NHL 09 First Look
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sportdan30
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sportdan30
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Found this on the EA Website:
NHL 09 Blog: David Littman
Posted 10.29.2008
Hi there, David Littman here.
We are in the process of putting the patches up for both the X360 and
the PS3.
PS3 Europe has already gone up, and PS3 North America and both X360
patches should be up within the next week or two.
First and foremost we have fixed the "dirty disc" message issue that
some people are seeing on the X360.
For the PS3, we have fixed the issue where there are sometimes white
flashes or flickers during gameplay.
So, if you have seen one of the above, you will be happy to know they
are fixed with the patch.
For most people though...the important fixes are in gameplay.
We have listened to all of you, and we have played the game ourselves
every day. While we couldn't make every fix that you asked for because
of time constraints, we did fix most of the big issues, and also
improved gameplay to be more authentic.
* The jersey on the EASHL side select screen is more visible than
the team logo. This will make it easier for people to see when jersey
colors clash
* Deking controls normal when shooting downscreen with "Always Up"
controls
* Checking has been tuned so you will see less big hits from guys
that aren't traditionally known for hitting
* Less CPU AI one-timers
* Increased the height of dump ins, for a better dump and chase
game.
* No more goals from flip dumps
* Better CPU AI logic near offensive blueline so they don't go
off-sides as much
* CPU goalie will not drag the puck back toward himself in a
shootout
* We have fixed the goals from outside shots that people are
scoring. We have reduced shot accuracy when on the rush and when turning
quickly, and from far out. You will now have to be more conservative
when shooting on the rush. If you aim all the way to the left or right,
your shot will go wide a lot more. Try aiming more towards the middle to
hit the net from outside. This fixes the cross goal where you shoot back
the other way, and the goal that goes in with the "curve" animation, and
a few others. There's a reason NHL players don't shoot from outside on
the rush very often. Dumping or trying to set up is a better play unless
you have an odd-man situation.
* We reduced the time it took to get control of the goalie by 1/3.
* When line changes are set to auto, and a user changes
lines/defense manually between whistles, the line/defensive pair you
asked for will come out (or stay out).
* If you have line changes off in Be a Pro, line change player
chatter will be turned off.
* When using a defenseman in BAP, BAP player won't get stuck on
the bench and will be able to call for change
* The EASHL will now go to continuous 5v5 overtime until one team
scores. This way nobody has to sit out, and you get to decide who wins
(this is now just like the NHL Play-offs)
* The proper own-goal cut scene will be shown where the player who
scored on himself is upset.
* All cut scenes should now show players sitting in their
respective team's bench.
* Increase AI team aggressiveness and the likelihood of them
getting called for a penalty on an infraction.
* If Vision Control is pressed, you do not throw a hit when in
front of the attacking net. This helps with rebound shots.
* Increase the likelihood of a penalty if the stick hits the body
during a stick lift.
* Reduce the accuracy of shots for penalty shots and shootouts.
Aiming for just inside the post is a lot tougher now
Along with these changes we are still working on the server side of
things to make sure that the EASHL and online play is always improving.
Keep checking our website for more information on the EASHL play-offs.
Thanks
-David Littman
NHL 09 Blog: David Littman
Posted 10.29.2008
Hi there, David Littman here.
We are in the process of putting the patches up for both the X360 and
the PS3.
PS3 Europe has already gone up, and PS3 North America and both X360
patches should be up within the next week or two.
First and foremost we have fixed the "dirty disc" message issue that
some people are seeing on the X360.
For the PS3, we have fixed the issue where there are sometimes white
flashes or flickers during gameplay.
So, if you have seen one of the above, you will be happy to know they
are fixed with the patch.
For most people though...the important fixes are in gameplay.
We have listened to all of you, and we have played the game ourselves
every day. While we couldn't make every fix that you asked for because
of time constraints, we did fix most of the big issues, and also
improved gameplay to be more authentic.
