Franchise Hockey Manager Beta v0.9.56 Discussion Thread

[nino33]

FYI - new beta build available (v0.9.56), first one in a while http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/f ... lable.html

I addition to many bug fixes and improvements there's a new creation/fictional mode, and everything now starts in 2013-14 (new NHL alignment!)

[Primis]

FYI - new beta build available (v0.9.56), first one in a while http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/f ... lable.html

I addition to many bug fixes and improvements there's a new creation/fictional mode, and everything now starts in 2013-14 (new NHL alignment!)

THAT is what I've been waiting for.

[dave1927p]

It's interesting that they decided to add it to the first version. It's alittle rough at this point but i'm glad they've included it. Although you'd think with the pressing deadline and the work still outstanding they would of waited. Either way, I'm happy.

[bruins72]

From those who have been using the beta, how do you feel it's progressing? Is it worth purchasing at this point? I'm looking to play it, not beta test it.

[nino33]

From those who have been using the beta, how do you feel it's progressing? Is it worth purchasing at this point? I'm looking to play it, not beta test it.

I haven't played/tested much myself, but I’ve been closely following the posts/feedback from those playing the beta, and quite clearly there are still bugs and issues being worked out (it is still in beta!)

There are a few areas where EHM07 is still way ahead of FHM…there is no online play in FHM yet (expected to be added shortly after release), and there is no international play in FHM yet (hopefully it will be added in the months following release), and there is no 2D representation of gameplay (no plan to do so).

Otherwise IMO not only is the FHM development team providing a game that is in many ways much deeper than EHM07 right from the start, but they’ve also got a historical mode and now a fantasy/fictional mode too! So there’s an enormous amount to pull together, and IMO quite clearly it won’t all be smoothly running by the release date, but “I have seen the future of simulation hockey on the PC, and that future is FHM” HaHa

As a long time editor of EHM I am quite well versed in the inner workings of EHM. As a (recently added) researcher of FHM I am becoming well versed in the inner workings of FHM, and it’s because of this I think that I’m feeling so positive/hopeful lately…I really like what I see "under the hood"

So in conclusion
- I feel it’s progressing well (especially given the multiple modes of play)
- I think it’s going to take some months after release to fix some things
- IMO it’s definitely worth purchasing now to save 25% (but not to “play” now)


That’s my opinion

[Primis]

I really wish I didn't have to "edit" in teams and could just move existing teams and structures around in FHM. That's one thing I really like still about EHM, is the pregame editor and that you can just move everything around.


FWIW, I instantly ran into a bug when I started up the new version. Tried to start a Custom Game and got a database error. Had to fully uninstall and reinstall it, including any graphics packs I had installed.

FHM is still a very long ways from Prime Time when things like that can happen.

[nino33]

I really wish I didn't have to "edit" in teams and could just move existing teams and structures around in FHM. That's one thing I really like still about EHM, is the pregame editor and that you can just move everything around.

I'm really hoping Archi will be able to create an FHM Editor http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... FHM_Editor

[bruins72]

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like it's definitely not ready for me for playing but I might want to buy it soon for the discount.

[dave1927p]

I agree with nino's comments 100 percent. Currently I am still enjoying a game of EHM more than FHM as there are many bugs and issues (as well as crashes) that intrude on the overall enjoyment, but it is after still in beta and is expected.

This game lacks some of the depth that ootp or FM has, but at the same time for a first version they have no doubt done an amazing job so far. FM and OOTP took years to get where they are and it seems like FHM took leaps to advancing as far as their time permitted and it is impressive. The foundation is all there for this to be an excellent long term product, let's just hope it lives to see more than 1 version as that will be the biggest challenge of all.

There is still a lot of work that needs to be done on this game before release and I'd be shocked if they were able to get rid of most of the issues before September. I doubt the devs will be getting much sleep in the next couple months.

bruins72, you are correct. if you buy this game now, you will not regret it down the line and it is nice to save a little bit of money. You will probably not play it much in the next month or even two but as more updates come to fix the issues you will find more enjoyment to be had with the game. Still, until the next version you might still find yourself playing EHM still like I do, but possibly after the second it might be, dare I say it, obsolete.

In the end, OOTP has given us what they have promised and more and I am very much excited for this franchise. It really is the future of Stat based simulation for hockey, and quite possibly the last one for a very long time if it fails.

[ThePerfectDecoy]

Downloaded this update but cant get the game past june 30 2014. It crashes everytime regardless of what i do. Anyone else run into this problem?

[nino33]

Downloaded this update but cant get the game past june 30 2014. It crashes everytime regardless of what i do. Anyone else run into this problem?

In reading the posts on the FHM/OOTP site I don't recall seeing this issue mentioned with the latest build.

[Manimal]

I've purchased the game to get the discount. Haven't played it, just looked around.
I am no fan of the interface but there is a lot of info that needs place so I'll probably get used to it.
Too many errors/issues/bugs for me to enjoy playing it right now, I think, but it has promise

[Alessandro]

I think that actually playing the game is close to impossible. To get to every screen man you need 10 clicks. In EHM all is pretty much 1-2 clicks away, but in FHM you always need to browse a menu. Plus I hate that the "action" menu on players screen shows you different things according to the screen you're in

[helmespc]

I'd *love* to be able to hit space to advance the game....

[MWE]

I'd *love* to be able to hit space to advance the game....

