NHL 11 News Post

Five Things to Know About NHL 11 (ESPN Videogames)

02:19 PM - June 8, 2010 by Steve_OS

ESPN Videogames has just posted five things to know about NHL 11.

Quote:


	"Over the last three years, EA Sports' "NHL" franchise has won 22 Sports Game of the Year awards from various publications. So to the game's creative director, David Littman, it doesn't even matter that this year the game faces no direct hockey game competition on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 (2K Sports is only making "NHL 2K11" for the Wii). "Our competition has always been games like 'FIFA' and 'MLB: The Show,'" he explains. "We're not only trying to make the best hockey game out there, we're trying to make the best sports game period. "That's how we approach the 'NHL' franchise every year. For us, it's not about the hockey category, it's about growing the sport and winning more Sports Game of the Year awards because that means that we're among the best sports games in the world and that's our goal." So what does the team at EA Sports have planned for the "11" version of their game? I recently caught up with producer Sean Ramjagsingh to break down the five biggest gameplay improvements hockey heads should expect when the game drops September 7."

Game: NHL 11Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 36 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 PBlast @ 06/09/10 02:27 PM

This is great, and even if it's the same game as last year with those 5 improvements it would be well worth purchase price. What I'm wondering about is if they're eventually going to try stepping it up a bit in the broadcast presentation aspect, lots of room for improvement there.

# 22 The Visualizer @ 06/09/10 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBlast


	This is great, and even if it's the same game as last year with those 5 improvements it would be well worth purchase price. What I'm wondering about is if they're eventually going to try stepping it up a bit in the broadcast presentation aspect, lots of room for improvement there.

I think you are downplaying the new physics engine, that's gonna make a lot of difference in how the game feels and plays, it should be almost as huge a leap as when they first went to the dual stick controls in 07. Remember these few features mentioned are only small morsels to whet our appetites for whats to come. EA likes to slow drip their leaks to build hype for their sports game's releases.

# 23 PBlast @ 06/09/10 02:52 PM

Definitely not meaning to downplay it, I agree it's a huge advancement for not only the series but video games in general. I'm just saying that broadcast presentation hasn't typically been something they address, and it's something I'm sure they can build upon. But yeah, like you said, more info to come I'm sure. Either way I'm really loving what I'm seeing and hearing so far, it's a great time to be a hockey gamer haha.

# 24 The Visualizer @ 06/09/10 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBlast


	Definitely not meaning to downplay it, I agree it's a huge advancement for not only the series but video games in general. I'm just saying that broadcast presentation hasn't typically been something they address, and it's something I'm sure they can build upon. But yeah, like you said, more info to come I'm sure. Either way I'm really loving what I'm seeing and hearing so far, it's a great time to be a hockey gamer haha.

I am optimistic, I think presentation is at the top of EA Sports list of priorities right now going by what I've seen from the Madden, NBA Elite and FIFA dev teams so far with their emphasis on new announce teams, crowd chants and interaction and personality in their respective upcoming games. I expect Litty and the boys will be following suit this year.

# 25 06woz @ 06/09/10 03:41 PM

I think bug fixing should be at the top of their list.

# 26 plaidchuck @ 06/09/10 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06woz


	I think bug fixing should be at the top of their list.

Agreed, gameplay, gameplay, gameplay. Having user controlled goal celebrations is enough of a presentation improvement for me.

# 27 PBlast @ 06/09/10 04:18 PM

Bug fixing is a must, for sure, and they should certainly be addressing the important ones from the current version to ensure they don't carry over into 11, but bugs in video games are one of those things that are always going to be a reality. I'm sure EA probably has a whole department dedicated to bug fixes, I mean even near perfect games such as Red Dead Redemption has it's issues.

# 28 Vikes1 @ 06/10/10 05:24 PM

I'm all in favor of improved presentation too.

But like others, bug fixing imo as well, should be a top priority. When you run across some type of a bug...and then another, and then...it can really hurt your enjoyment of the game.

The last one I ran across was...the Blackhawks had Patrick Kane playing for the year, down in there AHL team. And their "need" was offense. This is in my second season of GM mode. Certainly not a game killer...but certainly a pretty decent size bug, imo.

# 29 vicodin14 @ 06/11/10 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06woz


	I really hope there are more than 4 'advanced' dekes....

there are only 4 deke motions but depending of where the puck is in proximaty to you when you perform the deke.. there will be variations.

example. with a left handed player ie. patrick kane

toe drag LB/L1 + right on the analog:

puck is in front of you... standard toe drag.

puck is held to the left... toe drag bank off the outside of the left skate and back to your stick

puck is held far left almost behind you.... toe drag bank up between your legs and banking off the inside of the right skate, which is kicked back up to your stick.

# 30 SwinginAs12 @ 06/13/10 05:23 PM

Im hoping for an NHL 12 NBC presentation overlay. They did a great job with the ESPN and CBS on NCAA baseketball 10, i think they could pull it off. And mike Emerick is so entertaining.

# 31 Qb @ 06/15/10 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch46647


	I wonder when you go to jump over somebody if you land perfectly everytime...

NO, NO, NO. Real. Time. Physics. I'm not sure if anyone pulled off a successful hurdle of a defender while we were playing. I could've missed it, but there were quite a few times when someone had a crazy play and everyone more or less knew about it. I tend to think that would've been a "hey check this out!" moment...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06woz


	I think I figured out the deking system, if I'm right. . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicodin14


	there are only 4 deke motions but depending of where the puck is in proximaty to you when you perform the deke.. there will be variations. example. with a left handed player ie. patrick kane toe drag LB/L1 + right on the analog: puck is in front of you... standard toe drag. puck is held to the left... toe drag bank off the outside of the left skate and back to your stick puck is held far left almost behind you.... toe drag bank up between your legs and banking off the inside of the right skate, which is kicked back up to your stick.

Just wanted to make sure you saw Vic's reply (he is the EASHL Forum community rep). I think you're on the right track, but Vic spent a lot more time fooling around in practice mode trying out the new moves. I'm just a grinder.

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