NHL™ Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 faces off for the new hockey season

[riz]

http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...5/m/5662006642

Pad up, sharpen your blades and prepare for the puck drop, Hockey’s most immersive management game returns for the new season.

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (August 8th, 2006) – SEGA Europe Ltd and SEGA of America Inc., are proud to announce NHL™: Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 for the PC and Mac. Developed by Sports Interactive, creators of the acclaimed Football Manager™ series, NHL™: Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 will be available exclusively via digital download from www.eastsidehockeymanager.net from September 22nd 2006 across Europe and America.

NHL™: Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 is an authentic ice hockey management game which offers an enhanced simulation experience and a brand new 2D game engine, bringing you even closer to the action of each nail biting game. New tactical settings now give you even greater control over your side’s playing style, with a plethora of additional options.

Will you take advantage of new tactical options for breakouts, forechecking and implementing zone systems to steer your franchise to Stanley Cup™ glory? Or will you place your faith in your designated playmakers and face-off takers to carry your team to World Championship victory?

“With over 20 playable leagues and a comprehensive player and team database, NHL™: Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 is an ideal way for you to prepare for your fantasy hockey season”, commented Marc Duffy of Sports Interactive. “We’re incredibly keen to ensure that as many hockey fans as possible have access to the game, which is why we are delighted to make the game available via digital download.”

Sports Interactive has been working to create a new and improved look and feel to the 2007 edition, with a new cutting edge interface to make navigation far simpler. NHL™ Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 allows you to manage your own franchise in leagues from around the world, including the NHL, AHL, DEL and Swedish leagues.

The database has been vastly expanded since last year, now boasting an incredible 45,000 players and staff at your disposal, with a shot stopping total of 3,000 teams from around the globe!

Key Features:
• Fantasy draft - build your very own dream team, fantasy-hockey style
• Brand new real-time 2D engine for coaching your games and reviewing the crucial highlights
• Improved draft recommendations from your staff, allowing you to make the most of your all-important draft selections
• New tactical options and the introduction of sliders, allowing you more variations to your tactical settings, giving you more control over your side’s playing style than ever.
• More variation and detail from your staff in their scouting reports to help you find the hottest young talent
• Additional trade options and feedback now available, allowing you full control at the negotiation table
• No excuses for not balancing the books with greater salary cap control and more information on individual cap hits

NHL™: Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 is slated for release across Europe and North America in September 2006 and is officially licensed by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association.

There. Good things come to those who wait

[sabotai]

ugh, FINALLY...geez...

[klayman]

is it ready yet?

is it ready yet?

is it ready yet?

[riz]

Some new screens up here aside from the textual information:
http://www.eastsidehockeymanager.net/index.php

[duff88]

This is wonderful and was worth the wait!!!

The site is slow though; screenshots are only downloading a 8ko seconds so it will take 10 minutes to download 4mo.

[General Mike]

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HomerSimpson]

Any chance 2007 will feature a more web friendly MP version? Looking for a turn based offline Multi Player game.

Thanks.

[sachmo71]

oh, this is great news!

[MJ4H]

So the 2d-view will flow smoothly like in FM? If so, this is an auto-buy for me.

[King of New York]

Rock on, Riz.

The screenies look sweet. I can't wait to give the new 2D game engine a whirl, and to find out what the new leagues/teams are!

With EHM 2005, I won one championship in sixteen years with a Norwegian team (Bergen), and in eleven years with the Regina Pats, I never made it past the second round of the playoffs (although I did develop a satisfyingly brutal rivalry with Saskatoon, which resulted in a few memorable bench-clearing brawls.) I'm hoping for a big breakout with EHM 2007 But even if I don't have one, I'll keep playing.

[riz]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

So the 2d-view will flow smoothly like in FM? If so, this is an auto-buy for me.

The 2D is real-time, simulating the action in 1/5th of a second slices and fiddling with the action speed controls, I'm sure you'll find a setting that suits your own taste. It's not right up to FM in the slice rate (1/8th of a sec) but we do have something they don't.....collision detection

[Young Drachma]

I had a lot of fun with this last year, so I'm looking forward to it.

[scooter]

Riz, have you lined up your digital download partner yet? Are you staying with the old one or are you going to switch to something like eLicense **hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink**

[Pumpy Tudors]

Well, it's good to know that I have 6 more weeks with NCAA 2007 and will have a month with Madden before I surrender the rest of my year to SI.

gg guys

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Looks great! Very surprised to see the real time 2d engine.

Silly question for you Riz...Playing the newer versions of FM and the last version of EHM with the time elapsed 2d engine and even with the FM real time 2d. I think it would be a cool cosmetic feature to add spectators and stands to the graphics. I am not asking for an animated crowd but perhaps something to add flavor. Only reason I ask is I play out all my FM and EHM games which sometimes feel as though I am playing in an empty arena/stadium.....For lower divisions in FM and smaller leagues in EHM it could be one graphical display perhaps with fewer people shown and for the EPL/NHL etc...staduim/arena would be full.....

