News Post

NHL 09 360 Patch #2 Online -- Impressions

05:25 AM - March 3, 2009 by CupCrazyManiac

EA has just released their NHL 09 patch for 360 users. Please post your impressions here.

Quote:


	Exploit fixes: -Fixes the 99 attribute bug in OTP/EASHL by preventing players from entering games with attributes that are raised beyond the level they can reach with the card they are entitled to have. Players who have elevated their attributes this way should reset their character by changing the type and reassigning their points. -Limit the size of human goalies in OTP/EASHL games to 6'4" (NOTE: it will still allow them to be set larger, but the actual height in game will not go above the new limit). -Fixed some problems that could cause the game to hang or go out of sync when pausing. -Prevent use of LB to get up instantly after being knocked over. -Reduce accuracy of shooting while using vision control to skate backwards. -Prevent high, accurate slap shots from in close to the net. Other changes: -Reduced the ease of beating the goalie on the short side. -Decrease the tendency of the goalies to use a desperation save unnecessarily. -Strict calling of interference, though you can still clear players directly in front of the net without getting called for interference. -Added stick lift to Classic controls using LB+X(XBox)/L1+Square(PS3). It is also on R3 (press Right Stick). -Fixed shot targeting using the Always Up control when skating down ice. -Added new NHL rule to locate face-offs in the attacking zone to start a powerplay. -Prevent CPU players from getting delay of game penalties frequently while clearing the puck from their zone. -Prevent puck from being poke checked away from the goalie when he has it covered under his glove. -Reduced the amount of time it takes to get control of the last man back, holding RT(Xbox) /R2(PS3) -Reduced the amount of time it takes to get control of the goalie, holding LB+A(Xbox)/L1+X(PS3) - Reduce the range of heights on randomly generated CPU players, including goalies. -Eliminate the ability to accelerate and maintain high speed while stick lifting. -More penalties for high sticking when stick lifts are done from behind the opponent. -Made the colours of the OTP/EASHL indicators more distinct (yellow and orange). -Made face-off outcomes slightly more random and slightly less dependent on attributes. -Added assistance to prevent one-timer and shot attempts from leading to accidental hits and interference penalties. -Goalie tuning to increase goal-scoring a bit to compensate for taking away the easy short-side high goals. -Improve hit stat tracking to not count all of the small bumps in front of the net. -Increased injuries caused by CPU teams. -Prevent puck from being launched with very high speed following a hit. -AI tuning for superstar. The Aggression slider now affects how intense the CPU team is on that difficulty level.

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Game: NHL 09Reader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PC / PS2 / PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 47 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 LanteriX @ 03/03/09 06:30 AM

*Waits for EA servers to become available again*

# 2 catcatch22 @ 03/03/09 07:35 AM

I can still do glitch goals from the slot and circles. I can still do the one foot reach shot and it is extremely accurate. I am not happy to see it is still in there but I guess for online play it forces people to use human goalies. By the way I tried this in a game and the goalie with no screen was having trouble saving this shot. Then I went my BAP guy and started testing him out on the ice and tried the glitch shots. Only the one foot reach shot was accurate about 80% to 90% of the time. Kind of sucks.

Only played one game but the sliders actually seem to affect the amount of hits now. Also the goalie does a little animation to try and defend the cross crease. However I killed the goalie with them and he just can't put his stick out enough to defend them. Need to play this online when the servers come back up. Unfortunately I have to leave soon.

# 3 Redsoxrule77 @ 03/03/09 07:56 AM

anyone have any idea when the ea servers will be back online more or less.

# 4 LanteriX @ 03/03/09 08:10 AM

Yeah, they're back up now.

# 5 Redsoxrule77 @ 03/03/09 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LanteriX


	Yeah, they're back up now.

Thanks.

# 6 Qb @ 03/03/09 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	Well this patch sure helps offline play a ton. AI teammates are more aware of the puck, better positionally, do a much better job of clearing the front of the net.

I've only played one game with the patch so far, but I noticed this as well. My AI teammates were of much more use defensively, in fact I held Dallas to only 20 shots (10 min periods).

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	Also CPU goalies do seem to let in more shots. I've only played one game with the patch so far but Turco let in 4 goals to my Bruins...

