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

[Mota]

Yeah but if you cut your dev costs in half but only release a product every two years you're also cutting your revenue in half.

[GMO]

Yeah but if you cut your dev costs in half but only release a product every two years you're also cutting your revenue in half.

The 2-year period will allow the game to be sold over 2 years.
It will allow time for the game to become more well known. As more people hear about EHM over the 2-year period, it will keep on selling.
If people like the game they will buy it, no matter if the game was produced 3 days ago or 20 months ago.

Most other software games don't come out every year so why should EHM?

[Pumpy Tudors]

The 2-year period will allow the game to be sold over 2 years.
It will allow time for the game to become more well known. As more people hear about EHM over the 2-year period, it will keep on selling.
If people like the game they will buy it, no matter if the game was produced 3 days ago or 20 months ago.

Most other software games don't come out every year so why should EHM?
The problem is something that riz already stated. Most of the income comes from the first week of sales. You won't get anywhere near double the sales if the "current" game is two years old instead of one year old. At a certain point, your new sales are going to level out or drop to darn near zero. Having a 2-year period between games just means that the "dark period" is longer than it would be if you produced a new game every year.

As it stands, there weren't enough sales to keep EHM alive for right now. If the game couldn't generate enough sales to fill out a one-year gap, it sure couldn't generate enough to fill two years.

:(

[GMO]

The problem is something that riz already stated. Most of the income comes from the first week of sales. You won't get anywhere near double the sales if the "current" game is two years old instead of one year old. At a certain point, your new sales are going to level out or drop to darn near zero. Having a 2-year period between games just means that the "dark period" is longer than it would be if you produced a new game every year.

As it stands, there weren't enough sales to keep EHM alive for right now. If the game couldn't generate enough sales to fill out a one-year gap, it sure couldn't generate enough to fill two years.

:(

"Most of the income comes from the first week of sales."

That's the problem. The game is not well known. The people who know about the game buy it in the first week, but few other know about it so sales drop off. Allowing a 2-year period for sales (but with the same salary costs as a one-year game) will allow more people to know about the game, try it, buy it and spread the word that it's a good hockey sim. Other people will try it and buy it. EHM just needs more time to develop a bigger base of support.

Other software games don't see their sales die after one week. Their sales may in fact increase after one week because more people get to know the game and buy it. While it's true that 2nd year sales may be less than first-year sales, it could still be a significant sales period as more people find out about the game. also the 2nd year sales are mostly profit because most of the costs have been incurred in the first year.

EHM needs more time to become well-known but without a significant increase in costs, and selling EHM over a 2-year period will allow this.

[Hurst2112]

quick question...

I always forget how the settings are worded in the GM options.

I want the coach to adjust tactics. I want a say on the roster and have the coach manage lines.

Do I choose, No, Yes, No or Yes, No Yes

'Use Current Tactics' to me means use what you have selected. So, if I want the coach to choose them, it seems that I should select 'no'. Same with the others. Course, 'use current tactics' could mean use the ones the coach decides on (which means that I would want to select no).

[Pumpy Tudors]

quick question...

I always forget how the settings are worded in the GM options.

I want the coach to adjust tactics. I want a say on the roster and have the coach manage lines.

Do I choose, No, Yes, No or Yes, No Yes

'Use Current Tactics' to me means use what you have selected. So, if I want the coach to choose them, it seems that I should select 'no'. Same with the others. Course, 'use current tactics' could mean use the ones the coach decides on (which means that I would want to select no).
I'm pretty sure that this is how it works (although anyone should correct me if I'm wrong):

"Use Current Tactics" should be "no" if you want the coach to set them. The "current tactics" are the ones that are currently set up in the tactics screen. If you don't want to lock in to those, you should select "no" so you're not stuck with them.

[Karim]

Here are a couple of questions about player development.

1) Forwards generally develop faster than defenceman. I've yet to develop my own goalie. I rushed a 22 year old as a back-up and ended up having to trade for a veteran during the year. I have a prospect that I started in the ECHL who dominated and now he's in the AHL. Again, he's only 22. I've heard IRL that a goalie that can maintain a .920 save percentage in the AHL is ready for the NHL. Is this accurate for deciding when a goalie is ready?

