New NHL07 Xbox360 Screens

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:41 pm

I'm not sold yet. On the producer interview and one of the gameplay movies, it still looked really darn easy to go end to end.

I did see some errant passes, though, which would be a nice step for this series.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:01 pm

I'm just a bit worried that there's going to be TOO much control for the user. I really don't want to be able to swing the puck from side to side without the very high chance that I'll lose control of it. EA will probably not build enough risk into the equation, in an attempt to get people excited about that "look what I just did!" factor.

Still though, I think that concept is amazing and if there can be some sim like sliders then I'll be considering this one seriously.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:45 pm

Hopefully ratings will matter in terms of puck control.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:45 pm

I agree AI is always the issue with EA and i did see some players just standing still for a moment which smells of last year ,but they did say there revamping the defensive AI.

Im thinking this couold be awsome on live tho, you will get some real creative stuff happening.

Then the cheesers will find something, ie a toe drag and make it a one player skate around and well be back to finding a sim crowdto get a decent experience.

Still looks like EA are trying real hard again on this one.
A good thing for sports gamers, get 2k off their arses.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:34 pm

webdanzer wrote:I'm not sold yet. On the producer interview and one of the gameplay movies, it still looked really darn easy to go end to end.

I did see some errant passes, though, which would be a nice step for this series.

Well, while I absolutely hate the rationale I am about to use, it's likely that the game was on an easy setting, plus it was easier to go end to end as Offsides and Icing were off. In all, I'd say my biggest disappointment with the game as shown would be the jerkiness of the animation but I was happy to see errant passes and shots as well as the BIG improvement in puck physics.

I'd say it's a likely buy for me at this point but we'll see as more hands-on previews arrive.

-G7

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:30 pm

More video: http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php? ... mv&pl=game

I really like the way the goalies are animated and that they seem to come out to challenge the shooter then drift back in a realistic manner.

-G7

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:03 pm

Just some more info I saw. Got this at another site. Take it for what its worth.

Next Generation (NG) for XBOX 360 is just going to make hockey gamers drop their jaws. When Dave Littmann sat us down to show us what was being worked on, the room literally went wild. Mark my words - THIS IS EASILY THE BEST HOCKEY GAME I HAVE EVER SEEN. We had a good amount of time to view the physics of the new engine, how the puck moves, how players, fans, goalies react to gameplay.

The entire game engine was built from the ground up, the physics, the graphics, the sound, the arenas. The physics are absolutely unreal, as an example if you pass the puck up to a forward who isn’t looking back and it
hits him on the skate, the puck will bounce away, and the forward will feel the puck hit him, turn around and look to see where the puck went. Just absolutely stunning.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:07 pm

Diablo25 wrote:Just some more info I saw. Got this at another site. Take it for what its worth.

Next Generation (NG) for XBOX 360 is just going to make hockey gamers drop their jaws. When Dave Littmann sat us down to show us what was being worked on, the room literally went wild. Mark my words - THIS IS EASILY THE BEST HOCKEY GAME I HAVE EVER SEEN. We had a good amount of time to view the physics of the new engine, how the puck moves, how players, fans, goalies react to gameplay.

The entire game engine was built from the ground up, the physics, the graphics, the sound, the arenas. The physics are absolutely unreal, as an example if you pass the puck up to a forward who isn’t looking back and it
hits him on the skate, the puck will bounce away, and the forward will feel the puck hit him, turn around and look to see where the puck went. Just absolutely stunning.

Not a single description of AI. Lots of hullabaloo about graphics, puck physics and the nebulus "gameplay."

Until I see a detailed breakdown of the AI, I'll believe that either these guys have no f*cking clue about hockey or are so wowed by the graphics, puck physics and control scheme that they don't care about AI.

Take care,
PK

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:14 pm

pk500 wrote:
Diablo25 wrote:Just some more info I saw. Got this at another site. Take it for what its worth.

Next Generation (NG) for XBOX 360 is just going to make hockey gamers drop their jaws. When Dave Littmann sat us down to show us what was being worked on, the room literally went wild. Mark my words - THIS IS EASILY THE BEST HOCKEY GAME I HAVE EVER SEEN. We had a good amount of time to view the physics of the new engine, how the puck moves, how players, fans, goalies react to gameplay.

