NHL Returns to TSO!
NHL finally returns to TSO. NHL commish vet Fiddy14 has joined up with TSO and has started some NHL activity and leagues. Fiddy brings with him several friends and NHL gamers to help establish a solid core group. The THL has just started play in season 1 with 12 teams and a 22 game schedule, which will have a home and away game vs each user. This smaller league setup allows everyone, including Fiddy, to get familiar with TSO and get a comfortable routine going to be ready for NHL 13. After the launch of NHL 13, Fiddy plans on running 2 seasons per league. I had a Q&A session with Fiddy over his NHL plans and his responses are below.
1. Fiddy, you are new to TSO but have come in as a commissioner of the new NHL league. Tell us how this came to be.
Well, I was a free agent NHL Commish looking for a new home. After exchanging a few emails with you (JMustang1968) i was all signed up here and ready to roll. The one thing that stood out right away here though, no NHL League. I wanted to change that.
2. What is your online gaming and commissioning resume?
I have been on Xbox Live for 8 years. My very first game I played online was NHL 2K4. That started my love for playing online and against random people. That quickly changed when playing guys that wanted to just win and not have a realistic type game. I then started looking for online leagues/community’s to join to get a better experience.
Below is a list of the leagues I have run in the past. These were all played with the EA NHL Series starting in 2007. All the leagues below, started, and finished.
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NHL - full 30 team league for 4 years, with 44 game schedule, full playoffs etc.
NHL Summer League - started after the above league ended, 12 to 18 owners, full playoffs etc.
AHL - 12 team league for 3 years, with a 24 game schedule, playoffs etc.
OVHL - was a private 12 team league for 6 years (11 seasons), with a 32 game schedule, playoffs etc.
Original 6 League - obviously, ran with Original 6 teams for 3 years, 30 game schedule, playoffs etc.
CHL - 1 season, had 18 teams, 6 teams per league, WHL, QMJHL, OHL, only played teams in correct league, then had a full Memorial Cup playoffs etc.
Euro League - 2 seasons, 16 teams, any Euro League team could be used etc.
KHL - 1 season, 12 teams, only 1 season bc of being taken out of the NHL Series
NHL Summer League - started after the above league ended, 12 to 18 owners, full playoffs etc.
AHL - 12 team league for 3 years, with a 24 game schedule, playoffs etc.
OVHL - was a private 12 team league for 6 years (11 seasons), with a 32 game schedule, playoffs etc.
Original 6 League - obviously, ran with Original 6 teams for 3 years, 30 game schedule, playoffs etc.
CHL - 1 season, had 18 teams, 6 teams per league, WHL, QMJHL, OHL, only played teams in correct league, then had a full Memorial Cup playoffs etc.
Euro League - 2 seasons, 16 teams, any Euro League team could be used etc.
KHL - 1 season, 12 teams, only 1 season bc of being taken out of the NHL Series
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Basically 28 Leagues started and completed overall. Schedules ranging from 24 to 44 games per season.
The OVHL which was my original league is probably my favorite one of them all. I would love to keep that going here at TSO starting with NHL 13.
3. What are you looking to accomplish with the new NHL league?
Im looking to start a “Tradition” here at TSO with its Hockey Leagues. Where guys can look forward to two main NHL Seasons here for each game starting with NHL 13.
One (Winter League), which will start at the end of September or early October. Kinda follows along with the start of the actual NHL Season.
The other (Summer League) to start when the league mentioned above Playoffs start. This keeps the guys that didnt make the Playoffs going and not waiting around long.
Side leagues, which would run during the Winter or Summer Leagues. Like an Original 6 League, AHL League, Euro League etc. Whatever the guys would want to do, we can do.
4. What are your plans for league setup and incorporation into the TSO site?
My league set ups are pretty simple. I like to keep league owners at an even number. That makes scheduling games etc a lot easier. I also like to run just 2 games per week, against the same owner. A home and home series. That way you only have to get in touch with one owner at a time during the week. Sometimes I will open up 4 games, like at the beginning of the Winter League. Reason for that, because guys are ready to roll and playing the game a lot. Best chance to get games played in chunks in my opinion.
As for the other stuff, team stats, player stats etc. I like to keep that simple as well. Usually just a team stat kind of guy, but that gets old now and then. So we will be testing the waters a bit with basic player stats. The issue with player stats, it takes time away from playing the games. That’s why im more for just team stats, because i want guys playing 2 games say in a 40 minute span. Not jotting down stats for 10 mins after each game.
I’m excited to see what the TSO Staff has in store for all the leagues here at the site in terms of stat input. From what I have heard, its gonna make things run a lot smoother behind the scenes.
5. What are some of the issues you anticipate to encounter while running the league, and how would you go about preventing them from happening?
There are always gonna be issues, even with a solid group of guys. Life, family, kids, work, etc etc get in the way and its expected.
Owners dropping out, for whatever the reason, so its always good to do some recruiting and have a waiting list of guys ready to play.
Scheduling issues, again, everyone has their own life, so we will see a lot of this throughout the season. Even if guys cant connect for a week or two, they shouldn’t sweat it. Just communicate with each other on whats going on. If you cant play, let them know, dont leave them and the league hanging.
Conflicts, sigh.. Always conflicts. That’s why if you read my League Rules I keep it simple. You wont see 1,000 rules to follow. In all seriousness my leagues are almost like glorified EA lobby games, but without the cheese and win at all cost mentality.
Im also gonna put together a bit of a feedback system. After each game I will have guys PM me a form on how the experience was. If it was easy to schedule, if the guys used a mic, if he was polite on the mic etc, if they abused certain moves or goals over and over. Just small things like that, but knowing each guys thoughts on the game makes it easier on me to do my job as a commish.
6. Do you plan on growing your league or NHL in general here on TSO? If so how?
Yes, I plan on growing “our” league here at TSO. It’s not my league at all. I just try and organize a great place for guys to play and have fun. These online leagues in general are nothing without solid owners in place and staff members working together. Sometimes issues will arise, but that’s when working together is key. Communicate and get that small stuff solved quickly.
7. Does your NHL league do anything special or different from a typical NHL league that sets it apart?
Most definitely.. I would say that the main difference between leagues I run and others I see is Sportsmanship. If any owner shows any signs of not having any, it’s noted. If it keeps up, they are gone with no questions asked. That’s what the feedback system I mentioned above helps with. Weeds these guys out of the league!!
Sportsmanship and Communication are two very important things for any league to succeed long term.
8. What one or two things would you most want to fix about NHL or what new features would you want most for the next release?
Wow. Where do i begin? I don’t think I have enough space here to say everything I would want to.
I will say this, I am a die hard hockey fan, I love the sport. When I play EA’s NHL Series I don’t feel like it represents the game of hockey at all. Sure, it has all the looks, fluff, etc. That’s not what I mean. I want the game to play like the game we see live at arenas or live on TV.
They need to overhaul the gameplay big time. With that said, that all seems to start with the CPU AI, it’s horrible. Players are out of position the majority of the time, and they have no rhyme or reason for what they are doing away from the play. That also ties into team strategies; they have been the same since NHL 2004. Inexcusable IMO!!
I just want to see them focus on the core gameplay for a dev cycle, but I understand that doesn’t make much business sense for them. If they keep ignoring the gameplay though, people will stop buying it. What will they do then? Stop making the game, or focus on actual gameplay and not fluff?
