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So, I've yet to see an NHL All-Star Game in FHM11 which is unacceptable.
Firstoff, things that should be in game, then on to my "things I'd like to see" dreams.
As others have said drafts are lackluster as far as features go and should be a core experience. I'll quote myself on something that absolutely NEEDS to be a top priority to bring better usability to the draft, and that is the retention of draft pick origins:
"In the 'Draft Order' listing in drafts its shows what teams own each pick in the draft order.
It currently doesn't differentiate between multiple picks owned by the same team in a round though. A team might have picks 5 and 28 but the in-game displays give us no way to figure which is which. In my games the only real way has been to do a 'force trade' and see if my team gain the proper pick or not, reload and persue the pick of choice.
Traded picks should retain the team they originally belonged when traded. For example: Philadelphia Flyers (BOS) for a pick in the draft shows it currently belong to the Flyers but that draft slot actually represents what would be Boston's pick. That should be done as it would add to trade functionality as well.
Great for drafts (and suggested previously) is another idea. When draft picks for that year are detrmined both in the draft list and in trade listings and pull-down menus overall pick numbers would be clearly indicated. That info is actually more pertinent I'd suggest the trade display would combine both suggestions.
Currently if you add a pick to a trade it gets listed as follows:
NHL Entry Draft 2025 - Calgary - Round: 1
If this pick was traded to them by Vancouver and it is the 18th pick in the upcoming draft; the suggested more useful display would read like this:
NHL Entry Draft 2025 - Calgary (VAN) - Round 1 (18)
Then you don't have to try and figure out/track down what pick you are trading for if Calgary has three first rounders. You also know instantly what number overall the pick is.
Retaining the team traded from information gives you a better fix on pick value if you trade for a powerhouse's pick from next years first round or a team you know will struggle and get you a higher pick. I feel these to be key elements to help us assess trades and the draft.
Particular issues with playing a shortened NHL season specifically... an option for "regular season length" or "compacted schedule" would be great. Shorten the NHL schedule to 42 games and the game creates a standard density of games in a shedule that then ends in December. It'd be more pleasing to me to have a schedule that ends on the same date as a regular NHL schedule it would just be less condensed as far as games played per week.
In a 41 game schedule given all that calendar space there is no need for the schedule grind of an 82 game season with back-to-back games every week.
If that mechanic can't be easily implemented then at least we should have an element in the scheduler that it won't schedule the Olympics at the same time as the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In my game the Conference Finals in the NHL was set to begin yet half the team's players were unavailable, off playing in the Olympics!!
This should never happen! Either an option to schedule the Olympics ourselves or a "NHL Override" safeguard where players in the Stanley Cup Playoffs don't choose the Olympics over playing with their NHL team is needed.
I agree the "chemistry" and "random created drama" element should be an option not a game element. I don't want to be forced to trade a player that I've been working to have a role on my team possibly for years and then have players upset and theoir performance impacted just because of a random in-game mechanic. Sure if people want that 'challenge' let them keep that box checked. Me? I'd love to turn it off as it only provides potential frustration and negatively impacts my gameplay experience.
There is still that oddity of only getting full game options if you take on the GM /Head Coach role but if you want roster and line control but it leaves you without the opportunity to have a Head Coach. Let us just run the whole thing AND hire a Head Coach like we can hire our Assistant Coaches without having to end-around game options.
Trade AI: **ugh**
Even with a "this seems like an even trade" feedback it's near impossible to actually seal the deal on a trade reasonably. You offer a trade to a team and they neverendingly tell you it's "good but not quite". From that point on, for them to actually pull the trigger you eventually need to chip in another pick and another player or rights and you are WAY overpaying at that point for a move of minor players.
Trades of any significant team-building value even when you put a ton on your side of the table are still basically impossible to cement without eventually just forcing trades through. You ask them to 'make it work' on a trade that gives them substantial gains in roles/categories they have weaknesses in and they inevitably come back with "a trade like that will need to involve[list your top three players here]" which is unrealistic and not helpful.
I'm not trying to trade grinders and a pick for 1st line future HHoFers here, I'm offering key players in their reported areas of need in return for players to fill in roles I need, but you simply can never get it done let alone reasonably.
Lastly I'll say I always appreciate you continuing to have a mac version. However... to say it is either tested or really supported?? At this point that assertion is clearly innacurate.
On my MacBook Pro I get ZERO running color commentary text in 2d mode, just flashing notifications of goals scored (I can see the files with the dialogue are still there but they simply don't work and it seems nobody has noticed and/or cared). I get no NHL All Star game. I've let that slide as I won a Steam cert that I bought this years version with, but I'd guess others might be a little more upset with that lack of functionality.
I don't expect there to be a full-time mac specific guy in a tight crew, but if you're going to continue making it avaialble there should be SOMEONE with basic overlapping knowledge that does in house testing of the Mac version before it goes up on Steam for people to pay 45 bucks for.
As is FHM 11 especially as a yearly title feels a lot more like a 14.99 entry to me tbh and that pains me given how much time I've put into this game. I'm a long-time user and even an EHM tester, so I know something about the game's history and the slim but dedicated and hardworking crew behind it... but were people without that nostalgia for the game and niche love for hockey sims tand compared it's offering for it's price to other games on Steam? The price is way out of whack.
In the era of amazing free-to-plays and indies at the $29 mark or less that give days of gameplay and are mindblowing transformative gameplay experiences. II mean $45 for a step-above-text sport sim when you can get Elden Ring's latest or Baldurs Gate 3 for around the same price is kind of madness. I understand the limited demand, the small team and the needing money to drive the project forward year to year but damn, $45 bucks for FHM is a big ask of your users and should be reconsidered for FHM 12 would I hope.
I love this game and respect the dev crew but there are many changes that can and should be made if they want to show they are still interested in making this game all it can be.
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