Alright boyz, here we go!!! Eastside Hockey Manager 2007 First Impressions Thread!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Coming soon from SI: Asswhite Manager 2k7

[Sweed]

yes and yes

But if you want to ignore what others said on my expense thats fine.

It doesn't excuse SI for rushing out there last 2 products ootp 2006 and Ehm with this many bugs.

I am sure SI team will fix it in time. Its just frustrated to see the intial release this buggy on the last two products SI put out.

Actually the game is pretty solid. The injury bug was introduced in the first patch, as far as I can tell, and was "hot fixed" within 24 hours.

I am curious though since you've become such a game critic and hero to the uneducated game buying public if you would list the last 10 games you purchased that you were happy with on release? Games you thought were not rushed and totally playable out of the box?

I'm not being a smartass, this is a totally serious question and I am very interested to read your response.

[Joe Canadian]

yes and yes

But if you want to ignore what others said on my expense thats fine.

It doesn't excuse SI for rushing out there last 2 products ootp 2006 and Ehm with this many bugs.

I am sure SI team will fix it in time. Its just frustrated to see the intial release this buggy on the last two products SI put out.

I have no idea what the problems were with OOTP because even though I got it on release day, I've yet to play out more than a month... because no one, even the development team, even knows what the coefficents and modifers actually do... and that's not SI's fault, IMO.

As for EHM, this version as I see it hasn't been any more buggier than previous versions... and the fact that they've been so quick with the patch's has even increaesed my opinion of SI, not decreased it.

I honestly don't know why SI is getting so much heat on this...

[jbmagic]

Actually the game is pretty solid. The injury bug was introduced in the first patch, as far as I can tell, and was "hot fixed" within 24 hours.

I am curious though since you've become such a game critic and hero to the uneducated game buying public if you would list the last 10 games you purchased that you were happy with on release? Games you thought were not rushed and totally playable out of the box?

I'm not being a smartass, this is a totally serious question and I am very interested to read your response.

FOF
TPB
FBCB
OOTP 6.51
Madden 2007 (pc version)
NWN
MVP 2005 (pc version)
Baldur's Gate 2
Civ 4
College hoops 2k6 (play station 2)
Starcraft
MLB06 The Show (play station 2)

No particular order.

[SackAttack]

FOF
TPB
FBCB
OOTP 6.51
Madden 2007 (pc version)
NWN
MVP 2005 (pc version)
Baldur's Gate 2
Civ 4
College hoops 2k6 (play station 2)
Starcraft
MLB06 The Show (play station 2)

No particular order.

Not to be nitpicky here, but OOTP 6.51 doesn't qualify as an 'out of the box' release. That little .51 should be your first clue.

Civ 4 was solid, but that memory leak caused an awful lot of people an awful lot of problems early on. That can't be ignored.

Won't speak to Madden 07 PC, because I know for the last few years the PC and console versions have appeared to be different beasts.

[SirFozzie]

Madden 07 PC? *snickers*
Civ 4? *chorles*
OOTP6.51 *giggles, remembering all the flamewars over that*
NEVERWINTER NIGHTS??? (falls down laughing)

As a member of a debate, you make a wonderful comedian JB

[King of New York]

FOF
TPB
FBCB
OOTP 6.51
Madden 2007 (pc version)
NWN
MVP 2005 (pc version)
Baldur's Gate 2
Civ 4
College hoops 2k6 (play station 2)
Starcraft
MLB06 The Show (play station 2)

No particular order.

Madden 07 PC? *snickers*
Civ 4? *chorles*
OOTP6.51 *giggles, remembering all the flamewars over that*
NEVERWINTER NIGHTS??? (falls down laughing)

True that, especially Civ 4!

Plus, you cannot compare console games and PC games as regards "bugginess upon release." It's a lot easier coding a console game, where everyone is running basically the same configuration, than a PC game, where the possible software and hardware configurations are almost endless.

[Hurst2112]

you guys are too funny.

[Router Help]

Starcraft


Great game no doubt, but come on, that was 8 years ago.

[Hurst2112]

hey, i know you guys are comparing pocket protectors and shit but I was wondering:

does anybody know how to adjust your reserve list? I cant seem to be able to uncheck guys.

[Hurst2112]

nevermind. figured it out.

[FrogMan]

so Hurst, how are your pocket protector?

FM

[Hurst2112]

so Hurst, how are your pocket protector?

FM

all your base are belong to us?

[Joe Canadian]

Just simmed through a season without a job, and I'm a little disapointed by the results.

- Only three players played 82 games
- no 100 point players
- two 90 point players
- 5 80 point players

Now, alot of the lack of scoring comes from the players not playing near 82 games, only two players in the top 50 in scoring played 80+.

Perhaps I forgot to install the patch... I'll install it again, and run another season while I'm at school.

[Joe Canadian]

... and how does one set it so you don't except jobs during a vacation. I had the except higher level jobs option set to "no", but I still ended up the GM of a QMJHL team by Jan. 2007, I was on vacation till April. Obviously when I returned the Board wasn't too pleased with me...

[Joe Canadian]

triple dola,

Marc, I'll reply to your PM when I get home. :)

[Joe Canadian]

Ok, so it seems that I must have not installed the patch... after simming another season it seems the injury problem is no more. However, I do see a couple of more problems...

- Again I started unemployed, made sure the only automatic apply for job option was turned off... yet I got hired as the Medicine Hat GM in the WHL in September... last time it was a QMJHL team in January. Am I doing something wrong?

- Scoring still seems low:
~ One 100 point player
~ two 90 point players
~ eleven 80 point players

- And again the computer GM's think 4th round picks are the best thing EVER. First month Langenbrunner is traded for one 4th round pick... and Drury is traded for two 4th rounders.

[Joe Canadian]

... another thing, though this seems like something that could be debated. Teams seem to be trading players that they would be very unlikely to part with in real life, Ryan Smyth and Jason Smith traded by Edmonton in February... the Sens trading Redden, and Carolina trading Brind'Amour.

The Sens one in particular makes me wonder, because I'm sure the argument for this type of deal would be that the Sens were more than likely not going to make the playoffs when they traded him... so they did it to rebuild. I'm sorry but if the Sens are out of the playoffs, something tells me they aren't just going to give up and throw away someone like Redden for a couple of middle of the road youngsters.

And BTW... the Caps won the President's Trophy going 53-21-7... how you might ask? Well they ended the season with Rob Blake, Wade Redden, Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner, Petr Sykora, Jason Smith, Alexander Mogilny, Jason Allison... and of course Ovechkin and Kolzig...

... welcome to bizzaro world.

[Honolulu_Blue]

... another thing, though this seems like something that could be debated. Teams seem to be trading players that they would be very unlikely to part with in real life, Ryan Smyth and Jason Smith traded by Edmonton in February... the Sens trading Redden, and Carolina trading Brind'Amour.

The Sens one in particular makes me wonder, because I'm sure the argument for this type of deal would be that the Sens were more than likely not going to make the playoffs when they traded him... so they did it to rebuild. I'm sorry but if the Sens are out of the playoffs, something tells me they aren't just going to give up and throw away someone like Redden for a couple of middle of the road youngsters.

And BTW... the Caps won the President's Trophy going 53-21-7... how you might ask? Well they ended the season with Rob Blake, Wade Redden, Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner, Petr Sykora, Jason Smith, Alexander Mogilny, Jason Allison... and of course Ovechkin and Kolzig...

... welcome to bizzaro world.

Hrmm... Odd indeed.

Well, I guess Leonsis (the Cap's owner) felt like it was time to strike and the iron was hot. They certainly have the cap room to make apparently a dozen big moves or so.

[Johnny93g]

Ok, so it seems that I must have not installed the patch... after simming another season it seems the injury problem is no more. However, I do see a couple of more problems...

- Again I started unemployed, made sure the only automatic apply for job option was turned off... yet I got hired as the Medicine Hat GM in the WHL in September... last time it was a QMJHL team in January. Am I doing something wrong?

- Scoring still seems low:
~ One 100 point player
~ two 90 point players
~ eleven 80 point players

- And again the computer GM's think 4th round picks are the best thing EVER. First month Langenbrunner is traded for one 4th round pick... and Drury is traded for two 4th rounders.


In my first season, the scoring seemed alot lower then normal. Mats Sundin ended up winning the heart trophy with 94 points. Scoring seems to have shot up significantly in season 2 though!!!. There are about 7 players on target for over 100 points.

[Oilers9911]

Marc,

Just to let you know I wasn't taking a shot at SI Games. What I actually meant was the large studio games such as EA that bring out game syear after year with the same problems.

I fully understand the smaller or especially the one man studios that can't catch everything but the bigger studios should have much better testing and quality control.


Simply put we do our utmost to ensure the game are as bug free and flawless as possible - we use standard software engineering techniques, very organised testing etc. .... but simply put with over a million lines of code in most of our titles its virtually impossible for them to be 100% tested and perfect upon release.

For an example of this consider FM - it has 50 odd leagues in it, consider the number of permutations you can have upon starting the game and selecting the leagues:

50x49x48x47x46x45.....

We don't even have enough time to START the game in every possible permutation let alone test their individual vagrancies, we do the best we can and use sensible techniques to try and ensure sanity but sometimes unfortunately its not enough.

I realise this isn't what you'd prefer to hear but its honest and imho thats the main thing.

As always we'll do our utmost to support EHM and I hope you all enjoy the game.

[Joe Canadian]

In my first season, the scoring seemed alot lower then normal. Mats Sundin ended up winning the heart trophy with 94 points. Scoring seems to have shot up significantly in season 2 though!!!. There are about 7 players on target for over 100 points.

I've encountered the same thing... which is even more reason to be concerned, IMO. Why is it that there seems to be a lack of scoring in 2006-07, but scoring picks up by quite a bit the next season?

[CraigSca]

Because EHM is self-aware and implements future rule changes that haven't been proposed yet :)

[Joe Canadian]

Any word on if they are planning on fixing the schoring level problems? I've simmed through 4 more seasons... all with only 6-10 players getting over 90 points, and 1-2 over 100. That was fine before the rules changes, but scoring should be higher...

[Draft Dodger]

Any word on if they are planning on fixing the schoring level problems? I've simmed through 4 more seasons... all with only 6-10 players getting over 90 points, and 1-2 over 100. That was fine before the rules changes, but scoring should be higher...

could it be debatable that scoring is broken? obviously, last year there were 14 90+ scorers and 7 100+ scorers, but that was year one of the (annoying buzzword alert) New NHL. It's not hard for me to imagine a slight correction in the scoring this year, bringing numbers a bit closer to what you're seeing.

[Draft Dodger]

btw, fwiw, 1/3 of the way into my first season, I've got 20 players on pace for 100. Jagr is on pace for 145

[Joe Canadian]

could it be debatable that scoring is broken? obviously, last year there were 14 90+ scorers and 7 100+ scorers, but that was year one of the (annoying buzzword alert) New NHL. It's not hard for me to imagine a slight correction in the scoring this year, bringing numbers a bit closer to what you're seeing.

Well I suppose it could, but it seems like scoring is down even from EHM 2005... To me if scoring was higher with the previous version of the game, and the most recent real NHL season refelcted that higher scoring number... then I can't figure out why SI would bring scoring levels down on purpose, if you know what I mean.

[jbmagic]

Well I suppose it could, but it seems like scoring is down even from EHM 2005... To me if scoring was higher with the previous version of the game, and the most recent real NHL season refelcted that higher scoring number... then I can't figure out why SI would bring scoring levels down on purpose, if you know what I mean.

SI must of study all the NHL stats and tested/tweak that out.

So the average your seeing is probably what SI came up with when they did their NHL stats studies.

[Joe Canadian]

SI must of study all the NHL stats and tested/tweak that out.

So the average your seeing is probably what SI came up with when they did their NHL stats studies.

Yes, I understand where they get the stats levels... what I'm saying is that if SI came up with a figure that produced the scoring levels we saw in EHM 2005 and scoring last season mirrored those levels... there's no reason for that level to decrease, unless they changed the way the averaged out stats.

[Draft Dodger]

Well I suppose it could, but it seems like scoring is down even from EHM 2005... To me if scoring was higher with the previous version of the game, and the most recent real NHL season refelcted that higher scoring number... then I can't figure out why SI would bring scoring levels down on purpose, if you know what I mean.

do you think the scoring being down is because of the injuries seeming to be up?

[Joe Canadian]

Ok... I simmed through two seasons again, same thing occured with the stats. Once again, I picked the option to not apply for jobs... but I ended up with a job & then being fired because I was on vacation.

So I retire, and create a new GM... take over the Maple Leafs. Who in two years have traded away Steen, Raycroft, Sundin, Kaberle, and McCabe with nothing much to show for it... they did sign Strake to a $6.5 Million deal for one season. The I look at Wellwood, who had 46 points in 06-07, and 55 points in 07-08. His contract runs out after this season, but JFJ re-signed him before I took over... to a... one year contract worth:

$8,800,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

... although it's a two way deal, so he'll only make $1.5 Million if I send him to the AHL. :D

[Joe Canadian]

do you think the scoring being down is because of the injuries seeming to be up?

The problem I mentioned a while ago regardin injuries was due to me not applying the updated patch, I downloaded it but never installed it. Of the top 28 in scoring only 8 played less then 80 games... so injuries doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.

[Johnny93g]

Ok... I simmed through two seasons again, same thing occured with the stats. Once again, I picked the option to not apply for jobs... but I ended up with a job & then being fired because I was on vacation.

So I retire, and create a new GM... take over the Maple Leafs. Who in two years have traded away Steen, Raycroft, Sundin, Kaberle, and McCabe with nothing much to show for it... they did sign Strake to a $6.5 Million deal for one season. The I look at Wellwood, who had 46 points in 06-07, and 55 points in 07-08. His contract runs out after this season, but JFJ re-signed him before I took over... to a... one year contract worth:

$8,800,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

... although it's a two way deal, so he'll only make $1.5 Million if I send him to the AHL. :D


8.8!!!!...damn

The only player ive seen making that much was Dion Phaneuf. Infact, Calgary found itself paying their players 12 million too much at the start of a season, so they had to put 4 or 5 players, good players on waivers. I couldnt pick anyone up though, sense i too got myself in salary cap hell by signing players like St. Louis, Kariya, and Stillman. :eek:

[Sweed]

Any word on if they are planning on fixing the schoring level problems? I've simmed through 4 more seasons... all with only 6-10 players getting over 90 points, and 1-2 over 100. That was fine before the rules changes, but scoring should be higher...

