NHL 17 Q&A #2 - Collisions, AI Improvements, New Goalie Cam, No Roster Sharing & More

[Simple Mathematics]

Quote: Originally Posted by Honni

That's true, but roster sharing in Madden flourishes. So it works for companies to make it an official feature. There are thousands of roster files and they're pretty awesome because a thousand times more accurate than the stock rosters. I remember using your Revamped Rosters. Those were the days I enjoyed the NHL series the most. I can't believe that EA is not realising that a lot of potential is being wasted here. But hey, they want to sell their product year after year and when you don't have new features, the roster update is somewhat of a selling point for guys like me...

Well if they ever let us share rosters, the Revamped Rosters will be back immediately. I miss playing with them myself.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

Ugh, they are having trouble integrating the ECHL into Franchise. That sucks. I've said it for damn near a decade now. Franchise needs all leagues in the game integrated into one franchise, GM, owner, whatever mode like FIFA's career mode. I know, enormous work and no resources for the NHL team.

Can you go into details on how Fifa does it?
I'm intrigued.

[iam31yearsold]

Lame. Year off.

[Cletus]

You can't compare this series to madden or fifa. From a business standpoint, it doesn't make sense to pour lots of resources into a product that is bringing up the rear. A lot of that is the game has gotten stale, but a lot of it is hockey is a niche sport. I do feel for the devs a little bit (the ones that seem to care) because no matter what decision they make it's the wrong one. I'm not going to be all gung ho about setting prices and things but after years of ignoring be a GM, it's finally getting some work done. At this point in the series, you know what you're going to get.

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

[actionhank]

Quote: Originally Posted by Simple Mathematics

Well if they ever let us share rosters, the Revamped Rosters will be back immediately. I miss playing with them myself.

I haven't had as much fun with an EA game as I did playing with the improved International rosters during the olympics, and starting the Blues from scratch and making a playoff run.

The fact that they still haven't added roster sharing really makes me question getting the game. The gameplay itself will have to really shine, and unfortunately EA has burned my faith on that one too many times now.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cletus

You can't compare this series to madden or fifa. From a business standpoint, it doesn't make sense to pour lots of resources into a product that is bringing up the rear. A lot of that is the game has gotten stale, but a lot of it is hockey is a niche sport. I do feel for the devs a little bit (the ones that seem to care) because no matter what decision they make it's the wrong one. I'm not going to be all gung ho about setting prices and things but after years of ignoring be a GM, it's finally getting some work done. At this point in the series, you know what you're going to get. Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

Personally, I don't think that excuse holds a lot of water. For starters, a team that was likely smaller before the NHL series took off did amazing things at innovating the series back when hockey as a sport was less popular. They did it because they wanted to make the game a great representation of hockey, and in doing so totally changed the way the game was played by creating the skill stick.

I think my frustration stems from the fact that from all I can tell, EA's focus is nearly exclusively on HUT and EASHL. Game changes don't really seem to get much focus unless they directly benefit those game modes. Be a GM last year essentially became what it should have been in NHL15, which was NHL14's gameplay with small improvements. Honestly, they didn't add much. The interactions with players doesn't really seem to have an effect on anything, and just seems to be there to fill empty space. Same for scouting. My problem with Be a GM is that nothing matters.

I hate to sound so negative, but I guess I just get frustrated when people say "Well, you kind of have to accept it because it's a smaller team and a less popular sport". I don't hold it against the devs, they're just following the roadmap set by EA. I'm sure like any employee, they've got a list of things they would change in their product and at their company.

I just get frustrated when people try to let EA off the hook for feeding us garbage, because of the size of the team, or the popularity of the sport. They innovated before with a smaller team and a less popular sport, they can do it again.

[THESHAMISASHAME]

Every year most people ask for roster share or editable goalie masks or new designs for masks and every year it didnt make the cut but were looking into it ?

Maybe they just dont have the funds or resources to address these simple things but to just release the same core game year after year with a few tweaks its getting tired but any game is better than nothing but it sure is starting to look like its being mailed in each year.

[Moose24x]

Quote: Originally Posted by actionhank

I haven't had as much fun with an EA game as I did playing with the improved International rosters during the olympics, and starting the Blues from scratch and making a playoff run. The fact that they still haven't added roster sharing really makes me question getting the game. The gameplay itself will have to really shine, and unfortunately EA has burned my faith on that one too many times now. Personally, I don't think that excuse holds a lot of water. For starters, a team that was likely smaller before the NHL series took off did amazing things at innovating the series back when hockey as a sport was less popular. They did it because they wanted to make the game a great representation of hockey, and in doing so totally changed the way the game was played by creating the skill stick. I think my frustration stems from the fact that from all I can tell, EA's focus is nearly exclusively on HUT and EASHL. Game changes don't really seem to get much focus unless they directly benefit those game modes. Be a GM last year essentially became what it should have been in NHL15, which was NHL14's gameplay with small improvements. Honestly, they didn't add much. The interactions with players doesn't really seem to have an effect on anything, and just seems to be there to fill empty space. Same for scouting. My problem with Be a GM is that nothing matters. I hate to sound so negative, but I guess I just get frustrated when people say "Well, you kind of have to accept it because it's a smaller team and a less popular sport". I don't hold it against the devs, they're just following the roadmap set by EA. I'm sure like any employee, they've got a list of things they would change in their product and at their company. I just get frustrated when people try to let EA off the hook for feeding us garbage, because of the size of the team, or the popularity of the sport. They innovated before with a smaller team and a less popular sport, they can do it again.

This is exactly how I feel.

The EASHL should really just be a separate product.

SO much of what the online community vocally complains about ends up impacting what the offline community has to settle for. If the EASHL, which doesn't require the NHL license, could be a download on PSN/XB Live and be subscription based, they could probably actually increase profits by selling subscriptions, exclusive equipment and customization options, etc. while simultaneously dramatically increasing the quality of the NHL game, which does require the exclusive NHL license yet, unfortunately, sees the NHL portion getting the least attention.

[Simple Mathematics]

It's a shame. I've been putting in some serious work this off season for the potential return of the Revamped Rosters. I have so much work done already - it's a shame it will be just for myself again this year.

If there is enough interest, maybe I could post a video of my ratings or maybe an excel spreadsheet.