2) Has anyone had a guy produce and be a consistent NHL despite lower attributes, bad coach reports and bad scouting reports? I've managed to get a couple of undrafted guys developed into 3rd/4th liners but I have one guy who I threw into the AHL as a 20 year old. His physical attributes were great, his mental attributes were good but his technical skills were poor. After two years, his AvR hovered around 6.00. But only being 22 I decided to extend another year and now he's started to improve. I'm going to stick with him more out of curiosity than anything just to see if he makes it. Does anyone have interesting development stories?

[Draft Dodger]

just finished a recent season (out of the playoffs, of course).

the Stanley Cup just ended - San Jose won it over the Rangers in 7 games. It's in NY. San Jose was up 3-2 with 3:30 left and Jagr scored (his 3rd of the game) to tie it. It looked like it was going to OT...but Keith Tkachuk scored for the Sharks with one second left. The thought of the Rangers losing a Cup with 1 second left is extremely gratifying to me.

[condors]

Regarding development stories. I am right around the salary cap. I sign free agents young guys that were drafted and given up on. 5th and 6th defensemen and 2nd and 4th line forwards are commonly these guys. My first and 3rd line guys are were i spend my money. I want 3 all stars skating together for the first line. Then i get 3 top ranked two way guys who penalty kill match up with other teams top line. I usually load up on defensemen in the draft outside of the 1st round. In the 1st round i normally get a goal scorer or goalie. (the forwards/goalies i draft after this usually are only AHL/healthy scrath type guys)

[Mike Lowe]

Been reading this thread for a while now and have been recently intrigued by this game. What is the general consensus? I'm looking for something new since OOTP rosters have been a joke.

I'm a bit drunk after celebrating the end to another softball season and am ballsy enough to ask; does anyone have a liscence laying around they are no longer using? I'd love to give it a try but don't feel like getting attached to the 6-month demo.

Thanks and goodnight!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Been reading this thread for a while now and have been recently intrigued by this game. What is the general consensus? I'm looking for something new since OOTP rosters have been a joke.

I'm a bit drunk after celebrating the end to another softball season and am ballsy enough to ask; does anyone have a liscence laying around they are no longer using? I'd love to give it a try but don't feel like getting attached to the 6-month demo.

Thanks and goodnight!

It's a great game. If you like hockey, you should like this. I love this game.

You must have some very serious commitment issues if you're worried about "getting attached" to a 6 month demo...

[Mike Lowe]

I can't get the demo to work :-( I keep getting some weird error. I posted about it on the SI forums but nothing so far.

Does this game come with NHL rosters? How difficult is it to "mod" it up to real-life? Hopefully much easier than OOTP2007.

[scooter]

The game is fully licensed by the NHL as well as some other minor leagues like the AHL, ECHL, etc. NCAA players have had their names changed, just like any game with college players, but there is a database out there that "unfakes" them.

The game is very good. It has developed nicely since it's first version (this is the third), but sadly, this is the last version. As you may have seen on the SI forums, the game is no longer in development. While you are still able to purchase it, it is a "dead" franchise.

[riz]

While you are still able to purchase it, it is a "dead" franchise.

While this franchise is on permanent hiatus for the time being, Eastside itself is not 100% dead. More like in hibernation or something. The East Shall Rise Again :cool:

Seriously though, I'm currently far too busy working on FM that I'd be able to actually work on something EHM related right now, even if I wanted to. But there are some plans lurking around the back of my head that will most likely end up put to use at some point in this universe. What form or shape those plans eventually take is a whole new topic in itself though.

[scooter]

Glad to see you around riz. What you said is essentially what I meant by a "dead" franchise (hence the quotes). I was simply pointing out that he shouldn't be searching the net looking for information on the upcoming release of EHM08. I hope you are able to continue the game at some point in the future. I can't tell you how much time I've spent playing those games...

[Carman Bulldog]

How different are last year's game (EHM 2005) and this years? I played the demo but a lot of the additions (ie. Fantasy Draft??) didn't appeal to me. Any thoughts?

[Travis]

Still enjoying this game greatly. Almost through all the pre-existing players in my current campaign (think I'm in season 2024/25 right now) and looking forward to trying to knock off a few of Gretzky's records with some of the regens I've got on the team now. Only thing I wish that would have gotten fixed was the jersey retirement issue, got easily 3-4 guys that deserve it. Would love to see that patched somehow even if it was just an option for the player to do it themselves (rather than just manually not letting anybody wear those numbers each season).

