A couple dream ideas

[Predsboy18]

First off, to the guys that spent hours upon hours developing the game, testing the game, and making the best possible game for us fans, I thank you. The threshold for great hockey games was once Eastside Hockey Manager, and I don't think I'd get a lot of disagreement that it was the best out there. (regardless of how small the variety of games were at the time, it was still well above any of them) That said, I'd say that this has surpassed it by miles at this point, and it's only getting better each year.

All that said, here's an idea that's floated around my head for a bit, and that's to add within the multiple game modes, a "rivalry mode". The user could set team rivals themselves in the regular and/or custom modes, and in the historic mode, rivalries would develop over time depending on frequency of games / playoff series, or if something happens in a game between those two teams, it could increase the level of a rivalry. Some of the effects of this would be that the fans are more "engaged" with that game, the game would have a higher attendance figure than other games, regardless of whether they were successful or not. By the fans being more into the game, it could boost the morale and other ratings of the players on the home team, and the chances of physical play would be increased, leading to more potential fights, and penalties as a result.

Just an idea, and while I'm certainly not expecting it, it would be nice to see something like this added, just to give a little more realism and excitment to the game.

[JeffR]

Yeah, I've been wanting to do something similar to that for a while. It'd likely come as part of a bigger package of improvements to the business/attendance/arena side of the game.

[Predsboy18]

Originally Posted by JeffR

Yeah, I've been wanting to do something similar to that for a while. It'd likely come as part of a bigger package of improvements to the business/attendance/arena side of the game.

That would be awesome! Perhaps as part of that, some additions to allow for promotions, and other business decisions that would affect attendance. I also like the idea of jersey retirement nights where when your team retires a number, you can "set a date" to retire it, just as a little extra. Your team does such a wonderful job with this game, I know you could do that, though I'm willing to be patient, because I know there are bigger things to get to before this is even an idea.

[Foppa21]

First of all, many thanks to the developers for this fantastic management game and the community for the suggestions for further development and all the mods.

I would love it, if the business side would be more complex in the future by a bigger package. I am very excited what exactly it will become.

Also a few suggestions from my position. All the following suggestions, of course, could be also done by assistants, depending on which aspect of the game everyone wants to deepen.

Finance

GM negotiate TV contracts, merchandising offers, side fence advertising etc.: Different offers depend on market size, success, number of crowd pleaser or star player on the team (four to five stars, personal successes of players depend on trophies and so on), and phase of the team (rebuilding, contender).

The success of these deals influences the player payroll specifications of the owner. There are different owner types, some donate everything or the most to the teams, others want the maximum amount of the money.
Revenues play also a bigger role of the further development of facilities and as invest in the community.

Facilities and Community

GM fixes the price of games and food and drinks or merchandising articles during the games: Different categories have different prices, luxury boxes, business seats, simple seats. Recoverable prices depend on market size, success, star player on the team, opponent (rivalries) and willingness to travel abroad from the opponent fans, condition of the arena, loyalty of the fans, popularity of coach and management and so on. The revenues have an influence on the specifications of the owner for the team budget and on further budget for the maintenance of the facilities.

Some clubs are only tenants and others own the facility and haven more possibilities to design the facilities and develop them freely. Owned facilities can be expanded like little more seats but especially better seating comfort, mainly equipment as larger HD vide cubes, workplaces for media with fast internet, wlan for fans, tv screens in the outdoor areas, number and scope of the care facilities as WC, snack bars and so on. Tenants are dependent on willingness and attitude of the lessor. Best example maybe the Islanders, which not quite so happy with their leased facility and now plan a new construction of their own.

Facility must be also renovated time by time. The condition of facilities deteriorates with increasing time depending on the number of uses (playoff games). Seats, WC, changing rooms, media, everything uses of or is not anymore state of the art. (Predictive) Maintenance has an impact on achievable prices for the games. After twenty years or so the discussion of a new main building is thrown from management, media and fans. Duration and success depends on the attitude of the market to the existing one, sizes of the media market and settings of the politics (elections) and so on.

Arena environment could be important for loyalty of fans, training success, for development of prospects, recovery of players. That means size and equipment of training and medicine facilities and facilities for fans (club room, charity events, fan rinks etc.).

Player which become involved in the community increase perception of the club or the fan loyalty which leads to more spectators, higher revenues of merchandising, tv contracts and so on. Not all players are suitable for this purpose, have the appropriate mindsets or the personalities, not all GMs consider this equally important. Also this have a massive impact in some markets, in others this cannot do much, depends on basic attitude of the market.

The organization of the financially participation (provision of player equipment, training facilities) on junior teams or tournaments slowly but sustainable broadens the fan basis over time, depend of course on the maximum market size.

Analysis

New types of assistants support the player evaluation of scouts. Video, big data analysts give a more extensive of players, shows player behave in different game situations, support by the evaluation of the training style for the team or support by the selection of the best tactic for offense and defense depending available players (injuries) and opponent.

Best regards.

[croatian]

Foppa21 are you ex-Foppa from hfboards ?

[Foppa21]

Originally Posted by croatian

Foppa21 are you ex-Foppa from hfboards ?

No, I'm not. But I'm also reading stuff on HFBoards, especially about the Avs, of course :-)

[Predsboy18]

I like your thinking Foppa, I like the idea of a deep, immersive game. Perhaps let the CPU handle what you don't want to, because I'm sure that some might see that as rather daunting, but I feel the more interactive the game is, and the more the player feels a part of the game, the better it will be.

[Foppa21]

I agree Predsboy. I see this as pure management simulation, which can not be complex enough, the more the better. I always wonder how fast some fly through a saison, play ten or more saisons in a few days. It feels that way anyway if I look at the dynasty reports. I find this rather boring if settings were found and will last felt like forever. Here and there should be a little more improvements possible in a month or so or events which have bigger impact on decisions or the other way around. A real saison is so long, I do not want to play several saisons in a few days.

As you said, the approach that you do not have to control everything yourself is essential in my view. Therefore there could be assistants like in real life, assistent GM, assistant marketing manager, assistans community manager and so on. The CPU handle this for all the computer controlled franchises anyway, so the player could be supported accordingly. I know as nonprogrammingspecialist it is always easy to wish such things as above. I would be happy if one or the other suggestion then sometime finds itself in the game.

I also think if there are major updates which expand the game around new functions, I' ready to spend an obolus, if a donation button would exists over steam or paypal etc.