soccer1
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Hey all, i am trying to figure this out because, some of our NHL94 enthusiasts asked if there could be more rebounds in a new modified game. I am trying to figure out whether puck control is the sole indicator of rebounds in the game. If anyone knows, please respond.
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I think EA could market the classic game very effectively. For instance look at all the movies NHL93/94 were in. They could show clips of the movie then pan into the new game, with its new features.
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The debate of who the best goalie in NHL94 is a good one. Belfour is the highest rated goalie, but ,many feel that Roy is far better. When I was hex editing, I realizied why Roy seemed to stop more pucks then Belfour. The puck control skill is much higher on Roy, so he gave up fewer rebounds. Most of the goals belfour gives up are on rebounds, and Roy stops and smothers most of the shots he faces. Are there any thoughts on who the best goalie is and why?
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Awesome!!!, that would be the greatest game ever. Excellent proposal! Ea could even make money selling the gensis type joystick with the game for these classic games! so the six button sega joystick for xbox, ps2 and pc. That would make money as well.
This is what I will be giving the Vice President of EA. The sales guy where I work will be meeting up with him next week and handing this to him. Hopefully he will give it a few minutes and at least think about what was said. I will keep everyone updated if there's any response.-Evan
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Proposal to Release a Classic Hockey Game
Proposal Objective: To give some insight into what could be the most successful hockey game on the market, creating a modern “old-style†hockey video game based on the game NHL94.
Introduction
There are plenty of unhappy videogame hockey fans who are tired of playing the same hockey games, year after year. Many hockey fans have given up on the new releases and continue to play the “classic†hockey games by Electronic Arts. These games include the following titles: NHL92, NHLPA93, NHL94, and NHL95.
These games were released for the Sega Genesis, Sega CD, and Super Nintendo. There’s a reason why a huge number of people still play these games – because they were so much fun. The new games have too many control options, are too fast, and seem to do almost everything for you. In the same breath, the new games seem to be missing the fun factor the older hockey games possess where you could be more creative in making nice plays.
My goal is to simply open your mind up to the possibility of selling a different style of EA Hockey. This game would be the combination of preferred options and game play from the above titles, mainly NHL94, with some new features added in. These new features are mentioned below in the game outline.
Everyone I talk to regarding the EA Hockey series has the same feedback. The new games are “ok†or “not badâ€, but the classic games were so much more fun. Many people feel the new hockey games don’t let the user be creative, and the game leads the buyer to return it.
I manage a forum for the classic game NHL94. The members of this forum and I have been editing the game using hex and tile editors. In doing this, we have updated player names, player ratings, team names, team colors, ice color, and more. The reason we have took the time to figure this stuff out is because this game is so valuable, and so much fun that we’d rather find ways to update the old game than to play the new ones. But, there’s only so much you can edit with these types of programs before realizing that the only way to create the ultimate hockey game is though EA.
EA Hockey Series History
To briefly discuss the history of the EA Hockey games, here’s how the game play went.
NHL92 was the first in the series to come out, and was a big hit. Key features were the ability to pick a fight after a whistle, the smooth skating, checking, and the overall realistic value to the game. It wasn’t perfect, but was a great start.
A fight in NHL92
Then EA released NHLPA93. This game added in some new features like blood, faster skating, some new player animations, and more stats and options to keep track of. The speed of this game was mastered by EA. The game play is also smoother than NHL92, making it very realistic. The fighting aspect of NHLPA93 is better than NHL92, adding in movement during fighting, and making it difficult to always win a fight. This game’s overall improvements made this game more fun to play than NHL92. The only thing missing from NHLPA93 that is in NHL92 is the ability to pick a fight after a whistle.
Next, NHL94 was released. Key features in this game are the one-timer, manual control of the goalie, some added checking animations and sounds, period stats, and user records. This game also possesses a unique artificial intelligence. The computer-controlled teams will never be the same game after game. This creates an unknown result every time, making the game even more exciting. The one important thing taken out of this game is the ability to fight. Besides the lack of fighting, most agree that this game is the most fun of the series to date.
After NHL94, the games that came afterwards started a downward spiral. The game play became too fast, and the overall games became disappointing. These games lost the fun value of the hockey games EA was previously releasing. EA continues to add and remove features from the new games, but nothing comes close to the classic games.
