NHL 15 News Post

NHL 15 Might Be Missing More Than We Anticipated (XB1/PS4)

04:15 PM - September 4, 2014 by RaychelSnr

Now that the EA Access trial period has started, Xbox One players have noticed that the list of missing modes and features in next-gen NHL 15 is much larger than previously expected. In a prior interview with Sean Ramjagsingh, some of these were hinted at but not fully disclosed, but the depth of some of the gutted features seems to be larger than initially anticipated. The following items are features which users have noticed are missing while playing the early access to NHL 15 -- keep in mind this information is preliminary and some of these could actually be in the game but well hidden. With just six hours of time to test, it doesn't leave much room to explore:

Modes/Features

No GM Connected
No Online Team Play (when this is patched into the game later this year, it will use real NHL players and teams)
No EA Sports Hockey League
No EA Sports Arena
No Online Shootouts
No Live the Life
No Be A Legend
No Winter Classic
No tournaments or Battle for the Cup
No season mode (you can only play seasons in Be A GM, which is limited to NHL teams)
No NHL 94 Anniversary mode
No custom music support
No create-a-play designer
Cannot customize each team's AI
No create-a-team
No way to edit individual players
Practice mode is now limited to one skater vs. an AI goalie

Gameplay

No custom camera option
No Action Tracker replay highlights
No Top 3 Stars at the end of games.

Be A GM

Yearly draft is fully automated by the CPU
Cannot play the AHL games for your chosen franchise
Players sent down to the minors do not accumulate any season stats
No fantasy draft option
No preseason games

Be A Pro

No option to sim ahead to the next shift
You only play in the NHL; you cannot play for minor league teams
The Memorial Cup tryout period is gone. You now begin by picking an NHL team, or by letting a random CPU team draft you.
No All-Star game

Ultimate Team

Cannot play against your friends
No tournaments
No mobile app

All of the above features were available last year in NHL 14 for the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 but appear to be missing this year on the new-generation of consoles. If you have NHL 15 early access and have noticed any of these are actually in the game or if anything additional is missing let us know in the comments below.

Game: NHL 15Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 16 - View All

NHL 15 Videos

Member Comments

# 201 mrpotatohead5 @ 09/05/14 10:01 AM

Wow, this thread has me perplexed and somewhat sad I preordered the game in full.

# 202 bluesfan13 @ 09/05/14 10:12 AM

I really do enjoy this franchise and I'm not blaming the development team because I'm sure they were stretched too thin, but it's embarassing that EA would not help the team out. I had kept my preorder until today since I only used a couple of modes anyways, but without any Battle for the Cup and the stripped down BAGM mode I can't justify $60. Maybe at $30 on black Friday or in January, but not full retail.

# 203 HustlinOwl @ 09/05/14 11:03 AM

a damn shame, now if only more people would take my stance in not purchasing and speaking with your wallets this company may wake up. Have not purchased a EA Sports title since the crap they pulled with NCAA Basketball 10 and this sounds familiar.

# 204 scitychamps87 @ 09/05/14 11:09 AM

Patches anyone? I want us to have another honest discussion with Rammer just to hear what happened.

# 205 mkharsh33 @ 09/05/14 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesfan13


	I really do enjoy this franchise and I'm not blaming the development team because I'm sure they were stretched too thin, but it's embarassing that EA would not help the team out. I had kept my preorder until today since I only used a couple of modes anyways, but without any Battle for the Cup and the stripped down BAGM mode I can't justify $60. Maybe at $30 on black Friday or in January, but not full retail.

The bold part above... That's what gets me. We have people here at OS, who have families and jobs, who do a better job than those who are being paid to dedicate their life to this. I'm not giving any company a free pass. I've often found that, even working a full-time job and having the responsibilities of a wife and 4 kids, that I could get better roster updates out - even more quickly - for MLB 2K12 than their roster guy could.

It's called passion and a desire for excellence. When we all wake up and realize that this is NOT the number priority for video game companies, we will all be wiser for it. They only care about $$$. Accuracy or realism doesn't matter. Pump out a game, broken, mind you - knowing that you can just patch it later - destroyed video gaming over the last decade or so.

Don't give their team a free pass. If they couldn't get it done, hire more people. The guys who should be given jobs are those of us here at sites like Operation Sports. We get it. I'm not a computer savvy tech guy, but I know a thing about rosters for various games. I understand sliders and A.I. We know what we are looking for and what we want to see. We understand this stuff because we are dedicated and passionate. And we care about providing something for the community here - for many various sports.

