Ask Me Anything: Sean Ramjagsingh, NHL 15 Producer

[18 eighty 5]

Was anything said about fixing the cheating CPU? Was it even acknowledged? Will it be a key feature offline again in 15?

[Gotmilkman24]

what do you mean by the cheating cpu?

[18 eighty 5]

The crazy boosting, bubble protection, different skating abilities that have been a part of this series since 07. It keeps the gameplay mired in a same old - same old experience and ups the overall frustration.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gotmilkman24

what do you mean by the cheating cpu?

These are the issues I've had with the 'cheating' AI for the past few years:
- Your CPU teammates are way too passive, while your CPU opponent hounds the puck carrier like you stole something from it.
- CPU will work tirelessly to keep the puck in the offensive zone. No clearing attempt is safe.
Not so much with your own dmen who are more than willing to hang at the redline.
- CPU will almost win every puck battle. Even after you level the CPU, your player will trip and struggle to grab the loose puck while the CPU will get up, dust itself off, grab the loose puck and head up ice.
- Too many times the CPU players will make the perfect play regardless of it's attributes. Low offensive skills? Doesn't matter. The player will still make a blind, behind the back pass right on the tape of it's teammate.
- CPU can do things with the puck and skating that you simply cannot.
Watch how many times the CPU will come flying into the zone with the puck, then magically start skating backwards without having to come to a full stop or lose any momentum.
(P.S. I see all of these things while playing on PRO, Simulation and default sliders).

I don't know if it was someone on these boards, or at HFBoards who made this statement, but I think it rings very true.
(Paraphrasing) - Generally that the game of hockey is more than just about who scores more. It's about winning puck battles, getting big saves, keeping the play alive, etc.
It's small little battles or mini-games occurring all the time, and yet the CPU wins all those battles 90% of the time, just to make the game competitive.
It's poor AI on EA's part.
Now, they may have gotten away with using the excuse that current-gen systems suck so they had to add boosts or cheats in order to make the game hard.
But nobody should be able to see any of these things on next-gen consoles.
I can understand making your own CPU teammates passive because the opposing CPU AI is so bad that it can't handle high pressure without cheating.
But with all this new hardware, the only limitations are the programmers skills.
So if we still see these cheats, it's because either the programmers didn't have enough time to work on the game, or they simply lack the skill to build realistic AI*.

*This is something I believe is the real case. I hate to continue to bring it up, but NHL2K3 had amazing CPU AI. If that can be done on the PS2 then there's no excuse for what we had on the PS3.

[drog1602]

"Ask me anything" but expect vague answers, we will talk about it more later.

Oh, Thanks for the feedback

[redcaes33]

with almost 5 million EASHL games played last season how can you justify gutting the best part of the game? just to squeeze more money out of parents pockets so that kids can buy cards! I guarantee you nobody who shells out 60$ actually wants to spend more money on your lousy hut cards. I was just about to get a new xbox one plus subcription and nhl15! but guess what? I'M DONE, thanks Sean you just saved me close to 800$ and 500 hrs time lost to this bs! Seriously HUT ? what a ****ing joke.can't wait for another real hockey game to come around again! will you be keeping the nhl14 eashl servers up and running or are you shutting those down?

[m_maclean24]

Quote: Originally Posted by redcaes33

with almost 5 million EASHL games played last season how can you justify gutting the best part of the game? just to squeeze more money out of parents pockets so that kids can buy cards! I guarantee you nobody who shells out 60$ actually wants to spend more money on your lousy hut cards. I was just about to get a new xbox one plus subcription and nhl15! but guess what? I'M DONE, thanks Sean you just saved me close to 800$ and 500 hrs time lost to this bs! Seriously HUT ? what a ****ing joke.can't wait for another real hockey game to come around again! will you be keeping the nhl14 eashl servers up and running or are you shutting those down?

[shogunofharlem3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

These are the issues I've had with the 'cheating' AI for the past few years: - Your CPU teammates are way too passive, while your CPU opponent hounds the puck carrier like you stole something from it. - CPU will work tirelessly to keep the puck in the offensive zone. No clearing attempt is safe. Not so much with your own dmen who are more than willing to hang at the redline. - CPU will almost win every puck battle. Even after you level the CPU, your player will trip and struggle to grab the loose puck while the CPU will get up, dust itself off, grab the loose puck and head up ice. - Too many times the CPU players will make the perfect play regardless of it's attributes. Low offensive skills? Doesn't matter. The player will still make a blind, behind the back pass right on the tape of it's teammate. - CPU can do things with the puck and skating that you simply cannot. Watch how many times the CPU will come flying into the zone with the puck, then magically start skating backwards without having to come to a full stop or lose any momentum. (P.S. I see all of these things while playing on PRO, Simulation and default sliders). I don't know if it was someone on these boards, or at HFBoards who made this statement, but I think it rings very true. (Paraphrasing) - Generally that the game of hockey is more than just about who scores more. It's about winning puck battles, getting big saves, keeping the play alive, etc. It's small little battles or mini-games occurring all the time, and yet the CPU wins all those battles 90% of the time, just to make the game competitive. It's poor AI on EA's part. Now, they may have gotten away with using the excuse that current-gen systems suck so they had to add boosts or cheats in order to make the game hard. But nobody should be able to see any of these things on next-gen consoles. I can understand making your own CPU teammates passive because the opposing CPU AI is so bad that it can't handle high pressure without cheating. But with all this new hardware, the only limitations are the programmers skills. So if we still see these cheats, it's because either the programmers didn't have enough time to work on the game, or they simply lack the skill to build realistic AI*. *This is something I believe is the real case. I hate to continue to bring it up, but NHL2K3 had amazing CPU AI. If that can be done on the PS2 then there's no excuse for what we had on the PS3.

Well put. And please don't forget the AI's ability to be completely pinned against the boards and KICK a pass to the slot onto the tape of a teammate for a one time goal............those kick passes to the slot kill me.

Haven't seen nearly as many post edits, but its there! CHEATERS! Not to derail the "ask me anything.." thread. Just had to add that to your list. That is infuriating