NHL 13 Thread

[JBHuskers]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F3RtPEMoL._AA300_.jpg

One of our Game Changers will be heading up to EAC in about 3 weeks for the NHL 13 Community Day. If you have some pressing issues and requests you'd like to see, post them here and I'll relay them.

[steelerfan]

Nice. I will have to get some of my thoughts organized, but I will definitely do so.

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[JeffHCross]

I'd love to either have the ability to bring a non-NHL team into the NHL (import the existing team), or, just as well, use non-NHL logos in Create-A-Team. When I say non-NHL, I mean the other teams that are in the game, but not NHL -- i.e. WHL, CHL, AHL, etc.

[SmoothPancakes]

I'd love to either have the ability to bring a non-NHL team into the NHL (import the existing team), or, just as well, use non-NHL logos in Create-A-Team. When I say non-NHL, I mean the other teams that are in the game, but not NHL -- i.e. WHL, CHL, AHL, etc.

:+1: and :+1:

[steelerfan]

I'd love to either have the ability to bring a non-NHL team into the NHL (import the existing team), or, just as well, use non-NHL logos in Create-A-Team. When I say non-NHL, I mean the other teams that are in the game, but not NHL -- i.e. WHL, CHL, AHL, etc.

Agree.

But for clarity, the WHL is part of the CHL. ;)

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[JeffHCross]

But for clarity, the WHL is part of the CHL. ;)For some reason, I thought they were shown separately in the game. Though I did know that. Oh well.

[steelerfan]

For some reason, I thought they were shown separately in the game. Though I did know that. Oh well.

The CHL is made up of three leagues. The WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. In the game, they are shown separately, yes, but they are all 3 part of the CHL.

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[JeffHCross]

Ah, that would do it.

[steelerfan]

Ah, that would do it.

;)

http://img.tapatalk.com/62c401e2-9841-c451.jpg

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[jaymo76]

Steeler... I officially award you honoury Canadian citizenship for knowing so much about hockey in Canada! I don't know a lot of Texans who have heard of Quebec, much less the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Well done! :up:

[steelerfan]

Steeler... I officially award you honoury Canadian citizenship for knowing so much about hockey in Canada! I don't know a lot of Texans who have heard of Quebec, much less the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Well done! :up:

:P

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[JeffHCross]

I can tell you about the UHL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Hockey_League), which became the IHL, which merged with the Central Hockey League. But that's because I worked for one of their teams :D

[psuexv]

Teaser trailer promoting the new Skill Stick


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwF3doS1En0&feature=youtu.be

[steelerfan]

I'm not sure if it's promoting a new version of the Skill Stick, or something new that is as game changing as the skill stick was in 07.

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[JeffHCross]

Agreed with Steelerfan. Looks like they're teasing something new, but saying that the "gameplay revolution" started with the skill stick.

Personally, never a fan of the skill stick, so ....

[JBHuskers]

Now I am a man of teases, but I dunno if going about it this way is a good idea. Sets up too much to be a letdown.

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[JeffHCross]

It's one thing to tease. It's another thing to stroke your own ego and call things "revolutionary" while you do it. I'm okay with the former ... this ... seems over the top.

[psuexv]

Teaser Part 2


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzSJ-oOLeGw&feature=youtu.be

[JBHuskers]

They're putting me to shame with all this teasing.

[SmoothPancakes]

This new feature better give me a fucking blowjob while I'm playing the game with as much teasing as they are doing. I know women who don't tease this much.

[psuexv]

God I hope this is true Steve_OS: #NHL13 will feature ONLINE DYNASTY.

[psuexv]

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/8610124.page;jsessionid=0E4191761D9380D4B5164F0122 DD4E17



GM Connected — The ultimate fantasy league with friends. GM Connected takes the franchise’s most popular offline mode, Be a GM, and allows you to play with and against your friends in your own 30-team NHL. Whether you are a hardcore sports gamer or a hockey fan that moonlights as an armchair general manager, the mode offers unrivaled accessibility and depth by allowing players to manage, play or coach on the road to building your team’s legacy. GM’s can also take their experience with them with a mobile companion app, ensuring that they never miss a single moment.

[psuexv]

There was also some other stuff in the article :)


True Performance Skating - A game-changing innovation for the franchise that adds physics-driven skating and over 1000 new animations. True Performance Skating authentically replicates the explosiveness, momentum and top end speed displayed by today’s NHL players. True Performance Skating combined with the Skill Stick, finally gives gamers access to the entire toolset of an NHL player, delivering unprecedented control and unlocking a level of creativity never before possible in a hockey videogame.


EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q. — An innovative new A.I. system that governs the behaviors of players, goalies and team systems. In previous NHL games, players were only aware of skaters in their immediate proximity and goalies could only react to the player in control of the puck. With EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q., all players are now fully aware of every other player on the ice, resulting in quicker, smarter and more true-to-life decision-making. EA SPORTS Hockey IQ also delivers the deepest and most customizable set of real-world hockey systems and strategies ever for the franchise.


NHL Moments Live — Rewrite or relive history as you replay some of the most thrilling moments from today’s NHL. NHL 13 evolves the concept introduced by other sports games, introducing each scenario with real-world NHL footage to bring players closer to the intensity of the moment. Moments from the 2011-12 NHL season will ship on disc and new moments from the 2012-13 NHL season will be added as and when available throughout the season.

Team-First Presentation, which customizes your NHL 13 experience based on your favorite NHL team

The addition of Customizable EA SPORTS Hockey IQ allowing players to create and record their own player and team strategies to a level never before seen in the franchise.

Improvements to core offline and online modes, including Hockey Ultimate Team, Be a Pro, EA SPORTS Hockey League, a refined on-ice presentation, and more.

EA also announced the collector’s edition of NHL 13 called the Stanley Cup Edition. Here is what the press release says about that:

Celebrate over 20 years of EA SPORTS NHL hockey with the first ever collector’s edition on this console generation. With Stanley Cup-inspired digital offerings, the NHL 13 Stanley Cup Collector’s Edition includes:

Exclusive collectible Stanley Cup® tin featuring an embossed Stanley Cup image
Two Stanley Cup® Theme Hockey Ultimate Team packs featuring randomized player items from theWestern and Eastern Conference Champions
Gold Jumbo Hockey Ultimate Team Pack (Regular) featuring 24 randomized items, including an exclusive Wayne Gretzky Hockey Ultimate Team Legend and six other rare items
A CCM Boost Pack featuring the all-new CCM RBZ stick (For use in Be a Pro and EA SPORTS™Hockey League)
A 10% discount on a one-time purchase at shop.NHL.com
A complete copy of NHL 13
The Stanley Cup Edition of NHL 13 will retail for $79.99 and will release along with the standard edition on September 11th, 2012. Check out the EA Sports NHL page for pre-order info.

[psusnoop]

Looks like I'm going to be grabbing NHL 13 after all.

Thanks E for sharing, good stuff.

[steelerfan]

Oh boy. That is potentially life-altering. GM Connected, FTW!

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[SmoothPancakes]

Yep, NHL 13 definitely just went on the list. NCAA 13, NHL 13, FIFA 13, AC III, Halo 4, the summer/fall game list is growing.

[steelerfan]

Yep, NHL 13 definitely just went on the list. NCAA 13, NHL 13, FIFA 13, AC III, Halo 4, the summer/fall game list is growing.

Get a PS3 already!

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[psuexv]

Get a PS3 already!

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:+1:

[psusnoop]

:+1:

:+1: + :+1:

[SmoothPancakes]

Get a PS3 already!

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We've already been over this in the FIFA thread. NHL, FIFA, maybe Tiger Woods, maybe The Show. Those would be the only games I'd buy from year to year on PS3, as I'd still buy every other game on 360 since 95% of my friends and the people I team up with in games are all on 360.

Spending $250-$300 on a game console for 2-4 games a year (if I even buy FIFA and NHL every year and don't go into a rotating FIFA one year, NHL the next year purchase method), is not a sound financial purchase for me, even more since it's only a matter of years before the nextgen consoles make their appearances on the market.

I still have yet to buy a new HDTV that has been needed for two months now, I have yet to get a new phone even though I was eligible to upgrade back in October and the 2 year contract expired in February.

Maybe I'll look at buying a PS4 when I also get around to upgrading from my 360 sometime down the road in a couple years, but a PS3 isn't even on my list of considerations right now, and with such an extreme limited amount of games that I would actually buy for it, it would essentially be a waste of money in the end.

[psusnoop]

We've already been over this in the FIFA thread. NHL, FIFA, maybe Tiger Woods, maybe The Show. Those would be the only games I'd buy from year to year on PS3, as I'd still buy every other game on 360 since 95% of my friends and the people I team up with in games are all on 360.

Spending $250-$300 on a game console for 2-4 games a year (if I even buy FIFA and NHL every year and don't go into a rotating FIFA one year, NHL the next year purchase method), is not a sound financial purchase for me, even more since it's only a matter of years before the nextgen consoles make their appearances on the market.

I still have yet to buy a new HDTV that has been needed for two months now, I have yet to get a new phone even though I was eligible to upgrade back in October and the 2 year contract expired in February.

Maybe I'll look at buying a PS4 when I also get around to upgrading from my 360 sometime down the road in a couple years, but a PS3 isn't even on my list of considerations right now, and with such an extreme limited amount of games that I would actually buy for it, it would essentially be a waste of money in the end.

Craigslist, find a cheap one and make them turn it on and play a game or two before buying. You'll find one cheap $150 or less just to play these games :up:

[psuexv]

We've already been over this in the FIFA thread. NHL, FIFA, maybe Tiger Woods, maybe The Show. Those would be the only games I'd buy from year to year on PS3, as I'd still buy every other game on 360 since 95% of my friends and the people I team up with in games are all on 360.

Spending $250-$300 on a game console for 2-4 games a year (if I even buy FIFA and NHL every year and don't go into a rotating FIFA one year, NHL the next year purchase method), is not a sound financial purchase for me, even more since it's only a matter of years before the nextgen consoles make their appearances on the market.

I still have yet to buy a new HDTV that has been needed for two months now, I have yet to get a new phone even though I was eligible to upgrade back in October and the 2 year contract expired in February.

Maybe I'll look at buying a PS4 when I also get around to upgrading from my 360 sometime down the road in a couple years, but a PS3 isn't even on my list of considerations right now, and with such an extreme limited amount of games that I would actually buy for it, it would essentially be a waste of money in the end.

You are looking at it wrong. You have to look at the amount of time that you would put into those games instead of the number of game to determine your true ROI. With NHL and FIFA alone I can see 6 to 7 hours per week going into those games. Then you have to look at the overall playability of those games, they are pretty much release to release so you are getting a solid 12 months. To me that really is worth it.

[steelerfan]

Get a PS3 already!

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[psusnoop]

You are looking at it wrong. You have to look at the amount of time that you would put into those games instead of the number of game to determine your true ROI. With NHL and FIFA alone I can see 6 to 7 hours per week going into those games. Then you have to look at the overall playability of those games, they are pretty much release to release so you are getting a solid 12 months. To me that really is worth it.

Well said, to me I would have never guessed you were in sales. Hell I may go buy another PS3 just off that kind of information!!!

[steelerfan]

Well said, to me I would have never guessed you were in sales. Hell I may go buy another PS3 just off that kind of information!!!

:D :+1:

If you do, ship it to Smooth.

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[SmoothPancakes]

Well, regardless, even if someone around here was selling one for $150 on craigslist (for the hell of it I looked, it's all $225+. Only $150 or lower that I saw was for PS3s with non-working blu ray drives and other issues), the HDTV and cell phone have monetary and purchase priority over a PS3. I need to get those two purchases made and out of the way first before I would even consider spending a couple hundred on another game console when I currently have a 250 gig 360 Slim that's only 5 months old.

