Franchise Hockey Manager 2013

[erikthered]

Originally Posted by tward13

See, now that's YOUR happy zone. But what about the guy who wants weekly, or daily or hourly updates? There's always going to be a vocal group unhappy with whatever level of info there is.

So I'm all for letting them work and we'll here when they're ready. I'm ok there.

I'm just trying to find a middle ground. Remember a successful compromise is one where everyone walks away unhappy.

[fireholder]

Originally Posted by tward13

See, now that's YOUR happy zone. But what about the guy who wants weekly, or daily or hourly updates? There's always going to be a vocal group unhappy with whatever level of info there is.

So I'm all for letting them work and we'll here when they're ready. I'm ok there.

his happy zone is fine, though. anyone who's happy zone is impractical or unrealistic doesn't deserve to have it satisfied. someone who's immature and outright delirious, pressing for hourly updates, should be shunned and ostracized by the community.

someone who thinks a weekly progress report would help fuel intensity, anticipation, and interest, though... they would be right. the world's worst typist could spit out a weekly report in under a half hour, letting us know what is being worked on, what bugs are still persistent, and what is coming up next.

the silence and even secrecy doesn't make much sense. this game will not be groundbreaking or surprising. the first version will even lack things EHM had that will be important to some people. we already know what the game will basically be like -- a more raw form of OOTP for hockey that probably uses some aspects of EHM as a base.

mystery and few updates aren't going to help sell this game. everyone posting here is going to buy it regardless, but more information will probably help ensnare new folks.

[jayze302]

Originally Posted by fireholder

someone who thinks a weekly progress report would help fuel intensity, anticipation, and interest, though... they would be right. the world's worst typist could spit out a weekly report in under a half hour, letting us know what is being worked on, what bugs are still persistent, and what is coming up next.

the silence and even secrecy doesn't make much sense. this game will not be groundbreaking or surprising. the first version will even lack things EHM had that will be important to some people. we already know what the game will basically be like -- a more raw form of OOTP for hockey that probably uses some aspects of EHM as a base.

I completely agree... Outside of 2-3 small posts from Sebastian, the last REAL update we got was the screenshots on Christmas.

So in the 5 weeks since then, we got 1 more screenshot and 2-3 forum posts. That is pretty sad. I am willing to wait an extra week for the game if it means someone taking an hour a week to keep us informed.

The truth speaks for itself... these forums have been dead the past couple of days. People are losing interest. All it takes is a couple of updates and these boards will be alive again.

[brasswire12]

Originally Posted by tward13

See, now that's YOUR happy zone. But what about the guy who wants weekly, or daily or hourly updates? There's always going to be a vocal group unhappy with whatever level of info there is.

So because you can't please every single unreasonable person, the best option is to say nothing and please no one? That's silly. Leaving your customers hanging in the dark is a poor business plan.

I'm looking forward to this game whenever it comes out, and of course I'm willing to wait for it to be polished and ready. However, I don't have infinite time to spend checking back every day to see if there's been an update.

If they want me to be here with money in hand ready to buy when the game comes out then they have a responsibility to give me an estimate of when that will be. And if it changes, then update us. That's all that's being asked for, and if they can do that then I will be here pushing that "buy now" button on release day.

If that's too hard then maybe I'll just wait 'til next year when the release date should be a little more firm and I can be more certain that I'm not wasting my time waiting for something that might never release.

[tward13]

My guess is if the info is minimal over the next 2-3 weeks then there's a March 15 (for example) release date announced, the interest and activity will be irght through the roof. Giving wild ass guesses at dates then missing them doesn't help either.

[tward13]

Originally Posted by brasswire12

If that's too hard then maybe I'll just wait 'til next year when the release date should be a little more firm and I can be more certain that I'm not wasting my time waiting for something that might never release.

See now that's just plain silly. Spite yourself. If they won't give me an exact date this year then I won't buy it until next year. WTH?

[BTerran]

Originally Posted by jayze302

I completely agree... Outside of 2-3 small posts from Sebastian, the last REAL update we got was the screenshots on Christmas.

So in the 5 weeks since then, we got 1 more screenshot and 2-3 forum posts. That is pretty sad. I am willing to wait an extra week for the game if it means someone taking an hour a week to keep us informed.

The truth speaks for itself... these forums have been dead the past couple of days. People are losing interest. All it takes is a couple of updates and these boards will be alive again.

I think part of it depends on how close we are to the game being released too. There's only so many marketable aspects of the game that they'll have to share with us and I would imagine that they'll probably want to dispatch the information over a strategic period of time to peak fan interest in the weeks before the game's release.

