FAQ - Guide for NHL 2001

NHL 2001 Unofficial PC FAQ v0.2 - 12/12/00
(c) 2000 Seeker Silverhawk (skrshawk)

(A nice ASCII logo would be well appreciated and make this look like a 
classic FAQ :)

DISCLAIMER:  Anything you do in life is at your own risk including 
reading and using the information contained in this FAQ.  Seeker 
Silverhawk is in no way responsible for your use or inability to use 
this information or the game described herein.  Seeker Silverhawk is 
not and never has been an employee of Electronic Arts or any of its 
affiliates.  NHL 2001 is (C) 2000 Electronic Arts.  If you do not 
accept these terms please discontinue reading and remove this FAQ from 
your hard drive.

Please contact me with any submissions, updates, or corrections you may 
have.  My Email is [email protected] .  Please put "NHL 2001" in 
the subject line so that I will catch it easily.  If you have a 
question that's not in the FAQ it will appear in the next version if I 
can answer it.  Otherwise the question will be published as 
"unanswered" and when someone responds to it will be placed in the 
appropriate section.

If you submit material and would not like your email address posted, 
please say to that effect.  Otherwise I am considering your submission 
implicit permission (how funky sounding is that!) to include it.

A complete version history can be found at the end of this FAQ.

Table of Contents
1.  General Information and Q&A Regarding NHL 2001 
2.  NHL 2001 PC Specifications and Hardware Recommendations
3.  Modes of Play
4.  Tips on Rules and Settings
5.  Control Configurations and Suggested Keyboard Map
6.  General Gameplay Tips and Strategies
7.  Known Cheats
8.  Multiplayer/Online Play and Hints
9.  Related Websites
10.  Unanswered Questions
11.  Version History and Plans
12.  Copyright Information

--------------------------------------------------
1.  General Information and Q&A Regarding NHL 2001
--------------------------------------------------

Q.  What is NHL 2001?  What does it do?

A.  NHL 2001 is the latest hockey game released by Electronic Arts.  It 
features all 30 NHL teams, special NHL teams (such as All-stars), and 
20 international teams.  Included are rules and rink specifications for 
NHL and international rules play.  Customizable AI allows for control 
over teammates' and opponents aggressiveness and strategy.

Game modes include single game, season, tournament, playoff, and 
shootout.  Season play can include any of up to 30 teams for as long as 
a full 82 game regular season schedule.  Tournament and playoff mode 
are essential the same, the only difference being the Cup is on the 
line in Playoff mode.  Shootouts are the classic international rules 
shootouts.

Two types of drafts with variations are available.  A full complement 
of coaching tools are provided to edit lines, make trades, and set 
strategies.

Online play is also supported, although many people have mixed opinions 
on its stability.

Q.  What platforms is NHL 2001 out on?

A.  NHL 2001 has been released on the PC, Playstation, and 
Playstation2.  This FAQ covers specifics to the PC version since that 
is what the author plays.

Q.  Is there a demo out for the PC?

A.  Yes - you can download it from the EA Sports site - not the 
official NHL 2001 site.  This seems to be the best repository of 
official files for the game.
Q.  What is the latest version of NHL 2001?
A.  The latest upgrade will patch your game to v1.02.  Use the auto-
update feature in the game's Start Menu folder as I have not seen a 
file download to do so.

----------------------------------------------------
2.  NHL 2001 System Requirements and Recommendations
----------------------------------------------------

EA sayeth you must have a computer with this to play:
Windows 95/98 (not NT/2000)
200MHz processor
32 MB RAM
4x CD-ROM using 32-bit driver (most do)
100MB free hard drive space + space for saved games, DirectX, and swap 
file
Direct3D or Glide compatible video card with 4 MB RAM with DirectX 
compatible Driver
DirectX 7 compatible Sound Card
Keyboard and Mouse

EA reccomendeth this for better gameplay:
400MHZ Pentium II
64 MB RAM
8x CD-ROM
600MB free hard drive space + room for goodies
16 MB or greater video card
Gamepad

EA sayeth you must have this to play in multiplayer mode:
56K modem, up to 2 PC's
Cable modem, DSL, or Faster for up to 4 PC's
IPX Network for up to 8 PC's
1 CD per computer, up to 5 players per computer

For best gameplay (and maximum detail), Seeker recommends this:
600MHz Athlon, Thunderbird, or Pentium III
128MB RAM
1.2GB free hard drive space (for full install)
32MB NVidia chipset Graphics Card w/ TV-Out (great for get-togethers)
DirectX 8 (available from Microsoft's website and most major download 
sites)

-----------------
3.  Modes of Play
-----------------

Single Game - plays a single game between any two teams.  For a real 
good time, make the two teams the same and give them the same jerseys 
:).  Very useful for balancing the game to your ability and 
preferences.

