NHL 15

[XXXIV]

Thats all thats missing?

I thought ramjagoff said he was revolutionizing the genre?

I guess the genre he was referring to was failure.

Putting aside his lying and his cowardice what do we have left? His/her incompetence. Nicee.

Epic f***in failure this asshole is.

[GameSeven]

I'm not going to tell EA what their business model should be, but they should seriously consider a cross-buy for this game.

As it stands, this will probably be the first NHL game that I won't buy on or around launch in 20 years. And that's not an indictment of the actual *game* product on next-gen as I enjoyed the demo and see it as a major step forward in presentation (notwithstanding growing pains in the commentary department) and the physics/gameplay aspect. It's just knowing that 95% of my gameplay over the last four years has been in, now, unsupported modes. And justifying a purchase of last-gen's game as a glorified roster update is unappetizing as well.

So, if they did a digital cross-buy at $60 tied to your account to prevent, say, splitting of keys/copies of the games with a partner, I'd probably bite on day 1. As it stands, I feel like I'm twisting in the wind a bit.

[Inuyasha]

I'll buy this game closer to the season. Or I'll buy it used off some poor soul who thought he was purchasing a complete game. EA should be ashamed for putting out a half baked game.

Here's what is missing:

Features and Modes
No GM Connected
No Online Team Play (when this is patched into the game later this year, it will use real NHL players and teams)
No EA Sports Hockey League
No EA Sports Arena
No Online Shootouts
No Live the Life
No Be A Legend
No Winter Classic
No tournaments or Battle for the Cup
No season mode (you can only play seasons in Be A GM, which is limited to NHL teams)
No NHL 94 Anniversary mode
No custom music support
No create-a-play designer
Cannot customize each team's AI
No create-a-team
No way to edit individual players
Practice mode is now limited to one skater vs. an AI goalie

Gameplay
No custom camera option
No Action Tracker replay highlights
No Top 3 Stars at the end of games.

Be A GM
Yearly draft is fully automated by the CPU
Cannot play the AHL games for your chosen franchise
Players sent down to the minors do not accumulate any season stats
No fantasy draft option
No preseason games
Be A Pro
No option to sim ahead to the next shift
You only play in the NHL; you cannot play for minor league teams
The Memorial Cup tryout period is gone. You now begin by picking an NHL team, or by letting a random CPU team draft you.
No All-Star game

Ultimate Team
Cannot play against your friends
No tournaments
No mobile app
All of the above features were available last year in NHL 14 for the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 but appear to be missing this year on the new-generation of consoles. If you have NHL 15 early access and have noticed any of these are actually in the game or if anything additional is missing let us know in the comments below.

Here is their plan. 1/3 of this list will be 'new features' for NHL 16. Then they'll take another third for the list for 'new features' for NHL 17. Then the final third as 'new features' for NHL 17. They've always done it like this. Surprised people are finally catching up now.

And there's no other NHL game out, so they can do this and get away with it.

[XXXIV]

my plan is to stick my foot up ramjagoffs lazy and worthless c***.

[GameSeven]

Here is their plan. 1/3 of this list will be 'new features' for NHL 16. Then they'll take another third for the list for 'new features' for NHL 17. Then the final third as 'new features' for NHL 17. They've always done it like this. Surprised people are finally catching up now.

That's just not true. IIRC, Madden 25 and FIFA 14 managed to launch with largely intact features and modes, and with better gameplay to boot.

What's happened here with NHL is cutting the feature set to bare bones by comparison. For god's sake, NHL Rivals had 5 on 5 net play in 2003 (!) and EA decides not to emphasize this feature in its next-gen offering?!

[XXXIV]

Here is their plan. 1/3 of this list will be 'new features' for NHL 16. Then they'll take another third for the list for 'new features' for NHL 17. Then the final third as 'new features' for NHL 17. They've always done it like this. Surprised people are finally catching up now.

That's just not true. IIRC, Madden 25 and FIFA 14 managed to launch with largely intact features and modes, and with better gameplay to boot.

What's happened here with NHL is cutting the feature set to bare bones by comparison. For god's sake, NHL Rivals had 5 on 5 net play in 2003 (!) and EA decides not to emphasize this feature in its next-gen offering?!

Incompetence? laziness? or just a f*** you we dont care?

Anyway you slice it these assholes deserve a beating.

