NHL 15 News Post

Ask Me Anything: Sean Ramjagsingh, NHL 15 Producer

07:02 PM - August 19, 2014 by RaychelSnr

Sean Ramjagsingh, producer of NHL 15, is stopping by OS this evening for an open chat with NHL fans. In the comments below, you can ask Sean anything and he will answer as many questions as possible on the heels of his interview he did with us today.

If you haven’t done so yet, we’ve covered many of the basics of today’s news in our interview, that there will be no EASHL, GM Connected, OTP, or Life the Life in NHL 15. So don’t be that guy who asks the question which we’ve already answered! However, anything is fair game, and Sean plans to stick around for awhile and answer your questions under the EASportsNHL username.

Keep in mind that we will be patrolling the thread, cleaning up duplicate or ill-tempered posts — keep the questions clean, constructive, and to the point. Please remember that we are enforcing a Zero Tolerance policy towards anything that isn't constructive to this discussion. Think before you reply. We want this to be a constructive and positive experience for all participants!

So with that, ask away!

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Member Comments

# 121 redsox4evur @ 08/19/14 11:09 PM

Sean,

Can we please get some news about what is being changed with Be a GM on last gen consoles and what about create a player is that still in there and can we get a roster share please?

# 122 thedudedominick @ 08/19/14 11:11 PM

With all the focus on continuing to update the Next-gen versions of NHL 15 (Which I understand), will there be continued support and updates of any issues that arise for those that play it on the 360/ps3?

# 123 shogunofharlem3 @ 08/19/14 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ovechkin962


	Sean, Can you told us a bit about the updates for Be a GM, how is it gonna work? Will it be for adding stuff that are already in the game but didn't make the cut or to add new things? I would like to know a bit more about that since it's my favorite mode. Thanks a lot!

Great question. If I may add to it. When an update is released or added to Be a GM will we have to restart our in progress Be a GM or will the addition be seamless so we can continue.

Also, throw it out one more time; Are we able to edit player attributes? Revamped Team, other roster creators and Global edit guys like myself are dying to hear, either way.

Thanks again for taking the time here at OS.

# 124 Dolphins88 @ 08/19/14 11:21 PM

For a first edition on next gen I can see not having the modes BUT what this series needs is realistic gameplay. Each team needs to play differently and each player should vary in attributes (2k3 and a game Gretzky hockey by Bethesda )Is this in the next gen version? The goalies need redone too.

# 125 rp05ev @ 08/19/14 11:24 PM

Sean,

Will human goalies and defenders remain same as now when OTP comes out via patch? Or will they have more tools (defensive skill stick, vision control, more animations etc) to combat the over powered forwards? Any info regrading goalies or defenders will be much appreciated since all the trailers and videos were only showcasing the offensive side of the game.

Thank you.

# 126 EASPORTSNHL @ 08/19/14 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedudedominick


	With all the focus on continuing to update the Next-gen versions of NHL 15 (Which I understand), will there be continued support and updates of any issues that arise for those that play it on the 360/ps3?

Yes there will.

# 127 bwiggy33 @ 08/19/14 11:27 PM

Hey Sean,

Are you looking into fixing the neutral zone play in this series? This game has never forced the user to change up their strategy when entering the offensive zone. At the present time I can enter the offensive zone with ease every single time. In fact I can enter the zone and stand there being watched by all 5 defensive players, until all of my players enter the zone and then I can work the puck around. I am forced to create house rules for myself so that I dump the puck in just to vary the game up. Due to the lack of neutral zone pressure or "easy entry" I go offsides a grand total of about 2 or 3 times a game (sometimes 0) and when I play the game it's on 12 minute periods minimum. Offsides happens in hockey and I never see it at all in this game.

Is custom AI still in the game? Going along with this question is there any thought of adding more sliders or Custom AI options to allow people to really change how the AI thinks? Currently this game is tuned so that the flow and pace is back and forth ping pong hockey. That is no question the game that many people want to play, but there are people like myself who don't want a back and forth game all the time. Giving us more sliders and custom AI options would massively help users with creating the game to the style they want. Also more sliders and options mean everyone can create the type of experience they are looking for. For instance a neutral zone slider so that people who want neutral zone pressure can have it and people who don't want it don't need to.

Do you guys plan on revamping goalies? Currently goalies warp across the crease instead of having real push off movements. I'd also like to see when a goalie makes a glove save or sucks the puck into his body, that he doesn't go into the freeze puck animation every time.