Season - The long (or short) haul.  Play your team up to 82 games with 
a league of up to 30 teams.  Set your lines based on player abilities, 
hot and cold streaks, injuries, and personal tastes.  Place players on 
and off waivers, make trades, sign free agents, and scout the best 
talent for next season.  Assign offensive, defensive, powerplay, and 
penalty kill strategies.  Play up to ten consecutive seasons.

Tournament - Play an 8, 12, or 16 team tournament to find the victor.

Playoff - Go for the cup!  Select your teams and rules and battle it 
out for Lord Stanley.

Shootout - An international rules shootout.  Pit five guys and your 
best goalie against any other team and see who can find the back of the 
net.

Internet/Online - Basic gameplay over the Internet or an IPX local area 
network.

Online League - Season mode gone online.  I suggest shortened seasons 
unless you belong to a clan or regular league.

------------------------------
4.  Tips on Rules and Settings
------------------------------

These settings are suggested for players that enjoy a full-length, 60 
minute battle.  The downside with this is that it is hard to make such 
a long affair in this game represent scores similar to NHL standards.  
The goal is to bring scores down to reasonable levels while not making 
the goaltenders seem like supermen and the players like slow motion.

I've personally found the game to be the most balanced vs. the computer 
with the level set on Pro, goalie boost notched two steps higher than 
player, and the team I am playing notched one higher each.  Start four 
clicks from the left.

Under the AI, I suggest setting aggressiveness to the maximum.  Hockey 
is a vicious checking sport and this simulates that beautifully.  
Hitting power should be about the middle, and fall recovery should be 
about 3/4 to the max.  I swear, sometimes these guys are pansies.  
Injury settings are up to you.  Regular seasons will get much grittier 
as time goes on if this is set high.  Also note that harder checks have 
greater chances of causing severe injuries (of course).

I make the puck elasticity and goalie rebounds a bit higher as well as 
make the goalie hang onto the puck less.  NHL goalies use strategy in 
choosing when to hang on (such as heavy coverage or needing a line 
change).  The computer I think rolls the dice, but passes it out less 
if you cover his outlets better.  Pass Accuracy is off and Pass Speed 
it a notch higher.  Setting rebounds to a high level also has an 
increased chance of causing the puck to go out of play.

Rules... get to know hockey if you don't already.  I could not imagine 
a game without calls against offside, 2-line passes, and icing.  Here's 
the gist of it.  If you have an attacker in the other team's zone and 
pass or carry the puck in before he comes back, that's offside.  A 2-
line pass is simply passing the puck across two of the center lines 
(also an offside pass).  Icing is shooting the puck past your 
opponents' blue line and goal line and they touch it first.  So don't 
do these things :).

Penalties and fighting... I set these to about 2/3, however you may 
want to lessen them a bit if you want more 5 on 5 hockey.  I like 
playing more shorthanded and powerplay situations than the average is 
for the league, but midway represents the average.  Overtimes... play 
by NHL rules.. if it's regular season, single OT (4 on 4), playoffs, 
continuous OT.

-----------------------------------------------------
5.  Control Configurations and Suggested Keyboard Map
-----------------------------------------------------

I'm not here to replace the manual, so I'm only going to cover the 
keyboard map that works best for me.  Gamepad designs can vary so if 
you have a favorite controller map please share it and you will receive 
credit.

Movement - Arrow Keys (As Mapped)
Player With Puck - As Mapped
Player Without Puck - As Mapped
Goalie Without Puck - As Mapped
Goalie With Puck - As Mapped
Face-offs - As Mapped
Fighting - As Mapped

Select Goalie - G
Drop Puck In (offense)/Last Man Back(defense) - B
Line Change - F (use arrow keys or F1-F8)
Spin Left/Right - L/R Shift
Pull Goalie - P
Deflection/Block Shot - V
(note: this allows players to dive and causes teammates to dive)
Skate Backwards - D

One-timer - Pass and hold Shoot
Fake Shot - Hold Shoot and tap Pass
Give and Go (Passback) - Hold Pass
Shot Aiming - Arrow Keys as shot is released

---------------------------------------
6. General Gameplay Tips and Strategies
---------------------------------------

By and large, if it works in the NHL, it will work here (a credit to EA 
for the authenticity).  Here are some of my favorite tactics.  Young 
hockey players might want to take some of this advice to the rink with 
them - it'll do ya good ;).