Silly I know but I am a sick man heavily addicted to FM/EHM and I think about wacky things like this.

[Marc Duffy]

Originally Posted by scooter

Riz, have you lined up your digital download partner yet? Are you staying with the old one or are you going to switch to something like eLicense **hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink**

We're using Elicense for PC and Esellerate for Mac.

[moriarty]

Wow, screen shots look really good. I didn't see one with the 2d view yet (is it out there and I just missed it)?

I think with FM they released a short little video file showing the 2d view in action. I wouldn't mind seeing something like that as a little teaser.

[scooter]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

We're using Elicense for PC and Esellerate for Mac.

Thank you for the quick answer. I'm really looking forward to this one!

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by moriarty

Wow, screen shots look really good. I didn't see one with the 2d view yet (is it out there and I just missed it)?

I think with FM they released a short little video file showing the 2d view in action. I wouldn't mind seeing something like that as a little teaser.

Still baffles me why more text sims don't have a 2d display to coincide with their game?

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Still baffles me why more text sims don't have a 2d display to coincide with their game?

I honestly hated the idea of a 2d view when FM first announced it (I felt it would ruin the immersion or something) ... now after several million hours of FM later, I feel very very foolish about that.

[Pumpy Tudors]

No teasers, no teasers, no teasers. I want this game too badly already, and if I want it much more, I'm going to have to go hurt somebody to release my aggression.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by moriarty

I honestly hated the idea of a 2d view when FM first announced it (I felt it would ruin the immersion or something) ... now after several million hours of FM later, I feel very very foolish about that.

Watching those players in FPS Football games (albeit a bit more than 2d) were the best years of my gaming life.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by HomerSimpson

Any chance 2007 will feature a more web friendly MP version? Looking for a turn based offline Multi Player game.

Thanks.

".

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Still baffles me why more text sims don't have a 2d display to coincide with their game?

It's a pretty big task for a solo programmer to make a system that accurately displays what is happening on a 2D plane in real time. And pretty much impossible if the game doesn't use a physics based system when simulating the game (I'm 99% sure that FOF is not).

Not only does it take time to develop, every instance where AI breaks down or you need to fudge the physics in order to get realistic stats will be visible for all of your customers to see. That would pretty much kill most people's immersion in the game.

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by sabotai

It's a pretty big task for a solo programmer to make a system that accurately displays what is happening on a 2D plane in real time. And pretty much impossible if the game doesn't use a physics based system when simulating the game (I'm 99% sure that FOF is not).

Not only does it take time to develop, every instance where AI breaks down or you need to fudge the physics in order to get realistic stats will be visible for all of your customers to see. That would pretty much kill most people's immersion in the game.

Yeah, but as Mizzourah said if FPS could do it 10 years ago in an acceptable format (and maybe I'm remembering this through rose colored glasses) it's suprising more games don't have it now.

Anyways, just another reason why SI is the place for sports sims.

[Izulde]

Are we locked into the 1-20 rating scale or can we switch to a 1-100 rating scale?

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by moriarty

Yeah, but as Mizzourah said if FPS could do it 10 years ago in an acceptable format (and maybe I'm remembering this through rose colored glasses) it's suprising more games don't have it now.

Anyways, just another reason why SI is the place for sports sims.

Yeah, pretty much what I was saying.

[mooreadamc]

So this means that my FM2006 career will end September 22nd. Good news, can't wait for the 2D!

[riz]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Are we locked into the 1-20 rating scale or can we switch to a 1-100 rating scale?

It's been a config file option to turn on 1-100 ratings previously. This time it will also be in the game preferences inside the game itself.

[AgustusM]

Originally Posted by moriarty

Wow, screen shots look really good. I didn't see one with the 2d view yet (is it out there and I just missed it)?

I think with FM they released a short little video file showing the 2d view in action. I wouldn't mind seeing something like that as a little teaser.

I concur.

[DeToxRox]

Riz - I won';t be canceling the Dudesons now.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by riz

The 2D is real-time, simulating the action in 1/5th of a second slices and fiddling with the action speed controls, I'm sure you'll find a setting that suits your own taste. It's not right up to FM in the slice rate (1/8th of a sec) but we do have something they don't.....collision detection

Last year was my first year to buy EHM. To tell the truth I felt I would continue to play it for another year or two before buying another version. However
the sceenshot of the new 2d and knowing it will now be a smooth game, with collision detection to boot, is making this a must buy.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

We're using Elicense for PC and Esellerate for Mac.

Another reason this becomes an easy decision.

[MJ4H]

I am anxious to see a video of how smooth it is at 1/5 second slices as opposed to 1/8 second in FM. If it is irritating to watch that may be a problem. Is this difference noticeable to the eyes, riz? Is it choppy at all?

