A Different Format

Mostly using wait times to guess player count. Since the purchases are hidden and its otherwise impossible to prove i feel this is the only way to guesstimate. 5-6 years ago we spent almost 0 time waiting in a lobby. Now when I get on we sometimes just have to play something else because we can't find a game. I feel that's fair.. its fine if you don't.

I dont count any community managers here as EA. They are not able to tell us much of what goes on behind the curtain.. we dont know if what we say here is actually ever brought up.. I am strictly talking about when EA puts out any information, check their X account https://x.com/EASPORTSNHL?t=OHGHcHTKjvuzwJ1OrGrRwg&s=09

We are always gonna have to agree to disagree on how much is enough to be added from title to title. Calling it difficult to me is just an excuse. Its the same one we always hear though. Sometimes it just doesn't even make sense, like when they get rid of things that made the game better the previous year. As far as the game still selling, I truly believe the NHL helps sell the copies, I dont think its Eaa's work. I just think people feel forced to buy if they want a hockey game to play online with friends.. again, you may have a different opinion, at the end of the day it's impossible to get these statistics. 

I try to be fair with the game. I understand constraints.. its just when you get rid of match room size.. or you can't fix lobby glitches for 5+ years.. its hard for me to believe they care. When EA makes good changes I am sure to acknowledge those things, I wrote about them less because that information won't do much to help push the game forward they are also things i tend to write about more when the game first drops. I don't see the massive changes from year to year since 2015 that youre seeing though. I by no means think the game is absolute trash. I just think a lot of TLC is needed in almost every part of the game. EA as a company needs to throw some resources at it. 

I feel almost every sports gane does something really well.. Madden for instance (i hate the game, most gameplay) they do Ultimate team REALLY well imo. The offline challenges are fun, lots of crazy stuff they throw in there. Training cards are cool. Events.. its just really well put together. I'd say college football has by far the best dynasty/ franchise mode. 2K is just the immersion, attention to detail, production.. a whole city to walk around, pregame, halftime, post game shows.. sponsored leagues, etc. It feels like a real world inside the game. FIFA franchise, BAP and online.. MLB be a pro. I feel NHL is the only game w/o online franchise (not sure about MLB)the BAP has gone unchanged for 5 years? Yet 2k (I know they have more money, but they have that time constraint) puts out a full on new story, city, voice lines, and so much more EVERY year. UT challenges are the same "win a few faceoffs, score a goal, win the game" lemme do something fun like play previous stanley cup teams.. or a whole team of giant Howe's give us training cards that we can build up. WoC just needs a whole face-lift. Ive made enough posts about what WoC could do better.. i acknowledge they've actually made a decent number of changes to WoC and I respect that. I do think they went backwards by getting rid of match room size, and I think threes rules get a bit worse every year. I think rule changes should change in that mode season to season or something, club uniforms again would be nice. Not sure why this is the only team mode w/o the ability to have a goalie (not a big issue, just seems odd to me) The addition of bobble head arcade mode was an unexpected good time, but it was often too chaotic and could be dialed back a little. I would also like more change there. Seemed the few times I played that mode all the items were roughly the same concepts.

If there's anything NHL does better than other games, I'd say gameplay by a small amount. I just feel more in control of what I'm doing than I do in any other sports title. I have full control of my stick (mostly I guess) my guy rarely does any wild animations.. when it does happen I typically understand why. I think a LARGE focus on goalies would improve the gameplay a TON.  Also (while I dont like to fight) fighting probably needs a full on overhaul. I also think the game should allow you to put a setting on your WoC player that you won't accept a fight. If the female players can't fight, the male players shouldn't have to engage, especially for a clean hit. All in all I have issues with gameplay but it really just needs touch upside. Defensive players need a bit more awareness sometimes, I think hitting could use polish or a change (but it was improved from the system before) hip checks def need looked at. Balancing needs done for D2D 1T. I like that they are scored and it opens the game up to more options but I think things just need balanced a bit.