I've been collecting these ideas for a while, so bear with me here...
REGULAR GAMEPLAY:
- New announcers: While I love Gary Thorne and Bill Clement as the EA Announcers, it appears the only way we're going to get new play-by-play is by getting new guys althogether. May I suggest "Doc" Emerick and Eddie Olzyck? An affiliation with NBC Sports (sort of like what 2K did with ESPN back in the day) would be great. Speaking of which...
- NBC Sports Presentation: One thing that hurts the realisim of the game is the sub-par presentation. It's supposed to feel like you're watching a television broadcast, but the EA series falls short of that. Why not try to affiliate with NBC Sports? Have "Doc" Emerick and Eddie Olzyck do the play-by-play. Have Pierre McGuire reporting from inside the glass. Have realistic "intermission reports" (similar to the way 2K used to do theirs) with Keith Jones. Use NBC's graphics and try to replicate the television watching experience as closely as possible. A releastic presentation is the most major step in giving the game an authentic feel.
- More officials: As you might've noticed, there's only one ref/linesman on the ice at all times in EA games. It would be nice to have the standard three officials on ice, as well as an actual official in the area between (and in) the penalty boxes, rather than the wax statue that's occupied it the last few years.
- Authentic goalie masks: Way back when, EA used to have exact replicas of the goaltender's masks in the game. Nowadays, it appears the only goalie that has an authentic mask is Roberto Luongo. It would be awesome to see the goaltenders wearing their actual masks instead of wearing masks designed poorly by EA.
- Revamp the menus: Since NHL 08, the main menu and menus stemming from it have been almost exactly the same, immediatly making you think you've just bought the exact same game.
- "All-Time Teams" for each franchise: 2K's old games gave me this idea. Do what you did with the Habs a few years back and introuduce a historical team for each franchise. For instance, bring back Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque for the Bruins, or Eric Lindros and Bobby Clarke (haha) for the Flyers. Or Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita for the Blackhawks. Take the best players from each franchise's past and make a whole team for them. Hell, even have them wear the team's vintage jerseys. This would be epic on so many levels. But if they're going to do it, they better not half-ass it like they did with this year's Legends mode. Gah!
- Playoff beards: Enough said. The playoffs aren't the playoffs without them.
- New Arena Models: Let's face it, 2K blew EA out of the water in this respect. Their arenas were authentic as you could believe. EA just... well, EA sucks at this. Very few of the arenas even look like what they do in real life. Every arena has it's own atomsphere, it's own feel. But in these games, every single one feels exactly the same.
- Authentic fans: Every five fans in the stands look the same and do the same thing in these games. We all know us hockey fans are all insane in our own way. Make us look like it!
- Realistic bench: They finally un-froze the head coaches this year, which is good. But the coach isn't the only guy on the bench. Have assistant coaches giving advice to the players and the head coach. Have equipment managers running back and forth from the locker room to get new equipment as necissary.
Well that took longer than expected. Moving on...
BE A PRO:
- Authentic draft: Be able to attend your Draft. Watch anxiously from the stands as teams walk up to the podium and draft players. Make the long walk to center stage when they call your name and shake hands with your new team's management. Pose for photographs as you put on your jersey for the first time.
- Actual discussion with coach: Rather than a written list, have the coach actually talk to you after your shift is done and give you pointers and tips. After the period, head back to the locker room where your coach will discuss the team's performance so far and give his advice on what to do for the remainder of the game. In the current game, you might as well not have a coach at all.
- Suspensions and serious injuries: You shouldn't be able to cheapshot a guy and just get a five minute slap on the wrist (especially with the Shannahammer always looming). Pay the price for illegal plays by having to sit out a certain amont of games. Also, you should be able to recieve a serious injury every now and again (such as a concussion) which forces you to sit out for long amounts of time.
- Awards ceremony: Be able to attend the NHL Awards every year, regardless of whether or not you've won anything. If you've won an award, be able to walk up to the stage and accept it.
