We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks. The idea was that drop-ins would be in a more fun, casual environment while club games would have a more competitive feeling being indoors. Obviously not everyone agrees and we're all well aware of the feedback. We'll have to see what happens in the future.
Losing sight of the puck because of shadows is NOT FUN.
Not being able to tell who is on which team because everyone is wearing different outfits is NOT FUN.
Watching cutscenes of helicopters before every single faceoff in NOT FUN.
Why can't drop-ins be competitive? And why do they count for/against your CR if they are casual only?
If people want casual drop-ins, there should be an option for unranked drop-ins where the game leader can pick between indoor or outdoors arenas and "clown gear" vs real jerseys (or perhaps a vote system like many games have for map choices).
Ranked drop-ins ought be competitive, with proper arenas without shadows and use real jerseys.
Yes, there is club, but sometimes you want to play and your clubmates aren't playing. You ought to be able to play a proper competitive drop-in. Prior to NHL 19, we could do that.
I like the idea of ranked drops. Non-ranked could just be fun without having to worry about your stats. It would mean less people leaving the lobby before the game starts, as well as people caring too much how a game goes and leaving during the game.
I have played over 300 Three's games and I think 3's should go away. Ones, Arcade Threes, and Threes should just die a horrible death. Ranked and Non-Ranked 6v6 should be a standard so everyone is playing the same mode and you aren't fracturing the small base even more. It will also be a travesty if cross-play isn't a thing in 21.
I like the idea of ranked drops. Non-ranked could just be fun without having to worry about your stats. It would mean less people leaving the lobby before the game starts, as well as people caring too much how a game goes and leaving during the game.
I have played over 300 Three's games and I think 3's should go away. Ones, Arcade Threes, and Threes should just die a horrible death. Ranked and Non-Ranked 6v6 should be a standard so everyone is playing the same mode and you aren't fracturing the small base even more. It will also be a travesty if cross-play isn't a thing in 21.
The arcade style modes need to be buried and forgotten.
For the love of all things sacred can we pleeaaassseee play in normal arenas again with actual jerseys??
The unwillingness of EA reps to even touch on this issue is worrying and mind boggling.
What do you mean by unwillingness to touch on the issue?
He may perhaps be referring to the fact that outdoor hockey is something no one asked for or wanted and people have been complaining since NHL 19 about the fact we cant play "normal" old style drop-ins with rinks and actual hockey gear. Not just a "this year" thing.
We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks. The idea was that drop-ins would be in a more fun, casual environment while club games would have a more competitive feeling being indoors. Obviously not everyone agrees and we're all well aware of the feedback. We'll have to see what happens in the future.
Fair enough. Perhaps the outdoor rinks could be constrained to the arcade modes where , arguably, it belongs
I like the idea of ranked drops. Non-ranked could just be fun without having to worry about your stats. It would mean less people leaving the lobby before the game starts, as well as people caring too much how a game goes and leaving during the game.
I have played over 300 Three's games and I think 3's should go away. Ones, Arcade Threes, and Threes should just die a horrible death. Ranked and Non-Ranked 6v6 should be a standard so everyone is playing the same mode and you aren't fracturing the small base even more. It will also be a travesty if cross-play isn't a thing in 21.
The arcade style modes need to be buried and forgotten.
I don't mind them. 3s can be a good way to warm up the fingers. But I think the outdoor rinks and custom gear should be confined to these modes. That way everyone can have their fun. CHEL Drop-ins should be proper rinks and normal gear.
We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks. The idea was that drop-ins would be in a more fun, casual environment while club games would have a more competitive feeling being indoors. Obviously not everyone agrees and we're all well aware of the feedback. We'll have to see what happens in the future.
Losing sight of the puck because of shadows is NOT FUN.
Not being able to tell who is on which team because everyone is wearing different outfits is NOT FUN.
Watching cutscenes of helicopters before every single faceoff in NOT FUN.
Why can't drop-ins be competitive? And why do they count for/against your CR if they are casual only?
If people want casual drop-ins, there should be an option for unranked drop-ins where the game leader can pick between indoor or outdoors arenas and "clown gear" vs real jerseys (or perhaps a vote system like many games have for map choices).
Ranked drop-ins ought be competitive, with proper arenas without shadows and use real jerseys.
