EA Sports NHL 15

[archibalduk]

Looks like some news on this will be released tomorrow: https://mobile.twitter.com/EASPORTSNHL/ ... 5745797120

[philou21]

I hope with the new gen console they will take their time and maybe have for once alot of new/cool things added to their games.

[archibalduk]

I hope with the new gen console they will take their time and maybe have for once alot of new/cool things added to their games.

Me too! But I'm very doubtful. I wouldn't be surprised if it's just better graphics, maybe updated commentary and some sort of gimmicky addition (similar to the enforcer stuff in NHL 14).

[Primis]

Ed Olczyk on the canned commentary means I'm out.

And I won't be the only one.

[philou21]

I hope with the new gen console they will take their time and maybe have for once alot of new/cool things added to their games.

Me too! But I'm very doubtful. I wouldn't be surprised if it's just better graphics, maybe updated commentary and some sort of gimmicky addition (similar to the enforcer stuff in NHL 14).

Yeah I don't get hype about this at all. That would just be fun! Commentary could be much improve indeed and they could add so much more variety in those as well. I hope they will upgrade the crowd though, much needed.

[archibalduk]

I'm not really sure what to make of the list of features (I've quoted them below). If you strip out all of the next-gen presentation stuff, you're left with improved physics, skill-stick and some AI adjustments. I guess it's better than last year's offering, but it's not enough to make me want to upgrade to a PS4. That said, I'll probably upgrade in about 18 months' time which would tie in well with the NHL 16 release.



12 Player NHL Collision Physics
For the first time in any sports game, real-world physics affects every player through every on-ice collision with the new 12 Player NHL ® Collision Physics. Utilizing the power of the next generation consoles, and building off the critically-acclaimed NHL Collision Physics system, every player on the ice is governed by physics at all times. Feel the hard-hitting chaos of NHL hockey through true-to-life secondary collisions, net scrambles and player pileups, capturing the desperation of every shift.

Real Puck Physics
The puck is one of the most complex items in the game to authentically replicate and it finally gets its due in NHL 15. Completely rebuilt puck physics result in a more realistic feel to every puck interaction. Everything on the ice, including the ice surface itself, is live which leads to the unpredictable and authentic puck spins, rolls and bounces seen in a real NHL game.

Authentic Player & Equipment Models
The Next Generation Hockey Player has been rebuilt from the ice up. Now player models have three distinct layers - the body, equipment, and jersey. Each layer interacts independently, making every contact with the puck or other players even more realistic. Dynamic Cloth technology adds an extra layer of realism as it reacts to the player’s movement as they explode up the ice, helping bring the speed of the game to life.

Unprecedented Player Likeness
Powered by the same technology that brought the most realistic representation of the athlete to EA SPORTS UFC, NHL 15 delivers groundbreaking player likeness, emotion and animation. From the strides a player takes to get up the ice to the emotion on their face after scoring a game winning goal, the players are as real as they’ve ever been.

Superstar Skill Stick
Now all the tools of an NHL superstar are in your hands. The revolutionary Skill Stick has evolved to give even more control to the player. Protect the puck, receive passes without breaking stride, and discover an arsenal of sweet new dekes, all with an intuitive right stick control scheme that is easy to use but packed with depth.

Authentic Arenas
There is no feeling like being there, and we are giving you the best seats in the house. The power of the next-gen consoles finally allows the NHL franchise to capture every detail of an NHL arena. Unique arena elements from 19,000+ seat capacities to lighting and player entrance tunnels are captured with a level of detail not possible on the previous generation. Now those home games will truly feel like home.

New Commentary Team
New voices for a new generation. NHL 15 welcomes the NBC Sports commentary team of Mike 'Doc' Emrick and Eddie Olczyk to the broadcast booth. TSN analyst Ray Ferraro will provide game insights at ice level. Combined with Real Life Broadcast Integration that will feature real-world pre-game video commentary with Doc and Eddie set against in-game visuals, NHL 15 takes a revolutionary step forward in sports videogames; where the lines between the real world of sport broadcast and the game are blurred.

NBC Sports Game Day Presentation
The most realistic broadcast package in a video game to-date is possible because of a new partnership with NBC Sports. Set the scene with the NHL on NBC crew welcoming you to the city during the game intros and immerse yourself in an experience that matches what you see on television with NHL on NBC graphics and branding.

Living Crowds
NHL 15 sets a new standard in videogames with over 9,000 individual crowd models with 4x the animations of previous generations. Take a look through the glass and you’ll see fans hold up signs with your name on them, costume wearing superfans, or even sections full of team rivals rooting against you. Feel their behavior change after dropping the gloves, landing a big hit, or scoring a clutch goal. The crowd is alive.