* The jersey on the EASHL side select screen is more visible than
the team logo. This will make it easier for people to see when jersey
colors clash
* Deking controls normal when shooting downscreen with "Always Up"
controls
* Checking has been tuned so you will see less big hits from guys
that aren't traditionally known for hitting
* Less CPU AI one-timers
* Increased the height of dump ins, for a better dump and chase
game.
* No more goals from flip dumps
* Better CPU AI logic near offensive blueline so they don't go
off-sides as much
* CPU goalie will not drag the puck back toward himself in a
shootout
* We have fixed the goals from outside shots that people are
scoring. We have reduced shot accuracy when on the rush and when turning
quickly, and from far out. You will now have to be more conservative
when shooting on the rush. If you aim all the way to the left or right,
your shot will go wide a lot more. Try aiming more towards the middle to
hit the net from outside. This fixes the cross goal where you shoot back
the other way, and the goal that goes in with the "curve" animation, and
a few others. There's a reason NHL players don't shoot from outside on
the rush very often. Dumping or trying to set up is a better play unless
you have an odd-man situation.
* We reduced the time it took to get control of the goalie by 1/3.
* When line changes are set to auto, and a user changes
lines/defense manually between whistles, the line/defensive pair you
asked for will come out (or stay out).
* If you have line changes off in Be a Pro, line change player
chatter will be turned off.
* When using a defenseman in BAP, BAP player won't get stuck on
the bench and will be able to call for change
* The EASHL will now go to continuous 5v5 overtime until one team
scores. This way nobody has to sit out, and you get to decide who wins
(this is now just like the NHL Play-offs)
* The proper own-goal cut scene will be shown where the player who
scored on himself is upset.
* All cut scenes should now show players sitting in their
respective team's bench.
* Increase AI team aggressiveness and the likelihood of them
getting called for a penalty on an infraction.
* If Vision Control is pressed, you do not throw a hit when in
front of the attacking net. This helps with rebound shots.
* Increase the likelihood of a penalty if the stick hits the body
during a stick lift.
* Reduce the accuracy of shots for penalty shots and shootouts.
Aiming for just inside the post is a lot tougher now
Along with these changes we are still working on the server side of
things to make sure that the EASHL and online play is always improving.
Keep checking our website for more information on the EASHL play-offs.
Thanks
-David Littman
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sportdan30
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- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:00 am
- Location: St. Louis
That's a long list. The ones I kept are very nice to see, but it's interesting to parse his words on how they fixed the glitch goal. Surely he is correct in that you never ever see a real NHL player hold the puck back on his forehand while drifting across the high slot as you see in the game, but I wonder what other side effects this will have on the game.sportdan30 wrote:* The jersey on the EASHL side select screen is more visible than the team logo. This will make it easier for people to see when jersey colors clash
* We have fixed the goals from outside shots that people are
scoring. We have reduced shot accuracy when on the rush and when turning quickly, and from far out. You will now have to be more conservative when shooting on the rush. If you aim all the way to the left or right, your shot will go wide a lot more. Try aiming more towards the middle to hit the net from outside. This fixes the cross goal where you shoot back the other way, and the goal that goes in with the "curve" animation, and a few others. There's a reason NHL players don't shoot from outside on the rush very often. Dumping or trying to set up is a better play unless you have an odd-man situation.
* The EASHL will now go to continuous 5v5 overtime until one team
scores. This way nobody has to sit out, and you get to decide who wins
(this is now just like the NHL Play-offs)
Skating at high speed and stepping into a wrist shot is one of the best ways to take a wrist shot in real life. Taking a wrist shot while skating sideways to your backhand side (the glitch goal method) is one of the worst real life shot techniques. Based on his answer, I'm worried that the patch won't differentiate between the two situations.
Still, it is a relief to see a patch.
Last edited by Naples39 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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sportdan30
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How do you do the flip dumps on the PS3? Actually people are using it online to waste time on a penalty kill.
