NHL 14 News Post

NHL 14 - True Performance Skating Improvements Add Defensive Strafing, Quicker Pivots

07:53 PM - July 26, 2013 by Steve_OS

EA Sports has posted this NHL 14 blog discussing the improvements to True Performance Skating. Improvements include defensive strafing, quicker pivots, improved high speed turning and linking 45-degree cuts for a quicker change of direction.

Source - NHL 14 - True Performance Skating (EA Sports)

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# 1 bonannogiovanni @ 07/26/13 08:33 PM

So happy to hear about defensive strafing at last. It shoud have been a must for hockey games.

# 2 speels @ 07/26/13 11:53 PM

I like these changes.

# 3 bwiggy33 @ 07/27/13 03:26 AM

The changes to the skating will definitely help the game. They are much needed because there was still a lot of tuning that needed to be done after implementing the new skating last year. I figured with EA introducing the new skating last year it would definitely have it's flaws, but some of the issues seem to have been tuned up a bit for this year. Tuning the skating isn't going to sell me the game but if the skating is tuned properly that could make this game play much better.

What I also noticed is Nashville's "Bridgestone Arena" is finally licensed. Maybe some of the other no name arenas will be licensed as well.

# 4 Simple Mathematics @ 07/27/13 03:38 AM

Nice changes! I really like the defensive strafing. That's long overdue. The only thing I see that could be troublesome is that they made it so you can then sharper going at high speeds. That doesn't seem very realistic. We'll have to see. I hope this doesn't allow "figure skating".

# 5 hf199 @ 07/27/13 09:39 AM

We need to hear about Presentation! I'm starting to think that they did nothing on this and waiting for next gen

# 6 scottyp180 @ 07/27/13 10:45 AM

EA seems to be addressing a lot of problems i didnt like about last years game. Overall i liked nhl 13 (i thought it was one of the best sports games ever) but every now n then there were things that would take away from the experience (dumb line changes, defenders slowly turning around, poor ai decisions). There really isnt a huge, major change or addition this year but all the little tweaks should make for a better and more enjoyable game of hockey.

# 7 Simple Mathematics @ 07/27/13 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyp180


	EA seems to be addressing a lot of problems i didnt like about last years game. Overall i liked nhl 13 (i thought it was one of the best sports games ever) but every now n then there were things that would take away from the experience (dumb line changes, defenders slowly turning around, poor ai decisions). There really isnt a huge, major change or addition this year but all the little tweaks should make for a better and more enjoyable game of hockey.

I agree that all of the changes are needed and they're all welcome. I just can't help but want more. I hope that the reason why we aren't getting many additions this year is because they've been working on their next gen title. I now have very high expectations for next year.

# 8 bwiggy33 @ 07/27/13 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hf199


	We need to hear about Presentation! I'm starting to think that they did nothing on this and waiting for next gen

I'll answer that for you right now. They didn't do anything with presentation, and if they did it's minuscule. They haven't done much with presentation for the past 3 or 4 years so they are definitely not going to start doing so now before next gen. My suggestion would just be to forget about any improvements to presentation, Be A GM, or any other cosmetic changes. EA doesn't work on those areas during the middle of a console cycle, much less the end of one. If what EA has been releasing is true, they've actually modified the game more than I thought they would.

# 9 speels @ 07/27/13 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hf199


	We need to hear about Presentation! I'm starting to think that they did nothing on this and waiting for next gen

I think you are right about that. I am hoping that with the great base they have for gameplay already going into next gen, that a major focus will be to change the presentation. The lack of memory should not be an issue on next gen, however, if they can have way more stats and being able to track multiple season stats then I would gladly keep the same old boring presentation they have now. TBH I just skip everything anyway.

# 10 Garism @ 07/27/13 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speels


	I think you are right about that. I am hoping that with the great base they have for gameplay already going into next gen, that a major focus will be to change the presentation. The lack of memory should not be an issue on next gen, however, if they can have way more stats and being able to track multiple season stats then I would gladly keep the same old boring presentation they have now. TBH I just skip everything anyway.

I skip everything too.

Cut scenes.. tbh.. i'll rather they even take that out. I don't want every stoppage I have to watch a highlight. I just want to play the game. Put all the highlights at the end of the period or even game.

The reason why as a goalie I throw pucks out is I dont want to watch those highlights (unless I feel like the team really needs a reset). I dont even care if I let in a goal sometimes.

A 5-min per period game turns into a 30 minute game because of penalties and stoppages. You know what I'm talking about in EASHL drop in games.

Back on topic, loving the strafing & quicker pivot. The pivot is a nice fix because you know those 180 degree turn when you have no speed. It takes completely forever.

# 11 gator3guy @ 07/27/13 08:30 PM

As someone who plays almost exclusively EASHL, and as a defenseman at that, these changes are joyful to see. Couldn't tell you how many times I wanted to punch my TV when the center would win a faceoff back to me and my guy would get caught in that "mud" animation and take 3 seconds to take a stride, meanwhile the opposing winger is on a breakaway before I know what hits me. The strafing is also nice to see. Hopefully this minimizes the awful tripping penalties. Now if only they could stop pucks from going through my player.