[psusnoop]

Well, regardless, even if someone around here was selling one for $150 on craigslist (for the hell of it I looked, it's all $225+. Only $150 or lower that I saw was for PS3s with non-working blu ray drives and other issues), the HDTV and cell phone have monetary and purchase priority over a PS3. I need to get those two purchases made and out of the way first before I would even consider spending a couple hundred on another game console when I currently have a 250 gig 360 Slim that's only 5 months old.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA

[ryby6969]

Damn, if there is an Online Franchise on here I might have to pick this up. I will lead the league in penalty minutes! :D

[steelerfan]

:D

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[psusnoop]

Damn, if there is an Online Franchise on here I might have to pick this up. I will lead the league in penalty minutes! :D

:D:D

Sorry JB has that title already :nod:

You should look this up, I really would like to get one going in this as well.

[JBHuskers]

Part 3 of the NHL 13 cock tease :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajIWqp-1MgM&feature=youtu.be

[JBHuskers]

Online Franchise??????

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s159/jbennett98/nhl.jpg

[psuexv]

Online Franchise??????


Are you asking? Yes, the word around the campfire is that it will be an online Dynasty mode.

[steelerfan]

Online Franchise??????

Good find, JB. :D :fp:

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[JBHuskers]

Good find, JB. :D :fp:

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:D

[psuexv]

Good find, JB. :D :fp:

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LMAO

[ram29jackson]

You are looking at it wrong. You have to look at the amount of time that you would put into those games instead of the number of game to determine your true ROI. With NHL and FIFA alone I can see 6 to 7 hours per week going into those games. Then you have to look at the overall playability of those games, they are pretty much release to release so you are getting a solid 12 months. To me that really is worth it.

yeah number of games doesnt have crap to do with it..there may come a point where I only get Madden and NCAA and play them year round...I originally got a ps2 only for Madden in the beginning and thats pretty much the way its been..along with NCAA

[JBHuskers]

LMAO

I was hoping someone would admit to clicking play on the image :D

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[ram29jackson]

I was hoping someone would admit to clicking play on the image :D

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bastard

[cdj]

Online Franchise??????


Good find, JB. :D :fp:

Interesting....if only we had a press release or more info on this from EA directly. :(

[JBHuskers]

Interesting....if only we had a press release or more info on this from EA directly. :(

What's that?

[JeffHCross]

Teaser trailer promoting the new Skill StickFrom the way the first trailer was edited, I was 99% confident that it was going to be something to do with skating. Just didn't know how they were going to tout that as a feature.


Interesting....if only we had a press release or more info on this from EA directly. :(We ... do? (Assume you saw this, but your post suggests not)
GM Connected — The ultimate fantasy league with friends. GM Connected takes the franchise’s most popular offline mode, Be a GM, and allows you to play with and against your friends in your own 30-team NHL. Whether you are a hardcore sports gamer or a hockey fan that moonlights as an armchair general manager, the mode offers unrivaled accessibility and depth by allowing players to manage, play or coach on the road to building your team’s legacy. GM’s can also take their experience with them with a mobile companion app, ensuring that they never miss a single moment.Like the "Heisman Challenge" and "Connected Careers", looks like they're milking it until the full feature release. May for the True Performance Skating and EA Hockey IQ. June for Goalies and GM Connected.

It's funny ... for years I've said "give us the entire feature list, then tell us the details later". Now that they're doing it, it's driving me crazy.

Anybody going to spring for the Collector's Edition?

[SmoothPancakes]

They've announced a Collector's Edition? I hadn't seen anything on that. Depending on what's in it, I could possibly be interested, but it'd have to be a hell of a load of extras. Most likely I'll just get the regular edition.

[steelerfan]

The only thing in the CE that interests me is the discount at NHL Shop. But, I'd have to spend $200 to make it worth it. I'll pass.

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[JeffHCross]

They've announced a Collector's Edition?It was in Eric's post :D


In addition, the “NHL 13 Stanley Cup Collector’s Edition," priced at $79.99, will include two Stanley Cup-themed Hockey Ultimate Team packs, featuring randomized player items from the Western and Eastern conference champions; a gold, jumbo Hockey Ultimate Team pack, featuring 24 randomized items, including an exclusive Wayne Gretzky legend and six other rare items; a CCM boost pack featuring the new CCM RBZ stick for use in Be a Pro and the EA Sports Hockey League; and a collectible Stanley Cup tin, featuring an embossed Stanley Cup image and a 10 percent discount on a one-time purchase at the NHL's online store

[SmoothPancakes]

It was in Eric's post :D

:D I completely missed that. Yeah, like steeler, about the only thing that would interest me would be the discount at the NHL Shop. Probably gonna pass.

[psuexv]

NHL 13 Hands on Preview from GameInformer http://www.gameinformer.com/games/nhl_13/b/xbox360/archive/2012/05/21/things-we-know-about-nhl-13.aspx


http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts/ea-sports/NHL/nhl13/Doan610.jpg
A few weeks ago we had a chance to lace up our skates and take to the ice with NHL 13. Can the series regain its balance after slipping slightly last year? Here is what we learned.

GAMEPLAY

1. Previous NHL entries featured speed differentiation between players, but the developer is the first to admit the skaters lacked explosiveness. For NHL 13, EA Canada has completely reworked the skating engine, which its marketing team is dubbing True Performance Skating. This year speedy wingers like Marian Gaborik have the ability to fly by defenders. Players reach their top speed by either reaching full stride in a straightaway or by the user pressing the L3 button. Giving players control of their speed bursts allows them to time when they want to turn on the afterburners, which can be extremely advantageous when splitting defensemen or accelerating alongside the boards to avoid a check.

2. Going fast has its limitations. Players will get fatigued faster, and only elite players like Sidney Crosby are able to stickhandle and take accurate shots while skating at top speed. If you are flying down the wing as fast as your player can skate and you try to make an aggressive turn toward the net, your player may lose his footing and wipe out. The controller will give players feedback by rumbling when they are pressing too hard.

3. EA Canada conduced a study and found that NHL players glide nearly 40 percent of their time on the ice. In NHL 12, players glided less than one percent of the time. With the limitations imposed by moving at top speed, most players are better off accelerating and then using their momentum to glide into position to take a shot or make a pass. "We wanted to capture why Henrik Sedin rarely goes at his top-end speed," says producer Sean Ramjagsingh. "He's always in control and it seems like he slows down the entire flow of the game."

4. To build the new skating system, EA Canada has added over 1,000 new animations. Players will dig their skates hard into the ice when making abrupt changes in direction, and it takes them a second to gather their momentum when quickly stopping and skating in the opposite direction. You will also see skaters subtly dodge defenders who mis-time their checks.

5. Pressing and holding the left trigger activates back skating. This can be extremely useful when positioned along the blue line in the offensive zone, opening up new shooting angles. Being able to turn and skate with forwards or pivot into a back skate is also a boon on defense, but mis-timing your pivot could leave you flat footed and create an opening for an offensive player to blow past with a well-timed speed burst. In our limited time with NHL 13, this dynamic created an interesting cat and mouse game between defenders and forwards. Since you can't skate backward as fast as attacking players skate forward anymore, Knowing when to back off, when to turn and skate, when to close the gap, and when to attempt a check requires much more awareness than in past games.

6. The real-time physics introduced a couple years back are being tweaked to account for the new sense of speed and momentum on the ice and to add more fidelity. Ramjagsingh says they are starting to see more subtle behaviors like knee-on-knee collisions.

7. EA has tweaked goaltender performance to open up the five hole for more scoring opportunities.

8. For the first time in the series, goalies now have individual limb control, which introduces more save possibilities and could also result in more deflection goals off their arms and legs.

9. Last year many fans complained that the CPU didn't take enough penalties. EA Canada plans to make this a focus this year.
http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts/ea-sports/NHL/nhl13/Adam610.jpg

EA SPORTS HOCKEY IQ

10. For several years, users have questioned the sketchy player AI. This year the development team hopes to dispel this complaint once and for all with EA Sports Hockey IQ. "This year we've invested more effort in AI than in the last three years combined in terms of effort," Ramjagsingh says.

11. The new AI system helps players understand situations as they develop on the ice and react to them accordingly. For example, thanks to the new EA Sports Hockey IQ, goalies are much more aware of situations like odd-man rushes. Before, goalies only knew where the puck was. Now, they anticipate player positioning and react realistically to 2-on-1s, 3-on-1s, and 2-on-0s. They may cheat and play more out of the net to challenge a shooter, or sit back to avoid giving a trailing player an open net. Now that they are willing to cheat, desperation saves and scrambling goaltenders are much more common.

12. EA is also working on making sure teammate AI knows what to do when you have an odd-man rush on offense. If you cross over into their lane, they will know that they should criss cross and position themselves for a scoring opportunity.

13. Part of the AI work includes making sure there is better player differentiation on the ice. Fourth liners will go into corners more aggressively and finish their checks.

14. If you're not happy how your lines are performing you can tweak their behaviors with a new set of strategy sliders. On offense, you can control your players tendencies to carry vs. dump the puck, cycle vs. shoot, skate with efficiency or energy, or go down to block shots or not. On defense, you can use the sliders to determine whether or not your defensemen should pinch or hold the line and whether they should cycle the puck or shoot. If you want to create a fourth line that dumps and chases 100 percent of the time, you now have that option.

15. When the CPU AI employs the dump and chase, it's smart enough to try different types of dumps. Their options include ringing the puck around the boards, attempting a cross-ice dump, or shooting the puck off the back wall.

16. EA has redone every single forecheck in the game so teams employ their real-life strategies. This includes aggressive or passive 1-2-2, 1-3-1, and even the 1-4 the Tampa Bay Lightning used against the Philadelphia Flyers during last year's Stanley Cup playoffs.

17. In addition to selecting your team's forecheck, you can also tweak their bias between hanging back in the neutral zone and a more aggressive trapping game.

18. Each team has its own custom AI template to start. You can create a new system or adopt any of the 30 templates for your own team.
http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts/ea-sports/NHL/nhl13/Giroux_610.jpg

PRESENTATION

19. Much to the dismay of some fans, both Gary Thorne and Bill Clement return to the broadcasting booth. EA recorded commentary for the new features like True Performance Skating and some league information that will keep their comments up to date.

20. NHL 13 has a completely redone the lighting engine. New light maps replicate the look of each of the arenas in the game, and the developers also added more colored light. You will now notice light bouncing off objects and self-shadowing.

21. The developers upgraded the rendering for skates, socks, pants, jerseys, gloves, helmets, etc. so they are much more detailed. You can see the stitching in breezers, and gloves will have scuff marks. Visors also properly reflect light.

22. EA has moved away from non-interactive cutscenes. NHL 13 now uses the AI to drive the players after the whistle and the developers implemented true broadcast camera angles to capture their activity.



We saw a lot more of NHL 13, but that's all we can share right now. Look for more updates on how EA plans to improve the Be A GM mode in a couple weeks.

NHL 13 comes out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 11. For more on the game's Stanley Cup Collector's Edition, click here.

[psuexv]

EA Canada even pleasing the dress up people
The developers upgraded the rendering for skates, socks, pants, jerseys, gloves, helmets, etc. so they are much more detailed. You can see the stitching in breezers, and gloves will have scuff marks. Visors also properly reflect light

[JeffHCross]

Very interesting note about the 40% gliding. When I was regularly skating, I discovered, through trial and error, how much easier/better it is to skate with a significant amount of glide. It makes absolute sense that the NHL guys would be pros at that.

[ram29jackson]

..this a long way off though..still getting my entertainment out of the present one...I was going to say my money's worth..but I won it from here/TGT :))

[psuexv]

Very interesting note about the 40% gliding. When I was regularly skating, I discovered, through trial and error, how much easier/better it is to skate with a significant amount of glide. It makes absolute sense that the NHL guys would be pros at that.

Love the detail they are trying to put into it.

[cdj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za3aasWrdcg&feature=youtu.be



Community Day Webcast:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge2LfVdMdvU&feature=youtu.be

[psuexv]

Man I'm going to have to adjust my defensive strategy this year. I always cheat and go for the hit, not going to be able to get back.

[steelerfan]

Man I'm going to have to adjust my defensive "strategy" this year. I always cheat.

