Let's Talk: Reddit AMA with Ben Ross
September 24, 2020 2:38PM
edited September 2020
Hello, everyone. Last week, Lead Gameplay Producer Ben Ross hosted a Reddit AMA here. For this week's Let's Talk, feel free to discuss his responses and provide further feedback. @IceLion68 had started a response thread so I merged it here. Thanks!
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Just pulling out a few of my faves.
For the love of god, if you quote this, PLEASE edit the quoted bits down to the part you're actually commenting on?
RE: Defensive actions
Have AI offside mechanics been improved?
Any updates to player switching?
Why is it that when I pin somone to the boards my AI sits back and doesn't try to get the puck? And if I switch player then it stops pinning the player to the boards?
(1) How has gameplay been tweaked since the technical test? Specifically: (i) has the team addressed the overly high success rate with force passes (and defenders not picking up passes despite being in good position); and (ii) have defender turning speed been addressed, I know a lot of people complained about the slow turning speed leaving open countless odd man rushes.
(2) Are there any plans to add more offense/defence/neutral zone strategies? We've seen the same strategies for years now.
Is the bug when you drop the gloves and other doesn't fixed so they both aren't gone for the whole game when getting two minute minors for unsportmanlike conduct?
Is skillzoning still the go to when playing defence? Pls say this is finally fully gone
Can I finally make a one touch slap pass. And can it be given slower, so that the receiving player can handle the puck instead of always tipping it?
Will the lacrosse goal be impossible to even slightly attempt as it was in the technical test? (LOLz)
Any changes to penalties? Especially in regards to tripping and interference?
We have seen Madden and FIFA have attribute "triggers" which allows them to do certain animations. Ex: Only 92 Catching can do _____ animation.
It has a huge effect on the gameplay, are these in NHL at all?
Is the AI able to realize there is a net in their own zone yet? Or will they continue to keep skating into it? (LOL)
Has the invisible wall at the goal line been addressed to allow for players to tap the puck over the goal line instead of continually watching stick blades go through the puck while the puck stays glued to the goal line?
One of my biggest issues is with the amount of goalie “interference”. Is anything going to be different in this regard?
Don’t let hitting lt and skating backwards into the offensive zone be so easy to not lose the puck.
Will there ever be any changes to the pace of online gameplay? I find it so frustrating to constantly have play halted, and be forced to look at the same exact shot of the crowd/trees/helicopter over and over and over. Why can’t this time be utilized by a quick and instant replay of what just happened. I only play eashl and games take so long and I hate that it’s 60% gameplay, 40% waiting for stoppages in play
Can you dump the puck in without it going over the glass 8 time out of 10?
How have AI defensemen improved especially in threes?
Will AI goalies be more aware of cross crease plays and seeing the same move over and over again (skating to the boards and then skating across the goalie on breakaways/Penalty shots
What’s been done to promote active defense and not skill zoning? Will the CPU take penalties like they did in the technical test or will guys be rewarded for not switching to their defenseman?
Currently in 20, the AI bumps you and turns over the puck. Are you saying that it is changed for 21, or remains the same as 20?
I've seen the AI perform stick lifts a bunch in HUT online. But you're saying they don't do that?
I think this concept is lead by a big misunderstanding.
I was playing a guy that refused to make a move anywhere near my net, I keept my controlled player in steady motion in the center around my goalie, to cut him off and to keep him on the outside, and all he was waiting for was for me to give up position so he could go short side or 1timer.
After the game a got a message that I was skillzoning, when all I did was playing D without getting fooled.
So if thats skillzoning you might just as well give up the concept of getting a smarter AI, cause thats whats very many looking for, to exploit AI and go for a cheese. And if they dont, they blame you for skillzoning....
Will there ever be a attempt from EA for a sim hockey game ? The game seemingly goes deeper and deeper into a arcadey goal scoring frenzy to appease 12 yr old timmy every year.
In the technical test there seemed to be a greater emphasis on gap control for d-men in WOC, which I felt was great. Can we expect this to continue in 21 or will this be tuned differently?
Why is offense given so many new tools while defense is always left behind?
Why should we trust that any changes you make wont be reverted again after release when one of the streamers complains?
Why do i have players with 99 speed being caught from behind by 70 overall players in the very first shift of the game?