I don't know, the shots from the outside were far less accurate and as fast as NHL 08. Plenty of wide shots when trying for the corners of the goals. If you try to hit towards the middle, the slower shots are easily snagged by goalies.
Oh and penalty shots are a lot harder than last year so I don't know why they thought they had to reduce their accuracy.
I don't know, the shots from the outside were far less accurate and as fast as NHL 08. Plenty of wide shots when trying for the corners of the goals. If you try to hit towards the middle, the slower shots are easily snagged by goalies.
Oh and penalty shots are a lot harder than last year so I don't know why they thought they had to reduce their accuracy.
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sportdan30
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- Location: St. Louis
I played a quick play now game last night with six minute periods. At default, I didn't see any computer penalties. When I bumped up the penalty slider all the way, I did see a tripping penalty. It was just one for the entire game, but it's better than seeing one every three or four games. Of course, if you play longer period lengths, I would expect to see at least three penalties a game. I'm optimistic that this has been resolved as others are stating seeing multiple penalties by the computer in a game.
Immediately, I noticed clearing the puck is much much better. Now there's a bit more umph and velocity to getting the puck down the ice.
The computer is definitely more aggressive, and I'm only playing on Pro. I guess that will contribute to more penalties.
The goal the computer scored was NOT off a one timer. Their shots were definitely varied and have a lot more variety to them.
There seemed to be a lot more rebounds and second chances for me. Not sure if this was tweaked, but I didn't notice as many previously.
The computer goalie doesn't seem to flop around as much. Heck, I even saw an animation where he was standing straight up and made the save and passed it out to his defenseman. Before, that would be an immediate stoppage of play.
With these improvements, this game just keeps getting better and better. I am still amazed at how smooth the gameplay is and how enjoyable it is. I'm still struggling to score however.
Immediately, I noticed clearing the puck is much much better. Now there's a bit more umph and velocity to getting the puck down the ice.
The computer is definitely more aggressive, and I'm only playing on Pro. I guess that will contribute to more penalties.
The goal the computer scored was NOT off a one timer. Their shots were definitely varied and have a lot more variety to them.
There seemed to be a lot more rebounds and second chances for me. Not sure if this was tweaked, but I didn't notice as many previously.
The computer goalie doesn't seem to flop around as much. Heck, I even saw an animation where he was standing straight up and made the save and passed it out to his defenseman. Before, that would be an immediate stoppage of play.
With these improvements, this game just keeps getting better and better. I am still amazed at how smooth the gameplay is and how enjoyable it is. I'm still struggling to score however.
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sportdan30
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Forgot to mention that the hitting has definitely been toned down by my user controlled players. Before I was able to level someone with Paul Kariya of all players! Now when I check with someone using a smaller player, you get the animation where the opposing player loses his balance somewhat but stays on his feet, or he doesn't budge at all. Feels so much more realistic now.
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WillHunting
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My sample size is a grand total of one (due to playing LBP last night and watching the World Series), but these are two things I noticed. I only had two power plays with the slider maxxed , but that is better than getting 1 every 4 games. I also scored two garbage goals that I don't think would have happened pre-patch because I probably would have tried to shoot and instead "air" cross-check the goalie.sportdan30 wrote:I'm optimistic that this has been resolved as others are stating seeing multiple penalties by the computer in a game.
<snip>
There seemed to be a lot more rebounds and second chances for me. Not sure if this was tweaked, but I didn't notice as many previously.
I'll play some more tonight, but agree this made a great game better.
The game is mega fun, but after a much larger sample size I'm not really seeing a drastic increase in post-patch power plays on default settings and penalties maxed. I've had a high of 4, but I still go some games without a power play and this is on 9 minute periods. However, I do know they did tweak penalties because I'm seeing delay of game (CPU gets these frequently when killing penalties) and interference calls (those are usually on me) I never saw before.
I assume design decisions. Sometimes I wish there were separate ones.... and more of them. But then I have flashbacks of playing 2kwhatever, and spending more time looking for good sliders and tweaking then actually playing.
