The new Solecismic poll, in light of new info

[Ben E Lou]

(I figured it would get started some time this morning anyway, so why not go ahead and do it. :p)

With Jim having updated TCY to version 1.3, what do you think the next Solecismic release is going to be?

NOTE: This is not what do you WANT the next release to be, but what do you THINK it will be.

[Bee]

I went with the Political Sim. I think that is something Jim was really wanting to do and this would be the best year to release it until the next presidential election. Jim has also dropped quite a few references to political sites that could be used for research in some of the political discussions on the board in the last couple months. With the update of TCY, I think that weakens the possibility of it being TCY2 (although that's still debatable).

[Icy]

Let's think out loud so it will be more funny to see how wrong/right we were when we get the real answer :)

- TCY2 won't be the next release, else why to release the new patch?

- FOF6 ummmm it could be, and that is the cause of the TCY new patch to make it more compatible....but ater skydog's threads asking about our sugestions i think it won't be the new game, the thread was too near the new season for Jim to release FOF6 adding some of that suggested features.

- FOF Hockey i don't think so, Sigames + EHM is a really hard rival.

- FOF Baseball, could be as Jim is an excellet stats games programmer.

- FOF Basketball i don't think so, at least never saw any interest from him on Basketball.

- FOF president, this year of course was the best one for USA potential customers with the elections. I think this is going to be the new game so that is my vote.

I really hope that it will be FOF6 or at east any sport sim, i haven't any interest on politics, and even less on USA ones that i dont' follow and underestand.

[CraigSca]

I have no idea, personally. The TCY Update threw me for a loop.

I'm leaning towards a different game now, but I'm not sure what that would be.

The only issue you have with a political sim is the fact that it's popularity probably wanes in-between 4 year elections, and the window for this election is rapidly closing.

Baseball would be an interesting concept (but again, you face possible poor timing of the product). However, I think there is an opening with the SI purchase of OOTP, and I also think the market would embrace a Jim Gindin "statistically accurate and quick to play" type of baseball sim.

Other than that, I got nothin'.

[Bee]

Does anyone else think it's a potential clue that Solecismic voted "other"...

[Ben E Lou]

Does anyone else think it's a potential clue that Solecismic voted "other"...You gotta love Jim's sense of humor about all the speculation! :p

[timmynausea]

I voted for political, just cause it seems most "hints" point that way. Last year around this time, though, when people were speculating in the time before FOF2004 came out, I suggested it could be a political sim and Jim said that he had lost interest in doing one because both sides were so entrenched and bitter toward each other.
So I'm almost 50/50 on baseball and politics based on that comment.
I could go for a good baseball sim with a solid engine and much care put into realistic/widely varying player development. I really think Jim would blow everyone else out of the water with either baseball or politics. I've yet to play a satisfying baseball or political sim, and I really want to.

[Ben E Lou]

FTR, I've now voted "other" as well, for two reasons:

1. I was tired of having to give an extra click to see the resuts.
2. I'm in the "unsure" category, pretty evenly split between a couple of options.

[Kevin]

Front Office Olympic Steroid Detection
(will also be able to detect trout DNA manipulation)

[Raiders Army]

I think we can safely remove TCY 2 out of the running due to the posts above. I feel that a political sim is out of the question, due to the small population that would want it (remember, this is also a business for Jim). I would say that either FOF6 (unlikely) or hockey will be it.

[Samdari]

"Solecismic Software is a privately held entertainment software company founded in 1998 and dedicated to producing career-play football simulations."

Did noone notice this?

I think that the TCY update clearly points to TCY2. He has got some of the work done due to his work in TCY2, and it could also renew interest in the game.

When do signups for the 108 man multiplayer league begin?

By the way, while undergoing the draft for IHOF, I come to the realization that TCY sets up better than FOF for multiplayer. The awkward part of FOF multiplayer is the draft - which does not have a great way to do quickly in game, except for a preference export which noone seems to like. But, with TCY, there is no offseason stoppage for player acquisition - that part of the game neatly fits into the in season weekly exports.

[JAG]

Samdari convinnced me.

[CraigSca]

"Solecismic Software is a privately held entertainment software company founded in 1998 and dedicated to producing career-play football simulations."


By the way, while undergoing the draft for IHOF, I come to the realization that TCY sets up better than FOF for multiplayer. The awkward part of FOF multiplayer is the draft - which does not have a great way to do quickly in game, except for a preference export which noone seems to like. But, with TCY, there is no offseason stoppage for player acquisition - that part of the game neatly fits into the in season weekly exports.


Oh man, can you imagine the recruiting wars in a multiplayer league?! Sign me up! I'll pre-take Maryland, please :)

[timmynausea]

I've got dibbs on WVU should this be the case.

[MIJB#19]

I'm torn about the FOF6 posibility.
I think the existence of the IHOF can be a major influence on the arrival of FOF6/FOF2005, whatever the name will be. Or that Ann Arbor victory must have totally destroyed the desire for Jim to keep playing FOF 2K4 and created a new challenge.

TCY2 seems logical, but, in fact, I voted on Political Sim.

[MizzouRah]

I picked political sim, because that's what I'm thinking, but TCY2 or FOF6 would be what I would like to see.


Todd

[BigJohn&TheLions]

"Solecismic Software is a privately held entertainment software company founded in 1998 and dedicated to producing career-play football simulations."

I noticed it. And was gonna comment on it if you hadn't beat me to the punch! That's why I went the safe route and voted FOF6. Jim probably voted "other" because of his hoping one day that "FOF Curling" would come out... ALthough the "football" line may have been just to keep us off the scent...

[Ben E Lou]

"Solecismic Software is a privately held entertainment software company founded in 1998 and dedicated to producing career-play football simulations."

Did noone notice this? Well, did no one notice this: :p
And I've been fortunate enough to be able to spend all of my time in the home office, working on Front Office Football. One of my long-term goals is to maintain the football games, keeping them on the cutting edge for this type of career simulation. My desire to break into new sports continues to grow, however, and my notebooks are littered with partial designs for other games. In this field new challenges always beckon, and this has been a tremendously rewarding experience.I think the information at the site is intentionally non-committal. I don't think you can read anything into it either way.

[fantastic flying froggies]

I voted 'other' as 'in not a clue' !!!

Whatever it is though, I'll probably buy it... :)

[BigJohn&TheLions]

I think the information at the site is intentionally non-committal. I don't think you can read anything into it either way.

On the other hand, you can read anything into anything. I think you know something... :D

[Bee]

Assuming for a second that Jim just isn't kidding with his vote...

If it's something other than the games listed in the poll, does anyone have any good ideas of what it might be?

From what I understand, Jim has already shot down NASCAR and possibly other types of racing sims (horse racing, etc). I can't imagine him going to a High School Football Sim since it's so limiting without recruiting, etc. I can't imagine Jim making a soccer game. Not really sure what else it could be...

[sachmo71]

Front Office Cooking.

[Samdari]

And I've been fortunate enough to be able to spend all of my time in the home office, working on Front Office Football. One of my long-term goals is to maintain the football games, keeping them on the cutting edge for this type of career simulation. My desire to break into new sports continues to grow, however, and my notebooks are littered with partial designs for other games. In this field new challenges always beckon, and this has been a tremendously rewarding experience..

I did not forget about that Ben, but this was written shortly after FOF4 was published. I believe we know that Jim was working on a game in another sport, and for unknown reasons (business related, iirc) abandoned it and put out FOF2004. And we all know that Jim does not change information on that website very often.

Jim posted about TCY 1.3 with the tagline about the company being dedicated to creating quality football simulations was posted this week. Now, I realize that this could simply be boilerplate stuff that was created even earlier, but Jim tends to be careful about what he posts on this board.

[Ben E Lou]

I did not forget about that Ben, but this was written shortly after FOF4 was published. I believe we know that Jim was working on a game in another sport, and for unknown reasons (business related, iirc) abandoned it and put out FOF2004. And we all know that Jim does not change information on that website very often.

Jim posted about TCY 1.3 with the tagline about the company being dedicated to creating quality football simulations was posted this week. Now, I realize that this could simply be boilerplate stuff that was created even earlier, but Jim tends to be careful about what he posts on this board.Granted, but that is very similar language to what has been the first sentence on his web site as long as the "desire to break into other sports" stuff. ("Solecismic Software is an entertainment software company dedicated to producing cutting-edge career football simulations.")

Point being, maybe he was dropping a hint there, but maybe not.

[Cringer]

I voted baseball, but as I think about this I am leaning towards FOF6.

My reason, I expected an update like this from Jim, but not for TCY, i thought one for FOF2004 was coming. There are so many little things in MP that guys would like fixed or added, not too mention solo play.....i dunno, confuses me. Bastard is laughing right now isn't he?

[cthomer5000]

I have to say I'm absolutely clueless. I'd be a bit surprised if me made it 3 straight FOF (pro) releases, so I thought TCY was a distinct possibility. Does the patch reduce the odds of TCY2? I would say yes.

I still think Baseball or a Political Sim are strong possibilites, but really have no idea.

I'd be quite interested to see what those who voted 'other' have in mind.

[condors]

i voted other i honestly could care less what it is as i have faith it will be well done. I will buy first ask questions later as i have gotten more than my money's worth from tcy and FOFI-FOFV

[Huckleberry]

TCY2. The patch secretly makes it super-duper-easy to import TCY saved games into TCY2.

A man can dream.

[wade moore]

I'm with Samdari on this. I think the update to 1.3 could mean that he is working off of the same code for TCY2, was doing this piece for TCY2, and went ahead and patched to 1.3.

[Samdari]

IDoes the patch reduce the odds of TCY2? I would say yes.

Could you please expound on the logic of this conclusion? Several people have mentioned it, and it does not make much sense to me. To me, the patch was a clear indication that Jim was knee deep in working with TCY, and releasing this patch to whet people's appetite for the game is a brilliant strategy for a month away release.

[Cringer]

I'm with Samdari on this. I think the update to 1.3 could mean that he is working off of the same code for TCY2, was doing this piece for TCY2, and went ahead and patched to 1.3.

ok, if this is true, this is cruel. If Jim keeps kicking me like a wimpering puppy...well.......damn, guy has my money most likely, forget it.