Agreed

[archibalduk]

I completely agree with Nino and Dave's comments. What lies under the hood already surpasses EHM 2007 quite significantly. The Target Ability system, player development, player generation (including authentic localised/native names - thanks YZG!!), the lack of hardcoded structures/rules/schedules/etc, Commissioner's Mode, historic gameplay and fictional gameplay are some of the big things that come to mind.

I do also agree with Alessandro that right now the game feels unplayable. There's too much missing and the UI remains very clunky and difficult to use (full disclosure: I really like OOTP Baseball's UI, but FHM's is nothing like it yet). Tactics feel superficial and I find I can sim a whole season without having much involvement in running my team (except fixing lines when an injury occurs). This has always been an annoyance of mine, but I'm less forgiving now that we are only 3 weeks from release. For me, September's release is going to feel like just another beta build. I can accept this on the basis that the game has been developing in the right direction and I think with time the game will be worth playing (and, importantly, will be an improvement over EHM 2007). But I do wonder how the game's current state will affect sales, reviews and the prospect of a version 2 of the game.

I'd purchase now in order to get the discount in the hope that the post-release patches will make the game more playable.

[CJ]

I can accept this on the basis that the game has been developing in the right direction and I think with time the game will be worth playing (and, importantly, will be an improvement over EHM 2007). But I do wonder how the game's current state will affect sales, reviews and the prospect of a version 2 of the game.

I'd purchase now in order to get the discount in the hope that the post-release patches will make the game more playable.

That was what I was thinking too... It's "bad for business" that the game comes out in a few weeks with a lot of bugs. The deadline they made for themselves wasn't really realistic. I know "we" believe and hope/know that the game will be a lot better in time, but there's a lot of them who'll just look at this game one time and if it's buggy they'll forget about this game.

QUESTION: I was just trying FHM, and I was gonna try the "historical mode", when I click " new historical game" it loads 1 second and then it says "Invalid database version"? What the #% is that all about?? I've never tried "historical mode" before...

[Manimal]

LOL at the guy asking for a refund on the OOTP forum!
Didn't you know you were getting a BETA version!

[philou21]

LOL at the guy asking for a refund on the OOTP forum!
Didn't you know you were getting a BETA version!

Some people are so Lidstrom it's ridiculous.

[Animal31]

Lets be honest here

ive touched this game like 3 times since I bought it. I dont find it that much fun despite it being a beta. I can see why some people would feel ripped off

[Beukeboom]

Well i immidiately bought the game when it became available, always jumping on a chance to support a new hockey sim that finally could surpass EHM in quality.

Havent touched the game much though tbh, the interface is just too clunky and the game sitll cant get the basics right, which is sad, because the mechanics behind it seem to be awesome and the dev team really trying to create the game we all have been waiting for so long. That beign said i just think they have endangered the whole project by wanting too much too early, They should have made a hockey sim that gets the basics right and has an udnelrying system that makes all the possibilities we want doable inthe future , at the moment they seem to want to do everything at once like historicla gameplay, fictional leagues etc. , complicated hisorical drafts with different leagues and specific rules and seem to forget the basic game a bit which i fear will seriously mark it as flawed product that doesnt even ge tbasics right come release. Its really a bummer because this game has endless potential. But i wont let my hopes down totally and wish everythign sorts itself out in the long run, just hope the game gets that chance on the market despite its flaws that i think wouldnt have been encessary. Basics first hsoudl have been the motto more. When you look a tthe forums its all about "special rule " in WHL draft or soemthing, will the interface and game sim are total jokes still. Doesnt make me too optimistic

[archibalduk]

LOL at the guy asking for a refund on the OOTP forum!
Didn't you know you were getting a BETA version!

Some people are so Lidstrom it's ridiculous.

I guess it doesn't help that there isn't a beta demo of sorts. No doubt this would have caused an additional headache for the devs. It's great OOTP do offer refunds like that because they're under no obligation to do so.

But i wont let my hopes down totally and wish everythign sorts itself out in the long run, just hope the game gets that chance on the market despite its flaws that i think wouldnt have been encessary. Basics first hsoudl have been the motto more. When you look a tthe forums its all about "special rule " in WHL draft or soemthing, will the interface and game sim are total jokes still. Doesnt make me too optimistic

I think it will be sorted out in the long run. I also thought about the ambition of including historic and fictional modes in the first version. My approach would have been like yours, to get the basic hockey game and GUI polished first. That said, perhaps it's very difficult to add in these features at a later date. Maybe it's easier to have them from the start so that everything is tidy and works well together. Either way, it'll all come good in the end (and they're the devs and not me! ). The devs are working all hours of the day on the game - and I can't ask for more than that!

[CJ]

I was just trying FHM, and I was gonna try the "historical mode", when I click " new historical game" it loads 1 second and then it says "Invalid database version"? What the #% is that all about?? I've never tried "historical mode" before...

No one here knows the answer to my previous question above?

[nino33]

No one here knows the answer to my previous question above?

I looked up Invalid database on the FHM/OOTP boards, seems unlicense-uninstall-reinstall is the solution

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/f ... rsion.html

[CJ]

No one here knows the answer to my previous question above?

I looked up Invalid database on the FHM/OOTP boards, seems unlicense-uninstall-reinstall is the solution

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/f ... rsion.html

Okay! Thanks Nino, I'll have to try that then.