Have you posted about this on the SI site along with your data showing where in game scoring is compared to where it is in the real NHL? I know Graeme
was scheduled for a two week vacation and said he would be playing the game over those two weeks looking for problem areas. I believe when he returns the first big patch with roster updates will be worked on. Somewhere I believe they said they "plan" on an October release. So I would think now would be a good time to make your case.

I guess if you don't belong to the SI board you could try PMing Riz, Marc D., or Graeme(I think he is a memeber)here to make sure they are aware of the issue.

[sachmo71]

The problem I mentioned a while ago regardin injuries was due to me not applying the updated patch, I downloaded it but never installed it. Of the top 28 in scoring only 8 played less then 80 games... so injuries doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.


8.8!!!!...damn

The only player ive seen making that much was Dion Phaneuf. Infact, Calgary found itself paying their players 12 million too much at the start of a season, so they had to put 4 or 5 players, good players on waivers. I couldnt pick anyone up though, sense i too got myself in salary cap hell by signing players like St. Louis, Kariya, and Stillman.



Canadian grammer ain't what it used to be...

:D

[Johnny93g]

Canadian grammer ain't what it used to be...

:D

:p

[Marc Duffy]

Current fix list for the next patch (no release date set)

General
=======
- Can no longer ask assistant to filter unrealistic targets unless you have an assistant employed at your team.
- Fixed human being unable to change U20 side's roster coming upto the WJC-U20 ( need to start a new game )
- Salary cap is now configurable via the config file transfer_rules_config.cfg, in the database folder. Set to values to 0 or remove the entry to remove the cap for competition entirely. Caps

cannot be added to leagues that do not already have them.


Crashes
=======
- Fixed a crash continuing from Nov 21st to Nov 22nd
- Fixed crash going to see-also menu with teams in "A minor league"
- Fixed potential crash on November the 14th, if the game has been saved/re-loaded between certain days.
- Fixed a problem with player rights that could cause the game to crash on apparently random dates

User Interface
==============

- Fixed problems continuing the game when there was a modal screen in the history
- Retiring as GM shouldn't continue the game
- Colour clash fixes, improved readability of text on menubar and match screens where colours were similar
- Fixed being able to set the second nationality of a new GM as the same as the first nationality (and vice versa)
- Fixed award custom images
- Fixed sorting of GAA and Save% on hall of fame screen
- Clicking "Unread All" on the news screen should redraw the screen
- Fixed display issues on transfer screen for players who had requested to be transferred
- Can now untick "Ignore Exhibitions" in the team comparison screen
- Can now deselect divisions in the group menu on the league standings screen
- Fixed job title text being cut off on team screen personnel list
- Fixed progress bar displaying invalid scores when a game was abandoned
- Memorial Cup should use the same position button colour for all teams
- Fixed alignment issues on the bans section of the player profile
- Fixed alignment issues on shootout choices screen
- Cannot set invalid squad status for staff from the club screen contract management view
- Moved Pull Goalie button away from the Confirm button on tactics screen to prevent accidental clicks
- Removed border from player pics on the front office screen that were too big.
- Using the quick flicks on the Team screen Personnel section now remembers the original view when moving between clubs
- Fixed overlapping buttons on the competiton screen for the British Cups
- on the league information screen for Continental Competitions the correct division each team comes from is now displayed.
- Schedule calendar view, fixed that shootout scorers where listed in the match scorers and the extra goal is now added on for an OT win.
- When configuraing a custom tournament you can now no longer set lose points to be greater than or equal to win points. Also 2 points can be given for an OT win.
- Add Manager Screen, if set to perform Fantasy draft in a league other than that which the game start date was set for the Nation/ League menus would display the text for the league the date was

selected instead of the league the fantasy draft is taking place in.
- Add Manager screen nav arrows now work when first time in Fantasy Draft mode
- Start Uneployed option completed removed in Fantasy Draft mode ( was just disabled before, but caused some confusion )
- Oldest / Youngest Player on the Team Information screen was sometimes displaying incorrect values for how many days the player had been that age for.
- overall standings league table view, PK % was slightly being cut-off
- Fixed league information screen possibly showing incorrect details about Friendly tournaments
- The quick link item for Roster now does not change colour moving between different screens.
- Fixed pressing cancel on search filers on the draft screen still applied the filters.
- Fixed minor alignment issue with jobs panel on the front office screen
- Fixed overlapping text in the match screen when two humans are playing matches simultaneosly in a network game.
- Shortlist button on Front Office screen now goes to shortlist instead of player search
- Fixed getting into Pause/Resume loop at the end of the game if accessing tactics after game ended
- Detail level screen did not remember changes to the preset settings for Continental games
- Fixed salary sorting on the Waiver wire screen
- On player & Staff search there were two options called Export, one of them should have been Delete and is now re-named.
- Fixed problem where some President's Tophy winners wouldn't be displayed on the team history screen
- Added affiliates links to Front Office screen
- Training screen now has multi-select to change player schedules en masse.
- training screen remembers which attributes were being shown for each schedule type
- Training screen shows the number of players on each schedule in the Schedule menu.
- Fixed when selecting Canada on the select leagues screen then changing to it to Standard, Canada remained in the start date options dropdown.
- Fixed goalies being included in skater stats on the home screen
- When an exhibition tour has the maximum games (10), then all other dates are marked as unavailable
- Fixed player bio problem where a player's best season was noted as an award winning year when it wasn't
- Fixed incorrect alignment of delete button on shortlist
- Invite (for exhibition)/Scout Team/Apply for Job now available via right click
- Qualifying offer text on contract offer screen is linkable and now sets the offer to that value

Competitions
============
- Stage names for some all star games were appended with "Final". Not necessary.
- Tweaked scheduling for European club competitions
- Ensured Continental Competitions use the correct game rules.
- European Super Cup first year entered team changes
- olympic Final Qualification Tournament uses the correct game rules
- Updates some teams and dates of matches for the Euro Ice Hockey Challange - fixes some date clashes with European league fixtures
- Friendly tournaments are now played at the organising teams Arena, not Unknown Arena
- Ensured friendly tournaments use the rules specificed by the user.
- Fixed the hosts of the Olympic Hockey Tournament in 2010 sometimes being USA instead of Canada
- Fixed player stats tracking problem which caused non-rookies to be considered rookies (fixes both new games and saved games)
- Fixed no points being given for Shoot-out wins and losses in the Central Hockey league
- Removed the relegation stage from Danish league (applies to new games and ongoing saves, except for current season if stage already in process)

Transfer/Trade AI
=================
- Fixed trading of the rights to unattached prospects currently on trial
- Fixed returning from loan to the right team after being traded whilst being loaned out from a farm affiliate
- Tuned more native players to attend training camps as walk-ins where possible
- Fixed major junior signing issue of european imports with no club

Roster Management
=================
- Russian player releases tweak, should not release players while shortlisting at the cap check, because they need to supply the second teams with players
- Removing a player from IR updates virtual players on roster
- Asking coach for lines during the game repeatedly without clearing them first will no longer mess up the lines
- Improved AI team's handling of signing their prospects to entry level deals
- Enforced the affiliation skater/goalie limits
- Improved AI for taking on loan players in the minor leagues

Contracts
=========
- Finetuned NHL entry level contract demands
- Fixed counting of accrued NHL seasons to not count on-going season when determining free agency status
- Fixed contract extensions so that the last year of the existing contract is not re-negotiable in any case as per CBA
- Fixed an issue with some AI team non-playing staff not being on proper contracts

Printouts
=========
- Fixed printing player statistics the heading label said "Team" for National sides and vice-versa.

Drafts
======
- Fixed Fantasy Drafted players being added back into the draft pool, and the team who originally picked him not actually getting him
- Improved game created draft pool material
- Tweaked CHL Import draft availability and player interest

Finances
========
- Finetuned board cap control in non-NHL leagues

News
=====
- Fixed a missing hyperlink in trade news, for the player whom the rejected team did not like
- Tweaks to training camp report news to single out a player for praise
- Fixed prize money news not being sent out
- Fixed when a player rejects a offer of a try-out the news item mentions that the reason is because scouts from the team that offered the try-out were watching him.
- Disabled response button on status clarification news item if the player had already moved teams after the request for status update
- Tweaked trade rumors (toned down the number of these created)
- Fixed player form news coming up outside of the season

Other
=====
- Fog of war should be visible for free agents who were last playing in manager's nation
- Disabled manager speculation news for the first few days of a new game
- NEW_AFFILIATION and AFFILIATION_CHANGE config commands now support setting affiliation mode and maximum skater and goalie counts
- Fixed _ in team name in the score upload

Assets
======

Data
====
- Fixed problem with Georgian language having no nation set.
- Made sure playrs like Jagr can speak English, and Quebec based players can speak French and English

Awards
======
- Canadian Humanitarian of the year award was incorrectly associated with the OHL, now moved to Memorial Cup to encompass the entire CHL.


Translations
============


2D Engine
============
- Tweaked player AI on dumping the puck in too eagerly
- Enforced no-change rule after icings
- Improved goalie AI to respect the no-go zone behind the goalline
- Improved linechanging AI
- Improved coaching AI when picking special teams
- Fixed puck getting stuck to netting too often
- Tweaked suspension frequency for players sent out to fight on purpose but not targeting specific players (ie. headhunting)

http://community.sigames.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2772020752/m/2992034952

[Pumpy Tudors]

The sooner you guys get this patch out, the sooner I'm buying the game. I'm just saying. :D

[Fouts]

Are overall points in CHL standings being fixed? I don't see it listed.

Edit: found it.

- Fixed no points being given for Shoot-out wins and losses in the Central Hockey league

[Pumpy Tudors]

Broken Dola

My wife will probably buy a copy, too, once this patch is out. C'mon, you've got two sales pending right here! :)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Broken Dola

My wife will probably buy a copy, too, once this patch is out. C'mon, you've got two sales pending right here! :)

I may even buy an additional copy for Pumpy and his wife... Just cause.

[Pumpy Tudors]

There we go! More potential sales! This has to happen!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Current fix list for the next patch (no release date set)

Finances
========
- Finetuned board cap control in non-NHL leagues
- NHL salary cap rules no longer apply to the New Jersey Devils

http://community.sigames.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2772020752/m/2992034952

:eek:

[Pumpy Tudors]

:eek:
I have not laughed this hard in a long time! :D

[sachmo71]

Fixed problems continuing the game when there was a modal screen in the history



This is really big, and might bring Ksyrup back into the fold!
Seriously, that started to annoy the crap out of me after he pointed it out.


clash fixes, improved readability of text on menubar and match screens where colours were similar


I found this one playing as the Stars. Gha.

[Draft Dodger]

a nice bit of realism - Garth Snow was the first GM fired in my league, 2 months into the season, and less than a week after receiving a vote of confidence from Charles Wang

[Draft Dodger]

guh. Jan 1st, the 2nd place Sabres waive Chris Drury and the 3rd place Devils waive John Madden. both teams are well under the cap

[Karim]

guh. Jan 1st, the 2nd place Sabres waive Chris Drury and the 3rd place Devils waive John Madden. both teams are well under the cap

I've been hearing too much of this for my liking, along with the assist bug. I'm waiting for the patch before purchasing to see if things get cleared up. But by then, FM '07 will probably be on the radar.

[Draft Dodger]

Washington is doing the same thing in my game.
they've picked up Mogilny and Drury on waivers, Langenbrunner, Brisebois and Theodore via trade, Daze, Perreault, York via free agency

[kserra]

I saw Drury on waivers in the two games I've started so far...

I've also seen a lot of this: I'll offer a team one of my players for a draft choice, only to have the computer team counter with a trade offer of a high pick (usually a 2nd rounder) for two of my lower pickes (5th & 6th rounders usually). I accumulated four 2nd round picks like this before my conscience made me quit the game...

Also, the computer doesn't seem to consider my team needs when making offers...I'll put down that I'm looking for "young prospects" and end up with a bunch of offers that have 30 year players...

I'm hoping the patch helps out the GM portions of the game...

Kevin

[Draft Dodger]

Also, the computer doesn't seem to consider my team needs when making offers...I'll put down that I'm looking for "young prospects" and end up with a bunch of offers that have 30 year players...

I'm hoping the patch helps out the GM portions of the game...


yeah, I've noticed this too. I have yet to put my teams needs as "junk you are just going to waive anyway", but that's all I get offered

[Sweed]

For those interested in facepacks there is a very good one here from Devils88..

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=44


Split up into 4 files all players have a large action shot (updated with the player on his current team) with an inset standard player photo. Screenshots are in each thread.

The best facepack I have ever d'loaded for any of my text sims.

[Sweed]

doal

They also have some other nice d'loads including center ice NHL logos, new rink elements (red and white center line, blue goal crease, bench and penalty box improvements) and other graphical addtions.

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php

[Joe Canadian]

Props to SI, I've been seeing the EHM banner ad on TSN.ca a lot lately.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Every time this thread gets bumped, I keep expecting to see a link to the new patch. :mad:

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Updated Change List posted over at SI http://community.sigames.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2772020752/m/2992034952/p/1

I hope Riz is looking at AI handling of the the North American minor league teams (ECHL, AHL..) . I often see ECHL teams dressing as low as 12 players. I know it common for teams in leagues such as this to dress under the allowed number. But when I see that there are roster positions open it is very frustrating , especially since I would love to take a shot at some of the lower league teams.

The other problem is the AHL. There is no reason why these teams should not field a full line up. There are no roster limitations and and no salary cap. Yet again the AI fails to field full lineups.

I have not looked at the CHL & the UHL but I suspect it is similar to the ECHL.

I really see this as a show stopper as I want to play EHM like I do FM. Start in the low minors and work my way up. But after seeing this in the last version and postings over at the SI bug forums with no response I dont see this getting addressed. :confused:

[King of New York]

This patch had better be good, and everywhere it says "tweaked" on the changelist, I hope they mean "fixed."