[Sweed]

How different are last year's game (EHM 2005) and this years? I played the demo but a lot of the additions (ie. Fantasy Draft??) didn't appeal to me. Any thoughts?

Last years was 2006. Did you mean that or 2005?

I played the 2005 demo but did not buy. 2006 the 2d game view was added and I bought the game. The 2k6 2d was choppy and was only a representation of where the players were on the ice. You could almost tell at some times from the animation that a score was likely.

2k7 the 2d was smoothed out and the icons on the ice now show where each player is. I'm not a hockey expert but the flow of the game looks much more realistic to me. To me the new 2d made the game more enjoyable, enough to justify buying the game. Not enough of a hockey man to speak to how much more accurate the game engine became but after patching it seemed most posters were satisfied.

[Draft Dodger]

Last years was 2006. Did you mean that or 2005?


there was no 2006.
2005 then 2007 (which came out in 2006).



I still play it a lot, but I run into some frustrations. The biggest, really, is that I have an extremely difficult time figuring out how to evaluate players - there are so many freaking ratings, and, after playing zillions of games, don't know that I'm any closer to discovering how the ratings will translate on the ice.

A secondary (but related) issue is with tactics. I've tried to go in and adjust tactics, but I can never really get a feel for what's changing. And then, if I make a roster change, I have to tweak them again. It's so much work (and for no tangible gain), that I end up just letting the coach make all the decisions...which makes it less fun - because I can't tell if what he's doing is helping or hurting the team either.

[Travis]

DD, I'm assuming you're playing the 2007 version? I just want to check before saying much as I never played the 2005 version, so not sure if tactics were done the same or not.

[Draft Dodger]

DD, I'm assuming you're playing the 2007 version? I just want to check before saying much as I never played the 2005 version, so not sure if tactics were done the same or not.

yes, 2007.

[Travis]

Here's a fantastic resource for seeing what each setting is meant to do:

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2644

One thing I've found is that certain guys will click, but in the long run, the longer you can leave quality players together playing a consistent game type, the better they will play as opposed to constantly flip flopping line mates/playing styles so long as your tactics are at least ball park for the style a player is suited for.

[Travis]

Dola, I've also found that the ratings I tend to favor in players are anticipation, determination, work rate and checking. Past that I'll start zoning in on certain physical or skill ratings depending on what role I want them to fill, but anticipation and determination are both huge in the sense that no matter how skillful a player is, if his anticipation sucks he just won't be of consistent use, and if determination is low, the less likely they are to achieve their potential. The latter two are more personal preference for the style of play I like my team to have.

[Sweed]

there was no 2006.
2005 then 2007 (which came out in 2006).




I dug out my disk and stand corrected.

[Mike Lowe]

I cannot get the demo to work. Marc Duffy himself has emailed me about the problem but I still cannot get it to work. I want to try the game before buying!

Does anyone want to let me borrow their ID? Is that allowed? I could trade something for it like FOF? I have OOTP2007 but still play it. I also have a copy of the college football sim...forget what it's called.

[JPhillips]

License trading is a sure way to be banned from here. I'd stop asking if I were you.

[scooter]

Not to mention, if the demo isn't working, I'm not sure I'd get my hopes up for the game working for you either. Odd situation. But if anyone can get it to work, it's Marc Duffy.

[Mike Lowe]

License trading is a sure way to be banned from here. I'd stop asking if I were you.

Ok thanks for the heads up. I wasn't aware of the etiquette regarding this. Out of curiosity, how is this different from trading a PS3 game or letting a friend borrow a game? Not complaining, just curious.

Thanks!

[twothree]

Ok thanks for the heads up. I wasn't aware of the etiquette regarding this. Out of curiosity, how is this different from trading a PS3 game or letting a friend borrow a game? Not complaining, just curious.

Thanks!

The difference or indifference does not matter on this board. It is just one of the rules of the board, like, no posting porn links.

[Draft Dodger]

Ok thanks for the heads up. I wasn't aware of the etiquette regarding this. Out of curiosity, how is this different from trading a PS3 game or letting a friend borrow a game? Not complaining, just curious.