Why are you guys insistent on this arcadey style of play over any semblance or real hockey?
Why have the goalies remained so terrible this entire gen after littman left?
Will the one handed tuck be an automatic goal? It will goalies actually be able to defend against it this year? Probably the most frustrating play in the game
The bolded bit notwithstanding, I must say this is not very encouraging. So basically this is by design and EA is telling us to "suck it up". I am all for creating skill gap, but the problem here is that they only seem to be doing it on the DEFENSIVE side of the game. They do not seem to do anything to create skill gap for forwards. Unless you count rewarding players EVEN MORE for being able to pull off all the crazy offensive tools - nothing to punish forwards who make bad decisions.
EA to defensemen: "You need to time and aim your poke check/ stick lift/body check better. Oh and manage your gap control better... hmmm? oh no, no new tools... oh btw did we mention you can manually control pivots?! Cool huh?"
Meanwhile:
EA to forwards: "Hey forwards look at all the neat new ways to beat 'flat footed defenders' and score".
It's disheartening and quite a slap in the face.
I like the sounds of this... a lot... curious to see how it plays out in the game.
I again found the same mistake in the hut video: the defenders are not defended by a hockey stick - my new topic you can read
please explain us Ben how it can be done at full version of this game. I am very disapointment from the HUT video showed me this bug "no hockey stick intervene against move of offensive player" again the same as nhl18,nhl19,nhl20
thank you Ben
edit:
Ben, it's very difficult and without motivation when I finally manage to set the game, but the defenders with hockey sticks do nothing when I have a puck on the hockey stick and I go 10 centimeters next to the defender. It is very difficult to play the game with the knowledge that this basic thing because hockey is called hockey just does not work ....
I like the concept. After such a big revealing there's always questions. It was very interesting to read what Ben has to say, after all, hes a big influencer of the game and whats on hes mind interest me, I understand if everything that he says can be difficult to get the right side of, but I like the idea he has about the game.
Continue to keep us, the community close, and we will continue to provide you with our opinions. Together! 💪
Keep up!
Yeah I don't think that's right because you almost have to switch to the front of the net or else the CPU will chase away and leave the cross crease open.
It's annoying to me when my opponent switches off the defender when the defender is the only guy back and I'm entering the zone. I think of that as "skillzoning." In those rushes, if you're controlling anyone other than the lone guy back, you're being cheap. But once we're in the zone, I think controlling the players off the puck is okay, and even necessary at times.
You can call it cheap or whatever you want but if it works for them it works. Everything is cheap if someone finds it to be because they don't do it. And more than ever this year the CPU will get abused in 1 on 1 situations.
"We don't currently have plans for anything related to momentum in the game. It is definitely a big topic around sports psychology in terms to the impacts of home ice advantage, a coach taking a well timed time out, etc. and could theoretically be attempted in a model but so far, we have let the Players personal psyche and how they play in response to certain situations do that work for us and have built mechanics where being collected/patient and in control vs rushing things have an impact in the error models and feel that watching competitive games online that this does weigh into outcomes where Players buckle under pressure, etc.."
The part where Ben mentions that models were built that try to simulate a lack of composure which affect the game... Is this a real thing already in the game? In NHL 20??
I play a pretty aggressive, almost frantic style and I feel like I have the worst luck. But I'd rather be unlucky here than to know that all along there's been some kind of subliminal scale, a tainted tuner, a malevolent modifier(!) mistaking my well-placed poke checks and Johnny-on-the-spot reactions for a lack of composure just because I take amphetamines daily.
I take it as wild swings and getting yourself out of position will affect the rest of your team in positioning and such. Where a composed state allows for the best chance at success getting a poke, sticklift, or hit. Also your AI should be in somewhat better positioning too. But if you venture off from your supposed position the AI might try to cover you and that is why you see 2 AI dmen at times on the same side.
It's an answer that can be read different ways imo.
I happen to know you suffer from big lag, and even how much I hate to say this, lag can really turn your luck in to unluck in a dime, I like to gamble alot, try nice plays, with high risk, games where a have a steady connection, I play superb, and if I don't, same guy can tear me apart, just by playing the same way many other's do, simpel and straight at the net, with some turns up and down here and there.
Its small margins between success or fiasco, just like real hockey, but unfortunately it's more about connection in this case.