EA Sports NHL 2012

Thought I'd make a thread where we could all discuss NHL12.

I spend an ungodly amount of time GMing in NHL11 and usually play 40 or so games of the season (sim the rest).

I love this game, but there are things I want cleaned up personally. Some are tiny, like:

When someone scores, can there be a graphic at the bottom that reads like a statsheet:

Spezza (14), Alfredsson and Butler

for example. It was in one of the NHL games, 09 I think, where it came up and told you instead of the player having to wait through the replay to see the info.

Kinda getting sick of them not upgrading anything yet making me pay another $60 each year.

Not even sure if I'll buy this TBH.

Big Ev wrote:Kinda getting sick of them not upgrading anything yet making me pay another $60 each year.

Not even sure if I'll buy this TBH.

You're not the first one I've heard say that. What do you want upgraded specifically?

SpezDispenser wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Kinda getting sick of them not upgrading anything yet making me pay another $60 each year.

Not even sure if I'll buy this TBH.

You're not the first one I've heard say that. What do you want upgraded specifically?

I want them to change the controls so grownups could play them with their kids and not be embarrassed.

I mostly played EASHL in '11, and there are lots of thigns that are wrong with it. Too may people cheating (using "glitches", cheating the system to add more attributes, etc).

In BAGM, the top draft picks never amount to anything, and they don't improve enough year to year. This past draft class were rated way too low because the last years draft class was the priority, so guys like Lando and Huberdeau will never make the NHL, but RNH is a star.

Players ask for way too much money as well. But they said they fixed that in '12.

Dash wrote:I mostly played EASHL in '11, and there are lots of thigns that are wrong with it. Too may people cheating (using "glitches", cheating the system to add more attributes, etc).

In BAGM, the top draft picks never amount to anything, and they don't improve enough year to year. This past draft class were rated way too low because the last years draft class was the priority, so guys like Lando and Huberdeau will never make the NHL, but RNH is a star.

Players ask for way too much money as well. But they said they fixed that in '12.

What's EASHL?

I agree, it's annoying that Landeskog, Huberdeau, Strome are all rated so poorly. Couturier also takes forever to farm properly. I don't even think Zibanejad is in there, or I've missed him.

As for the top picks, I do it slowly, year by year, play 40 or so NHL games and 10 or more AHL games, but SG11 plays sim only, so she does a year a night (or every few nights whatever) and her scouting is sky high now. The last pick she got was 1st overall and it was labelled a "FRANCHISE" player. He immediately came into the league as an 88 with still potential to grow.

I've never seen a franchise player yet. Zibanejad's not in the game. My last BaGM I started and I am playing all the games... just past the All-Star game. Made a few trades here and there. I put Radulov as a FA and signed him, somehow got Lucic, McGinn and Couture, Bieksa and Polak. Good team.

EASHL is like Be a Pro but online with other players. You can join clubs with friends and play together or just join games with strangers.

Ah, I see.

It's because you're playing games in the season instead of simming all the time like Mel. I like to play some of the actual games too, so I haven't advanced as far as she has (she's done the full 10 years or whatever). I believe she said she was on year 2015 and had gotten a franchise player.

2015/2016 she said she got one, then 2016/2017 she got another.

I have simmed ahead a few seasons too but its no fun. I can get the 1st overall picks any year just by trading a 1st + 2nd/3rd

Dash wrote:I have simmed ahead a few seasons too but its no fun. I can get the 1st overall picks any year just by trading a 1st + 2nd/3rd

You can also get the 1st overall (or any first) using a 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. I have none of those picks as of now, I've used them all.

I've enjoyed the series, but I didn't buy the last one. I'll wait to see if the reviews are good before I decide on the new one.

The trade logic the ysay the have fixed this coming year, but just to show you how bad it is in '11, I traded Couture and McGinn to Pittsburgh for Crosby and Godard, then tried to trade Crosby for Oshie but St. Louis refused. I ended up having to trade Crosby + a late pick for Stamkos, then Stamkos straight up for Oshie in order for it to work. I didn't want Crosby or Stamkos because they are too expensive.

