NHL 11 News Post

NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

06:32 AM - August 17, 2010 by Lubey

EA Sports NHL 11 demo is now available on Xbox LIVE and the PLAYSTATION Network. Powered by a revolutionary real-time physics engine, the franchise that has won 22 sports game of the year awards over the past three years will showcase two game modes in the demo: Battle for the Cup and the all-new Hockey Ultimate Team.

Battle for the Cup:

In Battle for the Cup, players will experience all the emotion and drama of the third period of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup� Championship between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks. The mode features an all new faceoff system, new quick dekes and the ability to score amazing goals even while lying on the ice.

Hockey Ultimate Team:

The all-new Hockey Ultimate Team brings Online Dynasty play to the EA SPORTS NHL franchise for the first time ever. In the demo, players will be able to pick up a starter pack of cards to build their Ultimate Hockey Team. Take your new team to the ice and play against either the Canadian Hockey League�s Windsor Spitfires, or the NHL�s Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. Play and win games in the demo with your Ultimate Team and earn up to two additional packs in the full version of NHL 11, when it is released on September 7, 2010.

The demo will also feature an interactive tutorial that will allow those new to the franchise to learn the controls, and allow long-time fans to practice some of the new controls in the game, including Faceoffs.

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

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Member Comments

# 601 Splitter77 @ 08/25/10 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	Edit: I did think of something I wish was in the game that isn't....getting thrown outta the face-off circle. [/font][/font]

that would be cool, which leads me to an NHL pet peeve of mine. Can the damn linesmen just drop the puck when both players get into the dot? I dont know when these delay dropping of the puck tactics started by these linesmen, but it really pisses me off. Back in the 80, early 90s the linesman got into the circle and just dropped the puck. I hate when they stand there and wait.

# 602 Money99 @ 08/25/10 09:55 AM

Okay, after playing a lot more over the past few days I'm still seeing something that I hope is fixed over the course of the '3-year-plan' they have with this new physics engine.

The game is still too 'clean' at times. Watch when you run into an opposing player. Not so much throw a hit, but just get the body into his. The two players will 'roll' off of each other like two negative-magnets. The skaters don't lose any momentum, and the puck carrier doesn't lose the puck or step.
It's like they have a force field around them that can only be penetrated when you throw a hit and it's at a perfect angle.

I think when EA can fix this, the game will really take off and have an even more organic feel to it. Scrums in corners, along the boards and in front of the net will take on a new life.

# 603 adayinthelife @ 08/25/10 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Okay, after playing a lot more over the past few days I'm still seeing something that I hope is fixed over the course of the '3-year-plan' they have with this new physics engine. The game is still too 'clean' at times. Watch when you run into an opposing player. Not so much throw a hit, but just get the body into his. The two players will 'roll' off of each other like two negative-magnets. The skaters don't lose any momentum, and the puck carrier doesn't lose the puck or step. It's like they have a force field around them that can only be penetrated when you throw a hit and it's at a perfect angle. I think when EA can fix this, the game will really take off and have an even more organic feel to it. Scrums in corners, along the boards and in front of the net will take on a new life.

I think this is exactly where it's going and I can't wait. This was the first thing that popped into my head when they told us about the physics engine. This year it seems to only be activated once a check has been thrown, and even then it's somewhat limited feeling.

I know the Madden guys are always complaining about WR's and CB's not slapping each other enough as they run their routes and fight for position, I guess this my version of that. To me hockey is the definition of a physical sport, something that has never been translated properly in a video game. Last year 2k had a few good (although canned and completely random in occurrence) wrestling for body position animations that went a long way in generating some moderately realistic plays. So much of the game relies on gaining position and just being strong and tough, battling for the puck. If EA's engine can start to factor in these away from the puck interactions, it will be incredible.

# 604 akula @ 08/25/10 01:21 PM

and don't forget, player-net collisions, player-teammate collisions, player-goalie and ref and board collisions!

# 605 Vikes1 @ 08/25/10 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	It's like they have a force field around them that can only be penetrated when you throw a hit and it's at a perfect angle.

Yep I've noticed this too Money.

Just kinda thrown this out there but...as far as I can tell, I think it's connected to the Hit difficulty slider, were this slider increases or decreases that "Force field" around the cpu players. Kind of like if you've ever, post whistle, tried to run your player right straight to the cpu goal...and the player gets deflected away. Kinda something like that.

I don't know if I'm explaining myself very well but, I do know what ya mean.

# 606 Splitter77 @ 08/25/10 02:59 PM

can you imagine how good this game will be in 2 years??
Id be all for EA not releasing a game at all next year, just so they can have the final product released quicker.

# 607 Money99 @ 08/25/10 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	Yep I've noticed this too Money. Just kinda thrown this out there but...as far as I can tell, I think it's connected to the Hit difficulty slider, were this slider increases or decreases that "Force field" around the cpu players. Kind of like if you've ever, post whistle, tried to run your player right straight to the cpu goal...and the player gets deflected away. Kinda something like that. I don't know if I'm explaining myself very well but, I do know what ya mean.

I understood your explanation perfectly. And I hope you're right. Hopefully the slider can help somewhat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splitter77


	can you imagine how good this game will be in 2 years?? Id be all for EA not releasing a game at all next year, just so they can have the final product released quicker.

Let's not talk crazy!

# 608 jb12780 @ 08/25/10 05:44 PM

What difficulty level is everyone playing at?