:smh:

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[psuexv]

:smh:

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Whatever it takes. :nod:

[steelerfan]

Whatever it takes. :nod:

:fp:

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[JeffHCross]

Going for the hit isn't cheating ... that's Bash Brothers style!

[psuexv]

Going for the hit isn't cheating ... that's Bash Brothers style!

Cheat up is what I was implying.

[ram29jackson]

Madden doesnt even try to go into the kind of detail they are talking about in that long video..and 3 months early besides

[steelerfan]

Going for the hit isn't cheating ... that's Bash Brothers style!



What do Mark McGuire and Jose Canseco have to do with this? ;)



Cheat up is what I was implying.

I know. ;)

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[JeffHCross]

Ah, see, I didn't think of "cheat up", because I just go around the rink trying to throw the hit, regardless of where it is on the ice :D

[psuexv]

I know. ;)

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I know you know. That was to clear up Jeff

[steelerfan]

I know you know. That was to clear up Jeff

I knew you knew that I knew. I was just making sure Jeff knew that I knew that you knew that I knew.

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[ram29jackson]

I knew you knew that I knew. I was just making sure Jeff knew that I knew that you knew that I knew.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfmvkO5x6Ng

[JeffHCross]

Ram, that might be the most relevant video I've ever seen you post.

Now I'm going to watch it. And recite every word.
EDIT: Wow ... apparently they did a little more ad-libbing in that bit than I would have thought. The general script is the same, but there's a completely different flow.

[psuexv]

More info about GM Connected


NHL 13 already sounds like its skating in the right direction with the new True Performance Skating system and EA Sports IQ, but if the series wants to be in the sports game of the year conversation one of the areas needing a major overhaul is the Be A GM mode. We sat down with producer Andy Agostini to discuss the new connected franchise mode and how EA Canada plans on making the general manager AI perform more like Red Wings mastermind Ken Holland and less like former New York Islanders trainwreck/current TV commentator Mike Milbury.

Here's what we know so far about NHL 13 revamped GM mode.

GM Connected

1. EA retooled its most popular mode to include a multi-user dynasty with up to 30 NHL teams being run by 30 human general managers.

2. This new GM Connected mode features a full 82-game schedule and can run for up to 25 years.

3. EA chose against including fantasy draft because it didn't want the barrier of entry to be a tedious 45-round draft. If you want to mix up the teams so no one is forced to play with the Edmonton Oilers (zing!) you can randomize the rosters when starting the league.

4. Users can play GM Connected in several ways, including a solo league against the CPU AI, standard versus, co-op, six-on-six online team play, taking the role of a general manager, or as a coach who handles line changes and team strategy.

5. Connected GM is elastic, meaning one team could be controlled by a GM, while another is run by a hands-on player, and another is run by a coach.

6. In six-on-six online team play leagues, you can have up to 25 users per each team. This allows teams to have a ringer take the role of a regular when they're short a body.

7. Free agency includes both unrestricted and restricted free agents, and it's handled via seven bidding periods. The highest bidders win the services of the player, and if you strike out you have several more rounds to find an adequate replacement.

8. Much to the dismay of hardcore franchise guys, the NHL Entry Draft is automated. You can still scout players during the season and build a priority list of prospects. Once the draft starts, however, the CPU will use your priority list to make selections for your team.

9. While running your team you have full access to the entire list of players in the organization, including the AHL, CHL, and foreign league prospects.

10. The commissioner controls how quickly the league advances. You can opt for either three-day, one-week, or two-week periods.

11. A news panel in the menu screen keeps you abreast of all league happenings.

12. An integrated messaging system informs you of waivers, trades, and league join requests. You can also send messages to the commissioner, the entire league, or team members.

13. EA built in systems to deal with grieving and cheating. The commissioner has the power to kick out users at any time.

14. If a commissioner goes missing, other general managers can vote him out to keep the league moving along.

15. EA plans to release a mobile app that allows players to stay engaged with their leagues when they're away from their consoles. From the app, players can juggle team rosters, scour the waiver wire, propose trades, and read about league happenings.

16. If you want to keep your GM experience offline, you still have that option.

GM Brain


17. NHL 12 received a lot of criticism for its poor GM AI. Teams would stash veterans in the minors, propose ridiculous trades, and let top prospects leak into free agency. This year EA is completely rebuilding the system.

18. With the GM Brain AI working as the backbone for all decisions, general managers now look at their teams just like their real-world counterparts, evaluating the current and future talent and making decisions based on what will make their teams better now and a few years down the road.

19. The GM Brain now catalogs players based on where they fit into the entire NHL, not just how they fit on their team. This means that while the Wild may play Devin Setoguchi on the first line because the offensively challenged team is short on scoring talent, the GM recognizes that in reality he's more of a second line player. This places all the players on a roster in a pecking order and help inform the GM of the team weaknesses and surpluses.

20. Because teams know what they have on their roster relative to the rest of the league, they are smarter about making free agency signings. Last year when a team needed a fifth goalie to be a backup in the minors, it would sign an NHL-level talent to a one-way contract and then immediately try to squeeze him through waivers. This year teams will sign a player of the appropriate skill level if all they need is a body for their AHL affiliate.

21. When deciding what moves his team should make for the upcoming season, first the GM Brain determines if his team is a championship-level team, a contender, a hopeful, or in rebuilding mode. This evaluation helps set the types of trades a team is willing to engage. If a team is on the cusp of a championship, it may trade off some prospects to get a veteran who fills a weakness. If a team is in full rebuilding mode, it will be much more likely to trade off players at the tail end of their prime in exchange for prospects or draft picks.

22. In NHL 12 players were primarily valued by three traits: offense, defense, and athleticism. After talking with the NHL's central scouting service about how it operates, EA has changed this in NHL 13. Now GMs evaluate key six areas: shooting, skating, puck skills, physicality, hockey sense, and defense.

23. Once a team proposes a trade deal, a few days will have to pass before they will rescind the offer. This should allow you to come back to deals instead of being forced to take them immediately when they are proposed before the GM AI changed its mind and rescinded the offer.

24. EA has reworked all the feedback a user receives when trying to make a trade. Now teams give you a better sense of what they are looking for and how far off your proposal is.

25. GM Brains also have the ability to project their rosters up to five years out. This helps them determine what talent is coming up so it knows when it's smart to either trade a veteran during the deadline to make or let him leave via free agency to make room for a prospect.

26. Though some outlets (including us) criticized NHL 12 for having too many players rated 80 and above, EA is content with its current ratings system and believes that by surfacing the six player traits instead of three it will be easier for players and AI GMs to better understand a player's true value.

27. When making draft picks, GM Brains will draft the best players available until it gets into the later rounds. Then it will start addressing positions of need.

28. The trade engine is now much more granular than it was in the past. If you want to tell teams you are looking for a first-line forward between the ages of 27 and 30, you can do that. The GM Brains also have a much better idea of what players they are willing to trade.

29. In past NHL games, when a player went down the AI would make wholesale line changes instead of just plugging a scratched player into the hole. Now the AI is smart enough to make individual moves without completely revamping the entire lineup. It will also make player valuations to determine the best fit when a player goes down. A right winger may switch to center if the next center in the minor league is significantly worse.

30. The AI is also smarter about using enforcers. In previous games their high strength ratings made them likely candidates to be automatically placed on the penalty kill. Know the AI knows that these players are specialists and will play them on (and keep them off) appropriate lines.

NHL 13 releases for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 11.

[JeffHCross]

Psst ... Eric, if you're going to rip off a whole article, at least source it ;)

[psuexv]

Just posting info, not claiming I wrote it ;) Gameinformer.com

[steelerfan]

Damn, this sounds good.

If they do this for FIFA too, I may never leave home again.

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[jaymo76]

So does that mean I could be coach/GM of Vancouver and also act as the GM only for say Winnipeg and St. Louis? I am 100% offline franchise guy and in years past you could only control your one team. I would love to have more control/influence over other teams.

[cdj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f2n2na4gZc&feature=g-all-u

[ram29jackson]

tonight's the cover vote ?

[psusnoop]

That video is sweet, really looking forward to this game too!!

[cdj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-3lZEyrU2A&feature=g-all-u

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and NHL.com announced today during the live broadcast of the 2012 NHL AwardsTM that Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux has been selected by fans as the EA SPORTS NHL®13 cover athlete. Giroux beat Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne in the final of the first ever EA SPORTS NHL® Cover Vote campaign by less than a one percent margin, in what was the closest matchup of the entire campaign. NHL 13 will be available on September 11, 2012 in North America and September 14, 2012 in Europe.

“The support fans have given me throughout the campaign has been unbelievable,” said Flyers forward Claude Giroux. “I am very excited to be on the cover of NHL 13 and I want to thank everyone who campaigned and voted for me - especially my teammates, the Flyers organization, and of course all the NHL fans who voted and tweeted.”

Between March 29 and June 4, fans cast nearly 26 million votes on NHL.com throughout the campaign, which was sponsored by BlackBerry®. During the finals alone, more than two million votes were cast.

[psuexv]

It was kind of subtle but I'm pretty sure that they had Giroux scoring on Rinne at the end of the video. That's pretty funny.

[psusnoop]

Haha I missed that the first time, nice catch.

[JBHuskers]

GIROUX!!! :)) :)) :))

http://talksportsphilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Lets_Go_Flyers.png

[JeffHCross]

I'm a big fan of the Staal brothers.
I'm a big fan of the Hurricanes.

Guess that made my choice of an NHL 13 team (if I get the game) pretty easy :D

[JBHuskers]

Toys R Us pre-order $45. Wonder if Amazon will follow suit.

http://m.slickdeals.net/f/4829708-NHL-13-pre-order-44-99-free-shipping-ToysRus

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[psuexv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSKRPhEk6OI

[JeffHCross]

Nice Hockey IQ blog (http://www.easports.com/nhl/news/article/hockey-iq-smartest-most-true-life-ai-yet) up on the NHL site.


Toys R Us pre-order $45. Wonder if Amazon will follow suit.Just to reinforce how awesome that $45 deal is on Amazon for NCAA and Madden, NHL 12 is currently listed at $45 new.

Hilariously, Toys R Us is currently listing NHL 13 at $45 and NHL 12 at $60. :D :D :D :D :D :fp:

[JBHuskers]

According to Slick Deals, NHL 13 will have a $15 credit on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/NHL-13-Playstation-3/dp/B007FTE33E/ref=as_li_tf_sw?&linkCode=wsw&tag=thegamtai-20), but I don't see it yet.

[JeffHCross]

According to Slick Deals, NHL 13 will have a $15 credit on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/NHL-13-Playstation-3/dp/B007FTE33E/ref=as_li_tf_sw?&linkCode=wsw&tag=thegamtai-20), but I don't see it yet.It's there, I pre-ordered a few hours ago with the deal. It's listed under the Promotion, not in the usual place. It's a code they'll send you after shipment.

[JeffHCross]

NHL 13 Gameplay Producer Ben Ross talk you through this exclusive first look at NHL 13 gameplay (Human v.s. A.I. - default skill level).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nt433LKhac&feature=em-subs_digest

A gameplay video with commentary from a producer. Tells me more about the gameplay than 10x as many un-commentated could tell me.

[JeffHCross]

Achievement list released for NHL 13: http://www.xbox360achievements.org/game/nhl-13/achievements/

[jaymo76]

Steeler was talking to me a little about it last night. So, would there be any interest for PS3 users in an online NHL 13 CONNECTED CAREER? I haven't decided on NHL 13 yet but I may be interested in an online league.

[psuexv]

Absolutely

[psusnoop]

Steeler was talking to me a little about it last night. So, would there be any interest for PS3 users in an online NHL 13 CONNECTED CAREER? I haven't decided on NHL 13 yet but I may be interested in an online league.

I'm in for sure!

[JeffHCross]

I'd be out. If I do get NHL, it's one of those games that I really have to play on my own, not competitively.