Below I have put together ideas for a release of a modern “old-style†hockey game. What I mean by that is a combination of the games NHL92, NHLPA93, and NHL94 with some added and updated features.
The reason why I’m proposing to release this game is because by adding the features mentioned below, this new game would absolutely be the most popular hockey video game. It would include all of the best features of a hockey game with the best game play. Simply releasing NHL94 by itself again without adding and updating features wouldn’t work because it’s very easy to buy the original game or play it on an emulator.
Game Outline
Platform: PC, Xbox, and PS2. The reason for choosing these platforms is they all support multiplayer and online games. This release would have to support these features for it to be successful.
Animation: Using NHLPA93 and NHL94 as a reference either recreate or copy all of the player animations from these games. Keeping the old style animations would keep the classic value to the game. The speed of the player’s skating should come from these games as well.
User Interface: Based on NHL94. This user interface was very easy to understand. The main change to make to the user interface is making the in-game scoreboard and clock opaque so you can still see behind them.
All screenshots above have been taken from the Sega Genesis version of NHL94.
The above screenshot was taken from the Sega Genesis version of NHL95.
Controls: A common criticism of the current EA Hockey releases is the controls are too complicated. Most people couldn’t tell you what all the buttons do in the modern hockey games. Keeping the controls to about 3-4 buttons plus the directional is the best medium, using NHL94’s controls as a reference.
Artificial Intelligence: The AI from NHLPA93 and NHL94 was absolutely the best for the human players’ teammates, and the opposing players. Replicating or somehow using this AI would be one of the most important aspects of keeping the classic value of the game.
Game Features
Features taken from previous EA Hockey games:
From NHL92
- Fighting after a whistle stops play
From NHLPA93
- Blood, but only for certain injuries
- Animations and graphics for fighting and blood
From NHL94
- User interface
- Artificial Intelligence
- One-timer code and animations
- Manual goalie code and animations
- Ratings system for players and teams
- Checking and hits code and animation
- Audio for in-game sounds, organ music
- Period stats
- Player stats
- User records
- Crowd Meter
From NHL95
- A-button makes the player lay down to block a shot on defense
- The opaque score and time menu boxes during the game
New/Edited Features
The features mentioned below are some ideas I have collected from myself and other classic EA Hockey fans. I don’t know the capabilities of the programming, so I’ve decided to include all of the game suggestions we could think of. Without adding the features listed below, there would be no reason to release this game, since it would just be something that’s been done before.
- Change player's "star" to "ring" (better on the eye) – the newer games use the “ringâ€
- Online play built into the game for all platforms chosen
- Complete season mode with the possibility to save seasons over time
- The ability to edit ANY team, the number of teams used in the league, players, player pictures, team logos, ratings, jersey colors, ice color, period lengths, number of players on the ice
- The ability to create a certain number of players (additional to the current number of players) to be signed by a team
- The ability to trade players, and have a free agent pool where players "sit" until they are signed by a team
- Tracking all modern hockey stats (Goals, Assists, Points, Penalty Minutes, Power Play Goals, Short Handed Goals, etc.)
- Injuries to be more descriptive (blood animations for only more severe injuries)
- Fighting as common as NHL92, but with the fighting engine from NHLPA93
- The ability to add your own organ music, theme songs (uploading audio into the game)
- Pressing A on defense would make a player lay down to block a shot (taken from NHL95), but only while the opposing team is taking a shot
- A possible "re-direction" animation that would behave like the one-timer if a pass were given to the player in the slot
- 3 levels of AI difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard)
- A franchise mode where players have a salary and you "build" a team and play seasons with them
- Add team logos onto the jerseys
- Goalies should lay down less often than in NHL94, and more shots should result in rebounds
- Use the modern penalty system (2 minutes for minors, 4 minutes for double minors, 5 minutes for majors, and 10 minutes for misconducts)
- Coaches and goalies on or behind the bench as well as the players
- Tapping the A button with the puck would clear the puck, while holding it down would produce a fake-shot
- Player’s energy should decrease faster to create line changes more often, and having the scoring 1 line on the ice less
- Having the ability to upload new player pictures
- Having the ability to record video clips from a game played and save them as highlights
- An occasional “brawl†where all of the computer-controlled players on the ice fight with each other during a user-controlled fight, with the corresponding penalties given out
- The ability to export stats from the game as some form of text document
- Having a website dedicated to leagues, updates, and information to this game
Important Features for EA Hockey Players
I understand that EA tries to please as many people as they can by adding and removing game features every year. Below is a list of features that are very important for hockey gamers to have in a hockey game.
