EA NHL 2011 Screens Inspire a Wish List

NHL 2011 is just around the corner, and the slow leak of screens has got me inspired enough to do up a little wish list (of sorts). While it may be too late for any of these wishes to have any sort of voice (community wise) as to what gets implemented in this year’s release that’s not going to stop me from airing out some ideas, and it shouldn’t stop you from contributing (if you like) in the comments below. If there is something you want to see that we don’t mention, be sure to let us know!

We have already seen a few new additions with a couple of the recently released screens. For example, broken sticks appear to finally be making their way into the game and will have real time physics (effect game play). An item that had been on my wish list for some time even though I have a feeling it will quickly become a point of frustration. Also described, but not clearly evident is a new Real-Time Physics Engine. Though the new engine doesn’t seem so advanced  that stiff bench players will be a thing of the past. This isn’t 80′s Soviet Russia boys! You won’t get a stick up your farkhole if you look at the action on the ice, instead of blanking staring into the abyss! Anyway, on to the list…

Broken sticks? How ’bout broken glass? - I’d love to see broken glass from monster hits come back into the NHL series, which has been strangely absent in the last couple of releases.

Bigger hits - One of the biggest differences I noticed in Defensive play from 09 to 10, is how difficult it seems to be at times to really lay out the opponent. I’m hoping this will be included in the updated mechanics (and judging by the header image, it may be) but I can only cross my fingers at this point.

Online Franchise - EA Sports Hockey League is great and all, but I really want to see the addition of an online franchise, similar to what just about every other EA sports title is featuring. I see the downside to this as being the lengthy season, but all developers would have to do is provide an option for a shortened season, maybe 16-32 games? Regardless, I think it is a feature that a lot of fans want, especially with the ability to have fantasy drafts and players to pit their “dream team” against other friends’ handpicked NHL teams.

Blue Line play (Straddle that Blue Line!) – One of the most frustrating things in one of the best modes (team play) is when one of your teammates haphazardly goes offsides. A simple solution: Incorporate some sort of button functionality similar to board play, but apply it to the Blue Line, where with the push of a button a player could straddle the Blue Line and avoid going offsides.

Outdoor Rinks – This is purely a cosmetic thing, but it would be nice to see some varied options for arenas. Perhaps the inclusion of some of the facilities from past Winter Classics could suffice and provide a fresh new playing experience for hockey fans, perhaps with addition of real-time weather?!? HMM, HMM?!?

NHL Ultimate Team - This has to be among the tops on my list. Again, its one of those “every other EA game has it, why don’t we?” sort of things, but if you are a hockey fan, this is a mode that you definitely want. Imagine building your own team from the ground up, via player card packs obviously. I can only drool about the possible vintage cards that could be included, Rookie Gretzky, Lemieux, and Roy; 80′s Mullet Jagr, and the Broadstreet Bullies (shout out to all you Flyers fans), the list could go on and on, but I’m sure you have your own dream cards.

There are obviously various mechanics and glitch issues that I would like to see addressed, but I’m thinking more big picture stuff with this particular list. Think something is missing? Let us know below, otherwise we will see you in NHL 2011!

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