NHL 24 Presentation Deep Dive

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

@Rigu7 

I don't know that I'd call the return of the old True Broadcast camera being mentioned as a selling point. It's more being stated as part of our focus on listening to the community. We've been told many times that we're ignoring community feedback and are working to turn that around.

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Don’t get me wrong I do appreciate the fact that EA is communicating and listening to feedback more. I don’t want to sound overly negative here either, but hopefully this team is able to listen to all feedback, not just remove or change features and bring them back based on backlash to prove that they listen.

Part of the statement about “ignoring the community” includes making major changes just for the sake of making changes without any data proving it will result in a positive change and not having to deal with that backlash in the first place.

There have been so many questionable changes and removals to the offline world the last few years, I think step one to listening would be find out what we want in the first place. Offline players often feel ignored because they don’t feel EA has a good pulse on what they want, having to reintroduce so many features kinda justifies their complaints.

@EA_AljoDo any of those creation zone updates carry into the rest of the modes that use it/ can we finally fully edit everyone in any game mode that uses the creation zone? (excluding face scanned players)
I'd actually want this game more knowing if this was true, creation zone is pretty much in every gamemode and it's still spitting on the loyal offline community if it's only cared for this year in the online modes.

I've been playing less EA hockey more n more and honestly I'm for real ready to stop playing these, I really don't want too. The 3 year plan is exciting but for a longtime fan like me, considering offline players have been waiting over 10 years for BASIC features, this year has to has some kind of change/ the 3 years after has to be huge to spend 90$CAD like I did for 22 (which is not worth that at all) why spend that much on a game mode that's 90% the same, no creation zone updates to franchise mode would make this game worth 30$ or less to players like me.  I'd pay something tho cause the heavy focus on fixing the gameplay itself this year is great to hear, but for another 90$CAD?

Also those close up celebrations should either only be saved for GWG or milestones, or just optional to have in the game.

For Full Presentation, as you have heard here, there was a Settings option to have condensed or full presentation which with condensed mean it went fast to the next face off, no replays, short opening intros. Then that wasnt there in NHL23 and so we lost the replays after goals, saves, hits, big plays and the longer intros..

Many offline users want that authentic experience of playing but feeling like you are watching it on TV and were use to for so many years. Based on the changes coming for NHL 24, it was not clear in the Presentation video if offline replays were returning for saves and big plays, as David Pritchett (Lead Presentation Producers) says replays for goals but doesnt specify other types. Will there be replays returning for other than goals?

With more replays added and if the opening intro of the arena and players skating was like 5-10 seconds longer even it would feel like we are getting a feel for the atmosphere at the game. It's over in less then 10 seconds and seems like all that great work the team put into the graphics and cinematics of the arena arent getting shown off long enough.

After goals we used to get shots of the crowd jumping up and cheering like if you were at a game. You barely see the crowd from a pulled back camera view anymore, except for that brief intro before faces offs or starts of period. The crowd looks great after goals are scored but it's not shown to the player like it was a few years back.

The Flex Moments after goals are cool but after every goal seems like a little much and it will get annoying. Would be nice if it was only after some big goals or big name player goals and the rest was the past view of the gameplay camera showing the celebration. Provides variety that way. A toggle to turn the Flex Moments down or off would be nice.

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@Beauts90 wrote:

 

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@EA_Aljo wrote:

@Rigu7 

I don't know that I'd call the return of the old True Broadcast camera being mentioned as a selling point. It's more being stated as part of our focus on listening to the community. We've been told many times that we're ignoring community feedback and are working to turn that around.

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Part of the statement about “ignoring the community” includes making major changes just for the sake of making changes without any data proving it will result in a positive change and not having to deal with that backlash in the first place.

 

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We make changes with the intent to improve the game for you all. Obviously, we're not going to make everyone happy. We have acted on a lot of the community feedback and we're also adding our own design presentation elements. I really don't think we're ever going to add everything that's being requested. In no way does that mean we're ignoring you. There are a ton of requests and it's impossible to make everyone happy. Gameplay is always going to take priority over presentation. As I mentioned before, with most people wanting to play the game rather than watch it, we have to have that as the bigger focus. That doesn't mean we can't achieve both, but it means those finer details with presentation have to wait.

Personally, what I am wondering about though is, do you want a game where everything looks the same as you see on TV? This is just a personal curiosity. For me, I already watch a ton of hockey on TV. I guess I want the game to offer something a bit different that gets me more immersed in an activity that I'll never play out in the real world such as playing hockey on TV, on the NHL level, being a superstar, etc. I already know what it's like to sit on the couch and watch a game. I'm more interested in trying to live out the on-ice action. Adding something like the flex cam amps up that excitement and adds another layer of immersion. 

I'm not saying an authentic, true to life broadcast wouldn't be cool though. I really dug the intros with Doc and Eddie with the arena fly-bys. I'd love to see teams coming out of the tunnel and taking the ice as well as goalie stats, real on-ice projections, etc. We'll just have to wait and see what happens in the coming years.

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@NicCrosby87 wrote:

@EA_Aljo any answers or feedback on my reply ? Page 2. 

Thank you! 

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Thank you for the feedback.

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@bg0vzeyqov1y wrote:
@EA_Aljo The flex came is the complete opposite of immersion, What NHL arena dims the lights, turns on a spotlight, has someone skate out onto the ice with a camera, for every goal celebration home or away?

Make it for GWG's or milestones, like how you get the extended celebration in 22 for milestones. It'd feel more fresh. Although an option to turn it off/ remove any pressure meter presentation from the ice/ boards would work just as well lol it's probably allot easier to implement.

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That's my point. Not everyone has the same requirements for immersion. Also, I'm just saying what works for me personally, as a longtime fan of this game. I've been playing it for the better part of the last 30 years. I don't mind changes to the formula that provide an experience that I can already get by watching games on TV. That said, my main interest is gameplay. I'm already very focused on the on-ice action and controlling my player/team so presentation isn't really something I'm too concerned with since I'm very focused on strategy, how my opponent is playing, what habits they have with faceoffs, where they're taking their shots from, etc. Again, not knocking how cool it would be to have a totally authentic representation of what you see on TV though.

@EA_AljoGameplay is the core of the game offline or online so I agree that the main focus should be gameplay, I want the CPU to shoot the puck more/ the players to not skate into the boards or into to each other, etc.

The biggest reason why people are up in arms about the presentation I think is cause you see this kind of replay every game, after every goal, like how in franchise mode your players will all keep their hair the same exact length their entire careers. Or how Carrlyn would keep talking about the exact same x-factors, every game. The only way to turn off x-factor replays/ her dialogue in 22 was to remove every single x-factor from every player, that's horrible game design.

People want the visuals/ presentation to feel as fresh, variable for as long as possible, options in videogames (gameplay/ hiding UI elements, settings etc.) should be included as much as possible in any game made nowadays, It's the best way to tailor a game towards as many people as possible.