NHL TeamI think the thing with people complaining about each release being a glorified roster update is that it's a self-inflicted wound. Nobody's forcing EA/NHL's hand to release a game every year that they can't make fresh and new. Those two corporations do that because it's an avenue to make more money every year. Kinda like how back in the day you'd get a new Saw movie every Halloween. Was the new sequel warranted? No, but it made money, so we got it.
Really, I think sports games should just be live service games. It makes way more sense than a yearly release imo. But, I'm sure there's profit considerations that would need to be made to do that.
I think a lot of frustration comes not from EA not making any changes to the game, because they do. Rather, I think it's that seemingly a lot of time gets allocated towards secondary, trivial, window dressings instead of important, game-changing issues. Like, I can only hope that maybe next game, goalies will be able to cover pucks that are sitting right next to the outside of the post, though I won't hold my breath. However, I sure as hell know that we'll get some idiotic cartoonish animated skates, or some fancy new glow-in-the-dark warewolf costume that nobody will ever use.
Idk, I'm sure the dev team works hard and is trying to make a good game. But, just as a fan, I feel like so many important issues just don't ever get addressed while nonsense that doesn't matter gets priority.
As far as the sim/arcade issue goes, I feel that's very easily resolved. Just make EASHL be a more hardcore, realistic, slower paced sim mode for the competitive 3s/6s communities, and have a second mode that's fast paced action with all the cartoonish abilities and perks, gigantic hits with guys flying through the glass and into the parking lot, etc. I think trying to blend the two is where you run into issues and leaving every unsatisfied.
@SummerOfDekes wrote:Really, I think sports games should just be live service games. It makes way more sense than a yearly release imo.
Ding ding ding! This is something I've agreed with forever. I would love it if NHL's model was something closer to Rocket League with just one version across years and platforms. Some benefits:
Look, I already know that I am just day dreaming. Monetization is the conundrum here and if EA is already getting a large chunk of the fanbase to buy the game annually and for HUT players to buy new cards annually, there is no business incentive to switch to live service. Still would be nice though.