- The game play to replicate NHL94’s game play
- One timers
- Fighting
- Online and multiplayer modes
- The ability for the user to edit as many things as possible in the game (player names, numbers, ratings, team names, team colors, the number of players on a team, team logos, audio, period lengths, certain rules being on or off)
- Trading players
- Creating new players (additional to the current number of players)
- Signing created players to teams, and having a free agent pool where unsigned players “sitâ€
- Difficulty levels
- Franchise mode
- The ability to have as many stats tracked and saved as possible
Conclusion
So what I have described above is a release of a classic “old-style†hockey videogame, maintaining the classic graphics, game play, and simplicity of user controls. Keeping this in mind, simply adding the features mentioned above, because the main focus is how much fun the classic games are to play. I can’t stress enough how important this game’s game play is. There has not been a hockey game on the market with excellent game play since NHL94.
I feel this game would be a huge part of the videogame world, and could start a “classic†game trend leading to a new game genre. Certain platforms like Game boy have been re-releasing older games, and sometimes adding new features into certain games. This gives people a reason to buy the game again.
In the end, a videogame is a form of entertainment. The more fun people have playing a videogame, the more likely it will become popular and successful. If this game were to have all of the features mentioned above, it would become very popular and successful.
I would also like to mention that I will not ask for anything in return for this idea. I will be happy to contribute to this game anyway I can. I’m sure there’s a lot of videogame fanatics who may send EA suggestions, so I understand if you’ve “heard this all beforeâ€. If anything, I hope this gives EA a little insight on what the videogame hockey fans are waiting for. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss any part of what was explained above further.
Thank you for your time, I sincerely appreciate it.
Evan Eldredge
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Evan , how do I edit the sega cd version. I downloaded it from the site, and when i used the rar program to extract it, it didnt let me play it on emulator. It said to configure bios/ files/menu
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ME. I love nhl94, couple modifications and it would be perfect.
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i have to say, i think accepting fighting by clicking the start button, or the A button used as a dump in (clicked) and as a fake shot (hold) should be implemented. The fake shot could really add more scoring because the goalies would go down and stack the pads.
I also think the trading creating and editing players and teams should be available. On one of my other posts I talked about edititng the team also (i.e. editing home and away, powerplay/penalty kill; adv, dissadv, or neutral). This would allow you to increase your teams chance to win at home or lose on the road ect. This is actually in the nhl94 gameplay. This is why certain teams play better at home or on the road. Or some have great pk while other pk sucks.
nhl94 rules, these changes would allow u to create your own rosters and teams. There should also be a franchise mode, at least for a season. If possible a draft, and they can use nhl players names from the last 50 years, so u can draft a gretzky or lemiuex ect. Thanks
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haha, the nhl should implement players falling down when running into the goalies. Or on a live broadcast, everytime a player recieves a puck (i.e. Modano) a star or circle should go around them. haha
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Players energy should decrease faster. Now you can play hole game only using one line. If players get tired faster, then you should use all three lines. Teams wouldn't anymore based only on their first lines and five players but all three lines and 15 players. Then there really would be huge difference between teams, because some teams have better depth chart than others. That's the easiest way to make NHL94 more realistic.
Good idea Mahav, So maybe they could put an option for simulation and arcade. So that those who want to play 5on5 all game with equal power can, and those who want realistic can simulate.
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Hi guys!! ok here we go, Firstly, the reason everyone is still a huge fan of NHL94 is because of its gameplay. I have not played a hockey videogame since that was easier to control and more fun to play. I think if we are looking to make changes, we need to make changes that won't disrupt the speed or handling of the game, or else the game will turn into nhl96 or 97 which is what we dont want.