[cdj]

NHL 13 Overhauls Its Trade Interface (http://www.gameinformer.com/games/nhl_13/b/xbox360/archive/2012/07/24/nhl-13-overhauls-its-trade-interface.aspx)

Any NHL general manager worth his salt will tell you that one of the quickest ways to shore up inadequacies on your roster is to make a quick trade. In NHL 12, making a smart trade was often tough thanks to strange AI quirks (teams would sometimes reject a proposal they just made to you), a lack of valuable feedback on trade offers from AI controlled teams, and an uncommonly even player value bar that made it tough to distinguish the true worth of different players. In NHL 13, a host of improvements make looking for that missing piece much more accommodating.

The revamped trade block lets teams fine-tune what they are willing to give up and be more specific about what kind of player they are looking for in return. Instead of vaguely requesting things like athleticism, AI controlled teams assess their current rosters and make a determinations of what kind of players they need, whether it be a first-line forward, a top-six forward, or a grinder. Teams are also more cognizant of where their organization stands within the league and make requests accordingly. For instance, a team in true Cup contention like the New York Rangers may be willing to trade away high draft picks or well regarded prospects to acquire a veteran player to fill out the roster, while rebuilding teams may part with their veterans to gather more draft picks and build for the future. Teams will constantly re-evaluate their standing throughout the year, so they are not locked into a specific philosophy. If the Columbus Blue Jackets somehow survive the Rick Nash exit and compete for a playoff spot, during the trade deadline they will actively try to improve instead of going into full rebuild mode.

Finding the exact kind of player you are looking for is also made easier thanks to a granular new system that lets you get very specific with different parameters. For instance, instead of just indicating that you need a scorer, you can let teams know you are looking for a top-six forward between the ages of 17 and 24 who has a prospect rating of four or higher. Upon entering your parameters, like FIFA 12 the game conducts a search for player matches. This gives you an opportunity to be aggressive rather than just posting this on your trading block and waiting for offers. You can also search based on the star level of six different skill groupings: skating, shooting, puck skills, physicality, hockey sense, and defense. If you’re looking for an aggressive blue liner who isn’t afraid to put people through the glass, searching for a player with four-star physicality and defending skills is much easier that drilling into the ratings of every single defender in the game to find an ideal candidate.

Once you propose a trade, if the opposing team doesn’t accept it will give you feedback about how closely your offer comes to being feasible. In my experience this could still use tweaking. Because Montreal was in the market for a top-six forward and was willing to give up its first round pick, I offered Pierre-Marc Bouchard for the pick (an admitted reach) to see how far off this proposal would be. The GM said that they were very interested but I had to sweeten the pot. I tried adding a sixth round pick, and that wasn't enough. I eventually worked my way up to offering Bouchard and a second rounder, and I was still receiving the same feedback even though it was apparent that my first offer was much further beneath their expectations than they originally let on since they were still rejecting my much more generous offer. Hopefully EA Canada has time to refine this feedback to be more specific.

The NHL development team also opened up about other changes its made since we saw the game a couple months ago. Based on early fan feedback on NHL 13’s direction, the development team decided to change the player ratings to create more of a gap between the star players and the average skaters in the league. Franchise players like Sidney Crosby are still rated in the 90s, but the average ratings of third-line defenders are in the mid-70s instead of the low-80s this year.

While talking GM Connected mode I also asked some questions about the planned companion app. EA is developing the app for the iOS platform only at this time, with no plans to bring it to Android. The app allows you to check out your league stats and standings, view player information, make trade offers, make claims for free agents, and send messages to the rest of your league. Though EA has looked into it, logistics prevent the app from supporting line editing, scouting, tweaking team strategy, and notifications at this time. The app offers no special functionality for commissioners; if you want to move the league forward or kick someone out, you need to do it from the console.

[steelerfan]

I like that there is a wider margin in the ratings though I'm disappointed that there won't be an Android app.

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[psuexv]

Online Co-op Connected Mode would be freakin sweet


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFXcAAjFKJ0&feature=youtu.be

[psuexv]

http://www.easports.com/nhl/news/article/gm-connected-revealed


GM Connected Revealed

EA SPORTS NHL has always been a social game for me and the game is at its best when one of my friends is on the other side of the faceoff circle. When I was in high school in Kelowna, British Columbia, playing with friends meant having to go over to someone’s house. With that being said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that my favorite addition to NHL 13 is the GM Connected mode, a gameplay option that takes the traditional Be A GM mode and puts it online allowing gamers around the world to join together to manage teams in their own virtual NHL.

NHL producer Andy Agostini headed up the development of GM Connected and explained, “When we started the year we discussed what we wanted to add to the NHL franchise and thru viewing user feedback we knew that an Online Dynasty is one of the most requested features. We also knew that Be a GM is the NHL franchise’s number one most played mode. Essentially, what we’ve done is taken all the best things from Be a GM and combined them with Online Team Play the base for our popular EA SPORTS Hockey League, creating the largest online dynasty mode ever.”

How many people can play in a GM Connected league?

Up to 30 people can each manage their own NHL team in this multi-user NHL dynasty mode and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

With up to 30 human managed teams, the total number of players able to take part in a GM Connected league is 750. Essentially, it’s largest online dynasty mode ever in a sports game.

Five Ways to Play

1. Play against the computer

2. Play against another GM in head to head play.

3. Co-Op/Online Team Play – Have friends play with you against the computer or against another team with human-controlled players in up to 6 vs 6 action. (First time ever in a multi-user dynasty).

4. Build Your AI – New to the EA SPORTS NHL series: Control your team’s strategies with all-new systems and bias sliders. Customize and record AI sequences so that your players play your game.

· This can be set up so that a user who can’t make a game against another human controlled team will be able to let the CPU play for them with their strategies in place.



5. Coach Controls – Be the mastermind behind the bench and control your team’s strategies and line changes to help your team to victory. (A quick shoot button allows you to control when your team goes for goal.)

GM Connected: What’s your Role?

Users will be able to choose between one of three roles within the league, each one giving them a different way to experience the league:

The Commissioner

Each league will have one Commissioner. The Commissioner will also run a franchise in the league.

The Commissioner creates the league, manages the invitations to the league and confirms join requests. The Commish also sets up the schedule of when the games are to be played and how long each round is. The commissioner can set each round to represent between 3 days and 2 weeks, allowing for more or less playable games per round.

Once the league is up and running the Commissioner’s job isn’t done. He is the one in control of moving the schedule forward in the league by advancing the league and simulating any games that have not been played to the next round of games. Just like the real NHL, all trades and free agent signings also have to be approved by the league, which in GM Connected falls to the Commissioner.

The Commissioner is not all powerful. If he is abusing his power as Commissioner, the league’s GMs can vote to have him removed. The GM who initiates the vote, if successful, will then become Commissioner.

General Manager

A league can have between one and 30 General Managers, each vying to lead their team to success. As with previous GM modes in the EA SPORTS NHL series, a team’s GM is in charge of building the team via trades, free agent signings and the draft.

A GM can both be a player on his team as well as recruit up to twenty-four friends to play with him in co-op or Online Team Play.

Players

The role of a player is quite a bit more traditional. Marshaled by their General Manager their task is to show up at game time to play their part on the ice.

As with existing Online Team Play modes, the players in a GM Connected league can be vital in helping their team to victory, even if they’re not the ones in the boardroom making the deals. Though they might want to suggest deals if it can help them in their player role.

Staying Connected

Staying in touch with everyone in the league is important, especially with so many potential players filling out the team rosters. In GM Connected there are two different types of messaging to keep everyone in the loop.

“League News messaging is to allow people to send quick messages to the league news ‘blog’ screen. This allows people to send messages to the Commissioner, All other GMs and to players on their team,” Agostini explained via email.

Commissioners and GMs also have private mailboxes which will receive in-game emails about league activities. These activities include:

· Waiver alerts – Lets GMs know when a player is available on waivers in case they would like to claim him

· Free Agent signings – Tells GM if they have won a free agent claim

· For Commissioners it allows them to see all trades and veto or approve them which will help stop cheating in the league

· Also gives them the ability to see transactions from around the league as they happen

This messaging system will allow GMs and the Commissioner go through any actionable league related items they have, thus making it an integral part of their experience.

GM Connected Mobile App

Created specifically for GM Connected is the GM Connected Mobile App which will allow gamers to take the league with them when they leave their consoles. The app will allow them to:

· View: Team Standings, Player Stats, Schedule, Injury Report, Transactions

· Trade: Offer trades to other teams,

· Free Agents: Make offers to free agents

· Post: GMs can send messages to the Commissioner, other GMs or his team

Drafting

The Entry Draft is done though the creation of a Draft Priority List. Rather than making players sit through a long draft process we instead allow them to create a list of their draft targets before the start of the Entry Draft and allow the computer to draft for them based on the order of their picks and who remains available.

NHL 13 will have a randomize team rosters option. This will randomize the team rosters so that teams will start out relatively even. That way you can avoid arguments over who gets what team, and nobody has an automatic advantage because of the strength of the team they pick.

GM Brain - The NHL franchise’s Smartest GM/Trade Logic Ever

Both GM Connected and Be A GM also benefit from this year’s addition of GM Brain, a revamp of the NHL 13 GM AI. GM Brain causes the computer controlled GMs to act in a more realistic way than ever before. Instead of focusing just on immediate needs, GM Brain allows the AI to evaluate trades and transactions in terms of immediate, short-term and long-term goals that are best for the organization.

Stay tuned, we’ll be talking more about GM Brain in a future blog.

Andy Agostini had this to say about the mode, “We know our users always wanted an online dynasty mode but we wanted to provide something different and innovative. I believe with this mode we have done just that. All online dynasty modes have at most 32 users in it but we can have up to 750 players of all skill levels due to the ways people can play and with the roles they can have in the league. We also allow people in different places to play together against other teams or the CPU. Our goal was to create tools to have leagues run their way. If a league wants to trade users to different teams they can do that in GM Connected. If two brothers living in different cities want to play together on the same team or against each other they can do that. It has so many possibilities and with the connectivity of the mobile application it allows you to stay connected to that league 24/7 allowing people to stay engaged with the experience.

Every year as soon as I get home with my copy of NHL I start up a new career as a General Manager, and play that career through to the next year’s game is released. With GM Connected I can finally manage my team in a league against my friends around the world.

[JBHuskers]

Online Co-op Connected Mode would be freakin sweet



Isn't that what this is?

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s159/jbennett98/nhl-1.jpg

[psuexv]

Isn't that what this is?

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s159/jbennett98/nhl-1.jpg

I meant would be sweet to do. Yes it's in the game.

[psuexv]

Still no word on how injuries are handled. Wondering if they will just do game injuries and no long lasting ones.

[psuexv]

Isn't that what this is?


Someone with more Co-op mode experience help me out. I know you can create your own players, but I wonder if I can pick a certain player and play with him. Say I take Crosby and someone else takes Malkin.

[JBHuskers]

I meant would be sweet to do. Yes it's in the game.

Good we'll have to do that.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[psuexv]

Good we'll have to do that.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2


Yeah depending on how many people we get interested.

[JBHuskers]

Yeah depending on how many people we get interested.

NHL was more on the backburner with FIFA, but now the game has changed.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[psuexv]

NHL was more on the backburner with FIFA, but now the game has changed.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

Yeah but if FIFA also gets these modes as rumored. FIFA will still carry strong

[JBHuskers]

Yeah but if FIFA also gets these modes as rumored. FIFA will still carry strong

I will be busy :nod:

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[jaymo76]

[QUOTE=JBHuskers;155065]I will be busy :nod:



So JB, since you are "in the know" with the Tiburon team, do you think it's pretty much a dine deal that NCAA 14 has Connected Careers? If I had to guess I would say it is, whatever that may mean.

As for NHL, I have never played a co-op game of anything. That sounds like a lot of fun if you had a large group all on the same team.

[psuexv]

So JB, since you are "in the know" with the Tiburon team, do you think it's pretty much a dine deal that NCAA 14 has Connected Careers? If I had to guess I would say it is, whatever that may mean.


I don't know but if they add an Co-op RTG mode I am in

Especially if you get recruited together or against each other.

[psusnoop]

Oh man, this is nuts. I would really enjoy playing a co-op online dynasty. As
Well as a regular dynasty with you guys too!