BUT! I was just thinking of restarting the College part of my league, to reflect the conference changes and because hopefully the ratings are carrying over much better. I don't want to do this, and then do it again if a TCY 2 comes out....

[Noop]

Since he is commited to cutting edge football games how about soccer?

[gstelmack]

I still think FOF6. Jim can't possibly be playing in a multiplayer league, win a championship, and not see all the little nits and issues that plague multiplayer and NOT want to fix them...

EDIT: Maybe TCY 1.3 is to prepare TCY for FOF6 support?

[Bee]

Why spend the time patching a game that you are going to release a new version of in a month or so? That seems like a bad use of time to me. Even if most of the code were being used in TCY2, with the way Jim changes his games it would have still taken a lot of work to make it function with TCY. And the benefit would be for people to play a slightly improved version of TCY for a month?

I don't know, it could be... but just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If you want to get people excited about TCY2 just announce it. Most would go play TCY again anyway, with or without the patch.

[cthomer5000]

EDIT: Maybe TCY 1.3 is to prepare TCY for FOF6 support?Or he could just release a FOF2004 patch, and then release a new game.

[WSUCougar]

Front Office Raising a Child

We all know he's been doing the research for some time now.

[Samdari]

Granted, but that is very similar language to what has been the first sentence on his web site as long as the "desire to break into other sports" stuff. ("Solecismic Software is an entertainment software company dedicated to producing cutting-edge career football simulations.")

Point being, maybe he was dropping a hint there, but maybe not.

I actually left out the quote that has led me to thinking TCY2 since the release of FOF2004


There is no question TCY saved my company

[Samdari]

Why spend the time patching a game that you are going to release a new version of in a month or so? That seems like a bad use of time to me.

To spark interest in the game.

[albionmoonlight]

He could have hoped to have TCY2 ready for the start of the college football season, got delayed (he does have a kid, after all), and decided that it would be nice to provide the 1.3 update to TCY because 1.) he has already written the code (for TCY2), and 2.) he knows that some people fire up TCY again when the season starts and wanted to throw them a bone.

[Bee]

To spark interest in the game.

But how does that do so more than just announcing TCY2? Anyone who would get excited about a patch for TCY will be buying TCY2 regardless.



Edit: I'd love for it to be TCY2, but just don't see a correlation between releasing the patch for TCY and the new game being TCY2.

[Radii]

I voted political sim as well, I am torn between that and TCY2. I would be absolutely thrilled with either and would almost certainly purchase either.

[Samdari]

But how does that do so more than just announcing TCY2? Anyone who would get excited about a patch for TCY will be buying TCY2 regardless.

I don't agree with that. People who have not been playing for a year or more might download the update for free, remember how much they liked it, and then be more likely to buy a new version a few weeks (months?) later.

The people who are still playing it are obviously going to buy it regardless. But, that is probably not the majority of people who bought it.

As for it being a waste of time, does releasing this patch take more time if you are already working on these changes for an upcoming release, or if you are working on something completely different?

[cthomer5000]

To spark interest in the game.
But I think releasing the patch would probably cost him some TCY2 sales. People who might have taken the plunge given all the new features imght be more likely to say 'well, there isn't that much more stuff I'm interested in' if they've got an up-to-date TCY they can stick to.


I guess the patch really tells us nothing.

[rkmsuf]

Jim spelled backwards is Mij. That must mean something...

[Samdari]

But I think releasing the patch would probably cost him some TCY2 sales. People who might have taken the plunge given all the new features imght be more likely to say 'well, there isn't that much more stuff I'm interested in' if they've got an up-to-date TCY they can stick to.


I guess the patch really tells us nothing.

Stop interrupting our twisting of every statement/act by Jim Gindin into a clear sign that the game we want is on the way, and get back to doing it yourself.

[Ksyrup]

The intent of the TCY patch can go either way. If he is going to release TCY2, I would think a joint announcement/patch for TCY1 while the new game is finished would be the way to go. It may be that TCY2 is still a few months away, though, so he didn't want to announce it with so much time remaining before the release, but wanted TCY1 to remain playable and up on current alignments. It may be that he just took a couple of pieces of TCY2 and used them to patch TCY1, and it took him all of 30 minutes to do.

Who the hell knows. If the game is going to come out by December, I'd just like to know what it is.

[Bee]

As for it being a waste of time, does releasing this patch take more time if you are already working on these changes for an upcoming release, or if you are working on something completely different?

I think the difference is if TCY2 is coming out, it's an update that most will use for a month. If something else is coming out, it's an update that most will use for at least a year. One is IMO a bad use of time, the other is good customer support.

Edit: That's assuming that KYJelly isn't right and the patch took more than 30 minutes to throw together. :D

[Hurst2112]

I am taking the route of following Jim's sense of humor...which is similar to most of ours here:

Jim's latest update is just a dummy update. The only thing he changed from the last one is the version number. With this sly move, he gets people guessing and watches the fiasco from afar.

Which brings me to the fact that I don't have a clue what his move will actually be, taking the above into consideration.

I picked FOF6 even though SD told us not too pick on desires.

[Cringer]

I just want to know if it's TCY2, because it's important to the Imperial League and how we proceed with our draft.....

........come on Jim....a little PM this way big guy, I'll keep it quiet!

[Samdari]

That's assuming that KYJelly isn't right and the patch took more than 30 minutes to throw together. :D

That was my point - if he's got these updates written for a new game, this patch would take very little time. If he is working on the political sim, it would probably take days/weeks.

[Hurst2112]

Here is another thought...

What if Jim patches the 2 current games as much as he can...without re-writing anything? He gave us the TCY patch, and will offer an FOF patch later this week...fixing as much as he can, maybe putting in something new here and there.

After this is done, he waits a little bit and releases a political sim...right around Super Tuesday. If I remember correctly, there have been a couple of his games released around my birthday (November 1st).

Damn, I want to change my vote now.

[Bee]

That was my point - if he's got these updates written for a new game, this patch would take very little time. If he is working on the political sim, it would probably take days/weeks.

If it's for a new version, I'd think there would be a lot of work involved in making sure everything is compatible with an old version and none of the new features would interfere with what you are importing into the old version. None of us really know how much work it would take since we aren't familiar with the code in question.

At best, I think the TCY patch is not indicative either way of the new release being TCY2.

[mauchow]

Solecismic, Jim, voted for "Other".

I dunno if this was mentioned or not! Hmm..

[VPI97]

I need to change my vote.

It'll be TCY2.

[Capital]

I posted this in a wrong thread and it really belongs here:

While this repeated discussion has been fun (I really have been enjoying it ), Jim really needs to let everyone know about whatever the new game actually is. What was fun for the last couple of months is starting to get annoying.

For the record, I have purchased 3 FOF games and TCY so I happily support Jim's games, as they are of significant quality. I simply want to know the game's title. All of the other details are of limited value in comparison.

[Bee]

I need to change my vote.

It'll be TCY2.


Don't worry, the poll can't be considered official because there's no trout/rectum option.

[Chubby]

Solecismic, Jim, voted for "Other".

I dunno if this was mentioned or not! Hmm..
Well there's no Front Office College Basketball listed in the poll now is there?

[Ben E Lou]

Don't worry, the poll can't be considered official because there's no trout/rectum option.Don't know if you've ever noticed my polls, but I *never* put that option in mine. If I want to be silly, I'll be silly. If I'm curious what people really think, I'll post a poll.

[Sun Tzu]

If it does wind up being a political sim, I wont be buying it. I just don't see FOF2004, TCY, Madden, and 2K5 being shelved for "Oh man, I gotta know how my last speech in Nantucket affected my approval rating there!"

I don't think I'm going out on a limb though when I say, it's going to be a PC game.

[Scarecrow]

Jim selected other because it's going to be Front Office Curling... :)

I'll take TCY2, since I'm in the same boat as the 'patch is for conversion' boat.

[Bee]

Don't know if you've ever noticed my polls, but I *never* put that option in mine. If I want to be silly, I'll be silly. If I'm curious what people really think, I'll post a poll.

The trout is always an option and should be recognized in all polls. :D

[hukarez]

Front Office Olympics!

[Runtheball]

I think you should make a poll for which of those possible games the forum members WANT.

[Buzzbee]

My thoughts:

Jim has said that one of his goals is to keep his games updated from year to year. To me a 1.3 patch for TCY was a no brainer. Conference re-alignments are just too big of an issue for him not to put out a patch. Who would want to buy a college game this year that was based on last year's alignments. No brainer.

Therefore, I expect you'll see a patch for FOF2k4 sometime soon. Will probably have an updated roster set and bug fixes such as the Coaching Staff expense bug. To me this is also a no brainer.

As was stated, Jim was working on a game in a different SPORT. However, he suspended working on that when a deal with a publisher fell through. He missed his window of opportunity on it. It would make sense that he would come back to this game to finish it up. He had done the research, perhaps some or all of the design, and maybe even started coding. My guess is that he decided to release FOF2k4 instead of continuing work on the other sport as a means of putting food on the table for his family. In other words, without a publishing deal, he may not have had the income to finish the game, so he put out FOF2k4 to provide him an income stream so that he could finish and self-publish the other game.

Jim states somewhere on his site that when he first started, he envisioned products in all major sports (Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey). While he has also stated an interest in a political sim, I think other comments, as well as timing tend to submarine any belief I have that this will be the release. To me the best time for a political sim would have been early this summer. To release it now would be like releasing a football sim during the playoffs. Still in time to capture some interest, but not early enough to captialize on the full season. So, I say no to political sim.

With the patch of TCY2 and, I anticipate, to FOF2k4, those games should be updated. To me that means there is slim possibility for a TCY2 or FOF6. Why patch an existing game if you are going to release the next version in the near future? Announce any compatibility patches when you announce the new game. So, I say no to TCY2 or FOF6.

That leave me with Baseball, Hockey, or Basketball. First inclination is Baseball. Jim has said he loves baseball. He has also said that he increasingly believes in doing something you love. Yes, OOTP is somewhat entrenched, but there is probably a larger potential customer base in baseball than there is in basketball or hockey. I lean toward Baseball.

