Online/Network Gameplay

[batdad]

And in the end make sure it has on line capability. If it works well, I would be in fo sho.


Moderator note from Archibalduk: The purpose of this thread is to brainstorm what sort of features we would like to see if/when the online/network portion of the game is implemented.

[axwel3221]

Batdad and his fo sho's, I'd be all over the place!

[dabo]

Online mode is low prio atm.

[batdad]

Yeah..i realize it would be...that is why I wrote "In the end"

[dabo]

I agree with online mode set at low priority. But only because I'd never use that

And I don't like network programming...well I have never played a manager game online so apart from the actual programming I would have do some research on how things should work.

[shooter_80]

I would really appreciate an online part to the game considering I only play EHM online. I dont want to double post or anything so check out the EHM online section of TBL for reasons why.

[empach]

I'm sure lots of people would enjoy an online component to the game, but right now I think Dabo's priorities are to just get the game working and hopefully not go crazy in the process.

[bruins72]

The way I look at it, is that this game is early in it's development. Say it's only 2% done. Well you've got 98% of the basic functionality left to code before you'd even think about touching areas like online play. That's another huge project all together, I bet.

[archibalduk]

I agree with Shooter that online play is something that is almost essential for this sort of game. However, clearly there's so many other things that need to be in full working order before you can even consider working on a network/online feature. In fact, you can't really have the online part working until the rest of the game works.

Still, I don't think there's any harm in discussing what we'd ideally like to see in an online mode if/when the time ever comes to work on it.

Personally, I'd like to see no limit on the number of users who can connect and become a GM. EHM 07's limit of 15 (or is it 20 - I forget) users is really quite prohibitive - one of the big reasons why EHM 05 is more popular than 07 for online play (plus stability issues). With broadband speeds forever increasing, I don't see why a limit should be imposed. Instead, it should be up to the person running the league to experiment and determine the number of users joining in.

[dabo]

Network programming is not my cup of tea, hopefully when the time comes to implement it I am not the only programmer in this project.

[shooter_80]

Network programming is not my cup of tea, hopefully when the time comes to implement it I am not the only programmer in this project.

I would certainly think that would be the case. I really wish I was a programmer because I would of started something like this AGES ago. So many ideas...

[Panfork]

Network Programming is extremely difficult, frustrating, and differs a lot from the coding Dabo will be working with for the rest of the game.

Leave it for later, and if you can, leave it for someone else to do.

[shooter_80]

I think this comes down to people knowing online play itself. Ever since we at DM started the online forum section, I think interest has grown, etc. However, I think I would safe to say that of the 10's of thousands of members - not even a small fraction of that truely know the full experience of playing EHM Online in an online league. Hence the priority "suggestion".

I think this was somthing that SI missed out on as if it was marketed properly it would opened a entire other avenue of revenue for them.

And I know I know, the game has to be made first but I think you need to take a look at the larger picture first so all the parts come together properly.

[dabo]

We all know we will buy it. Unless I am missing a trick here - you dont put that much time/effort to design a new game and then give it out for free.

I wrote in the very first post that it will be freeware, nothing has changed. I may allow donations once I have something playable ready but that is a decision for the future. I will never demand money that's for sure, if this was a full-time project it would be a different story. Money is evil.

There's really no reason to bother with an offline-only game. If I wanted to just play offline, I'd stick with EHM07 and roster updates.

Never said it will be offline-only, only that it was low-priority thus will not be in the first couple of versions.

Besides, there are many missing features in NHL:EHM that can make the offline play more enjoyable; just look at all the ideas thrown around here. If I managed to implement 25% of them I am sure playing offline would be fun as well.

[newsguyone]

hey Dabo, I've been following your posts since day 1.

IMO, online is a must.
Maybe not right away. But if you wish for your game to have a future, it is where gaming is today.

Personally, I never play EHM 07. I never will again. I played EHM 05 until recently, and that was because it was through an online league.

Same with NHL EA 10. I never play solo. It's boring. I want to test my skills online with other people.

So best of luck. And I hope as you move forward, you make an effort to study benefits of including online functionality.

[empach]

Guys perhaps its time to move on to a more practical discussion, ie how online play should be integrated and how to improve it over EHMs.

Yes it won't be implemented anytime soon, but neither is a lot of this discussion on this board, Dabo is just starting the match engine. But the threads and ideas will still be here when the time comes.

[alexob18]

Guys perhaps its time to move on to a more practical discussion, ie how online play should be integrated and how to improve it over EHMs.

Yes it won't be implemented anytime soon, but neither is a lot of this discussion on this board, Dabo is just starting the match engine. But the threads and ideas will still be here when the time comes.

Exactly. This has gotten quite derailed....

I think an online sim would be hard to work with. Getting people co-ordinated at the same time to compete would be a bit of a challenge.

I'm somewhat stumped on how to get around time constraints of people, which would be quite a pain in the you know what.

[B. Stinson]

Guys perhaps its time to move on to a more practical discussion, ie how online play should be integrated and how to improve it over EHMs.