Thanks!

this gets debated every few years around here. I don't think there should be anything wrong with a legitimate trade for the game - which would mean someone transferring both licenses to you and uninstalling it from their PC in return for whatever payment you work out. Borrowing the licenses or using one of their two available licenses is not kosher, though, and that's kind of the way your request came across sounding like.

[jbergey22]

This thread makes me sad. I am going to miss this game a lot.

[sachmo71]

This thread makes me sad. I am going to miss this game a lot.

hai, it was going places.

[Mike Lowe]

Oh I didnt mean for it to sound as though I wanted someone to give me a liscence. I wasn't intending for anyone who actually still plays the game to want to loan me (or whatever) their liscence to see if it would work. I was thinking more of someone who is no longer playing it at all and wanted to trade for a game that I no longer play. Then again, anyone reading this probably does play the game still.

[riz]

What seems to be the problem with the demo when you try to play it ? Does it install correctly in the first place or do the problems appear on installation already ?

The first thing to do would obviously be uninstalling any and all previous versions (even demo) of the game and start with a clean slate.

[riz]

This thread makes me sad. I am going to miss this game a lot.

Thou art not alone.

I hope the 2007 version with the fan-provided unfaked databases etc. will be able to serve all the hockey nuts for their managerial fix for at least some time. It's not like there are many new games of this type for this sport in the horizon :(

[GMO]

While this franchise is on permanent hiatus for the time being, Eastside itself is not 100% dead. More like in hibernation or something. The East Shall Rise Again :cool:

Seriously though, I'm currently far too busy working on FM that I'd be able to actually work on something EHM related right now, even if I wanted to. But there are some plans lurking around the back of my head that will most likely end up put to use at some point in this universe. What form or shape those plans eventually take is a whole new topic in itself though.

Great news.
Keep plugging away and your dreams will come true.

[GMO]

Thou art not alone.

I hope the 2007 version with the fan-provided unfaked databases etc. will be able to serve all the hockey nuts for their managerial fix for at least some time. It's not like there are many new games of this type for this sport in the horizon :(

Riz: For the match_events and hints files, can I add events or hints to them, or do I have to keep a set number of events or hints?

For example, for the match_events file, let's say there are 443 events in the current file. Can I add more events so, for example if I add 5 events, there are 448 events in the file, OR am I limited to changing the events (i.e. changing the wording) but I must have exactly 443 events in the file?

Thanks.

[Mike Lowe]

Got the demo up and working! Thanks to Marc Duffy and everyone else for helping out!

[riz]

Riz: For the match_events and hints files, can I add events or hints to them, or do I have to keep a set number of events or hints?

For example, for the match_events file, let's say there are 443 events in the current file. Can I add more events so, for example if I add 5 events, there are 448 events in the file, OR am I limited to changing the events (i.e. changing the wording) but I must have exactly 443 events in the file?

Thanks.

For the match events, you can add as many alternatives to an event as you like. Naturally you cannot add totally new event types since the game would not expect them to be there (crash) but like I said, you can alter the existing commentary lines and add new ones under each event type. I'd suggest making a backup copy first and then just trying it out.

As for the hints, I'm not 100% but I'm fairly sure you can add more in on your own. Just make a backup first again.

[riz]

Great news.
Keep plugging away and your dreams will come true.

Hey, my first dream was to make a hockey sim so I could manage my own version of the Rangers (done with freeware EHM).

My second dream was to make a proper hockey sim with lots of leagues and a full world of hockey, basically Championship Manager, but for hockey (done with the NHL EHM series).

Sometimes, dreams do come true ;)

On top of all that, I've gotten myself a full time job doing what I love, albeit for the time being I'm gonna have to do with soccer and FM. Now I'll go back to dreaming some more if you don't mind :cool:

[astrosfan64]

Hey, my first dream was to make a hockey sim so I could manage my own version of the Rangers (done with freeware EHM).

My second dream was to make a proper hockey sim with lots of leagues and a full world of hockey, basically Championship Manager, but for hockey (done with the NHL EHM series).

Sometimes, dreams do come true ;)

On top of all that, I've gotten myself a full time job doing what I love, albeit for the time being I'm gonna have to do with soccer and FM. Now I'll go back to dreaming some more if you don't mind :cool:

Please go back to hockey. I love FM and EHM. Just drop the licenses so it will be cheaper for you. We don't need no stinking licenses.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Please go back to hockey. I love FM and EHM. Just drop the licenses so it will be cheaper for you. We don't need no stinking licenses.
Are licenses overrated?

