CHEL lobby wait times

@kayak_V 

Those aren't made up penalties. They only occur under specific conditions. Elbowing has a greater chance of happening when being called for a charge if you have lower discipline. Boarding is nothing new and has always had a chance of being called when smashing a player with their back turned to you on the boards. Lower discipline makes this more likely as well.

There was no decision made to specifically ruin the game. I don't like the new controls myself. That doesn't mean the game is ruined for me. I've had to adapt. Just like everyone did when the skill stick controls were released. 

You're able to cancel hits using the skill stick controls, but I know this isn't possible with Total Controls. 

I don't think WoC players are just standing around and waiting to defend. Being proactive is always the better approach. As someone that exclusively plays defense, I know I'm much better at this position when I don't just stand around and wait for opposing players to skate in to me. I'm playing physical without taking a elbowing and boarding calls. Mainly because I'm not just trying to to smash everyone and I'm boardplaying instead of hitting someone when I'm facing their back up against the boards.

How do these penalties mean we're catering to casual players? They should be the ones taking them more since they're not aware of these rules and actively avoiding taking them.

Yes. The controls were changed deliberately. Part of that was removing protect puck since we had a huge amount of complaints about this.

Yes board play is so fun and hardly ever leads to penalties.  You suggestion that I not hit opponents is laughable.  You suggestion that elbowing is somehow exceptable when it hasn’t been in the game in years.!!’  Laughable.  This is excuses, and addition that the new controls are flawed.  

the ability to protect the puck is a real thing in hockey, the fact that we can’t protect the puck is a demonstration of deliberately dumbing the game down to casual players.  

puck protect or not in the old controls a solid body check separated the player.  Again appears to me that a more experienced or physical player had no problems with the old ways.  Cateringg to the casual 160 pnd sniper build is catering to the casual gamer.  Simple

Who plays as 160 pound snipers???? Not team players, not defenders, 

I will tell you who, the casual scrub who thinks he needs high offensive stats in order to score.

Every experience player knows it takes a lot more to succeed than a hard wrist shot.  

a big guy protects the puck. .  Little guy cant get puck from big guy.  Little guy cry’s and cry’s.  Devs change game so little guy has advantage, which runs contrary to real life, hockey, humanity in general.

I’m sure it must be obvious to the people with the actual stats of sales, online population etc that this game is a dud.  Why not give people what they want instead of insisting that we are wrong. This game is flawless etc.  Don’t believe you lying eyes and shared experiences.  

sometimes you have good intentions and things don’t work out.  The new controller scheme which seems flawed and almost deliberately counter intuitive is a great example.  By trying to fix one problem you’ve created fozens more, and worse ones too.  

I have a friends list filled with CHEL buddies of years past, they won’t even install the game again let alone play.  I can’t be the only person seeing this.  

Give us back our game!!! We paid our money too.

@kayak_V 

I'm not saying not to hit. You just have to do it without breaking the rules. Holding your hit for too many strides will cause charging. Hitting players facing the boards can cause a boarding call. I don't see how this means you can no longer hit. Elbowing has been in the game in the past. It was removed from online play, but obviously has returned.

You can still protect the puck. I don't like the new controls for it either, but it can be done still. This game is not being specifically dumbed down for casual players. Skill still matters. A casual player isn't typically going to be better than someone that plays far more.

I play a 160 pound D man. I need the speed to keep up with quick forwards. However, I'm not a big hitter. I defend with poke checks, angling them to the outside, cutting off their lanes for passes and shots, stick lifts, boardplay, shoves, etc. While I don't hit often, I haven't had any problems with it. I also see plenty of good style teams that love to just hit everything that moves. So, hitting is still a viable way to defend if that's how you want to play. Bigger forwards are also plenty capable at being successful. Regardless of the size of your build, teamplay and skill are what is going to win you games. Even a tiny, speedy forward isn't going to automatically get past defense due to their size. A good defender is going to stop them. Just like a good forward is going to evade them.

You say I'm insisting players are wrong. I'm not doing that at all. I'm saying the game has changed. I'm sure it will change in the future as well. People don't like the controls. Like I said, I'm one of them. I'm not debating that and I'm not calling you all wrong. We all can either adapt to the new controls or wait and see if they change. If the controls change, it won't happen until a later game. They are locked in for NHL 24.

