Franchise Hockey Manager Beta v0.9.4 Discussion Thread

[archibalduk]

A new beta update is available. You can download it here: http://files.ootpdevelopments.com/fhm/v ... 4setup.exe

Please note that existing saved games are not compatible with this version. This version does however include facepack functionality. You can download the facepack here: http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... 24&t=10698

Here's the changelist:

Crash fixes:

-crash when autoplaying past July 1
-crash when changing the view from "Regular Season" to "Playoffs" on the Career Stats tab in the player record of certain goalies
-crash immediately after making player a free agent via commissioner mode
-crash when clicking contract tab from player bio after player is set to free agent in comissioner mode
-crash when editing lines after injury replacement returned to minors
-crash when attempting to sort teams by different column on standings screen
-crash when starting new WHL game with Vancouver Giants
-crash when trying to view the Atlantic Hockey Association League home screen
-crash when assistant is asked to set lines with no players dressed
-crash when clicking on NAT category from Free Agent Centre
-crash if user changes the right-side menu on Team Menu-Personnel from "Info" to "Scouting" or "Training"
-crash when clicking Play button if user is unemployed

Other bug fixes:

-neverending overtime when viewing games
-goals in overtime will stop the game but the time keeps running until 0
-award winners are occasionally being displayed in the wrong column of the "Skater Awards" history page.
-incorrect team abbreviations shown during historical play
-player name not shown when viewing unsigned draftee
-teams sending veteran players to junior affiliates
-trading deadline in historical seasons is set to date in 2013 or later
-draft picks can be offered in trade after that draft has occurred
-unable to use in-game view during playoffs
-on the season stats tab of player records for goalies, minutes total is actually showing the number of seconds the goalie has played
-large NHL salaries (DiPietro, Connolly, etc.) reduced to $525k for players who start with AHL teams
-no misconducts being called
-"Last 4 years" section of the player report showing various other 4-year portions of player's career
-junior-aged NHL players can't be returned to CHL teams
-rebound goals not showing up in play-by-play (caused it to appear that goals were being counted as shots in PbP)
-lineup automatically resetting when player returns from injury
-assistant won't set lines after injury-related lineup changes-top bars vanishes after exiting a game
-penalties/game setting displayed inaccurate number
-during contract negotiations, clicking meet demand without asking for a response will change offer to 1-year/$0 salary
-in leagues where the roster rules include lineups with <18 skaters, the Ask Assistant feature won't set the lineup despite the correct number of players being dressed
-AI teams choosing only one position in draft
-possible to initiae trade with yourself using action button on player screen if player is on affiliate
-trade offers can be amended by receiving team and are then auto-accepted
-draft picks cannot be removed from trade offer
-drafted players can be taken again in same draft
-unable to advance after user had last pick of draft
-player repeatedly returned to trade list after user takes him off
-occasionally not possible to move injured players to IR
-goalie playoff games being recorded as individual seasons in player's history

Changes:

-the two "Team Status" fields in player profile renamed to "Team Role" and "Promised Team Role" to avoid confusion
-sped up initial loading of offseason sim screen
-made text readable on offseason sim screen (before it was black on black)
-made sub-line black on manager upper area
-added support for player pictures, centre-aligned pictures < 170 pixels wide
-added "Play" button
-new version of news text file
-new version of injury file

[squadz]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Pretty funny bug. Game thinks the Leafs are the Senators, and the bottom left box has the team names switched around. The game stats in the top right are also wrong (team names + the actual stats).

Suggestion: Sim by period, or something a lot quicker than currently. Takes too long to get through a game.

Posting this here because I don't have an account on the other forums.

[MWE]

Still can't offer a contract to a player on your team do you think that will be done in the next update?

[archibalduk]

Still can't offer a contract to a player on your team do you think that will be done in the next update?

Tomorrow's DB update will fix the junior contract issue. I haven't specifically tested whether or not I can offer new contracts to the players with the new DB, but I'll test it tonight or tomorrow morning. But the salaries are certainly a lot better.

[MWE]

Good to hear

[gcw_rocks]

Haven't bought the beta, but have a question. If it is stats heavy (ala baseball), did they add any advanced hockey stats like CORSI? That would be interesting!

