NHL 17 News Post

How Could Presentation Be Improved In NHL 18

12:41 PM - February 6, 2017 by RaychelSnr

Okay, hands up, who can remember the disappointment that was NHL 15? The jump to current-gen was a tough transition for the NHL series, as it was for many other long-running franchises. In the midst of the move, a whole range of features were stripped away, including the ultra-popular EA Sports Hockey League. In some ways, it felt like a lockout year for our beloved hockey series as our collective, team-based aspirations of virtual glory went on hold for 12 months.

As disappointing as it was to be a fan during this time period, that first current-gen release implemented a wide variety of gameplay and presentation upgrades, thereby establishing a solid base for the future. Since then, an additional two iterations of the series have been released on Xbox One and PS4, and while upgrades have been made across the board, certain presentation features have been left largely untouched. Of course, NHL's visual and audio aspects aren't exactly sub-par in general, but while many of them remain impressive, others have simply grown stale.

I personally love EA Sports' NHL series, and above all else, I'm a huge fan. Like any dedicated supporter, I've got bugbears and wishlist items to detail, so here are my thoughts on the future of NHL's presentation suite.

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# 1 csamuelsvt @ 02/06/17 01:35 PM

They have to have 5 man goal celebrations. it is a gigantic eye-sore. No more excuses on this. If they can't do it real time, give us a cut scene like they do for the milestones.

Commentary, they need to have Doc sound more like himself and continue to work on this. Eddie is brutal and barely has any lines. Ray is natural but also needs more commentary.

Also, the playoff commentary needs a lot of work. Doc sounds exactly the same whether it is a preseason game or game 7 on the playoffs.

# 2 GrandMaster B @ 02/06/17 02:06 PM

More stat overlays are needed.

When you take your first penalty or get a power play, I would like to see the season numbers and % not 0/0 for game.

Need career numbers for every player. Currently if you want to know how many goals, assists, points, etc a player has, you have to add them up yourself.

I would like some more camera angle choices added and different angles on replays.

Announcing needs work. Doc tends to talk like it is your first time with a hockey game.

Frostbite engine no doubt.

Banners in arenas could be updated depending on how you finish after each season, certain players jerseys could hang from rafters if they retire.

# 3 KennyJ1976 @ 02/06/17 02:51 PM

I think EA should bring back Gary Thorne and Bill Clement to go along with Doc and Eddie on commentary. NHL 13 was my first in the series so I didn't grow tired of them like most others did, plus personally I just like them better than Doc and Eddie. Also, the NHL devs need to get with the FIFA or Madden devs to put together their soundtrack. I'd rather them go back to NHL 16 menu music than listen to what they have in 17.

# 4 Splitter77 @ 02/06/17 02:53 PM

they need boxscores for games played.
If I go to the calendar- when I click on the score I want to see a boxscore for Christ sakes.
its gonna be 2018.

also an nhl tonite show with league highlites would be sweet.

# 5 Tritonheat20 @ 02/06/17 03:22 PM

I'll chime-in on the EASHL drop-ins. Please find a way to be able to get rid of the IDIOTS that have ruined the experience for EVERYONE!!! And they know who they are.... So sick- and- tired of playing this mode and having to be exposed to these IDIOTS!!! Find a way to be able to kick those players by team vote, and replace him, or them, with INTELLIGENT computer controlled player(s). I'm sure EA can find the way to program a computer player to be as equal, OR BETTER, than some of the IDIOTS who've ruined that mode. I could give you a size able list of other thing(s) these IDIOTS have done to ruin the game(s), but I think you get my idea.... I'd also like to see the referees programmed to be exactly like the Umps in MLB The Show. The ability to select certain styles to officiate the game(s). These STALE, same infraction-calling bots, are sooo repetitive, that this area needs the much needed overhaul as well! Bring back the 3 Stars coming out on the ice too. You that lazy EA?!?!

# 6 Dazraz @ 02/06/17 04:57 PM

Menus are not a problem on other EA Games??? Really!!!

# 7 HenryClay1844 @ 02/06/17 05:21 PM

The commentary is very poor Doc's constant passive voice is so annoying. A second team could help break up the monotony, but I'll probably just keep it mute and play some tunes. Will probably pass though if no Frostbite for 18.