I’m also fully aware of the new puck protect mechanics, how poorly they work, how ineffective it is and how counter intuitive it feels.  I feel like I need to dislocate my thumb or cross my hands to do it and it doesn’t even work half as well as the vision button to use body positioning to protect the puck… ie hockeying 

So your teammate hit the guy who you were gonna hit.  Now what.  You pressed the b button and now you’re stuck holding it in.  Because of this you can’t collect the puck, poke check, block a shot, nothing you are essentially a pylon.  Now if you don’t want to take a penalty you have to locate some empty ice where you can release the b button, wait for your digital self to do his little spasm where he attempts to decapitate his shadow and nearly falls down, then provided no part of your dudes spasm touched another player you may renter play.  

again, explain to me, how is this fair?  How is this not punishment for those of us who would rather defend our blue line than back up and contain?

@kayak_V 

You can still defend the blue line and play more aggressively. Someone that is good at hitting is going to know when they need to do it so they shouldn't have to cancel it too frequently. I can see this being a problem if your primary defense is holding down the button and just going for big hits all game long. It would probably be good to time those hits better so you're not constantly missing or needing to cancel the hit when you're off target. 

This isn't a punishment. We're not specifically trying to punish Total Control users. There are plenty of people able to defend very well with the new controls. They take some adapting to get used to.

This thread was about lobby wait times.

Lobby wait times keep being ridiculous!  I've been waiting 30 minutes for a frigging game to no avail.  Full team of teammates, never able to find opponents.

Solve this nightmare!!!!!

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

@kayak_V 

I'm not saying not to hit. You just have to do it without breaking the rules. Holding your hit for too many strides will cause charging. Hitting players facing the boards can cause a boarding call. I don't see how this means you can no longer hit. Elbowing has been in the game in the past. It was removed from online play, but obviously has returned.

You can still protect the puck. I don't like the new controls for it either, but it can be done still. This game is not being specifically dumbed down for casual players. Skill still matters. A casual player isn't typically going to be better than someone that plays far more.

I play a 160 pound D man. I need the speed to keep up with quick forwards. However, I'm not a big hitter. I defend with poke checks, angling them to the outside, cutting off their lanes for passes and shots, stick lifts, boardplay, shoves, etc. While I don't hit often, I haven't had any problems with it. I also see plenty of good style teams that love to just hit everything that moves. So, hitting is still a viable way to defend if that's how you want to play. Bigger forwards are also plenty capable at being successful. Regardless of the size of your build, teamplay and skill are what is going to win you games. Even a tiny, speedy forward isn't going to automatically get past defense due to their size. A good defender is going to stop them. Just like a good forward is going to evade them.

You say I'm insisting players are wrong. I'm not doing that at all. I'm saying the game has changed. I'm sure it will change in the future as well. People don't like the controls. Like I said, I'm one of them. I'm not debating that and I'm not calling you all wrong. We all can either adapt to the new controls or wait and see if they change. If the controls change, it won't happen until a later game. They are locked in for NHL 24.

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I would like to know WHY if the controls are so badly, unarguably, flawed.  Why would The only assertion coming from EA regarding the controls is that we are stuck with the “unarguably Flawed” controls for the entire NHL 24 lifespan.  

No assertion that they are working towards a patch or workaround, no option to improve or map your own controls.  Nothing, no respite, no assistance being offered just an assertion that they won’t be changed or fixed.  

I guess my question is, why not?  The game has had the same controls since before the millennium, somehow these controls like NASA s ability to reach the moon were lost to history I guess.  

anyways I’m done arguing with the devs.  I’m just done with this franchise.  I’ll be back though, if they fix the controls.

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

@kayak_V 

I'm not saying not to hit. You just have to do it without breaking the rules. Holding your hit for too many strides will cause charging. Hitting players facing the boards can cause a boarding call. I don't see how this means you can no longer hit. Elbowing has been in the game in the past. It was removed from online play, but obviously has returned.

You can still protect the puck. I don't like the new controls for it either, but it can be done still. This game is not being specifically dumbed down for casual players. Skill still matters. A casual player isn't typically going to be better than someone that plays far more.

