Also the trade-engine needs some work.
Capitals wanted to dump B.Witt(on the last year of his contract) i make an offer of Radivojevic and something. I was prepared to give an better offer, that was just a starter.
The Capitals demand Radio + Bergfors (no way for me), but before i can negotiate they send him to Tampa for some really bad prospect selected in the 9th round 2005. ???
The AI in trades makes use of the team scouts just like human players evaluate the players in the game according to either name (how they see the player in real life) or by scouting reports. So whereas you might see a player and think he is crap, someone else (AI or another human GM) might see the same player as a nice player because of his own view on the player.
Very little in the game is absolute and in most cases, things are affected by the "personal views" of the different AI GM's and scouts.
So whereas you might see a player and think he is crap,
Trust me it was a really bad prospect, but this happens quite often, really good players (Smyth, Stuart and Doan for example) have been sent away for quite bad prospect, but if i make move for them they always ask for Carter, Pitkanen or Bergfors.
Also in upcoming patches (im assuming more are coming) will you fix data that is wrong or players that are poorly rated (over/underrated) ?
Trust me it was a really bad prospect, but this happens quite often, really good players (Smyth, Stuart and Doan for example) have been sent away for quite bad prospect, but if i make move for them they always ask for Carter, Pitkanen or Bergfors.
Also in upcoming patches (im assuming more are coming) will you fix data that is wrong or players that are poorly rated (over/underrated) ?
I have to agree, the ai GMs always seem to scout your team perfectly and always want your best players yet they want crap from other teams.
Ive never had anyone offer me a decent player for one of my bad prospects yet they want your future franchise players for an average player of theirs.
Also in upcoming patches (im assuming more are coming) will you fix data that is wrong or players that are poorly rated (over/underrated) ?
Yeah, we will, as long as there's substance in the complaints. And of course if there's enough time for Phil. He's lazy so don't count on it. Just kidding, he's doing an awesome job.
5 years into the game
1st season - missed the playoffs and finished 5th from bottom, didnt get crosby either.
2nd season, got knocked out by NJ in the conf semis
3rd season, got knocked out by NJ in the conf semis (wow, this game is realistic!)
4th season lost to Flames in the finals
5th season lost to Flames in the finals
6th season, win SC (well not quite as I havent started it yet but Im hoping )
Team
R Nash Foppa (UFA) Iginla (UFA)
Ovechkin Parise Havlat
Gagne Spezza Michalek
4th line are all regens but great prospects
Luongo
Fleury
Get these two if you can even if it takes some of your best players.
I have 5 1st rounders in the next draft as I had to dump some vets before the waiver draft, it better be a good one. I also had loads of salary room after having a cheap roster so I splashed the cash on UFAs.
top game Riz, only the trading engine needs work IMO
top game Riz, only the trading engine needs work IMO
I can guarantee you...we'll put 29 real life GM's to play a game against a random hockey fan from any boards without him knowing the other GM's are real instead of AI....and the fan will come back with the exact same comment
I can guarantee you...we'll put 29 real life GM's to play a game against a random hockey fan from any boards without him knowing the other GM's are real instead of AI....and the fan will come back with the exact same comment
Its human nature, you always remember when they screw you but never when you screw them!
Holy crap! My lowly Penguins have a $23 million ceiling Zhamnov was my only free agent signing and my salary is already at 22.5
You have to advance in the playoffs or not reach your ceiling the previous year to be able to spend more money, after 2 cup final appearences my ceiling was raised to $46m and I used every penny of it.
I've been messing about with the game for that past week, and I have to say it's great!! Very true to life, I went out and signed as many UFA I could as NYR and I still finished forth from bottom!
I've just started my game I'm going to play for about ages with the Ducks. My team isn't looking to good right now on the blue line, I'm looking to see it a number on defenceman becomes avalible to me, as it's the one thing I can't sign from the UFA pool. My team looks like this going into the first season
Giguere
???