# 8 asu666 @ 02/06/17 06:58 PM

NHL 17 is great and in some ways has the best presentation of any sports game in the market. Rookies going out on the ice alone for pregame skates, bobblehead night, etc.. The arenas are fans are terrific too.

There is always room for improvement though. Additional broadcast crews and some region/market-specific broadcast touches would be nice. I'd love to be able to put a player over the boards, into the bench too.

# 9 BoSox59 @ 02/06/17 09:27 PM

I played my first game the other day and was disappointed with just how lifeless the arenas are - too much dead air, too little enthusiasm from Doc (there's something I never thought I'd write), and the music doesn't sound natural to what you'd hear at an arena. Custom music would go a long way towards solving this, but it just feels flat.

Also, can we please, please, PLEASE add bilingual PA announcers in Montreal? I don't want to sound like a pequiste, but hearing English-only just kills the realism and immersion. French PA announcers in Quebec stadiums would be great for QMJHL games, but that's a far second place to getting Montreal right.

Finally, I'm not a fan of the NBC overlays, probably because I don't watch NBC that much, but it also feels out of place when I'm using two Canadian teams. A well-executed generic overlay would be fine.

I also miss Jim Hughson. Just me?

# 10 franch1se @ 02/06/17 11:04 PM

Let us play the freaking all star game tournament as well

# 11 voodoo_magic @ 02/06/17 11:12 PM

During stoppages in play a ticker with out of town scores and also milestones. For example Ovechkin scores 50th goal, McDavid hits 1000 career points, Rangers clinch playoff spot etc. The type of things that a network might mention while broadcasting your game.

At a minimum these things should be shown in the intermission. We need our games to feel like they are part of a living league.

# 12 Nickflyers @ 02/06/17 11:12 PM

FIX THE STANLEY CUP CUT SCENE!!! THE FANS SHOULD ALL BE STANDING AND GOING NUTS(ESPECIALLY IF THE FLYERS WON IT ON HOME ICE)....NOT SITTING THERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!

# 13 MizzouRah @ 02/06/17 11:17 PM

Love the article!

Presentation took a decent step forward this year, but we do need MORE! More stat overlays, power plays need to show ranking in the league as well as penalty killing ranking, NBCSN has them so they should be in the game.

Bring back the music in between stoppages, arena unique music as well, would be nice. I used to love putting my own music into the game.

Would like to at least see a scoreboard from around the league or a ticker in between intermissions.

Need more commentary.. it gets stale so fast. They need to talk more about the game at hand and the players on the ice.

Agree on the arena stuff!!!

Also, those canned celebrations need to go..

# 14 voodoo_magic @ 02/06/17 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickflyers


	FIX THE STANLEY CUP CUT SCENE!!! THE FANS SHOULD ALL BE STANDING AND GOING NUTS(ESPECIALLY IF THE FLYERS WON IT ON HOME ICE)....NOT SITTING THERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!

Wow, yeah. It's these types of things that add up.
We should be saying look at how some of the fans have their phones out recording the celebration or how the players are pointing to the crowd or how the visiting team fans have their hands over their face/shaking their head or things like that.

# 15 onlybygrace @ 02/06/17 11:35 PM

I agree with a lot of what I've read here in the comments. However, with the exception of the point made by Nickflyers regarding the Stanley Cup celebration, I think the crowd in this game and arena atmosphere is really well done...particularly in the playoffs during tying and go ahead goals...crowd really rocks those moments.

The arena atmosphere certainly could use the option for custom music. No doubt about it...

I like the pregame info but it could be a little less generic. I agree about more stat overlays, as well; simply showing players more often with their accumulative season stats would be nice. Little things go a long way.

I really don't mind Doc even at his current level of excitement...it seems fine to me.

I've really enjoyed NHL 17, honestly. As much as any other, maybe the most.

# 16 Nickflyers @ 02/06/17 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlybygrace


	I agree with a lot of what I've read here in the comments. However, with the exception of the point made by Nickflyers regarding the Stanley Cup celebration, I think the crowd in this game and arena atmosphere is really well done...particularly in the playoffs during tying and go ahead goals...crowd really rocks those moments.

