NHL 08 Impressions

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:10 pm

JRod wrote:Anyone know of any sort of fix for this. I've deleted the franchise and started over again. That hasn't helped. I don't know, it's frustrating to be forced to stop playing a game.

It's called Karma...and it cannot be fixed with sliders.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:14 pm

You can't do team online games if you're behind a router?

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:16 pm

[quote="]
Oh and P.S.
I cant believe im not in the 3on 3 click anymore cos Zep thinks i have a router.[/quote]

Dude, you're totally in the rotation. What can we do when there are 8 people who want to play? Your message was classic, too! And that you sent it to people who also weren't in the room makes it even funnier!

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:17 pm

Jimmydeicide wrote: Oh and P.S.
I cant believe im not in the 3on 3 click anymore cos Zep thinks i have a router.

Dude, you're totally in the rotation. What can we do when there are 8 people who want to play? Your message was classic, too! And that you sent it to people who also weren't in the room makes it even funnier!

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:28 pm

wco81 wrote:You can't do team online games if you're behind a router?

Not true as many of us can attest. There appears, however, to be a defect in EA's network code that makes the initial connection a dicey affair and according to the aforementioned statement from EA, the trigger condition for a connection failure can be contagious.

There is, however, a support page at EA that documents about a half-dozen port ranges that should be forwarded or otherwise confirmed open for online gaming with EA servers...

* UDP 3658 - 3659(peer- to-peer connection).

* UDP 6000 - 6001 (voice over IP).

* UDP 9555 (EA Sports Ticker).

* TCP 31400-31499 (lobby connection).

* TCP 13505 (EA Messenger).

* TCP 443 (DNAS authentication).

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:35 pm

ya PK, I'm enjoying it a heck of a lot more then i thought I would. I'm sure it may help it's my only choice this year, but I like it. The graphics are pretty ok, but then again, my machine is a few years old, so I don't mind!

My first dynatsy game against the Sharks (love their new jerseys!) I scored a beaut with Tarnstrom on the PP. Fed the puck to the point, glided in, and took a slap shot, scores! I noticed Nabby didn't really move on it, but when I checked the replay, it was because the goalie was screened by two guys, and the puck split in between them.

I think there is more smarts in this game then I thought there would be!

I also love how faster skaters are FAST. Hemsky is a cruise missle, and rarely loses the puck, yet when I take Reasoner and try to hit the speed burst, he usually coughs it up half the time.....

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:45 pm

JRod wrote:Well here's something...

I had two games one from blockbuster and another from gamefly. Both had the lock-up problems mid-game. But here's the thing, it has nothing to do with the 360. I can back out of the game to the xbox dashboard. So that means the 360 code is acutually running.

It's essentially killed the franchise mode in this game. I would be probably 10-15 games into the franchise mode.

I rarely get the problem playing exibitions. And the online problems are well documented.

Anyone know of any sort of fix for this. I've deleted the franchise and started over again. That hasn't helped. I don't know, it's frustrating to be forced to stop playing a game.

EA forums seem to suggest the "clear your cache" solution described here:

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/09/xbox- ... iscovered/

I can't endorse that though, as it appears to "un"-update all of your played games meaning you would have to endure a reload of all game updates the first time you go back to play them.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:27 pm

I confirmed tonight that the PC version allows IP-to-IP play. Fellow PC gamers, let's get it on!

P.S.: Just earned my first shootout victory, as Boston. Great deke, got goalie moving right and put a wrister in top shelf to the other side! Plus in another game, Penner scored for Anaheim (I know, EA needs to update rosters or I need to get some) on a cannon of an open slapper from the top of the circles. No screen -- just a bullet I aimed over the goalie's shoulder.

Cool!

Take care,
PK

Post by **Jared** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:46 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
JRod wrote:Anyone know of any sort of fix for this. I've deleted the franchise and started over again. That hasn't helped. I don't know, it's frustrating to be forced to stop playing a game.
It's called Karma...and it cannot be fixed with sliders.

