EASHL Fans, really hope you're not feeling the same way

[SunrisePoultry]

Let me start off by giving you guys a little history so I don't come off as a "troll", "flamer", or whatever other internet names are being lobbied around these days. Yes, I signed up an account on Operation Sports just to get this across. I am from Vancouver, and I love hockey. I went to the EA building in Burnaby a few times to game test for NHL 08 and NHL 09 and have been a huge fan of this series since the glory days of NHL '94 for the Genesis. Lately the best thing about the NHL series for me has been the EASHL, which allows you to create a team online and play against other user created teams, at the same time upgrading your guy somewhat like an RPG so that he progressively gets better stats as you play more games and win. After playing this mode it was really hard for me to go back to the single player GM Mode, which I still have done every season prior to 2 years ago. I purchased this game on launch day (09/11/12) and I'm going to be selling it tomorrow (09/14/12) - EA has managed to suck everything that's fun about the online mode and then wrapped it into the most frustrating gaming experience I can recall in recent years. Here's why:

• You start off with absolutely horrible stats. It doesn't matter how you slice it, it's barely even playable - constantly missing passes, taking way too long to turn around and skate...it seriously feels like the guy I created is not a rookie but rather he actually doesn't even know how to play the game of hockey and is skating for the first time. Which leads to...
• It's not fun. And the proof I have is that last year I introduced two new friends to start playing EASHL instead of the regular GM or Season Modes since they weren't used to playing online, telling them "you HAVE to try this!!" - they were hooked right away and were huge contributors to our team. This year not only are the veterans constantly complaining about how everything is so sluggish and unplayable, but so are the rookies too, one of which just before I wrote this told me he's going back to GM Mode because "this sucks". It was the complete opposite experience of last year.
• The last point was the nail in the coffin for me, but it's clearly the biggest one. This game makes me feel like the message from EA was this: if I didn't spend MS Points right away for booster packs, then it's going to be a long, hard, difficult way to the top. We just beat a team 3-0 and during the last 30 seconds in the 3rd period they decided to quit. Last year this would result in a W and would help us progress out guy to the next level...this year it doesn't count at all! Are you kidding me?!How are we penalized for them leaving?? This has happened 4 times in 15 games and those are 4 W's we earned that were nullified because of this stupid decision made for reasons I can't seem to understand.

I've stuck by this franchise through this whole generation of gaming. Lockout or no lockout the NHL series was where it was at. Now I know that this doesn't apply to everyone, that a lot of people still will play the GM Mode, Versus Online match ups or even just indulge in the single player experience and really just have to get used to the new skating physics. But for anyone out there playing EASHL and is sharing the same kind of frustrations, or even if you're not, I would love to hear your impressions on the changes they made to this year's edition. This will be the first time I've abandoned the franchise before, but they've butchered this mode beyond belief. I'm not going to spend 150+ games to finally just make the game fun to play, it's truly a shame, EA...

[Marv_Levy]

I agree me and my friends can't win at all. The only way for us to get better is to win games to level up. Winning games is insanely hard because our crappu 55ovr players are clearly playing against people who bought stats via the boosters. They skate circles around us, out skate us on break a ways, they are triple deeking "we can't even deek without a high risk of a give away" they can pass at full speed and catch the puck at full speed " we can't control passes of such speeds, they can aim there shots way better, and the worst part is we can't get better because the only way to get XP is by winning games for the 3rd challenge. How about just getting xp for actually playing. Not this stupid set up that basically makes people buy the boosters "
EASHL XP is earned by completing three statistical challenges: games played, grades and wins."

Let the babies who buy there way to glory play with other babies. let the people who enjoy not powering up play with other people who play without emptying there wallets....

[JezFranco]

I'm not playing NHL online at all, but I feel with you.

It seems like a really unethical choice from EA to basically force players to buy boost packs to be able to play and enjoy.

This is a way to make money for EA, but really if it is as bad as you say I understand your will to trade it in.
Anyone willing to spend extra money on a game should of course be rewarded in someway... but those choosing not to, shouldn't be punished.

[SE7ENTEE]

I agree with some of the thoughts you have mentioned. However, I suggest you keep playing EASHL as its true colors come out through more gameplay. Our team HATED the start of 50 overall with the slow skating, inaccurate passes, etc etc. My EASHL player is now at pro 2 with boosts unlocked through gameplay. I contemplated buying a boost pack, but instead I decided to unlock the boosts/slots by playing the game. It's actually not that bad since a lot of the slots are unlocked as your player card develops. My player is a 63 overall and there is already a HUGE difference from the initial build, which makes gameplay waaaay fun. In my opinion, the initial experience is similar to the previous NHL games. It starts off slow, but once you get your pro or vet card it gets significantly more fun.


Keep in mind that the gameplay has significantly changed to. People are still getting used to the skating AND the poke checks. Unlike previous NHL games, gone are the days where a player can deke through a whole team without getting poked (unless the team is really bad at defense). EA is trying to instill a cycling game. If you play hockey the way it's supposed to be played, it's very rewarding. However, Im not saying your team doesn't play that way. I do think that the pokes are somewhat too effective at times, which does frustrate a lot of people. Maybe that's one thing that EA can slightly change.

As for people complaining about the uneven playing field....the game just came out. It doesn't matter if people pay for boosts, it's not really considered cheating because everyone will get boosts through playing. Most of the slots are unlocked when you get new cards. I got my pro card in a couple days. Quit otp games, played otp games, played some club games. Not that hard. I suggest that people play otp games and level up their guy first.

Anyways, I can truly relate to your feelings with the initial gameplay. But it's been way more fun now that my player is leveling up.

[jyoung]

All of your player ratings problem will be solved in a few weeks if you just keep playing the game.

Or if you want to speed up the unlocking process, you can go through a 40-game season of offline Be A Pro, which will get you most of the boosts you need.

It only took me about 2 or 3 days to finish an offline season since I was just playing the last 5 minutes of every game.

[Levesque7]

I disagree with everything.

I was able to get my player up to respectable levels within 2 days. And I don't play that much.

Also, the comment you made about not getting a Win for someone quitting anymore is totally false. I have had at least 5 wins that way already.

[ROABS]

As others have said just give your player some time to get more xp and you will have fun. my player is a 64 and its a huge difference from when i first started last friday with the early release. A friend i play with has a boost pack that came with his game and he said his play maker is a 69 with the pack so overall its pretty much the same deal as last year since those packs made you 80 overall. One thing that helped my player was putting alot of xp into on offense was puck posession (control?) hand eye and offensive awareness. Those three attributes will help you grab the puck alot easier on offense and also when going for a loose puck.

as for the people quitting out that sucks and i dont know why they dont just make it so the team who leaves loses 3-0 like before.

[Levesque7]

Quote: Originally Posted by ROABS

as for the people quitting out that sucks and i dont know why they dont just make it so the team who leaves loses 3-0 like before.

They did make it that way. It's exactly the same.