These arn't the line I use, just a list of player I normaly use. My extras are who ever I call up from the AHL. I've got no players that I can't send down, so they stay they're playing while they're not needed in the NHL team.
My other keeper is some old UFA I signed for the year to give Bryz another year in the minors to see if he gets better.
I think I'll try and trade for a young keeper like MA Fleury as Giguere is making a lot of money I want to spend else where and I'll need a good replacement.
I'm over my team cap right now, so Fedorov looks like he's going somewhere else. This will leave me with a hole at first line centre and Rucchin won't be good enough to take me to the playoffs.
Can anyone give some names to a cheep centre that can play the top line that I could get cheeply in a trade?
This is definitely a tough game to win in... there have to be other factors than just talent overall.
I have a solid team overall, yet am still struggling to make the playoffs each season. The current lineup I had is jumping from 9th - 6th in the conference all the time right now:
Lalime is actually rated pretty good in the game... so I let Cloutier walk in FA and signed him.
Recently I also dumped Bertuzzi - financial dump basically, and replaced him in the lineup with Shanahan.
Still this lineup is way too good on paper to be struggling season after season - I should be challenging for a division title instead of going on 10 game losing streaks... I don't take control of the coaching either, since it didnt' seem to help when I did. I do have quality staff though, with Crawford as the HC, and Andy Murray and Jacque Martin as the assistants (along with a couple others) - but it doesn't look like having good coaching really matters for overall team success...
My defense should be all-star calibre, but they dont' play like it... my forwards - well that's as good as you should be getting for a top 2 line, but aren't productive at all... in fact my best players up front are probably Crosby and the Sedins.
I do have another top pick (Bobby Ryan) coming in next season, so maybe that helps - mixing up the vets with young player... I noticed that Crosby made an immediate impact on the lineup (and is currently the 7th top rated center in the game), and Phaneuf is making his immediate impact this season (his rookie year for me).
Still don't know what else I should be doing to improve my lineup.... but its' getting to the point where I basically have to start dumping salaries (like I did with Bertuzzi) because a $55-60mill payroll can't be missing the playoffs like I have.
It is frustrating though... this is a game that I couldn't play enough of when I got it... now I feel like I just need a break from it, because it doesn't really matter what changes and additions I make to my lineup, the team is consistently battling for the same 6-9 position spots every season (in my 3 season now).
I don't really want to start over because I feel I've built a solid base of players for now and the future.... this is a lineup that should be winning now, and I've got Ryan and Tukkonen, ready to come in next season (joining Crosby, Phaneuf and the top level vets already there)... along with Yan Statsny and Kaigodorov, and Gerbeshov who are all excelling on the farm right now to be able to jump in soon.... still with all that talent I have, this team is still struggling to make the playoffs every year.
I know I'm not doing something right... the game just can't be that off in terms of overall player talent, that having a lineup like that should still suck so bad.
I got a used copy of 2004 this is my second year line up:
Kariya-Sakic-Selanne
Tanguay-Forsberg-Hejduk
Konowalchuk-Gratton-Handzus
Ruutu-Nikolishin-Holmstrom (I feel dirty about those two wingers)
Worrel Hendrickson
I won the cup last season, but I'm out to an awful start this year and I can't figure why (didn't change anything)
I can't figure out the trade engine. The Isles really want Brett Clark, but I can't get a low pick for him. I got Maxime Oullet in a trade with Washington, but now I can't get anything for him. I haven't a clue what to do about practice. Is there anyway to put your trade needs in the open (I just want some picks)?
doesn't the coaching take care of the tactics if you aren't coaching games?
I don't think so. One time I decided not to coach a game after my team was doing really bad. When my team still stunk it up after I let my coach take over, I went back to coaching the team myself... the lineup was different, but the orders were the same.
You might also want to change their practice schedule. If you have them all on "General" still, then some stats could be dropping you don't know about.
Also, if you go to the Tactics screen, and you go to view each line in particular, you can give each player specific orders by right clicking on them. Tell your snipers to shoot more, your non-snipers to pass more. You can also give them "checking" assignments if you decide to match lines.