This game could be so great, but any sports sim that cannot tabulate scoring correctly, that has serious player development issues (i.e., players don't develop and most of them regress), that has AI roster management issues which leave other teams incapable of fielding a full complement of players, that has board issues (the board expresses anger after half of your losses, including shoot-outs to much stronger opposition, without reacting to successes)...well, that's a lot of problems. And those are just the ones off the top of my head.

If the patch is great, then all will be forgiven. If.

[Joe Canadian]

It still boggles my mind that the development team went on vacation (or "out of the office") almost right after they released the game.

[Galaril]

Updated Change List posted over at SI http://community.sigames.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2772020752/m/2992034952/p/1

I hope Riz is looking at AI handling of the the North American minor league teams (ECHL, AHL..) . I often see ECHL teams dressing as low as 12 players. I know it common for teams in leagues such as this to dress under the allowed number. But when I see that there are roster positions open it is very frustrating , especially since I would love to take a shot at some of the lower league teams.

The other problem is the AHL. There is no reason why these teams should not field a full line up. There are no roster limitations and and no salary cap. Yet again the AI fails to field full lineups.

I have not looked at the CHL & the UHL but I suspect it is similar to the ECHL.

I really see this as a show stopper as I want to play EHM like I do FM. Start in the low minors and work my way up. But after seeing this in the last version and postings over at the SI bug forums with no response I dont see this getting addressed. :confused:


SI is really dropping the ball on there releases IMHO. First, with OOTP and now this EHM. It pisses me off since they are taking good indie type games and are fucking them up trying to force the FM rule set for everything.

[Joe Canadian]

SI is really dropping the ball on there releases IMHO. First, with OOTP and now this EHM. It pisses me off since they are taking good indie type games and are fucking them up trying to force the FM rule set for everything.

I'm sorry, but as much as I have a problem with how SI handled the release of this game... the SI versions of EHM are MUCH MUCH better than the freeware versions.

[sachmo71]

It still boggles my mind that the development team went on vacation (or "out of the office") almost right after they released the game.


Why?

[Joe Canadian]

Why?

Because there is an expectation in this genre of games that after release the developers will begin work on a patch.

[bhlloy]

This patch had better be good, and everywhere it says "tweaked" on the changelist, I hope they mean "fixed."

This game could be so great, but any sports sim that cannot tabulate scoring correctly, that has serious player development issues (i.e., players don't develop and most of them regress), that has AI roster management issues which leave other teams incapable of fielding a full complement of players, that has board issues (the board expresses anger after half of your losses, including shoot-outs to much stronger opposition, without reacting to successes)...well, that's a lot of problems. And those are just the ones off the top of my head.

If the patch is great, then all will be forgiven. If.

Pretty much exactly how I feel... throw in trade and waiver AI that has clearly not been improved at all since last year and this is by the far the most disappointed I have been in a game release for a long time.

Having said that, if the patch addresses all of the issues above (well maybe not the trade and waiver AI - I can't imagine that is going to get fixed anytime soon), it still could still be the my most played game of the year. God knows I got months and months out of EHM 2005.

I still cannot believe some of these issues did not get picked up in testing, but I guess that is another topic altogether.

[jbmagic]

Is it safe to say that last year version is much better than this year version?

[Joe Canadian]

Is it safe to say that last year version is much better than this year version?

No.

[SackAttack]

I bought this year's version more or less on release and haven't played it in two weeks.

Granted, been busy with other things, but I haven't even had the desire, which is rare for me and hockey. :(

[chrisj]

Because there is an expectation in this genre of games that after release the developers will begin work on a patch.

Then perhaps people should lose that expectation?

Personally, I see the exact opposite. These guys work *hard* for 11 months to get to release day. Release comes. They spend a week for any serious problems that made it in the release build. At that point, they deserve their two week vacation before working on the next patch and the next version.

[Joe Canadian]

These guys work *hard* for 11 months to get to release day. Release comes. They spend a week for any serious problems that made it in the release build. At that point, they deserve their two week vacation before working on the next patch and the next version.

Agreed 100%! Problem is that they haven't reached the point where the serious problems aren't gone. Scoring is out of whack, and the AI is offering mid-level players maxed out contracts... those are serious issues. I have no problem with the dev team taking a break if all that is needed are quick clean up fixes, that is not the case here, IMO.

[Izulde]

I'm sorry, but as much as I have a problem with how SI handled the release of this game... the SI versions of EHM are MUCH MUCH better than the freeware versions.

I'm not seeing that. I still play the EHM freeware version quite a bit and have never been sucked in by an SI EHM demo.

[Cork]

SI is really dropping the ball on there releases IMHO. First, with OOTP and now this EHM. It pisses me off since they are taking good indie type games and are fucking them up trying to force the FM rule set for everything.

Right after I purchased OOTP2006 I felt exactly the same way, but after getting used to the game I no longer feel that they are trying to ruin these games. That being said, I feel that SI needs to take a closer look at their development process.

This is 2 releases in a row where the base game, while playable, suffers from a multitude of bugs and odd design decisions. While future patches will most likely resolve most of the issues, those who purchase the game from the outset are the ones who pay the price by having to wait for the game to be patched properly.

For example, OOTP2006 was released almost 2 months after the start of the baseball season. I will make the assumption that most sports gamers like to play these games during the corresponding season at a minimum which makes waiting for patches more painful. In the case of OOTP2006 it meant waiting until nearly 2/3 of the baseball season was over. That is a long time to wait to begin playing a game. While I applaud SI for eventually getting OOTP2006 patched to a point where the game is enjoyable, I have to frown a bit when I realize that the game will never get any better due to the ultimate push for OOTP2007.

I think SI is walking a fine line with these types of games by trying to go into the "we have to release a new game every year" mode because as we have already seen, they are not capable at this point in time of releasing a game that is fine tuned at the outset. I do think that by expanding the size of their external beta testing teams and by being able to build upon a solid engine both the OOTP and EHM series will prosper and grow to rival SI's flaship series, FM. Unfortunately this is going to cost the user quite a bit or force us to skip a few versions while we wait for the game to reach a point that each of us desires.

Sorry for being a bit long winded here.

-Cork

[sachmo71]

Agreed 100%! Problem is that they haven't reached the point where the serious problems aren't gone. Scoring is out of whack, and the AI is offering mid-level players maxed out contracts... those are serious issues. I have no problem with the dev team taking a break if all that is needed are quick clean up fixes, that is not the case here, IMO.

I don't think those issues are serious enough to warrant burning your programmers out even more than they already are. If SI decided to give everyone time off, that tells me that they were probably past the point of diminishing returns. Better to get them a week or two off and then get them back to fix everything right.

Now, a possible alternative situation might have been not burning the programmers out right before release. Maybe giving them 2 weeks off while QA\Beta knocked away at it, then have them come back to a big list of issues...but this is not the way the gaming industry seems to work. Get it out by x date in a "playable" state and rake in the dough.

[Cork]

I don't think those issues are serious enough to warrant burning your programmers out even more than they already are. If SI decided to give everyone time off, that tells me that they were probably past the point of diminishing returns. Better to get them a week or two off and then get them back to fix everything right.

Now, a possible alternative situation might have been not burning the programmers out right before release. Maybe giving them 2 weeks off while QA\Beta knocked away at it, then have them come back to a big list of issues...but this is not the way the gaming industry seems to work. Get it out by x date in a "playable" state and rake in the dough.

Since this is indeed the reality of the industry, I also think that taking a short vacation to "recharge the batteries" is perfectly acceptable if there are no game breaking bugs at release.

I would rather have a rested development staff working on patches than a burned out staff trying to do this.

-Cork

[sachmo71]

Since this is indeed the reality of the industry, I also think that taking a short vacation to "recharge the batteries" is perfectly acceptable if there are no game breaking bugs at release.

I would rather have a rested development staff working on patches than a burned out staff trying to do this.

-Cork

It should also be noted that they did release 2 patches after initial launch.

[Draft Dodger]

I couldn't care less when they take a vacation. the game was pretty stable at launch and they put out a couple of quick patches. sounds fine to me.

[Galaril]

I think SI should start to at least entertain the idwa of some type of open beta to say their board members and few others(FOFC:)), in the future before they start to alienate themselves with their user base. Just a thought.

[sachmo71]

I think SI should start to at least entertain the idwa of some type of open beta to say their board members and few others(FOFC:)), in the future before they start to alienate themselves with their user base. Just a thought.

When I was a researcher for EHM 1, we were given beta copies of the game.

[Cork]

I think SI should start to at least entertain the idwa of some type of open beta to say their board members and few others(FOFC:)), in the future before they start to alienate themselves with their user base. Just a thought.

I think the beta team for OOTP2007 was expanded in size.

-Cork

[King of New York]

Yes, EHM 2007 is fairly stable--I only had a couple of CTDs.

Still, picture this: FOF 2K6 is released with the following problems:

1) On touchdown passes, the quarterback is not credited with completing a touchdown
2) Teams get 25-30 offsides penalties called on them in a single game
3) Your opposition is not too hard to beat, as they only field a team of 30 players, 10-15 of whom are injured on any given Sunday
4) The majority of your draft picks bust, year in, year out--and so do your veteran players

That's pretty much what we got upon release. Some of these problems have been fixed already, but a lot of them have not. I guess I am supposed to be heartened by SI's announcements trumpeting the fact that "you can now sort left wingers from Manitoba by their maternal grandmother's maiden name!" Oddly enough, though, I'm not.

[MizzouRah]

King of NY,

Jim doesn't release games until he's ready to, period. So that would NEVER happen. :D

[Galaril]

When I was a researcher for EHM 1, we were given beta copies of the game.

Obviously, what has been done in the past isn't working and that is why ther eshould be a limited if not full blown PUBLIC beta process just like Shaun does at Puresim or Clay at Baseball mogul.

[Joe Canadian]

I couldn't care less when they take a vacation. the game was pretty stable at launch and they put out a couple of quick patches. sounds fine to me.

Stable, yes. Playable, IMO, no. Now I'm not about to swear off SI & Riz, I just think that some of these issues should have been addressed first. Riz AND SI have done an incredible job with this franchise.

[King of New York]

Interesting post from Graeme Kelly today:

"We'll release the patch as soon as we are able to. We're only in early testing and there are serious issues to be fixed. I'm sorry you are having so many issues with the game, but the patch just is not ready to be released just now - it has had literally 1 day's testing, and the feedback we are getting show us that it requires more work."

As frustrated as I've been with EHM 2007, I found this post rather heartening--it's the first post I've seen in which someone from SI has acknowledged that "there are serious issues to be fixed." The breeziness of SI posts up to this point had me thinking that they did not grasp how much work they needed to do on this game. Finally, I sense that they understand the extent to which this game was released in an unfinished state. I am also glad that they are not rushing out a half-*ssed patch just to get us all to shut up--I would much rather wait a few more weeks and get a great patch that allows me to play the game enjoyably.

As for the coders going on vacation right after release--well, I'm torn. I have no doubt that Riz and Graeme worked like fiends on the game, and I do not begrudge them some time off. On the other hand, it's rather unusual for folks to launch a new product and then immediately vanish for awhile while the customers are yammering for the product to be put into working order.

[KJDelaney]

All,

Given my current work/travel schedule as well as my recent move to Texas, I have not had a chance to really play this game as much as I would like.

However....

Is the game now REALLY that bad/buggy? I for one have not seen it, but, as stated above, I have probably not played it as much as all of you.

The one thing that I did notice, and it is not that much of an issue, is that watching the games, there is hardly ever a long distance goal, like from the blue line or high in the slot, etc. They all seem to be breakaways.

[Marc Duffy]

King of New York, you'll find that it's something we do with all our titles as the run-in to games releases can be pretty intense and the devs need to take a break and recharge the batteries.

it also allows us to evaluate the feedback fairly.

[Marc Duffy]

All,

Given my current work/travel schedule as well as my recent move to Texas, I have not had a chance to really play this game as much as I would like.

However....

Is the game now REALLY that bad/buggy? I for one have not seen it, but, as stated above, I have probably not played it as much as all of you.

The one thing that I did notice, and it is not that much of an issue, is that watching the games, there is hardly ever a long distance goal, like from the blue line or high in the slot, etc. They all seem to be breakaways.
The best thing I can say is judge the game based on your own experiences and not of others. I'm not saying there are no problems but you shouldn't do a jbmagic :)

[jbmagic]

The best thing I can say is judge the game based on your own experiences and not of others. I'm not saying there are no problems but you shouldn't do a jbmagic :)


Your very professional always taking stabs at me.

I played the games and also read what others said too. I form my opionions on games played and what others say too. I think you just don't like it when someone finds negative things.

If taking stab at me is going to lessen the concerns people have with the games than go ahead and continue if that makes you look good and gets you off the hook.

Whats funny people that played the game and have concerns you still don't believe them it seems.

Your always postive attitude is going to get old by many people and not take you so seriously one day.

[sachmo71]

Your very professional always taking stabs at me.

I played the games and also read what others said too. I form my opionions on games played and what others say too. I think you just don't like it when someone finds negative things.

If taking stab at me is going to lessen the concerns people have with the games than go ahead and continue if that makes you look good and gets you off the hook.

Whats funny people that played the game and have concerns you still don't believe them it seems.

Your always postive attitude is going to get old by many people and not take you so seriously one day.

I don't remember the post where he said they didn't take concerns seriously. did you play EHM2005? they seemed to nail that one down pretty well.

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Any news on the patch? I have not seen anything over at the SI boards as far as an expected date.

[KJDelaney]

It will be out, when it's ready!!!!!

Gee, now I sound like every other douche-bag that says someting to that effect.


Honestly, no idea.

[Marc Duffy]

I think SI should start to at least entertain the idwa of some type of open beta to say their board members and few others(FOFC:)), in the future before they start to alienate themselves with their user base. Just a thought.
We do that already!

