FHM Feature list discussion

[Winnipeg59]

First - BUYING!

Second - My interpretation of "fictional" would be to generate "fictional" players to play within either the structure shipped with the game (assuming it's NHL) or, even better, to be able to create a league, add minors, etc. (like OOTP).

And please put me on the "can't wait until there's online mode (like OOTP)" list so that we can play a league with others online.

But let me reiterate - BUYING!

[Austsaint]

It sounds good, I can't wait to buy it. I think that this will be a first day present to myself.

[MacIsaacM]

Could not be more excited about this game if I tried.

[Methodz]

I think a dozen or so pictures would make the wait less painful

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

It wasn't possible to create fictional leagues with EHM, so how do you know people were only interested in existing leagues with existing players?

Because if that's what most users wanted they would have registered that desire by either (a) stating clearly and en masse to the developers that they wouldn't buy the game until the ability to easily create fictional leagues was added, or (b) bought the game but then heavily lobbied the developers to add such a feature. Maybe that happened, I don't know. The fact that EHM, just like FM, pretty much concentrated on supplying only existing leagues with existing players would seem to suggest there was no large scale grassroots campaign pushing for fully fictional leagues.

Originally Posted by Stinson

Just out of curiosity, what exactly do you guys mean when you say you want a "fictional mode"?

That's pretty easy to answer: the same sort of basic thing you can do in OOTP. That is, being able to create a league or leagues from scratch: pick the size of the league, set its alignment, then populate it with member clubs. The players in the league can either be entirely fictional creations or real players imported into the created league. Such fictional league(s) can either exist within their own universe or exist side-by-side with actual real-world leagues in a universe if the user so chooses.

Now, within that ability there are lots of features and possibilities; FHM need not tackle them all on its first outing (OOTP has had many versions to develop its fictional league abilities, so it'd be unfair to expect FHM to be as deep in its first edition). But the basic idea is the key element: being able to create a league from scratch that is not in any way based on or derived from a real-world existing league.

[gosensgo101]

If you really want a fictional league just edit the league structure and the teams to your liking and sim ahead 20 years.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by gosensgo101

If you really want a fictional league just edit the league structure and the teams to your liking and sim ahead 20 years.

That's the point: it forces the user to do a lot of tinkering with files to do something that in OOTP is an integrated part of the game. In OOTP, you can just start up the league creation wizard. It's easy to indulge your imagination; the game does all the basic work. The user need only make changes to the generated results if there's something specific they are unhappy with.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Because if that's what most users wanted they would have registered that desire by either (a) stating clearly and en masse to the developers that they wouldn't buy the game until the ability to easily create fictional leagues was added, or (b) bought the game but then heavily lobbied the developers to add such a feature. Maybe that happened, I don't know. The fact that EHM, just like FM, pretty much concentrated on supplying only existing leagues with existing players would seem to suggest there was no large scale grassroots campaign pushing for fully fictional leagues.

Fictional was lobbied for.

No, we didn't refuse to buy the game until it was added. That would border on idiotic for crying out loud. Much like OOTP we lobby for things but we don't go to extremes and refuse to buy it if they don't add it.

It doesn't suggest there was no large scale grassroots campaign at all. Cripes, talk about going overboard. EHM and FM developers created what they wanted in a game. FM was their baby, EHM came along and basically was a side project, something to hopefully fill a void. I don't even want to start to get into how poorly they handled that game. Bottom line is, they blew it because they didn't/wouldn't listen to what people wanted, among other things.

It's being lobbied for here because people DO want it. If we decide to take your approach, which is basically don't ask for something because it wasn't in FM and EHM and that means people don't want it, we'll never get anything added. What an odd way of thinking.

If we don't start lobbying for it now, in the early stages, it will only get pushed to the back burner more and more.

[Stealcompany]

Like many other I will be buying version 1 regardless of the situation with fictional leagues.

I generally agree with the point le Grande Orange was making about EHM in that I was more than happy to play that game as it was, particularly because I was using the mac platform and there weren't any game editors for the mac that I could find. But rather than totally reworking the game I was more interested in 'tweaking' things (i.e. change a couple team locations rather than totally re-creating a new hockey universe)

I also figure that this is the first iteration of the game and using OOTP as a guide i think that the relationship between the community and developers is such that requests are listened to and reflected in the future versions.

