NHL 15 News Post

Online Versus Play Must Improve For NHL 16

02:45 PM - February 18, 2015 by RaychelSnr

As its small population (pictured above) suggests, Online Versus Play is a dying mode in NHL 15. When the EA Sports Hockey League inevitably returns for NHL 16, that percentage of users searching for OVP games will likely dip into single digits if the mode is not significantly improved next season. What can Electronic Arts do to keep people interested in playing traditional, one-on-one multiplayer with real NHL teams?

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

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# 1 half-fast @ 02/18/15 04:20 PM

Yes, all that and ............. make the damn game somewhat realistic. The game is so unrealistic and scripted I dont see myself purchasing any sequels in the foreseeable future.

# 2 snc237 @ 02/18/15 05:40 PM

Yup I have said this countless time to my friends. They are such easy add ons to enhance the game. I play pretty much only online when it comes to NHL. Everything you said above I have brought up 2-3 years ago. Im amazed how they haven't added even a little of that yet.

# 3 Simple Mathematics @ 02/18/15 06:15 PM

Nah. I'll stick with offline BaGM and season modes.

Now if they bring back GM Connected with all the features of last-gen's BaGM, menus that work quickly, and the ability to use custom rosters, then I'll be an online guy. Until then - offline it is.

# 4 Saint Iscah @ 02/18/15 09:03 PM

Nice write up and thank you for it. I would like to add one big one as well.

How about a reliable online connection to the other player? I detailed my dilemma with this in another post, but the short of it is I am on a 50 Mbps connection, have all open ports, my PS4 is on a static IP, cleared DNS cache, UpNp off & yet still every online versus match in unplayable from a choppiness standpoint.

My own thought on the matter is that online versus is P2P connection while HUT is via a dedicated server.

I'm not a fan of HUT but have resorted to it because it is the only reliable way to play another human online "lag free" in NHL 15.

# 5 BaylorBearBryant @ 02/18/15 10:19 PM

BRING BACK ONLINE 6's

# 6 TDKing @ 02/18/15 10:25 PM

GM connected with custom season length and sliders. Online tournaments and 7 game series vs friends online.

# 7 ericromain @ 02/18/15 10:35 PM

I would like to see my player's statistics saved for more than one game at a time.

I suspect user controlled goalies will be back for next year, but i agree that it is a huge omission this year.

Stat tracker and the post game saved highlights were a great feature that disappeared.

They need to streamline the games. I'm still just sitting around waiting for people to skip through cut scenes.

Most of all, I wish lagging connections were eliminated.

# 8 SOPMODM68 @ 02/18/15 10:48 PM

Like really who cares about online play?

# 9 ajs41072 @ 02/18/15 11:34 PM

Online seasons would be good. It's there now, but only in HUT. FIFA has it for FUT and for online vs. games. This would give you something to play for in online vs. Gives you some ladder to climb with higher divisions, feels like your accomplishing something. Also, online vs. tournaments. I think older versions of Madden had this, or some EA game. You'd have to wait for another game to finish and then play the next game if you won. It could be tied into HUT with coin rewards. Rather than "grinding" solo play, I'd much rather play online vs for HUT coins.

Why should I play as Buffalo or Edmonton or Arizona if I'm not a fan of that team? If they kept track of W-L with each team, and awarding something, HUT coins, for winning at least one game with all NHL teams in online vs. it would give a reason to see some other teams in this mode rather than just the top teams and give incentive to play for. Then more coins if you win 2 games with each team, etc.

I'm a big hockey fan, but I rarely play online vs. for this very reason of really nothing being accomplished by winning.

# 10 bukktown @ 02/18/15 11:41 PM

Online vs. is my favorite mode. It would be nice to save lineups and strategies. And the level system is questionable.

Match ups with similar skilled players are always a blast for me

# 11 TjJunior @ 02/19/15 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint Iscah


	Nice write up and thank you for it. I would like to add one big one as well. How about a reliable online connection to the other player? I detailed my dilemma with this in another post, but the short of it is I am on a 50 Mbps connection, have all open ports, my PS4 is on a static IP, cleared DNS cache, UpNp off & yet still every online versus match in unplayable from a choppiness standpoint. My own thought on the matter is that online versus is P2P connection while HUT is via a dedicated server. I'm not a fan of HUT but have resorted to it because it is the only reliable way to play another human online "lag free" in NHL 15.

Exactly this! I played OvP exclusively upon release, but ever since they put it OTP I get no connection. Bittersweet, because I realized how much more I enjoy HUT. Not like I have a option though.

# 12 actionhank @ 02/19/15 01:44 PM

Not to sound bitter, but i can't think of one aspect of the NHL series that couldn't use a solid re-working.

Maybe the HUT billing system. That seems to work well.

# 13 Diehardfan @ 02/20/15 07:59 PM

It's bad enough that they can never seem to make a game without "arcade" tendencies....can they please just eliminate the relentlessly stupid HUT. So much wasted time and energy invested in that area.

# 14 skrody @ 02/21/15 09:08 AM

OVP has turned into 'who can score the most cheese goals in 15 minutes', which has made the mode absolutely useless to me

what i would love to see, is keeping a record of your stats. how many goals you scored, shots, etc. especially versus your friends. like if you constantly play your friends (like some of us do) it would be nice to see average shots vs this player, goals, most points by a person, etc.

# 15 jyoung @ 02/21/15 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diehardfan


	can they please just eliminate the relentlessly stupid HUT. So much wasted time and energy invested in that area.

Whether you enjoy the mode or not, HUT is likely keeping EA's NHL series afloat right now. The franchise's retail sales have been steadily dropping in North America since NHL 11. At this point, EA's probably making more profit from HUT and from people spending money on Be A Pro/EASHL attribute boosts than they are making from selling $60 copies of the game.

# 16 catcatch22 @ 02/22/15 06:47 PM

It's not fun getting tagged team by two human opponents in an online ranked match with horrible teammate AI. If you want to play with your friends on the same console then do a versus game or tag team the computer.

# 17 RBUDD88 @ 02/25/15 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by half-fast


	Yes, all that and ............. make the damn game somewhat realistic. The game is so unrealistic and scripted I dont see myself purchasing any sequels in the foreseeable future.

Yupp Get 40 shots score 2 and the other guy get 10 shots and scores 6 lol games disgusting

# 18 bukktown @ 02/28/15 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catcatch22


	It's not fun getting tagged team by two human opponents in an online ranked match with horrible teammate AI. If you want to play with your friends on the same console then do a versus game or tag team the computer.

Fortunately that doesn't happen anymore on ps4.
I used to hate the 1v2s on 360

# 19 S�dy @ 03/03/15 07:11 AM

Save lineups, Guest mode and most importantly it needs Divisions like HUT. That would be amazing!

# 20 acardy22 @ 03/07/15 04:12 PM

please please please have an ONLINE PLAYOFF mode where you fill up a playoff bracket and play 1 game elimination. Have a feeling this would be a huge success. I always want to do a bracket style tournament online but there are never any options.

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