I'm sick and tired of people giving EA a continual free pass. I've read it here over the years. "Oh, don't say anything negative about the team at EA or they won't come to OS and listen to us anymore." Really... Like they've ever listened to us.

Truth is hard to accept, but when you put together a "team of rivals" around you, they help you see things you don't want to see. EA needs guys who aren't sitting in the box with them. Over time EA has destroyed EVERY game they've produced, from NHL to Madden to NCAA to their basketball titles. And I'm supposed to just accept that, and not lend a critical critique?

Funny, but of all the sports titles I play - EA's NHL title was always my favorite. I know nothing about roster editing for this title as I don't know all the nuances of hockey like a lot of smart people here in this group. But hockey has always been the funnest video game sport to play for me, beating out baseball (which I've dedicated my life here to roster editing for the MLB 2K version) and football, even basketball. And gradually, over the years, EA has simply ruined it for me. Modes have been added I could care less about. The AI never plays right. The game became a jacked up version of arcade hockey.

And with their latest efforts of patching NHL 14 (and I watched the entire youtube clip last night) - it's beyond pathetic. I really wish EA would just close their doors and let another company take over... It's well beyond time.

# 206 Cletus @ 09/05/14 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkharsh33


	The bold part above... That's what gets me. We have people here at OS, who have families and jobs, who do a better job than those who are being paid to dedicate their life to this.

Not going to quote the whole thing, but you're right. How can people who do this as a hobby get more work done than professionals? I think some of the guys should be fired based on results. If I do not do my job in the way it is expected, I should get fired. Is that heartless of me based on a videogame? Not when your job is to make a quality videogame.

Hockey is the only sport I care about anymore and in 2014 I have the same game modes that I have on Blades of Steel and I'm supposed to give the makers of the game a free pass? Ok I'm going to work today and everytime someone orders a hamburger, cooking half the burger, sending it out and telling the customer "It's coming later, I just ran out of time." It's ok, I have a wife, dogs to feed and bills to pay.

# 207 Drakar @ 09/05/14 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cletus


	Not going to quote the whole thing, but you're right. How can people who do this as a hobby get more work done than professionals? I think some of the guys should be fired based on results. If I do not do my job in the way it is expected, I should get fired. Is that heartless of me based on a videogame? Not when your job is to make a quality videogame. Hockey is the only sport I care about anymore and in 2014 I have the same game modes that I have on Blades of Steel and I'm supposed to give the makers of the game a free pass? Ok I'm going to work today and everytime someone orders a hamburger, cooking half the burger, sending it out and telling the customer "It's coming later, I just ran out of time." It's ok, I have a wife, dogs to feed and bills to pay.

You guys never work in an IT department before. Its not always the fault of the dev team. They probably got limited budget and resources to actually do their job right. Its the executive of the EA Sports division that should get a slap not the dev team.

# 208 Cletus @ 09/05/14 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakar


	You guys never work in an IT department before. Its not always the fault of the dev team. They probably got limited budget and resources to actually do their job right. Its the executive of the EA Sports division that should get a slap not the dev team.

So? You work with the tools your boss gives you and the customers still have their expectations. That's not fair, but that's how it is. In my kitchen there is no air, half of the equipment is broken, it's a casual restaurant but customers still expect their food within 5 minutes. I am expected to be able to fulfill those demands, if i don't I get fired.

# 209 boxers @ 09/05/14 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakar


	You guys never work in an IT department before. Its not always the fault of the dev team. They probably got limited budget and resources to actually do their job right. Its the executive of the EA Sports division that should get a slap not the dev team.

This. I'm pretty the devs didn't set out to castrate the modes of this game, they probably didn't have the resources. That being said, I'm going to put aside my frustration and enjoy this game for what it is and hope for some patches to improve things.

# 210 Drakar @ 09/05/14 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxers


	This. I'm pretty the devs didn't set out to castrate the modes of this game, they probably didn't have the resources. That being said, I'm going to put aside my frustration and enjoy this game for what it is and hope for some patches to improve things.

Exactly. I have multiple friend that works at EA Campus in Burnaby. I might heard a story or two.

# 211 snc237 @ 09/05/14 11:36 AM

Can't put a ton of blame on the Dev team. EA probably used the same size team as they had for nhl 14 and that's a pretty small team. This is all the upper managements fault on this one for the most part. Hell even Madden got a free boost of people because of NCAA stopping.

# 212 GROGtheNailer @ 09/05/14 11:44 AM

Alright, introducing their game to next-gen and this is how it plays out? Not including tons of features it had before...on the next-gen models, this makes no sense at all. Just look at all that is missing, it is a big huge list.

