NHL 10: Size, Toughness, and Grit?

[Drifter2000]

So with the addition of the Enforcer class, post whistle scrums, intimidation, and board play mechanics it seems that EA might be addressing one of my biggest issues with NHL 09: the lack of advantage in using larger players who bring a more physical style of play to the ice.

Is there actually going to be an advantage in NHL 10 of using larger players? In the corners will they use their size to their advantage? Will they be harder to knock off the puck? Or knock down in general? Too often I saw Kyle Wellwood flatten a guy like Ryan Getzlaf like they were the same size.

There was really no need to have a physical checking line in NHL 09. Whereas in NHL 2k8 (for example) it was a good idea to have physical players who could throw their weight around.

Anyone care to weigh in on this?

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Drifter2000

There was really no need to have a physical checking line in NHL 09.

Yeah, many people have commented on that over the past several months. Hopefully ratings will make a difference this year. FYI, I edited players' Balance (I think it was) ratings way down for many players, and the difference was like night and day. Players with low ratings were falling all over the place when they got hit, and were totally ineffective when checking. In other words, the problem isn't with the game programming -- the problem is entirely due to jacked ratings, as it usually is with all these sports games.

[akula]

do you think it's possible EA does't effectively explain to the rating agency how the ratings affect the players in the game? maybe they don't understand that the "balance" attribute should average in the 60's or 70's instead of the 80's or 90's for example.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by akula

the "balance" attribute should average in the 60's or 70's instead of the 80's or 90's for example.

That's exactly correct. And the same can be said for many of the other ratings in the game. And likewise, the average player in the game should be rated in the 50's or low 60's, while the stars are the only ones who should be rated in 80's and 90's. I've always wondered why the people who program these games never bother to experiment with lowering ratings to a realistic level, and then play the game and observe how much better it plays.

[Eddie1967]

Quote: Originally Posted by Drifter2000

So with the addition of the Enforcer class, post whistle scrums, intimidation, and board play mechanics it seems that EA might be addressing one of my biggest issues with NHL 09: the lack of advantage in using larger players who bring a more physical style of play to the ice. Is there actually going to be an advantage in NHL 10 of using larger players? In the corners will they use their size to their advantage? Will they be harder to knock off the puck? Or knock down in general? Too often I saw Kyle Wellwood flatten a guy like Ryan Getzlaf like they were the same size. There was really no need to have a physical checking line in NHL 09. Whereas in NHL 2k8 (for example) it was a good idea to have physical players who could throw their weight around. Anyone care to weigh in on this?

That was a huge problem in NHL 09, because like you said it makes your checking lines useless. EA really needs to make it so that size matters as well as skill. 2k9 did this very well and fixing that would go a long way towards making EA hockey a bit more realistic. Great point. Collin white should play much differently then Zach Parise.

[Drifter2000]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eddie1967

That was a huge problem in NHL 09, because like you said it makes your checking lines useless. EA really needs to make it so that size matters as well as skill. 2k9 did this very well and fixing that would go a long way towards making EA hockey a bit more realistic. Great point. Collin white should play much differently then Zach Parise.

Exactly. Zdeno Chara (as an obvious example) should be a fearsome individual on the ice because of his size. Derek Boogaard is another player who should be a step above most players because of his massive size. I should NOT be seeing someone like Jason Blake body checking these guys onto their backs...he should be bouncing off them.

Chara's small jabs and checks in the corners should rock smaller players and work them off the puck fairly easily. On the flip side, he should be extremely difficult to work the puck away from himself. He has the advantage in size, reach, strength, and weight. Part of what makes Chara so special is his size and how he uses it.

To add to this more gritty players should PLAY WITH MORE GRIT. Some players are more willing to make the hard plays and get into those nasty spots in the corners and the front of the net. Other players usually "float" and avoid the gritty work.

Just a few points I thought I'd make.

[tyler289]

The Caps are, statistically, the biggest team in the NHL, but are the softest team out there.

A guy with really big toughness ratings (checking and stuff) who is also huge should make him even more effective, and someone who is 5'7" with good toughness shouldn't be as good.

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

That's exactly correct. And the same can be said for many of the other ratings in the game. And likewise, the average player in the game should be rated in the 50's or low 60's, while the stars are the only ones who should be rated in 80's and 90's. I've always wondered why the people who program these games never bother to experiment with lowering ratings to a realistic level, and then play the game and observe how much better it plays.

It sounds like the Madden team has moved their game more in this direction. With the spreading out of the player ratings. Maybe the NHL team will consider possibly doing the same thing.

However...whatever the team does with the ratings/gameplay for NHL '10', I just hope they do it carefully. Hate to see a good thing get messed up.