Franchise Hockey Manager 2014 - General Impressions/Etc

[Rubbinio]

Thanks for this info ... i am slightly more optimistic given the update but i guess only time will tell

Wow, now there is a blast from the past! Welcome back!

I know eh ... it's nice to see the site is still up and active.

[CJ]

I thought the same. Though I think what jhart meant was that he created a fantasy league and that players were unhappy after it. So if you take the database and move everyone in different places and start a brand new game with everybody unhappy that sucks.

Okay, I misunderstood. Then I understand the reason for it.

[nino33]

I would much rather them turn all leagues on as optional but with fictional players. I don't understand why they must be all filled with real players. Lets face it, in 2-3 seasons the team is filled with fictional players anyways. A decision I just don't understand..

There's more to making a league playable than players, things like league rules and playoffs, and these things need testing too...I think things are pretty good as FHM already far surpasses EHM in regards to playable leagues, with more still coming

Multiple settings for each league?
Enhanced = playable
Standard = standard
Light = fictional

I think the "Standard/Enhanced" model exists already. The playable leagues are enhanced and the standard leagues are leagues like the BCHL and AJHL (i.e. they're already are in the game, they're just not playable yet).....and fictional players are created/used too as required

But leagues like the BCHL need to have real players, as if they didnt, there wouldnt be guys like Lucic, Turris, or Zajac

Exactly! I'm working on the WHL, and when I look at the WHL teams 50 man Protected Players lists, I see players in the BCHL, AJHL, MJHL, SJHL, CIS, NCAA, Midget and more!

[watts555]

Is there a big Facepack for this game that I can download?

[nino33]

Is there a big Facepack for this game that I can download?

TBN is hosting FHM downloads, including facepacks (you have to register, but it's free) http://www.thebreakaway.net/forums/foru ... -Downloads

[watts555]

Thank you Nino!!!!

[dave1927p]

I would much rather them turn all leagues on as optional but with fictional players. I don't understand why they must be all filled with real players. Lets face it, in 2-3 seasons the team is filled with fictional players anyways. A decision I just don't understand..

There's more to making a league playable than players, things like league rules and playoffs, and these things need testing too...I think things are pretty good as FHM already far surpasses EHM in regards to playable leagues, with more still coming

They have generic rules as it as most likely. Rules are already customizable to so it's easy for each person to change. But this can't happen unless they allow the option to make them all playable. But yes, I agree...might be alittle to much for the first version. Especially considering how much they're struggling as it is.

Hopefully we get the option of turning leagues on and off whenever we want. As mentioned before, it took years for FM to do that but my hope is for the second or third version. I seem to be able to sim at an okay speed (compared to EHM) with all leagues activated so as long as it doesn't get slower as the (in game) years drag on it'll work.

Has anyone found the history very lacking in FHM? Is it just not activated yet? League history records and team history records is what makes ootp great. The foundation appears to be there (except for player records per team) but if isn't being tracked in the league history or team history. I'm hoping they're planning on getting it added for the first version.

[nino33]

One of the things that concerns me about FHM is the connection to OOTP to be honest...not the people, but the game development style

When I read posts like this http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/o ... ost3568510 about the baseball game, where on the current 14th version, (and after 4 patches), it seems that the game isn't doing what it's says it does when it comes to tactics choices and tactics AI

If settings and features don't work as they're supposed to, it doesn't matter at all how customizable a game is...after all the development seeing something so basic still an issue with the baseball game is a concern of mine (and there are other examples)

I'm used to having to "tolerate" things because of my involvement with EHM! HaHa
But if I was a baseball fan, this kind of "error" after 14 years would be intolerable (I really wouldn't care about all the features/customizability)

I sure hope FHM doesn't suffer from things like this

[themadprophet]

No matter. Windowed mode is not really working!

[nino33]

They have generic rules as it as most likely. Rules are already customizable to so it's easy for each person to change. But this can't happen unless they allow the option to make them all playable.

I was under the impression that the background/unplayable leagues don't actually play games, but stats are produced for players (i.e. I just started a new game and simmed until November and then checked the AJHL League Home Screen - there are player "League Leaders" with actual stats, but the standings show teams have played 0 games, have 0 points, scored 0 goals, etc)

Jeff said on Tuesday he's got one more Games Systems post that covers "player generation and the background leagues" - maybe that'll shed some more light on things

[dave1927p]

They have generic rules as it as most likely. Rules are already customizable to so it's easy for each person to change. But this can't happen unless they allow the option to make them all playable.

I was under the impression that the background/unplayable leagues don't actually play games, but stats are produced for players (i.e. I just started a new game and simmed until November and then checked the AJHL League Home Screen - there are player "League Leaders" with actual stats, but the standings show teams have played 0 games, have 0 points, scored 0 goals, etc)

Jeff said on Tuesday he's got one more Games Systems post that covers "player generation and the background leagues" - maybe that'll shed some more light on things

ah, good point. Maybe it wouldn't be as easy as I think.

People have been researching the NCAA, is that going to play playable? I haven't seen anything on it so I highly doubt it. Plus the fact that you can't really recruit so it wouldn't much feel like the NCAA. Still, would be neat.

[nino33]

This question might be placed in the wrong place, but i´m going to put it here and if it´s wrong i´ll move it.

When i start in commissioner mode, I get to edit leagues, players, team info and so on. The problem is I have no idea how to save the changes. When I edit a player, (several norwegian players have misspelled names and I want to correct it) the changes is never saved when i exit the "edit player" tab.

Any idea how i make the changes stick?