Manual shot control works like this (as submitted by Zac Couture
):
"Manual Shot Aim works like this. As you release the shot button, press 
the control pad / keyboard button in the direction of where you want 
the shot to go. So up = top shelf, down = on the ice, and left and 
right = left and right. To put it in the corner, press both buttons, 
i.e up and left."
Given a far better game next time I played I was convinced and am 
completely sold on this kind of shooting.  However it does add to the 
busywork of controlling your player.
Hit everything that moves.  You'll take more penalties by using the 
"Big Hit" button but over time will develop players' hitting ability 
(represented by their hammer).  Same goes with firing on net.  Not only 
will this help you score goals (obviously) but doing dekes and spin 
moves will increase this.
Set up odd-man rushes and pass the puck back and forth before you 
shoot.  This has scored the majority of my goals.  Having two players 
in the net vicinity is the most effective way to beat the goalie.  Pass 
it across or back and have the recipient do a onetimer on it (very 
effective).

Behind the net plays are not as effective in this game as they are in 
the NHL.  Try the same thing with the odd-man rush - pass it in front 
and one-time it.

If the goalie is down, you better capitalize on it.  It's almost like 
cashing in on an empty net.  I find the game much easier on auto-shot 
aiming for this reason.  If he's outta position (such as being forward 
and a player is behind him) - easy knocker.

If you don't have a play where you can get a reasonable shot off, dump 
the puck in along the boards.  This buys time - it gets your players in 
scoring positions and makes the defenders chase after it.  

It is an accomplishment to beat a goalie one-on-one.  Here's a couple 
of tricks to help you (great for penalty shots too): Skate straight, 
slightly to the left or right, depending on which hand your player 
uses.  Cross just in front of the crease to the other side, deke, and 
shoot a forehand wrister.  A spin move may also fool him with a 
backhand.  Use combinations including faking shots (a tough skill to 
master in this game) - if he goes down and you have the puck he's 
toast.

On defense the best thing to do is everything you can to get it out of 
the attacking zone.  Carry it behind your net to take some heat off 
when there's a heavy attack and send it out on the wings.  It's hard to 
get in the habit of attempting shot blocks but it is one that will pay 
off.  However given the choice between a block and a check, take the 
check.

In the readme with the patch it mentions that on defense you can skate 
backwards and do a sweep check by hitting the shoot key.  Great for 
stopping an even-man rush.

It's tough being a goalie (I know, I played two years of youth hockey 
wearing the pads).  However it can be a very rewarding game if you end 
up with a shutout, or that feeling of satisfaction when the opponent 
fires again and again and you shut him down.  Proper timing (and 
holding down) of the save attempt is critical.  Quick punches will go 
for sprawls, longer holds for dives; use this especially if the goalie 
is caught out of position.

More on goalies:  As the rule book says, a goalie is not "fair game" if 
he leaves the net.  Resemble Dominik Hasek in not only stopping every 
shot, but being the 3rd defenseman. Use your switch to goalie button to 
have him pick up loose pucks and fire them back into the fray.  This is 
a tremendous help to the odd-man rush and will get your goalie some 
assists.  But needless to say, use discretion in utilizing him.  

Use discretion in passing and clearing the puck.  Sometimes its far 
less risky to have the face-off in your end than to set up your 
opponent's goal.  However if you're not the goalie, and especially when 
on the powerplay - clear the biscuit!

Another note is that you will never get penalized for intentionally 
sending the puck out of play (unlike the NHL).  Shooting it from your 
zone will often do this.  If nothing else it will send it fully down 
the ice, and half the time the opposing goalie won't go out of his net 
if you send it around the boards in this fashion.

Fighting - rely mostly on your high punch, throwing an uppercut in 
there when you want some extra hit (such as to knock him down).  I 
haven't noticed any pattern to how the refs call instigator and game 
misconduct penalties (it's funny when the person that loses also gets 
the misconduct, talk about adding insult to injury!)

Manual line changes are very important to the strategy of your game.  
The computer tends to have an uncanny ability to place out a dead-tired 
line in a key situation.  It takes more adjustment to call your changes 
on the fly but is easily done and well worth it.  I suggest just using 
the default Fkeys to make your calls (first press brings up the list, 
second activates a line).

----------------
7.  Known Cheats
----------------

These cheats were taken by permission off of 
http://vgstrategies.about.com .  The only problem is none of them seem 
to work!  I could use some confirmation from anyone regarding the 
status of these cheats.