[Marc Duffy]

I don't remember the post where he said they didn't take concerns seriously. did you play EHM2005? they seemed to nail that one down pretty well.
No but he read a lot of peoples comments about EHM2005 and cross-posted in a lot of forums

[Marc Duffy]

Any news on the patch? I have not seen anything over at the SI boards as far as an expected date.
You are looking at somewhere in the first two weeks of November potentially. There's loads of stuff fixed and tweaked (and added)

[Marc Duffy]

Your very professional always taking stabs at me.

I played the games and also read what others said too. I form my opionions on games played and what others say too. I think you just don't like it when someone finds negative things.

If taking stab at me is going to lessen the concerns people have with the games than go ahead and continue if that makes you look good and gets you off the hook.

Whats funny people that played the game and have concerns you still don't believe them it seems.

Your always postive attitude is going to get old by many people and not take you so seriously one day.
We take everything seriously, which is why we have a pretty comprehensive changelist for the forthcoming patch.

I don't generally take much of what you say seriously because I question if you even play our games.

[Galaril]

We do that already!

Marc,

Not to be a smart ass but really? Are your initial releases considered betas? I don't remember there ever being an open beta for any of the SI games? I was under the impression that YOU chose your beta testers.

[Oilers9911]

repeat after me jbmagic, YOU'RE. YOU'RE.



Your very professional always taking stabs at me.

I played the games and also read what others said too. I form my opionions on games played and what others say too. I think you just don't like it when someone finds negative things.

If taking stab at me is going to lessen the concerns people have with the games than go ahead and continue if that makes you look good and gets you off the hook.

Whats funny people that played the game and have concerns you still don't believe them it seems.

Your always postive attitude is going to get old by many people and not take you so seriously one day.

[kserra]

Haven't touched the game since early October...and I'm bummed out...

Patiently waiting for the patch--I'm an SI-fan boy, but man, I'd really like the Computer GM issues resolved soon...

Kevin

[Joe Canadian]

You are looking at somewhere in the first two weeks of November potentially. There's loads of stuff fixed and tweaked (and added)

Are you serious? The first two weeks of November? Remember that PM you sent me about sales of EHM... that situation is really not going to improve itself with this much of a delay in a patch.

Riz and the team deserve a break, but it makes a lot more sense to start taking breaks AFTER most major issues are fixed.

[jbmagic]

Marc Duffy is losing a lot of respect. You should be replace with someone that will have respect to their fans of the game. Your tone is unacceptable in the position you have. Your not very professional.

And yes again I have try and play EHM 2005 and the new version.

[Sweed]

Marc Duffy is losing a lot of respect. You should be replace with someone that will have respect to their fans of the game. Your tone is unacceptable in the position you have. Your not very professional.

And yes again I have try and play EHM 2005 and the new version.

And yet, in this very thread, you had to ask..

Is it safe to say that last year version is much better than this year version?

So as of three or four days ago you had no opinion to share with the board and you're (that's you're) worried about people taking Marc seriously?

[jbmagic]

And yet, in this very thread, you had to ask..



So as of three or four days ago you had no opinion to share with the board and you're (that's you're) worried about people taking Marc seriously?

In Marc position that he holds, he needs to act professional toward others and not act like he does. Thats all I ask from him. Just give me some respect that I have played the game.

Its seems like EHM 2007 has more bugs than last year version so far. People should not be waiting for a patch update this late and SI needs to stop rushing their games out. They made a big mistake with ootp 2006 and now EHM 2007.

[Ajaxab]

In Marc position that he holds, he needs to act professional toward others and not act like he does. Thats all I ask from him. Just give me some respect that I have played the game.

Whether you've played EHM or not, your track record would indicate that you have commented on a lot of games without ever having played them. Why should Marc put up with these kinds of comments if the person making them has consistently demonstrated that they haven't played a lot of games they talk about?

[SirFozzie]

exactly. JB's just reaping what he's sown.

[JonInMiddleGA]

exactly. JB's just reaping what he's sown.

By the same token, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

[klayman]

Marc Duffy is losing a lot of respect. You should be replace with someone that will have respect to their fans of the game. Your tone is unacceptable in the position you have. Your not very professional.


Uh...this is wrong.


Marc Duffy (and all the guys at SI) have constantly provided help and information about their games on this specific forum for years, a forum unrelated and unaffliated with their product. That in itself is enough to provide more respect then some forum members seem to imagine. And if Marc wants to take pot-shots at the class clown on this forum, he is certainly entitled to act "not very professional", since it isn't even his official forum.

If it comes down to choosing between a "not very professional" Marc Duffy posting on this forum, or a forum member having his feelings hurt, I certainly know which option I would take.

This is my 8th year of purchasing SI products and only one (CM4) was a disappointment (although I did not buy OOTP). That's a pretty good track record. In other words, Marc still has my respect. Of course, he would have a lot more of it if he would send me a free copy of FM2007.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And if Marc wants to take pot-shots at the class clown on this forum, he is certainly entitled to act "not very professional", since it isn't even his official forum.

I disagree entirely on this point.

His behavior here should have had him looking for a job quite a ways back AFAIC. It's a long way from being just "the class clown" that he's exhibited his lack of professionalism with.

To be honest, I'm surprised (not to mention disappointed) that SI hasn't reigned him in already, and I've lost respect for them because of their failure to do so. It's getting to the point that I believe if SI isn't willing, maybe it's time his attitude & activities be brought to the attention of their corporate partner, perhaps they can exert some influence on the situation.

[klayman]

I disagree entirely on this point.

His behavior here should have had him looking for a job quite a ways back AFAIC. It's a long way from being just "the class clown" that he's exhibited his lack of professionalism with.



Well it is possible I did miss a lot of what went on with OOTP, but I've really seen nothing that warrants that. Nonetheless, I would respect your opinion, Jon, much more than jbmagic's on the subject.

However, I still think he would have the right to act as a normal forum member away from his own official forum, no matter his job description. If the forum moderator (and everybody else) can knock on jbmagic, then I certainly don't feel it's right to call out Marc for doing the same thing. I would rather have him and all the guys at SI participating in the forum than simply touting the company line (which I can read on their forum)

[JonInMiddleGA]

However, I still think he would have the right to act as a normal forum member away from his own official forum, no matter his job description.

I would disagree (although apparently I'd be wrong judging from SI's lack of concern about his behavior). The venue is largely irrelevant IMO since he is clearly identifiable as a company representative when posting here, therefore his behavior reflects back upon the company.

[klayman]

I would disagree (although apparently I'd be wrong judging from SI's lack of concern about his behavior). The venue is largely irrelevant IMO since he is clearly identifiable as a company representative when posting here, therefore his behavior reflects back upon the company.

Fair enough. We'll just have agree to disagree on it.

[Sweed]

In Marc position that he holds, he needs to act professional toward others and not act like he does. Thats all I ask from him. Just give me some respect that I have played the game.

Its seems like EHM 2007 has more bugs than last year version so far. People should not be waiting for a patch update this late and SI needs to stop rushing their games out. They made a big mistake with ootp 2006 and now EHM 2007.


Sorry man, you've spent years doing your copy-paste "reviews" and want to be taken seriously. You want people to now believe that you play the games and form your own opinions but look at this post you've just made..

"Its seems like EHM 2007 has more bugs than last year version so far."

Wow, what a definitive statement. Sounds like you've spent hundreds of hours digging through the game. I'm not saying you haven't played the game but with your track record and this comment, to me, it sounds like the same old shit. As SirFozzie said you are now reaping what you have sown.

[Cringer]

Haven't touched the game since early October...and I'm bummed out...

Patiently waiting for the patch--I'm an SI-fan boy, but man, I'd really like the Computer GM issues resolved soon...

Kevin

I haven't touched the game since early October either. Thankfully I have been busy enough that it isn't 100% on purpose, but I am waiting for that patch mainly. I have a career going in the Central Hockey League with my local Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, and I just can't bring myself to keep going until the league points system is fixed.

[Oilers9911]

I would disagree (although apparently I'd be wrong judging from SI's lack of concern about his behavior). The venue is largely irrelevant IMO since he is clearly identifiable as a company representative when posting here, therefore his behavior reflects back upon the company.

I agree with Jon here. Even if this is not the official SI board he is a representative of the company when he posts here and is posting in an official capacity. It's no different than speaking on behalf of your employer outside the office in which you work. The location is really irrelevant as he is still an ambassador/representative for SI. Having said all that jbmagic would make me want to snap too.

[King of New York]

A quick IP address check would reveal that Marc Duffy and jbmagic are one and the same individual. Their staged "squabbles" are a covert operation, carrried out by SI Games, designed to distract us all from other issues.

Further revelations to follow...

[Draft Dodger]

exactly. JB's just reaping what he's sown.

I think he just wants to plant his seed in the guys at SI.

[Draft Dodger]

I disagree entirely on this point.

His behavior here should have had him looking for a job quite a ways back AFAIC. It's a long way from being just "the class clown" that he's exhibited his lack of professionalism with.

To be honest, I'm surprised (not to mention disappointed) that SI hasn't reigned him in already, and I've lost respect for them because of their failure to do so. It's getting to the point that I believe if SI isn't willing, maybe it's time his attitude & activities be brought to the attention of their corporate partner, perhaps they can exert some influence on the situation.

luckily, most people don't put much weight in your misguided ramblings.
he's not here to kiss your ass.

[Joe Canadian]

I'm clearly in the minority here... but I agree with JB in regards to comments Duffy has made towards him, and honestly I like Duffy and have a lot of respect for him.

While I agree with what Duffy said about JB, as part of SI I think it was irresponsible for him to say it. No one here takes his ramblings seriously, so we didn't need Marc to point it out.

... anyways thats just my two cents.

[Oilers9911]

I think he just wants to plant his seed in the guys at SI.

On behalf of the rest of the board, let me just say...ewwwww.

[JonInMiddleGA]

lhe's not here to kiss your ass.

Well, that's good to know. I'd hate for him to get in your way, 'cause you certainly have an open invitation you clueless piece of crap.

[Galaril]

Lets get back to the game impression's gentleman.

[Oilers9911]

Yeah, asswhites.

[King of New York]

Lets get back to the game impression's gentleman.

But then things will get really, really ugly. (If you think this stuff is bad, take a peek at the EHM forum at SI games.)

I guess the latest information is that the patch should come out in the first half of November?

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Marc/Riz - Anyupdate?

I am waiting patiently to fire this one up again and mean while getting more and more addicted to FM2007. If note released soon I may fall to deep into the FM addiction never to return again..

[Pumpy Tudors]

Grrawwwrrrr, the thread got bumped again without containing patch news.

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Grrawwwrrrr, the thread got bumped again without containing patch news.

Sorry Pumpster

[General Mike]

Someone PM me when the unfake DB is out.

[Joe Canadian]

Is there any word on when the unfaking DB is going to be finished? I want to get back into this game so badly that I may just have to start a "real" game without it...

[Marc Duffy]

JB : I apologise if you feel I am unprofessional but I'm very tired reading your ramblings with the knowledge that you don't even play our games. There are many opinions here myself and the SI team respect a lot more than your constant drivel.

JoninthemiddleGA : Please feel free to escalate to our corporate partners if you feel I am out of line. On many levels, I think your general tone on this board borders on the offensive and the moderators need to reign your ego in.

All : The patch really is in the final stages and I'm confident of a release this week. It's taken so long because we've really tried to look at everything. I'd be happy if some of you guys sent me a PM and I'll see if I can get you a beta build to try out (it should resolve any major gripes you have)

[Marc Duffy]

Marc/Riz - Anyupdate?

I am waiting patiently to fire this one up again and mean while getting more and more addicted to FM2007. If note released soon I may fall to deep into the FM addiction never to return again..
Don't let FM win. This week, I'm confident.

[Marc Duffy]

But then things will get really, really ugly. (If you think this stuff is bad, take a peek at the EHM forum at SI games.)

I guess the latest information is that the patch should come out in the first half of November?
I'm a man of my word. Game on!

[Marc Duffy]

Marc Duffy (and all the guys at SI) have constantly provided help and information about their games on this specific forum for years, a forum unrelated and unaffliated with their product. That in itself is enough to provide more respect then some forum members seem to imagine. And if Marc wants to take pot-shots at the class clown on this forum, he is certainly entitled to act "not very professional", since it isn't even his official forum.

I wouldn't call them potshots. For me, we have someone on here who posts a lot about our games but doesnt actually play them. Picking comments up from various people and forums and passing them off as fact is actually very annoying (and potentially damaging to the title).

I always ask people to form their own judgement of our games and not base their opinion on others.

[JeffR]

Just so Pumpy doesn't get disappointed when he sees the thread bumped again with no patch news (and to save Riz the trouble, since I've already used up a bunch of his time tonight by arguing over arcane NHL junior-signing logic):

I'm happy with what I'm seeing so far in the patch. Bear in mind that the things I focus on in testing are hockey-realism related, so I'm not the best judge of interface-type stuff. But the stats are looking very nice (the assist shortage and low defensemen scoring, in particular, are fixed), and the roster logic seems good. There were some stability issues that were impeding long-term tests (at least for me), but the newest test candidate has been completely crash-free for me so far.

I gave the NHL data as much of an overhaul as humanly possible in the time I had allotted. The starting NHL rosters are accurate as of Oct. 30 (if you find a significant name missing, it's a licensing issue, not a research one.) I also did a lot of tweaking to reflect what's happened so far this season - e.g., rookies who got off to fast starts (Malkin, Kopitar, etc.) got some improvements. And issues like the underrated Wings (Zetterberg in particular) and some overrated veterans have been addressed. I didn't go crazy with trying to match the early 06-07 performance, so the Flyers and Flames didn't get thrown under the bus or the Ducks and Sabres turned into supermen, but the standings and scoring leaders should be closer to real life now.

My one big remaining concern is the long-term player development. I've got a game running in the background as I type this; hopefully I'll have enough data to make a good evaluation later today. Riz, though, sounded like he had that problem figured out, so I'm optimistic. And I think some changes I made to the junior data have redressed the talent gap between Canada and the rest of the world in the 2007/8/9 drafts. Assuming that all turns out OK, all the significant realism issues I had with the existing game will have been dealt with.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Sounds encouraging fellas.