Dash wrote:The trade logic the ysay the have fixed this coming year, but just to show you how bad it is in '11, I traded Couture and McGinn to Pittsburgh for Crosby and Godard, then tried to trade Crosby for Oshie but St. Louis refused. I ended up having to trade Crosby + a late pick for Stamkos, then Stamkos straight up for Oshie in order for it to work. I didn't want Crosby or Stamkos because they are too expensive.

Yeah, there's always gonna be issues with values etc. I think. I run into the same issues from time to time.

I bought NHL11, but unless they come out with a bigger announcement I probably won't buy 12. I don't play nearly as much as I used to so it would make sense to not "upgrade".

Hopefully they keep moving in the right direction with the trade values because last year was flawed as heck, but much better.

They said in their development blogs they have improved trade AI. They said if you offered Crosby for Horcoff, no matter what Edmonton was looking for, they would accept the deal, just as an example. A lot of times teams rejected trades because they wanted to "improve defence".

Ahhh the NHL series…this is the video game series that I have BY FAR wasted more of my time on than any other. And I’ve loved almost every second of it. I’ve owned and thoroughly enjoyed every iteration…from NHL ’92 (I think it was just called NHL Hockey) up to and including NHL 11.

The trade logic has to be very difficult to program, especially with salary cap considerations factored in. For the most part, I find it pretty effective and accurate, but you definitely do run into oddball situations.

As for the prospects, I was as disappointed as anybody when I was able to draft Landeskog in the 4th round, only to see he has a 64 rating (or something like that). At the time of release, the programmers wouldn’t be able to accurately rate prospects a year ahead of their draft, but this is something I’d like to see addressed with patches.

The gameplay itself has advanced so much that it’s come to a point where they really can’t make big changes. The change that’s being touted this year is the ability to run the goalies. This is kinda like how they introduced broken sticks last year. Smallish additions that make everything seem more real. Also, the new hitting engine looks pretty sweet (three player collisions, etc).

I find even if you’re not a big fan of the gameplay out-of-the-box, there are so many adjustment sliders you can fiddle with, you’re bound to find some combination that makes it enjoyable for yourself.

On the topic of franchise players, you certainly don’t see them often. I’ve probably gone through around 15 seasons of the Be a GM mode, and I’ve seen two franchise players. I was able to snag one, and he immediately became my #2 centre, and soon was my #1. I think he ended up with around a 91 rating, after starting with something in the mid-80s.

I am a GM mode fiend myself, and can’t wait to give this year’s edition a whirl. Really, they could change nothing and just provide updated rosters and player ratings, and I’d happily hand over my $60.

I also look forward to slamming my money on the counter and getting my grubby hands on it. Damn...out of my way little nerd kids, I'm getting my copy.

Yep. I took the day off work last year when it was released. I was the only nerd at the EB Games when it opened.

Well, I'm looking forward to hearing if this iteration is any good before I buy it.

Also have to decide whether it's better on PS3 or Xbox.

The demo date has been set for August 23rd:

http://www.operationsports.com/features/1315/nhl-12-demo-announcement-blog/

The blog also states that the demo will feature 3 features: Play a game, the new revamped Be a Pro, and Ultimate team (with the possibility of earning 2 free packs, plus gaining a 3rd for referring the demo to someone else).

Excellent. I was wondering when the demo would be released.

I NEED this game. I don't want it, I NEED it. Come on.

I was looking for this thread to say that the first 3 Legends in the game have been revealed (officially via EA):

Wayne Gretzky, Ray Bourque and Chris Chelios.

I think Futureshop potentially leaked another being Gordie Howe.

Dash wrote:I was looking for this thread to say that the first 3 Legends in the game have been revealed (officially via EA):

Wayne Gretzky, Ray Bourque and Chris Chelios.

I think Futureshop potentially leaked another being Gordie Howe.

