Here's a run down of the projects (if you are aware of any other projects then please let me know):
Dabo Hockey Manager
Dabo has recently teamed up with Jatahati and together they are working on creating a successor to EHM 2007. Of the three projects listed here, this one is probably going to stick the most closely to traditional style of EHM. They're taking the general features and ideas behind EHM 2007 as their starting point and from this they are trying to create a similar style of hockey simulation.
Dabo has greatly involved the TBL/EHM community with his project and it has really captured the imagination of much of the TBL community. There has been extensive discussion of ideas and features in the DHM Forum and we, the TBL Mod Team, think that this project has real potential - hence we're giving it our full backing.
Dabo and Jatahati are working flat out on getting the database structure established. Once this has been completed, they'll be asking a small group of users to start researching countries/leagues/teams/players/staff/etc so that they can start populating the database. They have elected to use the SQL database structure and so it is going to be very easy to collaborate the research and then merge it into one database.
Rather than trying to list all of the possible features that this game may entail, I strongly recommend you check out the DHM Forum and the early screenshots.
Forums: http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=47
Blog: http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/weblog.php?w=125
Ultimate Hockey Sim
Ultimate Hockey Sim is a relatively new project to TBL and as such, fairly little is known at this point. UHS_2010 is working on this project with a friend of his. The great news about this project is that both have experience of developing games - clearly very useful experience indeed! From what we know, they're making very quick progress; they have completed the user interface and are now working on the player/staff attributes.
What is unique about UHS is that they are developing a "Be a player" mode in addition to the traditional GM management mode. Users will be able to create their own player in the juniors and make key decisions in their playing career in an attempt to become a star player in one of the top leagues. Many users have in the past expressed a wish that EHM could allow you to create your own players and watch them grow and develop their career - this project could well be the answer to their prayers!
Of course UHS will also include the more traditional EHM style of coaching a team. The exact features/aims of this are still unclear at this stage but I'm sure UHS_2010 will fill us in when the time comes. The most important thing is that his main aim is "making a reputable hockey sim that shares the features of ehm. Once I have found a formula everyone likes, I can then just build off of that."
At this stage, UHS' discussion is confined to just the one thread (link below) but perhaps in time this will be expanded... UHS_2010 has promised that some screenshots will be available soon - we'll keep you updated.
Forums: http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=66
Face Off Hockey 2009
The Face Off Hockey series originates from a boardgame of the same name. The PC version was first created in 1994 and has been worked on by a number of developers over the years. Wolverine Studios is the current developer of FOH and has been working on FOH 2009 since January 2009. It had been intended that FOH 2009 would be released in 2009 but unfortunately work has been delayed - as all of the work is being done by just one person, Brian Van Wyk, on a part time basis. It looks as though FOH 2009 will be released in October 2010.
FOH is a little different to the EHM series as the purpose of FOH is to simulate one season of hockey and to generate statistics. It is known within the FOH community as a single season simulation. Users use a "season disk" which contains the NHL rosters and then simulate one season to generate statistics. EHM on the other hand is a career style of game which allows you to trade players, train them, play infinite seasons, etc. So FOH and EHM are completely different games.
So why would FOH be an interest to EHM fans if it is just a single season simulator? Well, it's Brian's intention that the next version of FOH (tentatively named FOH 2010) shall have an EHM style career mode. The fact that Brian has completed designed a hockey simulator is very promising news. Although it will take a lot of work to implement a career mode into FOH, the creation of a hockey simulator that creates accurate statistics means that he is already part of the way there. Thus it is well worth keeping an eye on this project.
TBL discussion thread: http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... php?t=4007
Official site: http://www.wolverinestudios.com
Official forums: http://www.wolverinestudios.com/forum/f ... y.php?f=90
Unofficial wiki: http://sites.google.com/site/faceoffwiki/Home
If you are aware of any other hockey management games/projects then please let me know.
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