NHL 08 Impressions

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:11 pm

pk500 wrote:It was different two or three years ago, where I was one of the critics.

I have noticed a change during that period. You made me feel so guilty about recommending one of the NHL titles a few years ago (the one where you made a return trip to pickup) that I considered mailing you a refund check!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:17 pm

Leebo:

There's no question that gaming has been de-emphasized in my life in the last year I had an Xbox, as guys migrated to the 360, and definitely in the last year, since I've moved exclusively to the PC.

It feels like gaming is in its proper perspective now, and I'm not chasing the bankrolls and Gamefly lists of everyone here, trying to stay on top of the hottest and newest games and staying in the current XBL rotation.

A lot more chilled, a lot more relaxing now. I'm having a ball.

Now, wasn't this an NHL 08 thread? Sorry.

Take care,
PK

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:41 pm

I don't think people are necessarily looking for flaws.

Other than perhaps in the sense that EA has made people skeptical about how they put flash instead of realism into their games.

So if you see something that doesn't seem right, you could pretend you didn't see it and just try to ignore.

But that's pretty hard to do depending on one's personality.

Also, with games being more expensive, people are going to look at games with more of a microscope, see if they're getting good value.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:43 pm

pk500 wrote:
JRod wrote:I strongly disagree with that. I think the more you play a game the more the issues come to the front.
Yeah, but are you playing the game more to find more issues or to have a good time with it? What's the priority? I sometimes wonder with you, John.
PK

Like hell, I do. I don't put in a game and go let's see what I can find and then post on the boards.

The problem here is talking about the issues is treated as hardcore, or you don't like the game. How about a sports game being compared to the essence of the game it's trying to emulate. Notice I said essence not get everything in the game right.

WE gets the essense of soccer. I could write probably a 10 paragragh post on the things it doesn't get right. MVP is another game that got baseball right. I didn't get into MLB The Show but people seem to love that.

And this board is no different from all your own private lives. A friend of mine and I have heated discussions on the value of one Jake Plummer and the Denver Broncos. I think he's an idoit for ever thinking he's a great QB. He thinks we would have made the playoffs and I don't know anything about football. Yet, we don't say, I can't be friends with you because your view on Jake. We move on, have a beer and talk about tits.

We have a good community here but for whatever reason we all go apeshit when sports games are released and we have 27,000 different opinions on them. That my friends is a forum about sports games. What the hell else are we going to post about?

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:06 pm

JRod wrote: We have a good community here but for whatever reason we all go apeshit when sports games are released and we have 27,000 different opinions on them. That my friends is a forum about sports games. What the hell else are we going to post about?

You know, we haven't had a thread about taking a sh*t for a good while...

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:06 pm

JROD, I could care less what you post about as long as your fantasy EPL team suck it up!

Anyway, thanks for all the impressions....good and bad. I wouldn't want them any other way.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:08 pm

wco81 wrote:Also, with games being more expensive, people are going to look at games with more of a microscope, see if they're getting good value.

Of course it's more negative around here. Look, it's human nature, first of all. People call into radio shows, send letters to the editor and write their Congressman when they're pissed, not when things are super duper.

"Senator...just wanted to say...awesome job!"

People are almost always more motivated to write stuff when they're upset, frustrated or otherwise not happy about something. Now, when you combine that with the old fogey legions that post HERE, who have played nearly every sports game on the market year after year after year--eventually this is going to lead to more negative comments because the thrill factor wears off faster every season for most of us. Again I think this is a natural thing.

It's not like going from Half-Life to Half-Life 2. Sports games take baby steps, usually, every season; I mean if NHL 08 or Madden where the first hockey and football games ever made, I think the comments here would be vastly different. But they aren't. I don't think it's about nit-picking as much as it is about apathy.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:11 pm

wco81 wrote:
Also, with games being more expensive, people are going to look at games with more of a microscope, see if they're getting good value.

That sums it up for me perfectly. I've gotten a lot more picky with the games I buy. If a game appears to be average I either rent it or wait for a Platinum Hits discount.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:11 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:
wco81 wrote:Also, with games being more expensive, people are going to look at games with more of a microscope, see if they're getting good value.
People are almost always more motivated to write stuff when they're upset, frustrated or otherwise not happy about something.

Being that I work in the service industry, the ratio is when people have a negative experience, 5 - 9 that they will tell someone about it If they have a pleasant experience, the ratio goes to 2 - 9 that they will tell someone about their experience.