I'm also confused by the trade engine. I can trade Sean Avery for Antero Nittymaki, but then no matter what third liner I look for, the GM asks for Brown, Gleason, and a pick or Frolov, Gleason, and a pick.
My team also takes an AWFUL lot of penalties. For five straight games, they've had to kill 11 or 12 penalties, while the opposition has only taken, like, 2. It's not just one player, either. Granted, McAllister and Norstrom have the most, and coincidentally have high aggression... but one game had 8 or 9 different players take penalties. Is there a specific tactical approach that causes more penalties?
Edit: For what it's worth though, I LOVE the game. Didn't mean to sound like I was complaining.
I don't think so. One time I decided not to coach a game after my team was doing really bad. When my team still stunk it up after I let my coach take over, I went back to coaching the team myself... the lineup was different, but the orders were the same.
You might also want to change their practice schedule. If you have them all on "General" still, then some stats could be dropping you don't know about.
Also, if you go to the Tactics screen, and you go to view each line in particular, you can give each player specific orders by right clicking on them. Tell your snipers to shoot more, your non-snipers to pass more. You can also give them "checking" assignments if you decide to match lines.
I'm also confused by the trade engine. I can trade Sean Avery for Antero Nittymaki, but then no matter what third liner I look for, the GM asks for Brown, Gleason, and a pick or Frolov, Gleason, and a pick.
My team also takes an AWFUL lot of penalties. For five straight games, they've had to kill 11 or 12 penalties, while the opposition has only taken, like, 2. It's not just one player, either. Granted, McAllister and Norstrom have the most, and coincidentally have high aggression... but one game had 8 or 9 different players take penalties. Is there a specific tactical approach that causes more penalties?
Edit: For what it's worth though, I LOVE the game. Didn't mean to sound like I was complaining.
thanks for the imput on tactics... I haven't really been using tactics much, and am still unfamiliar with them (maybe I should read the rulebook, but I always ignore those things and just learn in the game).
the trading is bugged though... I've noticed many times, that I'd offer a player to a team that has shown interested (WTN in roster menu), and they'd respond by saying they aren't interested at all (even when I just offer the player)... then once I made the same offer for Bertuzzi, Colorado responded by offering me Brent Clarke for him, and I accepted just to dump salary and they rejected it still.
And I always get that same problem with trades, where you try and negotiate a deal, but the other team keeps coming back with asking for your star players - like when I inquired about Morrow and they wanted Bobby Ryan + Tukonnen + Jeff Glass from me for him.... whatever other offers I make, they keep coming back with the same offer.
The game is definitely good, but there are still some things that I don't like... for example, this is a management game, so if I just want to manage my team and leave *all* coaching decisions to the staff, they should be able to handle it - including team tactics - especially when you have 3 top level coaches like Crawford, Murray and Martin running the bench... .practices should be the same way - I don't like the fact that my players' development gets hurt because I'm not monitoring practices while I do have a coaching staff to run it... if we're speaking realistically, most GMs don't get involved in team tactics or practices to begin with.
Like any game - good or bad - there is always room for improvement on it... I'm sure EHM staff realizes this.
One thing that makes the current game much harder than the earlier games is the fact that players do NOT develop as fast as before. So like in the old days, many people (including some here in the office as well) have stocked their team with great young prospects and then end up sucking all season long and wondering why they cannot win with so many good prospects on the team. You cannot have a winning team in the game with majority of your core being players at the age of 20-23 or younger. Sure, they might have great potential but it will take them a good few years to bring their game up to a level where they can compete with the established players all season long. And especially in high pressure leagues such as the NHL, the young players are always a bit shortchanged unless they have really good heads on their shoulders and can take the heat already at a young age.
Another factor that affects even the teams with established talent already in the lineup is the human nature of trying to play more of an offensive game whereas like in real life, it is much easier to defend and defensive teams do remarkably well even against superior teams. So a good tactical balance with not all run and gun mentality is also needed to achieve long term success over a season.