Hockey and Basketball are also possible in my mind. There isn't as much competition as baseball. Also, Jim did do a puzzle involving Dan Blysma, a hockey player. He could have come up with the idea for the puzzle while doing hockey research. Tenuous link at best, but still crossed my mind. With hockey I would wonder what, if any, impact the lockout could have on Jim's decision if it is a hockey sim. As far as basketball, I'm still struggling with the website registration SkyDog stumbled accross for a front office basketball site. That could be a significant indicator as to where Jim is leaning. Of course, Jim could have just been trying to lock it down for future use, knowing that he hoped to release in all four major sports.

So, in summary, I believe baseball is most likely, followed by basketball, and lastly hockey. Pro would be my first guess, but college basketball could be a dark horse.

[Honolulu Blue]

With a kid, a wife, and an aging game stock, I'm guessing that Jim will want to get his next game to us sooner rather than later.

I continue to think it's not baseball for several reasons - 1) Jim has a lot of respect for Clay, and I don't think he wants to compete head-to-head with him, 2) there is a lot of competition in the baseball text sim market and there may not be enough profit potential for a new game, and 3) the timing is wrong.

Hockey has EHM and a very limited market. Unless Jim is designing something just for show and not revenue, I doubt he'd want to wade his feet in this market.

A traditional political game has a very limited window, and I can't seeing a self-published game gathering enough momentum quickly enough to sell a good number of games in less than two months.

I don't think Jim has expressed much interest in basketball (college or pro) and the market seems adequately covered by already existing games.

"Other" covers a lot of territory, including the much-discussed curling game. I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see a game in this category.

Though the release of the patch for TCY makes a sequel less likely in my view, it doesn't exclude the possibility entirely. Jim obviously put some work into this patch, and he might well have done some other work on college for this new game.

But I picked FOF6/2005. Why? Because I think Jim thinks he can improve it some more and get some sales out of the deal. The football career text sim market is dominated by his product, and perhaps he thinks it unwise to let his flagship product get too old before updating it.

[Ben E Lou]

I think you should make a poll for which of those possible games the forum members WANT.Why?

[Cringer]

I think we just need to be told, this is an actual problem for a couple online leagues (atleast for mine) who are wondering if its TCY2 coming next. All I want is a "No, it's not TCY2" if it is going to be something else. Or go ahead and say what it is, hell, versions of every possible game have been hyped already by this board...........

[Buzzbee]

I think we just need to be told, this is an actual problem for a couple online leagues (atleast for mine) who are wondering if its TCY2 coming next. All I want is a "No, it's not TCY2" if it is going to be something else. Or go ahead and say what it is, hell, versions of every possible game have been hyped already by this board...........

I'm sorry, but I don't see why it is an issue. If you import a draft from TCY and then two weeks later Jim announces TCY2 simply continue with the draft you used and then expect to use a TCY2 draft the next go around. Would you seriously hold up your league for a month or two while waiting on TCY2?

[Ben E Lou]

I'm sorry, but I don't see why it is an issue. If you import a draft from TCY and then two weeks later Jim announces TCY2 simply continue with the draft you used and then expect to use a TCY2 draft the next go around. Would you seriously hold up your league for a month or two while waiting on TCY2?You read my mind.

[sovereignstar]

You read my mind.
A pretty sparse one...

[sovereignstar]

As far as basketball, I'm still struggling with the website registration SkyDog stumbled accross for a front office basketball site. EA registered frontofficebasketball.com

Edit: which is interesting as EA has that domain locked up thru 2005, while they've got frontofficebaseball.com locked up until 2006

[Ben E Lou]

A pretty sparse one...Ah, that's good, rather than attempting to argue cogently, you resort to an unbased personal attack. Impressive. :rolleyes:

[Buzzbee]

Ah, that's good, rather than attempting to argue cogently, you resort to an unbased personal attack. Impressive. :rolleyes:

SD used "cogently" in response to someone claiming he has a sparse mind. Brilliant.

[Cringer]

I'm sorry, but I don't see why it is an issue. If you import a draft from TCY and then two weeks later Jim announces TCY2 simply continue with the draft you used and then expect to use a TCY2 draft the next go around. Would you seriously hold up your league for a month or two while waiting on TCY2?

No, i am not going to hold up the league, that is the issue. If i have to start over the TCY section with new version, then that means all my time up to that point has been completely wasted. I understand my time means little to you, but to me it is an issue........

Also, it is not good for my league. Guys who get into the college section, following underclassmen or certian schools, then get screwed over a little because everything they followed is now gone.

I understand it is not an issue for most, but it is for me. You are not in my place, so don't trivialize it.........

[sovereignstar]

Ah, that's good, rather than attempting to argue cogently, you resort to an unbased personal attack. Impressive. :rolleyes:
Whatever, dude. As long as you're smiling...

[Runtheball]

Samdari, Thank You!!!
I was disappointed thinking that TCY2 would not happen this year. But you've got me totally convinced that the next game IS TCY2. The clue about his company being devoted to developing football sims slipped right past me (and apparently everyone else but you). And yeah, it makes perfect sense to get everyone fired up about TCY before releasing TCY2.

You nailed it man!

(There is no way it would be a political sim. With the election just two months away, he would have missed much of the window for the release. And the game would have no appeal after the election. AND there is competition from The Political Machine, which has already satisfied the cravings of many if not most of those interested in a political sim.)

And your "See pretty girl, hump pretty girl" had me rolling! :}

[Buzzbee]

EA registered frontofficebasketball.com

Didn't remember that aspect. IIRC, Jim has expressed a desire not to piss of the 800lb gorrilla that is EA. It is possible that they are the publisher with which the deal fell through. So, it is within the realm of possibility that there could have been renewed interest in doing a Front Office Basketball. Pure speculation, obviously.

[kcchief19]

Why spend the time patching a game that you are going to release a new version of in a month or so?The most obvious reason would be to patch the game so that older game files will export more easily into a TCY2.

I gave up a long time ago in trying to outguess Jim. I don't know if it would drive me crazy having everything I did or said analyzed to the point that we analyze or if I would have fun and purposely do things just to screw with people's minds. I'm guessing it would be a little of both.

A lot of little things I see and read make me believe the next game will be TCY2. Given that is what I think, I have no doubt it will be something else. :)

And, yes, SkyDog's post above is now my favorite post ever in the history of FOFC. Gold!

[Buzzbee]

No, i am not going to hold up the league, that is the issue. If i have to start over the TCY section with new version, then that means all my time up to that point has been completely wasted. I understand my time means little to you, but to me it is an issue........

Also, it is not good for my league. Guys who get into the college section, following underclassmen or certian schools, then get screwed over a little because everything they followed is now gone.

I understand it is not an issue for most, but it is for me. You are not in my place, so don't trivialize it.........

Ummm...time won't be wasted if you simply continue to use TCY. No one would force you to change.

Also, if it is TCY2 how is knowing that going to change how you do your league? Will knowing that Jim is releasing TCY2 going to solve this:

"Also, it is not good for my league. Guys who get into the college section, following underclassmen or certian schools, then get screwed over a little because everything they followed is now gone."

Knowing what the game is won't change this. You'll still have this problem if you change to TCY2. Right? Seems pretty trivial to me.

[Cringer]

Ummm...time won't be wasted if you simply continue to use TCY. No one would force you to change.

Also, if it is TCY2 how is knowing that going to change how you do your league? Will knowing that Jim is releasing TCY2 going to solve this:

"Also, it is not good for my league. Guys who get into the college section, following underclassmen or certian schools, then get screwed over a little because everything they followed is now gone."

Knowing what the game is won't change this. You'll still have this problem if you change to TCY2. Right? Seems pretty trivial to me.

:jerking-off arm motion: :rolleyes:

[WSUCougar]

Yet another example of why his name is "Cringer" ;)

[Cringer]

Yet another example of why his name is "Cringer" ;)
:D

[Ksyrup]

I continue to think it's not baseball for several reasons - 1) Jim has a lot of respect for Clay, and I don't think he wants to compete head-to-head with him,
With all due respect to Clay, if a Solecismic baseball game would be roughly equivalent to FOF or TCY, then there would be no competition.

[Buzzbee]

:jerking-off arm motion: :rolleyes:

Great comeback. :rolleyes:

[Bee]

The most obvious reason would be to patch the game so that older game files will export more easily into a TCY2.



Do you really think you'll be able to export old files to TCY2? I'd be surprised if that is possible and a first for Jim.

[Cringer]

Great comeback. :rolleyes:

Not a comeback, it's a brush off. I no longer feel like trying to explain this to you, that simple. No hard feelings, lighten up.......

[sovereignstar]

Anyone remember this interview (http://www.cdmag.com/articles/028/102/foff_interview.html)?

[Buzzbee]

Not a comeback, it's a brush off. I no longer feel like trying to explain this to you, that simple. No hard feelings, lighten up.......

No hard feelings either. I've seen your picture! :eek:

[Ben E Lou]

With all due respect to Clay, if a Solecismic baseball game would be roughly equivalent to FOF or TCY, then there would be no competition.Word. As I've said before, with OOTP7 not coming out until late 2005, there is all of a sudden a very large void for baseball. If baseball is the game, and Jim were to release one this fall around playoff time, then update it in March when people are getting excited about baseball again, I would think he could potentially get two solid sales cycles.

That being said, if I recall my timetables properly, Jim had already stated that he was working on his next release before the news about OOTP came out, so I doubt that factored into his decision.

If Jim doesn't do a baseball game, then it seems to me that Clay would be *very* wise to focus a lot of energy on BM2K6--making it a quantum leap forward (finally) from previous versions. Failing that, if only Shaun would abandon that pitch-by-pitch sim engine that makes that sucker run so slowly...

[Cringer]

Buzzbee: the picture haunts me.....

sovereignstar: so hockey and baseball need to come out in the next couple of years for his 7 yr plan....

[timmynausea]

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning toward baseball.

[Raven Hawk]

It's TCY 2. I'm psychic and I know these things. End of Discussion.