[Travis]

Are licenses overrated?

ftw

[Blade6119]

I will always remember my days at Head Coach of the London Knights dynasty fondly, and the accomplishments we achieved will stand the test of time.

[Travis]

Growing up just outside of Edmonton during the glory years of the Oilers, I took very much for granted what that team was doing at the time, and even moreso what Gretzky did during his career. While I feel I'm a bit older/wiser now and can look back and start to really see what those accomplishments took, EHM is really putting Gretzky into perspective at this point. I'm in my longest running career right now (think I'm 1/4 of the way through 2025/26 now) and Crosby, nearing the end of his career is still 400+ points back of Gretzky's career points mark (picked Crosby up 8 seasons ago as an UFA). I've had a dream first line of Crosby playing with the regens (I believe) of Naslund and Forsberg for the past 4-5 season which have resulted in Crosby's best point totals, but even at that, it's *very* unlikely that he'll make a serious push. Forsberg's regen on the other hand has a shot, having around 1,600 points at the age of 30, but certainly not a lock. I'm hoping to topple the mark, but the fact that it's been an almost single minded purpose for me since the 2015 season or so to bring a player through the system to challenge that mark and I'll only have one guy by around 2030 who'll be on pace really slams home (for me) just how magnificent of a career Gretzky had.

That said, I'm hoping the ongoing projects to try and update the rosters and get a new set out for the 07/08 season are successful and I can start a new long term project in September to do it all over again.

[Mike Lowe]

What is the story with players being "regens?" Can you turn this off? Sounds incredibly cheesy.

[Travis]

Regens, as far as I understand them, are the games way of keeping a consistent player pool. When a player retires he is "regen'd" from the same country he was originally from, will end up a similar height to his original and shoot the same way. Ratings wise though is where you have to be careful because while some of the stats will tend to be similar (ie: flair), a lot of the regen's stats are random, so just because it's the Forsberg regen doesn't mean he'll be anywhere as good (and vice versa, the Anson Carter regen could end up as a superstar), they just have a likely head start. Also, North American players (I think) regen at an earlier age than European players, so they'll hit the NHL draft a couple years later than their counterparts once regen'd.

As far as I know there's no way you can turn it off, and honestly, aside from a few guys who come in and kick ass, I don't bother worrying about who's regen's they might be, I have a certain set of stats I look at prior to drafting/signing players to ensure that they fit the team system I prefer. Even the one's I listed above could be totally off base as I'm going on hunches rather than having dug through the player profiles to really match them up.

[bhlloy]

Yeah, the only downside to regens is that they keep the nationality. So if you see a German/South African 15 year old netminder, you know it's Olaf Kolzig and he's going to be good. There are a couple more guys who have wierd combo's (Owen Nolan?) but other than that it's not easy to figure out if you aren't tracking things in detail.

[Blade6119]

Was a big fan of 05, so i downloaded the 07 Demo last night, clicked trial, then filled out the register field. Click next and it brought up an error about number of restrictions mentioning 15 and 12. Now, i cant even get to the register field...clicking on the trial button tells me about the restrictions and closes the program. Have a feeling its something to do with my XP, but ill be damned if ive figured it out yet.

[duff88]

Yeah, the only downside to regens is that they keep the nationality. So if you see a German/South African 15 year old netminder, you know it's Olaf Kolzig and he's going to be good. There are a couple more guys who have wierd combo's (Owen Nolan?) but other than that it's not easy to figure out if you aren't tracking things in detail.

Actually they don't keep the second nationality.

I continue playing NHL:EHM whenever I get some free time. I have this game with the Canadiens I've been playing with for the last few months, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I wrote this yesterday:

A little update on my Canadiens game, which hasn't been going very well. I was very patient with Carbonneau, but it didn't amount to anything and the team constantly under achieved with him. 8th in 2006-2007, 14th in 2007-2008, 9th in 2008-2009, 12th in 2009-2010, 3rd in 2010-2011 before being swept in the first round.

We're now January 11th 2012 and we are currently second in the conference, behind only the powerful Pittsburgh Penguins led by the Crosby-Kovalchuk duo, with a 27-13-5 record.