[archibalduk]

Haven't bought the beta, but have a question. If it is stats heavy (ala baseball), did they add any advanced hockey stats like CORSI? That would be interesting!

The devs stated a while back that they'd include advanced stats including CORSI. I don't think they've been implemented quite yet, but assuming it is still the devs' intention, hopefully we'll see them by September.

P.s. Welcome to The Blue Line!

[gcw_rocks]

Haven't bought the beta, but have a question. If it is stats heavy (ala baseball), did they add any advanced hockey stats like CORSI? That would be interesting!

The devs stated a while back that they'd include advanced stats including CORSI. I don't think they've been implemented quite yet, but assuming it is still the devs' intention, hopefully we'll see them by September.

P.s. Welcome to The Blue Line!

Thanks!

[MWE]

I can offer contracts

[archibalduk]

I can offer contracts

Ha! I misread your original message. I thought you still couldn't offer contracts!

I think the salaries are too high in the EPL. I'm going to reduce them for next Wednesday. The EIHL is tougher - the average is slightly too low but the upper range is just about right. I'm going to try upping it slightly to see how that affects things.

[rmt_1982]

The only thing I've picked up so far is the Nottingham Lions play at the Capital One Rink of the NIC (capacity 600), not the main rink.

[squadz]

Quick thought before I forget.

There's no delete save game button anywhere. Need to do it manually through files and folders if you want to delete a saved game.

[Lazion]

Gotta love commish mode. You can set yourself in any non-player position and force head coach or gm in team.

[Oilfield316]

Hello all, I'm curious as to the trades and trade frequency throughout the season and if it's tuned for teams to make transactions that make "sense" in some regards ? Also I'm wondering on the F/A front as to teams resigning core players and young prospects basically not blowing up they're team and seem to rebuild every season and over a few hundred trades throughout the year ?

Another question to the Beta testers is fighting and frequency of fighting in the game.. Is there teams playing they're tough guys ? We have numerous teams in the league right now bulking up (Ottawa with Kassian) Toronto playing a tough in your face style with the likes of Orr and MacLaren. Winnipeg finally playing Peluso, Colorado with Bordeleau, Calgary with McGrattan.. the list goes on... Playing these players agianst tougher teams is critical in alot of teams eyes and I surley hope this feature is chaacterized somehow as hockey is not a pansy sport as we all know. Boston thrives on beating up they're opponents and I surly hope we are not seeing the "tough guys" sitting all year as I won't be impressed considering EHM refused to sign or play alot of players who played a tough and mean style of hockey.

[CeeBee]

10 days since release and wow,has it got quiet over on the OOTP/FHM forum. Gotta love the here today, gone tomorrow crowd.

[kabbott50]

This has probably been asked, but since the NHL realignment got approved today, will that be updated in the game?

[batdad]

10 days since release and wow,has it got quiet over on the OOTP/FHM forum. Gotta love the here today, gone tomorrow crowd.

Betting alot of people are like me now. Waiting til this game advances a bit in ability. What I am reading even about build 4, is leading me to believe that the game AI and UI are not really ready for me to become interested yet.

Lots of mgsports stuff....everything St Louis should be taken care of by time game comes out.

Just not going to get me into it until things are more realistic in the AI, abilities...and you can hire a head coach. Once I see signs that it is better, I will jump in. My personal belief is they are giving enough priority to the UI now, which is good. That needs to get simpler. And they are giving priority to AI, but maybe not enough?

Just not sure where it is at for me, and not interested yet in finding out where it is.

[CeeBee]

When I feel like being a beta tester I play FHM for a bit. When I feel like playing a game I play EHM for a bit longer

[cdndragoon]

I downloaded the beta the other day and, playing as the Leafs, one of my first moves was to trade Connolly. I was surprised to see his burdensome contract was kindly reduced to $525K! Good to see that the spirit of the EHM franchise will live on under new management!

I've been playing EHM since the original, so many thanks to those who kept it going like Manimal. Good luck to the OOTP team; I look forward to years of enjoyment with FHM.

Cheers!

[MWE]

My new game with the Steelers keeps crashing on 5th of Feb think i'll just leave it now till the next update comes out.

