NHL 09 Patch Details
by 
NHL 09 producer David Littman has posted a new blog detailing the upcoming patch for the game which is expected to go live for the 360 and PS3 within the next week or two. Continue on to view the full details of what to expect from the patch.
- First and foremost we have fixed the “dirty disc” message issue that some people are seeing on the X360. For the PS3, we have fixed the issue where there are sometimes white flashes or flickers during gameplay.So, if you have seen one of the above, you will be happy to know they are fixed with the patch.
- For most people though…the important fixes are in gameplay. We have listened to all of you, and we have played the game ourselves every day. While we couldn’t make every fix that you asked for because of time constraints, we did fix most of the big issues, and also improved gameplay to be more authentic.
- The jersey on the EASHL side select screen is more visible than the team logo. This will make it easier for people to see when jersey colors clash
- Deking controls normal when shooting downscreen with “Always Up” controls
- Checking has been tuned so you will see less big hits from guys that aren’t traditionally known for hitting
- Less CPU AI one-timers
- Increased the height of dump ins, for a better dump and chase game.
- No more goals from flip dumps
- Better CPU AI logic near offensive blueline so they don’t go off-sides as much
- CPU goalie will not drag the puck back toward himself in a shootout
- We have fixed the goals from outside shots that people are scoring. We have reduced shot accuracy when on the rush and when turning quickly, and from far out. You will now have to be more conservative when shooting on the rush. If you aim all the way to the left or right, your shot will go wide a lot more. Try aiming more towards the middle to hit the net from outside. This fixes the cross goal where you shoot back the other way, and the goal that goes in with the “curve” animation, and a few others. There’s a reason NHL players don’t shoot from outside on the rush very often. Dumping or trying to set up is a better play unless you have an odd-man situation.
- We reduced the time it took to get control of the goalie by 1/3.
- When line changes are set to auto, and a user changes lines/defense manually between whistles, the line/defensive pair you asked for will come out (or stay out).
- If you have line changes off in Be a Pro, line change player chatter will be turned off.
- When using a defenseman in BAP, BAP player won’t get stuck on the bench and will be able to call for change
- The EASHL will now go to continuous 5v5 overtime until one team scores. This way nobody has to sit out, and you get to decide who wins (this is now just like the NHL Play-offs)
- The proper own-goal cut scene will be shown where the player who scored on himself is upset.
- All cut scenes should now show players sitting in their respective team’s bench.
- Increase AI team aggressiveness and the likelihood of them getting called for a penalty on an infraction.
- If Vision Control is pressed, you do not throw a hit when in front of the attacking net. This helps with rebound shots.
- Increase the likelihood of a penalty if the stick hits the body during a stick lift.
- Reduce the accuracy of shots for penalty shots and shootouts. Aiming for just inside the post is a lot tougher now
- Along with these changes we are still working on the server side of things to make sure that the EASHL and online play is always improving. Keep checking our website for more information on the EASHL play-offs.
October 29, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Will these patches be applied if I already have a Ge A Pro franchise in progress? (or will I have to start over?)
March 6, 2009 at 2:40 am
You guys did a horrible job because the penalties now are horrible and a lot more often. Today during one of my games a guy was doing the toe drag glitch so often and wasnt going wide. You only fixed the slap shot circle glitch.
October 29, 2008 at 5:48 pm
That’s really good that they’re making all the updates for this game. I’ve had a lot of people against me score on the short side when they’re to the right or left side of the goal. They’ve gone exclusively to it, so i hope they fix the frequency that this goes in.
October 29, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Thank you so much for the info. I went to the official website and all I got was a bunch of fanboy mumbo jumbo and speculation about this patch. My main concern was the lack of penalties called on the AI. Thanks for the info. Your site is great.
October 29, 2008 at 5:57 pm
doubledown- In most cases a patch takes effect without having to restart progress in a mode. Usually that is unless there is something specific that “broke” the mode like a freezing issue that is being addressed.
October 29, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I was just wondering if they fixed (or plan on fixing) the problem with missed one-timers, where the player gets completely frozen?
October 29, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Pasta, any word on NHL 2k9 patch?
October 29, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Pasta can you clear things up for me i’m reading multiple forums and people are saying they already have the patch for the PS3. Meanwhile Littman says the patch will be out in a week or two can you find out what’s going on thanks.
October 29, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Ugh, the 360 patch needs to be out NOW!
