NHL 13 News Post

NHL 13 Hands-On Preview with Lots of Good Info (Game Informer)

11:04 AM - May 21, 2012 by Steve_OS

Game Informer's Matt Bertz checks in with his NHL 13 hands-on preview. Lots of good nuggets in this one, as he hits on 22 things you need to know about the game.

Just a few quotes below...

Quote:


	This year speedy wingers like Marian Gaborik have the ability to fly by defenders. Going fast has its limitations. Players will get fatigued faster, and only elite players like Sidney Crosby are able to stickhandle and take accurate shots while skating at top speed. To build the new skating system, EA Canada has added over 1,000 new animations. For the first time in the series, goalies now have individual limb control. "This year we've invested more effort in AI than in the last three years combined in terms of effort," Ramjagsingh says. Much to the dismay of some fans, both Gary Thorne and Bill Clement return to the broadcasting booth.

Source - 22 Things We Know About NHL 13 (Game Informer)

Game: NHL 13Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 23 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 bwiggy33 @ 05/21/12 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	Sure like what we're hearing so far. I was really hoping to have read in the gameplay section that...."No longer can you just skate right through the zones [vs the AI] like you have a free pass." I've been kinda focusing during this years playoffs on just how often teams dump/chip the puck into the offense zone. And man...it's often, really often. I do understand that many times it's due to line changes, but also...it's the defender that's just not going to let the puck carrier skate right on pass him. I am a bit encouraged though, to see in the write-up that dump and chase is at least mentioned. Hopefully a good sign.

Vikes if what they say is true, they said there are going to be neutral zone strategies as well so that will be the setting that we can change to make the CPU put more pressure on the puck carrier when entering the zone. Hopefully we will be able to set every teams strategies in the game and save them like we can with FIFA, Madden, and NCAA. That is another one of the great things that 2k10 has. It looks like EA is finally adding this. Great to see.

# 22 TDKing @ 05/21/12 10:09 PM

wow ! this all sounds great but like alot of people have said I'm not going to get to excited till I see how it actually works if it works.
I might be the only one but I actually like the commentary they just need to add some more new lines.

# 23 jkra0512 @ 05/21/12 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFudge


	Also something that I really hope is addressed is the puck physics ...Yes the puck physics. I know they made improvements to it over the last couple of versions but there is still an overwhelmingly annoying amount of repetitive deflections that always look scripted to follow the same exact path off of goalie and player ricochets that dont look very natural either. The pucks should demonstrate more weight and flutter and bounce more on the ice and have a great sense of unpredictably when its redirected. Also they need to tone down the overuse of the 40 foot hight PK clearing floaty flutters the game seems to exaggerate. Another thing they absolutely need to nail down and fine tune is unrealistic and extremely accurate ease of shots from any distance and at any angle that seems to always find their way magnetically to the net. There should be a much greater variation to shots that go just wide or just miss the net rather than have everything always on goal or go way wide the way it is now. Basically, more subtle degrees of shot placement on and off target

I always hated how the deflections looked scripted. Not only did it look cheesy, but completely unrealistic. I'm in the camp hoping for fewer instances of tape-to-tape passes and instead introduce sloppier play. However, I feel EA Canada - and every sports gaming developer - has to strike a balance between realism (sim fans) and fun factor (casual fans), which doesn't bode well for this wish of mine.

# 24 brandon27 @ 05/21/12 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM938


	Agree, but Clement does stuff with the Flyers on the local network. But yes I'd like to see the NBC team in there.

That's a scary though. Mike Emerick is probably the worst broadcaster in sports. He's painful to listen to. As stale as the commentary is in the NHL series now, I'd much rather have that over Mike Emerick.

# 25 Broncos86 @ 05/21/12 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandon27


	That's a scary though. Mike Emerick is probably the worst broadcaster in sports. He's painful to listen to. As stale as the commentary is in the NHL series now, I'd much rather have that over Mike Emerick.

You're loony. I LOVE Mike Emerick, the man pumps so much energy into the broadcast and emphasizes the right plays. I would prefer nobody else, give me Emerick.

