NHL 13: News and Updates on Features, Rosters and Other Info

The NHL series is one of the most underrated sports gaming series in existence. EA Sports gets tons of attention for the Madden and FIFA series, but NHL has been among their most consistent products.

NHL 13 is set to extend the solid tradition of the franchise. There is a ton of information available about the game, and I've hit on most—if not all—of the key information.

This is a tracker for all things NHL 13. We're not far from the release of the demo and ultimately the retail version. Bookmark this article to stay abreast of the information released on NHL 13.

It will be updated as information becomes available.

Here is what we know so far.

Release Date: September 11 (September 7 through EA Season Pass)

Platforms: Xbox360, PS3, Wii

Publisher: EA Sports

Latest updates will appear here.

Update: August 21 By: Brian Mazique

Demo Released, Gameplay and Demo Impression

The NHL 13 demo released on Tuesday for XBox Live and PSN. The four playable modes are: Play Now, Hockey Ultimate Team, NHL Moments Live and Free Skate.

The video below is gameplay from Play Now, and this link has my demo impression.

Cover Athlete

Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers won the EA Sports Cover Vote, and will represent the Flyers on the only hockey simulation available on video games consoles.

Demo Release

The demo for NHL 13 will release on August 21, per EA Sports. It will allow four different modes of play:

Play Now

You'll play the third period of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals matchup between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings. You'll be given a random score every time you play.

This adds a nice bit of variety for a demo, and hopefully that is something that catches on in other sports gaming franchises.

NHL Moments Live

This is a preview of a mode that allows you to relive the greatest moments from the previous season, and further back in NHL history.

In the demo you'll play in the OT classic from the 2012 playoff matchup of the Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes.

If you win you'll receive a Hockey Ultimate Team Pack.

In the full version there will be 26 moments available. Some will allow you to control the entire team, but others will restrict you to one player, as the moment is more individual. 

There are even three legends-based moments to conquer.

Here is an example of a NHL Moment available on the retail version, per EA Sports:

"

Letang Lifts Pens

Type: Player Moment
Objective: Score the game winning goal with Kris Letang
Description: On November 26, 2011 the Pittsburgh Penguins visited the Montreal Canadiens.

After being hit by Montreal forward Max Pacioretty, Letang left the game only to return in time for the start of the overtime period. With the game in overtime, as Kris Letang score the game winning goal.

CAN YOU RE-CREATE HISTORY?

"

Hockey Ultimate Team

The fantasy team building mode is back. This popular mode allows you to build a team using virtual hockey cards. EA Sports says:

"In the NHL 13 demo, enter HUT to receive a HUT Item Pack. Unlock your starter pack and play in a tournament. If you beat Team USA and win the tournament you’ll receive an upgraded HUT Pack.

Free Skate

This is a practice mode that will allow gamers to practice their skills, and get acquainted with the new skating system. I have more on that later in the article.

DLC and Pre-Order

International Pre-Order Bonuses

Here are the details on the North American pre-order bonuses (per Game Informer):

"

GameStop/EB Games: Players will receive 1 Gold Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) pack per week for 16 weeks (September – December 2012).

Best Buy/Future Shop: Players will receive in-game Reebok 20K package. The package includes in-game gloves, stick, skates and a boost to enhance a Be a Pro and EASHL player.

Amazon.com/Amazon.ca: Players will receive in-game BAUER gloves, stick, skates and boost to enhance a Be a Pro and EASHL player.

Origin: Receive in-game Goalie boost to enhance a Be a Pro and EASHL goalie.

"

NHL 13 also offers exclusive pre-order bonus outside of the United States. You can see them here.

No DLC has been announced as of now, but essentially, Hockey Ultimate Team is DLC, but we'll see if anything else is added.

Visuals

Visual improvements are the first thing we look for in a sports video game as it progresses. NHL 13 concentrated on presentation and details.

The game looked awesome last year, and these changes are already shining through in the screenshots and videos that have been released.

How detailed are the folks at EA Sports trying to be? Check out Martin Brodeur's signature mask:

The presentation is also a point of emphasis. New TV-style camera angles have been included. Everything was touched up in this area. The lighting, shadowing, details like skate-spray and even keeping track of player location during cut-scenes.

Now when the game goes to a cut-scene after a whistle, the players on the ice will be located where they were before the whistle blew.

The Winter Classic returns with both the 2011 game at Heinz Field, and the 2012 game with the Rangers and Flyers. There will be authentic Winter Classic attire and props for the coaches, players and officials.