The entire game engine was built from the ground up, the physics, the graphics, the sound, the arenas. The physics are absolutely unreal, as an example if you pass the puck up to a forward who isn’t looking back and it
hits him on the skate, the puck will bounce away, and the forward will feel the puck hit him, turn around and look to see where the puck went. Just absolutely stunning.
Not a single description of AI. Lots of hullabaloo about graphics, puck physics and the nebulus "gameplay."

Until I see a detailed breakdown of the AI, I'll believe that either these guys have no f*cking clue about hockey or are so wowed by the graphics, puck physics and control scheme that they don't care about AI.

Take care,
PK

I agree. Just some info.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:20 pm

Diablo:

Hey, man, I hope you didn't interpret my response as a deterrent to you posting information on NHL 07. Keep it coming, man.

I'm unbelievably picky about AI in hockey games because hockey is my favorite sport and arguably the one I know the best. So my standards are unrealistically high.

Still, I'll believe a quality EA hockey game, in terms of gameplay, when I play it. This game does sound promising, though.

Take care,
PK

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:49 pm

pk500 wrote:Diablo:

Hey, man, I hope you didn't interpret my response as a deterrent to you posting information on NHL 07. Keep it coming, man.

I'm unbelievably picky about AI in hockey games because hockey is my favorite sport and arguably the one I know the best. So my standards are unrealistically high.

Still, I'll believe a quality EA hockey game, in terms of gameplay, when I play it. This game does sound promising, though.

Take care,
PK

Its all good PK. I wasn't perturbed at all

In fact, I was thinking the same things you were when I first read it. We all just want a good hockey game (for hockey fans, not casuals) from EA...for once. GAMEPLAY, GAMEPLAY, GAMEPLAY.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:03 am

3 new videos: http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Media/ ... C8FBBF9338}

-G7

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:50 am

I am more acceptable of arcade style play in hockey games, but even i saw something on one of the video's that made me say "Uh oh." The goalie stopped a shot and smothered the puck and none of the players were anywhere near him. It was like they all anticipated the faceoff and started skating away from the net a few seconds before the ref blew the whistle.

It is so easy to take video clips out of context, but it just looked strange to me as one second there was a skirmish in front of the net and the next the goalie was all alone and the whistle had not been blown.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:30 am

Kevin...

I also noticed that....As well as more instances of guys skating away from the play/puck for no particular reason.

Obviously to early to judge, but based on history I have a hard time getting too excited about this one.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:38 am

My prediction: NHL 07 for the 360 will have a very cool control scheme that is a bit too permissive and great graphics, yet the game will be marred by AI flaws.

Then the EA NHL series will be at a crossroads directly influenced by NHL 2K7. Most hockey gamers could care less about AI and gameplay, so if NHL 2K7 is basically NHL 2K6.5 and lacks significant AI and graphics tweaks, then EA will continue on the same path with NHL 08 as it has started with NHL 07: Controls, flash, flawed gameplay.

But if NHL 2K7 is a killer game, that will force EA to refine the control scheme from NHL 07 and focus on AI for NHL 08, making NHL 08 the hockey game to have.

It's exactly why NHL 2004 was such a great game. NHL 2K3 set a new standard for gameplay depth and AI in a hockey game, blowing NHL 2003 out of the water. So EA really focused on gameplay and made a gem with NHL 2004, adding in the best momentum skating physics engine I've ever seen in a hockey game.

Just a bit of Nostradamus fun here.

Take care,
PK

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:55 am

PK....

I just can't see NHL2k7 winning over the average consumer without a complete overhaul of the graphics and presentation. NHL07 has something that NHL04 couldn't even dream of- high definition hockey.

With current gen systems, it seemed that controls and AI were prominent factors in the decision making process for the casual gamer. Now however, I don't think you can really compete without the next-gen feeling that EA looks to be dishing out.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:02 pm

Fanatic:

True. I don't own a 360, but didn't NBA 2K6 for the 360 have really nice graphics? I seem to recall that from impressions in here.

