NHL 13 Video - True Performance Skating Revealed

[savoie2006]

They don't want the online AI to be that good. That's what humans for and online play is for humans. If they made the online AI good, a whole bunch of one player EASHL teams would be at the top.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Savoie, I admire your optimism, but this isn't the first time EA bragged about some new AI feature that would revolutionize the game and make it uber realistic. Remember NHL2005? Where they spoke about watching video of each team and studied how each club flowed through the neutral zone? Apparently that was going to give each game a unique feel based on the team you faced. How did it work out? It sucked. Really, really bad. Last year they spoke about advanced AI. How guys like Ovie would split from the defensive zone faster, or how some guys would hang back longer. They said we'd see clearly defined player types and roles. It made no difference. Everyone still played the same. Or how about the time they talked about the all new 'attribute slider'. Hahaha! They might as well have added a sugar placebo in every case. So when I hear EA tout "EA SPORTS Hockey IQ " I just laugh. Does anyone here seriously think that this bullet point is for casual fans or guys like to deke up and down the ice with anyone and everyone? No. It's for guys like us here on OS. They know their offline game is beyond pathetic so they throw out catchy phrases like "Hockey IQ" and "Player Roles", etc, etc, that translate into absolutely nothing but smoke and mirrors. I would have been excited about this prior to NHL08 or 09's release, but not anymore. I'll be extremely shocked if this new IQ has a big impact on an offline game. What I anticipate is that all these new 'features' will work against the user, but have no affect on the CPU. The CPU will still snipe goals from Hall Gill, Mike Brown will deke like Datsyuk, the berzerker mode will still exist, and your CPU-controlled teammates will continue to play as passively as a kitten laying on a window sill flooded with warm sunlight. Again, I warn everyone here to stop holding your breath. Any major changes to the NHL series will be for online gamers alone. And they know full well that a HUGE majority of their sales come from casual fans that wouldn't know hockey if they slept with Bobby Orr. So the first time Joe Fratboy can't go end to end with a 6th defenseman, there will be blood and EA will patch to ensure that they appease their largest consumer base. I will eat a truckload of crow if I'm wrong, and I really, really hope that I am. But I've seen EA's track record and considering NHL12 is barely any different than NHL09, I seriously doubt we're going to see any major changes for 13.

Way to be optimistic Hank. hehe. I get the frustration, I'm taking a way and see approach myself, I do like the skating teaser, we'll see how it plays out in game. I do hope that if momentum plays a part, as it should with the skating it isn't over the top ala NHL2k where you pretty much feel like you're fighting the controls and skating in mud, no matter the sliders.

I do like the mention of revamped AI, though again, it's a wait and see approach, we heard something similar last year with personality traits and to be honest, while there are times in 12, where I do notice them affecting certain player's decisions, it's not consistent, and it doesn't happen often enough.

Not sure what they mean on personalized team presentation, though I'm hoping it's more than just picking a favorite team and having team emblems plastered all over the interface.
The presentation in this series is solid, unfortunately it's also been essentially the same since 07, it's also a bit stale because of that.

Nice info, but I'll wait to see the game in action or have the demo to play before I get all excited or negative.

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

Nice info, but I'll wait to see the game in action or have the demo to play before I get all excited or negative.

This pretty much sums up my attitude as well.

It sounds good...just like before. But ya, gotta really play it to really know.

[phillyfan23]

the post by money99 is absolutely spot on. they have been feeding the same promises the last 2-3 years and in my opinion nhl 12 fixed some things ( cpu missed passes, no comeback ai in quick play at least) but the ai as a whole ttook 2 or 3 steps backwards. penalties got worse...
cpu ai logic got a lot worse....no cycling and just up and down and the cpu just shoots and shoots. yea the skating video looks awrsome but if the ai isnt much better, the new skating will mean nothing to me and im sure harfcore hockey fans will feel the same way.

there were absolutely no changes to player difference in nhl 12. when playing against the top line of the opposition you sometimes forget because of the little player difference. in 2k10, there is a big BIG difference playin against the penguins top line with crosby than playing against their 4th line led by craig adams. the shooting is less accurate and not as hard....passes miss more....speed is less...
less agile less balance less stickhandling....

how can you REALLY get into a hockey game where marian gaborik poses nearly the same threat as brendan prust.....crosby with adams, giroux with jody shelley? I know I cant. Im not even looking forward to nhl 13 after rediscovring 2k10..

i will wait for user reviews from sim guys or maybe rent it and see. but to be honest....if nhl 13 resembles realistic hockey....it will be one of the biggest surprises in sports gaming. i really doubt it will happen.

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[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by phillyfan23

the post by money99 is absolutely spot on. they have been feeding the same promises the last 2-3 years and in my opinion nhl 12 fixed some things ( cpu missed passes, no comeback ai in quick play at least) but the ai as a whole ttook 2 or 3 steps backwards. penalties got worse... cpu ai logic got a lot worse....no cycling and just up and down and the cpu just shoots and shoots. yea the skating video looks awrsome but if the ai isnt much better, the new skating will mean nothing to me and im sure harfcore hockey fans will feel the same way. there were absolutely no changes to player difference in nhl 12. when playing against the top line of the opposition you sometimes forget because of the little player difference. in 2k10, there is a big BIG difference playin against the penguins top line with crosby than playing against their 4th line led by craig adams. the shooting is less accurate and not as hard....passes miss more....speed is less... less agile less balance less stickhandling.... how can you REALLY get into a hockey game where marian gaborik poses nearly the same threat as brendan prust.....crosby with adams, giroux with jody shelley? I know I cant. Im not even looking forward to nhl 13 after rediscovring 2k10.. i will wait for user reviews from sim guys or maybe rent it and see. but to be honest....if nhl 13 resembles realistic hockey....it will be one of the biggest surprises in sports gaming. i really doubt it will happen. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2

To be fair aside from the super arcadey OVI Dekes that only certain players can do, 2k10's players all feel pretty samey as well but eh. Maybe it's just me.

Not that you're off the mark, the one area this series needs the most work on is the offline AI and player separation actually being there.

[phillyfan23]

Im rooting for nhl 13 to surprise me but ive been waiting for them to take the next step since nhl 09. realm you remember we were both very happy with 09 but for me at least from 10 to 12 the series not only stagnated but acually took a step back and only focusing on features the casuals could enjoy.

I dont know if the devs arent capable of taking it to the next level for realistic hockey or its just a design decision.....but what 2k basketball and mlb the show and earlier 2k hockey games prove is that a sim minded game can appeal to the masses and sell.

look at pro evo soccer and fifa soccer.....both games have major followings and they try to achieve realistic soccer. after watching the nhl playoffs....i dont see that type of hockey at all in ea nhl.

with a sim minded game....an arcade game is a couple of slider tweaks away. an arcade minded game will never have a sim game even if you get the worst case of slideritis.



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