# 26 savoie2006 @ 05/21/12 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFudge


	Any news if we can have MORE SANDLOT type of control over our Franchises to make adjustments to other team's strategies, rosters, etc? Or MORE Importantly,....can we FINALLY select ANY GAME from a FRANCHISE Schedule and jump in and PLAY the match if we want???.....This feature has been in almost all the sports video games franchise modes for years now except for the NHL series. Sometimes we simply like to take a break from playing with our own team and like to jump in and play a key matchup during the season OR just like to play out all the playoff matches at the end of the season! At least make it a toggable option when your SETUP your franchise so that some of us can enjoy the extra god like controls of a Franchise mode

Yeah, full control during BAGM would be great especially with all the new strat/forecheck options. Maybe EA got each team right though...

# 27 jaiman @ 05/21/12 11:52 PM

I wonder if that means a new broadcast camera during gameplay? I don't think that is what they are saying here, though.

# 28 MizzouRah @ 05/22/12 12:17 AM

Excellent read.. I'm optimistic, but excited for sure!

# 29 Vikes1 @ 05/22/12 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	Vikes if what they say is true, they said there are going to be neutral zone strategies as well so that will be the setting that we can change to make the CPU put more pressure on the puck carrier when entering the zone. Hopefully we will be able to set every teams strategies in the game and save them like we can with FIFA, Madden, and NCAA. That is another one of the great things that 2k10 has. It looks like EA is finally adding this. Great to see.

I sure hope we can, Bwiggy. [change AI controlled strategies]

I really enjoy the heck outta the game. And really like my quite time of playing vs the AI. But man...I'm really hoping that for '13', we do at least have the option of a more pressure type of gameplay. Ie, dump and chase gritty style of play.

The first time I dump the puck in...because I actually had to, I'll be

# 30 bwiggy33 @ 05/22/12 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandon27


	That's a scary though. Mike Emerick is probably the worst broadcaster in sports. He's painful to listen to. As stale as the commentary is in the NHL series now, I'd much rather have that over Mike Emerick.

Not to change this into a commentary thread but, Are You kidding me? People who don't even like hockey at all rant and rave at how good Doc Emmerick is and how they wish he would do other sports. He shows passion and energy in the sport and ignites it into the people watching. The thing is he isn't over board with his energy. It's at the appropriate times during a game that he shows it. If you complain about Pierre Mcguire thats one thing, but not Doc. He is probably the best announcer in sports, Jim Nantz and Al Michaels are there as well, but nobody shows more passion and excitement like Doc.

As for Gary Thorne and Clement in NHL, they need to be dropped bad. They don't announce together, there have hardly been any lines added since 07, and the announcing is just absolutely brutal. They are my favorite announcing team in sports history, but they are way past their prime. Clement does local Philly stuff and Thorne announces the NCAA Frozen Four and thats it. They need to switch it up. The announcing has been bad since basically day 1.

# 31 Bloop33 @ 05/22/12 03:47 AM

This is looking good. best quote for me from the article was " Look for more updates on how EA plans to improve the Be A GM mode in a couple weeks."

Quite honestly, I spend 95% of my NHL time on GM Mode, it's enjoyable for the most part.

The only things I'd like to see included with the AI intelligence (I have a lot more wishes, but with what they've given so far, here is a refined list)

1) Line Matching. Would LOVE to have my top line facing another teams shut down line, especially in the playoffs.

2) If you can't edit a teams strategies (or they don't edit according to their team), I would like if they built their teams properly rather than best available.

3) Drafted players used good sticks (flexes), skates and equipment (more visors). The fact that you need to edit everyone after the draft (2015 and beyond) is just plain lazy.

# 32 SinisterAlex @ 05/22/12 03:55 AM

That is all.

# 33 Vikes1 @ 05/22/12 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	Not to change this into a commentary thread but, Are You kidding me? People who don't even like hockey at all rant and rave at how good Doc Emmerick is and how they wish he would do other sports. He shows passion and energy in the sport and ignites it into the people watching. The thing is he isn't over board with his energy. It's at the appropriate times during a game that he shows it. If you complain about Pierre Mcguire thats one thing, but not Doc. He is probably the best announcer in sports, Jim Nantz and Al Michaels are there as well, but nobody shows more passion and excitement like Doc. As for Gary Thorne and Clement in NHL, they need to be dropped bad. They don't announce together, there have hardly been any lines added since 07, and the announcing is just absolutely brutal. They are my favorite announcing team in sports history, but they are way past their prime. Clement does local Philly stuff and Thorne announces the NCAA Frozen Four and thats it. They need to switch it up. The announcing has been bad since basically day 1.