I must admit that, much like many others here, I am really looking forward to the game getting out. To that end i know there are only so many hours in the day and so many people working on the project. My expectation and hope, which the features list indicates to me will happen, is that the developers release a good product that will serve as a solid foundation for future versions.

[cody8200]

I figure that unless the first version is purchased, then subsequent versions with new features (like fictional leagues) won't be created. It took OOTP 13 years to get the features it has. It sounds like FHM is starting with a ton of good ones. I'm excited about it.

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by cody8200

I figure that unless the first version is purchased, then subsequent versions with new features (like fictional leagues) won't be created. It took OOTP 13 years to get the features it has. It sounds like FHM is starting with a ton of good ones. I'm excited about it.

That's fair enough, and - finances permitting - I will buy the game regardless because I want to support the company, but I would hope fictional leagues would be a version 2 feature at the latest.

[Don Tamioso]

The game needs a finnish league simply to reach bigger markets if no other reason.

The plan seems really ambitious. Can't wait.

[Orioles1966]

Just wondering how far will the minor leagues go back.

Will the reserve rosters for teams in the years in which there will be no minor leagues have enough players to stock more than a few expansion teams. I would like too use real players.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

No, we didn't refuse to buy the game until it was added. That would border on idiotic for crying out loud.

Nonsense. Refusing to buy a product—any product—because it doesn't contain the features you want is you simply exercising your choice as a consumer. It happens all the time.

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

If we decide to take your approach, which is basically don't ask for something because it wasn't in FM and EHM and that means people don't want it, we'll never get anything added. What an odd way of thinking.

I think you have entirely misread my posts.

[Habsfan18]

Originally Posted by Sebastian Palkowski

Yeah, basically thats how it works. You can move teams, "delete" them or add new teams, player from deleted teams become FA`s, if you add new teams you can held an expansion draft (existing teams can protect player). All this is possible before any season you want.

Initial Draft is simple (but fun): before game you can make all e.g. NHL players FA's, then make a draft. We are thinking about a second draft for player rights but thats just an idea on paper right now.

You have no idea how excited I am.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Nonsense. Refusing to buy a product—any product—because it doesn't contain the features you want is you simply exercising your choice as a consumer. It happens all the time.

I think you have entirely misread my posts.

Huh? I didn't say it doesn't happen, I said we didn't refuse to buy the game, as in we were discussing EHM. I know it happens, I'm not discussing economics with you. Maybe you're misreading my post.

[Vikke]

Originally Posted by Don Tamioso

The game needs a finnish league simply to reach bigger markets if no other reason.

The plan seems really ambitious. Can't wait.

Yeah, but as with every other league, a suitable head researcher is needed and so far, as far as I know, no one have been found.

[geckon]

Will it be possible for user to make any league playable (even with fictional players there where is lack of research)?

And will it be possible to easily (for user) edit let's say one team's roster? Which means creating new players, signing them by the team and ending original players' contracts? The same applies to editing the team's other data such as stadium's name, capacity, coaches, etc.

The use case should be obvious... I'd like to start a game managing one of the Czech clubs (if possible then it will be one of the teams playing the 2nd minor league) and try to get it to the top league. And I would love to use real players playing for that team (after creating such players).

Also, is there a list of unplayable (by default) leagues included? (see my previous post on that matter)

Thanks for the answers and (more importantly) for your work.

[dave1927p]

As much as i'd enjoy a "fictional mode" the tools are all there for me to create one for my game it seems. (as long as the start date can be changed for modern day)

Fact of the matter is that there is so much content here that will keep me busy that even with a dedicated "fictional mode" i might not even have the time to get to it. In any sense, i dont think any of the EHM fans are too concerned over it.

[rangers85]

I'm guessing there's not many here that come from the FHLsim world like me instead of EHM? It had full customizability and was online only (no solo management career mode). It lacked some of he automated features but was pretty customizable.

I'm hoping to be able to create league structures and incorporate the leagues I want. If I want a 20 team pro league for my online league (or whatever arrangement) with a couple feeders and a minor league level only I'd hope to be able to emulate that.