NHL 12 Blog - Be a GM Improvements

[BlueNGold]

Quote: Originally Posted by NHLandPESFan

So it sounds like no multiplayer Be a GM again? Back to NHL 2k8 I go. Unbelievable EA won't add this after so many years.

Why add that when the mode itself still needs fixing?

[xx19kilosoldier]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueNGold

Why add that when the mode itself still needs fixing?

No offense meant, but, this line of thinking allows these developers to slow play their fanbases while ringing up sales figures.

Fixing a mode should not be a bullet point for a games development cycle. I am sorry, refining and adding to a game mode are great and its understandable that it takes time to add features, but for the love of god, dont come to me expecting a pat on the back fixing issues in a game mode that have been broken for 3 freaking years!!!

Im sorry, but coming from an offline Franchise sports gamer, the shape in which the EA brands franchise modes are in is horrible and even worse is the way in which some around here expect us to be "happy" when they fix longstanding bugs and claim "new feature!!"

I dont mean to go on a rant, and I mean no disrespect to anyone, but its just year after year of frustration hoping that "this year" will be the year when franchise modes will see their potential followed by year after year of frustration.

Bottom line, no, I am not going to pat them on the back for fixing bugs/broken features/broken sim engine, that have been around for years in BAGM and calling attention to them in an effort to "sell" the game.

I am not a cynic in anything else in my life, just tired of EA and its handling of their franchises.

[BlueNGold]

Quote: Originally Posted by xx19kilosoldier

No offense meant, but, this line of thinking allows these developers to slow play their fanbases while ringing up sales figures. Fixing a mode should not be a bullet point for a games development cycle. I am sorry, refining and adding to a game mode are great and its understandable that it takes time to add features, but for the love of god, dont come to me expecting a pat on the back fixing issues in a game mode that have been broken for 3 freaking years!!! Im sorry, but coming from an offline Franchise sports gamer, the shape in which the EA brands franchise modes are in is horrible and even worse is the way in which some around here expect us to be "happy" when they fix longstanding bugs and claim "new feature!!" I dont mean to go on a rant, and I mean no disrespect to anyone, but its just year after year of frustration hoping that "this year" will be the year when franchise modes will see their potential followed by year after year of frustration. Bottom line, no, I am not going to pat them on the back for fixing bugs/broken features/broken sim engine, that have been around for years in BAGM and calling attention to them in an effort to "sell" the game. I am not a cynic in anything else in my life, just tired of EA and its handling of their franchises.

Wait, what? Who said fixing Be A GM should be a "bullet point"? Yeah, in a perfect game-making world, there would be no issues that need to be fixed, but we don't live in that world.

You say you're an offline Franchise sports gamer (I am too), but yet you're complaining about not wanting to see old issues fixed in the mode you play most and how bad EA's franchise modes have been? How does that make sense?

If EA were to add more features, yeah that's great and it sells games, but the same people who complained about the game not having "so and so feature" would be the same ones complaining that problem X hasn't been fixed yet. To put it this way, I'd much rather they fix the foundation of the house before they start adding in a bar in the basement.

I really don't see how EA is trying to "sell" the game in the bad way you make it sound by fixing the sim engine. What are they supposed to do? Wait until we get the game in our hands and find out for ourselves that it was fixed? Of course they're going to promote the fact it's fixed. Not to mention there are probably some people out there who made the conscious decision to not buy the game if something like the sim engine went un-fixed this year.

And finally, no one is saying you have to pat anyone on the back for issues being fixed. I just don't get how you wouldn't want those issues that affect your enjoyment of the game to be fixed.

[TNA Equalizer]

Great post BnG.

For the amount of complaining and 'why can't they focus on fixing the modes they already have?' posts I frequently see from various sports gaming communities about the spectrum of sports games on this gen of consoles it amazes me that some people complain because they fix issues and come back with something far better than what was there. Why wouldn't you want to tout the fixes/corrections you've made? Anyone that's done sales before would agree that if you're not covering what's new/better you're not doing your job right.

A lot of the issues that turned me away from Dynasty/Be A GM for the past couple of versions of the NHL series have been addressed (just based off the EA has shown to you guys). Adaptive AI that finally anticipates and skates with purpose is a huge welcomed addition for offline play.

[NHLandPESFan]

I think what makes some people like myself angry with EA is their adding and promoting of things that rarely happen (goalie fights, broken glass from checking, instant replay goal review, etc.) and their refusal to add/fix things they know are needed (multiplayer Be a GM). I find it ridiculous that 2k8's franchise mode is still miles ahead of EA's and it's been almost 4 years now since 2k8 came out. EA obviously doesn't care about this at all which is their prerogative, just as it is mine to not buy their game. I was outraged when Ultimate Team came out as it shows they could have done a multiplayer Be a GM but they went with a more money-grubbing version of it instead.

[TNA Equalizer]

Quote: Originally Posted by NHLandPESFan

and their refusal to add/fix things they know are needed (multiplayer Be a GM). I was outraged when Ultimate Team came out as it shows they could have done a multiplayer Be a GM but they went with a more money-grubbing version of it instead.

Considering there were plenty of issues with an offline version of Be A GM I think I rather wait for online Be A GM when offline is deep in features and works well.

I doubt the EA NHL development team had much to say about the inclusion of ultimate team either. I think that would be a EA Sports choice considering how much it seemed to go over in FIFA and Madden. Personally I don't mind HUT. No one is forced to spend actual money either, they choose to do so.

I was one of those people that really didn't want ultimate team, but after playing it in NHL 11 it kind of won me over.

[xx19kilosoldier]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueNGold

Wait, what? Who said fixing Be A GM should be a "bullet point"? Yeah, in a perfect game-making world, there would be no issues that need to be fixed, but we don't live in that world. You say you're an offline Franchise sports gamer (I am too), but yet you're complaining about not wanting to see old issues fixed in the mode you play most and how bad EA's franchise modes have been? How does that make sense? If EA were to add more features, yeah that's great and it sells games, but the same people who complained about the game not having "so and so feature" would be the same ones complaining that problem X hasn't been fixed yet. To put it this way, I'd much rather they fix the foundation of the house before they start adding in a bar in the basement. I really don't see how EA is trying to "sell" the game in the bad way you make it sound by fixing the sim engine. What are they supposed to do? Wait until we get the game in our hands and find out for ourselves that it was fixed? Of course they're going to promote the fact it's fixed. Not to mention there are probably some people out there who made the conscious decision to not buy the game if something like the sim engine went un-fixed this year. And finally, no one is saying you have to pat anyone on the back for issues being fixed. I just don't get how you wouldn't want those issues that affect your enjoyment of the game to be fixed.

Leave the strawmen out, I never said I dont want things fixed.

I responded directly to your statement that they should not add Multi player GM mode because the mode itself is not fixed.

My point was, that's not a good answer. The mode has been broken for 3 years.

Fixing BEaGM IS A BULLET POINT this year for EA. I am glad they are fixing the mode, it remains to be seen how many of its issues have been addressed. Its hard to argue that EA has maintained a bare bones off line franchise mode just so they can "check the box" as feature. Thats why I get upset, this is not some benign issue that they just cant get right and only troubles the NHL series, its a company wide design approach across all of their titles.

No offense, but a lot of your post was just a strawmen, Im not saying it has to be one or the other as far as having a games bugs fixed or new features added. That is the conditioning I speak of where its to the point where gamers start parroting that like its fact. A game can work properly AND have new features added. I didnt know that was in dispute until you brought it up, you dont really believe its one or the other, do you?

[EntroMak24]

can you see a player's career stats? this is really important.