Vision AI
An elevated level of player intelligence, Vision AI features evolved awareness with players reading and reacting to potential plays. Scoring area recognition, pass anticipation, and enhanced team breakouts all improve the flow of the game.

[archibalduk]

Just to add: Watching the video teaser at 1080p really does show how darn impressive the graphics are. IMO it's not a reason to buy the game by any stretch, but the graphics really do look significantly better than the previous generation of consoles.

[philou21]

New Commentary Team

I hope that means more commentary as well. I wish to not hear the same comment every minute.

Living Crowds
NHL 15 sets a new standard in videogames with over 9,000 individual crowd models with 4x the animations of previous generations. Take a look through the glass and you’ll see fans hold up signs with your name on them, costume wearing superfans, or even sections full of team rivals rooting against you. Feel their behavior change after dropping the gloves, landing a big hit, or scoring a clutch goal. The crowd is alive.

About darn time as well!

[CJ]

Who do you guys think deserves their face on the NHL 15 cover?

Eight guys you can vote on: http://covervote.nhl.com/#/ballot

Not a Bruins fan, but I'd go with Bergeron.

[philou21]

Karlsson hands down. I like Duchene but he's not done much yet to be there.

[CJ]

Karlsson hands down. I like Duchene but he's not done much yet to be there.

Karlsson would be my second choise. But he's up against Bergeron.

[Alessandro]

If only hockey gaming on PC wasn't dead...

[CJ]

If only hockey gaming on PC wasn't dead...

[Saapas]

Yeah, I'd love to play NHL on PC since i don't really play with consoles so much. Sometimes i fire up my PS3 to play few games of NHL 14 with my friends. CMR 04 on Xbox 360 with friends but that's about it

[archibalduk]

Here's the first screenshot of NHL 15: http://nilsenreport.ca/wp-content/uploa ... 1743_o.jpg

There's no denying the graphics are very impressive indeed. However, Thornton's in-game face doesn't really have any resemblance to real life. It makes me wonder about the "unprecedented player likeness" promised for NHL 15... Maybe it's still early days in development in that regard...

Unprecedented Player Likeness
Powered by the same technology that brought the most realistic representation of the athlete to EA SPORTS UFC, NHL 15 delivers groundbreaking player likeness, emotion and animation. From the strides a player takes to get up the ice to the emotion on their face after scoring a game winning goal, the players are as real as they’ve ever been.

[Alessandro]

That's some neat graphics, though...
If we all paid $40 for FHM people would certainly spend the same for NHL on PC... maybe even more people...

[CJ]

I don't understand why they spend so much time creating "awesome" graphics. When the actual game-play is the thing that matters.

[Animal31]

Because Graphics sell games

And you would be surprised at the amount of idiots complaining that every game since 08 looks the same

[philou21]

And you would be surprised at the amount of idiots complaining that every game since 08 looks the same

Precisely. Just look at everyone over-hyping Watchdogs and telling the graphics are rubbish. I agree they could've been better but we're now in 2014 and I don't see a single game since 5 years(at least a good game) that is now unplayable because of the graphics. Almost everything looks good now and if technology would stop right now, games that will come out would still be beautiful for years to come.


Back on NHL, I'm starting to think they focus so much on the players faces that they're now turning into somebody else! Even in the 13 and 14 I thought some players were not looking alike and if I go back for exemple, NHL 07-08 on the new gen back then, most players were spot on. I think they're maybe trying too hard.

[CJ]

I've always thought that Selänne never looked like himself in the games.

[Primis]

Because Graphics sell games

Minecraft, the 3rd best-selling game on any platform ever (and 2nd best if you disqualify Wii Sports because nobody actually bought it on its own), says "Hi", and has no idea what you're talking about.

[philou21]

There's still exceptions from time to time but Animal is right.

[archibalduk]

I don't understand why they spend so much time creating "awesome" graphics. When the actual game-play is the thing that matters.

It think it's because this will be the first XBox One/PS4 release - so they want to get the graphics up to scratch. I don't think they've really made that big of a deal over graphics in previous years. I think they tend to make a bigger deal about gimmicky things like the enforcer engine, etc.

[batdad]

My question. Dark uni on Thornton and a ton of Jets fans in the crowd with vintage Jet jerseys......flew south for the winter I guess.

Note: also appear to be Yote, Wild and Red Wing unis. Quite the game.....

[archibalduk]

EA is starting to release screenshots of the arenas. Here's the first two: MSG and Joe Louis

It's hard not to be impressed by the level of detail (and there are two referees and two linesmen at last!). I think it'll certainly add to the atmosphere. But it means nothing unless the gameplay is there too! I'll almost certainly upgrade to the New Gen in time for NHL 16 however (I'll stick with NHL 13 for another year I think).