The first post-release update for Franchise Hockey Manager 3, version 3.0.65, has just been released.
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, the game will auto-update if you have that option active. If you don't see the update in your Steam update queue, you may need to exit and restart your Steam client.
Download link for PC:
Main server: PC Installer
Download link for Mac:
Main Server: Mac Installer
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.
Since this is the first update, we've mainly been focusing on critical bugs that directly affect gameplay, like crashes and freezes. There have been a few other adjustments to things that were simple and safe to change, but bigger gameplay changes to things like AI and the interface will be coming later, as they'll need more time to plan, code, and test adequately.
Change List:
Crashing/Freezing:
-assorted crashes related to startup/early season play on particular systems fixed
-fixed a crash during the All-Star Game when the user is playing as the Montreal Canadiens
-fixed crash that occurred when user is managing an international team and selects players who are still playing with their club team (e.g. NHL playoffs during World Championships)
-FaceGen changes made to allow it to work properly with some graphic cards that were having trouble with it, which was the root cause of some crashes and freezes
Graphical/Text/UI:
-right-clicking to assign scouts will no longer fail after after changing scouting controls to assistant and then back
-champions column in league history should now process "use nickname first" setting correctly
-country dropdown lists should now have all the major hockey countries first, instead of just 4 of them
Gameplay Issues:
-contract demand mechanism fixed to correct problem with low salaries for star players: the cheap salaries were the result of a modifier added last year that adjusted demands if the player's average Game Rating for the previous season was particularly low; the numbers hadn't been adjusted to reflect the new GR, which run about 10 points lower on average, so all but a handful of players were barred from the highest asking prices. You should see a lot more $7-9 million contracts now. This does have the potential of causing some later-game issues if the average amount of NHL salary cap space runs too low because of the higher star salaries, but we've tested 20 years into the future so far and it doesn't appear to be causing any issues.
-problem with some NHL rookie contracts getting changed to 1-year deals fixed
-internal changes to Ultraconservative Offense offensive tactic (was being used by AI too often) and Point Shooter tactical role (was making defencemen too effective offensively)
-injured players now removed properly from international games
-national teams can now replace injured players during international tournaments
-wrong teams no longer sent to Memorial Cup
-correct team should get home ice advantage in Stanley Cup finals
-retirement code adjusted to be a little more aggressive about retiring mid-30's free agents, should reduce the number of higher-rated players who sit out multiple seasons at ages when they'd normally just pack it in if no one wanted them
-NHL draft lottery updated to 2016 method (only the top 3 picks are lottery spots, odds adjusted)
-if GM's reputation is edited in sandbox mode, it will no longer get reset the next July 1
-user's starting Tactics level set to 14 so he doesn't always get outcoached at the NHL level, other ratings reduced by 1 to compensate; minimum and maximum amounts for Tactics also adjusted upwards. 14 is approximately average for an NHL-level coach, so we don't recommend lowering it.
Miscellaneous:
-Steam Workshop is now enabled
-playing historical mode with generate at 17 off will no longer result in some players not importing correctly
-new presets.txt file, adds a few more starting injuries (starting injuries, to be clear, are pre-training camp injuries only, since the game will generate new ones from that point forward)
-2015-16 Czech Extraliga stats added
-many database updates, some of which will have gameplay implications (e.g. adjusting potentials for 2017-18-19 NHL draft prospects downward should help with the overvaluation of draft picks early in the game)