Even the replays have been improved. You can see much of the presentation additions in the video below, and also read a more in-depth account of what has been added on this front here.

Sound

Commentating Improvements

The visual appeal isn't the only aspect of the presentation that received attention. The sound was also a focus.

NHL 13 aims to make the commentary during in-game action, and during replays more realistic and relevant to the action.

The commentators should react to big plays now, even if that means interrupting their current spiel. 

Gameplay

Hockey I.Q.

NHL 13 will utilize Hockey IQ.

It's a new A.I. system designed to improve the reactions of players on the ice. EA Sports brought in professional coaches to tweak the strategy used by the CPU, and your CPU-controlled teammates.

The system is designed to evolve with the events of the game, and improve upon overall realism.

Each NHL team will be assigned sliders dictated by their real-life tendencies. Because of this, gamers can get a different experience with every matchup.

The system is completely detailed here.

Improves Goalie Play

This is another enhancement along the lines of improving player IQ. This is designed to be the most realistic and intuitive control gamers have ever had over the man in the crease.

This year goalies will be better equipped to react to scoring threats. They will have complete limb movement and be more adept at performing desperation saves.

I was someone that used the cross-crease pass a lot, but NHL 13's goalies are built to eliminate and obstruct this strategy—as they should.

Overall, goalies should be less stiff than they were in previous versions.

True Performance Skating

Real physics is the wave in sports video games and I love it. Over 1,000 new gameplay animations have been employed in NHL 13 to improve realism.

This video demonstrates how the new skating system enhances the realism.

Modes and Online

GM Connected

If you thought Madden's Connected Careers mode was huge, NHL 13's GM Connected is at least as big—and likely a larger evolution of the traditional franchise mode.

This ridiculously large mode allows players from all over the world to come together to manage and play for a franchise. 

How big is this mode? Check this info out from EA Sports:

Up to 30 people can each manage their own NHL team in this multi-user NHL dynasty mode, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

With up to 30 human-managed teams, the total number of players able to take part in a GM Connected league is 750. Essentially, it’s largest online dynasty mode ever in a sports game.

"

Five Ways to Play

1.       Play against the computer

2.        Play against another GM in head to head play.

3.       Co-Op/Online Team Play – Have friends play with you against the computer or against another team with human-controlled players in up to 6 vs 6 action. (First time ever in a multi-user dynasty).

4.       Build Your AI – New to the EA SPORTS NHL series: Control your team’s strategies with all-new systems and bias sliders. Customize and record AI sequences so that your players play your game.

·         This can be set up so that a user who can’t make a game against another human controlled team will be able to let the CPU play for them with their strategies in place.

 

5.       Coach Controls – Be the mastermind behind the bench and control your team’s strategies and line changes to help your team to victory. (A quick shoot button allows you to control when your team goes for goal.)

"

GM Connected allows you to play as a commissioner (each league can have only one), one of 30 general managers (handling the day-to-day operations if the team) or as a player on the team.

The mode employs a full draft, trade and free-agent interface to maximize your hockey experience. There is an addition called GM Brain, and it's designed to help CPU-controlled teams make smarter personnel moves.

No more pimping the CPU for lopsided trades.

The possibilities are truly staggering. If this mode goes over without major hitch, EA has rewritten the book on what franchise modes should be this year.

Read the complete info on this mode here.

Improvements To Be A Pro and EA Sports Hockey League

Be A Pro was a solid mode in NHL 12, but of course the aim is to take it to the next step. The A.I. enhancements will shine in this mode as well with your teammates, as well as the opposing teams.

This year you can request trades, but there is a risk involved. A request for a trade will place you on the trading block, but if an acceptable offer isn't found, repeatedly requesting a trade can result in repercussions.

Those could include demotion from your current line, and even being sent down to the minors. 

Wow, just shut up and skate.

With the online based EA Sports Hockey League, the focus was on adding integrity to the online experience. The matchmaking system has been tweaked to prevent and/or punish those suckers that quit on you in games, and back out of leagues when they think they can't win.

Most respectable gamers hate that, and this new matchmaking system is designed to eliminate that—at least as best it can.

Click here to read all the information on these two modes.

Player Ratings

EA Sports has released the player and team ratings for both the Eastern and Western Conference. Here is a pic from Yahoo Sports showing the player ratings for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals.

To see all of the ratings click the appropriate link below:

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Stay tuned for more information, demo gameplay and a demo impression. Those and other updates will be listed at the top of the article, just after the release information.

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