An Update on Gameplay Feedback + Action Plan

Ty_Hors

Hey everyone,

Before the holidays begin, we just wanted to provide everyone with an update around NHL 19, and more specifically the feedback we have been hearing around the gameplay.

Over the past few months, we have been seeing a lot of people on all channels asking for us to revert to Beta tuners as they enjoyed the game better during that time frame. While we believe that the current gameplay has a lot of improvements from launch, we also recognize that there could be areas of gameplay that you preferred better in the past.

As a result, in mid-January we are going to be rolling back to the Beta Tuner for a limited time to get your feedback on what you like/dislike about the Beta Tuner compared to the current gameplay tuner. Please note that this will undo some of the positive changes that we’ve seen from the community, so you’ll be seeing some of the following occur again:

• Poke checks will be more sensitive and cause more tripping penalties
• AI goaltending performance will be different
• The ability to drop your stick
• Increase in incidental contact strength (bumps)
• Decrease in penalties from stick lifts

After we change back from the tuner, we will be posting a feedback survey to gather your thoughts, likes, and dislikes on the Beta tuner.

While it is a little while until the tuner goes live, we wanted to provide you with an update as we know how passionate you are about the product. Once we get closer to the date of the tuner, we will provide an update with more information and details on what is happening, when it’s happening, and what you can expect.

Thank you for your dedication and feedback throughout NHL 19 and we hope everyone has a happy holidays!

- The EA SPORTS NHL Team

Nxckles

Will skating also revert back to the skating in the beta? Because that was arguably the best thing in the beta.

Also, thank you for listening to the community.

BruinsHockey08

Nuckles37 wrote: »

Will skating also revert back to the skating in the beta? Because that was arguably the best thing in the beta.

I don't see why it wouldn't. Hopefully that's the case because I think that would make a lot of people happy.

Treatmentworke66

The beta only needed the poke checking tuned a little and the stick lift tuned and a tweek to the goalies in my opinion of course ,but I'm sure a lot here would agree

LeFury_27

Very glad to hear this EA, I hope you give us back the beta tuner for good. If that does happen, you got me locked in as a customer for the next couple years for sure.

Now looking forward to playing the game again, haven't played in days but now I'm super excited.

gundamfreedomx

Bumps are back and I am gone

Dercie

My feedback is already here

• Increase in incidental contact strength (bumps) - YES, this hinders puck ragging defenders in all game modes as it is right now, impossible to make a decent forecheck as a forward if you are facing a decent opponent. Promote offensive hockey, it's a game!
• The ability to drop your stick - Lame random factor
• Poke checks and stick lifts are good as they are right now

LeFury_27

gundamfreedomx wrote: »

Bumps are back and I am gone

Will take a few bumps from behind over unrealistic selfish puck ragging any day of the week. One of the most toxic things in game, especially when you can do it in your own end without having any worry of being shoved off the puck. Will be great to see players have to play as a team again instead of playing individualistic hockey.

Dercie

Santa Rammer

PadrinoIV

Ty_Hors wrote: »

Hey everyone,

Before the holidays begin, we just wanted to provide everyone with an update around NHL 19, and more specifically the feedback we have been hearing around the gameplay.

Over the past few months, we have been seeing a lot of people on all channels asking for us to revert to Beta tuners as they enjoyed the game better during that time frame. While we believe that the current gameplay has a lot of improvements from launch, we also recognize that there could be areas of gameplay that you preferred better in the past.

As a result, in mid-January we are going to be rolling back to the Beta Tuner for a limited time to get your feedback on what you like/dislike about the Beta Tuner compared to the current gameplay tuner. Please note that this will undo some of the positive changes that we’ve seen from the community, so you’ll be seeing some of the following occur again:

• Poke checks will be more sensitive and cause more tripping penalties
• AI goaltending performance will be different
• The ability to drop your stick
• Increase in incidental contact strength (bumps)
• Decrease in penalties from stick lifts

After we change back from the tuner, we will be posting a feedback survey to gather your thoughts, likes, and dislikes on the Beta tuner.

While it is a little while until the tuner goes live, we wanted to provide you with an update as we know how passionate you are about the product. Once we get closer to the date of the tuner, we will provide an update with more information and details on what is happening, when it’s happening, and what you can expect.

Thank you for your dedication and feedback throughout NHL 19 and we hope everyone has a happy holidays!

- The EA SPORTS NHL Team

Wow.

Treatmentworke66

LeFury_27 wrote: »

gundamfreedomx wrote: »

Bumps are back and I am gone

Will take a few bumps from behind over unrealistic selfish puck ragging any day of the week. One of the most toxic things in game, especially when you can do it in your own end without having any worry of being shoved off the puck. Will be great to see players have to play as a team again instead of playing individualistic hockey.

I can't wait to hear the elite raggers and cheesers start to complain again

Canuckftc

This was the right move imo. The beta wasnt perfect, and theres definitely a couple of things in the current tuner that I like and think are more balanced, but overall the beta was definitely a much more fun experience. Hopefully we'll have a better perspective on where people want the game to be and will be able to take the good from the beta and the good from the current game. Please also don't give in to people whining about everything cause its going to happen no matter what, know who's opinions to listen to and the difference between actual criticism and just pointless complaining.