I play a 160 pound D man. I need the speed to keep up with quick forwards. However, I'm not a big hitter. I defend with poke checks, angling them to the outside, cutting off their lanes for passes and shots, stick lifts, boardplay, shoves, etc. While I don't hit often, I haven't had any problems with it. I also see plenty of good style teams that love to just hit everything that moves. So, hitting is still a viable way to defend if that's how you want to play. Bigger forwards are also plenty capable at being successful. Regardless of the size of your build, teamplay and skill are what is going to win you games. Even a tiny, speedy forward isn't going to automatically get past defense due to their size. A good defender is going to stop them. Just like a good forward is going to evade them.

You say I'm insisting players are wrong. I'm not doing that at all. I'm saying the game has changed. I'm sure it will change in the future as well. People don't like the controls. Like I said, I'm one of them. I'm not debating that and I'm not calling you all wrong. We all can either adapt to the new controls or wait and see if they change. If the controls change, it won't happen until a later game. They are locked in for NHL 24.

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You say this game isn't being dumbed down for casual players, yet they have total control, which let's you pull off some of the hardest dekes in the game with a push of a button... C'mon man...

@FloundinatorQQ 

You still have access to the Skill Stick controls. Also, keep in mind that we were all once casual players. If the new controls help someone go from casual to hardcore, I think that's a good thing. If it brings more people to the game in general, that too is good. I severely dislike the new controls, but I am able to workaround them and still have fun with good competition. Besides, Hybrid and NHL 94 controls have been in the game for many years. Which are essentially, simplified controls. So, it's not like this wasn't in the game before. Before you mention one button Michigans, yes, I get the complaint about that. Personally, I rarely see them happen and only once have I seen someone score with it since it's very easy to defend.

@EA_AljoThe fact that the skill stick layout was altered at all baffles me, no one asked for this. I understand the new hitting controls somewhat dictated that but a lot of people including you don't prefer them. If we could use the OG skill stick without slap shot hitting we would be.

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

@FloundinatorQQ 

You still have access to the Skill Stick controls. Also, keep in mind that we were all once casual players. If the new controls help someone go from casual to hardcore, I think that's a good thing. If it brings more people to the game in general, that too is good. I severely dislike the new controls, but I am able to workaround them and still have fun with good competition. Besides, Hybrid and NHL 94 controls have been in the game for many years. Which are essentially, simplified controls. So, it's not like this wasn't in the game before. Before you mention one button Michigans, yes, I get the complaint about that. Personally, I rarely see them happen and only once have I seen someone score with it since it's very easy to defend.

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I know when I’m being gaslit!  For someone to say we still have access to the skill stick controls is completely ignoring that those said skill stick controls were changed and no longer work.  For someone to claim that 1 button Michigan is not being exploited has never played a competitive hut or vrs game where in the upper levels it is literally a Michigan race.  Stop telling people what they are experiencing.  I am perfectly capable of knowing and stating EXACTLY what I am experiencing game in and out.  Last night I waited almost an hour to get into a 6v6 game.  The game started and the defender and goalie were trolling, helping other team.  This game stinks. Tge controller stinks and what’s left of this community is trolls and human trash.

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@recipe87 wrote:
@kayak_VTotally agree with you . People are leaving this game and i cant even discribe how bad this whole game is . But if they want to loose costumers thats up to them . The solution to all the problems is to just go back to nhl 23 gameplay and controls and fine tune

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This franchise is WAY to stubborn to give their customers what they ask for.  It takes years and years to get any movement on anything.  It’s been 3 or more years matchmaking has been broken.  This year they broke the controller, what’s next?  I’ll tell you, whatever you ask for…. Not that.

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@BabyPuncher525 wrote:

@EA_AljoThe fact that the skill stick layout was altered at all baffles me, no one asked for this. I understand the new hitting controls somewhat dictated that but a lot of people including you don't prefer them. If we could use the OG skill stick without slap shot hitting we would be.

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People did ask for LT'ing to be nerfed. The new control layout does this. However, changes are going to be made by the team that weren't specifically requested. I know they aren't always popular decisions though. I really don't know if the controls are going to be reverted. I think this is highly unlikely for NHL 24 so we'll have to see what the future holds. For now, I've adapted by remapping the controls, but I also understand how we really shouldn't have to do this.