[Rodster]

Here is their plan. 1/3 of this list will be 'new features' for NHL 16. Then they'll take another third for the list for 'new features' for NHL 17. Then the final third as 'new features' for NHL 17. They've always done it like this. Surprised people are finally catching up now.

That's just not true. IIRC, Madden 25 and FIFA 14 managed to launch with largely intact features and modes, and with better gameplay to boot.

What's happened here with NHL is cutting the feature set to bare bones by comparison. For god's sake, NHL Rivals had 5 on 5 net play in 2003 (!) and EA decides not to emphasize this feature in its next-gen offering?!

IMO, I wouldn't be surprised that Rammer doesn't know what he's doing or is LOST on the new consoles. So instead of understanding what needed to be done correctly, they deleted a bunch of stuff just to get the core game out the door. As far as the last gen consoles that was just a mail in effort which is typical for EA. They made FIFA for the PS Vita. They released FIFA 13 which was FIFA with roster updates, FIFA 14 was the same as FIFA 13 and FIFA with newer rosters. FIFA 15 is the same game again with newer rosters.

EA has a knack for just mailing sh*t in and expecting people to buy it. I'm surprised FIFA on the newer consoles and Madden 15 is actually decent.

[Aristo]

I'm as annoyed as anyone about the state of the game EA released, but those lists are kind of bullshit. Many of the items weren't in NHL 14, were never assumed to be in NHL 15. Some of the stuff, like GM Connected, were broken, never used and they needed to replace them with something.

Basically, that list, that grows every time someone sees it, it used to prop up gamer rage, but it doesn't really address what was actually happening.

But at this point, the game should have been released for $30-$40, and the team should have been way more upfront about how far along they were in development. They have far less money and resources tan the Madden team, and ask turned out, less time to get a next gen release ready. NHL 15 should have been basically what Madden 25 was on next gen. People might not have liked it, but it wouldn't be such an empty shell of a game.

[Aristo]

I fully expected NHL 15 on the PS3 and 360 to be ports of NHL 14. That's exactly what Madden 15 is, too. That just makes sense.

And yeah, Rammer got in way over his head, and they spent a ton of time on physics and graphics, and really made a game that plays fantastic. But they just ran out of time. It does sound like OTP will be in sooner than later, since he apparently thought they were close to getting in for the release. But who knows, really?

The worst part, I can already start writing the posts for next year by the same gamers. Then it will be a rage that the new features are just things EA took out. Rinse, repeat.

But yeah, the NHL team fumbled the next gen release in a pretty big way. It's not a $60 game because it lacks what full priced AAA sports games have.

[Inuyasha]

I may just play the NHL Demo for my hockey fix this year.

The game isn't going to ever go half price retail unless it's a BF deal. The most it will go down is $20 retail.

And how come no RIP JOAN RIVERS post by any of you people.....geez.........

[Diablo25]

The game does play well...I will say that.

[Inuyasha]

The game does play well...I will say that.

Here's the thing. You're right. I enjoy playing the game on ice. I think the gameplay is plain fun. Dilemma.

[10spro]

The game does play well...I will say that.

Oh no doubt, my beef was never about the gameplay, I am even enjoying the commentary. But the least they could have done was to port the 14 version to the new consoles as they dud with Madden, instead of stripping off some key modes. No doubt you would have found some unhappy b!tching too but not to the extent we all face now.

[Inuyasha]

well i preordered it. I know i'll be getting it release day anyway, why hem and haw. got the amazon regular deal where u get 15 bucks of HUT. I've already bought many unfinished EA titles on launch the last 10 some years, why stop now right

[MizzouRah]

The game does play well...I will say that.

I agree. Had my neighbor over last night who has an x360 and we played a game against each other on hardcore, 8 min periods, penalties all the way up and it was a fantastic game of hockey.

He beat me in the shootout (Blues vs Blackhawks) and after the game he said it was the greatest game of hockey he's ever played. I have a feeling he'll have an xb1 in the next week or two.

[Diablo25]

The game does play well...I will say that.

I agree. Had my neighbor over last night who has an x360 and we played a game against each other on hardcore, 8 min periods, penalties all the way up and it was a fantastic game of hockey.

He beat me in the shootout (Blues vs Blackhawks) and after the game he said it was the greatest game of hockey he's ever played. I have a feeling he'll have an xb1 in the next week or two.