I agree! When I scored an OT goal the screen rocked and the crowd got LOUD! That they have improved on greatly! Now it's just cleaning up the little things.

# 17 xSh4dow95 @ 02/07/17 12:29 AM

Custom goal horns and music would be a nice addition for teams with incorrect goal horns and/or generic music. Also, maybe a Fox Sports broadcast wouldn't be bad either. The presentation should be a very dynamic element within the game, but it's been unusually stale and redundant since transitioning to the newer gen consoles despite recent improvements. Honestly, I see a lot of potential in the presentation aspect of the game, but it's the subtle things being addressed that's going to deliver this franchise to where we have a great game of hockey.

# 18 MizzouRah @ 02/07/17 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickflyers


	I agree! When I scored an OT goal the screen rocked and the crowd got LOUD! That they have improved on greatly! Now it's just cleaning up the little things.

Yeah I love the screen shake!

# 19 actionhank @ 02/07/17 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoSox59


	I played my first game the other day and was disappointed with just how lifeless the arenas are - too much dead air, too little enthusiasm from Doc (there's something I never thought I'd write), and the music doesn't sound natural to what you'd hear at an arena. Custom music would go a long way towards solving this, but it just feels flat. Also, can we please, please, PLEASE add bilingual PA announcers in Montreal? I don't want to sound like a pequiste, but hearing English-only just kills the realism and immersion. French PA announcers in Quebec stadiums would be great for QMJHL games, but that's a far second place to getting Montreal right. Finally, I'm not a fan of the NBC overlays, probably because I don't watch NBC that much, but it also feels out of place when I'm using two Canadian teams. A well-executed generic overlay would be fine. I also miss Jim Hughson. Just me?

There was something cool that I don't know is still a feature, but definitely was in previous FIFA titles. They had regional announcers. You could pick from I think Spanish, English, French, Italian, and maybe a few others. I remember playing with the Spanish announcer just to hear the excitement when he called a goal out loud. It would be cool to see EA do something similar.

As for the NHL series, it's hard to say. So much of the on-ice action happens in its own little world, and then the extra animations only happen in the pre-set scripted camera events. I think improving the way players move and interact with each other on the ice would be a huge improvement, but even that starts to border on gameplay issues. I've noticed a lot (and maybe it's due to slider adjustments and the AI not knowing how to handle their new speed and not being able to stop on a dime) but players seem to just run into each other, the boards, and the nets constantly. I feel like I'm skating with oil tankers out there sometimes, trying to dodge other boats.

In terms of overlays, the stats could be a lot better. As someone mentioned previously, stuff like the team's powerplay on the season should be mentioned. If I've got the top PK unit, it might be worth mentioning. They hint at those things with the announcing, but I'm never sure how accurate they actually are. It would be nice to see them say "The Blues PK is out for the first time tonight. Here's how they stack up so far this season, sitting at #1 in the league. That has got to give them some confidence going against Buffalo's 17th ranked Powerplay Unit". Even if there's not the matching dialogue, just showing the Top 5, and placing that on the screen would be great.

Showing other game's scores, especially when it directly affects your team, or in the later part of the season as teams are eliminated and start to clinch playoff spots would be a bit more immersive. One of my biggest complaints in EA has been that I feel like I just exist in my own little world, and the only time I see anything else is if I go track it down. There's no immersion in the NHL experience.

Another in-game thing I can think of is the overlays they do show also tend to get in the way. I can't count the number of times I've tried to pick which line I'm sending out, only to have the other team's next 5 games blocking my lines, preventing me from knowing exactly which line I'm picking. Something that simple shouldn't be an issue at all, and should easily be fixed by just relocating the information. Even that window however could use some work. Just popping up who they play next means nothing to me. Are they fighting for a playoff spot? Are the 5 teams they're facing all division rivals? Are all of those teams currently in playoff spots, or riding hot streaks? A boring stat just plopped on the screen is just another thing to click through, but a stat with some context and dialogue can be part of the immersive experience.

# 20 jake19ny @ 02/07/17 12:47 PM

It's been said 5 man celebrations. And I want a big goal to tie the game or win a big game to feel like it via the celebration. More stats on screen and redo the whole cup winning presentation

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