FHM4 Update, Version 4.0.35, Now Available!
 

An update for Franchise Hockey Manager 4, version 4.0.35, has just been released. This will also be the initial version of the game on Steam.

To apply the update:

-If you are playing the eSellerate version, just download the setup file and install it over your current installation. There is no need to uninstall or unlicense your current copy! However, you should quit the game before installing it, of course.
-If you are playing the Steam version, you already have this version of the game and do not need to update.
-If you've purchased from the Mac App store, the game will auto-update, but since that update needs to be approved by Apple, it may be delayed (possibly by a few days if they disapprove the initial submission, as has happened at times in the past)

Download link for PC:
Main server: PC Installer

Download link for Mac:
Main Server: Mac Installer

This is the official release version of the game - those of you who pre-purchased and have been playing version 4.0.31 this week can use the above links to update your game. Your existing savegames will be compatible with the updated game, but some of the update's fixes may not retroactively correct certain problems in existing saves.

This update does not update player, team, or league data (other than some adjustments and additions to the list of players injured at the start of 2017-18) - we'll be doing another update early next week that will do that, so the NHL rosters will have their proper opening-night appearance (the ones now are about a week old.) We'll also address any critical issues that become apparent over the weekend, and as many other fixes as we can add. We're continuing to search for the cause of the issue that some people have reported where the "Sim" button at the start of a game will occasionally cause a crash; if you have this happen to you, we'd appreciate hearing the exact circumstances (team you were playing with, game mode, game date, etc.) as that may help us narrow down the cause.

Changes from 4.0.31:

-multiple changes to tactics/tactical role selection systems to get the AI using a wider variety of offensive tactics and not making strange lineup decisions (star players on the 3rd line, etc.); we still need to make some deeper changes here because we turned up some inherent problems with the way tactic selection works, but these changes will fix the issues that have been reported so far
-the importance of the "Start the best goalie" criteria on goalie starting decisions has been increased, should lower the frequency of AI using a lower-rated goalie
-fixed problem where player could get "not enough players to create line-up" popup in 1917 despite having enough players dressed and the lineup filled out correctly
-players exposed in the Vegas expansion draft who are now on a different team than the one who owned them during the draft should no longer have their rights and contract split between the old and new teams
-French league playoff format updated to new system
-goalies should now appearing on the team history jersey numbers list in historical games
-non-goalies should no longer get uniform #1
-fixed issue with valuation of players who have just been drafted but haven't signed a contract yet
-if, as part of the new number dialog, the user attempts to assign a number that is already being worn, then hits cancel when warned that the player losing the number will be unhappy, that player will no longer become unhappy despite the cancellation
-European teams no longer have some preseason games being counted as regular-season in their stats and/or be missing some preseason games in the preseason stats
-criteria for GM of the Year uses for the "previous season's" point total for an expansion team raised, George McPhee shouldn't win every time in 2018 now
-WCHL and WHA no longer disappear as options in the league dropdown in historical games played past 2017
-in the postgame report, the icetime shown for the icetime leaders now shows total icetime, not just even-strength icetime
-in the Assign Numbers dialog popup, when the number already belongs to another player, the last sentence mentioning that is no longer partly cut off by the number selection box
-fixed crash when clicking on the link to certain players with retired numbers in the Team (Info) page
-problem fixed where user can't continue because of "not enough players to create line-up" popup despite having a proper lineup
-AI will no longer make unwanted changes to user's lineup/roster before tournament games
-achievements no longer awarding the next-closest achievement instead of the intended one
-value of older players in trades reduced
-Central Scouting now turned off in historical mode
-potential scouting-related crash fixed
-profile login should now work properly in eSellerate version of the game
-various text and formatting changes

Apparently there's some holdup at Valve's end that's preventing the Steam release from happening on time, despite assurances we received last night. We've requested an explanation, but there's a chance this could take several hours until there's someone in the office there that can help us.

YES! Thank you :D

Anything from Steam yet? I keep updating the store page :D

I keep refreshing here to get news :D

Nothing at all. Markus has a message in to our contact at Steam, and I've sent one through the developer support channels. We don't know how early they'll have someone looking at that stuff, though. Our regular guy is usually there after 9 (2.5 hours from now), but we're hoping they have support staff on earlier, because this is really messing up our release plans.

why game not on steam yet ???? :(

Update: for some reason, we got a rejection notice this morning, but that was apparently based on a review of a version of the game that was many months old. The rejection was specifically because the Mac version didn't work, which was probably true: the build they're pointing to wasn't functional on Macs at that point. No idea how this happened, particularly after we'd already been notified that it had been approved (both via an automated notice and confirmation from our rep), but we're trying to get to the bottom of it now and get the approval pushed through again.

Pleaseeee...weekend is ahead and I want to buy and play FHM 4 so badly....

Lame. Is there an ETA for this?

I don't know yet, we explained the problem to Valve and are waiting for another response from them right now. Best case is they're looking at it right now and quickly wave the approval through, and once that happens we can immediately release it.

OK, heard back from support, they're going to check with the testing team and ask them to re-review it "as quickly as possible", but no time estimate given. But at least it's moving in the right direction now.

Alright, it's done, I can see it in the store now.

It's available on Steam now!

But did i read somewhere that it's supposed to be $35.99 instead of $39.99 for the first week?

Edit: Nevermind, it's down to $35.99 thank you guys for the game!!:drool:

Already bought </3

It is, but the discount didn't show up immediately on my page - try refreshing and it should be there.

Took a shower and seems like that the game is already up. Time for hockey and coffee!

...

With the roster errors and bugs reported any word on next update.. I put OHL on hold because of 1 ratings on a bunch of prospects and can't expand league because of bug so my fhm4 is on hold until next update but not sure when that will be