Keep up with the constant, unnecessary sarcasm directed to a few specific posters and you too will begin dealing with Karma.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:04 am

pk500 wrote:I confirmed tonight that the PC version allows IP-to-IP play. Fellow PC gamers, let's get it on! Take care, PK

Now you're really tempting me, PK.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:47 am

Jared wrote:Keep up with the constant, unnecessary sarcasm directed to a few specific posters and you too will begin dealing with Karma.

Oh trust me, I already have. There isn't an ignore function (much to everyone's dismay I'm sure).

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:14 am

pk500 wrote:I confirmed tonight that the PC version allows IP-to-IP play. Fellow PC gamers, let's get it on!

P.S.: Just earned my first shootout victory, as Boston. Great deke, got goalie moving right and put a wrister in top shelf to the other side! Plus in another game, Penner scored for Anaheim (I know, EA needs to update rosters or I need to get some) on a cannon of an open slapper from the top of the circles. No screen -- just a bullet I aimed over the goalie's shoulder.

Cool!

Take care,
PK

Sweet!! I will be around tonight, probably get my skates on about 10pm est. You can PM me with your MSN if your on that.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:04 am

Kick:

Sorry, man, I was on the phone last night with a buddy of mine for a long time. Plus I don't use MSN -- I use YIM and AIM. Maybe I'll get an MSN account just to hit the IM'ing trifecta.

Take care,
PK

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:10 am

Jimmydeicide wrote:Well funny thing is everything that was great and organic in 07 360 is rendered pretty much useless now because of the way they want you to play this game now , im so pissed at them for messing this up i cant believe anyone will still find it fun after 30/40 games of the same sit back and wait for your defense to leave a guy open 1 timer fest. I have had some realy fun and great games but most of the time its the same excercise in frustration its to 1 dimesional now. and double

I'm still leaving plenty of room for 'I just suck,' but I am sort of beginning to feel the same way, Jimmy.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:18 am

I'm not seeing this at all. The AI scores on me in all kinds of ways.
Sure...if you leave a guy alone in the slot, they will feed him for a 1-timer/goal. That's what would happen in a real game. But that's why you have to play defense! Just learn how to play the game like real hockey.

Jimmydeicide wrote:Well funny thing is everything that was great and organic in 07 360 is rendered pretty much useless now because of the way they want you to play this game now , im so pissed at them for messing this up i cant believe anyone will still find it fun after 30/40 games of the same sit back and wait for your defense to leave a guy open 1 timer fest. I have had some realy fun and great games but most of the time its the same excercise in frustration its to 1 dimesional now. and double

Oh and P.S.
I cant believe im not in the 3on 3 click anymore cos Zep thinks i have a router.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:26 am

Yeah, I'm with Jack on this one. You need to force the play to the outside to have success on defense and stop the one-timers. I think the AI averages 5-6 one-timer attempts on me per game and I don't think that's too much at all. The more I've tried to enjoy 2k8 the more I realize how this game nailed hockey way better than 2k did.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:27 am

I've played far more than 30 games so far and don't have those complaints, but to each his own. Not to mention, as an online game, it's far and away #1 for me in terms of fun factor. I typically switch to a defenseman early, though, and manually shove around the guy in the slot and rarely do they ever get freebie one timers.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:28 am

ScoopBrady wrote:Yeah, I'm with Jack on this one. You need to force the play to the outside to have success on defense and stop the one-timers. I think the AI averages 5-6 one-timer attempts on me per game and I don't think that's too much at all. The more I've tried to enjoy 2k8 the more I realize how this game nailed hockey way better than 2k did.

I would have tried 2K8 if it weren't for the wonky control scheme. But i'm very satisfied with the way NHL 08 plays.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:43 am

I agree that it is a lot of fun multiplayer for sure.