[riz]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

I am anxious to see a video of how smooth it is at 1/5 second slices as opposed to 1/8 second in FM. If it is irritating to watch that may be a problem. Is this difference noticeable to the eyes, riz? Is it choppy at all?

It depends bit on your speed settings. Obviously, watching it on slow-mo will be a bit choppy, not like the old tactical board though, but personally I've found the normal 1x speed quite watchable, although I prefer 2x speed myself when watching a game live. Replays I watch on 1x speed afterwards if needed.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by riz

It's been a config file option to turn on 1-100 ratings previously. This time it will also be in the game preferences inside the game itself.

Fantastic news! I know it's a small thing to most people but games are so much more enjoyable to me when I can have a 1-100 rating scale.

[Easy Mac]

Is the TM after every team going to be in the game. I think we as a consumer are smart enough to know who does and doesn't own the rights to names and what not. Not really a shot at you guys, its just something that would annoy me if I played.

[DaddyTorgo]

dammit riz. way to deliver on the real-time 2d. now i'm going to have to buy when i was thinking of skipping a year!

[MJ4H]

I agree the TM has always annoyed me too.

[Karim]

I've already received a question from other hockey fans: Will the salary cap fluctuate up and down depending on league revenues?

[NoSkillz]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

I agree the TM has always annoyed me too.

I'm quite certain there will be an editor out that allows you to delete the trademark symbol. That's what I did last year, in addition to changing the team names to the city name from the nickname.

[Joe Canadian]

Originally Posted by Karim

I've already received a question from other hockey fans: Will the salary cap fluctuate up and down depending on league revenues?

I believe they've already said that it will not fluctuate...

[Joe Canadian]

Any chance we might see better reports... like the one's I tried to make with last years version? http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...7&postcount=21

[riz]

Originally Posted by Karim

I've already received a question from other hockey fans: Will the salary cap fluctuate up and down depending on league revenues?

A fluctuating cap based on revenues is all fine and dandy in real life when the life span of the CBA is only a couple of years, before they can revise things to compensate for escalating salaries, inflation etc. Even if we could model all the revenue streams for NHL clubs to calculate realistic league wide finances, it would be quite a task to try and come up with a financial model that would be realistic enough over a span of say a 100 seasons to allow for a dynamic cap that would fluctuate in reasonable amounts over time while also effecting dynamically on the player salary fluctuation. Yes, it'd be easy to make it go up/down randomly every few years, but I don't really see the point in that. Naturally some people would love to have the cap go up a bit every year, so they would not face heavy decisions on which of their budding young stars to keep when they start asking for more dough

[Capital]

Originally Posted by riz

A fluctuating cap based on revenues is all fine and dandy in real life when the life span of the CBA is only a couple of years, before they can revise things to compensate for escalating salaries, inflation etc. Even if we could model all the revenue streams for NHL clubs to calculate realistic league wide finances, it would be quite a task to try and come up with a financial model that would be realistic enough over a span of say a 100 seasons to allow for a dynamic cap that would fluctuate in reasonable amounts over time while also effecting dynamically on the player salary fluctuation. Yes, it'd be easy to make it go up/down randomly every few years, but I don't really see the point in that. Naturally some people would love to have the cap go up a bit every year, so they would not face heavy decisions on which of their budding young stars to keep when they start asking for more dough

Good call...as an individual thinking heavily about buying this product, I think this is a smart decision. That way, one can fine tune the AI to accurately manage their teams based upon one model. It should increase the AIs ability.

[Icy]

Looks really nice, and finally using elicense, it means a secure purchase from me.

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by riz

A fluctuating cap based on revenues is all fine and dandy in real life when the life span of the CBA is only a couple of years, before they can revise things to compensate for escalating salaries, inflation etc. Even if we could model all the revenue streams for NHL clubs to calculate realistic league wide finances, it would be quite a task to try and come up with a financial model that would be realistic enough over a span of say a 100 seasons to allow for a dynamic cap that would fluctuate in reasonable amounts over time while also effecting dynamically on the player salary fluctuation. Yes, it'd be easy to make it go up/down randomly every few years, but I don't really see the point in that. Naturally some people would love to have the cap go up a bit every year, so they would not face heavy decisions on which of their budding young stars to keep when they start asking for more dough

I personally would think it is cool to see the cap go up and down randomally in this game. As long as it works right. None the less, im looking forward to giving this a spin as always. I may even buy this version!!!

[GoldenEagle]

I think this will be my first version of EHM to purchase.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Excellent news! A nice thing to come back to after a short vacation.

Can't wait.

[riz]

The official website has now gone fully live at:
http://www.eastsidehockeymanager.net/

We're doing some developer blogs, researcher articles and naturally new screenshots on the website, so keep your eyes open !