30 May Update: We had to make some late changes to the Steam version, so to keep the versions at 1.6.19 for both, we're releasing a regular patch as well; the links below have been updated to version 1.6.19 from 1.6.17. There are a couple of small bug fixes included, one correcting an issue with the AI firing staff with the dual GM/Coach role, and the other fixing the problem with transfer deadlines not getting reset correctly for some nonplayable leagues after the first season.
Our latest post-release game update, Version 1.6.19, is now available.
You can download the new version at:
(PC) FHM - Update 1.6.19
(Mac) FHM - Update 1.6.19
PC Installation instructions: After you download the file just install it over your existing game (you don't need to uninstall the old version first.) Make sure to select the correct path to your game if needed.
Mac Installation instructions: After you download the .dmg file, open it, move the fhm.app file to your applications folder and copy over the old version.
After installation, the game should display "Version 1.6.19" at the bottom of the statup screen; if it shows a different build number, you'll need to re-download and reinstall (and before doing so, make sure the update file you downloaded has been deleted and your browser cache cleared.)
Note that if you decide to uninstall and reinstall, you should first release one of your licenses via Preferences-License on the start screen.
Saves from earlier versions are compatible with this version, but, as always, to get the best results from the patch it's recommended you start a new game.
If you continue an earlier save and have problems, please let us know that it's a pre-1.6.17 save when you report the issue. This is particularly important if you notice problems with the "Open Offers" financial bug that was fixed in this version - the patched version of the game should repair the problem in existing saves, but there maay be some rare situations where it does not, and knowing whether the problem already existed in the save will make a major difference in how we need to approach the problem.
Introduction:
This is the followup patch to 1.6.8, primarily fixing financial issues, but also incorporating a number of other fixes and changes, since we were delayed somewhat by uncertainty over our situation on Steam and used that time to fix some smaller long-standing problems and make some minor refinements to the interface. Unfortunately, after all that was done, problems with one of the financial fixes became apparent late in testing, and addressing that and making sure the problem was completely repaired took several days. All in all, this version took much longer than anticipated or desired, but the game should be in solid shape now in anticipation of the final major patch. Bear in mind that this is mainly an interim, bug-fixing patch, and, the small additions we managed to sneak in aside, the major changes and additions will be coming next time.
The database has not been changed since the last patch; while we've done a great deal of work on it since then, there are some changes underway to several countries and leagues that would have seriously complicated testing had we incorporated them now, and the patch was already late enough. So, we went with the older database that was known to be stable. This has prevented a few fixes that are data-dependent from being included in this version, but none were critical to gameplay (e.g. minor year-specific rule corrections in historical play), and they'll all be included in the final patch.
We'll be announcing details of the release of the game on Steam very soon, including how all existing owners can retrieve a Steam key if they'd rather have that version of the game - the versions will be functionally identical and 100% compatible, but the Steam one will be in your Steam library and consequently be able to take advantage of the Steam client, including things like automatic updating. FHM will also be the first OOTP game to include Steam Trading Cards (but not at release, we just settled on a design earlier today and Daniela needs to get all the art finished; it'll likely be a week or two depending on what else she needs to work on.) If you're not familiar with those, you may want to
read up on them as well as
the card market. Even if you're not interested in collecting them, card collectors are willing to buy yours, and cards from games with small audiences are naturally rare (they're generated based on the amount you play) and more valuable - finally, an advantage to sports management games being a niche genre.
Bug Fixes and Other Changes
Transactions, Contracts, and Rosters:
-"Open Offers" amount should now be reset properly once an offer is no longer open, rather than staying open in some circumstances, leading to a gradual and irreversible budget decline
-Similar problem with offers getting double-credited to the Open Offers amount, resulting in a negative balance, also fixed
-AI should no longer occasionally release a large number of players at once
-If a prospect is not currently signable, popup with window will appear sating when he will be.
-Players moved to the reserve list via waivers should no longer be released.
-AI should be much less likely to attempt to waive/trade list players they just traded for.
