Ice Q
So what happened with ice q? I don't really play many game modes. Yet I don't really see it being shown off at all. Did I miss something? What was it's point? I am just curious not hating. Just gene...
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The biggest difference I've seen is the AI actually making accurate passes off the boards. They're also much better at reading where you're headed and passing to you in-stride. However, there's no Ice-Q U.I. that signals to the player the new 'tech' is being used, so it generally goes unnoticed. Plus, most users who play with Ai-controlled teammates have zero patience and constantly call for the pass from the ai, so the average user thinks there have been no improvements at all. I'd argue there was, but not enough to warrant it to be promoted as some kind of new feature.
Like RSall14 said, it was basically some modest AI improvements wrapped up in marketing speak.
I'm old enough to remember "Blast Processing" for Sega Genesis so I take Ice-Q with a grain of salt. It does seem that the AI is better at leading you on the rush and hitting you with a pass. I also see them in better spots to receive a back door pass. With regards to goalies, they do flop to a lesser degree than NHL 25 (admittedly very low bar). That said, it feels like defensive AI is untouched. They will still allow themselves to be raced around with no attempt at poke or hit.
They will still allow themselves to be raced around with no attempt at poke or hit.
I think this is by design, to be honest. In 1V1 modes like HUT and OVP, it was clear EA intended for people to learn that you need to control your D and you need to make the switch from controlling a forechecker to the D-man quicker than previous years.
However, in a mode like WoC, sometimes teams don't/can't find a human D and need to lean on the CPU. When you combine the muted nature of the defence with things like Wheels and people maxing SPD and ACC, CPU D is essentially useless.
That said, we can't have people relying on CPU-D. 'Skill-Zoning' was the entire reason for introducing muted CPU defenders. But EA needs to find a balance here. Allow the D to at least keep pace with incoming forwards and use their skill stick to slow the puck carrier and allow the human forwards to backcheck.
Of course, CPU-D don't fall victim to being burned if the team in front of them limits straight-line speed of the opponent, not allowing them a clear unobstructed path to generating the speed required but I digress
They need to make different AI slider sets for each mode. D men shouldn't be getting walked on WoC, it just rewards all the players who use the EA pre builds with red wheels and other x factors that go over the 100 AP limit.
with all respect, I do not see any AI improvements to ANYTHING. my AI guys down right refuse to pass to me when I'm WIDE OPEN and actually wait till a defender gets close enough or right between us to try and pass or try and bring it up themselves and get hit or poked checked and turn it over. I very rarely call for passes, I just don't like doing that. my AI guys get picked off more times than I can count and that is on superstar or allstar. and that's not even saying that when I'm passing to them, they hardly ever try and get OPEN, they'll stay where there's a defender. nearly every time. even on defense they suck. I'm supposed to be center (and I'll add that I don't like playing a forward cause I love defense but I have to because of the stupid form score wants you to score points) so my coach puts me on left wing instead. so I'm supposed to cover the point, right? and I've been trying very hard to do that. well why in the world is there one of my guys ALSO covering the same point I am? and I'm talking BEHIND me. he's literally coving NO ONE. the middle is completely wide open. I figured that since I am supposed to be center but am not that the game is thinking I AM center and putting the actual center on the wing?? I have no clue. but that is leaving only the 2 defensemen to cover 3 to 4 people near my net and well my defensemen don't know what a check, how to block a shot, or poke check is I guess. then I go and try and help but they score and I get gigged for not covering the point and if I stay on the point and they score I still get a bad line defense. this game is a no win scenario. again my biggest issue is that you get penalized more than you get to the good. for instance if we're in the offensive zone and my defensemen go up so I have to cover his position at the blue line and he gives it up, am I supposed to stop at the "point" and let the other team go towards the goalie unchecked? that's stupid. and this has happened several times. it was me and the other defensemen against 3 and they scored and I get not covering the point/bad line defense. if the game can't determine every situation then GET RID OF THE STUPID NEGATIVE FEEDBACK (or at least don't penalize so freaking much). unless of course it is completely obvious.
I do not see any AI improvements to ANYTHING.
Not a lot of people do because they play the game the way they've always played.
my AI guys down right refuse to pass to me when I'm WIDE OPEN
And in my experience, they will land great passes in stride.
they'll stay where there's a defender. nearly every time.
I haven't had this experience.
ALSO covering the same point I am?
Yes this has always been an issue. Please keep in mind I'm not saying the AI is flawless and I don't think I said that once. It still makes mistakes. It's not perfect and it never will be perfect.
However, if you take the time to learn what the developers want out of the human to get the most out of the AI, you can get better results and there's clearly been an adjustment in NHL 26. Not enough to warrant marketing it as an all-new feature though.
However, if you take the time to learn what the developers want out of the human to get the most out of the AI, you can get better results and there's clearly been an adjustment in NHL 26. Not enough to warrant marketing it as an all-new feature though.
that's the problem, I have no idea what they want out of "the human". to me it's all about scoring and I hate that. you won't score every game and shouldn't really have to. try yes, but you won't. so why get hammered on the form score as in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qB9ziJ1wOg
can someone explain to me WHY I got only an 84 for that game? they never scored (shutout), I got an assist, had 13 shots, and 4 hits (and don't have the faintest idea how I got a 0 in +/- with an assist and they not scoring). what more do they want from a "human" against a computer that can "think" a trillion time faster. but my, and many others, point is that WE shouldn't have to learn what the developers want out of us it SHOULD be THEY learn what WE want and put it in the game. we pay their pay checks for petes sake. a lot of people have an easier time with the controls or dekeing or what not, I, and many others, don't but we shouldn't get penalized for it and we do. I know exactly where, and who, I want a pass to go to but somehow it goes so far off track I want to throw my controller or I want to turn one way but he goes in the total opposite of the way I turned my controller stick. my guy has around 87 to 89 speed but he can hardly out skate a large defender or anyone on any other team for that matter. the only sliders I changed was the poke check and stick lift. I put human all the way up to 100 poke check accuracy and around 80 power and put CPU down to 0 in both but their landing more than I am. I poked checked and it may go about an inch. they do and it goes completely off my stick far where I can't reach it. and just for curiosity, do you adjust any sliders? I'm really trying not to argue or anything like that, it's just I believe that in your rookie year, the highest form score you should have to get is a 50 or above. I don't think a NHL coach is going to send a rookie to the minors after 8 games for having a "55 form score". now say a quarter way in the season he goes from 55 to say 60 but then after half way in the season he shows no progress then yea maybe but if you are 55-60 in the first quarter, 65-70 half way, then 70+ by the end then geez he stays in the NHL. I shouldn't have to spend precious trait points just to stay in the NHL which could be used to up my main stats. this is what I'm saying about them listening to us and not us having to learn what they want out of us
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