[33sherman]

I don't know about baseball. Quite frankly, I own Puresim and I like it a lot. I don't have enough time or money to commit to two or three different baseball sims, no matter how appealing it looks. TCY, on the other hand, is the only college football sim. I'd definitley buy it because it's a great game which could use a good overhaul, and I'm already 'committed' to it as my college football sim.

I'd say TCY2 or something that doesn't have much competition.

[condors]

ack 7 year plan, please tell me this is now modified?

[Chubby]

ack 7 year plan, please tell me this is now modified?

well, consider when the 1st FOF came out...

[MylesKnight]

I'd guess a Political-type Sim Game is next on the agenda.

My prediction on TCY-2... It will be ready at the beginning of the 2005 College Football Season. A new game just in time for the major conference reshuffling that will be taking place in the Fall of '05.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Well whatever it is Im sure we will all be happy with the product. Ih when will the ''announcement'' suppose to be?

[Cap Ologist]

I think a high school football sim is next. It will help strengthen the football empire. You could really get immersed by coaching players in high school, seeing them in college and finally the pros.

So, go ahead and put it in 2 inch headlines. FOF: The High School Years is on the way.








P.S. If I'm wrong, please don't rub it in.

[Ksyrup]

I think a high school football sim is next.
What would this game offer, though, that TCY or FOF don't? There would be no draft, no recruiting (unless you get into illicit school-zone hopping), you'd have the same 4-year limit, academic issues, girlfriends, etc., as in TCY. It would basically be TCY without the recruiting, wouldn't it?

I wouldn't mind seeing him take TCY, strip it down and make it applicable to high school, and release it in combo with a master TCY/FOF game, just so we could work our way from high school to college to pros as a coach, but otherwise, a high school-only game doesn't seem to be worth it.

[Noop]

Hockey? Eww.....

[Cuckoo]

What would this game offer, though, that TCY or FOF don't? There would be no draft, no recruiting (unless you get into illicit school-zone hopping), you'd have the same 4-year limit, academic issues, girlfriends, etc., as in TCY. It would basically be TCY without the recruiting, wouldn't it?

I wouldn't mind seeing him take TCY, strip it down and make it applicable to high school, and release it in combo with a master TCY/FOF game, just so we could work our way from high school to college to pros as a coach, but otherwise, a high school-only game doesn't seem to be worth it.

There have been a number of threads about a game like this. I know SkyDog and others, including myself, have thrown a bunch of ideas out there. I think this would be a fantastic idea, and I'd definitely buy it.

[Cap Ologist]

There was a thread once (I think S.D. might have started) that had lots of things a high school sim could offer. You might not have recruiting, but you would be involved in setting up feeder schools, interacting with the booster club, keeping your students passing, etc.

Perhaps your reputation might influence where new families with talented kids move to. I think there could be some good possibilities here.

But then I read the article that was posted earlier in this thread, and think that my bold prediction has already collapsed. It seems like baseball or hockey would be the safe bet based on things Jim said there.

[JeeberD]

I would enjoy just about any game he puts out, as long as it's not a political sim. Basketball is #1 on my wishlist, though baseball and hockey would be a blast as well...

[molson]

I think it's time Jim to reconsider his philosophy of secrecy around development plans, now that he is more established and has a proven track record. I understand there were issues in the past with plans changing, or unrealistic expectations, but so what? Wouldn’t it be good for sales to start a buzz around here - one that those who are just occasional visitors would pick up on? Does a casual and infrequent visitor here even know that anything is on the way, or that this company is still planning on making new games?

[Capital]

I think it's time Jim to reconsider his philosophy of secrecy around development plans, now that he is more established and has a proven track record. I understand there were issues in the past with plans changing, or unrealistic expectations, but so what? Wouldn’t it be good for sales to start a buzz around here - one that those who are just occasional visitors would pick up on? Does a casual and infrequent visitor here even know that anything is on the way, or that this company is still planning on making new games?

This is exactly what I have been mentioning. It's one think to drum up excitement for the people who always frequent this site. But what about the one's that only visit periodically? That doesn't apply to me, but I know that anticipation of a future known game is irreplaceable.

[Chubby]

This is exactly what I have been mentioning. It's one think to drum up excitement for the people who always frequent this site. But what about the one's that only visit periodically? That doesn't apply to me, but I know that anticipation of a future known game is irreplaceable.
So we can have 900,000 "When is X coming out" or "Why isn't X out yet" threads? No thanks, been there done that.

[Buccaneer]

Don't know, don't really care. It's up to him to decide what's best. There are some games on that list I will not buy at all and some that I will or might. I had originally thought that I would be interested in a political sim but as with every product of this type on the market, it becomes a micromanagement hell (similar to having to set the price for cotton candy in a football sim). My personal preference would still be Front Office Thoroughbred but Jim did not like that idea (along with a race car sim).

[Buccaneer]

I think it's time Jim to reconsider his philosophy of secrecy around development plans, now that he is more established and has a proven track record. I understand there were issues in the past with plans changing, or unrealistic expectations, but so what? Wouldn’t it be good for sales to start a buzz around here - one that those who are just occasional visitors would pick up on? Does a casual and infrequent visitor here even know that anything is on the way, or that this company is still planning on making new games?
I disagree. He is still a one-man shop and it's hard enough to manage a development and release cycle without everyone screaming in his ear. Haven't his previous releases proved that his plans are best for his company?

[Dutch]

I prefer the secrecy. I've been waiting for Matrix Games to release Combat Leader for about 5 years now. That blows, especially if they scrap the plan altogether. I'd rather not know and be surprised.

[Pyser]

people who are convinced that it will be tcy2 baffle me.

i get your idea, that he already has the code, but then why patch the game at all?

wouldnt it make more sense for jim to leave tcy outdated, so that if you want an up to date college sim, the ONLY option is tcy2? the only part of your guys argument that makes sense was that he was "secretely" making tcy compatible with tcy2, but after giving it some thought, that doesnt make sense, either. why wouldnt he just announce that when he announces tcy2? i dont believe he would try to get people excited about a new game by making them excited about an old version.

last year, NO ONE saw fof2004 coming. in fact, most were clamoring for other sports or tcy2, just like now. but when fof2004 was announced, the board EXPLODED.

as for what the new game will be, i dont know. but as soon as i saw that tcy was patched, my immediate reaction (as you can see in the thread) was, "wow, no tcy2." and the more i think about it, the more sure i am.

[Franklinnoble]

last year, NO ONE saw fof2004 coming. in fact, most were clamoring for other sports or tcy2, just like now. but when fof2004 was announced, the board EXPLODED.

Yeah, and the QOTM was part of the collateral damage in that explosion...

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif

[Buccaneer]

Pyser, your argument falls down in thinking that the patch is anything significant and that it invalidates anything new or different that can be done for TCY2. As you probably have seen in the TCY2 ideas thread, there are a lot of things that can be added/changed/enhanced/etc. to TCY. The patch did not really address any of those things so a major update could still be a very real possibility, just as it had before this latest patch.

A thought: do you guys realize Jim has a near monopoly on text-based football sims? So I think either FOF or TCY would be a good bet for the company.

[Pyser]

buc, i see what you are saying, but i really cannot understand why jim would spend ANY time bothering to update a game that would become totally obsolete in the near future. that's my main point.


and franklin, you are the only one still carrying the qotm flame, but i applaud your efforts :) i can never say you aren't persistant.

[Capital]

So we can have 900,000 "When is X coming out" or "Why isn't X out yet" threads? No thanks, been there done that.

This is so true...I've read too many of these posts as well (or at least saw the useless titles)

[Blade6119]

This is his income and life...why risk a new sport when you can still milk football monopoly he has

[Raven Hawk]

Anybody think that Jim might be trying out "The High School Years?" :) Maybe TCY 1.3 is a bridge to import recruiting classes from his newest endeavor. :D

Edit: Ignore me, I should read the entire post before I open my mouth. :rolleyes:

[MizzouRah]

I'm swinging to a FOF 2005 now. I would think he wouldn't update TCY if a new version was coming out. (didn't someone already point that out?)


Todd

[Dutch]

I would definately be most happy with a FOF2005 as that is my true passion here. But, I'll buy anything as long as it indirectly supports the creation of another FOF down the line.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Golf's never been done, right? Maybe it's golf?

Or perhaps a combination of TCY and FOF?

[Bad-example]

Did it cost Jim money to update TCY?

Jim makes a patch for TCY and sends it to Viatech. They set up a new download file for the game.

Does Viatech charge extra for the additional work on an older game?

[MizzouRah]

I would definately be most happy with a FOF2005 as that is my true passion here. But, I'll buy anything as long as it indirectly supports the creation of another FOF down the line.
Me too Dutch, I'm basically a Solecismic-ite. :)

My mind was foggy...

New Dateline:

Jim announces TCY update, waits a few days to see/read the reactions/speculations.

End of this week, Jim announces FOF 2005 to FOFC.

Skydog/QS sets up Q&A session about the new release.

New thread started that quickly becomes 20 pages long with questions for Jim, along with cheers and disappointments that X sim wasn't the one Jim was working on.

I spend hours on graphic files for new version, although nothing's changed in that department. :)


Todd

[TLK]

Anything that Jim puts out, i'm game for. I'd prefer FOF 2005 or even a baseball game. Not too much into the political world, but I'd support it, without thinking twice....

[vex]

I seriously hope it's not another FOF.

[Ben E Lou]

Interesting, TCY2 was trailing by a pretty wide margin early on. Did some of the commentary in this thread change people's minds, or sway late voters?

[Ben E Lou]

Dola:

Or is it the "I-doubt-it-but-I-really-hope-it-so-I'll-vote-for-it-in-hopes-that-somehow-I-can-change-Jim's-mind-even-though-he's-already-spent-months-on-something-else" crowd. ;)

[Capital]

Interesting, TCY2 was trailing by a pretty wide margin early on. Did some of the commentary in this thread change people's minds, or sway late voters?

I noticed it this as well. I definitely think it did.

[wade moore]

Personally... I think this secrecy is building more positive buzz than him actually saying what game he gets.... we have a lifetime of threads involving what we think it will be, talking about what we want, all giddy for a game..

vs. him saying now that tcy2 will be out in 6 months in which nothing happens until a month before, and then it is just annoying, constant badgering..