As a side note please do something about the errors. Like honestly no matter how good the game is if something as base line such as actually getting into a game is a pain people wont play.

bballstar201

I would really like to see players starting to reach for the puck more especially as dmen sitting in those passing lanes and not being able to reach within a foot of the puck to pick it up is kind of a tick off also when passes are sent to someone they should be able to reach within a certain distance for it also I noticed players stopping there stride while receiving the puck on the fly in which you should be able to receive the puck from a pass and keep most of your momentum going forward into the zone

magicmittsmase

Good lord above I didnt think I would ever see the day. Merry Christmas fellas!

ExSnake01

Very happy to hear this!

Follisimo

1.)The skating was almost perfect in the beta.
Changes I'd want:
A- The lame stamina excuse for defenders catching a person on a breakaway needs to go. I'm fairly certain majority of these dmen have slower stats than the forwards do especially on straight breakaways.
Byfuglien destroyed Burns from a smart poke and wasn't caught. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhH3HEitnDA

B- Acceleration needs to matter much more so we can see the plays that happen in real life where defenders get left in the dust when they miss a poke check on the rush trying to trap them from entering the zone. This is single the biggest thing people hate is how easy it is to play trap hockey on the blue line. The dump and chase doesn't work either because the defender can still beat the offense to it.

2.) Hitting/Pokechecking/Sticklifting for the most part was very solid.
Changes I'd want:
A- The bumps from BEHIND ONLY needed greatly toned down (unless the backskater is going towards the hit)
B- Pokechecks while skating should be about as accurate as they were in the beta, but if a player is in a more controlled state of gliding then a pokecheck aimed at the stick with a decent gap should do a great job at dislodging the puck from the offender.
C- I know I'd prefer sticklifts to remain how they currently are

As for the other aspects they weren't really changes that were announced in NHL 19 so I'd save that for an NHL 20 changes I'd want to see.

Hopefully with this revert we can right the ship of this game.

Jetset95

I love the idea of rolling it back to the tuner so we can compare what works best from that (skating and bumps I'm guessing) and what works best from the updates (improved poke and stick lift mechanics and goalies). Lots of vocal criticism of EA that they messed up the game - lets see for real what we want in the next version of the 'best of' NHL19.

Remember guys, if we get this right, then NHL20 should be a lot smoother road - and yes I've seen the moaning about paying $80 to beta test the game but it is what it is - lets fix this and have fun for the rest of the year.

Henrik_Mikael

Any chance you could make the AI defensemen play the offensive (and defensive) blueline smarter? Especially on the PP to hold the strong side and try to stop the puck, pinch in occasionally. On defense to not drop too far back, but keep a tighter gap and not allow easy shots from in between and around the dots.

Thanks

zingaa1

I do applaud EA for trying this, but I have a feeling this will go bad, laundry list of other complaints coming our way.

PadrinoIV

Follisimo wrote: »

1.)The skating was almost perfect in the beta.
Changes I'd want:
A- The lame stamina excuse for defenders catching a person on a breakaway needs to go. I'm fairly certain majority of these dmen have slower stats than the forwards do especially on straight breakaways.
Byfuglien destroyed Burns from a smart poke and wasn't caught. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhH3HEitnDA

B- Acceleration needs to matter much more so we can see the plays that happen in real life where defenders get left in the dust when they miss a poke check on the rush trying to trap them from entering the zone. This is single the biggest thing people hate is how easy it is to play trap hockey on the blue line. The dump and chase doesn't work either because the defender can still beat the offense to it.

2.) Hitting/Pokechecking/Sticklifting for the most part was very solid.
Changes I'd want:
A- The bumps from BEHIND ONLY needed greatly toned down (unless the backskater is going towards the hit)
B- Pokechecks while skating should be about as accurate as they were in the beta, but if a player is in a more controlled state of gliding then a pokecheck aimed at the stick with a decent gap should do a great job at dislodging the puck from the offender.
C- I know I'd prefer sticklifts to remain how they currently are

As for the other aspects they weren't really changes that were announced in NHL 19 so I'd save that for an NHL 20 changes I'd want to see.

Hopefully with this revert we can right the ship of this game.

The bump from behind was key to generate passes and counter raggers and goal glitchers though

PadrinoIV

Jetset95 wrote: »

I love the idea of rolling it back to the tuner so we can compare what works best from that (skating and bumps I'm guessing) and what works best from the updates (improved poke and stick lift mechanics and goalies). Lots of vocal criticism of EA that they messed up the game - lets see for real what we want in the next version of the 'best of' NHL19.

Remember guys, if we get this right, then NHL20 should be a lot smoother road - and yes I've seen the moaning about paying $80 to beta test the game but it is what it is - lets fix this and have fun for the rest of the year.

I agree. Since EA is bringing us in the conversation, let's use it and do a good job of testing and collect data and answer surveys. Paying to beta test is nothing if we get a great NHL 20 from the get go. Getting a good 20 also implies smarter and revamped modes (EASHL club is a bit stale and I think drop-ins players are NOT happy LOL), but that's for another day.