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Difference between revisions of "NHL 2004"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{stub}}
 
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
 
|cover        = NHL 2004 cover.jpg
 
|cover        = NHL 2004 cover.jpg
Line 9: Line 8:
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|September 22, 2003}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|September 22, 2003}}
 +
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|nhl-2004|87}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|OpenCritic| | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB| | }}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Bird's-eye view }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Direct control, Multiple select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Sports }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | Hockey }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Contemporary }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | NHL }}
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid side  =  
 
|steam appid side  =  
 
|gogcom id    =  
 
|gogcom id    =  
 
|gogcom id side =  
 
|gogcom id side =  
 +
|official site=
 +
|hltb        =
 +
|lutris      =
 +
|mobygames    = 10425
 
|strategywiki = NHL 2004
 
|strategywiki = NHL 2004
|mobygames    = nhl-2004
 
 
|wikipedia    = NHL 2004
 
|wikipedia    = NHL 2004
|winehq      =  
+
|winehq      = 2943
 
|license      = commercial
 
|license      = commercial
 
}}
 
}}
{{Series|NHL}}
 
  
'''Key points'''
+
{{Introduction
{{++}} Active modding community.
+
|introduction      =
 +
 
 +
|release history  =
 +
 
 +
|current state    = The game requires [[#Unofficial patches and mods|unofficial modifications]] to run properly on modern systems, as it relies on obsolete integration with [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Internet Explorer|Microsoft Internet Explorer]] to display the menus, and all community projects include workarounds.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
'''General information'''
 +
{{mm}} [https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nhl04rebuilt/ NHL04 Rebuilt] - the game's modding community
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
{{Availability/row| retail | | disc check, key | {{DRM|SafeDisc|V2}}. |  | Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| retail | | disc check, key | {{DRM|SafeDisc|v2}}. |  | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
{{ii}} This game is not available digitally.
+
 
 +
==Essential improvements==
 +
===Official patch===
 +
{{--}} The latest official patch is 1.04, but was only distributed on the EA Sports Online (EASO) server that has been shut down. The full official distribution has been lost.
 +
{{++}} All community mods include a modified 1.04 executable.
 +
 
 +
===Unofficial patches and mods===
 +
{{--}} On modern systems, it is impossible to run the game without significant modifications due to the reliance of the main menu interface on obsolete Internet Explorer hooking.
 +
{{++}} The community is actively working on modifications which work around the compatibility problems.
 +
{{mm}} [https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nhl04rebuilt/04-launcher-v2-download-t5286.html 04 Launcher v2] - unofficial launcher which provides multiple compatibility tweaks, various quality-of-life improvements, and new features for modders. Many of its features are modular and open to community contributions.<br><br>It '''has''' to be used with either the [https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nhl04rebuilt/vanilla-rebuilt-mod-download-thread-t9.html Vanilla Rebuilt mod] (North American rosters from the game's "native" 2003/2004 season) or one of the other [https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nhl04rebuilt/nhl-2004-official-downloads-f5/ various roster mods]  (vary from historical to present rosters).<br><br>All modifications include modified menu interfaces which work better with the 04 Launcher's compatibility tweaks.
 +
{{mm}} The 04 Launcher is open-source: [https://github.com/vod04/launcher-rebuilt main repository], [https://github.com/vod04/Launcher-Scripts scripts], [https://github.com/vod04/launcher-mods mods], [https://github.com/vod04/launcher download repository].
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/config|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|userprofile\documents}}\NHL 2004}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/saves|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|userprofile\documents}}\NHL 2004}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
{{Video settings
+
{{Image|NHL 2004 graphics settings.png|Graphics settings}}
 +
{{Image|NHL 2004 gameplay settings.png|Gameplay settings}}
 +
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
Line 54: Line 93:
 