This is disrespectful to the fan and consumers of their product, I went from a sure buy to a definitely no buy just now. Destiny comes out same day...very easy choice now.

We really really need another company making hockey games.

# 213 jyoung @ 09/05/14 11:51 AM

Quote:


	Playoff mode isn't mentioned in that list. Was that removed as well?

Playoffs, tournaments, and Battle for the Cup have all been taken out for next-gen.

# 214 Saint Iscah @ 09/05/14 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CelticHeart


	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeYPCi2CUUI

So I just watched this again. 2 things........

1. Gary Bettman and Zdeno Chara look NOTHING like themselves.

2. Gary Bettman (5'5") is the same height as Zdeno Chara (6'9") on skates.

# 215 savedbyrask @ 09/05/14 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GROGtheNailer


	Alright, introducing their game to next-gen and this is how it plays out? Not including tons of features it had before...on the next-gen models, this makes no sense at all. Just look at all that is missing, it is a big huge list. This is disrespectful to the fan and consumers of their product, I went from a sure buy to a definitely no buy just now. Destiny comes out same day...very easy choice now. We really really need another company making hockey games.

Only thing I can reason is they wanted to focus on the core game play first and foremost, which IMO would be a great thing. How many times have people said games keep adding features but don't fix the basic bugs or annoyances that keep it from being a great game? Plus, it's too early to tell that things WON'T be added later via patches and updates. Maybe there's a secret day-one update already planned? I doubt it, but until then, we won't know unless someone says so.

Personally, I'd rather have a polished game that is playable over a game with tons of features I'll never use. I never used the season mode, or Be A Legend. I know most of you do, but I either played Be A Pro or Be A GM. My EASHL career never took off full time but I have played a few pick up matches which were fun. If everything that isn't included now is added later, that would be OK okay long as everything else is there.

I'm not making excuses for EA or fanboying them because they WERE shady in not saying this before, but maybe, just maybe, they have plans.

That being said, I'll wait for this in the bargain bin or see what updates may come later. Until then, I'll stick with 14 and PS3.

# 216 Gagnon39 @ 09/05/14 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint Iscah


	So I just watched this again. 2 things........ 1. Gary Bettman and Zdeno Chara look NOTHING like themselves. 2. Gary Bettman (5'5") is the same height as Zdeno Chara (6'9") on skates.

Not only that this is completely unrealistic because we all know that the Blackhawks would have score two goals in 17 seconds to come back and win that game!

But in all seriousness, this is most disappointing. We were told that there was a new Stanley Cup celebration and this is almost the exact same thing we've seen forever. I wish SO bad that they would let us skate the Cup around like 2K did.

# 217 adayinthelife @ 09/05/14 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savedbyrask


	Only thing I can reason is they wanted to focus on the core game play first and foremost, which IMO would be a great thing. How many times have people said games keep adding features but don't fix the basic bugs or annoyances that keep it from being a great game? Plus, it's too early to tell that things WON'T be added later via patches and updates. Maybe there's a secret day-one update already planned? I doubt it, but until then, we won't know unless someone says so. Personally, I'd rather have a polished game that is playable over a game with tons of features I'll never use. I never used the season mode, or Be A Legend. I know most of you do, but I either played Be A Pro or Be A GM. My EASHL career never took off full time but I have played a few pick up matches which were fun. If everything that isn't included now is added later, that would be OK okay long as everything else is there. I'm not making excuses for EA or fanboying them because they WERE shady in not saying this before, but maybe, just maybe, they have plans. That being said, I'll wait for this in the bargain bin or see what updates may come later. Until then, I'll stick with 14 and PS3.

I keep seeing people say this, and while I wish it were the case, it simply isn't. The gameplay is unbelievably similar to what we've had for the past __ years. The amount of legacy issues is astounding. Yes, they've made some tweaks (and admittedly positive ones like the skill stick), but the core/meat of it is still the same as it has been.

# 218 GrandMaster B @ 09/05/14 12:45 PM

Goals also don't tally in Be a Gm games while playing a game. It only shows how many a player has scored during the game and not for the season.

# 219 Baldylocks81 @ 09/05/14 12:47 PM

I'm getting a free copy from an EA rep cos I work in retail. I love the gameplay. But the features missing is unforgiving.

# 220 Caterham20 @ 09/05/14 12:48 PM

I really was looking forward to getting this game, but if these are true I will not be purchasing.

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NHL 15 Might Be Missing More Than We Anticipated (XB1/PS4)