[JBHuskers]

[QUOTE=JBHuskers;155065]I will be busy :nod:



So JB, since you are "in the know" with the Tiburon team, do you think it's pretty much a dine deal that NCAA 14 has Connected Careers? If I had to guess I would say it is, whatever that may mean.

As for NHL, I have never played a co-op game of anything. That sounds like a lot of fun if you had a large group all on the same team.

At this time of year, nothing is a done deal.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[JBHuskers]

Oh man, this is nuts. I would really enjoy playing a co-op online dynasty. As
Well as a regular dynasty with you guys too!

I think all of us on the same team of dynasty against the cpu would be a blast.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[psuexv]

From the EA Forum




NHL 13 GM Connected - Community Event Q&A



Please read the blog first: http://www.easports.com/nhl/news/article/gm-connected-revealed

And watch the trailer:



It seems a lot of people are very confused about this new mode. As it has now been revealed and we (community event attendees) are free to chat w/ everyone, please fire away w/ your questions and myself, KidShowTime, SCARFACE, and others will do our best to answer them. I also believe we'll have impressions up at some point as well.

SCHEDULING

I believe this will be asked frequently so I will explain it here best I can.

GM Connected uses the real NHL schedule. To play the games, the commissioner selects a "tick length," which can be anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks I believe. The length of this tick represents actual weeks of an NHL schedule. So when you enter your GM Connected, you will see all the games your NHL team has scheduled in real life as playable during that tick.

So for example, let's say I'm the Flyers, and the commissioner sets the league tick for 2 weeks. The first time I start my GM Connected as Philly, I will see all their games on the first two weeks of the schedule, let's say October 11-25.

THU OCT 11, 2012 BRUINS FLYERS 7:00 PM
SAT OCT 13, 2012 FLYERS ISLANDERS 7:00 PM
THU OCT 18, 2012 PENGUINS FLYERS 7:00 PM
SAT OCT 20, 2012 JETS FLYERS 7:00 PM
THU OCT 25, 2012 FLYERS CANADIENS 7:30 PM



Now the game will show whether these teams are human or AI controlled, and I can play them in any order. So if the GM of the Penguins is on but the Bruins guy isn't, I can still play my game against the Penguins even though it isn't "next" on the schedule.

The length of time for advancing the tick will be informal and vary league by league. So let's say your league decides that you will advance your schedule every REAL 5 days. So you have 5 days to play all your league games and once the commish advances, any unplayed games will be simmed. The schedule will then change to October 26-November 9, and you will have all your team's games from those two weeks available to play in the next five days, and so on.

[JBHuskers]

Love it. My interest level went through the roof looking at all these details.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[psuexv]

From Steve B in regards to injuries

@Bobrovsky33: @psuexv Any order within a two week / 3 day time frame on the schedule. I believe they won't go into effect until tick is advanced.

[psusnoop]

From Steve B in regards to injuries

@Bobrovsky33: @psuexv Any order within a two week / 3 day time frame on the schedule. I believe they won't go into effect until tick is advanced.

Expected and I'm PUMPED for NHL 13. Pre-ordering soon. Have I missed any deals? I have a 10 and 5 dollar credit in amazon :)

[cdj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf52GpMVh5I

[JBHuskers]

:rock:

[psusnoop]

Oh man, this is going to be awesome!!

[jaymo76]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf52GpMVh5I

wOW! I am 99% offline type of guy but that online co-op looks like a lot of fun.

[psuexv]

Can't wait

[psusnoop]

wOW! I am 99% offline type of guy but that online co-op looks like a lot of fun.

We could put together an online co-op team!!

[jaymo76]

We could put together an online co-op team!!

I think that would be a blast! Now I just need to scrounge together the pennies to buy another game (we need to buy a new car in the near future to better accomodate the kids).

[steelerfan]

I think that would be a blast! Now I just need to scrounge together the pennies to buy another game (we need to buy a new car in the near future to better accomodate the kids).

Sell a kid and both problems go away. :nod:

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[JBHuskers]

Sell a kid and both problems go away. :nod:

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:nod:

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[psusnoop]

Sell a kid and both problems go away. :nod:

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:D

[psuexv]

Sell a kid and both problems go away. :nod:

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Yeah but with the exchange rate, you aren't going to get much.

[JeffHCross]

Be a Pro (not much) and EASHL improvements (http://www.easports.com/nhl/news/article/be-a-pro-hockey-league-improvements)

Enhancements to the GM AI (http://www.easports.com/nhl/news/article/nhl-13-gm-brain) for Be A Pro, Be A GM, and GM Connected

Seriously, can Tiburon their hands on half the stuff EA Canada has at their disposal? That "league growth" tool would be badass for dynasties, and the Hockey IQ is badly needed to be adapted for the football field.

[Paakaa10]

Defensive Gameplay Reveal Video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eug_qhEy3uw

[JeffHCross]

Everything looks so good, but there's just something I can't shake about the scale of the rink/players. Something just seems off. I think it's the twitch quickness and the way they get up/down ice so quickly ... the relative speed seems right, but the overall speed just seems a little too quick.

[psuexv]

This save is ridiculous, really shows the new goalie awareness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eug_qhEy3uw&feature=player_embedded#t=143s

[steelerfan]

Thanks for re-posting that Eric.


:fp:

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[psuexv]

Thanks for re-posting that Eric.


:fp:

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Sorry, I didn't see where someone else posted a snippet of the exact time in that video that Jeff posted where there was a killer goalie save. If you are referring to the fact that the rest of the video plays, then take it up with You Tube to allow people to stop a video instead of just starting it a specific time :P

[steelerfan]

Sorry, I didn't see where someone else posted a snippet of the exact time in that video that Jeff posted where there was a killer goalie save. If you are referring to the fact that the rest of the video plays, then take it up with You Tube to allow people to stop a video instead of just starting it a specific time :P

Thanks, again, re-posting the same video that BRIAN posted. :fp:

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[JBHuskers]

:popcorn:

[psuexv]

Thanks, again, re-posting the same video that BRIAN posted. :fp:

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Jeff, Brian same thing. Once again, take it up with You Tube

[steelerfan]

Jeff, Brian same thing.

No.

But I'm sure these two gentlemen appreciate being lumped together by the likes of yourself.

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[JeffHCross]

... awkward ....

[steelerfan]

... awkward ....

:D

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[cdj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yjjw0D9guY&feature=g-all-u

[JeffHCross]

Note to other marketing groups:
* Tease "major gameplay revolution"
* Announce "major gameplay revolution"
* Show gameplay enhancements
* Show more gameplay enhancements
* Show Franchise mode enhancements
* THEN show Presentation changes

Damn.

[steelerfan]

Note to other marketing groups:
* Tease "major gameplay revolution"
* Announce "major gameplay revolution"
* Show gameplay enhancements
* Show more gameplay enhancements
* Show Franchise mode enhancements
* THEN show Presentation changes

Damn.

:D

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[psusnoop]

Pre-order complete :up:

[psusnoop]

Pre-order complete :up:

Thanks for the $15.00 credit I'll be sure to use for FIFA 13 as well! Just sitting back hoping for the same kind of deal for it too :D

Quoting myself = cool, JB taught me this :nod:

[gschwendt]

Amazon is offering a $15 credit for pre-orders of NHL13
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007FTE33O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007FTE33O&linkCode=as2&tag=thegamtai-20

[psusnoop]

Demo drops August 21st as well.

Correction from twitter posts: Aug 21st for 360 and 22nd for PS3 :dunno:

[psuexv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS2V1G3qomE&feature=youtu.be&t=9m40s

[SmoothPancakes]

Demo drops August 21st as well.

Correction from twitter posts: Aug 21st for 360 and 22nd for PS3 :dunno:

I'll make sure to post some thoughts for you on the 21st so you don't feel left out. :D

[JeffHCross]

Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/top-rated-forwards-defensemen-goalies-nhl-13-134739173--nhl.html) has news on why NHL 13 OVRs will look different from NHL 12 OVRs.

Also, top 5 forwards, defensemen, and goallies (by rating) listed.

I cannot fathom how Zdeno Chara does not have a 99 in Shot Power.

[psusnoop]

I'll make sure to post some thoughts for you on the 21st so you don't feel left out. :D

:smh:

[cdj]

NHL Moments Live (http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/ahxqgi/nhl-13-exclusive-introducing-nhl-moments-live-trailer) (GameTrailers)

Relive, recreate, and rewrite NHL history with this new mode in EA Sport's acclaimed NHL series.

[psuexv]

NHL Moments Live (http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/ahxqgi/nhl-13-exclusive-introducing-nhl-moments-live-trailer) (GameTrailers)

Relive, recreate, and rewrite NHL history with this new mode in EA Sport's acclaimed NHL series.

These always look cool but I can never really get into them, kind of like the Masters Moments in TW last year. Is there a list out there of which ones are included?

[steelerfan]

These always look cool but I can never really get into them, kind of like the Masters Moments in TW last year. Is there a list out there of which ones are included?

They will be like FIFA. New ones will be added all the time to mimmick the recent games in the real league.

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[JeffHCross]

I loved the NCAA ones back in the day, mainly because so many of them were before I followed the game. But, like E, I've struggled to get into other titles' similar features. NHL is one I could possibly enjoy though.

[psusnoop]

Anyone here download the demo yet? I'm going to be downloading it as soon as I get home tonight!

[psuexv]

I don't think it's out on PSN yet, it is for Xbox though :fp:

[psusnoop]

I don't think it's out on PSN yet, it is for Xbox though :fp:

Yep appears later today it should be for PS3. Grr

[psuexv]

While we wait for the demo at least we can watch a new trailer :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4QbPPCGtjw&feature=youtu.be

[cdj]

A look at the Winter Classic in NHL 13:


http://youtu.be/H62XDSgLuqc?t=53s

[jaymo76]

Yep appears later today it should be for PS3. Grr

Can you play this demo online versus a friend???

[jaymo76]

Yep appears later today it should be for PS3. Grr

Can you play this demo online versus a friend???

[psuexv]

Yep appears later today it should be for PS3. Grr

Word is the demo is out for PSN, just have to search for it.

[psuexv]

Can you play this demo online versus a friend???


I would assume so but can't verify

[SmoothPancakes]

Shit, I completely forgot the demo came out today. I haven't turned on my 360 since sometime middle of last week. I'll have to fire it up here in a bit and get this started downloading.

[psusnoop]

I would assume so but can't verify

Did u download this yet?

[psuexv]

Did u download this yet?

I started it after dinner, putting the boys to bed so not sure where it's at, probably 12% :D

[psusnoop]

I've started mine about 15 mins in, I'm upstairs but I'd say it should be close to being done :) hahaha who am I kidding damn thing probably has another hour :fp:

[psusnoop]

I started it after dinner, putting the boys to bed so not sure where it's at, probably 12% :D

I've got a quick CPU OD then I'm playing this. If we can play against each other let's play a game or two. My headset is charged. Charge yours quick.

[JeffHCross]

I'm downloading it too!!!! (I don't want to be feel out)

Approximately 252 minutes left (and climbing?)

[JBHuskers]

I feel left out :fdown: :D

I'm backing up my old PS3 hard drive; which will take all night basically. I could download it for 360, but I'm busy playing on it right now.

[psuexv]

77% right now. Wonder if we can do team play.

[psuexv]

No online play in the demo. Booooo

[steelerfan]

No online play in the demo. Booooo

Which sports game has had an online demo that made you believe this would happen?

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[jaymo76]

I played a few games tonight. Looks good as per usual and the physics seem tightened up a little more. Hits look and feel good. The commentary is just as boring as ever... it's really time for a new team IMO. Overall though, unless you are buying this for CONNECTED CAREERS, there isn't a lot of reasons to buy it. For me I have NHL 11 and I am still content with that game. As I say, unless I am in a connected careers league, I would probably not buy it. The game feels solid but nothing that it hasn't been for the past few years.

[psuexv]

Which sports game has had an online demo that made you believe this would happen?

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Doesn't NCAA and Madden?

Edit - Maybe I'm thinking of Season Pass

[psuexv]

Overall though, unless you are buying this for CONNECTED CAREERS, there isn't a lot of reasons to buy it.