Ha, despite getting 33 shots of my own, Turco held me to only one goal. I didn't have a lot of great chances -- although I did have two breakaways, stoned on both, but not my forte -- I did have some good ones. Guess he just had a good game, nothing wrong with that. My only goal was a weak wrister by Matt Cooke on a 1-on-2 while I was changing my forwards. It deflected off of the defenseman's skate or stick and Clement also referred to Turco being screened.

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	What impressed me the most though was neutral zone play was alot more existant due to the AI on both sides being far more puck aware and far more aggressive in general.

I tend to agree here as well. With puck control at one, I saw a lot of sloppy play and the need to dump the puck. The NZ was definitely a bit tougher to navigate at times. A lot of this probably depends on the AI's forecheck strategy though, as I think Dallas uses one of the more conservative ones by default...

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	Thanks to the team for going the extra mile to get us a second patch when most dev teams would just wait til the next product cycle to get these much needed fixes in.

Absolutely. Big thanks to Jason & Co for their dedication to making a great hockey game!

PS - Tweaked the thread title a bit and stickied...

# 7 Ridgeberg @ 03/03/09 08:41 AM

I downloaded the patch this morning and got in about 5 minutes before I had to go. I noticed more aggression in the neutral zone. Forwards tried to corner my defenseman when he was trying to bring the puck up ice. I also noticed the CPU was more aggressive in the offensive zone, cycling, d-men pinching and trying to set up a nice shot.

So far so good.

# 8 Qb @ 03/03/09 08:54 AM

Haha, never thought I'd be happy to take a penalty for checking from behind, but it was well deserved. Nice touch...

EA SPORTS World: crushed

# 9 LanteriX @ 03/03/09 09:00 AM

First game I played online there was a combined 30 PIMs. I didn't have any of them, woo.

# 10 Fiddy @ 03/03/09 09:36 AM

i just played 2 games vs my cousin Fido1084 (gamertag)..

he beat me 1-0. he scored a goal with 2 secs left, basic wrist shot, i went to block it, it went over my guy and under the glove and in. we both were 0/4 on the PP. MOST interference gets called. a few times it didnt. but all in all good stuff.

game 2 he beat me 3-2 in OT. another solid game and penalties were called tight, he was 1/6 on PP and i was 1/4.

all in all great stuff, we tried and passed through the slot and back to get goalies to flop, we seen it just once. also a ton of crease one timer chances, stoned cold by the goalie. AWESOME.

im glad i dont play a hit everything that moves defense or i would be in trouble. some guys may spend a lot of time in the box now lol.

even hits like 2 secs after puck leaves gets called now..

just be careful and play a more positional defense and you will be fine..

thank you EA!!

# 11 mkharsh33 @ 03/03/09 09:49 AM

i got in one game this morning (offline)...i was pittsburgh playing against the islanders and lost 5-0 (all-star level).

goalie seemed to play smarter...shots were WAY down (good thing) and you have to be smarter with the hits. need to cycle the puck more and make good use of scoring chances.

i'm not a very good hockey video game guy, but i thoroughly enjoy them. most of all i was to play challenging / simulation hockey, and i think the patch really helped this game. i don't play much online as i can't stand playing against people who cheat the game and don't play "realistic" hockey. but i'll get the dynasty going soon once i'm certain i like the feel of my slider set.

# 12 Qb @ 03/03/09 10:30 AM

Just finished another game, losing to Tampa Bay 4-3 in the shootout. I trailed 3-1 in this one as well after to fluke goals allowed by Fleury early in the 2nd period. One was a harmless shot from the wing that settled between his legs that he kicked in himself when he went into the cover puck animation; the other on a soft wrister from the point that hit his glove before floating over his back and in the net. Looked a lot like the one Ovechkin scored the other night when Craig Anderson misplayed his high shot...

But I rallied to score two goals before the period ended to knot it up at 3-3. A nice bank pass up the boards gave Kunitz a step on the d-man, allowing him to power to net and slide one through Smith's five-hole. Talbot jammed home a rebound to tie it up. I took a few penalties in the 3rd & OT, but Fleury stepped it up to keep me in it. Man was the 4-on-3 kill in OT nerve-wracking!

I suck in the shootout, but took it to the 5th shooter (using manual goalie) before Malone (kick in the groin) slid one in went I went for a desperation save. 3 of their first 4 shooters took wristers with little to no deking, so when Malone pulled it back to the backhand I was a bit out of position. Not sure why I can't score, as I'm usually quite successful against the AI goalie in when I fool around in the edit player free mode.