And yes, there is always room for improvement. Why else would we frequent these boards to communicate with other hockey fans to get feedback on the game. And why else would we still be working our socks off even though the game is already out in stores (in Europe).
These games are never completed. The development can go on for decades and we'd still find areas to improve and enhance. It can be tough to simulate such a complex real world setting in a single computer game, but we aim to continue the development for as long as we can
the trading is bugged though... I've noticed many times, that I'd offer a player to a team that has shown interested (WTN in roster menu), and they'd respond by saying they aren't interested at all (even when I just offer the player)... then once I made the same offer for Bertuzzi, Colorado responded by offering me Brent Clarke for him, and I accepted just to dump salary and they rejected it still.
Actualy this sounds like how a trade discussion would go between Colorado and Vancouver for this player in real life. Maybe the game is more realistic than we thought.
One thing that makes the current game much harder than the earlier games is the fact that players do NOT develop as fast as before. So like in the old days, many people (including some here in the office as well) have stocked their team with great young prospects and then end up sucking all season long and wondering why they cannot win with so many good prospects on the team. You cannot have a winning team in the game with majority of your core being players at the age of 20-23 or younger. Sure, they might have great potential but it will take them a good few years to bring their game up to a level where they can compete with the established players all season long. And especially in high pressure leagues such as the NHL, the young players are always a bit shortchanged unless they have really good heads on their shoulders and can take the heat already at a young age.
Another factor that affects even the teams with established talent already in the lineup is the human nature of trying to play more of an offensive game whereas like in real life, it is much easier to defend and defensive teams do remarkably well even against superior teams. So a good tactical balance with not all run and gun mentality is also needed to achieve long term success over a season.
And yes, there is always room for improvement. Why else would we frequent these boards to communicate with other hockey fans to get feedback on the game. And why else would we still be working our socks off even though the game is already out in stores (in Europe).
These games are never completed. The development can go on for decades and we'd still find areas to improve and enhance. It can be tough to simulate such a complex real world setting in a single computer game, but we aim to continue the development for as long as we can
all that makes sense.
I've recently started working with practice and tactics more and it makes all the difference in the world... I had assumed (incorrectly) that if I let my coaches coach the team, and basically run the duties that NHL coaches normally would, I could just manage the team and not worry about getting the most out of my players on the ice - since that really is the coach's job to do...
so I added a lot of talent behind the bench - got 3 top rated coaches, but didn't do anything else with it, and my team suffered.
I have since gone back and started coaching games myself, and running practices, changing routines, adjusting team orders, and it's the difference between a team struggling to make the playoffs with the talent they have, and competiting for the league title overall.
I just didn't think that coaching would make such a huge difference if I left my settings for the AI to automatically coach my team.
while this is fine and makes sense to the impact it has on the team, I still think there should be a better option overall... afterall this is a management program, and if users just want to manage a team, like an NHL GM would, then there should be better AI control of computer controlled coaching and practices, dependant on the ratings of your coaching staff overall. This way users can just work as managers, and not coach and general manager of a team.
Most NHL teams don't have GMs that get involved in the everyday practices, team orders or tactics, or lineups... in reality a GM doesn't have to tell the coach to play their backup goalie in enough games so they actually get game time, instead of your starter automatically playing in every game (unless you physically change the lineup, even if you have coaches run the games)... There really should be an option in the game that allows an NHL GM to work as if an NHL GM would, and not an NHL GM-headcoach combo, of which there are very few of in the league now.
anyways... just my 2cents on it.... still an addictive game, and very well thought out, but I think the AI can still be improved, to reflect reality a bit better in some of these areas.... I do completely agree that a team full of prospects should never be successful in the NHL, but a team full of vets, and a good combination of offensive and defensive players, that is run by a solid coaching staff, should have better AI control overall from that coaching staff if the human GM chooses not to be involved in coaching decisions (which again is a norm in the NHL).
Just kidding, he's doing an awesome job.
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