From what we've been told, it sounds like the announcement of a release date is still weeks away and that will include beta information. With that in mind, I'm left with the impression that we're not close to actually getting our hands on the finished product (what I'm hoping for now is that those that pre-order will get to participate in a beta stage, but we'll see). Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think it'd be shocking if we found out that we're not going to see the game in the first quarter of 2013 (or if we do, it'd be mid-to-late March).

If that's the case, then I can understand why they're waiting when it comes to sharing more information - even though I'd certainly love to know more now if I could

Even by giving us smaller updates, telling us what they're working on, etc, at this stage might just spoil any sort of road to release plans they might have.

[Methodz]

At this point the only update we need is a release date, most other things we know of, more pics would be fun too but there' nothing left as far as an update except for a release date or pre order/beta news.

I'm still optimistic for a late February, early March release but if they need more time I have no problems with that.

[brasswire12]

Originally Posted by tward13

See now that's just plain silly. Spite yourself. If they won't give me an exact date this year then I won't buy it until next year. WTH?

Not at all, you're assuming ill will where none exists. It's not spite or petulance, merely an admitting that eventually I'm going to get tired of checking back and seeing no new info, and so one day I'll just stop checking. And then I'll forget about this game and probably won't remember again until the start of next season.

Also don't be twisting words, I did not ask for an "exact date", merely an estimate and to keep us updated if things change. Is it really so hard to give your customers an idea of when to have their money ready? If so then they have bigger problems then any of us know.

[drewst18]

Originally Posted by brasswire12

Not at all, you're assuming ill will where none exists. It's not spite or petulance, merely an admitting that eventually I'm going to get tired of checking back and seeing no new info, and so one day I'll just stop checking. And then I'll forget about this game and probably won't remember again until the start of next season.

Also don't be twisting words, I did not ask for an "exact date", merely an estimate and to keep us updated if things change. Is it really so hard to give your customers an idea of when to have their money ready? If so then they have bigger problems then any of us know.

Make an account to start complaining about a small niche project attempting to launch. You have clearly been blinded by the EA Sports of the world. This is a small project with 2 now 3 members working on the coding. A small change could take a couple weeks to fix. Go look around at some other game launches from Indie devs (Project Zomboid, Fez are two you can check out)
It is quite common for devs to not talk to community for well over the 5 weeks people are complaining about and these are HUGELY successful games, let the devs do their work and when they have news for us then they will give it to us. But there is no point in saying 1 month we will release. If you have so little patience that a few weeks of waiting for news is too much and you don't want the product anymore unless you get your way, so be it to be honest, probably would have listened to complaints about how you couldn't play games anyway...

[OpusTheFowl]

Originally Posted by drewst18

It is quite common for devs to not talk to community for well over the 5 weeks

Gnomoria

There is a link to a one man operation (in Greenlight) that's still in Beta and growing a fierce following with weekly updates to both the code and news. For every one you post I can find an opposite one.

Also, dude never said "don't want" so you might want to put a stop to the twisting.

[drewst18]

Originally Posted by OpusTheFowl

Gnomoria

There is a link to a one man operation (in Greenlight) that's still in Beta and growing a fierce following with weekly updates to both the code and news. For every one you post I can find an opposite one.

Also, dude never said "don't want" so you might want to put a stop to the twisting.

First, you missed the point. There are many hugely successful games that don't require the devs to spend time giving people updates... There is no need for the updates other than a lack of patience...

As well if the game comes out in 6 months and you don't buy it...why would that be? Cause you no longer want it, or you're trying to prove your point by being stubborn. Saying things like if I don't get an update I am going to lose interest and not give you my money is not helping anyone.

There is nothing to update. The game is coming along as many small operations do. They are working on a plan to formulate a release date that will satisfy the customer while allowing them to ensure they can hit it. I don't understand why that isn't good enough. What is it that the people clambering for updates from Devs want? Another rough estimate of a release date like before? Then when it passes get upset.

I would love updates as much as the next guy. Saying things like if I don't get something soon I am going elsewhere, while it may be true and completely valid, is really scare tactics of a small project, cause it serves no purpose.

[brasswire12]

Originally Posted by drewst18

First, you missed the point. There are many hugely successful games that don't require the devs to spend time giving people updates... There is no need for the updates other than a lack of patience...

Wrong. Patience has nothing to do with it as I'm willing to wait as long as it takes. The question is very basic: if there is no estimated delivery date then how do I know when to look for it?