So. positive results are doubled by negative results. Which is why I understand when people say, "Misery loves company".

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:30 pm

Rodster wrote:
wco81 wrote:
Also, with games being more expensive, people are going to look at games with more of a microscope, see if they're getting good value.
That sums it up for me perfectly. I've gotten a lot more picky with the games I buy. If a game appears to be average I either rent it or wait for a Platinum Hits discount.

And lets not forget next gen has been far from stella sportswise so far only now are we getting full games. Yeh come to think of it , Bollocks too them 60 bucks for this s*** ,burn 'em, whos with me ?AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:16 pm

EZSnappin wrote:
JRod wrote: We have a good community here but for whatever reason we all go apeshit when sports games are released and we have 27,000 different opinions on them. That my friends is a forum about sports games. What the hell else are we going to post about?
You know, we haven't had a thread about taking a sh*t for a good while...

Now that's funny, E! Where's GROG?

Hope your hands and wrists are on the mend, man.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:18 pm

wco81 wrote:Also, with games being more expensive, people are going to look at games with more of a microscope, see if they're getting good value.

Fair enough. Maybe I'm less picky now that I'm gaming on the PC because choices are more limited and for other obvious reasons ...

Plus the mod community in PC gaming can take a piece of dogsh*t and put a hell of a shine on it. It also can take a good game and make it great.

Take care,
PK

Post by **Jared** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:25 pm

It seems like I'm always out of town whenever there is a "criticizing games" flareup...

Anyways, my two cents on this thread is that it's actually pretty positive. I had no desire to get NHL 08, but ended up buying it because of the positive feedback from everyone here. Now I have a game that (while it isn't perfect) is very enjoyable.

As for being picky about games...I think as there are things that a sports game needs to get right regarding realism. For example, you don't want a sports game where everyone bats .500 or .100, you want a football game without money plays, etc. I find that realism is really important. Not pre-scripted realism where Ichiro hits .350 regardless of what you do, but realism such that if you have a "good" game you'll play within a player's average ability, a great game will take you realistically to the player's limits, and a crappy game will take you to the lower end of that range. Same thing goes with AI...you want something challenging yet realistic (e.g. no DBs with eyes in the back of their heads in NCAA).

Also, I really think that the games with the most posts tend to be ones with a lot positive going for them. People aren't going to post 300 times on the pros/cons of NBA Live 07...the game sucked, everyone saw that it sucked, and that was it. But when you have a game that gets LOTS of things right, but still has issues (even small ones), it's natural to want to point them out. I've got a ton of notes (that I'll one day post) on problems with NCAA 08. The point isn't to be nitpicky, or to take away someone's enjoyment. Instead, it's to point these flaws out so that hopefully, some developer sees it, fixes it, and takes a good gaming experience and makes it great.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:50 pm

Jared wrote:It seems like I'm always out of town whenever there is a "criticizing games" flareup...

Anyways, my two cents on this thread is that it's actually pretty positive. I had no desire to get NHL 08, but ended up buying it because of the positive feedback from everyone here. Now I have a game that (while it isn't perfect) is very enjoyable.

As for being picky about games...I think as there are things that a sports game needs to get right regarding realism. For example, you don't want a sports game where everyone bats .500 or .100, you want a football game without money plays, etc. I find that realism is really important. Not pre-scripted realism where Ichiro hits .350 regardless of what you do, but realism such that if you have a "good" game you'll play within a player's average ability, a great game will take you realistically to the player's limits, and a crappy game will take you to the lower end of that range. Same thing goes with AI...you want something challenging yet realistic (e.g. no DBs with eyes in the back of their heads in NCAA).

Also, I really think that the games with the most posts tend to be ones with a lot positive going for them. People aren't going to post 300 times on the pros/cons of NBA Live 07...the game sucked, everyone saw that it sucked, and that was it. But when you have a game that gets LOTS of things right, but still has issues (even small ones), it's natural to want to point them out. I've got a ton of notes (that I'll one day post) on problems with NCAA 08. The point isn't to be nitpicky, or to take away someone's enjoyment. Instead, it's to point these flaws out so that hopefully, some developer sees it, fixes it, and takes a good gaming experience and makes it great.

Now I know why you are the site admin. Great post Jared!

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:54 pm

Just an FYI fellas. I don't know if it's been mentioned but there's a roster update. I don't know if it's a placebo thing but I got waxed 4-0 in Pro after the update.