[scooter]

My one big remaining concern is the long-term player development. I've got a game running in the background as I type this; hopefully I'll have enough data to make a good evaluation later today. Riz, though, sounded like he had that problem figured out, so I'm optimistic. And I think some changes I made to the junior data have redressed the talent gap between Canada and the rest of the world in the 2007/8/9 drafts. Assuming that all turns out OK, all the significant realism issues I had with the existing game will have been dealt with.

Have you guys changes attribute levels at the major junior level or just the development code? I play in the WHL and one of the first things I noticed when I fired up EHM2007 for the first time was the drop in attribute levels from EHM2005. I play my games very slowly, so I hadn't even made it to my first draft yet, but I could see where low attribute levels could make the NHL draft difficult. Also, the attribute levels of the bantam players are really low, but I just thought that was part of the challenge :D

[Joe Canadian]

Great news! Thanks Duff and Jeff!

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Great news! Thanks Duff and Jeff!

Ditto!

[JeffR]

Have you guys changes attribute levels at the major junior level or just the development code? I play in the WHL and one of the first things I noticed when I fired up EHM2007 for the first time was the drop in attribute levels from EHM2005. I play my games very slowly, so I hadn't even made it to my first draft yet, but I could see where low attribute levels could make the NHL draft difficult. Also, the attribute levels of the bantam players are really low, but I just thought that was part of the challenge :D

They're definitely supposed to be lower than in EHM2005; the idea with the new attribute development system is to get the youngest guys starting at a more realistic level and developing from there, unlike in earlier games, where the good ones often had many NHL-level attributes as soon as they appeared as 13-14-15-year-olds.

Problem is, it seems like they're not developing anywhere near fast enough. Continuing to investigate why, but at this point in my test game it looks like in-game player development is basically lagging at least a year behind how fast it occurs in real life.

[jbmagic]

Marc Duffy

One more time, I did play and try out SI games EHM and OOTP demo.

It hurts you continue to say I have not play any SI games. Please stop accusing me that I don't play it and try it out.

That just an excuse to get off the hook about the bugs that I and others have reported for OOTP and EHM.

[Blade6119]

Marc Duffy

One more time, I did play and try out SI games EHM and OOTP demo.

It hurts you continue to say I have not play any SI games. Please stop accusing me that I don't play it and try it out.

That just an excuse to get off the hook about the bugs that I and others have reported for OOTP and EHM.

In my mind playing 6-moths in these games is the same as not playing them JB. The true magic of these games comes much further in then 6 months. You seem to be knocking a product you honestly havent played, which doesnt suprise me too much given what ive seen of your post history or what forum this is.

[Cringer]

This game has already lost me I am sorry to say, the patch has taken so long I have lost complete interest. I hate wasting money and usually I won't write off a game like this, but I have to say it was a waste for me.

I think FM is the only SI game I will get from now on, once every 2 years probably.

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

I took Marc up on the beta build offer and it was worth the wait. Still a few small issues that I noted to him in a PM.

Anyone else playing the beta build?

Here are the issues I came accross.


I am playing in the Central Hockey League:

Training Camp Bug - Running open camp, all players who arrive for open tryouts have last names that start with "C" or "B". I checked all other teams in league and it appeared to be the same.

News Bug - Read a news item on the NHL where it stated that a game ended in a 5-5 tie. Checked box score and saw where one team had won in shoot out.

Central specific bug?? - Saw two players in particular that I wanted to go after. Both where 36 years old and on the "trade block" by their respective teams. Approached both teams and only option was to "buy" player. Could not offer trade. I am not an expert in the Central Hockey League but I was not aware that the cash for player , transfer system, was used in any North American league.

[Marc Duffy]

Final changelist

NHL™ Eastside Hockey Manager™ 2007 v3.0.2
--------------------------------------------

General
=======
- Fixed human being unable to change U20 side's roster coming upto the WJC-U20 ( need to start a new game )
- Salary cap is now configurable via the config file transfer_rules_config.cfg, in the database folder. Set to values to 0 or remove the entry to remove the cap for competition entirely. Caps cannot be added to leagues that do not already have them.
- AHL training camps no longer clash with NHL training camps
- Taking a job in a different league now sets the detail level correctly for that league.
- Fixed board expecations not being set up properly when a human moves teams
- Added preferences option which stops human managers being sacked
- Team colours can be changed via extra_config.cfg - see the top of the file for details
- Fixed the wrong number of teams being entered into the CHL import draft
- Made teams less likely to skip there 2nd round pick in the CHL import draft unless it gives them too many imports.
- Allowed match controls (speed/highlights etc) to be changed in network games.


Crashes
=======
- Fixed a crash continuing from Nov 21st to Nov 22nd
- Fixed crash going to see-also menu with teams in "A minor league"
- Fixed potential crash on November the 14th, if the game has been saved/re-loaded between certain days.
- Fixed a problem with player rights that could cause the game to crash on apparently random dates
- Fixed a crash trying to get injury information for a non-player
- Fixed a crash related to a nonplayer joining a nation as manager when they already have a contract as an assistant manager/coach. with another nation
- Fixed a crash when a human offers to sign a non-player to a national team and then resigns just before the deal completes
- Tweaked board confidence changes after a game.

User Interface
==============

- Fixed problems continuing the game when there was a modal screen in the history
- Retiring as GM shouldn't continue the game
- Colour clash fixes, improved readability of text on menubar and match screens where colours were similar
- Fixed being able to set the second nationality of a new GM as the same as the first nationality (and vice versa)
- Fixed award custom images
- Fixed sorting of GAA and Save% on hall of fame screen
- Clicking "Unread All" on the news screen should redraw the screen
- Fixed display issues on transfer screen for players who had requested to be transferred
- Can now untick "Ignore Exhibitions" in the team comparison screen
- Can now deselect divisions in the group menu on the league standings screen
- Fixed job title text being cut off on team screen personnel list
- Fixed progress bar displaying invalid scores when a game was abandoned
- Memorial Cup should use the same position button colour for all teams
- Fixed alignment issues on the bans section of the player profile
- Fixed alignment issues on shootout choices screen
- Cannot set invalid squad status for staff from the club screen contract management view
- Moved Pull Goalie button away from the Confirm button on tactics screen to prevent accidental clicks
- Removed border from player pics on the front office screen that were too big.
- Using the quick flicks on the Team screen Personnel section now remembers the original view when moving between clubs
- Fixed overlapping buttons on the competiton screen for the British Cups
- on the league information screen for Continental Competitions the correct division each team comes from is now displayed.
- Schedule calendar view, fixed that shootout scorers where listed in the match scorers and the extra goal is now added on for an OT win.
- When configuraing a custom tournament you can now no longer set lose points to be greater than or equal to win points. Also 2 points can be given for an OT win.
- Add Manager Screen, if set to perform Fantasy draft in a league other than that which the game start date was set for the Nation/ League menus would display the text for the league the date was selected instead of the league the fantasy draft is taking place in.
- Add Manager screen nav arrows now work when first time in Fantasy Draft mode
- Start Uneployed option completed removed in Fantasy Draft mode ( was just disabled before, but caused some confusion )
- Oldest / Youngest Player on the Team Information screen was sometimes displaying incorrect values for how many days the player had been that age for.
- overall standings league table view, PK % was slightly being cut-off
- Fixed league information screen possibly showing incorrect details about Friendly tournaments
- The quick link item for Roster now does not change colour moving between different screens.
- Fixed pressing cancel on search filers on the draft screen still applied the filters.
- Fixed minor alignment issue with jobs panel on the front office screen
- Fixed overlapping text in the match screen when two humans are playing matches simultaneosly in a network game.
- Shortlist button on Front Office screen now goes to shortlist instead of player search
- Fixed getting into Pause/Resume loop at the end of the game if accessing tactics after game ended
- Detail level screen did not remember changes to the preset settings for Continental games
- Fixed salary sorting on the Waiver wire screen
- On player & Staff search there were two options called Export, one of them should have been Delete and is now re-named.
- Fixed problem where some President's Tophy winners wouldn't be displayed on the team history screen
- Added affiliates links to Front Office screen
- Training screen now has multi-select to change player schedules en masse.
- training screen remembers which attributes were being shown for each schedule type
- Training screen shows the number of players on each schedule in the Schedule menu.
- Fixed when selecting Canada on the select leagues screen then changing to it to Standard, Canada remained in the start date options dropdown.
- Fixed goalies being included in skater stats on the home screen
- When an exhibition tour has the maximum games (10), then all other dates are marked as unavailable
- Fixed player bio problem where a player's best season was noted as an award winning year when it wasn't
- Fixed incorrect alignment of delete button on shortlist
- Invite (for exhibition)/Scout Team/Apply for Job now available via right click
- Qualifying offer text on contract offer screen is linkable and now sets the offer to that value
- Added extra info display to the 2D screen to make note of the last goal scorer and assists as well as the last penalty called
- Moved the play-by-play commentary bar right below the rink to make it more readable while watching games
- Made the 2D action automatically pause/resume while accessing dropdown menu's while watching games to allow better menu access
- In the league histories for youngest and oldest players there was a display issue with the players age which made the list look unsorted.
- Removed 0-4 Forecheck/Neutral Zone Defensive options for for 3v5 units
- Fixed incorrect clear dates being displayed on the waiver wire screen
- Standings panel showed the Eastern conference for Western conference teams in the QMJHL
- Fixed +/- display issue in the Hot or Not panel in Team Report
- Fixed refresh rate being set to 60Hz when alt-tabbing while in fullscreen mode (Windows)
- Offer to All added to person actions
- Modal screens now handle keypress actions (escape for cancel action, return for confirm action)
- Quickflicks and see also button now have a tooltip
- League list dropdown on Fantasy Draft options screen is now sorted alphabetically
- Training screen can be assigned to a keyboard shortcut and is by default assigned to F10
- Fixed the amount of years a contract is offered for being reset when going back an altering an offer already made
- Fixed the game freezing while pressing the keyboard shortcut for the news screen whilst on the news screen
- Fixed progress bar displaying team names the wrong way round with North American score display on
- Stopped an extra goal being added to the overall winning teams score in a 2nd leg match if the result was decided by a shootout on the compeition Stages & Schedule screens
- Fixed player bio string saying "Canada passport" etc when it should have been "Canadian passport"
- Fixed filtered attribute columns not showing up when viewing filtered staff attributes in Staff Search.
- Fixed problem getting stuck on the date select dialog and bnot being able to change the date
- Fixed going to "Change Trade Offer" when the AI was about to negotiate the bid showing the negotiated bid rather than the original one.
- Added alternative view to the Waiver Wire screen to show some additional information
- Fixed Front Office Suspended Players panel from always saying players were banned for 1 game
- Enabled confirmation dialog when loan or trial cancelled, that tells you when the player is due to return/leave
- Stopped from being able to complain about the referee more than once per match
- Fixed a problem with the League table for AAL-4 where shootout losses were not being displayed.
- Stopped being able to negotiate a trade when a player is locked, meaing your player gets trade for nothing.

Competitions
============
- Stage names for some all star games were appended with "Final". Not necessary.
- Tweaked scheduling for European club competitions
- Ensured Continental Competitions use the correct game rules.
- European Super Cup first year entered team changes
- olympic Final Qualification Tournament uses the correct game rules
- Updates some teams and dates of matches for the Euro Ice Hockey Challange - fixes some date clashes with European league fixtures
- Friendly tournaments are now played at the organising teams Arena, not Unknown Arena
- Ensured friendly tournaments use the rules specificed by the user.
- Fixed the hosts of the Olympic Hockey Tournament in 2010 sometimes being USA instead of Canada
- Fixed player stats tracking problem which caused non-rookies to be considered rookies (fixes both new games and saved games)
- Fixed no points being given for Shoot-out wins and losses in the Central Hockey league
- Removed the relegation stage from Danish league (applies to new games and ongoing saves, except for current season if stage already in process)
- Fixed development players rule for Central Hockey League
- Memorial Cup hosts are now stored in the competition history
- UK Elite Cup uses touch-up icing
- Fixed DEL all stars team having German players picked
- Fixed rookie players being deemed as rookies for 1 season longer than they should
- Fixed home ice advantage in DEL playoffs
- SWedish league playoffs now using automatic icing
- Fixed rare problem where the same team could be entered into two groups of the Euro Challenge Tour
- Playoff games in Finland are now played alternating Home & Away
- Fixed home ice advantage in Finnish National playoffs
- Fixed playoff seedings in Finnish First
- UK EPL Cup final is now a two-legged game.
- Fixed rookie rules for amateur players in some of the smaller european leagues
- Fixed wrong game order in ECHL south playoffs
- Fixed DEL win being processed as a Cup win not a league win.
- Fixed incorrect team sometimes being given the bronze medal in the Russian league
- Added re-entry waivers exclusion rule for veteran NHL players
- Fixed team relegated from the Russian Superleague not having the correct division (East or west) set
- Euro Challange Tour prize money added
- Fixed staff records getting added twice for making the NHL Playoffs when the team won the Presidents Trophy
- All CHL leagues now use Automatic icing


Transfer/Trade AI
=================
- Fixed trading of the rights to unattached prospects currently on trial
- Fixed returning from loan to the right team after being traded whilst being loaned out from a farm affiliate
- Tuned more native players to attend training camps as walk-ins where possible
- Fixed major junior signing issue of european imports with no club
- AI teams will consider buying players who are currently banned, unless than ban is long term
- Disabled trading during/before fantasy draft so humans cannot cheat
- Improved AI managers in signing their top draft picks

Roster Management
=================
- Russian player releases tweak, should not release players while shortlisting at the cap check, because they need to supply the second teams with players
- Removing a player from IR updates virtual players on roster
- Asking coach for lines during the game repeatedly without clearing them first will no longer mess up the lines
- Improved AI team's handling of signing their prospects to entry level deals
- Enforced the affiliation skater/goalie limits
- Improved AI for taking on loan players in the minor leagues
- Improved AI cap management
- Players no longer get placed on IR automatically when a longer injury occurs in a game coached by the head coach for the human managed team
- Fixed squad numbers being stolen by new arrivals where his preffered squad number is already in use at the team he is joining.
- Assistant GM will no longer make players available unless really forced to do so, if user has set GM options for assistant to keep player status'

Contracts
=========
- Finetuned NHL entry level contract demands
- Fixed counting of accrued NHL seasons to not count on-going season when determining free agency status
- Fixed contract extensions so that the last year of the existing contract is not re-negotiable in any case as per CBA
- Fixed an issue with some AI team non-playing staff not being on proper contracts
- Fixed issue of occasional maxed out wages for non-star players on AI teams
- Changed Central Hockey League default contract end date to end of June
- Stopped "Wants new contract" when it's illegal(CBA) to be offered one, and tuned this when we've just qualified for the playoffs
- Loan contracts now count towards the cap in the Russian League
- Increased the interest of young players to sign NHL contracts even when not considered a hot prospect
- Made sure players are removed from the waiver list when their contract expires.

