Eastern Hockey Manager or Football Manager?

[Godzilla Blitz]

I'm working on a big project that has dragged on forever. As incentive to get the damn thing done, I want to order a new text-sim, put it on my desk, and not play it until I finish the project. If I really crank, I figure I can get my work done by December 15 or so.

I've narrowed my choices down to Eastern Hockey Manager or Football Manager. I've read the threads on both games. Ideally, I'd get both, but I know I'll only have time to play one.

So...

...if I'm only going to get one, which should I get?

Background:
Never played EHM, but am interested to give it a try. Played a couple of fun, semi-serious Championship Manager careers a few years ago, but haven't played a career with the series for a few years now. Bought last year's version but it arrived the same week as World of Warcraft. WoW got played first, and there went the next eight months of my life. Am interested to see how the CM/FM series has evolved over the past three years or so.

A big factor for me is difficulty level. I'd like a game with a challenging AI. Comments along those lines would be especially appreciated.

[Marc Vaughan]

I'd recommend downloading the demo's and giving them both a whirl.

In some ways EHM might be easier for you if you're more familiar with the rules and gameplay of hockey, however FM is a somewhat more mature engine than EHM (although both are good balanced sims FM simply has several years extra dev time over EHM).

From a selfish company perspective please purchase EHM, FM's sales are nice and healthy whereas EHM is a relative minnow comparatively and we need all the sales we can get to repeatedly batter into American retailers heads that a text sim can sell well so please stock the darn thing ;)

[Marc Duffy]

I'd recommend downloading the demo's and giving them both a whirl.

In some ways EHM might be easier for you if you're more familiar with the rules and gameplay of hockey, however FM is a somewhat more mature engine than EHM (although both are good balanced sims FM simply has several years extra dev time over EHM).

From a selfish company perspective please purchase EHM, FM's sales are nice and healthy whereas EHM is a relative minnow comparatively and we need all the sales we can get to repeatedly batter into American retailers heads that a text sim can sell well so please stock the darn thing ;)

Seconded. Eastside is my baby and I want to share the love with you.

You can get the demo download for this game from : http://www.download.com/NHL-Eastside-Hockey-Manager-2005/3640-7471_4-10458619.html?v=1&tag=tab_ur

[JeffR]

I wouldn't want it to unduly influence your choice, but if EHM doesn't meet its sales targets Marc and Marc are planning on having Riz sell some of his internal organs to make up the shortfall. I know I wouldn't want that on my conscience.

[Marc Vaughan]

I wouldn't want it to unduly influence your choice, but if EHM doesn't meet its sales targets Marc and Marc are planning on having Riz sell some of his internal organs to make up the shortfall. I know I wouldn't want that on my conscience.

LOL :D

So untrue ... he sold his internal organs last year, its his outer extremities we've got our eyes on this time around ;)

[Bee]

From a non-SI Games perspective... ;)

While EHM is a great game, FM2006 is just much more advanced and I think is more challenging this year than any version I've played in the last 5 years. I don't think you'd go wrong with either game, but from what I know of you gaming preferences and your desire for the more challenging game FM2006 makes the most sense. I think you'll find it to be a little more challenging and also will appreciate the added depth of the media interaction, player personalities, etc.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I posted this a few months back when someone raised the same question...

FM 2005 is a much more indepth game. It has a lot more bells and whistles and more immersive game play. The 2D view is quite slick, you have many more options to interact with players and the media. It's just a more evolved game thanks to being around for so many years.

This is just the second (well, third if you count the freeware version, which is appropriate, I guess) version of EHM. That said, it's an amazing game. I can't stop playing it. It has a lot of what is mentioned above, but is just not as indepth... yet.

It depends, I guess, if you're a bigger soccer fan or hockey fan. I loved the Champ Man (FM) games, loved them. Still consider them to be perhaps one of the best PC games ever. Probably #2 behind X-Com. Easily the most addictive. I have FM 2005, but haven't even installed it. I got caught up in EHM 2004 and 2005. Since I am a fan of hockey above all other sports, I can't help it. If you're sport neutral when it comes to soccer or hockey, I'd say FM 2005.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Thanks for all the input!

Ideally I'd try the demos, but I know that if I even start one of those demos now, you can kiss my work project goodbye.

I think I'm leaning towards starting up a Football Manager career, but in the spirit of saving Riz's liver, I have gone ahead and ordered both games from SendIt.com. I'd get them from a US distributor, but well, they're kind of expensive that way and the nearest store that has them (actually, only Football Manager) is about 30 minutes away. Conversely, they are quite affordable if you order them from England. Should be about $46 for both, shipped. I won't be touching any games for at least three weeks anyway, so I don't need anything right away.

Not quite sure yet which one I'll play when the time comes, but I've got my motivation. Whichever one I don't play, I can save for the spring.

[riz]

I was so glad when Marc told me that my arms would grow back after he told me they'd be cutting them off next week :D

[Godzilla Blitz]

Ooops. They're actually not as cheap as I thought to get them shipped from England. By mistake, I converted from Euros to US dollars to check the price instead of from British pounds to US dollars. Turns out the two games should be about $66, shipped.

Oh well, I can sell my liver to pay for them.

[GrantDawg]

Ooops. They're actually not as cheap as I thought to get them shipped from England. By mistake, I converted from Euros to US dollars to check the price instead of from British pounds to US dollars. Turns out the two games should be about $66, shipped.

Oh well, I can sell my liver to pay for them.
You can buy the downloaded version of EHM (though I don't reccomend it. It only comes with 5 licenses), or you can find it or World Soccer Manager at a stateside website to buy them cheaper.

[GrantDawg]

Here is the link for WSM 2006 at gamestop for $29.99


http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=646382


And if you download EHM from the Sega website, you get Virtua Fighter free. Why, I don't know.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Thanks Grant, but the games already shipped.

No biggie. $33 each (shipped) is comparable to the US prices. Just not quite the deal I thought it was when I ordered.