A patch for NHL09 has already been deployed for PS3 owners in Europe and will be released for XBox360 and other PS3 owners within the first couple of weeks of November, according to David Littman of EA Sports.

Along with fixing the dirty disc error that I reported in an earlier blog post, there are a multitude of other bug fixes and authenticity fixes that will come our way. The gameplay is getting some major refinement to increase the level of authenticity in the game, as well as making the EA Sports Hockey League more interesting and fun. There’s no word regarding fixing the Hockey League issues regarding joining games, but lets hope that this gets rectified as well. The fixes and improvements are, in no particular order:

• 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
• Fixed the goals from outside shots that people are scoring. 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.
• 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

Thanks to my friend Twister65 for pointing out information on this patch release.