[Ben E Lou]

Personally... I think this secrecy is building more positive buzz than him actually saying what game he gets.... we have a lifetime of threads involving what we think it will be, talking about what we want, all giddy for a game..

vs. him saying now that tcy2 will be out in 6 months in which nothing happens until a month before, and then it is just annoying, constant badgering..Well, as one who used to question Solecismic's practice of not giving out information until the 11th hour, I have to say that I keep going back to this:As I've reached six years "unemployed", I hope to continue to make Solecismic Software my career. Angela and I had a baby boy, Gregory, in March of 2003, and we're fortunate that the company has been successful enough to allow her to spend all of her time raising him.That's some serious evidence that things are working for him and for his family. Six years of selling a niche product that is working well enough to be the family's sole support is pretty impressive, imho.

--Ben

[Bee]

Personally... I think this secrecy is building more positive buzz than him actually saying what game he gets.... we have a lifetime of threads involving what we think it will be, talking about what we want, all giddy for a game..

vs. him saying now that tcy2 will be out in 6 months in which nothing happens until a month before, and then it is just annoying, constant badgering..

Yes, but that's only creating buzz with us here. We'll buy the game regardless. If Jim wants to expand his audience, he needs buzz from other gaming sites and computer magazines to do that. He would have a better chance of doing that if he announced what game he was releasing before a week or two ahead of the release.

For example, if he were releasing a political game he might have gotten mentioned in reviews of the Political Machine. I could easily see a reviewer commenting that the Political Machine didn't live up to his hopes and he'd have to wait to see what the Solecismic release would be like.

I think he misses out on a lot of potential free advertising by going this route. There's a reason most companies announce what games they are developing and even release screen shots, etc during the development. You have to get the public talking about it and spread the word. That can't happen when you don't even know what the game is.

[Ben E Lou]

Looks like we cross-posted, Bee. My response to wade (and others in this and the original patch thread) applies to your post as well.

[Ben E Lou]

Dola:

Upon further thought, Bee, perhaps no announcement is an indicator that it is not a political sim. If Jim announces football (college or pro), baseball, basketball, or hockey, word will spread among the sports text sim community (through FOFC as well as the OOTP, .400 and Grey Dog boards) within hours. If Jim were to do a game in any of those sports, assuming that it matches the quality of TCY and FOF2K4, it seems very safe to assume that his sales would be in the ballpark or exceed those of his past releases--and that ballpark is proven to work for him. There doesn't seem to be a huge risk involved in Solecismic marketing a sports text sim the same way it has been done in the past. On the other hand, one would think that he would want a little "extra" hype for a non-sports sim.

[Bee]

Looks like we cross-posted, Bee. My response to wade (and others in this and the original patch thread) applies to your post as well.

yep. I'm a slow typer. :D

That's some serious evidence that things are working for him and for his family. Six years of selling a niche product that is working well enough to be the family's sole support is pretty impressive, imho.


I don't think there's any doubt that Jim has been very successful selling a "niche" product. If that is what he wants to do, then his method works fine and saves him a ton of headaches dealing with pre-release hype. But IMO if he wants to expand his base, he needs as much pre-release hype as possible to do it.

[Bee]

Dola:

Upon further thought, Bee, perhaps no announcement is an indicator that it is not a political sim. If Jim announces football (college or pro), baseball, basketball, or hockey, word will spread among the sports text sim community (through FOFC as well as the OOTP, .400 and Grey Dog boards) within hours. If Jim were to do a game in any of those sports, assuming that it matches the quality of TCY and FOF2K4, it seems very safe to assume that his sales would be in the ballpark or exceed those of his past releases--and that ballpark is proven to work for him. There doesn't seem to be a huge risk involved in Solecismic marketing a sports text sim the same way it has been done in the past.

Oh, I don't think there's any real risk involved in marketing the game like he has the last couple versions. He has an established customer base and he has those sales locked up. I think the question is if he wants to try to expand that customer base. I think he could even draw new fans if it were another football game. When the console games were out, if we had known that Jim's next game were either TCY2 or FOF6, we might have seen it mentioned when talking about NCAA Football or Madden. But I respect Jim's decision to market it his way and that's fine with me (no skin off my nose). I'll be glad to buy whatever the game is when it's released (unless it's baseball). :D

[wade moore]

Good points Bee...

I think I am going under the assumption that Jim is happy with the sales he has maintained so far and does not have an interest in a drastic increase.

[Samdari]

I'll be glad to buy whatever the game is when it's released (unless it's baseball). :D

I'm kind of in this category as well. Actually, I might buy baseball, but would certainly forgo a political sim. Hockey, wrestling, and pro basketball (which I think it has almost no chance of being) would also be on my "no thanks" list.

In case Jim is still reading though, I feel its important to mention that I would buy 10 copies of front office curling.

[Crapshoot]

Im in a wierd boat- I'd almost certainly give baseball a shot given Jim's demonstrated back research, but there's no way I would buy a college football game. Pro Football might be more interesting to me, and a political sim would be worth a whirl IMO- but I venture my preferences stand out from others here.

[Cuckoo]

Im in a wierd boat- I'd almost certainly give baseball a shot given Jim's demonstrated back research, but there's no way I would buy a college football game. Pro Football might be more interesting to me, and a political sim would be worth a whirl IMO- but I venture my preferences stand out from others here.

Not that weird, I wouldn't think. Although I would likely still buy the college game, if that's what it is, I haven't been in too much of a college game mood lately. I tried firing up TCY again the other day and just couldn't get into it. If it is TCY2, I'd hope there are some significant changes to hook me in.

But, Pro Football would definitely be more interesting to me as well, and despite my frustration with election-year hooey, the junkie in me would grab a political sim in a heartbeat.

[Buccaneer]

Good points Bee...

I think I am going under the assumption that Jim is happy with the sales he has maintained so far and does not have an interest in a drastic increase.
A couple of years back when I was arguing that his marketing methods suck, I did not understand this. Since then I finally got it and fully support it. In the early 1990s, I was a one-man business as well and know that the most important thing is to scope your business plan to the level that you can fully support the development and sales of your products....and not more than you can handle.

[yabanci]

where did all this speculation about a "political sim" come from? Has he ever said anything indicating he was going in this direction? I haven't seen it.

[Ben E Lou]

where did all this speculation about a "political sim" come from? Has he ever said anything indicating he was going in this direction? I haven't seen it.He's mentioned wanting to do one more than once in the past. However, he did say last fall that it probably wouldn't happen any time soon: http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showpost.php?p=252721&postcount=108

[yabanci]

He's mentioned wanting to do one more than once in the past. However, he did say last fall that it probably wouldn't happen any time soon: http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showpost.php?p=252721&postcount=108

Thanks. I guess it is a possiblity then, though I hope he sticks to what has made him great in my opinion, i.e., football. It seems to me that another version of the pro or college game would be guaranteed money in his pocket and the safe thing to do, but maybe he's feeling risky these days. I for one would never buy a political sim.

[33sherman]

Has it been established that there will even be a new game this year? Or is that speculation, too?

[Pyser]

well, he has released a product every year in the fall for 6 straight years now...

[Noop]

Hey Jim Mirc is sure fun huh? ;)

[DeToxRox]

after the hype surrounding it at the olympics, i am assuimg it's Front Office Yachting

[thealmighty]

All you foolish people can go on and on about football this, and curling that. However, if Jim really wants to get an expanded market, he will publish Front Office Teacher Sex.

Think of the possibilities for expansion years from now, when kindegarten teachers will be susceptible to yearnings like high school and, to a lesser extent, middle school teachers are now. Plus, this would get way more female appeal going than any sport sim.

Late night sneaking around in cars, middle of the day playing hooky or, even better, trying to find an empty custodial closet...wow, what fun that would be.

(btw, I want TCY2, but since I haven't gotten what I wanted since 1976, that isn't going to happen.)

[Sharpieman]

This is crazy, I come back from vacation to startling news...many of us thought the next game would be TCY2...now that it is highly improbable that it will come out, I seem to be more excited about Jims new venture.

[fantastic flying froggies]

This is crazy, I come back from vacation to startling news...many of us thought the next game would be TCY2...now that it is highly improbable that it will come out, I seem to be more excited about Jims new venture.
Well, I agree with you that TCY2 is unlikely after the patch, but if you take a close look at the poll, many here still think TCY2 is the most likely...

[Sharpieman]

Yea, but it seems highly unlikely. It wouldn't make much sense to release a patch and then come out with a new TCY.

[gstelmack]

Yea, but it seems highly unlikely. It wouldn't make much sense to release a patch and then come out with a new TCY.

Unless, of course, Jim were TRYING to throw everyone here off the track. I mean, you never know how he'll mess with us next :D

[gottimd]

Why would you improve a product, just to release a new version a few days/weeks/months/years/centuries/milleniums later? Doesn't make sense, unless, the Patch for TCY is sort of a "beta test" for the new product? I hope its FOF6, but I don't think anything will come out soon if at all.

[cthomer5000]

Actually, I'm now reversed course and I'm leaning heavily towards TCY2.

[CraigSca]

Hehe, all it took was opening the game, eh? All things considered, the TCY interface IS looking a bit dated. Good grief it's such a good game, though.

[condors]

here is my view for what it is worth

i can play still play TCY and i can still play fof5(heck i played fof1 the just a couple days ago)

i would really like to add another one into the mix

i voted for other and i sure hope it is

[cthomer5000]

Hehe, all it took was opening the game, eh? All things considered, the TCY interface IS looking a bit dated. Good grief it's such a good game, though.
Exactly. All it took was a look at the interface and then thinking 'oh yeah, these linebackers don't half half the skill ratings the ones in FOF have.'

I don't see FOF being the next release. I can't see him making 3 consecutive FOF releases before going back to TCY.

[Bee]

I really really hope everyone who thinks it's TCY2 is right. The more I think about it, the more I want it to be TCY2. I'm trying not to get my hopes up though and be disappointed. If it's baseball, I might have to call the suicide hotline though...