Overall, I have to say that the patch really improved offline play. I'll probably get some EASHL games in tonight, so that will be interesting. I think our team will be OK with the interference calls since we didn't hit much to begin with, but we'll have to see how everything else plays out...

PS - Almost forgot, hits finished 35-29 in my favor in that last game. The highest individual total for an AI player was 5, while I racked up 8 with Hal Gill, 4 or 5 of which were on the same PK when I was fighting for the puck along the boards like a mad man. A small detail, but so nice to see hits counted more appropriately for all the dynasty/stats guys out there...

# 13 Qb @ 03/03/09 11:07 AM

Finally picked up my first interference penalty in my fourth game:

EA SPORTS World: interference

Dumb play, correct call and one we rarely, if ever, saw prior to this patch.

And for the record, that was the ever-dangerous Zack Stortini that I didn't want to get the puck with two players in good defensive position.

# 14 seasprite @ 03/03/09 11:22 AM

Really happy with this patch as far as Club Play and online goes. I dont play single player so I cant comment on the patch's affect on it. This patch has renewed this game for me!!! Good job EA.

# 15 Bumble14 @ 03/03/09 12:12 PM

Is Robo Goalie still present, or can you actually beat goalies on shots that should beat them?

# 16 Qb @ 03/03/09 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumble14


	Is Robo Goalie still present, or can you actually beat goalies on shots that should beat them?

The PS3 folks seemed to think it was improved. I've scored 7 goals in four 10-min period games, but I've got it set up for a more defensive game and the AI seems to play better defensively after the patch. With shot accuracy at 4 on All-Star prior to patch, I was starting to see too many goals. I put it back down to 3 in those four games I played today. This was all offline and I guess that wasn't much of answer...

EDIT: Just checked my friends list and it looks like he just finished an OTP game that ended 7-4. Maybe that's a better indicator...

# 17 LanteriX @ 03/03/09 01:36 PM

God, I'm so glad the juicers are gone online. I've been tearing it up in the 3 games I've played cause now I dont have to worry about getting checked at will away from the puck and having guys be so much faster than my player even though I set my guy as a dangler.

Woo.

# 18 seasprite @ 03/03/09 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LanteriX


	God, I'm so glad the juicers are gone online. I've been tearing it up in the 3 games I've played cause now I dont have to worry about getting checked at will away from the puck and having guys be so much faster than my player even though I set my guy as a dangler. Woo.

Not so fast, the 99 is still out there. This has been confirmed that some people are able to still get into OTP game being juiced. This is a huge example of "DROPPING THE BALL"!!! Thanks EA for getting my hopes up that you would actually fix the problem that has crippled this game.

# 19 Qb @ 03/03/09 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seasprite


	Not so fast, the 99 is still out there. This has been confirmed that some people are able to still get into OTP game being juiced. This is a huge example of "DROPPING THE BALL"!!! Thanks EA for getting my hopes up that you would actually fix the problem that has crippled this game.

Link? Not trying to question you, but that's something none of us want to hear, so something to back it up would be greatly appreciated.

I finally got around to doing a community OTP game -- what a difference! Neither team was playing undisciplined, but the few times we got careless away from the puck, it was called. I was able to check a guy standing on the far post as a pass came across twice without being whistled. We posted a shutout and scored four, mostly on some nice passing & movement. Definitely a noticeable difference, even though all six of us involved appeared to know what not to do...

# 20 seasprite @ 03/03/09 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qb


	Link? Not trying to question you, but that's something none of us want to hear, so something to back it up would be greatly appreciated. I finally got around to doing a community OTP game -- what a difference! Neither team was playing undisciplined, but the few times we got careless away from the puck, it was called. I was able to check a guy standing on the far post as a pass came across twice without being whistled. We posted a shutout and scored four, mostly on some nice passing & movement. Definitely a noticeable difference, even though all six of us involved appeared to know what not to do...

My "link" is a guy that is on my club and he has been juiced for the last couple of weeks. Not trying to justify why he was juiced, but he was a beginner and a pretty horrible player. Anyway I have been talking to him today and he has told me that he has been able to get into games all day and has not changed his guy and he is still at 99. I understand that you want some proof, but I can assure you that this will come out all over most boards in a couple of days when other people realize this.

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