@kayak_V 

The skill stick controls work though. Except for the accidental clicking down on the sticks, which is my main gripe. Some have no problem with this though. Regardless saying they don't work just seems completely false as they are widely being used.

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

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@BabyPuncher525 wrote:

@EA_AljoThe fact that the skill stick layout was altered at all baffles me, no one asked for this. I understand the new hitting controls somewhat dictated that but a lot of people including you don't prefer them. If we could use the OG skill stick without slap shot hitting we would be.

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People did ask for LT'ing to be nerfed. The new control layout does this. However, changes are going to be made by the team that weren't specifically requested. I know they aren't always popular decisions though. I really don't know if the controls are going to be reverted. I think this is highly unlikely for NHL 24 so we'll have to see what the future holds. For now, I've adapted by remapping the controls, but I also understand how we really shouldn't have to do this.

@kayak_V 

The skill stick controls work though. Except for the accidental clicking down on the sticks, which is my main gripe. Some have no problem with this though. Regardless saying they don't work just seems completely false as they are widely being used.

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The skill stick controls work?? Are you serious?  STOP trying to gaslight the community, myself included.  The hitting is ruined by the new controls.  Puck protect ruined.  No button to cancel a charged hit. It is not possible to aim your first poke check.  The puck chop doesn’t work.  should I go on?  I can.  Elbowing needs to be gone from the game like in previous years especially if you can’t cancel your hit.  Again don’t say everything is fine.  This idiotic, I requested controller change has created far worse problems.  If people were whining about the previous layout then I suggest using sliders to address their concerns.  Or do what you’re found now!  Tell them to get used to it.

I have also tried to remap my controller.  It wasn’t an option then.  Is it now?  

Like others have said, we weren't expecting a re work to this extent I guess. If fixing the LT abusers meant bastardizing the key bind for protect puck so it can't be easily performed with LT then mission accomplished, but this feature has pretty much been rendered useless to everyone who wasn't abusing it.

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

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@BabyPuncher525 wrote:

@EA_AljoThe fact that the skill stick layout was altered at all baffles me, no one asked for this. I understand the new hitting controls somewhat dictated that but a lot of people including you don't prefer them. If we could use the OG skill stick without slap shot hitting we would be.

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People did ask for LT'ing to be nerfed. The new control layout does this. However, changes are going to be made by the team that weren't specifically requested. I know they aren't always popular decisions though. I really don't know if the controls are going to be reverted. I think this is highly unlikely for NHL 24 so we'll have to see what the future holds. For now, I've adapted by remapping the controls, but I also understand how we really shouldn't have to do this.

@kayak_V 

The skill stick controls work though. Except for the accidental clicking down on the sticks, which is my main gripe. Some have no problem with this though. Regardless saying they don't work just seems completely false as they are widely being used.

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Again there are two controller options they both suck but yeah people are in fact using them.  Funny when people have no choice it’s funny how they will use what’s available.  Using this as evidence of the controls working is gaslighting.

if they offered the controls from 2023 nhl I’m willing to guess 99.5% of people would revert?  But yeah tell me again how great This new layout is for your customers.

They could have honestly just put total control into skill stick easily.

If you have the puck RT brings up icon passing, no issue on skill stick.

If you have the puck LB modifies face buttons for face button deking.

On defense your hitting face buttons are available as they've never been used for anything previously on skill stick anyways. Consider adding the ability to cancel face button hitting with LB also, you shouldn't be forced to hit just for pressing the button.

Protect puck goes back to x/a button as it's always been.

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@kayak_V wrote:

The skill stick controls work?? Are you serious?  STOP trying to gaslight the community, myself included.  The hitting is ruined by the new controls.  Puck protect ruined.  No button to cancel a charged hit. It is not possible to aim your first poke check.  The puck chop doesn’t work.  should I go on?  I can.  Elbowing needs to be gone from the game like in previous years especially if you can’t cancel your hit.  Again don’t say everything is fine.  This idiotic, I requested controller change has created far worse problems.  If people were whining about the previous layout then I suggest using sliders to address their concerns.  Or do what you’re found now!  Tell them to get used to it.

