"We've come to the point where we're still improving offense, defense and goalies, but we've done a really good job with those features already. What's left? That's all the intangibles that hockey has, and that's what this year is all about."
- David Littman, in this interview over at sports.espn.go.com
In short the new features are:
First person fighting. EA says they're going to make it so much fun it could stand it's ground as a fighting game on it's own.
Fighting rewards your team with energy if done at the right time (when you're down by two goals for example).
You have to go find somebody to fight. You might have to grab them, even face-wash them, to get them to drop the gloves. Though players will protect and step in to fight for your stars.
Tougness plays a bigger role. Not so tough players fatigue on a team that you're checking a lot, but you'll also see them bobble passes now and then when they hear you coming.
Penalites can be give after the whistle and you can also get into fights after it.
Posts
"Penalties can be given after the whistle.."
I don't like the sound of that. I need the occasional rage-check after the whistle to stay sane! :(
I hear you, but I want the game to be as realistic as possible and I must admit I hate it when ppl checks me after the whistle. Now, they will have to step up and fight.