NHL 11 Screenshot: All-New Real-Time Physics Engine

[Vince]

How anyone can think NHL 10's presentation is top notch is beyond me.

No stat overlays. Nothing about powerplay. If you're talking simply commentary okay, but that is only a small part of presentation as a whole...

Please don't even compare NHL 10's to the Show's.

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by jayhawker

This may be a good time for EA to work on this, as 2K hockey takes a break, but it also means that instead of refining an awesome game, NHL 11 could be the beginning of a new game. It might take a few years to get it really as tight as the current game.

I think this is a realistic concern Jay.

Seems like with almost everything that's newly tried with anything, there's bound to be some growing pains. Things that are going to need improvement as time goes by...from where the "new thing" started.

I sure hoping from where this new physic engine starts, it really shows some terrific promise. And that the game won't need too much work to refine it. But my confidants level still remains high, that NHL '11' will be a solid, and better game.

[onlybygrace]

Humans, humans...

its okay for both gameplay and presentation to be priorites.

Both are important, my only evaluation is that EA is further along in the gameplay department...to the point that the presentation needs to catch-up a bit.

Not to say gameplay is irrelavant or beyond critism.

C'mon guys, its not an all or nothing proposition in either respect.

[Scottdau]

I would really like them to have the skaters skate out of the Sharks head and others teams things, like the star in Dallas and some others. That would go a long way with me. Also, I would really like to see more real time celebration and the 5 guy hug.

[mercalnd]

Quote: Originally Posted by onlybygrace

Opinion and your welcome to it...I see franchise as needing some work, but definitely still a lot of fun. If you wait for any franchise to be perfect or even close to it, I'm sorry to tell you that you'll rarely be satisfied. Now...if there were something like MLB 2k10 where drafted rookies freeze the game when coming to the plate, I would agree with you. However, if you can live the the salary cap OFF it fixes the FA's rotting in free agency for the most part. And the trading and be toggled on/off for most of the season, which is a way of having some control of the madness on that one. Perfect??? No. Playable??? Yes.

I agree. The word unplayable gets thrown around way too much when it comes to these sports games, regardless of which sport or series.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by onlybygrace

Humans, humans... its okay for both gameplay and presentation to be priorites. Both are important, my only evaluation is that EA is further along in the gameplay department...to the point that the presentation needs to catch-up a bit. Not to say gameplay is irrelavant or beyond critism. C'mon guys, its not an all or nothing proposition in either respect.

For sure, and people tend to not take what you're saying into account. I would imagine presentation got some love this year as well, (especially after just reading about game stories in Madden this year)

I've also been saying the last couple years that the game on the whole (and I think you and I touched on it during one of our coversations actually) needs more animations all around and it appears the're getting that in this year. Hopefully when they say real time physics this applies to everything and not just checking/checking animations. Broken sticks though to me alone is a huge surprise, I never though we'd ever see that in a hockey video game, I just hope its implimented well.

Thats not even mentioning the annoucement about the CHL additions with player/team likenesses thats going in this year as well.

Its a yearly product guys, they're not going to be able to get to everything after a year or two, they rebuilt from the ground up for 07 and the game on the whole has gotten progressively better each year. They still have a ways to go obviously on some aspects but imo this dev team has proven they not only get it when it comes to what the fanbase wants but they actually care about the product they're making and want to improve every year.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vince

How anyone can think NHL 10's presentation is top notch is beyond me. No stat overlays. Nothing about powerplay. If you're talking simply commentary okay, but that is only a small part of presentation as a whole... Please don't even compare NHL 10's to the Show's.

There are stat overlays but its usually just scoring numbers, I think most if not all of us agree the presentation when it comes to overlays needs work, but the actual play by play is extremely solid.

I also think that is something The Show does really well with, from stats from a pitcher's last game, to out of town scores and various stats, the awesome ticker, to upcoming games for the team you're using etc. Adding that kind of thing to NHL would go a very long way to making the presentation aspect feel fresh and more TV like.

[Scottdau]

I am hoping this real time physics will help with more animations. But I agree Realm, I really would like to see as much as Shows. If they go that route it will make it only that much better!