During Gameplay type in (case sensitive):
HOMEGOAL - Home team scores a goal
AWAYGOAL - Away team scores a goal

In the Credits screen type in:
Broken tomato - Turns on BLOOD
starsrus - All players can do all dekes
Magnet - Loose puck goes to goalie if using manual goalie

Typing in the names of the programmers from the game will give you 
super-players.  (has not been tested)

Pressing V during an off-play situation will activate a taunt (works 
only in multiplayer or not at all?)

------------------------------------
8. Multiplayer/Online Play and Hints
------------------------------------

Many people are somewhat disappointed by the implementation of 
multiplayer play in NHL 2001.  I personally feel that this game should 
be able to run on a 28.8 or 33.6 modem for up to 4 players.  My 
personal success has been very limited because I am on such a modem.  
Cable modem or DSL is unfortunately (and perhaps unnecesarily) the de 
facto standard for multiplayer play in this game.  For what seems to be 
the need for a very simple transfer interface it is very bandwidth and 
lag intolerant.

As an unfortunate tribute to poor MP implementation, I've heard more 
reports of those having high-bandwidth connections having some of the 
same problems as modem users.  I can only hope that EA can patch this 
as it is really the only weak link in a very well done hockey game.

EA.com's Matchmaker service (installed as an option with the game) is 
their reccomended method of taking on the world.  It requires the 
latest version of NHL 2001 to use.  Some people prefer to use this 
service to arrange games and then connect via direct IP as these games 
seem to be more stable, although I haven't personally noticed a 
difference.

To make the game run better on slower modems I suggest setting the game 
to 15 packets per second with a peer to peer connection.  If one of the 
players has a high-bandwidth connection and a powerful computer client-
server does run nicer (I have the powerful computer out in the middle 
of nowhere :).

Network play, like most games that support local networks, is quite 
smooth and stable.  I have yet to see any serious issues or problems 
provided IPX is installed on both machines and configured correctly.  
TCP/IP should work too if your network is configured for the Internet 
or placed on the 192.168.x.x domain.


------------------------
9.  Unanswered Questions
------------------------

This section is for questions that I have or that I have received that 
I am looking for answers to.  Please email me questions or answers to 
these questions (you will receive credit for either).

How does manual shot control work? (ANSWERED, under section 7)

I can't seem to find the Free Agent signing section.  Help!

Answer either of those, or ask something that should be here, get in 
the FAQ :).

--------------------
10.  Related Websites
--------------------

My sole discretion is what decides what makes sites appear here, and I 
refuse to add crappy sites.  So if yours doesn't make it, too bad, so 
sad.  Email me with your site suggestions.

http://www.nhl2001.com - Perhaps the best site currently online
http://nhl2001.ea.com - Electronic Arts' official website
http://www.ea.com/rivals/games/mm_nhl01/home.jsp - Much nicer page from 
EA (with direct links to files and multiplayer play)

------------------------------
11.  Version History and Plans
------------------------------

v0.2 - 12/12/00 - 22k - Added information on online play, revamped the 
cheats section, as well as cosmetic improvements and other minor (but 
important) additions.  Many sites have shown interest in hosting it 
except for sites actually devoted to the game.

v0.1 - 12/10/00 - 15k - First released version.  Complete and good-
looking, but hardly comprehensive.

In future releases I hope to have information on using user-created 
addons such as ditties (you know, the music they play at the games) and 
use of the draft functions.  Of course your suggestions and submissions 
are more than welcome!

If there is a significant interest I will expand this FAQ to cover the 
Playstation versions of NHL 2001.  However I do not own a PS so it will 
mostly be based on user submissions (I'm strictly a PC gamer and my 
money is where my Thunderbird and GeForce are :).

---------------------------------------------------
12.  Copyright Information and other assorted legal
---------------------------------------------------

This work is copyrighted 2000 by Seeker Silverhawk (John Tuttle).  NHL 
2001 is copyrighted by Electronic Arts.  Any other products or names 
mentioned in this document are the copyrights of their respective 
owners.  Use of this FAQ is limited to non-commercial private use and 
may not be used for direct profit without the expressed consent of the 
owner.  It may not be posted on any websites without the expressed 
consent of the owner.  Its use in any print publications is prohibited 
without the expressed written consent of the owner.  These terms are 
subject to change with only notice being in the most recent version of 
this document.

Sites authorized to have this FAQ posted are:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/
http://www.nhl2001.com/
http://www.cheatplanet.com/
http://vgstrategies.about.com/ (hosted on http://www.gameadvice.com)
http://www.neoseeker.com/ (gotta love this name! :)

If you see this FAQ on any other site please email me and let me know.  
You will be richly thanked and appreciated and possibly rewarded for 
doing so.

Please reference the disclaimer at the beginning of this document.

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