I didn't realize the game would have legends. How are they incorporated? Is there a special game mode where you can use them?

Apparently you can use them in any mode... HUT and BaGM.

Their stats also become comparable as achievements to becoming a legend in Be a Pro mode.

Any idea on how they'd be integrated in GM mode?

I think you can just move them around ala free agents and etc. So they probably won't start off in BaGM but you probably (hopefully) just have to send them to FA's list.

Cause I hate when they include the fake players in the FA list and you don't notice until you are progressed through your BaGM and playing against a 96 Overall 16yr old goalie.

All 9 Legends announced: Gretzky, Roy, Lemieux, Yzerman, Gordie Howe, Salming, Bourque, Chelios and Roenick.

Demo out now!

Yeah, I think it came out yesterday, but somehow I totally forgot!! Anyone play it yet?

Not yet for me...tonight maybe...

Although, there's something about elbowing the nerds out of the way, buying a nice, fresh copy and slamming it into the 360 that makes me warm and fuzzy, so maybe I'll just wait...

SpezDispenser wrote:Not yet for me...tonight maybe...

Although, there's something about elbowing the nerds out of the way, buying a nice, fresh copy and slamming it into the 360 that makes me warm and fuzzy, so maybe I'll just wait...

Be nice to the nerds. We bruise easily.

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Not yet for me...tonight maybe...

Although, there's something about elbowing the nerds out of the way, buying a nice, fresh copy and slamming it into the 360 that makes me warm and fuzzy, so maybe I'll just wait...

Be nice to the nerds. We bruise easily.

In fairness to nerds, they know when they see fervor in someone's eyes regarding a newly released NHL game - and they usually GTFO of the way.

I downloaded it yesterday morning, played it once. They give you a preview (again) of HUT, Play Now and Be a Pro.

For HUT you start over everytime you begin, and you can play a 4 game tournament, going from Saint John -> Vancouver -> Boston -> Team USA

Play Now is game 7 of the finals... it sims to 3rd period, so you may or may ebter the 3rd ahead or behind.

Be a Pro is a left-handed playmaking centre named Joe NHL. You play the 3rd period of a game, starting scoreless IIRC.

Gameplay seems smoother (more realistic movement, skating is nice, shooting is sweet, hits are good).

Nice to hear...!

I found that when you wound up for a slap shot (which typically stops your skating in NHL 11) that you maintain some momentum while gliding and your body moves more fluidly and the shot comes off more realistically.

As for hitting, I like that not every hit is a bone crusher. Smaller, weaker guys like Seguin are more likely to bounce off of a stronger player, whereas Chara and Horton will throw a much bigger hit. Players react differently when hit, like falling/stumbling or getting flattened.

One thing I hope they fix is the goalie contact. I was able to pound the goalie with crosschecks after the whistle and not penalties were called at all. Also I noticed if you take control of your goalie after a whistle and make him skate to centre ice, it will initiate a fight automatically.

Dash wrote:I found that when you wound up for a slap shot (which typically stops your skating in NHL 11) that you maintain some momentum while gliding and your body moves more fluidly and the shot comes off more realistically.

As for hitting, I like that not every hit is a bone crusher. Smaller, weaker guys like Seguin are more likely to bounce off of a stronger player, whereas Chara and Horton will throw a much bigger hit. Players react differently when hit, like falling/stumbling or getting flattened.

One thing I hope they fix is the goalie contact. I was able to pound the goalie with crosschecks after the whistle and not penalties were called at all. Also I noticed if you take control of your goalie after a whistle and make him skate to centre ice, it will initiate a fight automatically.

hahaha, I heard about the goalie fights. Is it easy to get used to the controls - or are they the same.

Is the skating annoying, or are you used to the slower skating immediately. I might have to get the demo afterall.

It seems they just slowed gameplay to what it should be, not too much of an adjustment. EA tweaked a lot of those things via patches and tuners last year.

Controls are same except for the jostling infront of the net.