NCAA hockey video game

[ESPNInsider]

I played the heck out of that mod for a couple of years.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This might be one of my favorite quotes of all time! Love it

[PCM]

Just for the heck of it, I created a highlight reel replay of Nick Fuher's game-winning goal in OT from my fictional 2004 UND-DU playoff rematch. I'm not sure how well it will work because this is my first attempt at creating a Web-viewable AVI file. It seems to work okay on my PC.

[Fedorov]

Just for the heck of it, I created a highlight reel replay of Nick Fuher's game-winning goal in OT from my fictional 2004 UND-DU playoff rematch. I'm not sure how well it will work because this is my first attempt at creating a Web-viewable AVI file. It seems to work okay on my PC.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is so unrealistic. Fans aren't allowed to stand.

[PCM]

That is so unrealistic.  Fans aren't allowed to stand.   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you notice, the fans are standing and cheering when Parise takes the puck behind the net, but they're sitting down during and after Fuher scores. Must be a bunch of season ticket holders.

[siouxhockey5]

I noticed when I was the Sioux kicking goofer ass 4-2 that the guy who made the super goofer team left off Alex Goligoski but has Jake Taylor, that seems like a no brainer to me.

Siouxhockey5

[Mad Man]

That is so unrealistic. Fans aren't allowed to stand.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's also unrealistic because there isn't a player riding piggyback on Parise. No way his he left open down low behind the net.

[sprig]

Input - A game pad controller works best

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any suggestions for a good pc game pad controller?

[PCM]

Any suggestions for a good pc game pad controller?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've been using the Nyko AirFlo EX. It's reasonably priced (GameStop in GF has them for $20) and it's a bit larger for people with big hands. Plus, it has a fan inside and ventilation holes to help keep your hands from getting sweaty.

If you're like me and have big, sweaty hands, this controller's for you.

[PCM]

I've been playing this mod  for a while now and I think I might have missed a download.  It still shows the logos of NHL teams at some points when it should have the NCAA logos, like when there's a powerplay or right when the game starts.  Is it always like this?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, you're not missing anything. That's the way it is. Apparently some parts of the game are easier to change than others.

[Fedorov]

I've been using the Nyko AirFlo EX. It's reasonably priced (GameStop in GF has them for $20) and it's a bit larger for people with big hands. Plus, it has a fan inside and ventilation holes to help keep your hands from getting sweaty.

If you're like me and have big, sweaty hands, this controller's for you. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Since it is the off-season, I won't touch this post.

[PCM]

Since it is the off-season, I won't touch this post. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What does the off-season have to do with it? Fire away. Just hope that I don't my big, sweaty hands on you.

[Fedorov]

Just hope that I don't my big, sweaty hands on you. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like I said, it is the off-season. You would never make a mistake like that when you were on your game.

[AZSIOUX]

I have a brand new in box NYKO air flo ex controller for PC (25.00 in store) and the NHL 2004 PC game in box with all instructions (9.99 in store). will sell together..just email me a fair offer if interested shipping handling 5.00...

[PCM]

Because I've had several people e-mail for instructions on how to install the NCAA mod for NHL 2004, I've decided that it might be a good idea to post some instructions here.

NCAA 2004 Installation Instructions

Download the files "db.viv" and "ncaa_2004.zip here. You will need WinZip to open the ZIP file and extract the folders and files from it. WinZip can be downloaded for free here.

Next, you'll need to use Windows Explorer. This is a utility for working with files and folders that comes with Windows. Click on "Start" and "All Programs." Windows Explorer is in the "Accessories" folder. Click on the icon to open the program.

Using Windows Explorer, create a folder called Temp (for temporary). Open the ncaa_2004.zip file with WinZip and select the Extract option. Where it says "Extract to:" input the directory location for the Temp folder you just created (i.e. C:\Temp). Make sure the "All files" and "Use folder names" options are checked. Click on "Extract" to unzip all of the files into the Temp directory. You can now close WinZip because that's all you need it for.

Go back to Windows Explorer and find the Temp folder you created. Below it, you should see a subfolder called "ncaa_2004" and subfolders under that called "DB," "gamedata" and "images2."

Left click on the DB folder to select it. Right click on the folder and select Copy from the menu options. Now find the folder for this directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\"your computer's name"\My Documents\NHL 2004

(It's easiest just to click on the My Documents icon near the top of Windows Explorer.)

Select the NHL 2004 folder, right click on it and select Paste. When asked if you want to overwrite existing files, say yes.

Go back to the Temp folder, select the gamedata subfolder, right click on it and copy it. Now go to the directory where you installed NHL 2004 and find:

C:\Program Files\EA SPORTS\NHL 2004\gamedata

(This assumes that you installed NHL 2004 to the default location on your C: drive.)