# 609 Vikes1 @ 08/25/10 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb12780


	What difficulty level is everyone playing at?

Myself...I've been bouncing back and forth between Pro [hardcore] and All-Star [normal]

When we get the retail game, and with the working sliders I can lower the cpu's pass accuracy, I think I'll end up playing on All-Star.

# 610 DJ @ 08/25/10 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb12780


	What difficulty level is everyone playing at?

All-Star, Hardcore. That was what I was using on NHL 10 for the past 4-5 months, so figured I would start 11 there. Liking the feel so far, although like Vikes mentioned, the CPU Pass Accuracy slider will need tweaking once the retail version drops.

# 611 Lightbringer719 @ 08/25/10 08:45 PM

The game looks to be awesome, but they REALLY, really need to get rid of the stupid "hunching-over" animations the penalized player does (as well as when a team gets scored on.). It seriously just looks stupid.

# 612 onlybygrace @ 08/26/10 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenReign86


	Two more questions about reviews. Q1: Do they ever uphold the call on the ice? Yes. I've seen a play in my Youtubing (since my 360 is being fixed) where a player (CPU) beat the over commited goalie, completely deking around the goalie who was 3 feet in front of the crease. However, the forward was not able to get his stick on the puck before it crossed the line after trying to coral it with his feet. The ref waved it off and the call stood...no goal. LINK: (It occurs at 2:06 of the clip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fzwo_DiLlc Q2: Do they ever rule it a goal on the ice, then go to review, or does it only go to review if they waive it off?

So far all I've seen is the reviews occuring after the goal has been waved off. I wouldn't be suprised, due to the elaborate programming involved, that this is probably the only way we'll be seeing reviews this year.

# 613 BPK @ 08/26/10 03:22 AM

I really want to like this but the defensive play is really frustrating me. I just don`t feel like I have that much control over my players when I don`t have the puck. How are you guys handling defence? I`ve started just using a forward to chase the puck carrier - hardly an ideal scenario.

# 614 staffan @ 08/26/10 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb12780


	What difficulty level is everyone playing at?

All-Star (Normal)

For me important:
Authentic puck size and small shadow.

# 615 Splitter77 @ 08/26/10 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffan


	All-Star (Normal) For me important: Authentic puck size and small shadow.

yup. the authentic puck size makes a world of difference in this game. I use authentic shadow though as well. great addition to the game.

# 616 staffan @ 08/26/10 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splitter77


	yup. the authentic puck size makes a world of difference in this game. I use authentic shadow though as well. great addition to the game.

yes, authentic shadow is probably the best but even on a 50 inch my eyes have to work overtime!
I play on Classic cam. Maybe better on Ice.

# 617 norml @ 08/26/10 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPK


	I really want to like this but the defensive play is really frustrating me. I just don`t feel like I have that much control over my players when I don`t have the puck. How are you guys handling defence? I`ve started just using a forward to chase the puck carrier - hardly an ideal scenario.

When I first started playing the demo it seemed like the defensive side of the game felt better than last year in a big way. But after playing for a few days now I'm also becoming quite frustrated. It still seems like the cpu has a much easier time intercepting passes and getting passes through. More and more I watch passes go right by a well positioned D-man. I'm also having a harder time scoring. I'm playing pro normal so maybe I'm just bad at this game. Oh and it still feels like the cpu comes up with the puck during loose puck battles more often than not.

# 618 les3couleurs @ 08/26/10 11:46 AM

One thing I'm not so fond of is how broken sticks lie on the ice for the whole sequence when there is no break in play.

In the NHL, when that happens the linesman will go and pick it up. One more reason to get all referees and linesmen on the ice, is to take away some space.

# 619 Steven547 @ 08/26/10 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norml


	When I first started playing the demo it seemed like the defensive side of the game felt better than last year in a big way. But after playing for a few days now I'm also becoming quite frustrated. It still seems like the cpu has a much easier time intercepting passes and getting passes through. More and more I watch passes go right by a well positioned D-man. I'm also having a harder time scoring. I'm playing pro normal so maybe I'm just bad at this game. Oh and it still feels like the cpu comes up with the puck during loose puck battles more often than not.

Can't comment on the Defense part, but with the CPU coming up with loose pucks more... Last year, I put the game on Hardcore and felt like that fixed the issue of my players not grabbing the loose puck. Seems like on Hardcore, it eliminates that "auto" puck grab by your players, and enables you to get the puck without any "errors". If I'm correct, Hardcore means you have no assistance by the CPU. This means the CPU won't make bonehead moves in trying to grab the puck and overskate it.

I could be wrong, but try that out and see if it helps.

# 620 ocho cuatro @ 08/26/10 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norml


	When I first started playing the demo it seemed like the defensive side of the game felt better than last year in a big way. But after playing for a few days now I'm also becoming quite frustrated. It still seems like the cpu has a much easier time intercepting passes and getting passes through. More and more I watch passes go right by a well positioned D-man. I'm also having a harder time scoring. I'm playing pro normal so maybe I'm just bad at this game. Oh and it still feels like the cpu comes up with the puck during loose puck battles more often than not.

With the full game, you'll be able to fix those issues with sliders.

I'm just thankful that I haven't seen any CPU players pass back to the blue line on a breakaway yet. Has anyone else seen that? It was a major issue with NHL 10.

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NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)