[Klinglerware]

I'd love to see TCY2 come out sooner than later. But it would make sense if Jim waited until next season, when conference realignments are completed (I hope) and the two new 1-A teams come in. This seems especially prudent, since the game assumes that conference membership is static over time. Jim has been patching the game every year to account for changes in conference membership. It's possible that after next year's conference membership changes, there will be stability in the conference structure, at least for a few years (Jim does express this hope in his write-up on conference re-alignment in his college football rankings section). It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that Jim would wait for the dust to settle in real-life div 1-A football, and release TCY2 then...

[fantastic flying froggies]

All I know is that Jim, aka Mr Solecismic, must have a very good time watching all that discussion and speculation...:)

[gstelmack]

All I know is that Jim, aka Mr Solecismic, must have a very good time watching all that discussion and speculation...:)

That's why we do it. It's the best amusement we can give back to him in return for all the fun he's provided us.

Well, that and we have a lot of fun speculating using baseless claims and tiny little pieces of "evidence".

[Noop]

And I've been fortunate enough to be able to spend all of my time in the home office, working on Front Office Football. One of my long-term goals is to maintain the football games, keeping them on the cutting edge for this type of career simulation.

I got that from his site. I guess he spilled the beans...maybe?

[albionmoonlight]

Noop--

I don't know if it is in this thread, but people have discussed that there are several things on the Solecismic site that look like hints, but that don't quite all add up.

Of course, I would look at any recent change to the site with interest, but I think that a lot of the stuff on there is just old and has not been updated (if, in fact, it needs to be updated).

What I think is interesting is that I really have no idea what he will do because there are good reasons for any of them.

TCY2--it's time for it. Lots of people want it. He still cares about it as evidenced by the patch (or, he does not plan to make it, as evidenced by the patch).

FOF6--playing in a multiplayer league makes him want to make the "perfect" NFL game.

Baseball--He loves the sport, and it seems to fit very well with his awesome stat production engines. There may also be a place for the game with some people becoming a little OOTP weary.

Politial Sim--this seems to be where a lot of the hints are headed, and he has mentioned it before.

Stock Market Sim--one of his IHOF players mentioned that this was the game he was making.

Any of the above would make some level of sense. The only one that I am pretty sure it is not is an NBA sim since Jim has made no bones about his feelings about the NBA.

[Noop]

Noop--

I don't know if it is in this thread, but people have discussed that there are several things on the Solecismic site that look like hints, but that don't quite all add up.

Of course, I would look at any recent change to the site with interest, but I think that a lot of the stuff on there is just old and has not been updated (if, in fact, it needs to be updated).

What I think is interesting is that I really have no idea what he will do because there are good reasons for any of them.

TCY2--it's time for it. Lots of people want it. He still cares about it as evidenced by the patch (or, he does not plan to make it, as evidenced by the patch).

FOF6--playing in a multiplayer league makes him want to make the "perfect" NFL game.

Baseball--He loves the sport, and it seems to fit very well with his awesome stat production engines. There may also be a place for the game with some people becoming a little OOTP weary.

Politial Sim--this seems to be where a lot of the hints are headed, and he has mentioned it before.

Stock Market Sim--one of his IHOF players mentioned that this was the game he was making.

Any of the above would make some level of sense. The only one that I am pretty sure it is not is an NBA sim since Jim has made no bones about his feelings about the NBA.
I have to confess I didnt read the whole thread. But thank you for that breakdown you provided...I think personally it will be FOF6 but I am hoping for something else... once again thank you.

[Schmidty]

Maybe he's working on more than one project: TCY2 and the political sim.

[cthomer5000]

Stock Market Sim--one of his IHOF players mentioned that this was the game he was making.
a transcript of that mention, it's from Floyd B. Boudreaux's intereview with Ann Arbor Anachronism kicker Ann Arbor .


5.) The software conglomerate that partly owns your team is rumored to be developing a new product. Any locker room rumors as to what that might be?

Rumors are everywhere. Jason Winkle is obsessed with that stuff. I hear they do the coding in a high-security warehouse in New Hampshire. You need to have NSA-level clearance just to get into the building.
Last year, when we played at Syracuse, Jason rented a car and drove to New Hampshire to try and find out what was going on there. Came back with bullet holes in the fenders.
Personally, I don't think they're doing any work at all right now. The team owner's always up here, visiting family and hanging out at practices. But if I had to guess, I'd say he was working on a stock market simulation. He's always talking about this fund and that fund, and how he didn't think he'd be able to afford Donald's signing bonus this year. But he did it. If we're seriously looking at intereviews with fictional players from fictional teams for clues, Jim has to be laughing his ass off.

[rjolley]

Maybe he's working on more than one project: TCY2 and the political sim.

I was thinking TCY2 and a baseball sim for the spring.

[albionmoonlight]

If we're seriously looking at intereviews with fictional players from fictional teams for clues, Jim has to be laughing his ass off.
I liked the bullet holes in the fenders, myself. I can just picture Jim sitting on his porch shooting at the cars of people who get too close to his house without proper "clearance."

[John Galt]

If it is going to be a political sim (which is what I voted for), then he better release it soon. As each day goes by, I think the likelihood of a political sim decreases.

[Sharpieman]

Damn, I was hoping Jim would make a mistake and vote in the poll...

[Solecismic]

If it is going to be a political sim (which is what I voted for), then he better release it soon. As each day goes by, I think the likelihood of a political sim decreases.

No kidding. You can remove that one from the list.

As I said in an interview a year or so ago, I feel that politics has become such a negative, cynical milieu that I'd have trouble keeping Front Office Politics from being a parody of today's politicians rather than a serious game. Maybe some other time, as I am very interested in politics and remain unaffiliated with any party.

[rkmsuf]

No kidding. You can remove that one from the list.

As I said in an interview a year or so ago, I feel that politics has become such a negative, cynical milieu that I'd have trouble keeping Front Office Politics from being a parody of today's politicians rather than a serious game. Maybe some other time, as I am very interested in politics and remain unaffiliated with any party.

Rope a dope.

[John Galt]

No kidding. You can remove that one from the list.

As I said in an interview a year or so ago, I feel that politics has become such a negative, cynical milieu that I'd have trouble keeping Front Office Politics from being a parody of today's politicians rather than a serious game. Maybe some other time, as I am very interested in politics and remain unaffiliated with any party.

Too bad. Since it can't be a political sim . . . let me speculate some more . . .

If it is going to be TCY2 (which is what I didn't voted for), then he better release it soon. As each day goes by, I think the likelihood of TCY2 decreases.

[Ksyrup]

Too bad. Since it can't be a political sim . . . let me speculate some more . . .

If it is going to be TCY2 (which is what I didn't voted for), then he better release it soon. As each day goes by, I think the likelihood of TCY2 decreases.
LOL

[Ksyrup]

And much like in the upcoming election, now that you've given us this information, a segment of the population feels as though it wasted its vote.

[Swaggs]

Too bad. Since it can't be a political sim . . . let me speculate some more . . .

If it is going to be TCY2 (which is what I didn't voted for), then he better release it soon. As each day goes by, I think the likelihood of TCY2 decreases.

Nice. :D

[MizzouRah]

Too bad. Since it can't be a political sim . . . let me speculate some more . . .

If it is going to be TCY2 (which is what I didn't voted for), then he better release it soon. As each day goes by, I think the likelihood of TCY2 decreases.
LOL!! :D


Todd

[Ben E Lou]

Heh. I missed this the first time. Well done, JG. Very well done.

[Young Drachma]

I'm really hoping for baseball. I mean, I want a game that doesn't miss out on the little things that the other two big games in the text-sim market seem to. I mean, I enjoyed my time with Mogul and OOTP5 was awesome. But I'm really dying for a game that takes the baseball text-sim experience to the next level and Jim has the talent to do that, hands down.

So I'm really crossing my fingers for that. I'm not sure I'd buy an update of the football games, only because I'm not a huge football fan and I bought both TCY and FOF2K4 and haven't touched them much in months - not because they're bad..they're great - but more because I'm just not into it anymore.

I can sit and look at baseball stats for hours upon hours and get dizzy with the possibilities. But with football, I'd much rather see it happening, so I play Madden.

[Buccaneer]

Heh. I missed this the first time. Well done, JG. Very well done.
You didn't miss it. See post #108 http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=14644&page=3&pp=50

[amdaily]

But I'm really dying for a game that takes the baseball text-sim experience to the next level and Jim has the talent to do that, hands down.

I'd like to see that too, but a first incarnation game just won't be able to be on par with Puresim or OOTP. Given that, I'd like to see FOF perfected before moving on to another sport. And we are real close as it is.

[Ben E Lou]

You didn't miss it. See post #108 http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=14644&page=3&pp=50Unclear pronoun reference. "This"=John Galt's hilarious follow-up post. No, I didn't miss that statement by Jim.

[stevew]

Me and the other 7 people that picked basketball will ultimately prevail. There isnt a solid pro game in that sport that i have played as of yet.

[Icy]

Great news! i didn't want a political sim as i don't find it interesting at all. With the possible TPF2 out of the scene, Jim doesn't have any competition on football sims, and he is the best doing them, why to change and risk his company when he can keep having his success and our love? :)
I really hope it's both TC2 and FOF6 with new features like the ones we all suggested and i hope it will be released soon as i'm starting FOF2k4 and TCY dynasties, tweaking the rooster files etc and mybe i'm wasting my time on them when the new versions are close to be released. This is the only reason of why i would like an anouncement, just to be sure if there is going to be a new FOF and/or TCY for this season (the date is not needed to be given) or if he is doing another sport an mybe we are talking about a release in 4 or 5 months.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Damn, I was hoping Jim would make a mistake and vote in the poll...
Actually, he did vote; he voted 'other' to throw us off...

[JeeberD]

No kidding. You can remove that one from the list.


Thank the lord... :)


Me and the other 7 people that picked basketball will ultimately prevail. There isnt a solid pro game in that sport that i have played as of yet.

I hope you're right, steve...

[gottimd]

What, is everyone counting out Front Office Curling? Don't give up the hope, its coming!

[Buccaneer]

Unclear pronoun reference. "This"=John Galt's hilarious follow-up post. No, I didn't miss that statement by Jim.
My mistake.

[Easy Mac]

So do I get credit for the TCY 1.3 update? I said his milling about meant something was about to be released, but does an update count?

