PDA

View Full Version : ESPN NHL 2005 - My Wish List Thoughts


Omega
November 25th, 2003, 07:05 AM
I've only played NHL 2K3, but am probably going to go out and buy 2K4 just for the sake of having it. Anyhow, I will post some of my thoughts regarding some parts that would make for a wicked NHL game, in my opinion. Some of them are already incorporated, but I'll post them anyhow.


TRADE BLOCK - I'd love to put a guy (even a created player) out to see what type of offers other teams are willing to give me.


PRE-SEASON TRAINING - Before the season starts you can put a set amount of players through various training to help improve their skills.


CLASSIC TEAMS / HERITAGE CLASSIC? - I'd love the chance to play / control former retire players or have the ability to mix and match. As in being able to play a game with Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, etc.


OUTSIDE RINK OPTION? - In the Franchise / Dynasty mode, perhaps once per season or every couple seasons you have the ability to host an outside rink game in a football arena where you draw in a larger attendance and revenue - however, you then have the ability to set what portion of the profits go to charity and consequently effecting your popularity within the town.


CHANGING OWNERSHIP - The ability to change the ownership / # of users when you've started a franchise / dynasty.


REALLOCATING TEAMS - You could put your team up on the market and see what other cities are willing to have you.


ROSTER UPDATES - This would be great to have as it would add longevity to the game.


FINANCES - It would be great to control every little aspect of what goes on in your arena - soda prices, seat colors, equipment upgrades, etc.


CREATE A PLAYER REJECT OPTION? - What I mean by this is, say you create yourself and put you into the NHL. From there, you see yourself drafted (with no control to where you go), then you see the option where the team is negotiating your contract signing. Where you can reject or accept their proposal yourself. And, then later on, when it comes to time for you to be resigned, you can perhaps negotiate for a higher price, invoke the no trade clause, etc.


AHL - I know this wouldn't be able to incorporate into the same game as a full NHL one, but to be able to have a game where you can control the minors would br great. You could create yourself fresh out of high school / university / college and play with your favorite farm leaque to where you begin your career. Then some way, have the ability to link it to the actual NHL game so that you can bring your AHL character up into the NHL. Though, if you did this, it may be best to make the highest skill rating to be around an 80, so that there is a more of a drop from the 90 players in the NHL.


CAREER ENDING INJURIES - I think it would add great depth to have a screen pop up and say, Mario Lemieux has received a career ending injury - HIP.


FIRE /HIRE HEAD COACH & STAFF - Pretty much self explanatory.


FINES / SUSPENSIONS - Say if Joe Sakic went crazy and did some major slashing and checked from behind an unsuspecting player, he would receive a fine and then be suspended for an 'x' amount of games.


PLAYER VS. PLAYER FRANCHISE MODE - Self Explantory

1Man
November 26th, 2003, 01:01 PM
I will further develop upon your suggestions, if you wish:

Trading Block: Great idea, don't know why it hasn't been implemented yet

Pre-Season Training: I think this should be one of the main improvements Sega should cash on to boost their franchise mode. Everybody knows that a hockey training is crucial to any player's development (especially younger players), as the ones who've missed it over the years have shown a definite lag in their play (for instance Jose Theodore last season). In this case, the younger the player is, the more his performance at camp affects his overall rating. If their performance at practice isn't promising, the said player can redeem himself if he scores a couple of goals during the exhibition games. In a case like this, you would only be able to edit players' rating at the very beginning of the Franchise mode.

At the end of the camp you have to cut players, send others to minors or juniors, and maybe (dare I dream?) have a waiver draft before the beginning of the season. Now that would be real!

Classic Teams: Of course, the beauty of having the real names would have been great in this years' edition, but there are legal issues probably preventing this. At least the option of having the vocal match was very appreciated this year.

Another thing that might be interesting in the Franchise mode is the possibility to include an Old-Timers game at one point in the schedule that would generate extra profits for the team.

Outside Rink: Great idea, not much else to say. Just make sure that Commonwealth Stadium is included in the game.

Changing Ownership: Please include this mode only if the financial situation of the team and of the owner/potential buyer is included. If not, don't bother, it's useless.

Reallocating Teams: Goes in the same vein as the ownership option stated above. Just make sure that not to many cities are available. I don't wanna see anyone trying to move the Carolina Hurricanes to Medecine Hat, it just won't happen. But please do include cities like Quebec, Winnipeg, Hartford, Portland, Seattle, Houston and Hamilton

Roster updates: They're already there

Finances: That can be done, and we could have a detailed summary of what works or not at the concession stands, souvenir shop, tickets, skyboxes, etc...

Create-A-Player Reject Option: Your idea is good, but I'd prefer a 24/7-type of mode where you build your player from scratch, and make him play street and/or pond hockey to hone his skills, and then make him progress thru junior hockey and then hope to get drafted by an NHL team, and then implement what you proposed.

AHL: I don't necessarily wanna play the AHL, but a player progress viewer in the minors in the Franchise is definitely a NECESSARY addition

Career-Ending Injuries: Don't know if that's necessary, but having a player injured for a year would be a start. Having the right trainers would also help the players heal faster.

Fire/Hire Head Coach & Coaching Staff: One nice thing would be to see player morale boosted when a new coach is hired, and also have a coach appreciation level by the players and also by the fans. So in a case where the firing of a coach would be injustified, the player morale would actually decrease

Fines/Suspensions: Either it would be done automatically, or we would be able to judge a certain incident "suspect" and send the footage to NHL officials

Other things to add or change:

- Goalie Helmets

- Double-minor penalties

- Fix that referee-jumping-on-the-board bug, where the puck disappears in the board

- More ESPN-like presentation, like NFL and NBA

I'll come back with more ideas soon

1Man
November 26th, 2003, 01:11 PM
Also, please include more CPU personnel movement in the Franchise mode, as more often than not I feel like I'm the the only GM in the whole game!

1Man
December 1st, 2003, 11:29 AM
Another idea that might be interesting: penalty sliders! Have a slider for each and every type of penalty you can have, so if ever you guys complain about interference, you could fix it yourselves

1Man
March 9th, 2004, 01:11 PM
- It would be interesting if there were a lot more trades, especially right before the deadline

- Hire real coachesand assistants, sorta like in NBA

- More 5-hole goals