I'm going to be flat out honest I have been really disappointed in this series the past 4 years. To me this game seems completely tuned for the fast paced, back and forth, no stoppages type player. That doesn't appeal to me or many other people on this forum. I truly believe more options would help massively with building this game for everyone. For the user who doesn't want a ton of sim in the game, the gameplay is nearly perfect the way it is now. For the players who want a more sim style experience it doesn't cut it because we don't have the tools to make it play the way we want it to. On some of the threads in this forum you will see a long list of suggestions, frustrations, and input from people who want this type of experience.

I apologize for being so blunt but I have been very aggravated with this series and I needed to let it out knowing that the head developer was reading this thread. I would be more than happy to buy this game again but not until I see it improve towards a more realistic hockey experience. Me and so many others on this forum have no problem adjusting settings to mimic the experience we want, we just need the settings and options to do that.

I'd like to thank you for coming on here and answering questions. To me that's what shows us you guys truly care what the buyers want included in the game. You may see a ton of negativity on this forum but a lot of that is due in part to not ever hearing from the developers. If you guys continued to check in on this site and listen to our ideas I would be willing to bet this game would improve massively. Once again thanks for taking the time today.

# 128 cowboys282 @ 08/19/14 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EASPORTSNHL


	HUT gameplay is essentially Online Vs. Step 1 was getting online up and running which is essentially Online Vs. Once that was up and running, applying it to HUT was 'relatively' simple because it's still 1v1 with different rosters. OTP/EASHL is a different configuration that needs to account for up to 12 user controlled players all on their own console. This increases the likelihood of desyncs, it's a new set of complex testing that needs to be done, there are potential issues around matchmaking etc. In a nutshell, HUT's online gp is the same as Vs whereas OTP is very different.

Thanks for answering. If Micro Transactions were not involved I wouldn't question this. However they are very much involved.

I respect the fact that 12 player online is far more complex then 1v1 which HUT involves. However HUT seems to have much more involved as far as menu options, 100's of different cards, the ability to buy packs, the coin system, the auction house, online tournaments, and much more.

Unless you were using most of the same code from the last gen version I can imagine the scope of setting up HUT is far more involved then just using "1v1 with different rosters"

But lets say you finally get OTP/12v12 up and running. Why not go the full length and add a stripped down version of EASHL? Once 12v12 is tested and working adding some quick stat trackers should not be hard?

Seems like you want to hold this back as a selling point to buy NHL16? But that's just adding an old feature back. It should not be used as a selling point.

I personally would buy NHL15 and even play HUT some if I knew EASHL would be added at some point to NHL15. But only adding OTP, and waiting until now to announce it, seems as though there's more going on.

# 129 TDKing @ 08/19/14 11:33 PM

Sean, can you comment on the future of GM Connected? Thanks

# 130 Jellobiafra @ 08/19/14 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayenomics


	Rammer, I see you've skirted my question. I understand development of a game on a new platform is tough, but GM Connected is 1v1 online at it's basic core, with Be a GM added on. Why not take a key from Madden and just make offline and online one in the same, with alll the same features, with the only difference being one hosted in the cloud with multiplayer (your servers) and one being local? Surely that isn't beyond your team's capabilities. Sucks that you had to kill GM Connected, and in turn kill several great communities like the GMCHL.

Now that it is confirmed no connected franchise mode I will not be buying NHL15. Can you please advise if connected careers will be considered again for future iterations. How about if you can find a way to charge extra for connected GM would that make it easier to include as a game mode? Was arranging a gm mode for players in Australia and New Zealand now none of my friends will be buying this game.

# 131 tpblue @ 08/19/14 11:40 PM

Will people still be able to play 6v6 in NHL 14 until NHL 16 comes out as most of the online leagues are pretty much deciding to boycott 15 and play next season on NHL 14?
And is NHL 15 going to be cheaper on the next Gen consoles as there is so much less content?

# 132 Majingir @ 08/20/14 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rules


	Sean, Will penalties be called more often this year bringing the game closer to what happens in real life? Without it, no power plays, no penalty killing lines or strategy needed. This has been an issue over the past few years and the sliders made little to no difference. Thank you.

I got same question,but an add on to that.....Will the penalty slider make a big difference in the amount of penalties we see(for example,will the penalty slider on 1 vs slider on max, lead to a much different amount of penalties seen in a game)? As mentioned in the quote above,the penalty issue has been a problem for a few years(since NHL12 to be exact) and the prior years of EAs NHL video games haven't had an issue with the amount of penalties being called(it's not just a handful of people either,it's a real large amount of people not just on this forum,but even the official EA forums who've tried everything and had little to no luck in getting a good amount of penalties per game,even on max penalty sliders)

Also.....Will Be A GM mode have faster sim speeds for users on PS3? The last be a gm mode I played,it took like 10 seconds to sim a single day in the game(which adds up to about 5 minutes per month,and 40+ minutes per season to sim)

And final question.....Will we see as many rebound goals from AI players in this years game? It's been an issue in past games where a real noticeable amount of AI goals seem to be rebound goals(where the puck bounces off the goalie,and the puck happens to bounce towards the direction of the closest AI player who then has an easy shot at the net)

# 133 sportsgamer42 @ 08/20/14 12:11 AM

Is Season mode, Playoff mode and Battle for the Cup in the PS4 and XBO versions?

