Franchise Hockey Manager 12 - Details Wednesday - 5pm Eastern

[Shadow4u]

I have to admit to being a bit underwhelmed by this offerring. I have always purchased the new additions of OOTP as well as FHM and would have purchased the pro football if it had come to fruition, in part because of sense of loyalty to support your efforts in what is a small part of the gaming universe.

That being said, I will have to wait and see - possibly the 2D graphic changes will be exciting - hard to watch now for very long. I understand this is not a graphic oriented franchise and I applaud the efforts that go into games like this, but given how games have developed, I'm not sure this is enough - not asking for EA graphics - but something that really can immerse you into the play by play.

Like some others I really don't understand how the tactics work - I can win and be successful but are they really helping or hurting - I would never be able to tell by watching the simulation. Nor do the game summaries for players which do not always match their results in the game.

I hope this series continues to grow and prosper, but as mentioned previously, this leaves me underwhelmed and wondering if the budget has been cut so much that a decision to let this game end is on the horizon.
Hope not . Thanks for all you guys do - I understand much may be out of your hands.

[boscoJJ]

Will World Championship Division 1 be in Historical

[Savoie45]

Originally Posted by Shadow4u

I have to admit to being a bit underwhelmed by this offerring. I have always purchased the new additions of OOTP as well as FHM and would have purchased the pro football if it had come to fruition, in part because of sense of loyalty to support your efforts in what is a small part of the gaming universe.

That being said, I will have to wait and see - possibly the 2D graphic changes will be exciting - hard to watch now for very long. I understand this is not a graphic oriented franchise and I applaud the efforts that go into games like this, but given how games have developed, I'm not sure this is enough - not asking for EA graphics - but something that really can immerse you into the play by play.

Like some others I really don't understand how the tactics work - I can win and be successful but are they really helping or hurting - I would never be able to tell by watching the simulation. Nor do the game summaries for players which do not always match their results in the game.

I hope this series continues to grow and prosper, but as mentioned previously, this leaves me underwhelmed and wondering if the budget has been cut so much that a decision to let this game end is on the horizon.
Hope not . Thanks for all you guys do - I understand much may be out of your hands.

Well, they have the NHL license through FHM 13 so likely it lasts at least one more year after this.

[boscoJJ]

Originally Posted by Savoie45

Well, they have the NHL license through FHM 13 so likely it lasts at least one more year after this.

Everybody Gangsta until FHM13 is called FHM Ultimate

[Goalie39]

I've added FHM12 to my Steam wishlist. I mostly play Custom Game mode, so I'm hoping there have been some meaningful upgrades in that area.

I'm optimistic that the upcoming Big Change List at release will address some of the major issues. In particular, I'm hoping for improvements to player creation—specifically, the ability to define the age range of a league before generating players—and a fix for the bug that occurs when adding new leagues on July 1st in Custom Game mode.

I’m also excited about the new draft and training features in FHM12. Hopefully, both are fully integrated into Custom Game mode. I've played multiple hockey sims, and I have to say—the FHM engine is really solid.

[Curve Ball Dave]

I guess I've been spoiled by OOTP. I was hoping I could create a fictional universe where I can import a bunch of historical teams then hold a fantasy draft (do I take Gretsky or Hull?) but it doesn't look like that's possible.

I also simply can't figure this game out. I build deep talented rosters, hire good coaches, and can't make the playoffs. My teams always have an astronomical amount of giveaways. I have great goalies who have middling save percentages and high goals against. Players on my AHL team simply never develop.

Much as I hate to say it, I think I'm going to have to take a pass this time.

[HockeyEagle]

I am curious about this release, since I belong to the crowd which likes the existing core functions improved.

Understandably it reads like not enough new shining additions in the upcoming release. However the game has already so many functions that seem to be at 90% instead of 100%.

So definitely moving in the right direction with trading and training rework. Seems more polished, interactive and immersive in the trailer. That exactly the way to go. The new training feature also hopefully improves the games going many years into the future.

Next should be tactics and 2D (maybe baseball team can help with a 3D engine) as focus points for the next 1-2 releases, as well as further GUI improvements and general immersion...

At least thats my hope..

[HockeyEagle]

That said, wouldn't it be better to release this game 2-3 weeks ahead of NHL season start. Roster is mostly known and people want to play and simulate the new team. Then pushing out the first update with the roster of the opening night. Or is it proven that the game sells better after the NHL already opened?