Andrei Kostitsyn - Saku Koivu (C) - Egor Korepanov
Mikhail Grabovsky - Ben Maxwell - Michael Ryder
Chris Higgins (A) - Tomas Plekanec - Guillaume Latendresse
Paul Gaustad - Wayne Primeau - Martin Lapointe
EXTRA: Adam Mair

Andrei Markov - Mike Komisarek (A)
Nick Petrecki - Brent Seabrook
Niclas Hävelid - David Fischer
EXTRA: Sasha Pokulok - Pavel Valentenko

Carey Price
Maxime Ouellet

Korepanov was called up only a few weeks ago because Higgins and Latendresse were injured. He took Latendresse's place on the first line temporarly, but with 2 goals and 5 assists in 7 games, I decided to keep him there and place Latendresse on the third line. He was the 14th overall pick in 2009.

Andrei Kostitsyn (45-22-36-58) and Saku Koivu (45-20-37-57) respectively sits 6th and 7th in NHL scoring. Pittsburgh's Ilya Kovalchuk (43-32-39-71), with a six points performance in his last game, is first in the league followed by his teammate Sidney Crosby (43-28-37-65). Here are the stats for a few other notable players from Montreal:

Michael Ryder - 45GP - 24G - 25A - 49PTS
Guillaume Latendresse - 41GP - 22G - 25A - 47PTS
Ben Maxwell - 45GP - 14G - 33A - 47PTS
Mikhail Grabovsky - 24GP - 17G - 12A - 29PTS
Chris Higgins - 30GP - 10G - 11A - 21PTS
Andrei Markov - 45GP - 3G - 14A - 17PTS

Here are the top prospects in the organisation:

1. #74 Ari Nielsen - C - 19 Years Old - Oak Park, Illinois - Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)
11th overall pick in 2010, he's a offensive forward who is solid on both ends of the ice and who is pretty good in every aspects of the game. He was signed immediately after the draft because he wasn't getting any interesting college offers, and we didn't want him sitting one more year in the USHL. He spent his first pro year with Cincinatti in the ECHL and is now one of the go-to guys in Hamilton.

2. #28 Phil McRae - C - 21 Years Old - Chesterfield, Missouri - Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)
5th overall pick in 2008. McRae is developping rather slowly, and is starting to get mixed reactions. Some see him as a great well-rounded prospects, some thing his slow development proves he was a waste of a high pick. Attracts really opposite reactions, I, as well as my head scout Trevor Timmins think he could be a second line centre à la Mike Richards while my assistant Pierre Gauthier is really not convinced.

3. #37 Paul Fiedler - G - 19 Years Old - München, Germany - Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
41st overall pick in 2010. He spent his first year in the CHL as backup in Cape Breton, but he's now the starter and he's currently the best goaltender in the QMJHL, and only the amazing Eli Malone prevents him from being the top in the entire CHL. He led Germany to a silver medal in the last World U20.

4. #52 Simon Depres - D - 20 Years Old - Laval, Quebec - Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)
24th overall pick in 2009. He is a small bulky defenseman with a lot of offensive skills. He's an excellent passer, doesn't have a very good shot. He's a good skater, but doesn't have good speed. He's having a tremendous rookie season in the AHL after two years with Ferris State in the NCAA.

5. #44 Alex Johnsson - D - 19 Years Old - Sundsvall, Sweden - Färjestad BK (SEL)
25th overall pick in 2011. He is a stay at home defenseman who has an excellent frame, he is strong, a very good skater, a team player who works hard and who is excellent defensively. He makes good passes, but his offensive skills are not really what makes him a good prospect.

6. #22 Egor Korepanov - RW - 20 Years Old - Togliatti, Russia - Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
14th pick in 2009. A hard working winger with tons of speed, he has a good frame and is strong on the puck. Sees the game very well, he's excellent offensively, but he tends to concentrate too much on the offense. A great kid; he even lists his GM as one of the persons he really likes.

