When a team has control of the puck in its
offensive zone, there are several different play calling scenarios that
may occur. These include:
Setup Plays - Shoot the puck,
attempt to pass to a specific open player for a shot, or cycle for a new
setup. Taking advantage of screens, getting the puck to the net for a
rebound, or setting up safe turnovers by clearing the puck in deep are
just a few ways to use these scenarios. Setup plays occur often on
powerplays, and occasionally during even strength play.
Match-up Plays - An offensive player
has the puck with a scoring opportunity, defended by an opposing player.
Do you shoot, attempt to penetrate for a better shot, pass, or send the
puck deep for a safe turnover?
Other play calling opportunities occur
according to game situations. When shorthanded, attempt to ice the puck,
or take chances to try to create shorthanded goals. Attempt to shoot for
an empty net with the chance of icing, clear the puck back to the neutral
zone, or try to cross center ice before shooting. Make an odd man rush,
try to set up in the offensive zone, or dump the puck in for a safe
turnover. These situations and more create an exciting and diverse game
experience.
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Line Changes
Making timely and efficient line changes is
an important element of success in hockey, and that holds true in Action
PC Hockey. In most situations when your team has the puck, you have the
option to make a line change. When a change is called for, potential for
that play decreases according to how many players are being changed. As a
result, it is often best to play safe or to clear the puck when attempting
to make a change. Trying to make a change in a low potential situation may
result in a dangerous turnover.
Line management is made simple by an easy-to-use line change interface. Put an entire line or individual players on
the ice with a single click. Player strength on a zero to 100 scale makes
it clear who is ready to play and who needs more rest. Lines are
automatically adjusted when injuries and penalties occur. Double shifting
star players is easy to accomplish. The simple yet powerful interface
ensures that line management is never a hassle.
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Strategies
Action PC Hockey includes a wealth of
strategy options. Strategies include forecheckers used, defensive zone
aggressiveness and depth, offensive zone entry method, and offensive zone
system. Strategies may be set for the team as a whole, as well as for
specific line combinations and game situations. A programmable computer
coach is also available for each team including line usage, offensive and
defensive styles, late game strategy adjustments, and preferences for when
to change or pull goalies. Individual players also have usage preferences
that may be set including how often to pass or shoot from different ice
locations, how often to attempt to deflect shots, join in odd man rushes,
and attempt to penetrate past defenders. To help in understanding the
influence each strategy has on the game, an in depth strategy guide is
available free from this site.
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League/Roster Management
A complete set of general manager functions
makes it easy to operate your league. Create, modify, draft and trade
players and teams. Design depth charts and set line combinations with all
stats and ratings easily available. Save up to five complete sets of line
combinations for each team. Create and assign ice graphics, team logos,
and player photos. Customize league rules including roster limits,
overtime and shootout rules, penalties, suspensions, player usage rules,
icing and offsides rules, and many miscellaneous rules such as video
review of goals and automatic TV timeouts.
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Statistics and Reports
Action! PC Hockey is loaded with player,
team and league statistical reports. Customize database reports using
hundreds of available statistics. All of the standard statistics such as
goals, assists, penalty minutes, and plus/minus are included. The game
also tracks hits, blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, faceoffs, time on
ice breakdowns, types of penalties, and much more. You can view raw
statistics or stats based on game averages, home or road averages, high
games and more.
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Player Ratings
Player ratings are based on every available
published statistic, as well as expert subjective analysis. Player
ratings include overall offensive ability, passing, inside and outside
scoring, skating, penalty shot/breakaway ability, faceoffs, overall
defensive ability, takeaways, shot blocking, hitting, penalty killing,
enforcer status, goalie ability, sportsmanship, and durability.
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Play-By-Play
Extensive and exiting play-by-play makes
playing a hockey game an immersive experience. Thousands of lines of text
may also be edited by the user.
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Schedules and Transactions
Seasons include full real life schedules.
Schedules may be modified or automatically generated. Player transactions
are monitored by date, so you can replay a season using the actual trades
and signings as they occurred in real life.
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Internet Play
Action! PC Hockey offers complete support
for internet play. Hook-up and play one game or an entire series in one
sitting. Zip and email league files with just a few mouse clicks. Email
box scores to league members with one mouse click.
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Utilities
Action! PC Hockey includes a useful set of
utilities to run any face-to-face, email, or internet league.
Export/import games, export/import coaches and many other features help
make your league play simple and enjoyable.
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Past Seasons/Historical Adjustments
Many past seasons are available for
purchase. These include pro, Olympic, and college seasons. The staff at
Dave Koch Sports is continually adding to the lineup of available past
seasons. Action PC Hockey includes complete league data for every past
season, allowing the game engine to make comparisons between players from
different eras. This makes it possible to play a game between a team from
the 1960s and a team from the 1990s, for example. Leagues can also be set
to play in any era. For example, it is possible to put modern teams in the
high scoring era of the 1980s.
