NHL 13 E3 Hands-On Preview

[MizzouRah]

Goalies need to have an organic feel to them. All games shouldn't be 2-1, 1-0, 3-2, etc.. which I see a lot in v11 and v12... some games goalies just are not on their game and weak goals should happen. There needs to be a balance and a feeling that each game is different from the one you just played. I hope all the new tweaks and skating engine finally produces that with the NHL series.

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Goalies need to have an organic feel to them. All games shouldn't be 2-1, 1-0, 3-2, etc.. which I see a lot in v11 and v12... some games goalies just are not on their game and weak goals should happen. There needs to be a balance and a feeling that each game is different from the one you just played. I hope all the new tweaks and skating engine finally produces that with the NHL series.

Yep I fully agree. I'm not sure how they could program stuff like bad games and what not, but I know that this alone would increase the replay value of the game. There needs to be different dynamics that can play a factor. Things like back to backs, just random bad games (more for weaker goalies, less for great goalies), stamina, etc. Same goes for the players themselves. I'm sorry but even the best players in the league have bad nights. Not often, but they do. Something just needs to be programmed so we see a variety in games. My feeling with the game as it stands now is that a certain percentage of the time a shot will go in. That may just be how the game has to be programmed in order for the game to work, but I don't know since I'm not a programmer.

I just believe that any shot should have the possibility of going in, which right now it doesn't seem like it does. This is probably why we see so many of the same goals. I may be asking for way too much but it's just the way I see things as it currently stands. This alone would create many different types of games because you wouldn't know whether or not your goalie/player was going to have a bad game or not. It also would separate players because obviously the best players would play great the majority of the year and the middle to weaker players might have stretches where they play well, but then their game tapers off. It would also open up the possibility of players having an off year. These things would also play into setting lineups. Choosing when to play a scratched player or play the backup goalie. In NHL 12 you can honestly play your starting goalie every game and be fine unless he gets hurt.

Just a couple of ideas that just popped into my brain. I think it would be an extremely hard concept to program in the game but it would honestly put this game over the top. In fact if all they did for one development cycle is put some kind of logic like this in the game, I would consider it successful. It's probably not going to happen in this era of systems but just wishful thinking. Maybe EA will surprise the hell out of me and add in some type of dynamics like this for NHL 13. Sorry for the ramble

[ComaFaction]

The first thing they need to do for that to happen is have the goalie ratings actually matter, as opposed to things like height being the primary factor for success. Once that happens, they could easily incorporate a consistency rating that acts as a randomizer before each game. Perhaps something like affecting the range of high and low for each goalie's rating and a lower CON causing the goalie to vary at a higher frequency.

[Fiddy]

touching on the goalies and glitch goals, i would love for the devs to code those certain hot spots where goals go in more times than not with a percentage of sorts. but with out telling us that.. say if player x tries that shot 12 times a game like most those jags do, he would be lucky to score 1 or 2 at the most.. the rest would be known by the goalie that its going to be saved automatically!! maybe that would make those jags mix up their game more etc.

[Yeats]

Fantastic news that teams have their own playing styles. Now... will we be able to edit and change every team's style and then start a season/career? Or is this going to be a "Madden 13" where the ability to edit CPU team tendencies for career mode isn't allowed? Make-or-break question for me.

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeats

Fantastic news that teams have their own playing styles. Now... will we be able to edit and change every team's style and then start a season/career? Or is this going to be a "Madden 13" where the ability to edit CPU team tendencies for career mode isn't allowed? Make-or-break question for me.

That's what I'm wondering as well. It's a huge feature. They said each coach will have their own specific style of play. So maybe the teams won't have strategies themselves but it would be huge if they would let us edit the coaches. I just don't want to get stuck seeing a team like Detroit not push the play against my team, which will be the Wild. Every time in real life the Wings dominate puck possession against them, I want to see that in the game. Just let the strategies be editable for the coaches or teams and I will be fully happy. More editing features the better.

[canucksss]

Quote: Originally Posted by bwiggy33

That's what I'm wondering as well. It's a huge feature. They said each coach will have their own specific style of play. So maybe the teams won't have strategies themselves but it would be huge if they would let us edit the coaches. I just don't want to get stuck seeing a team like Detroit not push the play against my team, which will be the Wild. Every time in real life the Wings dominate puck possession against them, I want to see that in the game. Just let the strategies be editable for the coaches or teams and I will be fully happy. More editing features the better.

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeats

Fantastic news that teams have their own playing styles. Now... will we be able to edit and change every team's style and then start a season/career? Or is this going to be a "Madden 13" where the ability to edit CPU team tendencies for career mode isn't allowed? Make-or-break question for me.

agree. for me, player and team differentials are the key factors before i decide to buy NHL 13. so far, i see there's hope about player differentials based on the "alpha" stage of the product. if all of these are answered by NHL13, i dont mind playing multiple seasons with 82 games per.

[Qb]

Considering this is not only a front page article, but the OS official E3 preview, let's do our best to keep it on topic from here. Thanks.