Yes it won't be implemented anytime soon, but neither is a lot of this discussion on this board, Dabo is just starting the match engine. But the threads and ideas will still be here when the time comes.

Exactly. This has gotten quite derailed....

I think an online sim would be hard to work with. Getting people co-ordinated at the same time to compete would be a bit of a challenge.

I'm somewhat stumped on how to get around time constraints of people, which would be quite a pain in the you know what.

Actually, that's not too big of a problem. With EHM, an online game is hosted 24/7 on the commissioner's computer, and each GM can come and go freely.

However, you are right that this thread is getting derailed. We have seen many posts about how much fun online is. And we've seen many posts about how online shouldn't be high priority until we have something to work with. None of these are very helpful, though. The fact is, online is on the agenda. When it comes doesn't matter - dabo will work on it when he feels he and the game is ready for it.

Until then, we'd all be much better off brainstorming ideas for online play, like empach suggested, so when the time does come, dabo knows what to aim for... and not simply that "online is better than offline". If you're one who feels dabo has no idea what he's doing if he hasn't played offline, then put your energy into sharing your experience - not informing him of how uninformed he is.

[shooter_80]

Guys perhaps its time to move on to a more practical discussion, ie how online play should be integrated and how to improve it over EHMs.

Yes it won't be implemented anytime soon, but neither is a lot of this discussion on this board, Dabo is just starting the match engine. But the threads and ideas will still be here when the time comes.

Exactly. This has gotten quite derailed....

I think an online sim would be hard to work with. Getting people co-ordinated at the same time to compete would be a bit of a challenge.

I'm somewhat stumped on how to get around time constraints of people, which would be quite a pain in the you know what.

Actually, that's not too big of a problem. With EHM, an online game is hosted 24/7 on the commissioner's computer, and each GM can come and go freely.

However, you are right that this thread is getting derailed. We have seen many posts about how much fun online is. And we've seen many posts about how online shouldn't be high priority until we have something to work with. None of these are very helpful, though. The fact is, online is on the agenda. When it comes doesn't matter - dabo will work on it when he feels he and the game is ready for it.

Until then, we'd all be much better off brainstorming ideas for online play, like empach suggested, so when the time does come, dabo knows what to aim for... and not simply that "online is better than offline". If you're one who feels dabo has no idea what he's doing if he hasn't played offline, then put your energy into sharing your experience - not informing him of how uninformed he is.

Thanks Stinson and I agree.

Alexob18 - please check out the EHM Online Section of TBL to see how EHM Online works in more detail. I think a lot of peoples idea of online play is very similar to yourself and it I think it prevents people from trying it out.

[dabo]

I have been (and still am) flexible and listen to any suggestions of changes for the game but on this I stand firm and it is not because I don't want online play. In order to complete anything in reasonable time I believe this is the way to go. When I have the basics working on the offline version perhaps someone else could join the team and develop the online version while I continue with the offline version.

A rough timetable could be when I start working on the 2d match engine someone else could do the online mode in parallel, since both are big tasks. If noone joins, I could give the online mode a shot before I move on to the 2d match engine. Would this be ok? When the time comes, we could start a poll but I am afraid that would start a war.

So from now on, I would appreciate if we could continue the discussion by posting ideas for the online mode like B. Stinson suggested.

[shooter_80]

Most changes people (offline or online GM's) would recommend for the game have to do with the game itself and are being discussed in the forums already.

When it comes time to develop the Online portion, I am more than willing to speak to that person and give feedback/suggestions. However, trying to explain what changes should be made to people who havent played or understands EHM online will be very difficult. We will cross that bridge when it comes.

[Ogilthorpe]

What you have planned for the game development looks great dabo.
It makes sense to get the game up and running with basic gameplay features at first, then implement some of the great ideas that are being discussed here.
As far as I'm concerned the 2d match engine and online play should be added only when everything else is done.

[ArtVandelay]

What you have planned for the game development looks great dabo.
It makes sense to get the game up and running with basic gameplay features at first, then implement some of the great ideas that are being discussed here.
As far as I'm concerned the 2d match engine and online play should be added only when everything else is done.

I agree with this.

[archibalduk]

I posted last Monday to point out that this topic is quickly going in the wrong direction and asked that we get back on topic. The purpose of this thread is to brainstorm what sort of features we would like to see if/when the online/network portion of the game is implemented. Like 99% of the ideas discussed in the DHM Forums, it will be a very very long time indeed until they are implemented.

I don't want any more discussion about whether online is better than offline or vice versa. They both have their good and bad points. Ultimately it's up to each user to decide how they prefer to play - there is no wrong or right way.

Maddox - I really don't like the nature of your posts in this thread. They're aggressive and not helpful.

I have removed the less helpful posts into our trash forum. Now please can we get this thread back on topic. Thank you.

[Crayn]

One thing I'd like to see is contract offers and trade offers being private. Too many times I find a nice player or staff member and send him a contract only to have half the league in on it after the game tells everyone that I did