NHL 11 News Post

NHL 11: A Game Harder Than Its Hardcore Fans (Kotaku)

05:42 PM - September 11, 2010 by Steve_OS

Kotaku's Owen Good has posted an entertaining NHL 11 read. Is the game harder than its hardcore fans?

Quote:


	"A friend visiting me recently is a lifelong NHL fan with season tickets to the San Jose Sharks. He doesn't play video games, but he was intrigued when he saw NHL 11 on my desk, a couple days before release. "Oh, wow, you got this?" he said. "What's that like? Can I play it?" "Sure," I said, opening the case and handing him the manual. "There are the controls." The 17-page manual devotes four pages to the controls. After three minutes Scott uttered two words that communicated he'd given up on the idea. "Don't feel bad," I said. "I barely know how to play it either."

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

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Member Comments

# 1 TripleCrown9 @ 09/11/10 08:37 PM

Excellent read. Very valid points.
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# 2 cepwin @ 09/11/10 10:13 PM

Interesting read indeed! Tnx for sharing! I'm not sure if I'd call them inaccessible but you definitely have to put time in and get some understanding of the game in order to succeed. NHL 11 is definitely *not* pick up and play. Thinking of a game like FIFA it can get even more complex than NHL due to various types of passes (and knowing when to use them) and learning all the "tricks" that real Soccer players use in order to get past their opponents to create chances. Madden added gameflow as it is even more complex with numerous sites dedicated to strategy...and if you don't understand playbooks and game planning you're at a disadvantage.
A related genre that has these same issues is Racing sims. I am trying to master this genre and Ive read books and watched videos on real racing to try to learn the necessary things...again *not* pick up and play.
All this being said, I'll admit I personally like the sports sim game and race sim genre's precisely *because* of the challenge.

# 3 bigsmallwood @ 09/12/10 01:10 AM

Nice write up! Sometimes, games can be too complex...

# 4 Dazraz @ 09/12/10 03:23 AM

Really good read. Thanks.

I think when gamers play a sports videogame what they are ultimately hoping to have is a recreation of the real sport. This means that individual players within a game play within their real life limitations. After all, no matter how good you are with your stick skills in a game, you shouldn't be able to pull off moves that a playing would not pull off in real life. EA have created Personality+ on their FIFA game this year to address this.

As for the difficulty of playing games I think that developers need to cater for both markets. Their are extremely talented gamers out there who have amazing skills with controllers who can carry out complex moves with annoying consistency. However maybe games could have an option whereby a single button on the controller is used to carry out any skill moves with the AI determining what move that may be based on the situation & the skill sets of the players involved.

# 5 sharks @ 09/12/10 04:53 AM

Honestly I think the controls are intuitive enough that if someone took the time, they could learn them.

I actually want the level of control to be more complex. I don't feel it's deep enough especially on defense.

# 6 ramenite @ 09/12/10 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cepwin


	A related genre that has these same issues is Racing sims. I am trying to master this genre and Ive read books and watched videos on real racing to try to learn the necessary things...again not pick up and play.

Off topic from NHL:

From a sim racer, there's one book you have to read. "Going Faster. Mastering the Art of Race Driving". It also takes A LOT of practice to be quick. Ignore things like setup, and just practice race lines, etc.

# 7 cepwin @ 09/12/10 11:45 AM

Yep ramenite....I have that one and I've also watched the video multiple times. :-) It is an excellent book! Yes, at this point I usually try to find a setup I can drive and then just practice the race line and learn the corners. Which sims do you run?

# 8 TreyIM2 @ 09/12/10 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharks


	Honestly I think the controls are intuitive enough that if someone took the time, they could learn them. I actually want the level of control to be more complex. I don't feel it's deep enough especially on defense.

That's what I believe. As long as the controls are intuitive, being complex should not be an issue unless a person is just the type who wants everything in life to be easy. Not to mention, doesn't NHL and Madden have simple control setups, anyway, for those who prefer not to use the "complex" control setups? This article, to me, is silly, when it comes to using NHL 11 as an example.