Select the NHL 2004 gamedata folder, right click on it and select Paste. When asked if you want to overwrite existing files, say yes.

Go back to the Temp folder, select the images2 subfolder, right click on it and copy it. Now go to the directory where you installed NHL 2004 and find:

C:\Program Files\EA SPORTS\NHL 2004\fe\nhl\images2

(Again assuming that NHL 2004 is in the default directory.)

Select the images2 folder under this directory, right click on it and choose Paste. Again, overwrite all existing files when asked to do so.

Finally, find the db.viv file you downloaded separately, copy it and paste it

here:

C:\Program Files\EA SPORTS\NHL 2004\db

Overwrite the existing file when asked to do so.

Assuming you did everything correctly, the next time you start NHL 2004, you should see a logo on the main menu screen for NCAA 2004. All the NHL teams should now be replaced with college teams.

Note that all parts of the game aren't converted to college hockey. NHL logos are used in some parts of the game and some goalies wear NHL team masks. This is normal. Also, schedules and playoffs are arranged the way the NHL does them, not as the NCAA does them.

If anyone tries this method and has problems with it, please let me know. This is the way I installed the game mod and it worked for me.

[dagies]

If I could turn back time...

Oh wait, I can!

Here's my fictional recap of a fictional rematch between Denver and UND during the 2004 NCAA west region playoffs using the NCAA game mod for NHL 2004. I probably should have used the editing program to take Conner James out of the DU lineup because he was still injured then and didn't play. However, in my rematch, James certainly made the game closer and more exciting. I played this game at the medium level of difficulty using my edited version of the 03-04 Sioux.

[BigGame]

I got the game up and running yesterday, thanks for the info PCM. It seems that the Sioux are a lot slower than most of the other teams, but maybe thats just me or the controller I am using has something wrong with it.

How can you tweek of change players for the game?

[PCM]

How can you tweek of change players for the game?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I did it by using NHL View, a free player-roster editor that you can download here.

[PCM]

Sheesh....shilling your own articles AGAIN.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And I feel just terrible about it.

[DMT]

I did it by using NHL View, a free player-roster editor that you can download here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I got the game up and running. I downloaded and unzipped the NHL View program. All I get is an empty screen. Any tips on how to use the NHL View probram?

[PCM]

I got the game up and running.  I downloaded and unzipped the NHL View program.  All I get is an empty screen.  Any tips on how to use the NHL View probram?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You use NHL View to open the main data base file (db.viv) and, if you desire, the exhibition roster database file (NHL 2004 Exh.exh) and secondary database files.

To do this, click on the open folder icon. That opens a menu screen that enables you to select which file or combination of files you want to open for editing. But you have to tell the program where those files are located. For example, "db.viv" is located in the DB folder of the main NHL 2004 directory. You must either input that location or click on the open folder icon to browse to it.

The other files, however, are not in the NHL 2004 directory. They're in the NHL 2004\DB directory created under "My Documents." You must either input that location and the file name or browse to it by clicking on the open folder icon.

Once you properly input the location of the file or files you want to edit, click on "Open" and you will see the rosters and players for every team. From there, you can look at the ratings for every player and change them to your heart's content.

[PCM]

I've done some editing of the main database file and the exhibtion roster file. If anyone's interested, I can put the two files on my Web site and post links for them here. The changes I've made so far include:

• Some corrections and more realistic ratings for Sioux players.
  
• A realistic Minnesota roster and more accurate player ratings. (The Gophers roster is now composed of players who actually played for Minnesota during the 2003-2004 season rather than being a fantasy team of the future.)
  
• More realistic player ratings for Denver.
  
• More realistic player ratings for Maine.
  

Of course, fans of the teams I've edited would probably complain about the changes I've made. Admitedly, roster editing is a subjective process. I've tried to be objective in making changes that I feel reflect the strengths and weaknesses of teams and players.

In going through a few of the rosters, I've found that some of the individual player ratings are ridiculously unrealistic. I've attempted to bring them in line using player stats from the 03-04 season. Unfortunately, I'll probably never have enough time to go through and edit team the rosters by team, player by player.

[DMT]

I've done some editing of the main database file and the exhibtion roster file. If anyone's interested, I can put the two files on my Web site and post links for them here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm interested.

[PCM]

I'm interested.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll put the files online later tonight and post the links here.

[Fedorov]

I'll put the files online later tonight and post the links here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just keep it clean this time. How hard would it be to update the game to have the current rosters for the WCHA and a few of the other big teams? I have pretty much given up on EA for hockey, but this year might be good for them. With a new project manager, next year's will likely be better.

[PCM]

I've created a page on my Web site with links to the edited NHL 2004 database files with instructions for installing them. Check it out here. Let me know if you encounter any problems..