Yes, there is club, but sometimes you want to play and your clubmates aren't playing. You ought to be able to play a proper competitive drop-in. Prior to NHL 19, we could do that.
Yes. These two things.
I am not a fan of the vote system though. Clown gear and outdoor rinks are arcade hockey - just keep them with the arcade modes.
We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks.
I think this feedback was misinterpreted.
The requests I've seen over the years was for the outdoor stadiums to be included in the game - especially during season or franchise mode.
As someone who frequents forums and such for NHL games a lot - I've never seen "a lot" of requests for outdoor rinks the way EA implemented them.
It was a good idea for sure - but the poor execution (shadows, repetitive views of the helicopter/house etc, the constant chattering of birds and sirens in the background...) just made it a downright awful experience.
I like the idea of ranked drops. Non-ranked could just be fun without having to worry about your stats. It would mean less people leaving the lobby before the game starts, as well as people caring too much how a game goes and leaving during the game.
I have played over 300 Three's games and I think 3's should go away. Ones, Arcade Threes, and Threes should just die a horrible death. Ranked and Non-Ranked 6v6 should be a standard so everyone is playing the same mode and you aren't fracturing the small base even more. It will also be a travesty if cross-play isn't a thing in 21.
My club has 2 guys. We enjoy 3v3 much more than 6s.
I do agree that cross play needs to happen. I hear what you're saying about the arcade modes fracturing the user base but to be perfectly honest, I think I would prefer they at least kept 3s eliminator as I feel the people who would want to play this on the regular are NOT the people I probably want as teammates in CHEL dropins. Ranked or otherwise. Let them have their bad teamplay and clown gear and stay out of real hockey.
We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks.
I think this feedback was misinterpreted.
The requests I've seen over the years was for the outdoor stadiums to be included in the game - especially during season or franchise mode.
As someone who frequents forums and such for NHL games a lot - I've never seen "a lot" of requests for outdoor rinks the way EA implemented them.
It was a good idea for sure - but the poor execution (shadows, repetitive views of the helicopter/house etc, the constant chattering of birds and sirens in the background...) just made it a downright awful experience.
There were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums. The shadows were an issue with the canal rink, but with its removal, we haven't been getting complaints about them.
There were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums. The shadows were an issue with the canal rink, but with its removal, we haven't been getting complaints about them.
I don't disagree that there were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums.
However, I will contest that the cries for stadium series rinks heavily outweigh the requests for pond hockey rinks on the forums and other various social media platforms.
So if EA is using 'a lot' as a metric for adding features to the game, they've missed 'a lot' of people requesting actual stadium series rinks, among countless other things.
We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks.
I think this feedback was misinterpreted.
The requests I've seen over the years was for the outdoor stadiums to be included in the game - especially during season or franchise mode.
As someone who frequents forums and such for NHL games a lot - I've never seen "a lot" of requests for outdoor rinks the way EA implemented them.
It was a good idea for sure - but the poor execution (shadows, repetitive views of the helicopter/house etc, the constant chattering of birds and sirens in the background...) just made it a downright awful experience.
There were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums. The shadows were an issue with the canal rink, but with its removal, we haven't been getting complaints about them.
Sorry, but I'd find it a little hard to believe that MORE people requested for random outdoor rinks to play hockey in street gear than people requesting to be able to play on Stadium or Heritage Classic arenas.
It would be more believable had you said something like "EA tried to get the licensing for the NHL outdoor rinks, but couldn't get the deal done in time, so we decided to go with Generic rinks as a placeholder."
Still wouldn't have been what we'd want to hear, but it would've been closer to ringing like the truth to your customers.
Pretty sure people requested for maybe some winter classic outdoor rinks. Or outdoor rinks for ones mode (which for some reason can't be played casually with friends).
I don't see anyone anywhere requesting all the chel gear. In fact I distinctly remember people being so relieved that they got rid of the clown gear from 09. Now it is back in full force.
People wanting some outdoor rinks, even if they are casual, somehow translated to ski masks, goofy pants and sounds... and the same two teams playing over and over again.
Sure keep the odd outdoor rink, but let us choose from all of those cool jerseys that we used to be able to.