Agree completely, Bwiggy.

I was hoping big time that we'd get news that Doc and Eddie were in the game for '13'. I think there's lots of good teams out there...but Doc and Eddie are my favorite. These two seem to really enjoy what their doing, and seem to genuinely like each other.

I have to admit...I am a bit disappointed Gary and Bill remain. Even though I personally don't hate the current commentary. [as stale now as it kinda is]

# 34 SinisterAlex @ 05/22/12 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestServedCold


	Looks like I might buy it this year. I hope they add on to the Be A GM mode though. That's what kept me away last year.

I hope an online add on is good enough for ya

# 35 JezFranco @ 05/22/12 04:36 AM

This all sounds amazing.

I just really hope that EA nails it, and don't screw up. Cuz really the last few years their intentions have been great, but it's like they screwed up just before the goal line.

I really love 12 and have played it to death, but there is a feeling about it, like if EA lost control somewhere with the patches & tuner sets... Not only do you feel it because there are some things not working in 12, but what happened to the feedback from EA? It's been very quiet this year.

Specifically I'd like the sliders to be more effective.
If I put penalties on "0" the game should basically allow anything, for anyone that wants an arcade game... When it's on 50% it should reflect a "normal" setting and on full, it should be penalties even in cases where it's a legal check.
Some sliders is already working like this, but to many does not (penalties, pass reception, flip pass etc).

Bar the skill stick, I'd say that the introduction of the full slider set is one of the most important things to this series. So it's important that it works properly.

# 36 Dazraz @ 05/22/12 09:07 AM

I don't actually have a problem with the commentary team but boy do they need far more lines to improve the true broadcast effect. Dynamic commentary to keep pace with season progress & more historic team/player specific anecdotes are required. Sadly there is little to suggest that we will see much improvement in this area.

# 37 Broncos86 @ 05/22/12 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazraz


	I don't actually have a problem with the commentary team but boy do they need far more lines to improve the true broadcast effect. Dynamic commentary to keep pace with season progress & more historic team/player specific anecdotes are required. Sadly there is little to suggest that we will see much improvement in this area.

I think the issue is simply that the commentary isn't horrible. It really isn't. It's decent. The problem is simply that it's very stale. We've heard it before. Every single line. Whereas you look at Madden, and the commentary was in absolute disarray. Thus, resources and priorities have been placed elsewhere. I did read that some new lines were recorded for NHL 13 to directly relate with the new skating and AI.

One hopes that next year, an emphasis can be placed on new commentary.

# 38 hollywood_cpm @ 05/22/12 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JezFranco


	This all sounds amazing. I really love 12 and have played it to death, but there is a feeling about it, like if EA lost control somewhere with the patches & tuner sets Bar the skill stick, I'd say that the introduction of the full slider set is one of the most important things to this series. So it's important that it works properly.

This and this.

The tuners always seem to fix something at the expense of other things. And the fix almost always is for online at the expense of offline. There's too many online players who just exploit a good game and EA has to dumb it down to keep things "fair" which comes at the expense of the entire game experience.

As for sliders. Spot in. If they worked properly in NHL 12 I know I would have had a lot more challenging games and thus more enjoyable games.

# 39 Therion7 @ 05/22/12 05:26 PM

That was quite a list.

If half of the things mentioned, and CPU pens must be in that, make it to the shelves then I can live with the commentary.

Getting rid of the cutscenes in favour of an AI-driven approach might mean goal celebrations are more like FIFA rather than a quick few seconds to get your user move in then a canned cutscene.

Five hole goals? Fantastic news.

# 40 Simple Mathematics @ 05/23/12 11:50 AM

After reading all of this info, does anyone else find it impossible to go back and play NHL 12?

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NHL 13 Hands-On Preview with Lots of Good Info (Game Informer)