# 9 ramenite @ 09/12/10 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cepwin


	Yep ramenite....I have that one and I've also watched the video multiple times. :-) It is an excellent book! Yes, at this point I usually try to find a setup I can drive and then just practice the race line and learn the corners. Which sims do you run?

rFactor mainly. The league I was in used it exclusively. I have them all, with the exception of iRacing. My wheel died, and I haven't gotten around to getting another one. I'm more rFacotr, LFS, and nKP, than something like grid, or Need for Speed. Although I am looking forward to GT5.

And don't even worry about setups. A setup will behave differently from someone just learning to drive, to just learning the track, from a decent driver, to a quick one. As far as differences in time from one setup to another once you learn to drive? Maybe a second.

# 10 ramenite @ 09/12/10 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	Great example of the current general "have it easy" society we currently live in. The controls in NHL11 are intuitive, thats the key word right there. It takes only an hour if that to grow accustomed to what does what, and obviously practice will improve your skills over time.

Yes, and it's simple things you can do. For instance, on a power play. Get it down low from the point by banking it off the boards to get around a defender. The board play that now makes dump & chase a worthwhile thing to do. Or forget about the elaborate moves you can do, you can not at least open up the goalie and put the puck through the wickets.

And none of that stuff requires anything more than either a button press, or a couple moves on the skill stick. The one thing I wish I could find though, is some sort of list with ALL the moves you can do. Every once in a while I'll do something by accident, and wouldn't know how I did it. Like I had Crosby kick the puck to his stick and then roof it on a goalie.

# 11 TUSS11 @ 09/12/10 03:36 PM

The controls are definitely intuitive, to us video game players. But to someone who's not familiar with the 360 or PS3 controller, it exponentially increases the learner curve. That's why his friend was able to pick up the Wii hockey stick and be successful instantly. The Wii controller is less abstract when it comes to replicating specific motions, so new-comers can literally "pick up and play".

# 12 stlstudios189 @ 09/12/10 04:19 PM

I was the same way w/ swing stick in baseball it took some time but I can't go back

# 13 kerosene31 @ 09/12/10 04:21 PM

Heh, I used to play 2k hockey. You want to talk about a thick manual and a lot of controls.

# 14 ComfortablyLomb @ 09/12/10 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUSS11


	The controls are definitely intuitive, to us video game players. But to someone who's not familiar with the 360 or PS3 controller, it exponentially increases the learner curve. That's why his friend was able to pick up the Wii hockey stick and be successful instantly. The Wii controller is less abstract when it comes to replicating specific motions, so new-comers can literally "pick up and play".

I agree with this 100%. The controls are certainly fine for anyone who plays video games and is used to a PS3 or 360 controller. For someone who doesn't play games I'm sure any quicker paced game on the market would be difficult for them for a while even if they can memorize the commands because pressing the buttons won't be second nature. It's like looking at a computer keyboard for the first time and expecting pound out 50+ words a minute instead of hunting and pecking.

# 15 Vikes1 @ 09/13/10 03:34 AM

I must admit, I don't use many of the control options that are now available. And I suffer the consequences of it.

I like to have my settings in NHL were it's pretty challenging for me, and with that...things happen fast. Most times I'm dang lucky just to get a decent shot off, or somehow poke check the on rushing player.

The answer to my problems is easy...I need to take the time to get to know all the controls, instead of just enough to barely get by. And I also need to spend some time in practice mode. Honestly...I'm pretty terrible at NHL. The main reasons are...my reaction speed is slow, and my lack of knowledge of the controls.

The reason I sux is because of me...not because the game is too complex. I've either been in too much of a hurry just to play, or an unwillingness to spend the time I should in practice mode.