October 29, 2008 at 9:56 pm
cool nj EA has it ever been mention to increase the volume of custom music?
October 29, 2008 at 10:10 pm
any word on locking colors to a position ? or possibly having the user name remain under the player in BAP team games?
October 29, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Any idea when the Roster Update will be out? With Stamkos, Doughty, Boedker, etc?
October 30, 2008 at 12:07 am
Sounds good. Can’t wait.
October 30, 2008 at 4:30 am
THK GOFD CHEKING ONE TIMERS WAS APAIN IN THE VAGEGE
October 30, 2008 at 5:33 am
Anyone know when the 3rd jerseys will be released??? No leak this year??????
October 30, 2008 at 6:56 am
What about the game resolution? common… 1200 x 1024? what gives… alot of us have cards that to 1080p.. and 42″ screens that do that too… fifa soccer does it.. why can’t nhl 09
October 30, 2008 at 7:56 am
Roster update is out Sacrafice…..it was out on the 19th. Includes all of those players.
October 30, 2008 at 8:52 am
This is awesome news! I love this game and now it’s going to get even better…YES!
October 30, 2008 at 9:05 am
Thanks Brian M.!
What’s been happening is when I go to the online portion to download the rosters it says “Cannot Connect to EA Server”. However I did notice that when I go to play an online game against a human it prompts me to download the newest roster file….however (I’m almost done, promise), when I go to upload those rosters I can never find them in the “Load” screen.
So I guess my next question is, are the updates that were out on the 19th for use offline?
Thanks
October 30, 2008 at 10:08 am
Outstanding….I was hoping that they would fix he frame rate during cutscenes….Ah well….The major issues were addressed….
October 30, 2008 at 1:36 pm
[quote comment="43580"]Anyone know when the 3rd jerseys will be released??? No leak this year??????[/quote]
These won’t be out until every team releases their jersey’s. Phoneix will be the last one to release and it’s expected to be sometime in January.
October 30, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Pasta, what’s the word with 2K’s roster update and/or patch?
October 30, 2008 at 2:56 pm
This game is already great. I honestly didn’t even notice any of these problems until you pointed them out. The only problem I have with the game is the occasional framerate drop during cutscenes. I wish the NHL team worked on Live & Madden. Maybe they could teach them a few things.
October 31, 2008 at 9:11 am
Sounds sad when EA releases a patch that will just make goalies tougher. Should see lots of 0-0 and 1-1 games now that wristers are “TONED DOWN”. WTF that means. C’mon EA, fix the AI already!
October 31, 2008 at 11:42 am
What about fixing the problem where some people can’t see their friends jerseys online?!
October 31, 2008 at 12:26 pm
The best thing about this patch that I see is being able to go after rebounds now instead of crosschecking some guy in front of the net. Just got to remember to pull the left trigger when I do it.
Thanks.
November 2, 2008 at 1:18 am
All you 09 players that use the same shot every single time .. you have been consumed by a video game just think about it
November 3, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Personally I am a goalie and i have found that since the update the game is really lopsided towards the cpu goalies. This is mostly because the game has seemed to of shifted from an offensive game to a defensive game. This means that i am under the gun even more now to gets shutouts because the majority if the games end up 1-0 and 2-1. That’s the only thing that i see wrong with this update is that it has made it a lot harder as a user goalie to get wins.
November 3, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I HATE how there is no shootouts in teamplay and club games for two reason. First no one wants to go to 3 OTs that i’ve talked to, and second it takes the goalies shutout away. I personally think that if a goalie can go 4 periods without letting a goal in that they deserve a shutout. In the NHL if the game is tied 0-0 after OT then both goalies get a shutout. Bring back the shootout or atleast give both goalies a shutout after the first OT if its 0-0.
November 3, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I think this is terrible. Makes the game more fun when you can score more often. Defense is the key to the game for christ sake. If you cant play defense then you cant play the game.
November 3, 2008 at 7:51 pm
wow everything except the one thing I wanted. ONE THING EA!
custom audio!! its way too low. It annoys me to no end having such a great feature and not being able to use it because you can’t even hear it!
If they don’t fix this by the time the next 2K game is out, im sticking to 2K.