I don't see anyone anywhere requesting all the chel gear. In fact I distinctly remember people being so relieved that they got rid of the clown gear from 09. Now it is back in full force.
The goal with 'chel' gear was to mimic the customization that has become standard in most massive multiplayer games. (Fortnite, COD, etc) to attract people that were in a specific demographic. It's kind of funny seeing EA talk about how these were all "requested by the community" but that's not entirely true.
I was lucky enough to take part in a GameChangers event a few years ago - and the demographic being focused on for future titles and the features consisted of a few elements:
1. They were NHL fans.
2. They were gamers.
3. They were not repeat buyers of the NHL franchise.
I believe the idea was that creating an atmosphere of customizability (limited of course to aesthetics only) would cultivate a sense of identity within the game - which - theoretically would result in players continually returning to unlock more customizations and making their character more unique and more of an expression of their own creativity - a very important thing for gamers these days.
The problem is when the underlying gameplay and/or clunky menu systems get in the way. Being able to flow between gameplay, unlocking and applying customizations, and then getting right back to a game is key to something like this. Even more - having drop-in games actually finish without opponents/teammates quitting would have gone even further to keep these players coming back.
Not everyone has 5 friends who will dedicate the same time/schedule to playing NHL. So making the drop-in experience a smooth one should've been the top priority before adding all of the customization.
Unfortunately still - without a smooth menu system, without time being taken to mitigate quitters and griefers and without a focus on getting players in to a game as quickly as possible with minimal interference (people quitting out of lobbies as the game begins, people generally playing like trolls) people don't bother returning unless they are hardcore fans of the game.
We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks.
I think this feedback was misinterpreted.
The requests I've seen over the years was for the outdoor stadiums to be included in the game - especially during season or franchise mode.
As someone who frequents forums and such for NHL games a lot - I've never seen "a lot" of requests for outdoor rinks the way EA implemented them.
It was a good idea for sure - but the poor execution (shadows, repetitive views of the helicopter/house etc, the constant chattering of birds and sirens in the background...) just made it a downright awful experience.
There were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums. The shadows were an issue with the canal rink, but with its removal, we haven't been getting complaints about them.
Sorry, but I'd find it a little hard to believe that MORE people requested for random outdoor rinks to play hockey in street gear than people requesting to be able to play on Stadium or Heritage Classic arenas.
It would be more believable had you said something like "EA tried to get the licensing for the NHL outdoor rinks, but couldn't get the deal done in time, so we decided to go with Generic rinks as a placeholder."
Still wouldn't have been what we'd want to hear, but it would've been closer to ringing like the truth to your customers.
Like if they can't get the license that is cool and all but they really should just create their own Stadium Series type outdoor setting. Use a generic stadium and design it how they feel majority of them look. Bam no need for the others.
We actually had a lot of requests for outdoor rinks.
I think this feedback was misinterpreted.
The requests I've seen over the years was for the outdoor stadiums to be included in the game - especially during season or franchise mode.
As someone who frequents forums and such for NHL games a lot - I've never seen "a lot" of requests for outdoor rinks the way EA implemented them.
It was a good idea for sure - but the poor execution (shadows, repetitive views of the helicopter/house etc, the constant chattering of birds and sirens in the background...) just made it a downright awful experience.
There were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums. The shadows were an issue with the canal rink, but with its removal, we haven't been getting complaints about them.
Were there also a lot of requests to take uniforms away? I could see the execs forcing the team onto the fortnite train except they aren't charging for custom outfits, not yet anyway. I'm hoping for crossplay then there could be enough players to fill an outdoor rink lobby and a hockey rinck lobby, but that's a lot of hoping.
Cross play would be the best thing to happen to this game in a long time.
I'd rather have more immersion in a drop in game having my own jersey number and name on the back of it. Having the crowd holding up those signs that they do in club (and used to in drop in) and periodically highlighting career stats when the situation is right.
Right now most people just try to make their player look as ridiculous as possible.
I don't know. I guess I'm just in the camp that wants to feel like I'm playing NHL hockey.
It was never in actual NHL arenas, it was some made up arena. But yes the presentation in between faceoffs needs a big change. The shots of helicopters or the crowd if playing club games gets old really quick, especially if there just a big or something that happened.