[Ben E Lou]

So do I get credit for the TCY 1.3 update? I said his milling about meant something was about to be released, but does an update count?Sure, kiddo. Here's a $0.25 gift certificate to 82 Queen. ;)

[Easy Mac]

Sure, kiddo. Here's a $0.25 gift certificate to 82 Queen. ;)

Is that the Elton John concert in Vegas ;)

And I was going to take my girlfriend there one night, but I realized we wouldn't eat... we went to the Mustard Seed instead, where at least she got to eat.

[MizzouRah]

Me and the other 7 people that picked basketball will ultimately prevail. There isnt a solid pro game in that sport that i have played as of yet.
I think HR is cooking something up.


Todd

[cthomer5000]

I liked the bullet holes in the fenders, myself. I can just picture Jim sitting on his porch shooting at the cars of people who get too close to his house without proper "clearance."
I'll admit that I did laugh out loud when reading that interview. IHOF has given me quite a number of laughs, and I've had way more fun that I could have possibly imagined. It's basically ruined single-player for me.

[TLK]

this leads me to think FOF6....


http://www.solecismic.com/targetdata.php

[korme]

Sucks that CJ's performance the past 2 weeks have been hampered by Palmer's accuracy issues.

[MizzouRah]

this leads me to think FOF6....


http://www.solecismic.com/targetdata.php

You are the man TLK!!

I bet thats from FOF6. Wow, I would love to see a report like that to dissect my league.

C'mon Jim announce FOF6 already! :D


Todd

[gottimd]

I anxiously await the Sticky thread to pop up on the board.

[MizzouRah]

I anxiously await the Sticky thread to pop up on the board.
Tomorrow? :D


Todd

[Icy]

Tomorrow? :D


ToddToday? :D

Arggg i feel so bad, i can't start a new FOF or TCY dynasty as i'm worried of FOF6 or TCY2 being released in the next days. I can't start a CM03/04 dynasty as i know that next month will be released FM, I haven't installed FM demo as i know i can't play more than 6 months and don't want to get atached to any team players... i need my game fix now!!! :)

[MizzouRah]

Today? :D

Arggg i feel so bad, i can't start a new FOF or TCY dynasty as i'm worried of FOF6 or TCY2 being released in the next days. I can't start a CM03/04 dynasty as i know that next month will be released FM, I haven't installed FM demo as i know i can't play more than 6 months and don't want to get atached to any team players... i need my game fix now!!! :)
I was just thinking this same thing. Next up on my dynasties I never finish is a combo TCY-->FOF dynasty, but I'm waiting on the next release of either game (I truly believe it's FOF 2005), but just in case I don't want to get started with TCY 1.3 just yet.

Oh, the agony. :)

At least if I know it's FOF 2005, I can get going with the TCY portion of the dynasty.

Todd

[Icy]

I was just thinking this same thing. Next up on my dynasties I never finish is a combo TCY-->FOF dynasty, but I'm waiting on the next release of either game (I truly believe it's FOF 2005), but just in case I don't want to get started with TCY 1.3 just yet.

Oh, the agony. :)

At least if I know it's FOF 2005, I can get going with the TCY portion of the dynasty.

Todd
At least Jim could tell us if the new game is FOF or TCy or both, we don't need release date, just a bit more of info to decide what to do with our gamming life.

Dying in agony!! (damn i'm lucky that my recent wife doesn't read this forums, if she could see me craying out loud as a child for a computer game she would be really upset). :D

[gstelmack]

At least Jim could tell us if the new game is FOF or TCy or both, we don't need release date, just a bit more of info to decide what to do with our gamming life.

Dying in agony!! (damn i'm lucky that my recent wife doesn't read this forums, if she could see me craying out loud as a child for a computer game she would be really upset). :D

I'm not letting any of this stop my utility work. It's fun to do, and we might (are likely to?) be completely wrong. So I enjoy the speculation, but continue as if nothing is coming out.

[MizzouRah]

At least Jim could tell us if the new game is FOF or TCy or both, we don't need release date, just a bit more of info to decide what to do with our gamming life.

Dying in agony!! (damn i'm lucky that my recent wife doesn't read this forums, if she could see me craying out loud as a child for a computer game she would be really upset). :D
He will.. and soon I suppose.

I really don't think it's TCY, why would he update it and then come out with a new version?

Showing that chart on his website really has me speculating FOF 2005 as I think that's something FOF 2005 will have.

I'm betting same look, but more features... sorry for us graphic whores. :)


Todd

[gottimd]

I don't think it will be anything soon. I don't want to get my hopes up and start a thread of consisting of when it will come out, but this is what this thread has turned into.

For now I will just sit back and wait until something is developed rather than speculate.

[Pyser]

if it does end up being fof2005, i wonder what that would do to multiplayer leagues.

im sure the game would be backwards compatible, but even so, youd be playing fof2005 in single player to get the hang of it, while keeping leagues going in fof2004 until, say, the first patch?

i still hope its fof2005, but i hadn't really thought out what it would do to my beloved eNFL...

[MizzouRah]

I don't think it will be anything soon. I don't want to get my hopes up and start a thread of consisting of when it will come out, but this is what this thread has turned into.

For now I will just sit back and wait until something is developed rather than speculate.
Aren't we speculating which game it will be? We've exhausted that, so what's left? Yep, when! :)


Todd

[Noop]

Wow unless the features are mind blowing I wont buy FOF2005....

[IwasHere]

Wow unless the features are mind blowing I wont buy FOF2005....
I would buy FOF2005 if it only fixed the MP email system.(or added it) :D

[Icy]

Wow unless the features are mind blowing I wont buy FOF2005....
Some of us wil buy it even if the amount of new stuff is not amazing, as we buy CM every year, OTTP, etc etc, any new feature is welcome and $20 or $30 per year is not a fortune fo a new game. Of course the better the game the happier we will be :)

[Capital]

As the weeks of both the pro and college football season advance without a word from Jim, is the less chance that a football game will get released. This speculation thing is getting very annoying.

[gstelmack]

As the weeks of both the pro and college football season advance without a word from Jim, is the less chance that a football game will get released. This speculation thing is getting very annoying.

What makes you say that? Didn't FOF2k4 get released in November last year?

[TLK]

As the weeks of both the pro and college football season advance without a word from Jim, is the less chance that a football game will get released. This speculation thing is getting very annoying.
Jim didn't announce FOF 2004 version until the second(?) week of October....

[Capital]

If the above two posts are indeed true, then I maybe my post is clearly mistaken. I bought the game last year, but I just don't remember waiting until the mid-season point to satisfy my football gaming fix. Oh well...

[Icy]

Mostly of us would be happy just knowing if there is going to be a new version this year, we don't even know if there is going to be a new version ever. I underestand and fully support developers not giving release dates, it's done when it's done, and i agree with that toavoid speculation, but with other games like CM, ootp, etc we at least know that a new version is going to be developed that year, when is going betatested etc. With Jim we never know anything and for me that is anyoning. Of course everybody has his opinion, he can do what he wants and i'll keep buying his games because are the best football sims around.

[MizzouRah]

I would buy FOF 2005 without even thinking about it, which is weird because for every other game, I wait for reviews (besides ootp).

I figure I owe Jim something for what he has done for this community and how addicting his games are. :)


Todd

[Icy]

Jim didn't announce FOF 2004 version until the second(?) week of October....
You're right, just checked and i bought it on 12/11/03 and i think it was just the release date or the following day.

[Capital]

I stand corrected about the date, but any info would be nice.

[sovereignstar]

You're right, just checked and i bought it on 12/11/03 and i think it was just the release date or the following day.

Careful with your date format, Señor Icy. http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Buzzbee]

Jim is currently working on a patch for FOF2k4. His next game will be Front Office Baseball, released next spring.

There. Now you know.




































Jim has stated that one of his goals is to keep his games up to date. Hence, the TCY1.3 patch. Therefore, I'm fairly certain he is working on a patch for FOF2k4. I'm also fairly certain that he won't release FOF6. FOF5 can be improved, certainly, but it is a stable enough product and a good enough product to last a while longer. This is especially true if he provides a patch as I expect. Also, I don't expect he would get as big a bang for the buck with FOF6. Plenty of people are content/happy with FOF5. You would see fewer upgrades to FOF6 as a result, especially since FOF5 was his last release.

He has said before when he started the company he envisioned games in all four major sports. That leaves baseball, basketball, and hockey. I am assuming that since EA had reserved the frontofficebasketball website that this was something that was in the plans. Therefore I assume Jim had laid some groundwork. Also, it is a sport with a moderate amount of competition.

However, I personally believe it will be baseball. It lends itself well to Jim's style of programming. Football has a play that ends in a result. Baseball has a similar structure. A pitcher pitches and there is a result. Baseketball and hockey are more fluid with no real stopping and starting points (basketball to some degree, but not like baseball or football). Also, I believe Jim has said that he increasingly believes you should do something you enjoy. From what others have said Jim enjoys baseball. Therefore that's my belief. It would also give him a little over a year of development time (probably from around the beginning of this year until next March or April.

[Icy]

Careful with your date format, Señor Icy. http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif
Hehe sorry i meant 12th November 2003 but used Spanish format (day/month/year) insted of English one (month/day/year).
Why do you use it the wrong way? ;)

[MizzouRah]

Is Jim a politically correct guy?

From his website:
Solecismic Software is an entertainment software company dedicated to producing cutting-edge career football simulations.

Todd

[Icy]

Jim is currently working on a patch for FOF2k4. His next game will be Front Office Baseball, released next spring.

There. Now you know.

Jim has stated that one of his goals is to keep his games up to date. Hence, the TCY1.3 patch. Therefore, I'm fairly certain he is working on a patch for FOF2k4. I'm also fairly certain that he won't release FOF6. FOF5 can be improved, certainly, but it is a stable enough product and a good enough product to last a while longer. This is especially true if he provides a patch as I expect. Also, I don't expect he would get as big a bang for the buck with FOF6. Plenty of people are content/happy with FOF5. You would see fewer upgrades to FOF6 as a result, especially since FOF5 was his last release.