As well if the game comes out in 6 months and you don't buy it...why would that be? Cause you no longer want it, or you're trying to prove your point by being stubborn.

What is so tough to understand? I want to buy this game when it comes out. But I don't visit this site every single day to constantly be checking for updates. If the game comes out in 6 months, I'm totally cool with that and if someone tells me "hey we hope to have it out in 6 months" then I know to look for it and go get it. If there is silence that's not helping.

It's really that simple. Someone, like me, comes to this website today to check up on the game because the previous estimated release was "Dec/Jan". I see there is no game yet and no updated estimate for a release date. What is one supposed to think? Ok the game is still being worked on probably, but they're not communicating and there is no current estimated release. Maybe there are serious delays? Maybe the game is dead? I don't know. When do I come back to check again? a month? All it takes is one small sentence of communication to answer these questions for everyone like me who is looking forward to this game and just wants to know when we should look for it. You're not doing them any favors by suggesting that lack of communication is good.

[tward13]

Or you could come back in a month and check? Me, I get emails from OOTP whenever anything is going to be released. Saves me the hardship of checking.

I didn't even know OOTP14 was coming out in April this year, then boom, an email with a release date.

Now that I think of it, I got the FHM feature list in an email from OOTP too. No effort at ALL on my part.

[BTerran]

Originally Posted by tward13

Or you could come back in a month and check? Me, I get emails from OOTP whenever anything is going to be released. Saves me the hardship of checking.

I didn't even know OOTP14 was coming out in April this year, then boom, an email with a release date.

Now that I think of it, I got the FHM feature list in an email from OOTP too. No effort at ALL on my part.

Also, they're on twitter (https://twitter.com/FranchiseHockey) and will probably make frequent tweets about the game when we get closer to the launch, so if you are on twitter much, you can follow them and get information when it becomes available that way. I don't know their facebook information, but I know they have a facebook page too and they'll probably relay information via that when the time comes.

As a side note, they have been answering questions on Twitter. Most of the time it's someone asking for the release date and getting some variation of the reply that they'll make an announcement in the coming weeks, but I've found Twitter to be an effective way to keep tabs on the status of the game.

[BradC]

Yes, Twitter and Facebook are great places to follow for info about the game, since anything posted here will be posted there too.

RE info: I can tell everyone that we are finalizing the details of an announcement that will happen within the next few days. We appreciate everyone's patience, and we understand the frustration some feel about the lack of regular updates. The announcement we'll be posting will clear everything up. Thanks.

[Certain Valor]

I'm not sure who runs their Twitter (is it Brad?) but I can say that I feel like they're taking the criticisms on lack of information seriously. I made a joke on Twitter at FHM's expense about the silence regarding updates being 'madness' and they were appropriately apologetic. Also, Sebastian has answered both my tweets and e-mails over the months in an appropriate amount of time.

I want the game to be out yesterday as well, and I think more transparency would be good, but it's nothing to drag them over the coals over. I hope to hear something soon and when it comes I'm sure I'll be very ambitious about whenever I get to play the game.

The first thing I'm going to do? Put together a community roster.

[geckon]

Originally Posted by Certain Valor

I'm not sure who runs their Twitter (is it Brad?)

Yes, he is the man.

[fireholder]

a lot of you guys really seem to want to bicker or go back and forth for no real reason.

if a lack of updates is concerning a potential customer, that's that. as long as that customer isn't being demanding or ridiculous (omg hourly updates, etc) then however they want to voice their concern is acceptable as long as it isn't distracting or excessive.

clearly the FHM squad has responded to this kind of feedback and will be releasing information soon and possibly even re-working how we get updates for the future. the entire back-and-forth is moot: we have information coming soon, so chill.

let's get back to the speculation and excitement and away from the lack-of-update talk for a little bit, guys!!

[Orioles1966]

Originally Posted by fireholder

a lot of you guys really seem to want to bicker or go back and forth for no real reason.

if a lack of updates is concerning a potential customer, that's that. as long as that customer isn't being demanding or ridiculous (omg hourly updates, etc) then however they want to voice their concern is acceptable as long as it isn't distracting or excessive.

clearly the FHM squad has responded to this kind of feedback and will be releasing information soon and possibly even re-working how we get updates for the future. the entire back-and-forth is moot: we have information coming soon, so chill.

let's get back to the speculation and excitement and away from the lack-of-update talk for a little bit, guys!!

I've already announced some player signings on another thread(don't be jealous).