Printouts
=========
- Fixed printing player statistics the heading label said "Team" for National sides and vice-versa.
- Fixed an error message printing team stats before a new season begins

Drafts
======
- Fixed Fantasy Drafted players being added back into the draft pool, and the team who originally picked him not actually getting him
- Improved game created draft pool material
- Tweaked CHL Import draft availability and player interest

Finances
========
- Finetuned board cap control in non-NHL leagues

News
=====
- Fixed a missing hyperlink in trade news, for the player whom the rejected team did not like
- Tweaks to training camp report news to single out a player for praise
- Fixed prize money news not being sent out
- Fixed when a player rejects a offer of a try-out the news item mentions that the reason is because scouts from the team that offered the try-out were watching him.
- Disabled response button on status clarification news item if the player had already moved teams after the request for status update
- Tweaked trade rumors (toned down the number of these created)
- Fixed player form news coming up outside of the season
- Trade rumour news item doesn't mention trading draft picks if the league doesn't use a draft.
- Ensured news gets to sent to humans about jobs they applied for but were unsuccessful in getting.
- Fixed "cannot continue" bug related to a waiver pickup / seeks assurances news
- UI improvements for trading: news items can now have multiple responses, and we can accept or reject trades without having to visit the trade screen
- Fixed news item stating number of Cup wins being one less than the actual figure
- Removed hyperlink from Fans Player of the Year news item, as history is not kept for this award.
- Fixed Prospect update news item speaking about goalies as "first line" players etc.
- Prospect update news still gets sent when human is on holiday


Other
=====
- Fog of war should be visible for free agents who were last playing in manager's nation
- Disabled manager speculation news for the first few days of a new game
- NEW_AFFILIATION and AFFILIATION_CHANGE config commands now support setting affiliation mode and maximum skater and goalie counts
- Fixed _ in team name in the score upload
- Tweaked morale for teams in the playoffs
- Re-working file/folder locations etc for Windows Vista support (user documents directory now checked for data files)
- Reduced fog of war for players offered to a team by an agent
- colourblind skin improvments
- Fixed numbers being retired when players are still playing

Assets
======

Data
====
- Fixed problem with Georgian language having no nation set.
- Made sure playrs like Jagr can speak English, and Quebec based players can speak French and English
- Fixed issues from the Data Forums - as many issues reported fixed as possible, particularly large Fin/Swe/Den threads
- OHL database brought up to scratch
- Updated rosters and data across all leagues
- New NHLers who have made their debuts in the 2006/07 season are added to NHL rosters (eg Kessel, Staal, Radulov etc)
- Removed duplicate officials
- Removed 'DELETE' staff
- Added missing NHL records

Awards
======
- Canadian Humanitarian of the year award was incorrectly associated with the OHL, now moved to Memorial Cup to encompass the entire CHL.
- vezina trophy now has a higher lower games played limit for eligibility
- Ensured that players who don't play many games don't win player of the season awards
- Russian Superleague MVP can't be a goalie


Translations
============
- Italian language added


2D Engine
============
- Tweaked player AI on dumping the puck in too eagerly
- Enforced no-change rule after icings
- Improved goalie AI to respect the no-go zone behind the goalline
- Improved linechanging AI
- Improved coaching AI when picking special teams
- Fixed puck getting stuck to netting too often
- Tweaked suspension frequency for players sent out to fight on purpose but not targeting specific players (ie. headhunting)
- Tweaked scoring levels
- Tweaked tracking of assists
- Tweaked penalty tracking
- Improved defensive AI
- Fixed possible issues with shootout takers in human games
- Tweaked highlight modes
- Fixed first shootout attempt not showing fully in highlights
- Fixed aggregate scores being doubled at the end of a shootout in the final leg
- Improved powerplay AI
- Tuned shorthanded scoring, ratings and fights in major juniors
- Fixed goalie stats sometimes not displaying for a goalie who came on for another mid game.
- Tweaked coach AI to consider injuries, ejections and benchings when asking coach for lines during a game

Mac
===
- Fixed Escape key not being handled
- Fixed a problem with leap years on the mac which lead to the existence of the 32nd of December

[sachmo71]

go pumpy, go!

[Pumpy Tudors]

Training Camp Bug - Running open camp, all players who arrive for open tryouts have last names that start with "C" or "B". I checked all other teams in league and it appeared to be the same.

News Bug - Read a news item on the NHL where it stated that a game ended in a 5-5 tie. Checked box score and saw where one team had won in shoot out.

Central specific bug?? - Saw two players in particular that I wanted to go after. Both where 36 years old and on the "trade block" by their respective teams. Approached both teams and only option was to "buy" player. Could not offer trade. I am not an expert in the Central Hockey League but I was not aware that the cash for player , transfer system, was used in any North American league.
I was so excited about the new version until I saw this. Does anything in the "final changelist" look like it addresses any of these? I didn't notice anything as I looked through it.

[Joe Canadian]

WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.sigames.com/downloads.php?type=view&id=372

[Marc Duffy]

Damn, you beat me to it :)

[Draft Dodger]

I'm scared about applying this to my existing save game, as I'm currently in a playoff positions

[Sweed]

Thanks Marc, can't wait to get home tonight to fire this baby up.

[King of New York]

Okay, now we are in business again.

The kids are gonna have to go to bed a bit earlier than usual tonight.

[Icy]

Great, installing it now. This will be a good way to wait until FM and FOF patches are out, and then... damn i need days with 72 hours and to not to need to sleep or eat.

[BigDPW]

Good job getting out such an impressive patch! Installing now!

[Joe Canadian]

Does anyone know where I can find some updated face packs, and some staff face packs? I'm currently using one I downloaded for last year's version of the game, and the only one's I can find are the "card style" packs... which I think are ugly.

[bhlloy]

OK so I download the game, start an NHL career and under a month in, I have too many contracted players on my reserve list and can't advance until I release 5 guys. Only problem is, they all have to clear waivers before I can release them. Am I missing something, or is my first go round with this game screwed already? Help would be greatly appreciated... thanks

[klayman]

OK so I download the game, start an NHL career and under a month in, I have too many contracted players on my reserve list and can't advance until I release 5 guys. Only problem is, they all have to clear waivers before I can release them. Am I missing something, or is my first go round with this game screwed already? Help would be greatly appreciated... thanks

Is it a roster limit or a reserve limit? For the roster limit, as soon as you place a player on waivers you can reassign him to your farm club to get him off the roster. A reserve limit, the game shouldn't let you exceed (although I've never tried too)...that's messed up if it did.

[bhlloy]

Yeah... I was 5 players over the reserve limit. There didn't seem to be any way around it, so I had to scrap that game and start again. At least I will know to keep an eye on it in the future.

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Yeah... I was 5 players over the reserve limit. There didn't seem to be any way around it, so I had to scrap that game and start again. At least I will know to keep an eye on it in the future.

Before the patch, all you would really have to do is "release the rights" of players not under contract. That would be the easy way to get around this. I have not had to do this with the new patch...

[Pumpy Tudors]

Before the patch, all you would really have to do is "release the rights" of players not under contract. That would be the easy way to get around this. I have not had to do this with the new patch...
Those last bugs you mentioned - the training camp bug, news bug, and unable to trade for those 36-year-old players bug - were those addressed in the patch?

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Those last bugs you mentioned - the training camp bug, news bug, and unable to trade for those 36-year-old players bug - were those addressed in the patch?

I only played a couple of minutes last night after installing latest patch. I will look into tonight. Unless Marc or Riz want to comment ?

[JPhillips]

I think there is a problem with the reserve list for some teams. I know the Capitols have too many and the only way to get around it is to release the rights of some unsigned prospects. It isn't possible to fix the problem by dumping minor league crap because of the waiver period.

Not a big problem, but rather annoying to have to start dumping unsigned guys early on.

[klayman]

Yeah, but bhlloy's problem was too many contracted players. You have two limits on the reserve list, those under contract and those you hold rights for (plus rights to contracted players). If you are over on the second maximum, then you can just release unsigned guys to get under. But if you are over on the contracted you have a bigger problem that releasing unsigned players isn't going to solve. Thing is, the game shouldn't let you exceed that contracted number limitation anyway. Once you try to sign the 51st player, it should tell you that you can't. At least I figured that's how it worked. It is possible that I'm completely wrong with how the reserve list works.

[Galaril]

I am eagerly awaiting impressions of the patched game from my fellow FOFCers.:D

[King of New York]

These impressions are based on one night's worth of playing (about one month of game time)--as I delve more deeply into the patched game, I might have more to say.

1) Riz has done a very nice job of polishing the 2D game engine. First, the things that were just wrong (no assists credited when they should have been credited) appear to have been fixed completely (though I want to make certain that it's working with slap shots that come off faceoffs.) The highlights are much better chosen: "key" and "extended" highlights no longer show the final two minutes of every period in blow-out games, and you no longer have to watch one of your guys skate to the bench, drink some water, chat with the coach, turn around, and then skate back to join his team mates before every faceoff.

Concerns? Nothing major so far. Scoring levels look pretty good (I'm playing Canadian Major Junior hockey.) None of my players has been in any fights yet, but I think that the "aggressiveness" settings might have been tweaked, and I need to adjust--pre-patch, goons set to aggressive or highly aggressive would pull a Bertuzzi and try to murder opposing players, so you had to dial everyone down to normal. Now, I think the aggression levels are more intuitive, and I need to up mine. I'd like to see a few more plays (crushing hits, great saves, blown chances) included under "Key" highlights--however, extended highlights can show those plays. There's a small lag in the game before faceoffs--maybe that is by design?

I'm going to play some more tonight, but so far, so good.

[bhlloy]

Yeah, but bhlloy's problem was too many contracted players. You have two limits on the reserve list, those under contract and those you hold rights for (plus rights to contracted players). If you are over on the second maximum, then you can just release unsigned guys to get under. But if you are over on the contracted you have a bigger problem that releasing unsigned players isn't going to solve. Thing is, the game shouldn't let you exceed that contracted number limitation anyway. Once you try to sign the 51st player, it should tell you that you can't. At least I figured that's how it worked. It is possible that I'm completely wrong with how the reserve list works.


Yeah this is correct. I couldn't release a single scrub under contract so I couldn't advance the game at all and releasing unsigned players didn't bring the contracted number down (obviously). I had signed a number of players that day but I don't think enough to put me over the limit - I'm pretty sure the game must have let me advance at least a day while I had an illegal roster. I was also due to begin training camp the next day.

If this is a bug and other people aren't seeing this I still have the save game available.

[SackAttack]

Patch, eh?

Might be time to take another look.

[Galaril]

One question does american NCAA ice hockey games play out or simmed by the ai? Can we accept/take over a head coach job in the NCAA e.g. say Boston College in the college ranks?

[bhlloy]

OK so this time through I see what is supposed to happen - if I waive somebody they are temporarily taken off the reserve list. I haven't tried to recreate the bug though because I didn't want to lose any more progress.

It is also quite possible that I was just being a retard, although I am 99% sure that I wasn't able to knock anybody off the list by putting them on waivers. If nobody reports it and I can't recreate it, I guess that may well be the case.

[klayman]

One question does american NCAA ice hockey games play out or simmed by the ai? Can we accept/take over a head coach job in the NCAA e.g. say Boston College in the college ranks?

Stats are generated in the background but the games are not played out (there is no NCAA championship) nor can you take over a job in the college ranks.

[JPhillips]

F-in patch. First day of training camp and Ovechkin goes down for three months. I guess I need to do some serious scouting on Esposito and Hamill.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Training Camp Bug - Running open camp, all players who arrive for open tryouts have last names that start with "C" or "B". I checked all other teams in league and it appeared to be the same.

Just for the record, this is not fixed. I am playing in the AHL, and every team in the league only has tryout players whose last names start with "A" or "B". I'm not sure yet if this will keep me from trying to play or not, but I do find it disappointing. :(

[chrisj]

Just for the record, this is not fixed. I am playing in the AHL, and every team in the league only has tryout players whose last names start with "A" or "B". I'm not sure yet if this will keep me from trying to play or not, but I do find it disappointing. :(

I realize you may have other complaints... but if that's really the reason why you're thinking about not trying to play. :rolleyes:

[dervack]

I realize you may have other complaints... but if that's really the reason why you're thinking about not trying to play. :rolleyes:
Yeah I agree. How dare he want to play a game that doesn't work as advertised. The nerve of him.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I realize you may have other complaints... but if that's really the reason why you're thinking about not trying to play. :rolleyes:
Well, then, let me be sure to consult with you next time before I decide what bothers me about a computer game and what doesn't.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[MizzouRah]

Yeah I agree. How dare he want to play a game that doesn't work as advertised. The nerve of him.

No doubt, that would irk the heck out of me.

Could you imagine a draft in FOF that all players have last names that start with an A or B?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Just to clarify, since (from the tone of his post) chrisj thinks I'm just being a whiny bitch about something minor, there's a pretty obvious problem with the fact that the training camp is working this way: If only the "A" and "B" players are coming to tryouts, that means that all of the "C" through "Z" players are not. This is not a case of the game only creating players with names that start with particular letters. The players are already in the database, and there are thousands of eligible players who are not attending training camps because of what seems to be a bug.

Apologies if I wasn't clear on that.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Sorry, I forgot to add:

:rolleyes:

[MizzouRah]

How about adding :rolleyes: and :rolleyes: . Top it off with :rolleyes: :rolleyes: and then sprinkle some :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: !