7. #81 Konstantin Kuznetsov - LW - 19 Years Old - Sumy, Ukraine - Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)
71st pick in 2010

8. #39 Zdenek Novak - RW - 18 Years Old - Hradek Kralove, Czech Republic - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
85th pick in 2011

9. #85 Egor Mikhno - C - 19 Years Old - Voskresensk, Russia - Moscow CSKA (RUS)
205th pick in 2011

10. #4 Emilien Fortier - D - 19 Years Old - Laval, Quebec - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
131st pick in 2010

A pretty big report, but it kind of helped me get a better sense for my own team.

By the way, I'm playing with a lot of house rules that make me limit myself in trades and free agents signings. It's much tougher this way, and it's more fun too.

-

At that time of the year, I should be having a hard time waiting for NHL:EHM 2008... How I would have loved to see what new features would be available. Just imagining EHM with playable US Colleges... :(

[scooter]

Was a big fan of 05, so i downloaded the 07 Demo last night, clicked trial, then filled out the register field. Click next and it brought up an error about number of restrictions mentioning 15 and 12. Now, i cant even get to the register field...clicking on the trial button tells me about the restrictions and closes the program. Have a feeling its something to do with my XP, but ill be damned if ive figured it out yet.

I'm pretty sure this is the problem that Mike Lowe (above) was having as well. He could probably tell you better than I, but I believe he ended up emailing Marc Duffy. Duffy sent him a file, and then everything worked. So you might try that.

[astrosfan64]

Are licenses overrated?

Yes

[Icy]

Umm anybody else pumped to play this game?

I preordered it, and never played it since then for different reasons (intial bugs, other games being released etc).

I'm enjoying a lot playing NHL08 right now, but when playing in the franchise mode, i really miss a deep franchise game so i'm thinking on downloading all the patches and the last roster update from the blueline to give the game a new shoot, playing only as GM (not setting strategies etc).


How good is it after the patch? is it close to FM with players personalities etc? What about the draft, is it fun?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Umm anybody else pumped to play this game?

I preordered it, and never played it since then for different reasons (intial bugs, other games being released etc).

I'm enjoying a lot playing NHL08 right now, but when playing in the franchise mode, i really miss a deep franchise game so i'm thinking on downloading all the patches and the last roster update from the blueline to give the game a new shoot, playing only as GM (not setting strategies etc).


How good is it after the patch? is it close to FM with players personalities etc? What about the draft, is it fun?
I can't speak much for the last EHM game, as I don't think I ever purchased it. I played with the demo a bit, but I always got distracted by another game. From my experience with it, I can tell you that the game was very good after all of the patches. From what I had read, all of the major issues were addressed. I don't think there was really anything left to complain about.

The player personalities never did progress to FM levels. It's not that the players have zero personality, but I don't think there was very much in the way of criticizing players and possibly alienating them or their teammates, etc. In my opinion, EHM just never had enough time to get that part of the game polished. Some work may have been done on this area in the final EHM game, but no, it's not going to be that close to FM in that way.

The draft was my favorite part of the game in the last EHM version I bought (EHM 2005, I guess). I enjoyed sending my scouts out all season and then trying to improve my team through the draft. Hockey's a bit like baseball in the sense that many players end up spending some time in the minors or junior hockey before they get to the NHL, and I enjoyed the tough decisions. Do I send my promising first-round pick back to juniors and lose him for the whole season, or do I have him take up an NHL roster spot when he might be overmatched? Do I bother trying to sign my fourth-round pick to an NHL contract when he's playing over in Russia and getting experience there? I still have his rights, but do I want to try to get him to adapt to North America yet?

I really enjoyed trying to develop new talent. That kinda ties in with the trading deadline. I literally spent a couple of hours at my first trade deadline trying to dump some unneeded players for draft picks. Just working out trades with the CPU was a ton of fun for me. I wanted draft picks, but I had to negotiate a lot to get the picks I wanted.

The game is fun fun fun. You'll be fine if you only want to play as a GM. That's how I always did it. Just try to hire a good coach for your team. :)

[Young Drachma]

I like hockey. I had no idea to what degree until I got EHM. It had me more immersed than OOTP before the new version. And that's saying a lot for someone who likes baseball as much as me.

The new version moves along faster to me than FM/WWSM, which I can appreciate, as it takes forever to simulate in WWSM and that gets old. It's a fun game and is certainly worth the money.

[rowech]

How quickly do games sim in EHM?

[vex]

Can someone point me towards a FAQ that tells me what skills are required/wanted for the different positions. As well as the coaching aspects. Thanks.