Yes, it was in an arena. It might not be the actual NHL stadiums, but the teams were, the fans were team fans, and it was NHL style play. What we have now is not. It's pond hockey with pathetic clown gear that literally no one asked for, has complained about since inception, and generally spat on by most players.
It was never in actual NHL arenas, it was some made up arena. But yes the presentation in between faceoffs needs a big change. The shots of helicopters or the crowd if playing club games gets old really quick, especially if there just a big or something that happened.
Yes, it was in an arena. It might not be the actual NHL stadiums, but the teams were, the fans were team fans, and it was NHL style play. What we have now is not. It's pond hockey with pathetic clown gear that literally no one asked for, has complained about since inception, and generally spat on by most players.
^^^What he said!!! I remember on the 360 there was a thing where you could play in a winter classic setting, and also international ice. You ALWAYS had actual team jerseys through all that, and I thought it was a good time. I shake my head every time I load up a 3s game and look at all the ridiculousness that is going on with scarves, clothing, and dance moves. That's not hockey...not even close. You would NEVER see that crap on TV, and I hate it with a passion. I miss when this game was really fun...back when you had fewer "showboating" modes, more people playing, and full lobbies. The immersion in this game is terrible right now and has been for a couple of years at least.
Cross play would be the best thing to happen to this game in a long time.
I'd rather have more immersion in a drop in game having my own jersey number and name on the back of it. Having the crowd holding up those signs that they do in club (and used to in drop in) and periodically highlighting career stats when the situation is right.
Right now most people just try to make their player look as ridiculous as possible.
I don't know. I guess I'm just in the camp that wants to feel like I'm playing NHL hockey.
Right now most people just try to make their player look as ridiculous as possible.
My 'favourite' customization is wearing a brown mouthguard, so it looks like a brown tur*d hanging from the guy's mouth. I guess they're trying to say something... although you can do this in clubs too, so it's not like it's a casual play thing.
Replies
Losing sight of the puck because of shadows is NOT FUN.
Not being able to tell who is on which team because everyone is wearing different outfits is NOT FUN.
Watching cutscenes of helicopters before every single faceoff in NOT FUN.
Why can't drop-ins be competitive? And why do they count for/against your CR if they are casual only?
If people want casual drop-ins, there should be an option for unranked drop-ins where the game leader can pick between indoor or outdoors arenas and "clown gear" vs real jerseys (or perhaps a vote system like many games have for map choices).
Ranked drop-ins ought be competitive, with proper arenas without shadows and use real jerseys.
Yes, there is club, but sometimes you want to play and your clubmates aren't playing. You ought to be able to play a proper competitive drop-in. Prior to NHL 19, we could do that.
I have played over 300 Three's games and I think 3's should go away. Ones, Arcade Threes, and Threes should just die a horrible death. Ranked and Non-Ranked 6v6 should be a standard so everyone is playing the same mode and you aren't fracturing the small base even more. It will also be a travesty if cross-play isn't a thing in 21.
The arcade style modes need to be buried and forgotten.
Fair enough. Perhaps the outdoor rinks could be constrained to the arcade modes where , arguably, it belongs
i.e.
1 V 1 V 1
3s Eliminator etc
Yes. These two things.
I am not a fan of the vote system though. Clown gear and outdoor rinks are arcade hockey - just keep them with the arcade modes.
I think this feedback was misinterpreted.
The requests I've seen over the years was for the outdoor stadiums to be included in the game - especially during season or franchise mode.
As someone who frequents forums and such for NHL games a lot - I've never seen "a lot" of requests for outdoor rinks the way EA implemented them.
It was a good idea for sure - but the poor execution (shadows, repetitive views of the helicopter/house etc, the constant chattering of birds and sirens in the background...) just made it a downright awful experience.
My club has 2 guys. We enjoy 3v3 much more than 6s.
I do agree that cross play needs to happen. I hear what you're saying about the arcade modes fracturing the user base but to be perfectly honest, I think I would prefer they at least kept 3s eliminator as I feel the people who would want to play this on the regular are NOT the people I probably want as teammates in CHEL dropins. Ranked or otherwise. Let them have their bad teamplay and clown gear and stay out of real hockey.
There were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums. The shadows were an issue with the canal rink, but with its removal, we haven't been getting complaints about them.
