NHL EHM Gold demo available now

[Marc Vaughan]

Hi,

In case anyones interested a Gold demo of the NHL EHM game is now available from sigames.com at:

http://www.sigames.com/downloads.php?type=view&id=217

This demo will allow you to play one season in the game, should you purchase the full version of the game (either via. download or on CD at retail) you can continue your demo saved game in the full version.

Hope this helps,

Marc

[SirFozzie]

Neat.

Now.. for the full game?

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Neat.

Now.. for the full game?

Hope is that the Gold demo will keep you snuggled up and happy until the 2nd when the full games released ....

[Blackadar]

sweet

[MizzouRah]

excellent!



Todd

[Maple Leafs]

Is there a download?

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Hope is that the Gold demo will keep you snuggled up and happy until the 2nd when the full games released ....

We're demanding bitches, Marc.. I thought you knew that already *laughs*

[wbatl1]

Will the download use the bittorrent thing again? I never got that to work. ANd again, thanks Marc, thats awesome news.

[Ksyrup]

I might have missed this from another thread, but...the July 2 date, is that just the retail release date for Europe, or will there be a download option as well?

[sachmo71]

Yummy!

[Marc Vaughan]

Download now up - details on sigames.com, we've also announced a few other bits and pieces (information on some of the European stores stocking the game (please bear in mind this isn't a full list) and other gumph).

[Ksyrup]

"The game will also be available as a digital download (for PC only) to customers from the US and Canada from that date, with full releases scheduled for those territories in September."


This answers my question.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by wbatl1

Will the download use the bittorrent thing again? I never got that to work. ANd again, thanks Marc, thats awesome news.

Looks like a zip file not the bittorrent thing. Downloading now...

[Bee]

BTW, the Sega site for the game looks nice.

[Marc Vaughan]

(edited the first post as its up now)

[Marc Vaughan]

Ps. Available on 'normal' download as well as Bit Torrent

[Bee]

Got it!

See you guys in a couple weeks!

*wave*

[RPI-Fan]

If someone can post to say if a lot of the issues in the beta demo (database problems, trade issues, etc.) were fixed it woudl be greatly appreciated from those of us (well, at least me) stuck at work all day.

[Ksyrup]

Are we going to get an "Alright boyz here we go, eh?" thread started soon?

[Marc Vaughan]

(oh and there's a Mac version of the demo available if anyones interested in it and wasn't aware - should have mentioned that earlier really ...)

[Karim]

I actually found BitTorrent easier to use because the .zip file wasn't working for me for some reason.

[druez]

Is there sound in the PBP? I know there was sound in CM3 for crowd noise. But, I haven't heard any hits, sound, or crowd noise. Is this normal.

Having fun with the game, but the interface is pretty cumbersome.

[druez]

dola

Will I be able to take a semi pro/minor league team in north america in the full version? I would like to start down low then do well and get job offers from better minor league teams and then eventually get a job offer in the NHL. In the demo I can only coach an NHL team.

With all the above being said, I'm ready to purchase and download on the 2nd!

Marc, I really hope the next version moves it into the FM or CM4 interface and adds in 2d engine.

[rexallllsc]

Originally Posted by druez

Is there sound in the PBP? I know there was sound in CM3 for crowd noise. But, I haven't heard any hits, sound, or crowd noise. Is this normal.

Having fun with the game, but the interface is pretty cumbersome.

Took a while to get used to the cm3 interface, too.

[rexallllsc]

anyone: how do you name a Captain, besides letting the computer pick it?

[druez]

Originally Posted by rexallllsc

anyone: how do you name a Captain, besides letting the computer pick it?

Team orders under tactics screen then click on the next button.

[druez]

when looking at recaps of the game.

Is there anyway to see how effective certain units were. i.e. I want to see how often my Power Play first line was on the ice during PP. I want to see the number of shots they took and scoring chances etc...

Same thing with my PK units. I can't figure out a way to see how specific lines or units did together on the ice.

[druez]

Why are the Flyers Minor league affialite called the NJ Gulls. I thought it was the philadelphia phantoms?

[chrisj]

Originally Posted by druez

Why are the Flyers Minor league affialite called the NJ Gulls. I thought it was the philadelphia phantoms?

Because there are no AHL/ECHL licenses.

[rexallllsc]

Ok. I was totally apprehensive at first, as I played hockey for 16 years, and played at a decently high level before I was done...so needless to say, I love hockey...and would really notice/be bummed if things weren't done right.

However, everything looks really good so far. One of the things I really love is that this game has a solid foundation, and looks very good RIGHT NOW, while leaving a ton of potential for growth in the future.

SI Games is doing it right...I could only hope for a basketball sim from them. Holy @#$!@!

[druez]

Originally Posted by rexallllsc

Ok. I was totally apprehensive at first, as I played hockey for 16 years, and played at a decently high level before I was done...so needless to say, I love hockey...and would really notice/be bummed if things weren't done right.

However, everything looks really good so far. One of the things I really love is that this game has a solid foundation, and looks very good RIGHT NOW, while leaving a ton of potential for growth in the future.

SI Games is doing it right...I could only hope for a basketball sim from them. Holy @#$!@!

I have to agree with you. For a first attempt, I'm really impressed. The engine is pretty solid so far. I haven't fooled with the draft or trading yet, just playing my exhibition.

One thing on the screen you set your linups from, its pretty annoying I have to go back to the roster screen to see a listing of players attributes. I liked CM3 and CM4 where from the roster screen I could just drag the position of the player right onto their name.

[rexallllsc]

Originally Posted by druez

I have to agree with you. For a first attempt, I'm really impressed. The engine is pretty solid so far. I haven't fooled with the draft or trading yet, just playing my exhibition.