|ultrawidescreen            = unknown
 
|ultrawidescreen            = unknown
 
|ultrawidescreen notes      =  
 
|ultrawidescreen notes      =  
|4k ultra hd                = unknown
+
|4k ultra hd                = hackable
|4k ultra hd notes          =  
+
|4k ultra hd notes          = Use the [[#Unofficial patches and mods|04 Launcher]]
|fov                        = unknown
+
|fov                        = hackable
|fov notes                  =  
+
|fov notes                  = Use the [[#Unofficial patches and mods|04 Launcher]] and download the 'Cutscene FOV' mod.
|windowed                  = unknown
+
|windowed                  = hackable
|windowed notes            =  
+
|windowed notes            = Use the [[#Unofficial patches and mods|04 Launcher]]
|borderless windowed        = unknown
+
|borderless windowed        = hackable
|borderless windowed notes  =  
+
|borderless windowed notes  = Use the [[#Unofficial patches and mods|04 Launcher]]
|anisotropic                = unknown
+
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
|antialiasing              = unknown
+
|antialiasing              = false
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
|vsync                      = unknown
+
|upscaling                  = false
|vsync notes                =  
+
|upscaling tech            =
 +
|upscaling notes            =
 +
|vsync                      = hackable
 +
|vsync notes                = Use the [[#Unofficial patches and mods|04 Launcher]]
 
|60 fps                    = unknown
 
|60 fps                    = unknown
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps                    = unknown
 
|120 fps                    = unknown
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
|hdr                        = unknown
+
|hdr                        = false
 
|hdr notes                  =  
 
|hdr notes                  =  
 
|color blind                = false
 
|color blind                = false
Line 78: Line 120:
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
|key remap                = unknown
+
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
|acceleration option      = unknown
+
|acceleration option      = n/a
 
|acceleration option notes =  
 
|acceleration option notes =  
|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
+
|mouse sensitivity        = n/a
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
|mouse menu                = unknown
+
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
|invert mouse y-axis      = unknown
+
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
Line 94: Line 136:
 
|controller support        = true
 
|controller support        = true
 
|controller support notes  =  
 
|controller support notes  =  
|full controller          = true
+
|full controller          = false
|full controller notes    =  
+
|full controller notes    = Main menu can only be accessed with the mouse.
 
|controller remap          = true
 
|controller remap          = true
 
|controller remap notes    =  
 
|controller remap notes    =  
Line 102: Line 144:
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
|xinput controllers        = unknown
+
|xinput controllers        = hackable
|xinput controllers notes  =  
+
|xinput controllers notes  = Use the [[#Unofficial patches and mods|04 Launcher]] and download the XInput mod.
 
|xbox prompts              = false
 
|xbox prompts              = false
|xbox prompts notes        =  
+
|xbox prompts notes        = Generic prompts only.
 
|impulse triggers          = unknown
 
|impulse triggers          = unknown
 
|impulse triggers notes    =  
 
|impulse triggers notes    =  
|dualshock 4              = unknown
+
|dualshock 4              = false
 
|dualshock 4 notes        =  
 
|dualshock 4 notes        =  
 
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
 
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
Line 120: Line 162:
 
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 
|tracked motion prompts notes =  
 
|tracked motion prompts notes =  
|other controllers        = unknown
+
|other controllers        = false
 
|other controllers notes  =  
 
|other controllers notes  =  
 
|other button prompts      = unknown
 
|other button prompts      = unknown
Line 126: Line 168:
 
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
|haptic feedback          = unknown
+
|haptic feedback          = false
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
|simultaneous input        = unknown
+
|simultaneous input        = false
|simultaneous input notes  =  
+
|simultaneous input notes  = Each peripheral (including the keyboard) belongs to a different player.
 