[dervack]

:rolleyes:

;)

[Blade6119]

Are you all speaking in code?? I want to play!!!

[Joe Canadian]

Something I've been noticing alot during watching the 2D engine... the players pass the puck to the goalies a lot during the game.

As well while in their defensive zone teams will often leave one man behind the goal line (in the corners or behind the net) and the other four will change lines, leaving that one player with the puck with five opposing players. For some reason those five guys never go after that one player...

[Oilers9911]

:)
oh sorry, I meant to say
:rolleyes:

[bhlloy]

Just to clarify, since (from the tone of his post) chrisj thinks I'm just being a whiny bitch about something minor, there's a pretty obvious problem with the fact that the training camp is working this way: If only the "A" and "B" players are coming to tryouts, that means that all of the "C" through "Z" players are not. This is not a case of the game only creating players with names that start with particular letters. The players are already in the database, and there are thousands of eligible players who are not attending training camps because of what seems to be a bug.

Apologies if I wasn't clear on that.

While I agree with chrisj it doesn't seem to be a huge deal if you are playing in the NHL, take over a team in the UHL or one of the lesser European leagues (UK mostly), and open tryouts are important because some of the players turning up genuinely have a chance to make your roster.

I had an interesting bug today which I think may have been around since EHM 2005. At the end of the season one of my goalie prospects was released by his OHL team, who didn't make the playoffs. There was then a bidding war for him (he's very well developed for juniors) by the teams who were still in the playoffs. He signed with Halifax, who then released him the very same day. Cue another bidding war, he signs with Rimouski and then gets released again. Not sure if this is an issue with the contract he signs ending on the same day he is signed, or an issue with his junior eligibility being shot when his original team is eliminated from contention.

[bhlloy]

Something I've been noticing alot during watching the 2D engine... the players pass the puck to the goalies a lot during the game.

As well while in their defensive zone teams will often leave one man behind the goal line (in the corners or behind the net) and the other four will change lines, leaving that one player with the puck with five opposing players. For some reason those five guys never go after that one player...

Too many breakaways where the player just skates round one or more defensemen would be my major gripe with 2D, but it's so hugely improved it almost seems unfair to complain. Like FM, it's going to take at least 3 versions for them to get it just right.

[Pumpy Tudors]

While I agree with chrisj it doesn't seem to be a huge deal if you are playing in the NHL, take over a team in the UHL or one of the lesser European leagues (UK mostly), and open tryouts are important because some of the players turning up genuinely have a chance to make your roster.
...or making other team's rosters. As I said, I was playing in the AHL, and while my NHL parent club will send players down to me, I can't completely depend on getting New Jersey's scraps. I'm trying to win a Calder Cup, and if some guy impresses me in a tryout, he deserves to play. If all the "C" through "Z" players are just sitting around at home doing nothing, that really affects the entire game universe, not just my team or league.

I don't know how much player development comes from playing time, but this could have an effect on NHL teams, too. Suppose that a player could develop into a serviceable 3rd- or 4th-line NHL player, but he needs a little development to get there. Imagine that he enters an ECHL open tryout, makes the team, moves up to the AHL the next year, and finds his way to the NHL two years after that. It would be a great story, wouldn't it? Even if it doesn't happen on your own team, right? For a lot of players in the game, this bug won't allow it to happen.

Again, I may just play through and accept the bug for now, but it's still disappointing, and maybe it does bother me more than it bothers other people. I just think that my reasons for being bothered are legitimate.

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

...or making other team's rosters. As I said, I was playing in the AHL, and while my NHL parent club will send players down to me, I can't completely depend on getting New Jersey's scraps. I'm trying to win a Calder Cup, and if some guy impresses me in a tryout, he deserves to play. If all the "C" through "Z" players are just sitting around at home doing nothing, that really affects the entire game universe, not just my team or league.

I don't know how much player development comes from playing time, but this could have an effect on NHL teams, too. Suppose that a player could develop into a serviceable 3rd- or 4th-line NHL player, but he needs a little development to get there. Imagine that he enters an ECHL open tryout, makes the team, moves up to the AHL the next year, and finds his way to the NHL two years after that. It would be a great story, wouldn't it? Even if it doesn't happen on your own team, right? For a lot of players in the game, this bug won't allow it to happen.

Again, I may just play through and accept the bug for now, but it's still disappointing, and maybe it does bother me more than it bothers other people. I just think that my reasons for being bothered are legitimate.


Yes, playing in the Central Hockey League this is a problem for me also. I dont want to call this a show stopper yet for me as the CHL has limited roster space and I dont really see myself signing more then 1 tryout player per year if that. But it certainly takes away from the option of having an open camp.

One thing I dont recall in 2005 that I am seeing now is that players with out a team will approach you requesting an opportunity to play for you. Not sure if you are seeing this in the AHL Pumpy, but I get on average 3-4 players a month approach me. This is pretty cool as I have been playing by some LLM rules of only signing players I have scouted. With this feature it gives me an opportunity to put him immediately on my short list and sign him if desired.

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

Anyone seeing extreme rising of Spd, Acc & Str attributes?

Someone posted on this over at the SI boards, so I checked my saved game and noticed that in the NHL players of all kinds are seeing increases in this three attributes. I am only still in my first year and am seeing players 36 years old + etc, have their speed increase to 19-20.

It looks like , according to some of the posts I have read regarding this bug, that this causes an overload of "Stars" by the year 2010 with league scoring rising to a extreme level.

Damn, I really wanted to get a saved game going but this one will really make me hold off.

[condors]

i wish i didn't read that, i am enjoying the game with the new patch, hopefully a fix comes out for it soon and it will work with saved games

[BigDPW]

The unfake database v1.0 has been released! Yeah now we can all start our definitive games with EHM 07!

http://www.eastside-uk.co.uk/

[Draft Dodger]

whoa...

"Any use, reproduction or anything similar (including hosting) without permission from the author is STRICKLY PROHIBITED."

strickly prohibited. sounds severe.

[Joe Canadian]

Arghh... they got the Fog Devils arena wrong, despite me telling them the right name.

[Young Drachma]

Hmm..I'm on the fence as to whether I want this or not. The last version was outstanding and I love hockey, but I never knew I liked it that much. I can't tell from these posts whether or not I should give it a go.

Hmm...

[Pumpy Tudors]

Hmm..I'm on the fence as to whether I want this or not. The last version was outstanding and I love hockey, but I never knew I liked it that much. I can't tell from these posts whether or not I should give it a go.

Hmm...
There's a patch in beta right now, and someone at SI (Graeme Kelly, maybe?) says that it will probably be released in early January after the SI guys return from holiday. I still haven't purchased, but I'll probably do so after this patch comes out.

[Young Drachma]

Ok, I'll wait then.

[MizzouRah]

Talk about weird, I was just going to bump this thread to see what people think about this version after a bit of time with it.

[Draft Dodger]

I just finished a season up, after a disappointing first round sweep in the playoffs (against the Stars, so obviously the game is messed up).

I'm a bit discouraged with the trading - as in, there's WAY too much of it. I thought about starting a new career with the unfaking db, but the trading thing has turned me off for now.

[sachmo71]

I spent a few hours merging 2005 pics with the new 2007 pics and updates on the Blueline. What a geek.

If anyone wants a copy of this huge file, ping me.

[Karim]

I finally got into EHM the past few days. I decided to give up on the NHL and start in Juniors, working my way up. A lot of my suggestions for improvement are basically working features in FM2007. I'm actually enjoying the 2D more than I thought and am actually coaching games. But I hate that guys continue to cycle backwards instead of dumping the puck in, even with dump and chase set to high.

Also, will other teams come with job offers after my reputation increases or do I have to manually apply?

Thanks.

[MCK]

bump

Any thoughts since the new patch was released 1/30/07. Just curious if this is a must have since it is the last version they will make.

[Pumpy Tudors]

If the demo is updated, I'm going to give it another try this weekend. Since it's the last version, I'll probably just go ahead and buy it. I absolutely loved the previous version, so I'm sure that this one will draw me in also.

In addition, I just added 1.5GB of RAM to my system, so things will be a bit faster this time around. :)

[Honolulu_Blue]

I haven't downloaded the new patch yet. Between still being in a period of mourning over the end of the series and far, far, far too much work, I've had no time.

[twothree]

For anyone that still has an interest in the game, another final patch will be out soon.

http://community.sigames.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6461934525/m/2852098403

If anyone has any "...serious gameplay issues that are affecting your enjoyment of the game, other than those listed as fixed...", then they ask that you report them as soon as possible.

[scooter]

The 3.0.4 BETA is out for people to download. Note that this is a BETA patch. Graeme is telling people to backup both their saved games and .exe before using it.

http://community.sigames.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6461934525/m/8422001603

For those, like myself, that are not brave enough to be beta testers, they are saying the official patch will probably be out next week.

[King of New York]

Hats off to SI for continuing to support a game that has been discontinued. Although I was disappointed with the condition in which EHM 2007 3.0 was released, I thought that 3.02 was a very good game. I never got around to playing 3.03, but I will play 3.04 at some point.

[scooter]

The official 3.0.4 patch is now out. Just click on the "Check for Updates" button in-game and it will take you to the website for download.

Thanks again to Riz and Graeme for continuing to work on this discontinued game on their own time.

[Critch]

How much is the game now? I can find the link for the try-and-buy trial download, but can't find any mention of how much it actually costs.

[MrIllini]

How much is the game now? I can find the link for the try-and-buy trial download, but can't find any mention of how much it actually costs.

it's free if you're not Scottish...

oh, sorry

[Marc Duffy]

How much is the game now? I can find the link for the try-and-buy trial download, but can't find any mention of how much it actually costs.
$34.99

www.elicense.com/sigames/store/

[MizzouRah]

Ok gents, how is this version post final patch?

[Karim]

SI has always been first class but a patch for a discontinued game goes beyond the call of duty.

[MizzouRah]

Anyone? Is this game getting playing time for anyone??

Considering it's the last iteration of the game, I'm still wanting to hear thoughts with the latest patch.

Thank you!

[Honolulu_Blue]

I haven't had time to play anything of late. I haven't installed the latest patch yet either. It's still too depressing to play this game knowing it's the last one...

[condors]

I haven't had time to play anything of late. I haven't installed the latest patch yet either. It's still too depressing to play this game knowing it's the last one...

+1, it is a real downer

[scooter]

I'm still playing, but I play really slowly. I've installed the new patch, but I haven't advanced enough to see any difference. I've just spent the last couple of days getting ready for the draft before my third season.

I guess I'm just the opposite - knowing that it's the last one makes me want to play it more. Usually with SI's games, I play about a season and a half before the next version comes out. I invest a lot of time in my team and really enjoy it. But when the new version comes out, I can't go back to the old game (but I cant' bring myself to delete it either). Knowing that this is the last version means I can relax and enjoy the game knowing that I won't have to abandon my game in a few months.

[MizzouRah]

Thanks, please update this thread if you guys have any input later on.

Watching what the Blues are doing in RL really makes me want to purchase this game.

[JPhillips]

I haven't played enough with the new patch, but if it fixes the attribute decline it's well worth the purchase. EHM constantly delivers one more turn play for me.

If I could only see the same level of managerial brilliance in the real Washington Caps!

[Hurst2112]

I got a new jones to start another career. Any direct link to an unfaking patch to use with the latest patch? thanks

[Honolulu_Blue]

I don't think I mentioned this, but found it funny.

I was playing a career (pre the most recent patch) and did the fantasy draft for my team. I ended up with Branislav Mezei as my 5th or 6th defensemen. He's big and pretty tough, so on the tactics screen I meant to change his "fighting" tactic to "allowed" or whatever the setting was. I accidently, however, set it to "encouraged".

He went insane. He was like a berseker in each and every game. He accumulated over 200 penalty minutes in FIFTEEN GAMES. Every game there were fights, multiple misconducts, game misconducts... He was completely out of control. He then started getting depressed because he thought the refs were picking on him.

Once I wratched his fighting down a notch, however, things returned to normal.

[sachmo71]

I don't think I mentioned this, but found it funny.

I was playing a career (pre the most recent patch) and did the fantasy draft for my team. I ended up with Branislav Mezei as my 5th or 6th defensemen. He's big and pretty tough, so on the tactics screen I meant to change his "fighting" tactic to "allowed" or whatever the setting was. I accidently, however, set it to "encouraged".

He went insane. He was like a berseker in each and every game. He accumulated over 200 penalty minutes in FIFTEEN GAMES. Every game there were fights, multiple misconducts, game misconducts... He was completely out of control. He then started getting depressed because he thought the refs were picking on him.

Once I wratched his fighting down a notch, however, things returned to normal.

Yes, don't use that setting with a goon. He will blow the ford up.

[Hurst2112]

I haven't been reading this thread that much as of late. However, I started a new career (with Detroit).

56 games in, I saw something strange.

It appears that Edmonton and Detroit share the Grand Rapids Griffins AHL team? I check Edmonton and they ALSO have their hand in the Wilkes Barre /Scranton Penguins????

Is this a known glitch or is this something new? I loaded the latest patch and haven't installed any unfaking.

thanks

[Honolulu_Blue]

I haven't been reading this thread that much as of late. However, I started a new career (with Detroit).

56 games in, I saw something strange.

It appears that Edmonton and Detroit share the Grand Rapids Griffins AHL team? I check Edmonton and they ALSO have their hand in the Wilkes Barre /Scranton Penguins????

Is this a known glitch or is this something new? I loaded the latest patch and haven't installed any unfaking.

thanks

This is not a glitch. This last year, the Oilers did not have their own AHL affiliated team, much like the Wings didn't for a few years before teaming up with Grand Rapids (the Wings shared Cinciniatti with the Ducks). Babcock was the coach of Cinci for some of that time and coached some Wings players like (ex-Wing) Jason Williams.

The Oilers had a similar arrangement, splitting their players between Wilkes Barre and Grand Rapids. It's not an ideal situation for prospects. I hated it when the Wings were in that situation. The Oilers just recently signed a new deal with an AHL club (not sure which one) to be their affiliate.