One thing on the screen you set your linups from, its pretty annoying I have to go back to the roster screen to see a listing of players attributes. I liked CM3 and CM4 where from the roster screen I could just drag the position of the player right onto their name.

Yeah, I miss drag-n-drop...Im sure this will be in future versions...

[SlapBone]

Ditto on the sound question.

[Hurst2112]

question....

I noticed that the file size of the previous beta version was about 330 MB. That was 1 season. I don't know what my settings for league size were. Any idea how large the file will be for the actual game?

Thanks guys, and good work.

[Hurst2112]

dola:

EVERYBODY STOP DOWNLOADING UNTIL I HAVE MINE DONE!!!

I am only getting a rate of 17kbps. At this rate, any lockout will be completed.

[riz]

Just to recap things:

The Gold Demo for NHL EHM is available now, both PC and Mac.

Here is the final list of the 18 playable leagues and their details:

Leagues with official licences, team logos, background photography and player pictures (all where available)

# NHL
# Czech Tipsport Extraliga

Leagues with official licenses, logos and player pictures (where available)

# Swedish Elitserien

Leagues with official licenses, team logos and background photography (where
available)

# UK Elite League
# UK British National League

Leagues with official licenses and logos.

# Norwegian Elite League
# Slovakia Elite League
# Swedish - Allsvenskan

Leagues with official licenses.

# Canada (WHL)
# Canada (OHL)
# Canada (QMJHL)
# Denmark Super Best League
# Austria Erste Banke Eishockey Liga
# French Superleague

Other playable leagues

# Russia
# 3 Finnish leagues

The gold demo is downloadable at SI Games website and there is also a pack of faststarts available for those who want to start a game outside the NHL/UK leagues that are in by default in the gold demo.

There is also a microsite available at Sega Europe for the game: http://www.sega-europe.com/nhlehm/

As for sounds, no, not in this version. We did not have time to do proper sound system or sounds in this time, so we'll do it in the future.

I'll try to pop in to answer other questions when I have a spare minute or so tomorrow

And thanks for the positive comments. It is the first commercial game for me and for this team, but hopefully a start of a long running series. A big hand to the guys at Sega as well for all their work, especially our producer Andrew. Not to mention all the Head Researchers and the other volunteers who helped out with the research.

[MizzouRah]

YESS!! I'm on it tonight...


Thanks,

Todd

[sachmo71]

And a big thanks back to you too, Riz! Researching was a bit hectic at times, but overall it was an enjoyable experience! I think you are on the right path to do great things for the text sim market, and hockey in general, but I thought that when I played Eastside classic!

[SirFozzie]

Hmm.. does this mean the American Minor leagues are non-playable?

[Tekneek]

It's disappointing that the minor leagues in North America were not made playable at all. I was really hoping for that.

I will be awaiting the EHM dynasties when it comes out in July. I'm likely not buying until mid-August at the earliest now. If the NA minors were playable, I might have bought it before my vacation. Good luck, guys!

[korme]

Can't get the d/l page to load..

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

It's disappointing that the minor leagues in North America were not made playable at all. I was really hoping for that.

I will be awaiting the EHM dynasties when it comes out in July. I'm likely not buying until mid-August at the earliest now. If the NA minors were playable, I might have bought it before my vacation. Good luck, guys!

You should write them and tell them not to be so stingy with their licences!

[Ksyrup]

So you're telling me the minor leagues are stingier with their licenses than the NHL?

I don't know how this game works since I've never really played CM, but is there no customization at all? In other words, couldn't you make the NA minor leagues playable, but allow the names of the leagues and teams to be changed? Or is that not possible?

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

So you're telling me the minor leagues are stingier with their licenses than the NHL?

I don't know how this game works since I've never really played CM, but is there no customization at all? In other words, couldn't you make the NA minor leagues playable, but allow the names of the leagues and teams to be changed? Or is that not possible?

All I know is you can play with the NHL, and not the minor American leagues. I don't know how customizable the final version will be.

[Tekneek]

You can't 'make' anything playable. You can edit their names, if you know what you are doing (or wait for an editor to be released), but you can't turn on leagues that are not playable within the game.

The leagues must have not shown any interest at all, or simply asked for much more than their league really deserves. In other words, they felt that no revenue from the deal was better than some revenue, by asking for too much. It's not like companies are routinely knocking on the doors of the AHL, ECHL, CHL, and UHL for licensing rights for their new game. I'm willing to bet that it has not happened once, before SI/Sega came along. I don't blame SI, but it still stinks.

I am definitely going to write the ECHL about it, and being a season ticket holder for one of their franchises they will hopefully feel the need to at least respond.

[Ksyrup]

But couldn't they have made the decision to make the leagues playable anyway, with different names and let us re-name them? That's all I care about. I don't care if the players are right or not.

It's disappointing, that's all, but not a deal-breaker.

[rexallllsc]

Play as one of the CHL teams (OHL, WHL, QMJHL)...

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

But couldn't they have made the decision to make the leagues playable anyway, with different names and let us re-name them? That's all I care about. I don't care if the players are right or not.

That is the confusing part to me. I suppose it is all based on "sound legal advice" provided by the numerous attorneys that were likely involved. By making them fictional, I would expect them to be playable. It must have been a tricky sort of legal issue that they had to deal with.

[korme]

wtf, i still can't access this: http://www.sigames.com/downloads.php...d=217&file=328

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

That is the confusing part to me. I suppose it is all based on "sound legal advice" provided by the numerous attorneys that were likely involved. By making them fictional, I would expect them to be playable. It must have been a tricky sort of legal issue that they had to deal with.

I guess, but how is that any different than how Jim has FOF set up?