[nino33]

Betting alot of people are like me now. Waiting til this game advances a bit in ability.

That's me!



I bought it day 1, and looked around briefly day 1, and haven't been back since (though I am following the development/posts).
I am thankful for the beta testers out there now, and appreciate their efforts!

[archibalduk]

Yeah the OOTP Forum has really quietened down. There's still a lot that frustrates me about that forum and I tend to avoid it and just concentrate on the data and bugs forums. That thread about the face pack file name conventions really bugs me. I know the present format is a little unwieldy, but it's not that bad and it has worked fine for EHM over these past 9 years. A lot of the criticism seems to be coming from those who don't even create facepacks! I can't fault Jeff for taking the time out to deal with threads like that.

This has probably been asked, but since the NHL realignment got approved today, will that be updated in the game?

Yes, it will be in time for September's release.

Hello all, I'm curious as to the trades and trade frequency throughout the season and if it's tuned for teams to make transactions that make "sense" in some regards ? Also I'm wondering on the F/A front as to teams resigning core players and young prospects basically not blowing up they're team and seem to rebuild every season and over a few hundred trades throughout the year ?

Another question to the Beta testers is fighting and frequency of fighting in the game.. Is there teams playing they're tough guys ?

I think it's fair to say at this stage that the AI is very much in its infancy. The focus of the public beta testing so far has been to stamp out all of the bugs and crashes. Hopefully once this has been done, we'll see an improvement in the AI, league rules and user interface (if I were a dev, these would be my personal top 3 priorities).

I'm with Batdad and Nino on this. The game is still very much raw and basic. I'm hoping by September it'll be much improved (but I think it's going to be a big ask).

[Oilfield316]

Thanks for the swift response Archi. As a longtime EHM guy like a ton of yas, I know the folks from OOTP will eventually develop a fairly smart AI, I guess it just all takes time as was stated from you fellers. There is alot of bugs and tweaks that the game will go thru from now and release, I guess I'm just one of many who will get in line with they're wishes so to speak and hope the trading A.I reflects "smart" decisions and mabey even an explanation in the news ingame as to why certain teams decide to make some key players and prospects expendable.

Fighting... I am a huge fight fan and respect the tough guys who create room out there for they're teammates and add set the tone of the game by fighting the other teams toughest player. Some people look at the game differently and I also respect that but this is hockey afterall and I'd like to see some changes to the gameing A.I and add a certain "valuability" to players that bring this aspect to the teams. aka. Orr, Bordeleau, Peluso, Parros, Boll, McGrattan etc...
If I am the GM of Toronto, odds are I'm expecting a tough game agianst the physical Bruins, and that goes for alot of other teams, I'm just praying the "toughness" is there in this game and not left out to be some european polished mentallity that some folks look at the game as.. No disrespect to anyone by any means!

Batdad did state the same thing I am looking at the game as, and that is I'd rather wait until the game develops alot more before I jump in with both feet. Much kudos to the OOTP team for giving everyone the oppertunity to play during BETA and I can wait a little longer to enjoy all aspects of this incredible game that will eventually wash away EHM for me and as good as that game has been over the years, I'll be the first to tell you all I cannot wait to retire it for good and look back at the game with the same repect I have for it now.

[philou21]

Well we can in EHM have a tougher game against a specific team with rivalries or simply by modifying you own tactics. Even the AI was always trying to have at least 1 goon in their team. I'm not sure to fully understand your statement. Would you wish the AI to be rough more often?

[B. Stinson]

That thread about the face pack file name conventions really bugs me.

I agree. I don't really get what the big deal is with the naming conventions. Just using the player's name is out of the question since there's too much potential for duplicates. Using a unique ID is also out of the question since the player's unique ID will be completely arbitrary, and need to be looked up all the time. Middle initials would work, but how often do we ever see a player's middle name or initial listed anywhere? So, that too would need to be looked up all the time. The only reasonable thing left seems to be the date of birth, which not only provides a reliably unique number, but it's also readily available on just about any website with roster info.

I'm not a face pack guy, but the date of birth seems to be a no-brainer in this case . Sure, it probably takes some extra effort to type in, but I'm sure it's nothing compared to looking up arbitrary or unknown information.