Short answer: EHM has the right of it.

[MizzouRah]

I'm downloading the patch right now and it says, 3.0.1 - do I install the patch to the demo to make it 3.0.4?

[Travis]

I'm guessing it works if you do it that way with the demo, but I'm not 100% sure, I bought the game right off the bat, but it's all the same program, you're just limited to I believe 6 months with the demo.

To others playing, have any of you had much exposure to multiplayer leagues? A couple buddies of mine and I are going to get a local one going after a few holidays end and any tips on any potential pitfalls would be appreciated. I'm assuming it's pretty simple to setup and run, but that's with 0 experience with online leagues for EHM.

I can't recommend this game enough from a single player perspective thus far. I'm 5 years into my new career after restarting with the 3.0.4 patch and had played around 12 combined seasons prior to that with 3 different careers. If this is the last game in the series, at least it's one that will be getting loaded up every hockey season for me.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Since it seems that the declining attribute bug has finally been squashed, I'm about ready to purchase the game and get to playing. I was deep into WWSM for a while there, but I just got fired in that game, so it's time to move on to EHM.

One question about the game for those of you who are watching the 2D view: Is there any way to turn off the music at stoppages of play? Maybe if they had different tunes, it wouldn't be so bad, but when I first tried the demo, my wife and I were getting sick and tired of hearing the same ditty before each faceoff.

[Draft Dodger]

Since it seems that the declining attribute bug has finally been squashed, I'm about ready to purchase the game and get to playing. I was deep into WWSM for a while there, but I just got fired in that game, so it's time to move on to EHM.

One question about the game for those of you who are watching the 2D view: Is there any way to turn off the music at stoppages of play? Maybe if they had different tunes, it wouldn't be so bad, but when I first tried the demo, my wife and I were getting sick and tired of hearing the same ditty before each faceoff.

Gridirion Greta disapproves.

[Marc Vaughan]

One question about the game for those of you who are watching the 2D view: Is there any way to turn off the music at stoppages of play? Maybe if they had different tunes, it wouldn't be so bad, but when I first tried the demo, my wife and I were getting sick and tired of hearing the same ditty before each faceoff
Graeme or Riz will be able to confirm this - but I'm guessing they'll just be .wav files hidden in the data directory somewhere, just remove them or replace them with something more to your liking (silence?) ....

(yeah I know I work for SI - but I haven't worked on EHM, my guess is based upon ye-olde CM3 engine which I DID work upon and which once apon a time EHM evolved from)

[Pumpy Tudors]

Graeme or Riz will be able to confirm this - but I'm guessing they'll just be .wav files hidden in the data directory somewhere, just remove them or replace them with something more to your liking (silence?) ....

(yeah I know I work for SI - but I haven't worked on EHM, my guess is based upon ye-olde CM3 engine which I DID work upon and which once apon a time EHM evolved from)
I'll look around for .wav files. I figured that it was something like that, but I admit that I didn't look for very long. I can think of lots of songs that I'd like to use, but I fear that the files may need to be below a certain length or file size, and I'd hate to crash my game because I put in a file that was just a wee bit too long.

I mean, I know better than to try to fit a whole song in there. I'd only do maybe 10 seconds, but who knows if the file would be too big for the game to handle? Whatever the case, I'll muck about with it.

[Marc Vaughan]

but I fear that the files may need to be below a certain length or file size, and I'd hate to crash my game because I put in a file that was just a wee bit too long.
If it still shares the CM3 event file format (which is what causes the display of text and sounds) then the 'length' of the time will be in that file and configurable - but it won't 'crash' if its too long or short anyway.

I'm afraid I don't have EHM installed on this laptop (limited disk-space) otherwise I'd check for you ..

[MizzouRah]

Anyone know the websites for add-ons to EHM? I found the UK site with the unfake patch 1.0, but I thought there were more add-on sites for pics, rinks, and what not?

Thanks in advance!

[General Mike]

MizzouRah,

did you try http://ehmtheblueline.com ?

[MizzouRah]

MizzouRah,

did you try http://ehmtheblueline.com ?

That's the one!!!!!

Thank you!

[Ramzavail]

Downloaded the demo and patched it up last night.

Needless to say, I pumped 6 hours into this last night.

Fantasy drafted, fake players, game said I was pegged to be 30th in the league - I've started out 5-0 with 4 road wins. I knew my team was better than that. Dying to get home from work just to stick it to the man more.

I pounded 05 up big time, this game just feels more fluid to me and more organized. 2d is fun to watch too, less choppy.

[Ramzavail]

and speaking of going beyond the call of duty - giving out a 6 month IRL demo is another example. I am still going to buy it, but it gives me 6 months to hid it from the gf in our funds :)

[Young Drachma]

I think I'm going to download and buy this next week. I love hockey more than soccer and I played way more WWSM than I ever thought I would before OOTP came out. I mean, I got to the point where I'd tell friends how much I enjoyed the game.

And EHM was always better to me because I know hockey a lot more.

Mostly, I just want to be able to edit teams and move players around. And I would be happy to recreate the NHL a bit. So...might be time.

[riz]

One question about the game for those of you who are watching the 2D view: Is there any way to turn off the music at stoppages of play? Maybe if they had different tunes, it wouldn't be so bad, but when I first tried the demo, my wife and I were getting sick and tired of hearing the same ditty before each faceoff.

Locate the sounds folder of the game and you should find all the in-game sound files in there in .wav format. The bits of music playing at faceoffs are named "music1.wav", "music2.wav" etc. You can either change these to your liking, delete them or you can edit the "events_eng.cfg" in the "match events" folder and remove any references to these music wavs in there.

If you want the game to play more than those set tunes, there's a way of setting it to play a random music file from 10 or 20 named "music1.wav" etc. but unfortunately I'm not on my work laptop right now so I cannot give the precise syntax for setting that up. Will try and post it in the morning.

[MizzouRah]

I think I'm going to download and buy this next week. I love hockey more than soccer and I played way more WWSM than I ever thought I would before OOTP came out. I mean, I got to the point where I'd tell friends how much I enjoyed the game.

And EHM was always better to me because I know hockey a lot more.

Mostly, I just want to be able to edit teams and move players around. And I would be happy to recreate the NHL a bit. So...might be time.

I left my darn jump drive at work that I downloaded the demo, patch, and many mods on... damn me! :mad:

It's a definite purchase for me as well, I had fun with 2005 before I sold it and I'm finally starting to get back into a sport that was once my favorite.

Another reason is after what happened to the series.. I want to support riz and EHM, that has to suck what happened to him, SI, and the whole EHM team. :(

[General Mike]

I've been playing EHM 2005 alot the last few days, so maybe its time for me to make a run at 2007. When I played the demo, the unfake wasn't out so I had trouble getting into it.

[Hurst2112]

Does anybody have links to the walkthroughs or tactics tutorials that were on theblueline.com? The links are broken and I can't log in to SIgames forum to ask questions.

[twothree]

Does anybody have links to the walkthroughs or tactics tutorials that were on theblueline.com? The links are broken and I can't log in to SIgames forum to ask questions.

Can you access this link?

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php

Edit: Look under the Tutorial and Templates section of EHM 2005 for the .pdf version of the "EHM 2005 Walkthrough Guide". I think the online guide is still down.

[Hurst2112]

yep. i thought there was a 2k7, updated guide. i could be wrong. thanks for the link.

[riz]

About the custom music files I mentioned above, here's the full usage syntax:

In the "events_eng.cfg" file, replace all the references to "music1.wav", "music2.wav" etc. with either "random_music_10.wav" or "random_music_20.wav" depending on if you plan on using 10 or 20 custom music files. Then all you need to do is place new music wavs into the sounds folder to replace the default "music1.wav" etc. with up to 10 or 20 custom files of your choise.

I'm pretty sure I documented this for some people earlier on the SI forums so it might be mentioned on the Blueline website guides as well.

EDIT: Btw, nice to see at least some media picking up on the game in Canada, even though it is a bit late :(
http://www.tqs.ca/videos/infos/2007/04/jouer-a-bob-gainey-8732.php

[sachmo71]

About the custom music files I mentioned above, here's the full usage syntax:

In the "events_eng.cfg" file, replace all the references to "music1.wav", "music2.wav" etc. with either "random_music_10.wav" or "random_music_20.wav" depending on if you plan on using 10 or 20 custom music files. Then all you need to do is place new music wavs into the sounds folder to replace the default "music1.wav" etc. with up to 10 or 20 custom files of your choise.

I'm pretty sure I documented this for some people earlier on the SI forums so it might be mentioned on the Blueline website guides as well.

EDIT: Btw, nice to see at least some media picking up on the game in Canada, even though it is a bit late :(
http://www.tqs.ca/videos/infos/2007/04/jouer-a-bob-gainey-8732.php

So what's the deal wiht EHM riz? I saw that you are going to continue to work for SI on the football games, but are there any plans to resurrect the free version of eastside...you know, in all of your "free time"? :D

[riz]

So what's the deal wiht EHM riz? I saw that you are going to continue to work for SI on the football games, but are there any plans to resurrect the free version of eastside...you know, in all of your "free time"? :D

I'm working on the FM team right now yes. As for the old freeware, situation with that remains the same: if I ever wanted to do something with it, it would still be a whole new game written from scratch (just like it would have been before I got the chance to join SI) since the engine was just stretched to its limits and written in poor VB. And naturally my "free time" has changed as well. I'm no longer a student with lots of free time, but I do have a day job now and a family to take care of (wife, 2 dogs and 2 cats so far...). Add to that some sports and there is very little "free time" left really. So I would say going down the old freeware route and putting together something on my own time is a poor bet for now.

However, EHM is not dead and buried yet, at least in the back of my head. The NHL EHM series is currently discontinued and everyone who worked on the game are working on other things now. But what future brings, we never know. Maybe one day we can work on something EHM related at SI, maybe I find some "free time" some day in the distant future. Who knows...maybe one day, the East Shall Rise Again ?

Once again, thanks for anyone who went on this ride with us :)

[Young Drachma]

Finally bought this today, after some friends and I had a conversation about a hockey team in Wyoming.

[King of New York]

Hey Riz,

I hope that SI Games' discontinuation of EHM 2007 didn't come as too much of a blow to you. Yeah, 2007 had issues at release, but you and Graeme did a fine job of getting the game into shape. EHM 2005 and EHM 2007 have given me many, many hours of enjoyment--they will always have an honored place in the text-sim pantheon, imho. Thanks--I'm sorry that the sales weren't there.

[Draft Dodger]

I don't suppose now that the game is done riz / SI will release how the 1-10 performance rating scores were calculated...

[Pumpy Tudors]

Just because the thread was bumped, I'd like to say that I'm finally playing this game. I guess my issue is that I'm not sure if I want to be a coach as well as a GM. Now, I'm working with the Devils here, so make your own joke, but I'm just really tempted to coach the games myself. The problem is that I don't want to be half-assed about it. If I'm going to coach, I need to spend the time to really study my players' attributes and match them up in ways that'll help my team win. I can't just throw Elias-Gomez-Gionta together and not touch the sliders for their line. I have to use the sliders to bring the best out of these players, and I'm not sure if I want to take the time to do that.

Obviously, this isn't a problem with the game. This is just an issue that's in my mind. Playing as GM only, I almost feel like I'm not really doing anything, but I'm only a week into the regular season. Maybe as time passes, I'll feel like I'm doing more as a GM. I think I only want to coach because that's what will make me feel "active" right now.

[Travis]

I'd suggest to do it slowly (getting into coaching). Start with setting line tactics, progress that into doing player by player tactics, then start to control practices as well (as you'll know what skills you'll want them to improve on/what can stay the same). I pretty much jumped into this version of the game at 3.0.3 (had played the freeware version previously) and went this route as I was getting a feel for this version. Now 90% of the work is at the start of the season with only minor tweaks during the year to respond to injuries/slumping play, but a lot of these settings are team oriented vs player oriented so once you make the distinction between what you want to be player specific and team/line specific, you can clip through them pretty quickly.

[sachmo71]

Still waiting on the guys at the blueline to get the new unfake\roster update done. There was some concern that the old unfake db was not based on the new fixes, and so the declining ratings problem would still appear.
In the meantime, I found the fantasy draft to be a lot of fun.

[Karim]

I've finally been able to get into this game and haven't been disappointed. I absolutely love the draft. I play strictly as GM except for setting the lines. I'm not sure another sim could do much more than tweaking or presenting alternatives with certain features. This is definitely a solid game.

[GMO]

To help resurrect EHM, they could have EHM being updated every 2nd year instead of every year.
This would mean costs would be averaged over 2 years instead of one, and there would be revenue from 2 years instead of one for each version of EHM.

[riz]

To help resurrect EHM, they could have EHM being updated every 2nd year instead of every year.
This would mean costs would be averaged over 2 years instead of one, and there would be revenue from 2 years instead of one for each version of EHM.

Yeah, it would cut down on the licensing costs but would also double the salary commitments (dev team etc.) per game. And most of the income comes in during the first weeks of sales, so it wouldn't really make much of a bump having the same game on sale for 2 years before the next release instead of the usual 1 year.

But that's really not worth speculating since I don't really see NHL EHM coming back in the near future for now.

[riz]

I've finally been able to get into this game and haven't been disappointed. I absolutely love the draft. I play strictly as GM except for setting the lines. I'm not sure another sim could do much more than tweaking or presenting alternatives with certain features. This is definitely a solid game.

Great to hear. It was important for us to get this last version patched up properly (even if it meant working on our own time) seeing as it will be the version that people are going to have to keep on playing for some time now...

[GMO]

Yeah, it would cut down on the licensing costs but would also double the salary commitments (dev team etc.) per game. And most of the income comes in during the first weeks of sales, so it wouldn't really make much of a bump having the same game on sale for 2 years before the next release instead of the usual 1 year.

But that's really not worth speculating since I don't really see NHL EHM coming back in the near future for now.

Less people would be needed to work on the game because the development would be over 2 years . You would have half the people working on the game over 2 years (or have the updated game developed over one year and have no development for one year). In either case the development costs would be halved.

I'm always hopeful the game will make a comeback.