November 4, 2008 at 5:38 am
I haven’t tested the updates yet, but Im sure they are splendid. To all those complaining about the game not being fun and more defensive…. well DUH!!!! Every trailer I’ve seen to this game prior to september 11th said this game was alot more DEFENSIVE MINDED… I’m pretty sure EA and David are just sticking to their original intentions. Thanks for taking the time to listen to your consumers concerns, EA, you have restored my faith.
November 4, 2008 at 6:12 pm
The one thing that people are overlooking is that making the game more defensive is killing the user goalie, I don’t play goalie but i have one in my club and it’s made it nearly impossible to win with a user goalie even if he gets a shutout.
November 4, 2008 at 7:19 pm
First of all, I agree with Kurt.. This is Not a Arcade game like those Hockey games of the early 80’s-90’s the original game plan from EA was to make this game realistic. I strongly believe that is the way this game should be played, I have played Hockey all my life both on a College and Semi Pro level and i have been very disappointed that it does NOT closely emulate the realistic points of a game. I’d like to see things like” No goal, when player is in crease” or Goal Review and eliminate bogus goals that never cross the line.(Trade marked Idea’s)..LOL I’d also like to see the players be able to take a knee to block a shot as a posed to all ways diving or laying the stick down to block the passing lanes.
For those of you who complain that this game shouldn’t be about defense then you need to go pick up a copy of 2K9 or find another sport to play online..where you can exploit the glitches. This game has by far exceeded the expectations and the Hype, not it’s just time to refine the online game play and eliminate the bugs! Great job EA keep up the good work. O i have a tone of other great game title idea’s i.e. Lacrosse with a fully functional stick movement(Trade marked), LOL.
November 5, 2008 at 7:12 pm
The one thing that ea missed is the mics. I hate not being able to understand my teammates while in a game.
November 6, 2008 at 1:16 pm
so, basically, you made a game where it’s already impossible to score goals even harder to score goals…
great job guys.
November 8, 2008 at 6:55 pm
fix the penalties ea. make the calls so that they arent all over the place im sick of getting interfered with all game and then nudging someone once and getting called for it.
November 11, 2008 at 6:54 pm
When is the NEXT roster update? Luca Sbisa needs to be in this game, and there have also been some trades and free agent signings. Are they possibly waiting to see where shanahan ends up?
November 12, 2008 at 3:27 pm
when was the last update?? any idea of the date or timeframe?
November 12, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Are custom controls fixed so that option is actually functional? I don’t know if I missed that somewhere. And I’m wondering why so many scoring options are being taken away. It’s ridiculously easy to play defense already compared to last year’s game. How hard does it have to be before everyone’s ok with the goals that go in? This is a videogame right? I’m no fan of glitch type, and easy blueliner goals, but too little of them is just as bad. Scoring makes it fun, and therefore not a sleeper that constantly ends in 1-0 or 2-1 games. Goalies in real life give up bad goals too.
November 13, 2008 at 4:28 pm
man this update is great, our team always scores more than 2 goals and now all you cheapskates out there can’t score your stupid goals that drive me f’n crazy
November 25, 2008 at 1:52 am
this update sucks ea screwed up bigtime…
November 25, 2008 at 11:48 am
my NHL 09 STILL gets the dirty disc message! Even AFTER updating it with the new patch.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm very annoyed with EA.
December 5, 2008 at 8:38 am
Fuck, I think that pisses me off the most.
February 18, 2009 at 3:08 am
NHL 09 SUCKS FUCKING ASS NOW!! U GET CALLED FOR ANYTHING!!!
February 19, 2009 at 11:30 pm
this patch is horseshit yes they fixed the online glitch goals but they took the fun of hitting out of the game if you even brush up against someone it's an interference call, online mode sucks now without being able to hit. It's a video game I unlike most of these kids am not try to live vicariously through my little made up man, I want to be able to play online and have fun not play this watered down bullshit hockey the patch made it
February 22, 2009 at 6:19 pm
you guys are just sour cause the game is more realistic…if you dont want a sim hockey game fuckin buy the 3 on 3 arcade or nhl 2k9. Quit bitching cause the game is finally what it should be.
February 25, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Just download patch. Game froze up half way through!
March 3, 2009 at 11:16 pm
there's a glitch with my game, I think. I keep getting hits but when I look at the stats to see how many hits I have, it says 0.
March 4, 2009 at 8:30 am
wow, this game went from about a 9/10 to a 3/10 with one stupid patch. Way to go, EA.
March 4, 2009 at 8:31 am
is there any way to delete the patch? I fucking hate it.