Community Manager
@NeonSkyline21 wrote:
You HAVE to admit that you just said the same thing as them just in a more "PR" way, right? The team prioritizes the online player base because that's where they make the most money. At the end of the day, it IS all about money. Making video games is a business. There's no chance that the modes that make less money will ever be given the main focus. Look at another EA property: Battlefield. The entire game's identity was shifted in order to sell more MTX (going to a "specialist" (hero) system as opposed to the generic soldier system that has been the franchise's bread and butter for decades).
EA has done a decent job to partition some of their attention towards making single-player games in recent years (the Jedi games, some EA originals, etc) but that's in spite of the money they make from FUT/HUT/MUT.
Even if online modes had no way to spend money, they'd still be more popular than offline. Which is why I'm saying that it's more about the modes that are most popular rather the money they generate. There are more online players not spending anything extra than the ones that do. I'm all for offline games. I'm enjoying the heck outta Starfield. I played a ton of RDR2, Fallen Order, I'm loving Jedi Survivor, I've played single player and offline games all my life.
When it comes to competition though, online is where it's at for me and many others. Look at the shift if gaming over the last 15 - 20 years. It's very heavily shifted towards online play. If we were to ignore this, we'd lose a huge portion of the community which means this game would have a hard time surviving. If we saw a high population of offline players, those modes would most likely get more attention. Again though, there are plans for expanding on them over the next few years. You all won't be left out.
Community ManagerYou're kinda twisting my words around. I never said anything about expecting offline players to buy or not. I'm just letting you know why we've chosen to focus more on online modes this year.
You're entitled to your assumptions. That's fine. We'll just have to see how things go over the next 3 years to see if that's true or not.
@FroommeyYou got full access to sliders in the offline modes and from the videos that PernellKarl027 has really made close to true hockey experiences. And I'm sorry but presentation is a huge part of offline imo just looking at the forums over the last year. You don't get many online only gamers asking for that stuff.
@KlariskraysNHL wrote:@FroommeyYou got full access to sliders in the offline modes and from the videos that PernellKarl027 has really made close to true hockey experiences. And I'm sorry but presentation is a huge part of offline imo just looking at the forums over the last year. You don't get many online only gamers asking for that stuff.
I just saw my name pop up 😀 First of all I’m very flattered, thanks allot to you guys for the shoutout 👍
Maybe I’m speaking for myself here, but having way better tools to edit player likeness and better overall presentation would suffice to have a very good offline experience. Since like you know, the gameplay parts can be tweaked to our own liking. Most of them anyway…
See, we found a brand new formula for players not too long ago and we have to EDIT all NHL DMEN on the PS5 and X again… A global editor would be GOLDEN for us right now… Imagine editing all these players with the editor we have right now, it’s a MAJOR pain 😫😫
When EA say that they focused more on the online portion "this" year, I can help myself to cringe 😬 Cause I didn’t see much in the last 3 years anyway for offline peeps.
@KlariskraysNHLThen why can every other sports game including a cricket game have more presentation then NHL 23 and 24... plus NHL 22 had it so why remove it? Isn't it more work to remove something then just leave it? The fact that it was removed to cater to one fan base is the problem. Plus the mode has less of a player base because of their lack of interest which caused the drop in user usage. The is the cycle that this mindset will cause. What if Madden did this, or FC 24 or MLB the show or 2k? What is starfield removed all cut scenes to speed up the game. Is it still work full price? The concept that the reasoning they are giving doesn't make sense and seems more of an excuse to leave it as is.
@KlariskraysNHLI was fine with NHL 22 presentation and just with the new intros added. It's the EA mindset to remove content to add it back in later mentality that is here. I'm fine with a fast paced gameplay for online modes but don't sell it as a simulation experience cause that is false, it's an arcade experience which again is fine if that is what you what. Full presentation feature worked cause it offered both. So again why remove something that worked if not to in some form intentionally lower the offline player base. My point is that it seems like this was intent all along to give them a reason to not bother with them. Look at the control schemes. What about older players or players with disabilities why not be honest about it from the start. This is the same as last year where they promoted as new and improved presentation just to have them confirm it was intentionally removed right after release. The list can go on. I'm an offline only player so for me older EA NHL titles had more innovation then these games do (23 and 24).
@KlariskraysNHL wrote:
@MasterB89I can't speak on their vision for the future of the game. I know I didn't ask for presentation to be removed, but I certainly don't ask for more. I mean I'm a 6's player and I'm annoyed with setting up customization for Casual, Pro, Home, Away, Alternate. I just want the option to use one setup for all. Thankfully I love the gameplay so that is what gets me playing a bunch. For the presentation community I can only hope you guys get something new for 25, but who knows if you will even like that.
If they for once would just listen to us, I bet you we'd like it. Ok there were technical issues with full presentation, you have a whole year now to figure that out for NHL 25. And they were already able to show things like stats before the game, they already programmed on-ice projections so just make them run longer while you add back in everything you took away. If they can get intros back to even 30 seconds I think we'd take it - still too short to me, but a fair balance for everyone.
The elements they added like the spotlights between whistles and bringing back replays are great, but they all run too short. Bring all that back to a realistic length of time. (And this is just me but who needs all this menu music people mute anyway, just spend your music budget on 32 accurate goal songs!)
I know I'm missing something but the point is, we've all been shouting this into the void for years. If they would just listen to what the money spenders are looking for and deliver it, you would never hear from us again because we'd be too busy enjoying the game.
@KlariskraysNHL wrote:
@jerseytideYeah I understand what the presentation people have been asking for, but I also wonder if they have their own ideas of what they want to do. Like the spotlight goal celebration feels like step one in adding more presentation into the game. Whether it's good or bad will be determined at a later date clearly since I'm sure NHL 24 post launch time is gonna be about adding controls back, squashing bugs, and adjustments to mechanics.
To be clear I'm not anti-them trying new things. But for all of it, new and old, we should have the same option to turn it on and off that we do with other settings.
@MasterB89 wrote:
@jerseytideThe last part of your comment is very true. I never made a comment ever on an EA thread and always defended and praised them before NHL 23. Seeing that they are not doing these things cause of the low player count (mentioned by EA in this thread) is sad cause they are the reason it's low, with the removal of content, they shouldn't put blame on the offline player base for it. Some of the new stuff they added is cool but in so many ways it shows that they want a more arcade experience over an authentic experience on the ice and off. I know some asking is too much for them but making what they have actually work better and property (intros too short and replays don't show important highlights at end of periods) and adding stuff had prior (goalie intros, goalie changed when pulled, all injuries that happen in game). These are not big but would make it somewhat better to a level that is more of that authentic "on-ice" experience that EA are directly promoting and stating for the game.
You are right, EA wants more of an arcade feel. Just look at the new controls. Now even Ryan Reeves can score a “Michigan” with the new controls. But remember, “if it’s in the game, it’s in the game.” A good example of false advertising a game.
I’ve been saying it ever since they added the ECHL to the game. All your ECHL players get excluded from franchise mode. What was the purpose of adding the league to the game if you lose all the players when you go to franchise mode?
Scotty Darling made a huge transition from the ECHL to playing for a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in the NHL a few years ago. He earned himself a few years as a high paid goalie in the NHL. I guess based off EA, that should have never happened.
Been giving feedback for years now about franchise mode. And just like the rest of the offline players on here, they ignored the feedback and wishes.