So Take Two is capable of holding its own against EA in the graphics and presentation department, I think. And it has dominated EA in gameplay in recent years except for NHL 2004.

Take care,
PK

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:21 pm

PK...

You're right, the graphics in NBA2k6 got a lot of praise and can definitely stand up to it's EA counterpart.

However, I just get the feeling that NHL2k doesn't get the same special treatment as it's basketball counterpart.

Another issue is that the EA brand here in Canada makes people nostalgic about the NHL 94 glory days and blinds them to other options that might be available.

Still though, I guess I shouldn't be too pessimistic about the 2k series putting out a pretty enough hockey game- it's just that EA has really re-built everything to the point where the differences are getting more and more signficant in terms of presentation.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:14 pm

kevinpars wrote:I am more acceptable of arcade style play in hockey games, but even i saw something on one of the video's that made me say "Uh oh." The goalie stopped a shot and smothered the puck and none of the players were anywhere near him. It was like they all anticipated the faceoff and started skating away from the net a few seconds before the ref blew the whistle.

It is so easy to take video clips out of context, but it just looked strange to me as one second there was a skirmish in front of the net and the next the goalie was all alone and the whistle had not been blown.

Yeah, but we don't know what level.. sliders.. etc..

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:29 pm

MizzouRah wrote:
kevinpars wrote:I am more acceptable of arcade style play in hockey games, but even i saw something on one of the video's that made me say "Uh oh." The goalie stopped a shot and smothered the puck and none of the players were anywhere near him. It was like they all anticipated the faceoff and started skating away from the net a few seconds before the ref blew the whistle.

It is so easy to take video clips out of context, but it just looked strange to me as one second there was a skirmish in front of the net and the next the goalie was all alone and the whistle had not been blown.
Yeah, but we don't know what level.. sliders.. etc..

offsides was OFF...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:37 pm

Hmmm, the video could have been on easy level at least that's what EA may hope us consumers to believe in order to justify the D-men standing around. If 2K7 fixes their glitches, including better offensive AI, I will probably stick with 2K again this year. I just wished that they have a system where the left analog stick controls arm movements (say holds, etc.) so that you don't have to have separate buttons. The right stick then would control your stick (hooks, high sticks, spears, etc.) for the same reason. How about a complete custom remapping of all buttons?

Hopefully they'l fix players faces and camera angle but I'll just leave those wishes for the future 2k7 thread.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:52 pm

BTW, I realized it's not Jim Hughson doing the color TV this year. Anyone knows who the two new commentators are?

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:55 pm

10spro wrote:BTW, I realized it's not Jim Hughson doing the color TV this year. Anyone knows who the two new commentators are?

thorne and clement

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:36 pm

10spro wrote:Hmmm, the video could have been on easy level at least that's what EA may hope us consumers to believe in order to justify the D-men standing around. If 2K7 fixes their glitches, including better offensive AI, I will probably stick with 2K again this year. I just wished that they have a system where the left analog stick controls arm movements (say holds, etc.) so that you don't have to have separate buttons. The right stick then would control your stick (hooks, high sticks, spears, etc.) for the same reason. How about a complete custom remapping of all buttons?

Hopefully they'l fix players faces and camera angle but I'll just leave those wishes for the future 2k7 thread.

I think you're getting way ahead of yourself here. There is still time to tweaks things I'm sure.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:36 pm

MizzouRah wrote:
10spro wrote:Hmmm, the video could have been on easy level at least that's what EA may hope us consumers to believe in order to justify the D-men standing around. If 2K7 fixes their glitches, including better offensive AI, I will probably stick with 2K again this year. I just wished that they have a system where the left analog stick controls arm movements (say holds, etc.) so that you don't have to have separate buttons. The right stick then would control your stick (hooks, high sticks, spears, etc.) for the same reason. How about a complete custom remapping of all buttons?

Hopefully they'l fix players faces and camera angle but I'll just leave those wishes for the future 2k7 thread.
I think you're getting way ahead of yourself here. There is still time to tweaks things I'm sure.

How's someone's wishes on a game considered getting way ahead ?
Wishes to improve on an already fine game and like you said since there's time, one can always hope that things can improve.