NHL 10 Patch Available, Post Impressions Here

[mroseland]

An easy way to verify that you are running the newest version is to play a game against the computer and see if it will win a faceoff to the LD. If so, you've got it. If it only goes to the RD, patch again.

[Vikes1]

The more I've played post patch, the more I'm noticing the cpu pass accuracy seems greater than pre-patch. And my pass % has gotten quite a bit higher as well. At least by the stats anyway.

Pre-patch, with the cpu pass ACC slider at 0 [All-Star] the cpu was very noticeably missing passes. Now post patch...not so much.

The cpu isn't exactly back to the tick-tack passing, but it does seem to be back to being too accurate again. Not a big problem for me...but I do miss the little bit more sloppy play I was getting from the cpu before the patch.

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vikes1

The more I've played post patch, the more I'm noticing the cpu pass accuracy seems greater than pre-patch. And my pass % has gotten quite a bit higher as well. At least by the stats anyway. Pre-patch, with the cpu pass ACC slider at 0 [All-Star] the cpu was very noticeably missing passes. Now post patch...not so much. The cpu isn't exactly back to the tick-tack passing, but it does seem to be back to being too accurate again. Not a big problem for me...but I do miss the little bit more sloppy play I was getting from the cpu before the patch.

Noticed this, too. Percentages are now closer to 80% for me and the CPU, whereas before it was 70-75%. Doesn't change the game much for me, though.

[ucas005]

I'm actually noticing the opposite. The CPU % has taken a hit. Seeing it in the stats, but more importantly also in the game play. Love it.

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Djwlfpack

Noticed this, too. Percentages are now closer to 80% for me and the CPU, whereas before it was 70-75%. Doesn't change the game much for me, though.

I'm embarrassed to admit that pre-patch, it wasn't all that uncommon, at least with the stats, for my pass
% to be in the 50's to mid 60's. Now...yep DJ, I'm at or just below 80% as well. Kinda odd though, because the "feel" of my passing seems unchanged. Which leads me to believe, that for my percentage...the change rests with just how the stats read for some reason. Not sure though.

One thing thats very cool is...in my experience anyway, theres lots of varying games. I recall one game in particular, the cpu had gotten called for icing 5-6 times due to missed passes. And lost control in my zone by having cycling attempts, end up back in the cpu's end. Post patch...this type of thing seems toned down quite a bit. But anyway, like you said DJ....the patch hasn't hurt the gameplay for me either. And with how the games vary around, that sloppier type of play may still be there.

[speels]

I hear a lot of people are saying that they are tired of outshooting the CPU, and I think I have figured out why this is and I think that with a little tweaking, EA can fix this.
Right now the CPU shooting percentages are ridiculously high because they score a lot while shooting a little. What I have noticed while watching games in NHL10 and on TV is that the CPU does not take a bad shot. They don't just skate over the blueline and let a slapshot go. They will either try to pass it for a better shot or cycle it until something opens up. They don't shot the puck an net like in real life where almost any shot is a good shot. Honestly next time you play count how many shots you take where there is no screen, or you are wide open, but outside the hash marks. These are shots a goalie will most likely save. The CPU doesn't take those shots, unless they are down on the scroeboard.
If EA was able to allow the CPU to take these shots if there was nothing else going, then the shot totals would be higher.
An example at regular strength, the dman gets the puck at the point with no one between him and the goalie, in NHL 10 the dman will always pass that to someone closer to the goal, but in real hockey the dman will try to put the puck at the goalies pads and hope for a rebound or that one of his teammates will get to the puck and get a stick on it. I feel the CPU only shoots when it has a good percentage shot and that is why the shot totals are low, but the shooting percentage is high.

What got me thinking about looking at this is the whole neutral zone fiasco we have, where the CPU will pass and skate the puck from one side to the other, because I have 5 players all lined up at the blueline. In real hockey, that never happens, they would just dump it in and go get it, but EA has "trained" the CPU to not change strategies quickly. Thus forcing the CPU to think only "carry the puck in" and not realize they could dump the puck in and chase it down. I noticed this last night when I was playing Washington and there was one time when they passed and skated for 2 minutes in the neutral zone before they finally dumped the puck in. I don't chase the players in the neutral zone, I forced teams to dump and chase.

I think that if EA could somehow let the CPU recognize things faster that the game would be better.

[wsu_gb23]

CPU goalies are out of control. They miraculously recover on easy rebound shots, and in general make amazing saves. I played 4 periods with the CAPS and scored zero goals.

[plaidchuck]

Quote: Originally Posted by speels

I hear a lot of people are saying that they are tired of outshooting the CPU, and I think I have figured out why this is and I think that with a little tweaking, EA can fix this. Right now the CPU shooting percentages are ridiculously high because they score a lot while shooting a little. What I have noticed while watching games in NHL10 and on TV is that the CPU does not take a bad shot. They don't just skate over the blueline and let a slapshot go. They will either try to pass it for a better shot or cycle it until something opens up. They don't shot the puck an net like in real life where almost any shot is a good shot. Honestly next time you play count how many shots you take where there is no screen, or you are wide open, but outside the hash marks. These are shots a goalie will most likely save. The CPU doesn't take those shots, unless they are down on the scroeboard. If EA was able to allow the CPU to take these shots if there was nothing else going, then the shot totals would be higher. An example at regular strength, the dman gets the puck at the point with no one between him and the goalie, in NHL 10 the dman will always pass that to someone closer to the goal, but in real hockey the dman will try to put the puck at the goalies pads and hope for a rebound or that one of his teammates will get to the puck and get a stick on it. I feel the CPU only shoots when it has a good percentage shot and that is why the shot totals are low, but the shooting percentage is high. I think that if EA could somehow let the CPU recognize things faster that the game would be better.

Also the fact that the CPU doesn't take advantage of breakways, odd man, or even 2-2 rushes doesn't help... I've seen a player on a clean breakaway pass it behind himself.. (kinda funny NHL2k10 has too many breakaways and NHL10 has none)

This seems strange to me because the AI at least did this in NHL09, granted it was a little too up and down but at least it was there.. I don't understand how that was completely gutted and replaced with AI that just wants to cycle.

Although in EA's defense it seems post-patch if the CPU has a completely clean 2 on 1, it will attempt a shot more often, which is at least better... however in any other case it does the same ol' skate into the corner and stare at the crowd waiting to pass it to the point man.

This is also funny in contrast with 2k10 this year, in that in 2k10 the CPU takes too many shots (although lowering the period times and good slider sets helps this)

I honestly wish I could just take most of 2k10's AI this year and mash it with NHL10's graphics, goalies, and BAP, and then BAM! You'd have the perfect hockey video game.