This is the only reason that I decided to get it. '12 played well for me but the chance to play online in a franchise mode made me change my mind.

I will say though that the differences in speed and fast players able to pull away along with the new goalie animations this game is pretty good. Yes commentary is the same ol' same ol' but I can turn it down.

[SmoothPancakes]

It's nice they actually let you do some stuff in the demo. Play now, play the one NHL Moment they have in the demo (game 5 of Kings-Coyotes series), you can at least download a starter pack for HUT, maybe play some HUT games but I don't know as I didn't delve into it, instead opting to go with the NHL/hockey moment game.

Now NCAA, Madden, FIFA, etc all need to take lessons from the NHL team on letting you actually do some small stuff in the demo besides the same old shit year after year.

[psuexv]

I have never touched HUT but I see it in other games as well. Can someone explain? Apparently you get cards or something and can earn players and build your team? Can someone else have the same players as me? Can I play with these teams and where, can I only play other HUTs?

[JBHuskers]

I have never touched HUT but I see it in other games as well. Can someone explain? Apparently you get cards or something and can earn players and build your team? Can someone else have the same players as me? Can I play with these teams and where, can I only play other HUTs?

You get initial pack then you use coins you earn to buy more packs.

Yes someone else can have the same players.

You can play other HUTs or the CPU.

[steelerfan]

I have never touched HUT but I see it in other games as well. Can someone explain? Apparently you get cards or something and can earn players and build your team? Can someone else have the same players as me? Can I play with these teams and where, can I only play other HUTs?

You can use your team, within that mode, against other users' HUT teams, or against the CPU. You earn coins to buy more packs of cards. The packs will have players, coaches, arenas, uniforms, training boosts, and contracts that you can apply to your team to try and get better.

Each player card is only good for so many games, depending on the player's age and many users will have the same player. For example, if you had Crosby, his card may be good for 80 games. After you use him in 80 games, he can't be used anymore and the only way you could keep using him would be to get another Crosby card with games still remaining on it. That said, though he has 80 games that he can play, you must apply a contract card to him (they vary from like 3 to 25 games, or something) in order for him to actually play the games remaining on his card.

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[psuexv]

Doesn't really sound like fun

[steelerfan]

Doesn't really sound like fun

It's not for me at all.

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[psusnoop]

me either

[JBHuskers]

FIFA is the one I've enjoyed the most out of all of them.

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[jaymo76]

I can't believe there have not been more impressions posted. Are people not interested or have you not played???

[JeffHCross]

I can't believe there have not been more impressions posted. Are people not interested or have you not played???This site doesn't have that much discussion on anything that isn't NCAA.

My impressions are A) Good reminder that I suck at the game; B) The AI upgrade is extremely impressive to me; C) I love the speed of the skating. I didn't like it in the videos, but in actual game play it works really, really well. Feels like skating as I know it.

[souljahbill]

I can't believe there have not been more impressions posted. Are people not interested or have you not played???

We're Americans. What's hockey? :p

[SmoothPancakes]

I can't believe there have not been more impressions posted. Are people not interested or have you not played???

I haven't had the time. I played the NHL/Hockey Moment (whatever it's called) of Kings-Coyotes game 5 on Wednesday morning around 6am when I finally got around to downloading the demo and got a chance to play. That was all though. I haven't even turned on my 360 since Wednesday morning, and unless I get on sometime tonight, I won't be online until sometime after 6pm Saturday night at the absolute earliest.

[jaymo76]

I haven't had the time. I played the NHL/Hockey Moment (whatever it's called) of Kings-Coyotes game 5 on Wednesday morning around 6am when I finally got around to downloading the demo and got a chance to play. That was all though. I haven't even turned on my 360 since Wednesday morning, and unless I get on sometime tonight, I won't be online until sometime after 6pm Saturday night at the absolute earliest.

I am just finding life and all off these sports games are coming together all at the same time. Madden, NHL, FIFA are all within weeks of one another. I would love to see NCAA move to a June release and have Madden go back to early August so as to get some seperation.

[SmoothPancakes]

I am just finding life and all off these sports games are coming together all at the same time. Madden, NHL, FIFA are all within weeks of one another. I would love to see NCAA move to a June release and have Madden go back to early August so as to get some seperation.

Yep. Madden comes out August 28th, NHL comes out two weeks later on September 11th, FIFA two weeks after that on September 25th. There is just no time at all to really sit back and enjoy these games. We get NCAA Football by itself for a month and half, but then have Madden, NHL and FIFA all shoved on us within a one month period. I'm not getting Madden so that won't be a big deal, but I'll only two weeks to play NHL (with multiple days of not playing at all due to work) before I'll have to split my time on NHL with FIFA, all the while working in NCAA in between all of that for my dynasty.

For having 12 months in a year, EA's timing is shit when it comes to releasing games. I know NHL in September makes sense since the NHL season gets fired up in mid-October (with preseason starting in mid to late September), and Madden in August makes sense since you're in the preseason and the regular season is about to kickoff for the NFL, but they have got to find a way to space this stuff out better.

Of course, I make the same complaint about games in general. Last year, you had Modern Warfare 3, Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed Revelations, WWE '12, all within the month of November. This year, we have Assassin's Creed 3, Halo 4 and Black Ops 2 all within a 3 week period. While obviously that's a huge time for releases due to the holidays, some of these releases and their spacing relating to other major releases or other games from the same company suck.

[jaymo76]

Yep. Madden comes out August 28th, NHL comes out two weeks later on September 11th, FIFA two weeks after that on September 25th. There is just no time at all to really sit back and enjoy these games. We get NCAA Football by itself for a month and half, but then have Madden, NHL and FIFA all shoved on us within a one month period. I'm not getting Madden so that won't be a big deal, but I'll only two weeks to play NHL (with multiple days of not playing at all due to work) before I'll have to split my time on NHL with FIFA, all the while working in NCAA in between all of that for my dynasty.

For having 12 months in a year, EA's timing is shit when it comes to releasing games. I know NHL in September makes sense since the NHL season gets fired up in mid-October (with preseason starting in mid to late September), and Madden in August makes sense since you're in the preseason and the regular season is about to kickoff for the NFL, but they have got to find a way to space this stuff out better.

Of course, I make the same complaint about games in general. Last year, you had Modern Warfare 3, Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed Revelations, WWE '12, all within the month of November. This year, we have Assassin's Creed 3, Halo 4 and Black Ops 2 all within a 3 week period. While obviously hat's a huge time for releases due to the holidays, some of these releases and their spacing relating to other major releases or other games from the same company suck.

The thing that bugs me though is that Madden's release date was great where it was. Moving it to the end of August really screwed things up. Now I am probably not getting Madden so it's not a big deal but if I were that would really suck. Plus with FIFA and NHL so close you almost have to choose one. Personally I would love to see FIFA in NORTH AMERICA as a spring release but I realise that won't happen.

[SmoothPancakes]

The thing that bugs me though is that Madden's release date was great where it was. Moving it to the end of August really screwed things up. Now I am probably not getting Madden so it's not a big deal but if I were that would really suck. Plus with FIFA and NHL so close you almost have to choose one. Personally I would love to see FIFA in NORTH AMERICA as a spring release but I realise that won't happen.

Yep, all these releases in close proximity screw me. I have never made it through an entire season in any NHL game, and I doubt that will be the case this year with getting FIFA. I want to do what Steeler has done, getting up there in the 300-400 games played range. Starting in the MLS or something, then go over to Europe or Asia, work my way up to the English Premiere League over a period of time, etc.

That's gonna take a lot of playing and a lot of time with as many games that are play in a single season. All that playing is going to come at a cost of NHL and other games. Then add in Halo 4, Assassin's Creed 3 and others, a couple games are going to get shoved to the side and hardly touched. Sadly, NHL will probably be one of those. If they would space these games out better (instead of having everything in a couple month period, then having jack shit for new games from January through June), that would be perfect. Let me put some serious dedicated time into one game (two tops) and then after one or two months, bring a new game into the shuffle and work some time around to include that new game in my cycle of gameplay.

[steelerfan]

I can't believe there have not been more impressions posted. Are people not interested or have you not played???

I only played one game. It felt the same as 12 to me. That's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. The only thing that stood out to me was that the audio was off/fucked up. Since I haven't seen anyone else mention this, maybe it was my PS3's handling of the download. :dunno:

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[SmoothPancakes]

I only played one game. It felt the same as 12 to me. That's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. The only thing that stood out to me was that the audio was off/fucked up. Since I haven't seen anyone else mention this, maybe it was my PS3's handling of the download. :dunno:

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I'll be honest, I paid absolutely no attention to the audio for the brief 15-20 minutes that I played Wednesday morning. With FIFA 10 and NHL 11 being the only other sports games I've bought the last couple years besides NCAA and NBA 2K, I pretty much just automatically tune out whatever audio is playing since it gets pretty bland or repetitive after a while between the NCAA and NBA announcing. I get so focused on what's happening on the field/court, I don't even subconsciously pay attention to or listen to the audio or commentary.

[jaymo76]

Yep, all these releases in close proximity screw me. I have never made it through an entire season in any NHL game, and I doubt that will be the case this year with getting FIFA. I want to do what Steeler has done, getting up there in the 300-400 games played range. Starting in the MLS or something, then go over to Europe or Asia, work my way up to the English Premiere League over a period of time, etc.

That's gonna take a lot of playing and a lot of time with as many games that are play in a single season. All that playing is going to come at a cost of NHL and other games. Then add in Halo 4, Assassin's Creed 3 and others, a couple games are going to get shoved to the side and hardly touched. Sadly, NHL will probably be one of those. If they would space these games out better (instead of having everything in a couple month period, then having jack shit for new games from January through June), that would be perfect. Let me put some serious dedicated time into one game (two tops) and then after one or two months, bring a new game into the shuffle and work some time around to include that new game in my cycle of gameplay.

My biggest advice for FIFA... DON'T START IN MLS!!! The league is pretty dry and has zero tourneys. Europe, even the weaker leagues are awesome. Right now I am in the Netherlands. I have played about 100+ offline games and it has been a blast.

As to NHL, I usually finish 1-2 seasons but I only buy every couple of years. IMO NHL needs custom schedules.

[jaymo76]

I only played one game. It felt the same as 12 to me. That's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. The only thing that stood out to me was that the audio was off/fucked up. Since I haven't seen anyone else mention this, maybe it was my PS3's handling of the download. :dunno:

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I don't recall there being any problems but I will have to recheck when I get a chance.

[steelerfan]

I get what you guys are saying about these releases being so close. NHL and NCAA are the only 2 titles that I can say that I have owned every version of. However, I'm not that excited about NHL this year because of FIFA. I'm playing so much FIFA nowadays that I really don't have the time/interest in any other games.

I've barely touched NCAA, I'm going to pass on Madden, and I may actually pass on NHL too (that's easy to say now, of course).

As Smooth mentioned, I'm in my eighth season on FIFA 12 (388 Career Mode matches so far, I believe) and I'm just trying to get this last season finished before 13 drops and I start all over.

I've kinda felt that FIFA should move it's release up to July or August. I'm guessing that, in the past, the September release was to allow for the Summer transfer window to finish up so that rosters could be finalized. However, with downloadable updates, I'd think they'd like to ship a little before the EPL kicks off, instead of a little after.

I'd like to see something like this:

NCAA - early July
FIFA - late July or early August
Madden - late August
NHL - late September

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[JeffHCross]

Of course, I make the same complaint about games in general. Last year, you had Modern Warfare 3, Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed Revelations, WWE '12, all within the month of November. This year, we have Assassin's Creed 3, Halo 4 and Black Ops 2 all within a 3 week period. While obviously that's a huge time for releases due to the holidays, some of these releases and their spacing relating to other major releases or other games from the same company suck.Yeah, but at least all (or at least most) of those are from competing companies that are trying to compete for your holiday dollars. In theory, FIFA doesn't want to steal sales from NHL. In theory.