I have also tried to remap my controller.  It wasn’t an option then.  Is it now?  

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Yes. Skill stick controls are working as they are advertised. You're complaining about those changes, but they are working according to the updated controls. I'm not trying to gaslight you. I can cancel charged hits just find with the skills tick controls. You can't do this with Total Control, but you do have easier hip checks and other one button controls. So, it's a bit of a tradeoff.

The puck chop works so I don't know what your issue with that is. I'm aiming my poke checks fine because I mostly use DSS for them. Elbowing happens when you commit a charging penalty. You're more apt to get called for elbowing with lower discipline. So, if you want to avoid it, try not trying to destroy everything that moves.

You can remap controls at the console level. Not in game.

Puck protect was removed to help stop the LT'ing that was very highly complained about for several years.

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

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@kayak_V wrote:

The skill stick controls work?? Are you serious?  STOP trying to gaslight the community, myself included.  The hitting is ruined by the new controls.  Puck protect ruined.  No button to cancel a charged hit. It is not possible to aim your first poke check.  The puck chop doesn’t work.  should I go on?  I can.  Elbowing needs to be gone from the game like in previous years especially if you can’t cancel your hit.  Again don’t say everything is fine.  This idiotic, I requested controller change has created far worse problems.  If people were whining about the previous layout then I suggest using sliders to address their concerns.  Or do what you’re found now!  Tell them to get used to it.

I have also tried to remap my controller.  It wasn’t an option then.  Is it now?  

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Yes. Skill stick controls are working as they are advertised. You're complaining about those changes, but they are working according to the updated controls. I'm not trying to gaslight you. I can cancel charged hits just find with the skills tick controls. You can't do this with Total Control, but you do have easier hip checks and other one button controls. So, it's a bit of a tradeoff.

The puck chop works so I don't know what your issue with that is. I'm aiming my poke checks fine because I mostly use DSS for them. Elbowing happens when you commit a charging penalty. You're more apt to get called for elbowing with lower discipline. So, if you want to avoid it, try not trying to destroy everything that moves.

You can remap controls at the console level. Not in game.

Puck protect was removed to help stop the LT'ing that was very highly complained about for several years.

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So because of supposed years of crying that players were protecting the puck from a 160 pnd sniper build we all are forced this shambling on us.  Are we gonna need to complain for years before common sense prevails once more? 

I would offer this.  

if you offered the controls of nhl 23 to the people, almost all players would opt for that.  You may have a few hold outs, those who think 1 button Michigan and hip checks are a good thing, yes they may opt for your new debacle of a mapping disaster.  But everyone else??? They would opt for the comfort of the 23 skill stick controls. 

it is either stubbornness or incompetence that would see the devs ram this hugely unpopular controller scheme down our throats cause some wimpy kid with an offensive build can’t defend.  

@kayak_V 

There were far more than one person complaining about LT'ing. It was all over these boards here for example. It wasn't just small, offensive builds complaining. It was community wide for the most part. Except for those that abused that mechanic. If you're now struggling without it, it would be good to learn how to use your whole team better instead of hanging on to the puck with one player and backskating unrealistically.

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

@FloundinatorQQ 

You still have access to the Skill Stick controls. Also, keep in mind that we were all once casual players. If the new controls help someone go from casual to hardcore, I think that's a good thing. If it brings more people to the game in general, that too is good. I severely dislike the new controls, but I am able to workaround them and still have fun with good competition. Besides, Hybrid and NHL 94 controls have been in the game for many years. Which are essentially, simplified controls. So, it's not like this wasn't in the game before. Before you mention one button Michigans, yes, I get the complaint about that. Personally, I rarely see them happen and only once have I seen someone score with it since it's very easy to defend.

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I understand that, but it's just another feature that literally no one asked for... All we want is more consistent gameplay, and for bugs/issues that have been in this game for many of years to be addressed. Ie loadout glitch, unbearable wait times for regular drop in games. Imo if you want to do the Michigan, then go into free skate and learn on skill stick. Not everyone can/should be able to do it. I do agree I don't see it as much as launch, which is fine. I just think the other things mentioned should have taken priority over a new control scheme.