The AI was more aggressive taking more shots from the point. They were hitting more.

I'll have to play again but maybe EA tweaked the AI like they did with the NHL 07 rosters.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:28 am

Rodster wrote:Just an FYI fellas. I don't know if it's been mentioned but there's a roster update. I don't know if it's a placebo thing but I got waxed 4-0 in Pro after the update. The AI was more aggressive taking more shots from the point. They were hitting more.

I'll have to play again but maybe EA tweaked the AI like they did with the NHL 07 rosters.

That would be great. Then I won't feel like everytime I cross the blueline, I will have to play it as a powerplay.

Oh sorry, thats on defense. I'll fire it up later and see. Hopefully they patched that buggy online glitch that has me only participating in 5 of 250 Online Team Play events.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:39 am

FYI: I didn't see this posted so...

Reebok Edge NHL jersey key = h3oyxpwksf8ibcgt
This code unlocks all of the 07-08 jerseys.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:56 am

Diablo25 wrote:FYI: I didn't see this posted so...

Reebok Edge NHL jersey key = h3oyxpwksf8ibcgt
This code unlocks all of the 07-08 jerseys.

Thanks for reminding me. After the roster update the Panters have their updated away jerseys.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:59 am

By the way, I'm getting more and more freezes with the 360 version

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:24 pm

Yeah, I find I have far less patience with deficiencies in next-gen games, in part because of the price and in part because there seems to be a rather alarming trend among developers to consider more and more issues "acceptable." Adding to this frustration is the fact that we're going on several years of the same sort of problems and the fact that the last-gen titles in many of the series offer much better gameplay and deeper features. Madden, NCAA, FIFA, and TW are all cases in point.

But with NHL 08, I don't get the feeling of being made to bend over in a back alley after forking over my $60 like I get with most other EA titles. Sure it has flaws, but it plays a fun and very close approximation of the real game. It fixes the major issues with last-year's fine, but flawed, start. Two weeks in, I still find myself wanting to play again. I can't honestly say that about any other next-gen EA game in the past two years.

Along with MLB 07, my pick for sports game of the year.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 1:30 pm

Diablo25 wrote:By the way, I'm getting more and more freezes with the 360 version

Ya, I mentioned my dynasty freezes earlier. I have started saving my dynasty after every game I play, backing out to main menu, then re-loading dynasty. No freezes since then (holding my breath...)

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:43 pm

I am very satidsfied with this year's game. Multiplayer is a pisser with fellow DSPers and playing against the AI is also enjoyable. My only issue is that Pro is too easy and All Star wips my butt. I wish there was a lvel in between. I guess I can try adjusting the sliders to make Pro harder or
Allstar more forgiving.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:46 pm

Rodster wrote:Just an FYI fellas. I don't know if it's been mentioned but there's a roster update. I don't know if it's a placebo thing but I got waxed 4-0 in Pro after the update. The AI was more aggressive taking more shots from the point. They were hitting more.

I'll have to play again but maybe EA tweaked the AI like they did with the NHL 07 rosters.

Where the hell is this roster update and how do i get it? I looked everywhere in the game last night the option to DL new rosters and couldn't find anything. Is this update for the 360 version?

I'm having the same problem with Madden...can't find a roster download option to save my life.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:46 pm

Rodster wrote:Just an FYI fellas. I don't know if it's been mentioned but there's a roster update. I don't know if it's a placebo thing but I got waxed 4-0 in Pro after the update. The AI was more aggressive taking more shots from the point. They were hitting more.

I'll have to play again but maybe EA tweaked the AI like they did with the NHL 07 rosters.

Sorry, double post

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:02 pm

Diablo25 wrote:
Rodster wrote:Just an FYI fellas. I don't know if it's been mentioned but there's a roster update. I don't know if it's a placebo thing but I got waxed 4-0 in Pro after the update. The AI was more aggressive taking more shots from the point. They were hitting more.

I'll have to play again but maybe EA tweaked the AI like they did with the NHL 07 rosters.
Where the hell is this roster update and how do i get it? I looked everywhere in the game last night the option to DL new rosters and couldn't find anything. Is this update for the 360 version?

I'm having the same problem with Madden...can't find a roster download option to save my life.

You need to go to NHL 08 online. Setup a custom match, then you'll be notified there's a roster update before you can play your online match. Once the roster update downloads it will prompt you to save the roster update. I think Madden is the same way.