No EASHL, GM Connected, OTP, or Live The Life in NHL 15 on XB1/PS4 (Interview)

[PJStock42]

Who else is excited for next year's marketing blitz:

EA Sports NHL 16 with new EASHL mode!

[PJStock42]

This is like Toyota removing airbags from the Camry then releasing the 'All new 2016 Camry, now with airbags!'.

[ricky24]

You ask for it now you got it! And we built it from the bottom up. Eashl in NHL 16.

[Shaffer26]

This news has caused me to just stay away from this year's game(with exception to the occasional rent) as I was a most definite buy before news broke.

[ricky24]

I'll pick this up when it's 20 bucks on amazon. I'm guessing I'll have it around the holidays.

[TDKing]

Seems to me they weren't prepared for next gen and bad decisions were made by the project manager. Deadlines were not met and he needs to be replaced! Sorry but that's just business. Fail

[jbd345]

They waited a year for this??? I'll be buying regardless since I've skipped out on '12 '13 and '14, but they could have just released this last year and the backlash probably wouldn't be as bad because of the shortened development period for sports games last year. It's honestly looking like they just took the year off and focused on presentation. I'll admit looks good, but that's not even half the game.

[thejudicata]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sip_16

This is what I don't understand with all the complaining of EASHL not being included. I get they took the extra year, I get other games have brought over all modes to next gen, but unless people have actually worked to create a video game (which I haven't) how do you know it was that easy to put into the game? People seem to think EA is leaving it out on purpose? Clearly that would be a dumb move considering the out rage. I agree it is frustrating and only have a PS4 now, I can't play EASHL this year (casual player, lots of OTP) but to just point out how it should be in or they had so much time or spent it doing something else, all I have to say is How do you know?

No I've never made a video game, but to think one has to make a video game in order to have credibility criticizing the video game is IMO crazy.

As has been pointed out, other EA sports games ported to next gen systems LAST YEAR without loss of games modes. NHL had an extra year and dropped the game mode I spend 90% of my time in.

Further, if you don't think EA had a manipulative and deceptive action in holding back this news until 20 days before release, I think its the equivalent of sticking your head in the sand. They only made an announcement after quite a bit of fan complaints. Without fan complaints, I doubt they would have even the common courtesy to inform fans prior to release EASHL mode is dropped.

As has been pointed out by one of the authors on this website, the problem isn't just the dropping of EASHL, but its how EA treats a very loyal and hardcore fan base, and handles their release of information.

I play EASHL and pre-order every year, and they just lost my business along with a lot of other loyal customers.

Yes EA is a business, and it probably was a business decision to not spend money on a larger development team to get EASHL into the game. Well then I'm not spending my money on your product. Just because its a business doesn't mean every penny saving move is a good and sound decision.

If I order a BLT sandwich and I'm given it without the bacon to save the Deli money, am I going to be a happy customer? Nope.