I only played one game. It felt the same as 12 to me. That's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. The only thing that stood out to me was that the audio was off/fucked up. Since I haven't seen anyone else mention this, maybe it was my PS3's handling of the download. :dunno: I didn't notice anything wrong with the audio.

[steelerfan]

I don't recall there being any problems but I will have to recheck when I get a chance.


I'll be honest, I paid absolutely no attention to the audio for the brief 15-20 minutes that I played Wednesday morning. With FIFA 10 and NHL 11 being the only other sports games I've bought the last couple years besides NCAA and NBA 2K, I pretty much just automatically tune out whatever audio is playing since it gets pretty bland or repetitive after a while between the NCAA and NBA announcing. I get so focused on what's happening on the field/court, I don't even subconsciously pay attention to or listen to the audio or commentary.

What I specifically remember was that the "collective groan" sound of the crowd was skipping. Instead of taking maybe 1 second to play, it was pausing and taking like 5 seconds. It sounded like hell.

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[JeffHCross]

What I specifically remember was that the "collective groan" sound of the crowd was skipping.Hmm. Don't recall hearing this at all, actually.

Though that may be because there was only one goal scored in my game, and it was by the home team :D :fp:

[SmoothPancakes]

My biggest advice for FIFA... DON'T START IN MLS!!! The league is pretty dry and has zero tourneys. Europe, even the weaker leagues are awesome. Right now I am in the Netherlands. I have played about 100+ offline games and it has been a blast.

As to NHL, I usually finish 1-2 seasons but I only buy every couple of years. IMO NHL needs custom schedules.

Yeah, I started in MLS back in FIFA 10, never got through more than 2 seasons. I'll have to give it some thought. I'd like to get a season in with the Colorado Rapids before moving on to Europe, but I'll have to see what it's like once I get the game.


I get what you guys are saying about these releases being so close. NHL and NCAA are the only 2 titles that I can say that I have owned every version of. However, I'm not that excited about NHL this year because of FIFA. I'm playing so much FIFA nowadays that I really don't have the time/interest in any other games.

I've barely touched NCAA, I'm going to pass on Madden, and I may actually pass on NHL too (that's easy to say now, of course).

As Smooth mentioned, I'm in my eighth season on FIFA 12 (388 Career Mode matches so far, I believe) and I'm just trying to get this last season finished before 13 drops and I start all over.

I've kinda felt that FIFA should move it's release up to July or August. I'm guessing that, in the past, the September release was to allow for the Summer transfer window to finish up so that rosters could be finalized. However, with downloadable updates, I'd think they'd like to ship a little before the EPL kicks off, instead of a little after.

I'd like to see something like this:

NCAA - early July
FIFA - late July or early August
Madden - late August
NHL - late September

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I wouldn't mind that. Maybe keep NCAA to the first Tuesday of July, FIFA the last Tuesday of July or first Tuesday of August, Madden the last Tuesday of August and NHL the last Tuesday of September. That would give you 3 weeks to a full month between all of the releases, so you'd get plenty of time with the games before the next one would release.

I would probably just go with FIFA this year, as I have only played FIFA 10 in the past couple years, but since NHL 11 was my last NHL game, I figured I'd get updated on both this year, then starting next year, fall into an alternating FIFA one year, NHL the next schedule. Unless of course one of the games makes some major breakthrough additions during their off year that requires I buy them a second year in a row.


Yeah, but at least all (or at least most) of those are from competing companies that are trying to compete for your holiday dollars. In theory, FIFA doesn't want to steal sales from NHL. In theory.

I didn't notice anything wrong with the audio.

Oh, I know that's why they all ship around those sames weeks. I just wish January through June got as much love so I would be sitting there trying to cram 5-6 games into a limited window of playing time due to them all coming out within a couple months or weeks of each other.

[steelerfan]

For me, I follow Houston Dynamo, so I enjoyed starting with them for a season before heading to Europe. I'm sure I'll do this again on FIFA 13. I may have to play a second Career Mode where I start at Chelsea so I can play with the current roster.

What I'll likely do, is start one with Houston and use that one as the one where I jump from club to club and start a second one where I just play a few seasons at Stamford Bridge with the Blues.

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[psuexv]

Unfortunately I haven't had time to play it since the first day. But I thought it played pretty well. The commentary is stale as always. But the gameplay I thought was pretty good. I was able to get a pass up the ice to Parise on one and he was able to blow past a defender after a couple of strides. The CPU offense was actually a big improvement as well. They were dumping a lot of pucks and it felt like a real NHL game.

With Connected Careers this is definitely a purchase for me. Probably won't get '14 though.

[JeffHCross]

Oh, I know that's why they all ship around those sames weeks. I just wish January through June got as much love so I would be sitting there trying to cram 5-6 games into a limited window of playing time due to them all coming out within a couple months or weeks of each other.Save your money; buy after Christmas :D

[cdj]

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced today that for the first time ever in a professional league simulation sports video game, EA SPORTS NHL 13 has added female athletes as playable characters. Former Team USA superstar Angela Ruggiero will join former Team Canada great Hayley Wickenheiser, both four-time Olympic Ice Hockey medalists, as playable legends in NHL 13. NHL Hall of Famers Doug Gilmour, Jari Kurri, and NHL legend Dominik Hasek will also be added to the roster of legends which includes the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. The NHL 13 demo is available for download now via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Promising the biggest year on year innovation to the franchise on this console generation, NHL 13 will be available on September 11, 2012 in North America and September 14, 2012 in Europe.

The addition of women’s hockey legends as playable characters within the EA SPORTS NHL franchise is the continuation of a commitment that the development team made to create greater representation for women’s hockey beginning with NHL 12.

“With the release of NHL 12 we added generic female characters in our Be a Pro mode based on a request from a 14-yr old female fan who emailed our staff because she felt underrepresented as a hockey videogame fan,” said Dean Richards, General Manager, NHL, EA SPORTS. “This year we are very excited to continue our effort of creating a more representative experience for female hockey fans by adding two of the greatest female athletes to ever play the game in Wickenheiser and Ruggiero to NHL 13.”

“The EA SPORTS NHL franchise took a big step last year by including female characters to create a more inclusive experience for female hockey fans,” said Hayley Wickenheiser. “I’m excited to be a part of NHL 13 and hope that the addition of women’s hockey legends will encourage greater participation in hockey from young women everywhere.”

Legends Integration in NHL 13

Legends in NHL 13 will be integrated across several modes:


Be A Legend – gamers will experience the glory of playing their entire Be A Pro career as a legend as they attempt to shatter the most impressive records in hockey, achieve legendary milestones and complete legends tasks.

Legends teams – Play as the legends team, Team Ruggiero or Team Wickenheiser, which are comprised of legends and current NHL greats in head-to-head play – within Play Now, Online and Battle for the Cup modes. Players on Team Ruggiero and Team Wickenheiser were selected by each athlete, respectively.
Hockey Ultimate Team & Be a GM – Gamers will have the ability to add legends to any team roster in Be a GM mode, or collect ultra-rare legends cards and use them within their Hockey Ultimate Team experience.

Headlined by all-new True Performance Skating, and supported by an innovative new A.I. system dubbed EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q., NHL 13 will deliver a revamped gameplay experience that accurately captures the speed, creativity and strategy of NHL hockey. In addition, NHL 13 will also deliver new experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of hockey with the all-new GM Connected and NHL Moments Live modes.

[SmoothPancakes]

EA is really hitting the legend stuff hardcore. NCAA, Madden, now NHL.

[JeffHCross]

NHL did it last year. Was the first from EA to do so, I believe.

The big mistake in NHL last year, IMO, was that you had to unlock the legends by playing the mode. It's difficult enough for me to get through one or two NHL seasons, let alone all those required for the legends.

[SmoothPancakes]

NHL did it last year. Was the first from EA to do so, I believe.

The big mistake in NHL last year, IMO, was that you had to unlock the legends by playing the mode. It's difficult enough for me to get through one or two NHL seasons, let alone all those required for the legends.

Ah, that would explain that then. I never played (or even really considered getting) NHL 12, so I have no clue what was in the game or what they did last year.

[steelerfan]

Once again....

526

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[SmoothPancakes]

:D :D :D

[steelerfan]

After the failure, by Madden 13, to get out to a good start with CCM, is anyone concerned about NHL flopping as well?

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[jaymo76]

[QUOTE=steelerfan;164574]After the failure, by Madden 13, to get out to a good start with CCM, is anyone concerned about NHL flopping as well?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2[/QUOTE I don't think so because of a couple things.

1. EA Canada is not Tiburon and they have a different type of game style
2. in NHL and FIFA we already don't have a lot of the options in NCAA/MADDEN
eg editing, playing other games, etc.
3. nhl CROWD IMO is more hardcore and educated on the game so they know what to expect...

[psuexv]

After the failure, by Madden 13, to get out to a good start with CCM, is anyone concerned about NHL flopping as well?

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Agree with Jaymo.

NHL and FIFA traditionally don't have the bugs/glitches that NCAA and Madden have.

Some for the biggest complaints on CCM is the editing of rosters, being dropped from the servers, the storylines are too scripted and just some random bugs and some of the trade and GM managing logic.

With NHL you won't have the storyline problems as this isn't a feature I've seen them promote. Not sure about the servers but I don't nearly lose connection as much as I do in NCAA and Madden. And NHL has seemed to really really worked on the trade logic and the GM brain so figures crossed on that.

[steelerfan]

Just wondering what you guys thought. I think NHL will be a "wait-and-see" for me, at this point.

I understand that EAC and Tiburon have very different track records, but the scope of the 2 projects (NHL and Madden) are very similar and I wouldn't be surprised with some issues at launch. That said, I would be a bit surprised if the issues were as massive as what I perceive Madden's to be.

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[psuexv]

Just wondering what you guys thought. I think NHL will be a "wait-and-see" for me, at this point.

I understand that EAC and Tiburon have very different track records, but the scope of the 2 projects (NHL and Madden) are very similar and I wouldn't be surprised with some issues at launch. That said, I would be a bit surprised if the issues were as massive as what I perceive Madden's to be.

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Yeah, I'm still going to get it but obviously I'm expecting some issues. I don't think any game is completely flawless. But as you stated, I don't foresee them being too bad.

Also the CCM issues haven't really effected me too much either. I'm not in any multi-user CCMs though either yet.

[steelerfan]

Anyone playing the early release?

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[SmoothPancakes]

Anyone playing the early release?

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Unfortunately not. I forgot to re-up my Season Ticket, and while I could right now, I'm being as anal as possible when it comes to spending money as I am hoping to have the money to buy a new TV next Friday after my next paycheck. I'm getting NHL and FIFA anyways, so I don't need to play the early release this year.

[JBHuskers]

Forgot all about it. Gonna download overnight.

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[JeffHCross]

Anyone playing the early release?Sadly, I don't have my PS3 with me at the moment, so no Season Ticket for me. I may have to bring it back from storage when I head up there tomorrow though ......

I did pick up Hockey News' season preview in anticipation of getting this, though.

[jaymo76]

Just started downloading now. I'll be honest... I completely forgot about it. For me I think the problem with NHL this year is that outside of CCM, it's identical to 11 (last one I bought) with regards to franchise. I haven't felt a buzz for the game. However, after downloading I will sim to the playoffs and take Vcr to the cup...???...

[JeffHCross]

Jaymo, since I won't be playing it this weekend, I'll be interested in what you think about the game. Franchise mode is the primary reason I'm interested in the title ... so impressions would be helpful.

[steelerfan]

Jaymo, since I won't be playing it this weekend, I'll be interested in what you think about the game. Franchise mode is the primary reason I'm interested in the title ... so impressions would be helpful.

:+1:

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[jaymo76]

I'll get on once the kids get to bed and play the night away. If it's anything like the demo it's going to be solid gameplay. The skating in the demo was great and the hit physics are very well done. Once I get on I will hop right onto franchise mode and go from there. Any specific requests?

[JeffHCross]

I guess the one thing I keep hoping for (but never expect) is that they'll give us the ability to bring a minor-league team up to the NHL, or at least use a minor-league team's logo in Create-A-Team. I'd love to bring the Hitmen to the NHL.

