NHL 13 Wishlist

[infinityBCRT]

So, as all seasoned sports game vets know, EA has already started to lay down the foundations for NHL 13, so its important to get our feedback out to them as soon as possible on NHL 12 so our input can actually make a difference to next year's game. I'm hoping a mod can sticky this thread so that all of us can keep our feedback directed towards next year's game here (whereas game breaking glitches should probably stick in the Bugs and Glitches Thread)

Link to NHL 12 Wishlist

[infinityBCRT]

I've had a couple of burning issues on my plate the last little while for the NHL series in general.

1. Had a few friends over last night and we were playing NHL 12. One of them hadn't really played these games serious since the days of NHL 94 on Genesis and NHL 95 on PC. I had to turn on NHL 94 controls for him. That being said it still wasn't that easy for him because checking was completely different. It would be nice if there was a way to turn on an NHL 94/Arcade mode where Check = Charge/Turbo to allow people who aren't serious gamers to still have fun with the game.

2. Theres no way to make a game thats both realistic gameplay and realistic stats with only 5 minute periods so they need a way to adjust it to people's tastes. I know the Casual/Default/Hardcore option kinda does this but I think it needs to be taken a step further to be a full slider like so:

[Super Arcadey/NHL 94 gameplay]->[Realistic Stats for 5 mins/Arcade]->[Realistic Stats for 10 mins/Pseudo-realistic]->[Realistic Stats for 20 mins/Realistic gameplay]

There are some who like realistic stats at 5/10 mins, other people who like realistic gameplay at 5/10 minutes with stats which would be reduced from a normal game. This type of system would help please everyone's gameplay style, plus throwing in the arcade mode would let casual players have fun with the game.

3. As we get older and lead more demanding lives, the game needs to be more flexible to our needs. I like the Sim Intervention stuff and Quitting to Sim options but I'd like it to go a step further. Sim intervention needs to be allowed during a game as well. So say for example I'm leading 3-0 in the first, I'd like to do simulation but be able to intervene again if the score ever gets close.

And saved games is a feature that must be added back. Theres so many times where I'm waiting for an EASHL friend or Online League opponent to finish up with their game. If there was the ability to save a game in progress and they were playing offline, they would easily be able to save their game in progress if it was an offline game and then jump into an online game with me.

Also, if they were playing an online game, I could also jump into an offline game for a bit, and then save my progress when they were done playing their online game.

4. In the past few years, difficulty of Pro was too easy for me and All-Star was too hard. This year I find All-Star to be perfect for me. But I'm sure there are others that find it to be too hard. Instead of having these 4 or 5 fixed skill levels I think it should just be a difficulty % slider between 0 to 100. Let people decide how hard they want it. Maybe keep in Rookie, Pro, All-Star, etc, but then add a "Custom" option which lets you set it between 0 and 100.

5. I have a brother who doesn't live in the same city as me anymore, and it annoys me that I can't play the same game modes with him online that I could offline. Even if there was an option to allow xbox live party members to act as a 2nd,3rd,4th controller on my system that would be enough for me. I also find it kinda silly that I can't play co-op with him online at all. There needs to be co-op modes. As competitive multiplayer gamers get more hardcore, co-op is increasingly becoming the space where casual players like to play.

In offline mode, people can even play Ranked Vs games with multiple people on the same console, but I can't do that at all online with a friend in any type of mode. I'd also like to see mixing and matching options there. Say for example, I have a group of 3 people on one console and a friend online, I'd like to have it let me play 2 vs 2 with one of the players being from xbox live.

6. Customization, customization, customization. Its about time people have the option to use custom sliders, custom rosters & custom teams in unranked online modes. Again, comes down to giving the same experience online that you can have offline.

Overall I still think EA did a great job in the year they had to develop the game. Its funny that a few years ago I was moaning about the skating engine, and while I still think its an issue (and hardcore fans will eat EA alive if NHL 13 doesn't have a better one ), that's not the thing that I want to get addressed the most. Outside of any money goals (wrap around the net seems to be bad this year). The features I'm looking towards getting are ones that solve user experience problems.

[Suntan Superman]

I'd really like an overhaul of the presentation, and menu system

[infinityBCRT]

Quote: Originally Posted by Suntan Superman

I'd really like an overhaul of the presentation, and menu system

Thats one thing I didn't mention in my big list but yes.

The changing of the goal celebrations was an awful move. NHL 11 looked a lot better. I think they need to move to getting NBC/TSN licenses now for the game and using McGuire/Emerick/Edzo for US games and Miller/McGuire or Cuthbert/McGuire for Canadian games.

Also think that the menu system is slow. Too much time between transitions. And the Media Hub still wasn't fixed.

Finally something I didn't mention was historical teams. I think EA should try to work with the NHLPA and older players to put together some DLC for classic players. like $5 DLC to get players who were drafted in the 60s & 70s, $5 for players drafted in the 80s & 90s, and $5 DLC for players who were drafted before the 60s. That way we can get classic teams in the game with some of the real players from the league. Put in randomly generated players in for players you couldn't get the rights to, and then let us edit them ourselves.

[gopher_guy]

I think it's fairly obvious that presentation needs to be overhauled.

I think they need to change the commentators (Not that I dislike Thorne and Clement, but that people will still feel it's stale if they are in the game), and completely change the in game presentation. Everything from the colors to the fonts to the animations. Make it look like a TV broadcast! In BeAGM, show the conference standings every once in a while! Show relevant things happening in the season, and have the commentators talk about it!

[jaiman]

Full blown presentation (A.K.A NBA 2K), which includes a custom option for the broadcast camera! There is no excuse for NHL 13.

[canucksss]

BaGM need a tons of love:

1. Have an option for 82-60-41 games per season - you dont like to sim everytime and you cant play that much games specially if you're working and raising family.

2. Have realistic fatigue throughout the season (no matter if its less than 82 games/season), specially for goalies.

3. as mentioned before, better presentation. just an idea, say you enter the SC and lost, at least have a dramatic ending for the defeated team ... like having a scene in their locker room. and if you win, let the champagne bottle open up instead of generic on the ice picture with the CUP,... its boring after seeing this animation for several years now.

4. Have a coach mode - i know, i know, EA have lots of modes that need improvement why create another one. similar to BaGM except you cannot play as the players but you can assign lines, recruit players etc.

5. if you're team is playing poorly let the crowds react by low attendance or something

6. for goodness sake, change the animation wherein if you go to the bench and you always see the back up goalie leaning back and seems talking to someone.... and no hockey sticks at the background just towels.... ive seen this since i was in college...sheeze change it.

thats it for now i guess

[misch13fRoyale]

-REAL TIME PRESENTATION!!!!!! madden does it... talk to those guys!!! the whole cutting to player skating a circle on the ice that has nothing to do with the location of the upcoming face off, is just lame!!!(and i know alot of people will be asking for this!!!)
-maybe a second or so longer on the cut scenes that show stats or a milestone reached by a player.
-of course, GLITCH FREE please. most people let it sit and collect dust, until things are full speed, or they return it, to the point where gamestops or what not, start warning you about the game.

anyways, enough ranting for me. Still love the game