The best change I think can be made is making the A button into two moves. If you click the A button the puck is still dumped in (dumping can be used as an offensive attack), when the A button is held down a fake shot (when a player gets really good at the game it is more difficult to score, the fake shot would force the goalie to stack his pads and give a simple wrist shot opportunity to score. Hopefully the developers would make sure that an un accurate wrist shot would not always score in time becasue the goalie would have time to react, but a player like Sacik would score often). This move would add some more offense to the game. The game doesn't need any extra moves like dekes, because the simple gameplay and spins is what makes it fun. My only other suggestion would be to implement fighting ike EA sports nhl2004. IF the start button is click you can say yes to a fight, if it is held you can go into the menu. In an old fifa game in genesis the start button was used for two things.
Next, I think that the ratings are great as they are. Part of what makes NHL94 exciting is that your player can be hot or cold, and it forces you to be a better coach/player and know when your players are at their worst. I like the idea of changing some of the graphics, i.e. goalie masks and pads, but I on't think too much else needs to be done. IT would be nice if the new game allowed for trades like nhl95. And a cool new option would be if a player could edit a team strength (i.e. how good a team is at home or on the road, powerplay or penalty kill). If it were possible to change these ratings as well as change and possibly edit players, that would be awesome. The intriguing part of NHL94 is that each team plays differently due to their players ability and their team ability (how good they are at home or away "advantage, dissadvantage, or nuetral: penalty kill and powerplay adv diss neu). This is why some teams play better at home, and others are neutral.
If the game can stay as close as possible to NHL94 in playability (note all points above) we would ave an awesome game that I would play on playstation or xbox. thanks
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Toronto is the best defensive team, but Buffalo and det have awesome offenses, great passing and one timing/individual attacks
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Reply for other ideas. I know you could prolly add more than 2 but it takes too long to add all the Poll selections or whatever you call them.
And i forgot to put fake Shot too
Fake shot for sure. If it were possible to click A button to dump in (because dump ins can help offensive attacks) and hold A for a second for a fake shot, that would be awesome. Fake shot would get the goalies to go down and stack the pads early off the rush and a wrist shot could score. It would create more offensive opportunities. I also think using the start button clicked once to initiate a fight or to say yes to one would be great. I don't think any other modifications are necessary, this game is great because of its easily controllable game play. The game speed is not to fast like new games, players are easy to handle, and goals are a result of creativity. NHL94 is the "lego" of video games.
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Wow, I love the 94 version, If it were on playstation and we were able to trade players and edit players, (+updated rosters) I would buy it. If it were possible to change 1 thing with 94, It would be awesome if A button clicked was a dump in, and held onto used as a fake shot. with the goalies biting for moves, this would create more offense. nothing else diff. Maybe start button clicked once to create a fight, or start button to say yes to a fight. thanks
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Biggest sleeper in the game is dennis Savard on the RW. his agility and stick handling are great. When I use him I frustrate the hell out of wopap, too bad there is no other player besides Roy that is a star on Montreal, they lack speed.
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Ok people, best player by far is mogilny, by far. He is unstoppable anywhere in the offensive zone.
best
RW: Mogilny
C: Roenick
LW: robitille for rating, but i prefer courtnal from van
D: Borque
D: Housley
G: defenatly ROY!
This is for the sega genesis version
If lemieux weren't so easy to knock down hed be #1 but he is slow and easy to hit
Sweeney is the best hitter I ahve found, even though Borque is rated higher in checking. also a Jem is Smelick on Buff, 67chk.
left wing is a big weakness in this game. Anderchuck/ sacik are too easily knocked down,
Sanderson and gagner and damphousse are good, joe murphy is ok, there really isnt a stand out left winger in the game, keving stevens and fedorov are ok
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Wopap is an excellent player, but he only beat me by one goal each time except for one bad game I played. I'd love to be part of this Toronto tourney, but I would like to play the sega gensis version. The NES is total different playability. Thanks soccer1.
Let the games begin
Best player on 94?
in General NHL'94 Discussion
Posted
Roy is the worst player in manual control because of his speed. The lower goalies are easier to control (under 50 overall). I think that Gilmour is probably the 2nd best overall player, because he can knock anyone down and score. I still stand by Mogilny being the best, his speed aloows him to knock players down, and he can score from anywhere. Roenick finishes third for best overall player.
Even though Borque is a 99 overall he is still not the best player, maybe not the best defender. As far as playability I still think i prefer Housley and Suter.