|steam input api          = unknown
 
|steam input api          = unknown
 
|steam input api notes    =  
 
|steam input api notes    =  
Line 142: Line 184:
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
{{Audio settings
+
{{Image|NHL 2004 audio settings.png|Audio settings}}
|separate volume          = unknown
+
{{Audio
|separate volume notes    =  
+
|separate volume          = true
|surround sound          = unknown
+
|separate volume notes    = Music, sound effects, crowd, commentary, rink speech.
|surround sound notes    =  
+
|surround sound          = limited
|subtitles                = unknown
+
|surround sound notes    = 2 and 4 speaker settings.
 +
|subtitles                = false
 
|subtitles notes          =  
 
|subtitles notes          =  
|closed captions          = unknown
+
|closed captions          = false
 
|closed captions notes    =  
 
|closed captions notes    =  
 
|mute on focus lost      = unknown
 
|mute on focus lost      = unknown
Line 156: Line 199:
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 +
|royalty free audio      = false
 +
|royalty free audio notes = All music is licensed (various artists)
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 163: Line 208:
 
  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = true
 
  |audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
|ref      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Finnish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
|ref      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = French
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
|ref      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = German
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
|ref      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Swedish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 
  |subtitles = n/a
 
  |subtitles = n/a
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
Line 173: Line 254:
 
{{Network/Multiplayer
 
{{Network/Multiplayer
 
|local play          = true
 
|local play          = true
|local play players  =  
+
|local play players  = 6
 
|local play modes    =  
 
|local play modes    =  
 
|local play notes    =  
 
|local play notes    =  
 
|lan play            = true
 
|lan play            = true
|lan play players    =  
+
|lan play players    = 12
 
|lan play modes      =  
 
|lan play modes      =  
 
|lan play notes      =  
 
|lan play notes      =  
|online play          = true
+
|online play          = false
|online play players  =  
+
|online play players  = 12
 
|online play modes    =  
 
|online play modes    =  
 
|online play notes    = Official servers have been shut down.
 
|online play notes    = Official servers have been shut down.
Line 187: Line 268:
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
 
}}{{Network/Connections
 
}}{{Network/Connections
|matchmaking        =  
+
|matchmaking        = false
 
|matchmaking notes  =  
 
|matchmaking notes  =  
|p2p                =  
+
|p2p                = true
 
|p2p notes          =  
 
|p2p notes          =  
|dedicated          =  
+
|dedicated          = false
 
|dedicated notes    =  
 
|dedicated notes    =  
|self-hosting      =  
+
|self-hosting      = true
 
|self-hosting notes =  
 
|self-hosting notes =  
|direct ip          =  
+
|direct ip          = true
 
|direct ip notes    =  
 
|direct ip notes    =  
 
}}{{Network/Ports
 
}}{{Network/Ports
Line 202: Line 283:
 
|upnp =  
 
|upnp =  
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
==Issues unresolved==
 +
===Crash related to wireless peripherals===
 +
{{--}} The game crashes on startup if the user has wireless peripherals (headsets, mice...), either with a white screen or with an error message reporting the process stopping. Before the game is run, the USB dongle needs to be unplugged, and only plugged back in when the game's intro/menu is shown.<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2022-11-20|comment=Confirmed with the Logitech G533 wireless headset.}}</ref>
  
 
==Other information==
 
==Other information==
 
===API===
 
===API===
 
{{API
 
{{API
|direct3d versions      =  
+
|direct3d versions      = 8.1
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
Line 230: Line 315:
 
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app        = false
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
 
|macos intel 32-bit app =  
 
|macos intel 32-bit app =  
 
|macos intel 64-bit app =  
 
|macos intel 64-bit app =  
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|linux powerpc app      =  
 
|linux powerpc app      =  
 
|linux 32-bit executable=  
 
|linux 32-bit executable=  
 
|linux 64-bit executable=  
 
|linux 64-bit executable=  
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
Line 247: Line 335:
 
|audio            =  
 
|audio            =  
 
|audio notes      =  
 
|audio notes      =  
|interface        =  
+
|interface        = Internet Explorer
|interface notes  =  
+
|interface notes  = The main menu explicitly requires Internet Explorer 5-8. See [[#Essential improvements|Essential improvements]].
 