Otherwise I'm just looking for the overall feel of the mode. It's been a few years since I played NHL (can't remember if 10 or 11 was the last I played), so I'm not even sure what to expect. And I don't even know that I played Be-A-GM on that year, it was probably just BAP. Will it entertain me, I guess.

[jaymo76]

Well, after playing around with a bunch of the modes and then playing actual games for about an hour, here are my basic impressions.

Pros:

1. Physics/Momentum based skating is awesome! Weight means something... Madden could learn from this!!!
2. Physics/Momentum hitting has been greatly refined and you can really "feel" the hits
3. the actual gameplay is a lot of fun and it looks and feels like real hockey
4. the graphics/visuals are excellent and the pre-game is a little better
5. crowd noise and arena reaction is well done
6. Intermission highlights/goals/hits replays are excellent~ I love replaying big hits
7. Back Skating!

Cons:

1. Announcers.... please get a new team!!! Play-by-play is so dry
2. cpu hits don't seem to be recoring for me (2 games cpu has no hits???)
3. goals need more excitement... it's just not enough of a celebration
4. CPU PNEALTIES ARE NO-EXISTENT!!! Not one cpu call thus far... this is a HUGE issue
5. No real changes to BE A GM... it is just too isolating
* no playing/watching other games... NHL NEEDS this feature
6. IMO cpu comeback / momentum is overdone again. I'm up 4-1 in the 3rd and MTL wins 6-4
7. some questionable AI decisions on D
8. Trading is very difficult and lacks logic
* I offer a goalie, a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pic for Luongo and I'm told it's a terrible offer...???
9. CPU will NOT instigate fights
10. Music soundtrack... awful IMO

Based on the game, it's fun. However I own NHL 11 and really I see no point to buy this game. I'm not going to play GM CONNECTED so there is no bang for the buck. Basically 11 is just an unpolished version on NHL 13. However, if you haven't bought the game since NHL 10 or before then I would recommend picking it up.

Oh and Jeff... sorry... you cannot import the HITMEN and if you create that team, their logo doesn't exist and their name is not available in BE A GM.

[jaymo76]

Madden could learn a valuable lesson here. NHL added GM CONNECTED CAREERS and KEPT in all of the existing OFFLINE modes.

[JeffHCross]

Oh and Jeff... sorry... you cannot import the HITMEN and if you create that team, their logo doesn't exist and their name is not available in BE A GM.As I expected. Thanks, jaymo. Nice write-up.

[jaymo76]

As I expected. Thanks, jaymo. Nice write-up.

Looking back at my post I have more negatives than positives. However, those are just observations. The game is solid and enjoyable. My reason for not buying though is because I only buy hockey games every few years. At the heart of this game it is still the same experience. Be a GM is a good mode but with so few franchise mode updates I don't see the need to upgrade yet.

[psuexv]

Looking back at my post I have more negatives than positives. However, those are just observations. The game is solid and enjoyable. My reason for not buying though is because I only buy hockey games every few years. At the heart of this game it is still the same experience. Be a GM is a good mode but with so few franchise mode updates I don't see the need to upgrade yet.

So if we start up a TGT GM Connected mode you don't want in?

The good thing is your negatives aren't deal breakers. Can't wait to get my hands on this on Tuesday.

[jaymo76]

So if we start up a TGT GM Connected mode you don't want in?

The good thing is your negatives aren't deal breakers. Can't wait to get my hands on this on Tuesday.

I didn't get the feeling that many people here were picking up NHL 13. Will there be a league?

[SmoothPancakes]

I'm getting it, Newegg's already sent the charge through. Though it's for 360 (obviously), so I'm out of the discussion as far as whatever you guys try to do. :D

[jaymo76]

Hey Smooth

Get a PS3already!!!

:D

[SmoothPancakes]

Hey Smooth

Get a PS3already!!!

:D

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx305/SmoothPancakes/Gifs/tumblr_m11dw7Scd21qmwb38.gif
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx305/SmoothPancakes/Gifs/medium_dontwanta.gif
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:D :P

And yeah, there's no way in hell now. I'm about to drop $450-$500 on a new TV either this Saturday or October 1st.

[bdoughty]

I am getting my copy (the lovely 360 version) tomorrow.

[SmoothPancakes]

Mine will probably be a day or two. I ended up getting it through Newegg (cancelled my Amazon pre-order since Newegg was $15 cheaper with their promo and shipping) and when with 3-day UPS free shipping (I'm buying a TV, so didn't feel like shelling out unnecessary money for shipping costs on NHL 13). It was origin scanned in Memphis at 5:15, so I'm hoping by Wednesday it'll arrive, though probably not until Thursday.

[bdoughty]

Amazon had a $15 credit. I got the promotion code today and free release date shipping. Never used Newegg myself, due to Amazon's customer service is second to none.

[SmoothPancakes]

Amazon had a $15 credit. I got the promotion code today and free release date shipping. Never used Newegg myself, due to Amazon's customer service is second to none.

Eh, I wasn't worried about credit. I was able to get the immediate discount in price through Newegg so switched over to them. The credit wouldn't even come into play until the end of October or November when I buy my next games and even then, I constantly forget about credit I have, so it has a tendency to end up applied to other random stuff I may buy on Amazon (since I forget to remove that credit from the purchase), instead of being put towards future games like I plan on when I get credit. This way, that's an extra $15 I can immediately put toward the new TV I'm buying either this weekend or in three weeks (depending on what my paycheck on Friday looks like).

Either way, it's too late now. Newegg charged my card at 6am this morning and it's already packaged and shipped out, so no point in worrying or thinking about it.

[steelerfan]

This way, that's an extra $15 I can immediately put toward the new TV I'm buying either this weekend or in three weeks

Extra $15 towards a TV? That should be a SWEET upgrade. ;)

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[psuexv]

I didn't get the feeling that many people here were picking up NHL 13. Will there be a league?

Yeah u think we have some interest. At least I know JB and Snoop are getting it.

[SmoothPancakes]

Extra $15 towards a TV? That should be a SWEET upgrade. ;)

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Yes, it's only $15, but I have a minimum level of money set that is going to decide whether I'll be buying the TV this Saturday, or in three weeks on October 1st, depending on what my paycheck at the end of the week looks like. I have $205 sitting on the side right now (after NHL was charged), waiting to see what the paycheck will be on Friday. Clear Channel has a VERY fucked up system when it comes to paychecks, sometimes you get extra hours bumped up into a paycheck, other times you have hours that get bumped down to a later paycheck. It's extremely fucking irritating because you basically have no clue exactly what your paycheck will be until it is either direct deposited into your bank account, or once in a blue moon you can pull up your payslip within the 24 hours or so before it gets deposited, if CC actually bothers to update that shit before payday.

I have other bills and charges that go through at the end of the month, one of which that is exactly $15 that gets taken out every month on the 25th, so that $15 may end up being the decision between whether I buy it this week or in three weeks. Pretty much every charge for stuff I have taken out each month, gets taken out between the 15th and 28th of the month.

Welcome to the life of working in radio. Long hours, piss poor pay, paid by the hour instead of salary, and in a sense living paycheck to paycheck. I even cancelled my pre-order of FIFA 13 just to give me an extra $60 that WON'T be taken out of my bank account toward the end of the month. I still wanted to at least get the pre-order of one of the two, so I went ahead and got NHL and cancelled FIFA until I eventually pick it up in October or November, mainly because FIFA had jack shit for a pre-order bonus.

[psuexv]

Well, after playing around with a bunch of the modes and then playing actual games for about an hour, here are my basic impressions.

Pros:

1. Physics/Momentum based skating is awesome! Weight means something... Madden could learn from this!!!
2. Physics/Momentum hitting has been greatly refined and you can really "feel" the hits
3. the actual gameplay is a lot of fun and it looks and feels like real hockey
4. the graphics/visuals are excellent and the pre-game is a little better
5. crowd noise and arena reaction is well done
6. Intermission highlights/goals/hits replays are excellent~ I love replaying big hits
7. Back Skating!

Cons:

1. Announcers.... please get a new team!!! Play-by-play is so dry
2. cpu hits don't seem to be recoring for me (2 games cpu has no hits???)
3. goals need more excitement... it's just not enough of a celebration
4. CPU PNEALTIES ARE NO-EXISTENT!!! Not one cpu call thus far... this is a HUGE issue
5. No real changes to BE A GM... it is just too isolating
* no playing/watching other games... NHL NEEDS this feature
6. IMO cpu comeback / momentum is overdone again. I'm up 4-1 in the 3rd and MTL wins 6-4
7. some questionable AI decisions on D
8. Trading is very difficult and lacks logic
* I offer a goalie, a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pic for Luongo and I'm told it's a terrible offer...???
9. CPU will NOT instigate fights
10. Music soundtrack... awful IMO

Based on the game, it's fun. However I own NHL 11 and really I see no point to buy this game. I'm not going to play GM CONNECTED so there is no bang for the buck. Basically 11 is just an unpolished version on NHL 13. However, if you haven't bought the game since NHL 10 or before then I would recommend picking it up.

Oh and Jeff... sorry... you cannot import the HITMEN and if you create that team, their logo doesn't exist and their name is not available in BE A GM.

Played a couple of games last night and agree withe positives Jaymo. The skating is awesome. I played 2 games against a friend and he hasn't really read up much on it and he was stunned at the skating, the speed and really impressed with how you can't just take off full bore and expect to cut on a dime. Physics really really do mean something.

Another thing that him and I agreed on and you mentioned it, it truly does feel like real hockey. Especially the speed. They did a great job of getting the speed of the game down.

As for the negatives, I've only played 2 user games so I don't have much to say about the CPU play. I didn't particularly notice anything wrong with the AI D logic and I did let the CPU controlled the D at times and use guys in other positions.

Announcers though, yeah bad. And I agree with the soundtrack. I've definitely liked the soundtracks in previous versions a lot better.

The one thing I will disagree with is that it feels like '11 or is a polished version of it. With the new goalie animations, which are awesome. And just the overall game play, it's heads and tails IMO better than '11 and '12. Probably the biggest thing that has stuck out for me and it's something small is the stick play, both CPU and user. You really have to be careful with passes and the poke checks and use of the stick is done a lot better. Which once again just feels more like hockey.

[jaymo76]

So how many people have actually picked up the full release? The game is getting a lot of love on some other sites. It's a quality game so the reviews should be strong. I'm dumping close to 30k (and before you ask... its these darn high Cdn prices/taxes) on a new family vehicle this week so my pennies are pretty short right now. I might pass on anything until the Christmas season.

[psuexv]

I have it. Loving it. Haven't started a GM Connected yet but have been playing a bunch of OTP and having a lot of fun.

[JeffHCross]

I've got it, but it will remain in the wrapper until next week, at least.

[SmoothPancakes]

I have it. I'm steering clear of GM Connected. I tried it out, my god it's impossible to do anything in it. Every time you go into the menus and do something, when you go back to the hub in GM Connected, it has to do multiple things (Preparing Hub screen, Downloading competition data from the server, Downloading match data from server), EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

And then getting to stuff takes forever. It took over 10 seconds just to get from the Hub screen to my team's contract info, waiting for it to load up.

Oh, and going from one menu to the next (I backed out of contracts and it took me back to the previous menu, GM Options (contracts, free agency, offer sheets, etc), it had to load everything again (Hub screen, competition data and match data), just to simply bring up the previous menu again. You want to go back to the hub? It's gotta prepare the Hub screen and load up all the data yet again.

Some of the stuff in the menus (GM Options, Coaching Options, etc), it takes 10+ seconds just for each individual thing to load up, then you gotta wait another 10+ seconds for it to prepare the Hub screen and download competition and match data. Wanna check your mailbox? Be prepared to spend a good 15 seconds getting in and out of it (5 seconds to load up the mailbox and 10+ seconds to download all the data all over again and go back to the Hub) every single time you want to check it.

Ultimately, it's only 10-15 seconds here and there, but cumulatively, it gets annoying and it adds that much more time you have to wait while trying to do stuff. I'm sticking solely to offline Be a GM.