I hope the PPs are increased a bit anyway, but with my sliders now I usually get at least one or two a game, sometimes more. The key is poke effectiveness, which gives more tripping calls if up high. Not entirely realistic, but it works......
On OS the word is the patch will be out "next week" for the 360. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday perhaps..... And a roster update "before Christmas".
The more I play this game, the more I'm having fun with it. I like how some games my guys just have no jump, can't score, and get beat to every puck...... (not sure if they do game to game fatigue, or it's a random thing) And then others I score 4 or 5 goals and dominate.
I do wish there was more goal scoring..... Goalies have too good of stats......
I hope the PPs are increased a bit anyway, but with my sliders now I usually get at least one or two a game, sometimes more. The key is poke effectiveness, which gives more tripping calls if up high. Not entirely realistic, but it works......
On OS the word is the patch will be out "next week" for the 360. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday perhaps..... And a roster update "before Christmas".
The more I play this game, the more I'm having fun with it. I like how some games my guys just have no jump, can't score, and get beat to every puck...... (not sure if they do game to game fatigue, or it's a random thing) And then others I score 4 or 5 goals and dominate.
I do wish there was more goal scoring..... Goalies have too good of stats......
gamertag: Ace EZ
Once a Dragon, a Dragon for life!
Once a Dragon, a Dragon for life!
The 360 patch is out.
Played just one game with it so far, my dynasty, Oil vs the Islanders. Quick impressions, with sliders I had felt pretty good with beforehand:
-Wow, no more sniping off the rush. It's a lot harder to hit the net while moving on the rush! I guess I'll have to get out of the habit of just using the far corners of the stick, and "finesse" the aim a little more...... It also seemed to be a lot harder to hit the net on back handed one timers (very good thing) and on shots from weird angles (like near the goal line) I'll play a few more games before deciding if I need to up the accuracy, or just learn to aim differntly. The CPU missed the net a fair bit too, but still managed 26 shots.
-dumping is FARRRRR higher and softer. Good for a forcheck (maybe a bit too good) but you'll throw the puck out of the rink until you get used to it!
-it's only a one game sample, but the CPU took 5 penalties against me, and many were in their offensive zone being aggresive on a forecheck... which I never noticed happening before.
-the lines stay the same as I pick them! i.e the 1st line D will stay with the 4th line checkers if that's what I picked.....
Anyway, I ended up shutting out the Isle, 3-0 with an empty netter......
I hope to play a few more games today to get a feel for the patch changes, but I wanted to let you guys know it was out! (at least us 360'ers.)
Maybe this will resurrect the DSP Ice Dragons?????
Played just one game with it so far, my dynasty, Oil vs the Islanders. Quick impressions, with sliders I had felt pretty good with beforehand:
-Wow, no more sniping off the rush. It's a lot harder to hit the net while moving on the rush! I guess I'll have to get out of the habit of just using the far corners of the stick, and "finesse" the aim a little more...... It also seemed to be a lot harder to hit the net on back handed one timers (very good thing) and on shots from weird angles (like near the goal line) I'll play a few more games before deciding if I need to up the accuracy, or just learn to aim differntly. The CPU missed the net a fair bit too, but still managed 26 shots.
-dumping is FARRRRR higher and softer. Good for a forcheck (maybe a bit too good) but you'll throw the puck out of the rink until you get used to it!
-it's only a one game sample, but the CPU took 5 penalties against me, and many were in their offensive zone being aggresive on a forecheck... which I never noticed happening before.
-the lines stay the same as I pick them! i.e the 1st line D will stay with the 4th line checkers if that's what I picked.....
Anyway, I ended up shutting out the Isle, 3-0 with an empty netter......
I hope to play a few more games today to get a feel for the patch changes, but I wanted to let you guys know it was out! (at least us 360'ers.)
Maybe this will resurrect the DSP Ice Dragons?????
gamertag: Ace EZ
Once a Dragon, a Dragon for life!
Once a Dragon, a Dragon for life!