@TTZ_Dipsy
"My personal opinion is players have started to level up and the new gameplay has finally "clicked" for them so naturally, they'll gravitate to what always used to work for them"
That's exactly what I think is going on
Players are just "figuring out the game and X factors" better now. Let's examine this theory, shall we?
So, this must have ALL happened for the WHOLE player base at the SAME time, coincidentally when the new tuner dropped. Right? Yup. That MUST be it.
We ALL figured it out at the SAME time JUST at that exact coincidence of timing. It isn't that... you know... the tuner CHANGED the gameplay entirely to make the game an arcadey mess that is akin to 21, 20, and 19. And at JUST that SAME time, all those "awesome" players who were so good at exploiting the mechanics and animations in previous years just so happened to "get good" again. Right?
The game WAS as good as any hockey game ever during the beta, trial, and first couple weeks of release. It rewarded positional hockey, actual dump and chase, realistic physics, and... most importantly... IQ based plays. Sadly, that's all gone and EA has dumbed down the game to an exploit filled cheese fest all over again to appease the "influencers" who will run off to the next new shiny thing, the Game Changers who ironically can't change with the improved gameplay, the HUT crowd who can't handle having to play fairly simulated hockey without their "SiCk PlAyZz, BrUh!", and casuals who don't care all that much or play all that much or buy the game all that often.
Meanwhile, we, the hardcore hockey fans, who LOVE the greatest sport in the world are disregarded, dismissed, and ignored. All this AFTER we saw a GREAT game, played a GREAT beta, and PAID for THAT game... ou to have the old bait and switch pulled on us.
Thanks, EA!
"If it's in the game and good, we remove it to appease the lowest common denominators!"
You make it sound like this is your first NHL - there is always a patch that addresses beta feedback and I'm sure people freaking out they couldn't pass probably DID do something but EA's official response has been the latest patch didn't change anything to the gameplay, this is why you're supposed to collect video evidence to the contrary. You know, catch them in their lie since they aren't the ones that need to prove anything, unfortunately.
Honestly, I don't think I can really care much less about other people having a hard time with the game - My team always focuses on cross-creasers anyway so, with better shot block mechanics, we're doing better than ever. Not saying the game is in a great state by any means, I've been advocating they take at least a year off for ages now; I've just gotten to the point where it's easier to roll with the punches than to go against the grain - casual fans are always gonna take priority over true simmers
Community Manager