He has said before when he started the company he envisioned games in all four major sports. That leaves baseball, basketball, and hockey. I am assuming that since EA had reserved the frontofficebasketball website that this was something that was in the plans. Therefore I assume Jim had laid some groundwork. Also, it is a sport with a moderate amount of competition.

However, I personally believe it will be baseball. It lends itself well to Jim's style of programming. Football has a play that ends in a result. Baseball has a similar structure. A pitcher pitches and there is a result. Baseketball and hockey are more fluid with no real stopping and starting points (basketball to some degree, but not like baseball or football). Also, I believe Jim has said that he increasingly believes you should do something you enjoy. From what others have said Jim enjoys baseball. Therefore that's my belief. It would also give him a little over a year of development time (probably from around the beginning of this year until next March or April.I have read that before not only from you and i don't agree with "FOF2k4 is good enought, nothing to fix for a while". Everything can be improved, there are tons of things that can be added to FOF2k4 every year. I don't mean to fix it as it's great and without almost any bug, so stable, fast, really acurate engine etc. But take a look at he suggestions threads, we suggested tons of new stuff, from economic system improved, player/coaches/scouts personalties, expansion teams, news system, etc etc etc, things that would make it the perfect sim, just look at the CM series and compare how far is any other text sim from them on the inmersion factor. Release just a improved match engine (for example) and mybe you will get just a few sales from the diehard fans, add that kind of stuff suggested above and you will get twice the current sales. Anyway i wouldn't like this thread to become a fight betwen us or as we claiming anything to Jim, i would like it just seen as constructive critics from some of us. I'm worried about my poor english meaning things that i don't want to.

[MizzouRah]

He's improved TCY for importing draft classes into FOF. From reading mtaystl's dynasty, seems like it's much better, but it's a small sample.

I think Jim did this for two reasons:

1 - Re-vitalize interest in TCY, making it up-to-date will sell copies to newcomers.
2 - His update to TCY added changes for FOF 2005 that we do not see yet.

Ok, I'm babbling here.....


Todd

[MizzouRah]

I have read that before not only from you and i don't agree with "FOF2k4 is good enought, nothing to fix for a while". Everything can be improved, there are tons of things that can be added to FOF2k4 every year. I don't mean to fix it as it's great and without almost any bug, so stable, fast, really acurate engine etc. But take a look at he suggestions threads, we suggested tons of new stuff, from economic system improved, player/coaches/scouts personalties, expansion teams, news system, etc etc etc, things that would make it the perfect sim, just look at the CM series and compare how far is any other text sim from them on the inmersion factor. Release just a improved match engine (for example) and mybe you will get just a few sales from the diehard fans, add that kind of stuff suggested above and you will get twice the current sales. Anyway i wouldn't like this thread to become a fight betwen us or as we claiming anything to Jim, i would like it just seen as constructive critics from some of us. I'm worried about my poor english meaning things that i don't want to.
I agree ICY, the CPU AI alone needs alot of work, imo.


Todd

[Schmidty]

If it's baseball, he'll lose a customer. OOTP fills all of my baseball needs, especially on the multiplayer end. Jim should stick with football and simply look to perfect it. That's his niche, and that's why I've always bought his products.

The only way I would buy a different sport sim created by Solecismic is if it's basketball.

[Eaglesfan27]

He's improved TCY for importing draft classes into FOF. From reading mtaystl's dynasty, seems like it's much better, but it's a small sample.

I think Jim did this for two reasons:

1 - Re-vitalize interest in TCY, making it up-to-date will sell copies to newcomers.
2 - His update to TCY added changes for FOF 2005 that we do not see yet.

Ok, I'm babbling here.....


Todd
You may be babbling, but I agree with you :)

All signs point to a next version of FOF which I would buy in a heartbeat. There are so many things that could be improved as others have mentioned in the suggestion thread.

[gottimd]

Still no announcement.

And this thread has cracked the top 20 of all time viewed posts.

[Buzzbee]

I have read that before not only from you and i don't agree with "FOF2k4 is good enought, nothing to fix for a while". Everything can be improved, there are tons of things that can be added to FOF2k4 every year. I don't mean to fix it as it's great and without almost any bug, so stable, fast, really acurate engine etc. But take a look at he suggestions threads, we suggested tons of new stuff, from economic system improved, player/coaches/scouts personalties, expansion teams, news system, etc etc etc, things that would make it the perfect sim, just look at the CM series and compare how far is any other text sim from them on the inmersion factor. Release just a improved match engine (for example) and mybe you will get just a few sales from the diehard fans, add that kind of stuff suggested above and you will get twice the current sales. Anyway i wouldn't like this thread to become a fight betwen us or as we claiming anything to Jim, i would like it just seen as constructive critics from some of us. I'm worried about my poor english meaning things that i don't want to.

I think your English is working pretty well. Certainly better than my spanish.

You are absolutely correct that there are many improvements that can be made and features added to make FOF6 an even better game than FOF5. I never suggested otherwise. Jim could come out with FOFx every year and I'm sure it would improve on the previous version. My point was that since he just released FOF5 last year, it would only make sense that he would move to a different game. Instead of updating FOF again, why not take an old game like TCY (came out in 2001 I think) and update it to TCY2? OR, why not come out with a completely new game?

Remember, Jim was actively working on ANOTHER GAME when a publishing deal fell through. Because that deal didn't work out, Jim updated FOF4 and added Multi-Player - a big feature addition - to give us FOF5. I don't see that happening again.

So, while you are 100% correct that FOF5 has room for improvement (that will always be the case for any game) I can't see using that as the basis to believe his next game will be FOF6. You could use the same argument for TCY2 to be his next game. Probably more so, since TCY is several years old and could benefit from things Jim learned in FOF4 and FOF5.

That is why I'm not sold on the idea that FOF6 will be the next game. I also believe he will go back to the game he was working on before and self publish it (as long as he wasn't working on a political sim).

[JeeberD]

if it does end up being fof2005, i wonder what that would do to multiplayer leagues.

im sure the game would be backwards compatible, but even so, youd be playing fof2005 in single player to get the hang of it, while keeping leagues going in fof2004 until, say, the first patch?

i still hope its fof2005, but i hadn't really thought out what it would do to my beloved eNFL...

I think I remember Jim saying after FOF5 came out that any future FOF wouldn't be backwards compatible, but hopefully his time in IHOF has helped him to see that backwards compatibility would be a necessity...

[gottimd]

Damn, no sticky thread yet.

[albionmoonlight]

Quik, who has worked for Solecismic in the past, started an FOF groupthink right before FOF multiplayer came out.

Quick just started a TCY groupthink.

Use such info as you will.

[gottimd]

That was started awhile back and hasn't had a post for 10 days, I'm not sure that has any relevance, it is just a thread that Quik is a part of or started, which he has many under his belt.

[sovereignstar]

Quik just started a TCY groupthink. Like a crack dealer offering out free lines to his "friends". I've just lost all respect for you, sir (Quik).
http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[timmynausea]

That was started awhile back and hasn't had a post for 10 days, I'm not sure that has any relevance, it is just a thread that Quik is a part of or started, which he has many under his belt.
They have been carrying out the Group Think over on the Dynasty board.

[timmynausea]

Like a crack dealer offering out free lines to his "friends". I've just lost all respect for you, sir (Quik).
http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif
Crack is rocks not lines.

[sovereignstar]

Crack is rocks not lines.
Thanks for pointing that out and I'm glad I don't really know.
http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gifhttp://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Bonegavel]

Well, regardless of what it is, Jim's hints and overtones have been completely political. That could be just because of the election year, or he is dropping hints.

The only problem with the hints is that it seems too obvious. Jim is way too good at this shit for that.

Maybe, it is FOF6 and there is something to do with owners and their votes. Maybe he implemented owner voting on rules and whatnot.

To me, if Jim's hints are about his next game it is too obvious. I don't think Jim would make it that easy.

[Noop]

The College Years it is offical like a ref wit a gap in his teeth.

[MizzouRah]

Is there a way to ftp into Jim's home network?


Todd

[gottimd]

ftp:\\Jimshomenetwork

As noted before, doesn't he usually release things in November? Its probably going to be Front Office Dwarf Tossing.

[MizzouRah]

ftp:\\Jimshomenetwork

As noted before, doesn't he usually release things in November? Its probably going to be Front Office Dwarf Tossing.
Tried that, all that happened was it took all of my Solecismic game licenses. Now when I play FOF2004, everyone is named FOF2005. Weird.


Todd

[gottimd]

That is odd, because when I did it, it updated my screens on FOF2004, and had some cool 2d displays, and even menus for "Media and Press Releases", and my players had an extreme amount of new stats on their player info.

[sabotai]

Hehe sorry i meant 12th November 2003 but used Spanish format (day/month/year) insted of English one (month/day/year).
Why do you use it the wrong way? ;)

Because we're Americans damn it and we'll be damned if we ever do anything like you dirty Europeans! :D

[MizzouRah]

That is odd, because when I did it, it updated my screens on FOF2004, and had some cool 2d displays, and even menus for "Media and Press Releases", and my players had an extreme amount of new stats on their player info.
You probably have a 2d game engine as well. Go ahead, rub it in.


Todd

[Icy]

You probably have a 2d game engine as well. Go ahead, rub it in.


Todd
And at least 1024x768 screens, nobody works on 800x600 now a days. I don't like at all the small windows for roster, gameplans etc where you need to scroll down a lot.

[jcwean]

my vote? Oval Office Politics. Gotta slip "Office" in there somehow...

[JeeberD]

Nope. Jim has already said no to a political sim...

[gottimd]

No sticky, damn.

Jim did release a "quick fix" to TCY pretty fast, I hope that was just because it was so easy to do.

[gstelmack]

I'd be laughing pretty hard if it turned out to be FOF6 and all Jim did to announce it for the first couple of days was change "2004" to "2005" on his website to see who was paying attention...

[DaddyTorgo]

I think we need to have someone designated to checkout the website every hour on the hour for that very reason!

[gottimd]

Wow, this thread has got a ton of views, I guess everyone is coming here to see if they can find out any info on the release.

[jcwean]

no political sim? damn....! i was looking forward to the intern draft function...