- Pre-game warmups: Be able to prepare yourself for games by joining the team for a warm-up before the game. Have your coach run you through various drills and scrimmages, while also explaining the tactics that will be used in the upcoming game and who will be playing against who.
- Stanley Cup celebrations: When you win the Cup, you should actually feel like you won it. Graciously accept the Cup from a fellow teammate and skate around the ice while the fans chant your name!
- Recognition from the fans: If fans love you (or can't stand you), let them show it! Fans can hold up signs supporting (or bashing) you during stoppages and cheer (or jeer) you on when you possess the puck.
- Authentic agents: Be able to hire your own agent. Start out with a fairly average agent and work your way up to a true professional. Hire one based on your own preference or just someone you can see yourself trusting. Also be able to pay him a visit from time to time and discuss what's on your mind, such as contract negotiations or trade rumors involving you.
- No-trade clauses: If you're a member of a team you're truly devoted to, be able to negotiate an NTC to ensure that, if moved, you only go to a team you're interested in joining.
- Trade rumors: We all know real NHL players get tired of hearing their names thrown around in the trade rumors, why shouldn't us pretend players get it too? If your performance is sub-par or your contract is nearly up, have discussion of your imminent move swirling across the hockey world.
- Injury evaluations: If you've been injured, you should be required to pay a visit to the team trainer after the game. Have him diagnose your injury and tell you the necesarry steps to heal it. Heck, even have rehab dates set up to ensure a full recovery.
- NHL Highlight Show: Have the ability to watch a highlight show after every night of NHL action, which shows the biggest plays of the night with commentary from, I dunno, maybe the NHL Overtime crew? It'd be cool to see one of your plays become one of the night's best.
- Authentic training camp: Go through the grusome process of preparing for the season ahead.
BE A GM:
- Authentic draft: Same as above, except from a management standpoint. Stand at the podium and announce your team's draft selection, and shake the hand of your newest top prospect. Then, head down to the draft floor for rounds two through seven the next day and announce your selections from there.
- Choose your personnel: Don't like your team's coach? Fire him! Have the option to revamp your coaching, scouting, and training staff as you please and truly have full control of your team's management.
- Press conferences: Have the option to set up press conferences after you've made a big trade or signing. Meet and introduce your new player(s) to the media and give them the ability to express their happiness (or dismay) about joining your organization.
- Authentic scouting trips: Don't just take your scout's word for it. If you've got interest in a player, take a trip out to see him play and do your own little bit of scouting. Also be able to view how a player is doing statistically in the juniors.
- Coach interaction: Have a weekly meeting with your head coach and discuss how he feels your players are doing, and what he feels needs to be done to make your team the best in the world.
- Show teams in stats menu: Not a huge deal, but it would be nice to see the team the player played for in a season in the statistics menu.
- Season contract negotiations: It's a pain in the behind only being able to negotiate contracts right before July 1st. It's just not enough time. Have the ability to begin negotiating new contracts at the beginning of the season.
- Player mood/trade requests: Be able to view how your team's players are feeling at the present time. If a player's mood is down in the dumps long enough, and he's unhappy with the team's situation, he'll have the ability to request a trade and/or refuse to negotiate a new contract.
- Transaction history: Have a list of the player's transaction history (including trades, signings, and assignments) in his statistics menu.
- NHL News ticker: I seem to remember 2K having something like this. At the bottom of the screen, have an NBC Sports-like ticker showing what's happening around the league in your game. Trades, scores, rumors, and everything else.
- Revamp the player value: Player value is pretty messed up in the present game. I think we can all agree that it's far too easy to rip off a team in this game.
- Specific player inquiries: Have the ability to send an inquiry on a player to another team. Also send out a league-wide inquiry on one of your own players to see what you can get.
My suggestion? Take a year off and completely revamp the game from top to bottom. I'm willing to wait. I'd gladly pay more than $60 for a game with the features mentioned above.
I might edit this later with more ideas if I think of some.