|input            =  
 
|input            =  
 
|input notes      =  
 
|input notes      =  

Latest revision as of 16:38, 21 October 2023

NHL 2004
NHL 2004 cover
Developers
EA Black Box
Publishers
EA Sports
Release dates
Windows September 22, 2003
Reception
Metacritic 87
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Bird's-eye view
Controls Direct control, Multiple select
Genres Sports
Sports Hockey
Themes Contemporary
Series NHL
NHL 2004 guide on StrategyWiki
NHL 2004 on MobyGames
NHL 2004 on Wikipedia
NHL Hockey (NHL '94) 1993
NHL 95 1994
NHL 96 1995
NHL 97 1996
NHL 98 1997
NHL 99 1998
NHL 2000 1999
NHL 2001 2000
NHL 2002 2001
NHL 2003 2002
NHL 2004 2003
NHL 2005 2004
NHL 06 2005
NHL 07 2006
NHL 08 2007
NHL 09 2008

Warnings

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).

NHL 2004 is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view sports game in the NHL series.

The game requires unofficial modifications to run properly on modern systems, as it relies on obsolete integration with Microsoft Internet Explorer to display the menus, and all community projects include workarounds.


General information

NHL04 Rebuilt - the game's modding community

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
SafeDisc v2 DRM[Note 1].
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).

Essential improvements

Official patch

The latest official patch is 1.04, but was only distributed on the EA Sports Online (EASO) server that has been shut down. The full official distribution has been lost.
All community mods include a modified 1.04 executable.

Unofficial patches and mods

On modern systems, it is impossible to run the game without significant modifications due to the reliance of the main menu interface on obsolete Internet Explorer hooking.
The community is actively working on modifications which work around the compatibility problems.
04 Launcher v2 - unofficial launcher which provides multiple compatibility tweaks, various quality-of-life improvements, and new features for modders. Many of its features are modular and open to community contributions.

It has to be used with either the Vanilla Rebuilt mod (North American rosters from the game's "native" 2003/2004 season) or one of the other various roster mods (vary from historical to present rosters).

All modifications include modified menu interfaces which work better with the 04 Launcher's compatibility tweaks.
The 04 Launcher is open-source: main repository, scripts, mods, download repository.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\NHL 2004

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\NHL 2004

Video

Graphics settings
Graphics settings
Gameplay settings
Gameplay settings

Graphics feature State Notes
Widescreen resolution
Using any community-made mods will incorporate widescreen options. Menus are still in a hardcoded resolution.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Use the 04 Launcher
Field of view (FOV)
Use the 04 Launcher and download the 'Cutscene FOV' mod.
Windowed
Use the 04 Launcher
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Use the 04 Launcher
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
High-fidelity upscaling
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
Use the 04 Launcher
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Main menu can only be accessed with the mouse.
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
Controller types
XInput-compatible controllers
Use the 04 Launcher and download the XInput mod.
Xbox button prompts
Generic prompts only.
Impulse Trigger vibration
PlayStation controllers
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Generic/other controllers
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M
Each peripheral (including the keyboard) belongs to a different player.

Audio

Audio settings
Audio settings

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Music, sound effects, crowd, commentary, rink speech.
Surround sound
2 and 4 speaker settings.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio
All music is licensed (various artists)

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Finnish
French
German
Swedish

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
6
LAN play
12
Online play
12 Official servers have been shut down.

Connection types

Issues unresolved

Crash related to wireless peripherals

The game crashes on startup if the user has wireless peripherals (headsets, mice...), either with a white screen or with an error message reporting the process stopping. Before the game is run, the USB dongle needs to be unplugged, and only plugged back in when the game's intro/menu is shown.[3]

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 8.1
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Interface Internet Explorer The main menu explicitly requires Internet Explorer 5-8. See Essential improvements.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98, 2000, ME
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium III 700 MHz
System memory (RAM) 128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 750 MB
Video card (GPU) 3D accelerator
32 MB of VRAM
DirectX 8.1 compatible


Notes

  1. SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[2]

References

  1. Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
  2. Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
  3. Verified by User:Plok on 2022-11-20
    Confirmed with the Logitech G533 wireless headset.