Before exiting the edit player tab ensure you first click the "save changes" button in the bottom right corner

If you can't see the save changes button, you may need to maximize your window size (right click on shortcut, go to properties) and/or set the in-game Display Mode to Full Screen from Windowed (select Preferences from the in-game start-up menu)...also, I've read about Mac users having some display issues that haven't been sorted out yet

[nino33]

No matter. Windowed mode is not really working!

Did you try setting the in-game Display Mode to Full Screen from Windowed (select Preferences from the in-game start-up menu)...that's what I had to do (and then I just use Alt/Tab to minimize the screen)

[nino33]

People have been researching the NCAA, is that going to play playable? I haven't seen anything on it so I highly doubt it. Plus the fact that you can't really recruit so it wouldn't much feel like the NCAA. Still, would be neat.

AFAIK we have an NCAA researcher!...I would think it'll be made playable, but I think you're right that it may take some time to get it to be realistic (especially when currently NHL teams can't even do basic things like hire/fire coaches or have training camps and exhibitions)

[Animal31]

Wait. CAN the NCAA be made playable? Would they ever allow that? Like NCAA football had to be made its own GAME before it could be playable

[nino33]

Wait. CAN the NCAA be made playable? Would they ever allow that? Like NCAA football had to be made its own GAME before it could be playable

I have no idea about legality issues

[Primis]

Wait. CAN the NCAA be made playable? Would they ever allow that? Like NCAA football had to be made its own GAME before it could be playable

That would depend. The O'Bannon lawsuit basically killed the chance of NCAA_sanctioned games ever again, the NCAA came out and basically flat-out said they were exiting the video game licensing business 100%. However individual schools and conferences are still free to make those licensing deals on their own.

[nino33]

Wait. CAN the NCAA be made playable? Would they ever allow that? Like NCAA football had to be made its own GAME before it could be playable

That would depend. The O'Bannon lawsuit basically killed the chance of NCAA_sanctioned games ever again, the NCAA came out and basically flat-out said they were exiting the video game licensing business 100%. However individual schools and conferences are still free to make those licensing deals on their own.

It's interesting that AFAIK FHM doesn't have any licences for any of the current leagues (NHL, WHL, KHL, etc) and yet they're all included...

AFAIK OOTP baseball doesn't have such licences either...is US College (NCAA) baseball included in OOTP?

[traveler99]

Wait. CAN the NCAA be made playable? Would they ever allow that? Like NCAA football had to be made its own GAME before it could be playable

That would depend. The O'Bannon lawsuit basically killed the chance of NCAA_sanctioned games ever again, the NCAA came out and basically flat-out said they were exiting the video game licensing business 100%. However individual schools and conferences are still free to make those licensing deals on their own.

It's interesting that AFAIK FHM doesn't have any licences for any of the current leagues (NHL, WHL, KHL, etc) and yet they're all included...

AFAIK OOTP baseball doesn't have such licences either...is US College (NCAA) baseball included in OOTP?

Thats why they are not going to Steam anytime soon and most likely why Steam did not pickup their baseball game again either as its illegal to sell without licenses, they could get trouble later if someone finds out. *edit, i downloaded the latest update today and how you can resign a player? inside contract tab i cannot find any where where could sign anyone...playing NHL, this game so far so big mess, look like Beta still...and the GUI (copied straight from OOTP...i wonder how much code was copied from it also even they say its new but somehow look so similar to that)

[watts555]

For some reason my logo's arent showing up, i have installed them to the quickstart folders that were provided, and started a new game and for some reason the logos and faces are not loading. Any help would be appreciated.

[zbguy]

The game doesn't seem to be crashing anymore. That alone is a huge step up.

[batdad]

So I decided to download 1.03 and give it a go. Played around for like an hour...on day 1. Took the Kootenay ICE re Samson Reinhart to see where the WHL is at. It is not ...the only reserve the team had was the Finn that they took in the Import draft in 2013. Did not have the Russian they took (and have no idea how to search for an individual player in the database)...and did not have any of the 50 man roster. Had 3 guys on the roster that I have never heard of, and when googling their names saw no sign of them...must be created players to give them enough kids to actually form a team.

They still had a Czech player they did not bring back on the roster.

I believe for some reason that OOTP has had a hard time getitng WHL researchers to stick around. I know there was someone, then Nino..and now no one?

Anyway...when I finally advanced a day (After signing a few free agents teams in the league let go for no reason) I have advanced 10 days and there is ABSOLUTELY nothing to do.

Also..the ratings of the players in the WHL may be random? Because wow...out to lunch. Sam appears to be like a 5th round NHL draft in my game, and a couple of other guys (One who is small but was a point per game last season....) are way way underrated. The goalie (Skapski) gets drafted into the NHL and was amazing last year looks like a Bantam goalie in terms of his ratings.

Other WHL teams have all kinds of overratings. The Vancouver GIants look like they could win the Stanley Cup, nevermind the Mem Cup.

But...all that being said....I have given the game another go and still see many many reasons that I will play my EHM game instead of the FHM.... needs a few more builds just as Archi has said and a good strong WHL researcher. Nino...find the time dude....LOL.

[Alessandro]

Did not have the Russian they took (and have no idea how to search for an individual player in the database)

Rinat Valiev is back in Russia: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=159029

[batdad]

Not sure about that. He was in Dallas at Traverse City and last week it was just that he was waiting for Visa to get into Canada before reporting to the Ice. But I suppose it is possible. I would rather an article about him playing for a Russian team than just Elite Prospects listing him there, but not having played.

[MadManPaddy]

I completed one full season with only one crash, no other issues that I could see. It was great!! One question though......when I start a game, my toon is listed as the HC? The real head coach shows as unemployed. Anyone know how to have your toon as the GM only and keep the HC? Great game everyone....lot's of potential!!