It's Over! RIP NHL Video Games
I have supported this franchise since NHL 94 and have played hockey IRL at a competitive level. This game feels nothing like real hockey, yet even for a video game. We are bombarded with way too many unfixed issues year by year which is becoming frustrating and has got to a point I'm done with NHL 20...along so many others.
What will it take to realize the NHL video game population is getting lower for a reason? HUT is pretty much the only sustainable mode, though modes like EASHL are dying out, causing clubs to disband daily, We are customers who pay hard earned money for these games, it would be nice to see a little more passion within the development of this game.
The bugs such as A.I. customization error, DR error, looping/freezing, lag spikes ( common issue within this game lately ) need to be fixed no questions asked.
Other common problems we face are players exploiting the game to win either by CR glitching, going as a female character so if you get hit, there will be little impact ( we tested this theory in club, it worked ), players shooting short side on the goalies blocker by the nearby hashmark to score ( works 100% of the time )
Fix some modes that are becoming way too repetitive like Be A Pro, and Franchise Mode.
Just simple fixes and this game would be worth paying for.
If you want to market better off this focus on other modes too, not just HUT...
Along please update your tuners, these current sliders are horrendously bad and caused the A.I. defense to play forward instead of D.
What will it take to realize the NHL video game population is getting lower for a reason? HUT is pretty much the only sustainable mode, though modes like EASHL are dying out, causing clubs to disband daily, We are customers who pay hard earned money for these games, it would be nice to see a little more passion within the development of this game.
The bugs such as A.I. customization error, DR error, looping/freezing, lag spikes ( common issue within this game lately ) need to be fixed no questions asked.
Other common problems we face are players exploiting the game to win either by CR glitching, going as a female character so if you get hit, there will be little impact ( we tested this theory in club, it worked ), players shooting short side on the goalies blocker by the nearby hashmark to score ( works 100% of the time )
Fix some modes that are becoming way too repetitive like Be A Pro, and Franchise Mode.
Just simple fixes and this game would be worth paying for.
If you want to market better off this focus on other modes too, not just HUT...
Along please update your tuners, these current sliders are horrendously bad and caused the A.I. defense to play forward instead of D.
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No chance of the changes you want happening.
Yes I get that, though they have been dropping in population for a very longtime, majority of them from the EASHL communities. The bugs are the toughest part to deal with. Last night we had a bunch of problems relating to the game, we just went offline along some clubs we played against messaged us with the same issues and said they are not playing also.
Something is wrong when paying customers start leaving this game...
I agree with your whole post except the part about it being “fun” lol. Despite all my work to try and make this game playable, I’m becoming increasingly disenchanted with this game. I just can’t handle watching my AI teammates constantly shading to the weakside of their assignments to allow the middle of the ice, I can’t handle watching them stand still and not help in boardplay situations, I can’t handle watching them not be able to tag-up when their offside anymore, and I can’t keep watching goalies make miraculous saves from great scoring opportunities while giving up floaters from the blueline even with sliders.
The crowd is awful, the presentation is lacking, the modes lack common-sense items, it’s just a really frustrating experience all-around for people who want a simulation experience offline. It’s literally impossible and not because of of our own-doing. Sliders can’t fix this game. I’m just tired man. I’m going to keep trying to provide feedback, but I need actual substantial improvements at some point, otherwise I’ll just be done.
Agree with this 100% . It seems to be tougher to get games lately as I have seen the members online go down by a ton, mostly in EASHL. Though HUT is getting to that point.
This once was a good game. Sadly it just feels like a copy & paste type scenario. Nothing has moved forward other than a few tweaks here and there.
The most frustrating part is, a lot of improvements have been made from a pure gameplay mechanics standpoint (like DSS until they decided a millimeter of a stick hitting a millimeter of a skate should result in a trip). Unfortunately, no (or very few, marginal improvements that can’t be noticed) AI improvements have been made to make this game immersive. I would actually prefer a game lacking some mechanics/features if it meant I have AI teammates actually able to perform plays that make hockey sense a decent chunk of the time.
Remember old sports games where the AI chased the object to a fault? Well now, we have AI how run away from the object or just completely stand still to a fault. I’d rather have the former because you can at least justify over-pursuit in a chaotic sport like hockey. You simply can’t justify an AI player standing still staring at the puck five feet away as if they’re recovering from a recent lobotomy operation.
Playing a game of NHL Hitz pro makes you realize how incredibly unfun this game is. The scrambles in that game in-front of the net feels like a real playoff hockey scramble. The game lacks features, it lacks finesse, there’s not enough snipes/screens, but man does the game just feel like hockey. The AI is very static (made in 2003) but they play a respectable game of hockey. Sure, there’s a few scenarios I’d love for them to be more aggressive and drive the play defensively, but at least I know my AI teammates won’t stand still and stare at the puck rather than actually attempt to retrieve it. What a refreshing experience.
yes unfortunately yes, there is already a clear decline in overall quality and responsibility for a quality product with new elements. Companies like Ubisoft or Bethesda can't afford this. EA visible yes. On the other hand, EA is not and never will be Naughty Dog
this only confirms the assumption that the programmers do not play hockey, but only a game that a manager proposes and the vice manager completes, and the super chef manager procures and sells it to the production department. in the beginning there is something that is of course much better than nhl95 or steel blade ... but in the end it is not so great because there is no one to make it. That's why it's easier to do only an endless remaster
There was no stopping Slater that night. He was on a mission to prove the critics wrong. Rebound put backs, snipes, massive hits, you name it. Even with a 7 goal output we couldn’t contain the determined Slater that fateful night.
6 freakin goals from an AI player who we couldn’t stick lift, could kinda hit but not really, and of course couldn’t keep off the rebounds at all while their 2 user players just had to ride the wave 🤦♂️. Awesome programming.
Yep, physical specimens with no brains lol.
Yet the largest EASHL league League Gaming has record sign-ups and is continually expanding
Could it be that people are searching up leagues because the in-game matchmaking and competitive format isn’t good enough? Just saying that it doesn’t necessarily mean that the player base is growing or healthy if more people are signing up for leagues.
Not sure if you were trying to say that or not but that’s the reason I quit eashl.
Just came here to say that. Matchmaking was awful in 19, and judging by these comments, it’s not much better in 20 so no wonder people are signing up in record numbers to play some 6s.
I wouldn't use LG sign-up numbers as any kind of barometer for the game's "popularity" (or quality for that matter). Fact is, during the first two LG seasons when the game had just come out they were struggling to get even 3K users to sign up for the start of the season, when usually they would get that within the first week or so of sign-ups opening.
Plus, the Summer Season usually coincides with the game being available for free in the EA vault, so that will boost up signups slightly.
I also agree with @Juppo1996 that people might be looking to join up leagues because of the problems with the regular matchmaking in the game. Not that private matchmaking is without wrinkles... Oh, the bad memories are coming back!