I don't disagree that there were requests for outdoor rinks besides stadiums.
However, I will contest that the cries for stadium series rinks heavily outweigh the requests for pond hockey rinks on the forums and other various social media platforms.
So if EA is using 'a lot' as a metric for adding features to the game, they've missed 'a lot' of people requesting actual stadium series rinks, among countless other things.
Sorry, but I'd find it a little hard to believe that MORE people requested for random outdoor rinks to play hockey in street gear than people requesting to be able to play on Stadium or Heritage Classic arenas.
It would be more believable had you said something like "EA tried to get the licensing for the NHL outdoor rinks, but couldn't get the deal done in time, so we decided to go with Generic rinks as a placeholder."
Still wouldn't have been what we'd want to hear, but it would've been closer to ringing like the truth to your customers.
I don't see anyone anywhere requesting all the chel gear. In fact I distinctly remember people being so relieved that they got rid of the clown gear from 09. Now it is back in full force.
People wanting some outdoor rinks, even if they are casual, somehow translated to ski masks, goofy pants and sounds... and the same two teams playing over and over again.
Sure keep the odd outdoor rink, but let us choose from all of those cool jerseys that we used to be able to.
The goal with 'chel' gear was to mimic the customization that has become standard in most massive multiplayer games. (Fortnite, COD, etc) to attract people that were in a specific demographic. It's kind of funny seeing EA talk about how these were all "requested by the community" but that's not entirely true.
I was lucky enough to take part in a GameChangers event a few years ago - and the demographic being focused on for future titles and the features consisted of a few elements:
1. They were NHL fans.
2. They were gamers.
3. They were not repeat buyers of the NHL franchise.
I believe the idea was that creating an atmosphere of customizability (limited of course to aesthetics only) would cultivate a sense of identity within the game - which - theoretically would result in players continually returning to unlock more customizations and making their character more unique and more of an expression of their own creativity - a very important thing for gamers these days.
The problem is when the underlying gameplay and/or clunky menu systems get in the way. Being able to flow between gameplay, unlocking and applying customizations, and then getting right back to a game is key to something like this. Even more - having drop-in games actually finish without opponents/teammates quitting would have gone even further to keep these players coming back.
Not everyone has 5 friends who will dedicate the same time/schedule to playing NHL. So making the drop-in experience a smooth one should've been the top priority before adding all of the customization.
Unfortunately still - without a smooth menu system, without time being taken to mitigate quitters and griefers and without a focus on getting players in to a game as quickly as possible with minimal interference (people quitting out of lobbies as the game begins, people generally playing like trolls) people don't bother returning unless they are hardcore fans of the game.
Like if they can't get the license that is cool and all but they really should just create their own Stadium Series type outdoor setting. Use a generic stadium and design it how they feel majority of them look. Bam no need for the others.
Were there also a lot of requests to take uniforms away? I could see the execs forcing the team onto the fortnite train except they aren't charging for custom outfits, not yet anyway. I'm hoping for crossplay then there could be enough players to fill an outdoor rink lobby and a hockey rinck lobby, but that's a lot of hoping.
I'd rather have more immersion in a drop in game having my own jersey number and name on the back of it. Having the crowd holding up those signs that they do in club (and used to in drop in) and periodically highlighting career stats when the situation is right.
Right now most people just try to make their player look as ridiculous as possible.
I don't know. I guess I'm just in the camp that wants to feel like I'm playing NHL hockey.
Yes, it was in an arena. It might not be the actual NHL stadiums, but the teams were, the fans were team fans, and it was NHL style play. What we have now is not. It's pond hockey with pathetic clown gear that literally no one asked for, has complained about since inception, and generally spat on by most players.
^^^What he said!!! I remember on the 360 there was a thing where you could play in a winter classic setting, and also international ice. You ALWAYS had actual team jerseys through all that, and I thought it was a good time. I shake my head every time I load up a 3s game and look at all the ridiculousness that is going on with scarves, clothing, and dance moves. That's not hockey...not even close. You would NEVER see that crap on TV, and I hate it with a passion. I miss when this game was really fun...back when you had fewer "showboating" modes, more people playing, and full lobbies. The immersion in this game is terrible right now and has been for a couple of years at least.
Agreed on all this. Especially crossplay,
My 'favourite'