# 12 Simple Mathematics @ 07/28/13 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gator3guy


	As someone who plays almost exclusively EASHL, and as a defenseman at that, these changes are joyful to see. Couldn't tell you how many times I wanted to punch my TV when the center would win a faceoff back to me and my guy would get caught in that "mud" animation and take 3 seconds to take a stride, meanwhile the opposing winger is on a breakaway before I know what hits me. The strafing is also nice to see. Hopefully this minimizes the awful tripping penalties. Now if only they could stop pucks from going through my player.

I really wish they would add in the stick collisions and all other types of collisions. Rammer said they tried adding it in but they didn't like the feel of it. I don't know if I believe that. I think it was just too much work for them to get perfect so they didn't add it. Full collisions is what this series is missing. You should be rewarded for playing good positional defense by staying in front of the player and the puck, not trashed for it because the EA devs like goal fests.

# 13 emericaridr11 @ 07/28/13 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple Mathematics


	I really wish they would add in the stick collisions and all other types of collisions. Rammer said they tried adding it in but they didn't like the feel of it. I don't know if I believe that. I think it was just too much work for them to get perfect so they didn't add it. Full collisions is what this series is missing. You should be rewarded for playing good positional defense by staying in front of the player and the puck, not trashed for it because the EA devs like goal fests.

yeah didnt he say it was causing to many loose pucks.... haha i laughed, that would be awesome for more loose pucks....

those butts

# 14 jyoung @ 07/28/13 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple Mathematics


	I really wish they would add in the stick collisions and all other types of collisions. Rammer said they tried adding it in but they didn't like the feel of it. I don't know if I believe that. I think it was just too much work for them to get perfect so they didn't add it. Full collisions is what this series is missing. You should be rewarded for playing good positional defense by staying in front of the player and the puck, not trashed for it because the EA devs like goal fests.

Next gen hockey needs to have:

1) Live stick physics (no more clipping and ghosting).

2) All stick checking moved to the right joystick for full range of motion.

Putting hitting on the right joystick is just a waste. All you need is a simple button press to prepare your player's body for a hit.

But stick checking needs directional input to go with the button command. Otherwise you just get what we have now, where your stick flails out in a random direction with a preset animation, which produces incredibly unrealistic results.

Under the current system, the puck can be right in front of you in perfect defensive position, but once you press the poke check or stick lift buttons, you are at the mercy of a dice roll, and have just as much chance of slashing or tripping the puck carrier for no reason other than the game is programmed to stick check in a random direction.

Stick checking success right now is almost entirely based on player ratings (discipline, stick checking) rather than user input (proper positioning, timing).

# 15 Tsuki @ 07/29/13 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyoung


	Next gen hockey needs to have: 1) Live stick physics (no more clipping and ghosting). 2) All stick checking moved to the right joystick for full range of motion. Putting hitting on the right joystick is just a waste. All you need is a simple button press to prepare your player's body for a hit. But stick checking needs directional input to go with the button command. Otherwise you just get what we have now, where your stick flails out in a random direction with a preset animation, which produces incredibly unrealistic results. Under the current system, the puck can be right in front of you in perfect defensive position, but once you press the poke check or stick lift buttons, you are at the mercy of a dice roll, and have just as much chance of slashing or tripping the puck carrier for no reason other than the game is programmed to stick check in a random direction. Stick checking success right now is almost entirely based on player ratings (discipline, stick checking) rather than user input (proper positioning, timing).

You know when you hold down the stick check button you can swipe the stick in any direction using the right stick

# 16 BlueNGold @ 07/29/13 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsuki


	You know when you hold down the stick check button you can swipe the stick in any direction using the right stick

And you can also change the control scheme so that the R-stick is poke check and hitting is R1 + R stick

# 17 Qb @ 07/29/13 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonapaloma


	And it works pretty bad. Almost no accuracy at all

And, at least when I try it with RB+stick, I sometimes get an unintended check animation as well.

My guy said the skating changes arguably benefit defenders more than the puck carrier. The quicker turns/pivots make for less clumsy defending and when combined with the much needed defensive strafing, make it easier to stay in position and keep the puck carrier to the outside. He added you can definitely avoid checks coming "from a mile away" thanks to the changes (and quick dekes, I assume), so here's hoping better positional defense is rewarded over seek & destroy.

# 18 Fiddy @ 07/29/13 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple Mathematics


	I really wish they would add in the stick collisions and all other types of collisions. Rammer said they tried adding it in but they didn't like the feel of it. I don't know if I believe that. I think it was just too much work for them to get perfect so they didn't add it. Full collisions is what this series is missing. You should be rewarded for playing good positional defense by staying in front of the player and the puck, not trashed for it because the EA devs like goal fests.

yeah, he said it caused too many loose pucks, and it took a lot of "fun" out of the game. the casual gamers win yet again! why this cant be an option to turn on or off is beyond me. i bet anything its on the disk and that they could turn it on via a tuner if they wanted to.

# 19 Tsuki @ 07/29/13 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonapaloma


	And it works pretty bad. Almost no accuracy at all

Have you taken into account the "stick checking" rating of the player you are attempting to poke with as well

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueNGold


	And you can also change the control scheme so that the R-stick is poke check and hitting is R1 + R stick

Does changing that actually making any difference in your opinion

# 20 Tsuki @ 07/29/13 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonapaloma


	The thing is it doesn't matter if you change the attributes since no matter what you do they dont effect the gameplay.

There is a whole "attribute effect" slider that says otherwise.

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