Yep, hardcore is the way to go. I had a war against the Rangers (while the game was installing). I made great use of the Kings speed and kept cycling and dumping and chasing. The skating seems better to me. I found myself able to control skating backwards better. Graphically it seems better than the demo also. Damn shame it's missing key modes because it plays an awesome game of hockey.

[TCrouch]

I think that's the problem they find themselves in. Every year with Madden or any other title, they're accused of not fixing the core issues. When I've played a few games of NHL this year, I think they 100% poured their sweat into the core gameplay. When they do that, they cut a MASSIVE amount of modes, which naturally has people bent. Me? I don't really care, because all I do is offline GM or the occasional vs. game with a buddy when he comes over and we drink beer and play hockey until 4AM sometimes.

But it sucks that they can't find a middle ground. It plays exceptionally well in the few games I've tried, but it's taking a bashing like no other game in EA Sports history that I remember. In future years when we get the same rehashed gameplay with the same problems for years, we'll be able to trace it back to this little experiment.

Probably EA saying "sure, we'll give them a gameplay overhaul. We'll try it with our lowest-selling title as an experiment and see how it works. If it fails, we'll stick with bullet-point-on-the-back-of-the-box features we can sell as yearly upgrades instead".

[Aristo]

Beaten to the punch by Terry, but i agree.

At the risk of defending EA, one thing most serious gamers want is for developers to nail down gameplay before worrying about other features. That doesn't mean the game doesn't suffer because it is lacking many modes of play and features that should be in any sports game. But the gameplay means that months down the road, I bet there are still a lot of folks playing the game.

Hopefully they get OTP going sooner than later.

[sportdan30]

I agree with you two. I only play offline season mode. In this case, I presume I can play through offline GM, but my concern is that the game price is going to drop fast, and I'll feel like I got jobbed for paying full price.

[Aristo]

When did NBA Live finally drop in price? I feel like it hung on to full price for longer than I would have thought. EA seems to hold on to their game prices on sports games. I was always surprised to see how long the digital,versions remained $60.

[Naples39]

I agree with Terry, as I posted one page back. It's so easy to pile on EA--OMG WORST COMPANY EVAR--but this release flips the script that EA neglects core gameplay to pile on modes and back-of-the-box features.

No doubt it is disappointing to see modes removed, but it's clear that's largely due to the console jump. Personally, given that it's clear that trade offs had to be made and it wasn't going to be perfect in year one of next gen, I would rather have this game with completely revamped gameplay and barebones modes, than a fully featured game that is just NHL 14 360/PS3 gameplay with better graphics.

I do wish there was some way to track some of the more hysterical posters around the net complaining about this release, then throw it back on their face 2 years from now when the complaints will undoubtedly be how EA is neglecting gameplay to throw mostly useless spare gameplay modes at us this year.

The best and most honest thing EA could've done was just be more open a few months ago that features would be removed, rather than trying to hide disappointing news as close to release as possible. But that's not the nature of most complaints most are making anyway...

[dbdynsty25]

I think that's the problem they find themselves in. Every year with Madden or any other title, they're accused of not fixing the core issues. When I've played a few games of NHL this year, I think they 100% poured their sweat into the core gameplay. When they do that, they cut a MASSIVE amount of modes, which naturally has people bent. Me? I don't really care, because all I do is offline GM or the occasional vs. game with a buddy when he comes over and we drink beer and play hockey until 4AM sometimes.

Exactly my thoughts. Which is why I'll def. be getting the game via Gamefly rental > purchase for around 35 bucks after I use my reward bucks...but still...as long as the game is great on the ice, I'll figure out a mode or two to play. I do feel bad for the guys who got modes ripped out that they love...that has to feel like a kick in the nuts.

[XXXIV]

I do feel bad for the guys who got modes ripped out that they love...that has to feel like a kick in the nuts.

I only play one mode. The game is dead to me.

FIFA had all the modes A YEAR AGO.

[MizzouRah]

BeaGM looks more streamlined.. and full player stats. At least we can sign/resign players and trade..



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8or_v1 ... LhDQw#t=26

[Aristo]

I'm downloading the 360 Season Ticket version now. I know it is just going to be NHL 14+, but I'm curious about the modes. I'm wondering about what they left in versus removed because of the next Gen version. If it still does EASHL and the other stuff, it really might be the game worth buying for a lot of folks.