Questions about NHL 2005

[MrKell]

Here are all the dumb questions I had about NHL 2005 answered now that I have the game. Hope this helps!

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1. How comprehensive is the IIHF license? (FICTICIOUS PLAYERS, AUTHENTIC JERSEYS)

Other than Canada, Czech Republic, United States, Russia, Sweden, Slovakia, and Finland, all the international teams have ficticious players. This can be solved with NHLView.

..and let us praise the hockey gods because ALL of the international jerseys are authentic IIHF bling. This is one of the main reasons why I am keeping 2005.

2. Will EA (FINALLY) get the glass right? (NO)

-This has driven me absolutely nuts for years. Maybe someone can explain it to me, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why the glass is the same height all the way around with arena? It's been like this for years. You would think with all the work EA has put into arena authenticity this year they would at least get something as elementary as the glass height correct.

*UPDATE* - Well, they haven't. It's all the same height. Guess we'll just have to look forward to an add-on fix for this!

3. Will the Leaf's 3rd jerseys have the correct number style? (NO)

-Nope, still the wrong number style. Another thing that needs fixing.

4. Will the Danish national team be included? (YES)

-I am happy to report that Team Denmark is in NHL 2005.

5. Will the European jerseys look like NHL 2004's? (NO)

-Nope. All of the jerseys are based on the ones teams wore in 2003/2004, and look much, much better than NHL 2004's. I still can't wait for PDEL/FHR/Elitersien, though!

6. Can a tournament be set up to allow teams from different leagues to compete against eachother? (YES)

-You can compete with and against any team you would like in the World Cup mode. Just click 'Substitute Team'!

*** - After playing with NHLView, I have discovered that this is quite easy to do in NHL 2004. To create a fantasy tournament, go into NHLView and go to the team information of those you want in your tournament, and change them to league ID '1'. This will arrange those teams in with the national teams, so when you go into the game you can select International > National and then pick the teams for your custom tourney. Hopefully this will be as easy to do in NHL 2005. Thanks, Suchy!

FYI - This might play havoc with your ices if you have Esci's format installed, so you will probably have to switch between NHL and European ice styles between games if your tournament has both NHL and European teams.

Also, make sure that before you start or resume any dynasties, seasons or tournaments you have all the teams in their proper leagues. I recommend when you have a custom tournament in progress, that it be the only thing you play other than exhibition games, as you're bound to confuse the game if it starts looking for Toronto and Tampa in your NHL season but they are out playing in Europe!



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If you've got any more obscure questions you'd like answered, post them here and I will see what I can do for you.

Thanks.

[carpedapuck]

Originally Posted by MrKell

6. Can a tournament be set up to allow teams from different leagues to compete against eachother?

-I've pretty much determined there is a no-deal on this one, but I'll leave it up because I'm not 100% sure.

I can answer u at least on that one, remember as ive read it on some chat transcript (NHL Summit) or in the chat and also here on DMD but, as u said thats a no-deal. :(

[MrKell]

I can answer u at least on that one, remember as ive read it on some chat transcript (NHL Summit) or in the chat and also here on DMD but, as u said thats a no-deal.

Yes it is a shame that it looks as though this feature will not be included.

I believe I am going to be much more proactive in voicing my opinions concerning what should go into NHL 2006 in the coming year.

It seems to me as though NHL 2006 will be the deepest edition yet (on the condition that EA includes what got left out in 2005 ..and more, of course).

I have a feeling that NHL 2005 may not get a warm reception from many people, on account of the lack of 'Create-A-Player', which I'm sure will be quite frustrating for those with console versions of the game.

Any bad press received would be deserved, though. "Lack of time" is a very poor excuse for omitting this feature, and I feel very sorry for the producers and programmers doing the grunt work, and having to put up with the company giving them such a rigid timeframe to complete the game. They always seem to be the ones held accountable when situations like this arise, when it is the corporate suits who are putting the squeeze on the producers who are to blame.

Sorry for the rant. :)

[MrKell]

Sorry if bumping is frowned upon, but I've updated this thread with some new information.

I've also found out a way to create custom tournaments. It was really quite simple to do so I would think others have figured it out before me, but I put it on the post anyway.

[Jets_412]

Ill just have to make a glass update for 05 i guess

[MrKell]

Originally Posted by Jets_412

Ill just have to make a glass update for 05 i guess

That would be perfect!

I love your glass updates for 2004. Personally, I think they are a bit underappriciated for an addon that fixes something so major.

In fact, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to make them.

You know, it's strange what bugs people. I see many people complaining about how it drives them nuts that players hold their sticks in the wrong hand in cutscenes, but don't seem to notice something like the glass being completely wrong. Whereas myself, I don't even notice the errors with the cutscenes.

[Sakic19]

IMO, if people just can't play the game without themselves in it, they need an ego check. I could if I buy a console version, but since I'm going with PC that won't be a problem.

[MrKell]

I made another update to the thread.

I will make a final update once I get the game.

[Suchy_63]

Originally Posted by MrKell

After playing with NHLView, I have discovered that this is quite easy to do in NHL 2004. To create a fantasy tournament, go into NHLView and go to the team information of those you want in your tournament, and change them to league ID '1'. This will arrange those teams in with the national teams, so when you go into the game you can select International > National and then pick the teams for your custom tourney. Hopefully this will be as easy to do in NHL 2005. Thanks, Suchy!

Oh damn, you can do that?!! So these parameters do serve a purpose then? Wow, and all this time I thought they were useless.

EDIT: I just re-read my post and it reads as if I were sarcastic. I assure you, my feelings are very authentic. I'm surprised you can change leagues.

[Jimbo66]

I can answer the german roster thing. EA ranks players in the german league substantially higher than they would be rated if they were in nhl ratings for the DEL league within the game. Since they "replicate" the players for the world cup from 95% the NHL IF they continued this method for the DEL players they would have a huge advantage from their real life breatheron and really play the NHL driven teams in the tourny hard. THe problem they faced is IF they lowered the specific players in the DEL to NHL ratings, then the players would conversely SUCK in the german DEL. So EA just did the time honored "fictional german team" with the understanding that anyone that has the PC version would NHL View the right rosters in place(as well as overwrite any fantasy players in FA to real AHL/Fringe NHLers using NHL View when Suchy springs his latest greatest build on us..........)