[northjersey]

Originally Posted by HockeyEagle

That said, wouldn't it be better to release this game 2-3 weeks ahead of NHL season start. Roster is mostly known and people want to play and simulate the new team. Then pushing out the first update with the roster of the opening night. Or is it proven that the game sells better after the NHL already opened?

the earlier release would be great but I believe EA has a deal with he NHL that their game has to be released exclusively before other NHL games for the upcoming seasons

[jldante56]

Steam only? No more Fastspring download option?

[Sebastian Palkowski]

The game will also be available from Fastspring at the same time as the Steam release.

Originally Posted by jldante56

Steam only? No more Fastspring download option?

[jldante56]

Outstanding! Thank you!

[Swedishgamefreak]

Something that I noticed in the stream they had last night, when they pressed the "sim to next pick" button, it took a really long time to get there. I don't know if they used an older build and if they changed it but I'm scared that will be a problem if it takes almost a minute to sim to next pick.

[WoolyKnights]

Originally Posted by Curve Ball Dave

I guess I've been spoiled by OOTP. I was hoping I could create a fictional universe where I can import a bunch of historical teams then hold a fantasy draft (do I take Gretsky or Hull?) but it doesn't look like that's possible.

I also simply can't figure this game out. I build deep talented rosters, hire good coaches, and can't make the playoffs. My teams always have an astronomical amount of giveaways. I have great goalies who have middling save percentages and high goals against. Players on my AHL team simply never develop.

Much as I hate to say it, I think I'm going to have to take a pass this time.

Hi Dave, regarding the giveaway issue, I had this same issue for a long time. Make sure you have the simulating mode set to Own League 2D/Rest Classic, if you have it on Own Team Games 2D/Rest Classic that will cause the high number of giveaways and takeaways.

[Curve Ball Dave]

Originally Posted by WoolyKnights

Hi Dave, regarding the giveaway issue, I had this same issue for a long time. Make sure you have the simulating mode set to Own League 2D/Rest Classic, if you have it on Own Team Games 2D/Rest Classic that will cause the high number of giveaways and takeaways.

I'll try that, thanks.

[renojedi]

Originally Posted by WoolyKnights

Make sure you have the simulating mode set to Own League 2D/Rest Classic, if you have it on Own Team Games 2D/Rest Classic that will cause the high number of giveaways and takeaways.

Your team 2D/rest of league classic supposedly results in faster sims but, like you said, comes with some drawbacks.

Years ago, they mentioned slowly phasing out the classic engine but it is still there and we still have to do this work around since the two engines have different results despite comments to the contrary. Of course, simming the game on rest of league 2D resulted in my having multiple 70 goal scorers and even an 83 goal scorer in 3 of my first 4 season last year. One time in like 10 years I could buy but that often kills immersion? So it was that vs. the giveaway issue for me.

It sounds like the primary tweak this year was to reduce center goals in the 2D engine so we'll see how things work out but I do wish there was just one engine that they put all their time in to.

[Savoie45]

Originally Posted by renojedi

Your team 2D/rest of league classic supposedly results in faster sims but, like you said, comes with some drawbacks.

Years ago, they mentioned slowly phasing out the classic engine but it is still there and we still have to do this work around since the two engines have different results despite comments to the contrary. Of course, simming the game on rest of league 2D resulted in my having multiple 70 goal scorers and even an 83 goal scorer in 3 of my first 4 season last year. One time in like 10 years I could buy but that often kills immersion? So it was that vs. the giveaway issue for me.

It sounds like the primary tweak this year was to reduce center goals in the 2D engine so we'll see how things work out but I do wish there was just one engine that they put all their time in to.

There is only one engine they're putting their time into (2D).

[Colorado]

Will contract negotiating be improved this year so it's possible players are more flexible to reducing length of contract?

I find that they will never budge over contract length regardless even if wage is increased over a shorter window. There needs to be more flexibility here.

Perhaps there is if you max out the GM's negotiating trait but even average GM's have some ability to negotiate.

Also, players re-signing with their team for less than you offered (even with requested contract length) needs to be looked at.

[northjersey]

Originally Posted by Colorado

Will contract negotiating be improved this year so it's possible players are more flexible to reducing length of contract?

I find that they will never budge over contract length regardless even if wage is increased over a shorter window. There needs to be more flexibility here.

Perhaps there is if you max out the GM's negotiating trait but even average GM's have some ability to negotiate.

Also, players re-signing with their team for less than you offered (even with requested contract length) needs to be looked at.

last point is important, especially if the player's greed trait is low and/or loyalty is high

[BlackIce]

I'm really hoping the hits have been adjusted for the 2D mode because its very underwhelming compared to Classic mode. Adjusting physical players in 2D mode to hit more doesn't seem to work as well as Classic engine mode, and leads to a stream of players who are not known hitters leading the league in hits.