Personally, I love the fact that with games like "The Show", FIFA, and NHL...to be decent at them, you need to understand the sport they represent...and you'll possibly need to practice to hone your skills. Imo, this is how a simulation game should be. But of course also providing easier gaming levels for the less dedicated. To me...generally "dumbing down" games for the sake of the casual User is ridiculous.

A far as the... "Harder than the "Hardcore fans", no, I don't believe that. It's my guess the truly dedicated [hardcore] gamers enjoy being challenged by ever increasing complex games. jmo.

# 16 TracerBullet @ 09/13/10 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	I must admit, I don't use many of the control options that are now available. And I suffer the consequences of it. I like to have my settings in NHL were it's pretty challenging for me, and with that...things happen fast. Most times I'm dang lucky just to get a decent shot off, or somehow poke check the on rushing player. The answer to my problems is easy...I need to take the time to get to know all the controls, instead of just enough to barely get by. And I also need to spend some time in practice mode. Honestly...I'm pretty terrible at NHL. The main reasons are...my reaction speed is slow, and my lack of knowledge of the controls. The reason I sux is because of me...not because the game is too complex. I've either been in too much of a hurry just to play, or an unwillingness to spend the time I should in practice mode. Personally, I love the fact that with games like "The Show", FIFA, and NHL...to be decent at them, you need to understand the sport they represent...and you'll possibly need to practice to hone your skills. Imo, this is how a simulation game should be. But of course also providing easier gaming levels for the less dedicated. To me...generally "dumbing down" games for the sake of the casual User is ridiculous. A far as the... "Harder than the "Hardcore fans", no, I don't believe that. It's my guess the truly dedicated [hardcore] gamers enjoy being challenged by ever increasing complex games. jmo.

I did the same thing with The Show when it comes to controls. Finally got around to learning them and I got a lot better.

I need to watch more hockey this year, I love watching it, but just never find the time to do so. Watching soccer definitely has helped me learn how to play fifa better. Couldn't hurt to do the same to help me with this game.

# 17 boritter @ 09/13/10 06:09 AM

I think anyone can shoot, pass and check in NHL 11. Beginners can do those 3 tasks and learn the rest as time goes on.

# 18 tabulaRasa @ 09/13/10 08:17 AM

Articles like Kotaku is what stops publishers from going all out sim. I think going for more SIM we have to invest more time, and once we are into it, we get addicted. To me NHL11 is awesome, and been a 2K head when that series was SIM so I truly appreciate it.

And btw, why not classic controls? 2K8 got slaughtered with their controls, but if you really got into it, there were TOTAL CONTROL of the players. But that may be a bit over the top, but EAs game isn�t nowhere near as complex to a rookie NHL gamer, so I don�t get it.

# 19 Lieutenant Dan @ 09/13/10 12:43 PM

Feeling a bit sheepish since I'm in here with the major NHL players but here goes...

I've played NHL games for years...my favorites are NHL 98 on PS1 and NHL 09 on 360. I used the shot stick on 09, btw. I really love that!

So, is NHL 11 that much tougher or more complicated than NHL09? I skipped NHL 10.

I'm interested in the game, but I'm an NFL guy and play NHL games more 'casually'. I'm not ignorant to hockey or how it's played and I'm a good sports gamer (love The Show and 2k basketball as well).

Thanks fellas!

# 20 Vikes1 @ 09/13/10 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lieutenant Dan


	So, is NHL 11 that much tougher or more complicated than NHL09? I skipped NHL 10.

Welcome to the board Dan...

I can really only speak of off-line play... imo, NHL '11' is more challenging than the '10' game. Due to the improved cpu AI. If you play on the higher playing levels, things that worked too well with '10'...are more difficult with '11'. Such as cross crease passing, simply checking the cpu players against the boards with ease.

The AI overall, is just smarter this year...very welcome change. This years game, most likely would take some getting use to Dan. But it's not like you won't recognize it. I feel pretty confident in saying...I think you'd enjoy the changes.

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