EA Producer Blog: NHL 12 Gameplay

[MMChrisS]

Producer Sean Ramjagsingh here to give you a look at the improvements we’ve made to gameplay and AI in NHL 12. We’ve made a ton of improvements over last year’s game that we know our fans will appreciate and that will make NHL 12 the most authentic hockey videogame yet. Before we dive in, don’t forget to check out our first producer blog for NHL 12 which focused on goalie improvements.

The first thing you’ll notice when you play NHL 12 is what the new Full Contact Physics Engine brings to gameplay. Gone is the ‘A + B always equals C formula’ or in hockey terms, if you hit someone, they’re going to fall down. Size and physicality really do make a difference in the game as the physics engine uses these and other player attributes to produce a variety of unique outcomes with every hit or jostle for the puck. The Full Contact Physics Engine will also factor in player speeds, balance at the time of impact and facing. Contact won’t always knock players down, it can also cause a player to stumble or fall to his knees, forcing a player to slow down to recover and regain balance. You will now also see collisions where both players fall down after a hit. Where size difference is a factor, smaller players are more likely to be knocked off their skates while delivering a hit – think Daniel Briere trying to hit Zdeno Chara on the forecheck. In a nutshell, we let real world physics do what it would do!


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[LuGer33]

Best article on NHL 12 yet. AI improvements and player personalities sound very promising.

[HawkeyMediaPlus]

Good article. Only minor nitpick or problem I had was when he talked about the added ability to roof pucks in tight. I believe that it's already too easy.

[BlueNGold]

****ing awesome.

Just give me good news on Be A GM and I'm sold.

[LouPickney]

I'm looking forward to NHL 12. I took a year off from the franchise, but my girlfriend and I still play the hell out of NHL 10. From all indications, NHL 12 looks like it will be a very fun game to play.

[tyler289]

This all sounds great (other than "authentic helmet rules," which is fine but just seemed random to me) - but I'll be skeptical until I see it for myself.

[green94]

Can't wait... took a year off as well, really looking forward to 12.

[lofeazy]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueNGold

****ing awesome. Just give me good news on Be A GM and I'm sold.

I am just like you hoping there's good news about the Be A GM mode.

[scottyo60]

That blog read really good. Right now I am hooked on NHL 2K8. don't get me wrong I loved NHL 09 but 2K8 was my game. Im hoping that 12 takes that spot

[Mikey88]

This is great news! I'm really liking what i'm hearing about improved AI and player size and skill attribute effect. I know we've heard the "improved AI!" news in past games, but this one really points out EXACTLY what they're improving! I hope that they improved team timeouts and coaching strategies as well. Its all about the gameplay baby!