that go unfixed, and in the case of NHL 14 in relation to the bouncing puck, even being introduced halfway through it's life cycle. These gameplay issues affect ALL game modes, and that's why it's so confusing as to why year after year creating the best core gameplay, used across all game modes, is neglected both during pre-release and post-release. People need to take a step back and realize that it is completely acceptable to be critical of EA's work, and not accept that it's great simply because it is the only thing out there, or because it was alittle better than a previous installment. OS is built around a community that wants to see the best sports games possible, and as those consumers, we should demand as close to perfection as we can get,. When EA releases a game that has little things (among other, BIG things) like traveling Coyotes fans sitting in Sharks season ticket holder seating, wearing Winnipeg Jets jerseys, all of them wearing full face paint, it destroys the immersion, shows lack of attention to detail, and lack of respect for the consumer. Look I'm not saying I'm going to be boycotting the game or not buying it or anything, we've seen that claim before and it's a totally unrealistic expectation when EA releases the only NHL game out there. Yes it's part of the problem, but NHL 14 was the best version to date- the problem lies where with a fraction more time and energy spent on things other than Ultimate Team- it could have been not good, but great. EA talks the talk, we just want to see that they have the passion and dedication to not just to our wallets, but to make the best game possible.

I completely see where you are coming from, but in my opinion, the game is what it is. It's not real life hockey it's video game hockey. Can they always improve and try to replicate real life? Sure, but there will always be flaws. Even games like nba 2k that are nearly perfect in my eyes are not enjoyed by some members of the "hardcore" community. I go over to the nba 2k forums and see dozens of "this game is unplayable" "I'm done with this game" posts. A video game that people literally mistake for an actual game being broadcast on television still has customers who are not satisfied.

I used to be very nit-picky but I've learned to appreciate what the game does right and finally I'm starting to enjoy my games again. Not saying you or anyone else doesn't enjoy the game because you want to see improvement but I think there are some people who hold games to ridiculous standards (I used to be one of them).

As for bouncing puck complaints. EA has said they have completely redone puck physics. Wait and see how gameplay looks before getting worked up over what they have and haven't done for this years game. Again IMO I have learned to focus on what they have improved instead of worrying about what the game doesn't have.

[SpectralThundr]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnnyg713

I completely see where you are coming from, but in my opinion, the game is what it is. It's not real life hockey it's video game hockey. Can they always improve and try to replicate real life? Sure, but there will always be flaws. Even games like nba 2k that are nearly perfect in my eyes are not enjoyed by some members of the "hardcore" community. I go over to the nba 2k forums and see dozens of "this game is unplayable" "I'm done with this game" posts. A video game that people literally mistake for an actual game being broadcast on television still has customers who are not satisfied. I used to be very nit-picky but I've learned to appreciate what the game does right and finally I'm starting to enjoy my games again. Not saying you or anyone else doesn't enjoy the game because you want to see improvement but I think there are some people who hold games to ridiculous standards (I used to be one of them). As for bouncing puck complaints. EA has said they have completely redone puck physics. Wait and see how gameplay looks before getting worked up over what they have and haven't done for this years game. Again IMO I have learned to focus on what they have improved instead of worrying about what the game doesn't have.

Yeah this is pretty much my outlook as well. No hockey game will ever be a 100% representation of real life, it's just not going to happen regardless if you're EA, TakeTwo, Activision or who ever.

EA's game for me however even with it's issues comes pretty damn close, I can't see next gen being any worse, and if nothing else given what the PS4 and Xbox 1 have spec wise the gameplay itself can only get better.

I used to be as nitpicky as some of the folks here, and I truly believe criticism is alright, as long as it's constructive. Unfortunately often it isn't. And that doesn't just go towards EA but in general.

We used to have an EA rep on NHL frequent the board alot. He doesn't anymore because the community was so rude and downright insulting towards him and the NHL team, I get the impression he just figured it not worth the headache.

For me as long as I can get the sliders to work in such a way that I can get a pretty sim experience out of the game, I'm alright with that. It'll never be perfect and certain things can definitely stand for improvement, but it's close enough that I don't feel the need to really hate on the dev team or the series in general.

[snowblind89]

Spectral and Johnny, I think you guys are misunderstanding my attitude here. I understand that no, NHL will never be as perfect, or real, as the actual game, and I don't think that's anyones expectation for it to be that way anytime at least in the near future. I'll try and present my perspective another way: I think you would both agree that my initial criticisms (presence of Jets jerseys, face paint, lack of nameplate, the pitch black shadows on the inside of Thornton's and Hannan's eyes, etc.) of the released screenshot, the only look we have so far of NHL 15, are very accurate. Would you agree that these are fixable problems? I'm not saying they will be present in the final build of the game and will persist through release, nobody could know that, but all we know right now is that these issues exist. Assuming EA lives up to it's word and includes new puck physics, I would 100% expect the bouncing puck to not be in 15 either, but I was using it as an example of a fixable problem in the past that the development team overlooked taking attention to. I think you would also agree that dumping the puck into the opposition's zone is a crucial, crucial part of a hockey game? The bouncing puck rendered this mechanic of hockey strategy broken and hurt the game in the sense that it was both highly unrealistic, and directly affected gameplay. Both concepts that nobody wants present in NHL, no matter what. Again, I'm just using this as an example to prove EA's track record when it comes to attention to detail and vigilance in correcting those missed details.

I'll say it again, I am completely optimistic about NHL 15. I absolutely believe that they are taking a huge step in the right direction bringing the NBC package into the game, among other things, and with a full year of development I expect it to even surpass FIFA as EA's next generation masterpiece (Hell, NHL 14 on 360 was damn near close to being better than FIFA 14 on next gen anyway). I love the series and I love spending my time playing, when I, like everyone else who plays NHL, could be doing a million other things. It's really about balancing expectations, and when some parts of the only screenshot we have of NHL 15 look amazing (reflections, jersey and equipment modeling, authentic, licensed gear, image resolution and color correction) it raises those expectations, and some of the errors made in the same screenshot are near inexcusable for an engine and software that can produce such high graphical fidelity. I'm not attacking EA, I'm expressing my desire for the company to match the consumer's passion and desire when creating the game that we all spend our money on. OS is a perfect example of the communities passion, slider sub-forums for just about every game are hosted here, mods, settings, rosters, ratings, you name it- it has been tested and tried by the community. To relate to what I said earlier, you could say that this community has been "filling in the details". All of which make for a more realistic game experience, and definitely is for the better. When EA can really start closing the gap on the quality of content being put out by themselves community is when things will be looking great for sports video gaming.

[SpectralThundr]

To be honest snow, that wasn't even directed at you on my part. Hell it wasn't even directed at bwiggy either. More so the folks, and they know who they are, who will toss out a snarky comment here and there as to why the game sucks and yada yada yada, and buy the game anyway.

[Aggies7]

Not really going to argue over the screenshot. I personally think it looks good, but screenshots don't do anything for me. I need to see videos.