Scoop, Jack, I don't disagree with you, but that is kinda what I am saying: you have to play defense a certain way against the CPU each time. The CPU AI almost always comes down looking for a one timer, so you always have to play defense by setting up to block the one timer. On defense, I feel like I am always reacting to the same thing the same way each time the CPU brings the puck down the ice. It's very samey, and like Jimmy said, less organic feeling.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:52 am

pk500 wrote:Kick:

Sorry, man, I was on the phone last night with a buddy of mine for a long time. Plus I don't use MSN -- I use YIM and AIM. Maybe I'll get an MSN account just to hit the IM'ing trifecta.

Take care,
PK

MSN & Yahoo play nice together. I PM'd you my email.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:16 am

webdanzer wrote:I agree that it is a lot of fun multiplayer for sure.

Scoop, Jack, I don't disagree with you, but that is kinda what I am saying: you have to play defense a certain way against the CPU each time. The CPU AI almost always comes down looking for a one timer, so you always have to play defense by setting up to block the one timer. On defense, I feel like I am always reacting to the same thing the same way each time the CPU brings the puck down the ice. It's very samey, and like Jimmy said, less organic feeling.

I disagree here though because teams play different styles of offense and I find myself having to adjust to that style. Unfortunately the variety isn't what it could be since there are basically only 3 styles of offensive play but there is a noticeable difference between playing a team like the Redwings and a team like the Coyotes.

I also think people are mistaking passes to the slot followed by a quick wrister as a one-timer. That is not a one-timer.

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:21 am

Without reading through all the posts, how different is 07 vs 08? I am thinking of picking up 07 for the cheap just to tie me over.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:24 am

ScoopBrady wrote: Unfortunately the variety isn't what it could be since there are basically only 3 styles of offensive play but there is a noticeable difference between playing a team like the Redwings and a team like the Coyotes.

What is the difference that you are seeing? What are you seeing the AI do other than almost always looking for the quick wrister or one-timer to the slot?

Dump and chase? I only see the CPU try that a handful of times each game.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:42 am

WillHunting wrote:Without reading through all the posts, how different is 07 vs 08? I am thinking of picking up 07 for the cheap just to tie me over.

I don't play too much offline v. CPU, but to me 08 is a massive improvement overall compared to 07, really a huge leap. The first big thing is the frame rate, which is now very smooth, and the skating engine, which is much, much better. In 08, when you are without the puck, like say when defending, you have much, much better control over your man's position and his momentum than was the case in 07; you can move him a little bit one way or the other, you can stop where you want to, and so on. This is all a HUGE upgrade over 07.

There are some things where I agree with Jimmy that they screwed up 08 compared to 07 (can't seem to think of them right now), but those are heavily overwhelmed by the things they made much better.

Also, you now have the AHL teams, and can play their games in the franchise mode. Plus, you have the Swedish league and the Finnish league, and though I'm very disappointed you can't do a season mode in those leagues, just having them around is a huge improvement. Not to mention how well they nailed the goalie mode.

And the biggest difference for me is online team play. This is a feature I've been frustrated to have to wait for since we were given a taste of it with XSN's NHL Rivals, and I can't get enough. Every sports game is better when you play two on two, so being able to play that way online is HUGE. NHL08, when it works and you can get into the actual game, works flawlessly two on two or three on three: it is smooth and lag- and stutter-free, and is more fun, for me, than any other game I have, period.

I haven't played 07 in a while, but I'd think at this stage it would feel like a very rudimentary first try compared to the much more complete and polished 08. Remember, with 07 many of us preferred it to the smoother, more complete 2K game despite all of 07's evident flaws, simply because of the freshness and fun-factor of the R-stick controls. With this version, it's not nearly as much a case of overlooking a bunch of problems because of one or two extraordinarily good gameplay features.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:51 am

WillHunting wrote:Without reading through all the posts, how different is 07 vs 08? I am thinking of picking up 07 for the cheap just to tie me over.

I agree with Zeppo, but for me it's pretty simple. The AI improvements and MASSIVELY better skating engine transform 07--a game I just couldn't get into. 08 also has the improved frame rate, and things like AHL, online multiplayer, and goalie mode to put it over the top.