-Waivers fixed in historic mode so players can be assigned to reserve list via them, and don't need to be re-cleared to be assigned a second time that season.
-No longer possible for human-run major junior teams to sign players under the league age limit.
-Salary demands for NHL personnel hires should no longer be unreasonably low.
-When user takes over a team via commissioner mode, the replaced staff member(s) should have their contracts deleted properly.
-Player demands and "player too young" warnings should no longer fail to appear on some offer contract screens.
-Unsigned draftees should no longer have their signing deadlines occasionally appear with nonsensical dates 2700 years from now.
-Players who have just been bought out will no longer be willing to immediately re-sign with that team.
-AI in some minor leagues should no longer double/triple-shift some players while leaving other healthy players on the bench.
-Certain players who begin in junior, but with NHL contracts, no longer impossible to reassign after being returned to their NHL team.
Player and Staff Ratings, Development, and Performance:
-Player ability update for human-owned players fixed (previous fix left some exceptions still not updating, so some players would appear to never improve.)
-After being traded, players should get their first preference jersey number (if available) rather than reversing that number as their first choice.
-Some free agent staff should no longer appear with "player" as their job.
-Staff retirement system adjust to significantly reduce the number of elderly staff who never quit.
-Scouting should no longer default mainly to a single area when the user gives control to the AI.
League/Mode-Specific Issues:
-Names of awards that were added in previous patch can now be edited.
-Draft picks should no longer appear blank and uneditable after editing league rules in commissioner mode.
-New European and Canadian players generated in fictional mode should no longer get US birthplaces.
-In historical mode, the AI should no longer automatically release players for the user if the team is above the 50-man limit at the start of the game.
-Announcements about the CHL Import draft should no longer be received in triplicate.
-When editing CHL Import Draft in commisioner mode, picks from the previous team should no longer fail to be replaced after choosing a new team.
-Teams in historical mode should now hire/fire coaches properly.
-Staff contract history in historical mode should now display salaries properly.
-Fictional staff members generated for historical mode should now be primarily Canadian and American, instead of having a large number of Europeans.
News, History, and Related Issues:
-In the "Welcome" news messaage, the second-best prospect is named as best prospect if the best prospect is also the best player.
-Some retired goalies should no longer appears as skaters in the historical stats.
-Several text errors in news items about/mentioning the WHL draft fixed.
-Resigning from your team should now generate a news item.
-All waiver claims should now be reported in a news item.
-Board confidence updates should now correctly describe the team's recent playoff results.
-Players who retire after July 1 should no longer temporarily vanish from the historical database between their retirement and the next July 1.
-Team names in player histories should now appear in the correct order for that season.
Gameplay:
-In highlights section of match display, third period events no longer have the shootout ("PS") designation instead of "3."
-"Play until next game" should now work correctly after completing that day's game - i.e., it will advance to the next game day.
-Choosing Auto-Play to Specific Date on December 31 should now default to the next year, rather than the current one.
-"Ask Assistant" option in edit lines should now scratch injured players from the lineup properly.
-3-Star selection should no longer occasionally appear blank, and the criteria for them has been rewritten to be a little closer to the traditional 3-star "rules" (goalies still seem to be a bit neglected, though, so there'll likely be more adjustments.)
Graphical/UI:
-"Start Screen" option added to allow returning to the opening screen without needing to re-start the game
-Context Menu (same one as in roster screens - stats, ratings, etc.) added to search screen.
-Team history player stats are now sortable.
-League history player register is now sortable.
-Year selection and stats added to draft Log Screen (we're still working on completing the data for previous seasons, so pre-2013/14 draft data may be incomplete.
-Sorting for PP and SH assists should now work correctly.
-Sellouts column in team attendance should now sort correctly.
-Ranking number for team PP goals in Team Home Screen should no longer show a negative value.
-Draft screen should no longer appear empty after clicking and viewing a player, then returning to it.
-Clicking and Viewing a player and then returning to the previous screen should no longer reset the user-chosen sorting on that screen.