# 134 statnut @ 08/20/14 12:14 AM

Any thoughts on a discount for X1/PS4 versions or a 360/X1 or PS3/PS4 bundle?

# 135 BillsFan1113 @ 08/20/14 12:58 AM

Been playing this series since the sega genesis days....owned every single one and will every single year, love what you and your team has done with the game, I only have two questions---

1. Is there any chance in the next few releases that you are working on getting the rights to the NHL coaches? I remember one year they were actually in and playing with my beloved Buffalo Sabres it was very very cool to see Lindy Ruff on the bench every game, a little thing like that really makes a huge difference.

2. Is there anyway you can look into getting a large amount of retired players into the game, similar to the few you had in for be a pro, but more like what nba 2k had done with the full classic teams? I would love to play a current next gen NHL game with players like Pat Lafontaine, Alexander Mogilny, Dominik Hasek, Bobby Orr, etc. Possibly even old style presentation packages....goalies with no masks....two line passing....historical commentary. I loved that on nba 2k12 I believe it was....and I'm not even a basketball fan. It would be really cool to see something like that for hockey.

Anyways, thanks for all you've done and continue to do. I can't wait til September 9th!!!!!!

# 136 stevendah @ 08/20/14 01:40 AM

Hey Sean,

Thanks for the great work. Long time fans of the franchise will be pleased with the final product. The gameplay and presentation for NHL 15 looks awesome!

It's been mentioned in a previous interview however, that over 300 players have been scanned to bring their likeness into the next-gen versions of NHL 15. Through cutscenes during gameplay videos, and trailers, there hasn't been many new players spotted with their actual likeness. Is this something we can still look forward to in the final retail version of the game? Or is this something that was intended and was put on hold for the following year's release?

# 137 Tupac71 @ 08/20/14 01:41 AM

1. are there new goalie animations? Many?

2. Are there additional jerseys added this year for each team? more specifically... the black/red Sabres jerseys from the late 90s?

I may be too late to have my questions answered.

# 138 IgotSyphillis @ 08/20/14 01:48 AM

Is online versus play only 1 on 1? Can you still play with 3 or 4 players online using the same system? Cause from the interview you gave before, it seemed that the problem with OTP was getting 12 different screens to do the same thing and not mess up. So since it would just be 3 or 4 people on one screen playing 3 or 4 people on another screen, there shouldn't be an issue. Unless you were lying.

# 139 gator3guy @ 08/20/14 02:02 AM

Are there any plans to better utilize all the teams and leagues that are in the game outside of just play now games? I'm not a big soccer fan, but one of the things I have admired about the FIFA series is how they integrate all the leagues in the game in there modes with weekly attribute updates, match day challenges/matches, etc. As a casual fan, I have learned a lot about other leagues and countries that I probably never would have ventured to play with if it weren't for the accessibility in the game.

I understand soccer is more of a global game than hockey is presently, and the primary focus is the NHL after-all, but I feel like the NHL series hasn't utilized all of it resources when it comes to the teams it has in the game. The Champions Hockey League, for example, is starting this week and it would be cool to have that integrated in the game some how.

I understand you guys, don't have the IIHF license anymore (I believe it was in 05). Are there any plans to work with them, to have national teams licensed again? World Championships? World Juniors? Olympics? We will see updated national team jerseys?

NOTE: I think you should consider including Slovenia in the game. They recently played in the past Olympics and have been on the rise and have surpassed many countries that have been in the series for years.

I was happy to hear all the leagues from 14 made it over to the next gen game and the CHL has been a great add to the series. Are there any plans to add more leagues? KHL?

I realize this is probably not high on your team's priority list (especially now), but just something I have always been curious about. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.

# 140 Sheba2011 @ 08/20/14 02:44 AM

Has the AI trade/sign logic been fixed in Be a GM mode? Are there at least new menus this year to change up what we have been looking at for the past few years? Are there any new features to Be a GM mode? My decision to buy the game early (if at all) depends on Be a GM mode, we need some info on it.

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Ask Me Anything: Sean Ramjagsingh, NHL 15 Producer