[Travis]

Can someone point me towards a FAQ that tells me what skills are required/wanted for the different positions. As well as the coaching aspects. Thanks.

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=248

Lots of good stuff on that site.

[johnnyshaka]

I was looking at buying EHM and thought I'd read through this thread to see what you guys thought and came across this little bit of irony:

... 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...

Good stuff.

[Mike Lowe]

Thinking of redownloading the demo but was wondering if there are opening day rosters available for 2007-2008 season?

Sort of like OOTP, I want to start a season but feel as though it might take me 500 days to set up a league file worth anything.

I'd probably be asking too much for a 2007-2008 installer?

[General Mike]

Thinking of redownloading the demo but was wondering if there are opening day rosters available for 2007-2008 season?

Sort of like OOTP, I want to start a season but feel as though it might take me 500 days to set up a league file worth anything.

I'd probably be asking too much for a 2007-2008 installer?

There is definitely a 2007-08 beginning of the year file, at www.ehmtheblueline.com . The only problem with it is, everything on the calender is a year behind, so the 2007 season starts in October 2006. The 2008 draft class gets drafted in June 2007, etc.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I recently started a new career with this game to give me something else to do while watching the playoffs. I've been having a blast.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I recently started a new career with this game to give me something else to do while watching the playoffs. I've been having a blast.
Did you just use the rosters that came with the game, or did you download updated rosters?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Did you just use the rosters that came with the game, or did you download updated rosters?

I just used the rosters that came with the game. I ended up doing a "fantasy" draft to start things off, so it didn't matter too much.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I just used the rosters that came with the game. I ended up doing a "fantasy" draft to start things off, so it didn't matter too much.
That sounds like a good idea. Fabulous!

[Honolulu_Blue]

So, I have been playing a lot of Eastside hockey over the last few weeks. Enough, in fact, to have Lady H_B ask me yesterday "why do always play that game?" (Perhaps I should tell her because I am so awesome at it and won just won back-to-back Stanley Cups, but I doubt she'd be impressed.)

This is the first time I've really played a few years into this one. I am currently in the middle of year 3 (08-09 season) and have noticed one problem:

The salary cap never seems to move. It's been stuck at $44 million since the first year. I believe I have all the patches. Is there anyway to make the cap move? Does it move?

It's causing all sorts of weird problems. There are a ton of teams with very little cap space. Ovechkin is sitting out there as a restricted free agent. He hasn't signed with his team and no one has signed him. Both Lecavailer and Joe Thorton are currenty UFAs. No one can afford their asking price and they keep rejecting my 50% off one year offers.

Suggestions?

[Johnny93g]

So, I have been playing a lot of Eastside hockey over the last few weeks. Enough, in fact, to have Lady H_B ask me yesterday "why do always play that game?" (Perhaps I should tell her because I am so awesome at it and won just won back-to-back Stanley Cups, but I doubt she'd be impressed.)

This is the first time I've really played a few years into this one. I am currently in the middle of year 3 (08-09 season) and have noticed one problem:

The salary cap never seems to move. It's been stuck at $44 million since the first year. I believe I have all the patches. Is there anyway to make the cap move? Does it move?

It's causing all sorts of weird problems. There are a ton of teams with very little cap space. Ovechkin is sitting out there as a restricted free agent. He hasn't signed with his team and no one has signed him. Both Lecavailer and Joe Thorton are currenty UFAs. No one can afford their asking price and they keep rejecting my 50% off one year offers.

Suggestions?


I asked that question back when either this version was released, or the one before it. I think the response was along the lines of two hard to perfect the cap and the computer AI salary logic. It's the main reason i cant play more then 2-3 seasons. I play a few seasons, i rebuild, get my team close to contending, then all kinds of great free agents are available at good prices. All of a sudden, all my moves the last year dont matter. Takes the fun out of it.

I got no solution for you.

[Blade6119]

I asked that question back when either this version was released, or the one before it. I think the response was along the lines of two hard to perfect the cap and the computer AI salary logic. It's the main reason i cant play more then 2-3 seasons. I play a few seasons, i rebuild, get my team close to contending, then all kinds of great free agents are available at good prices. All of a sudden, all my moves the last year dont matter. Takes the fun out of it.

I got no solution for you.

Stick to the CHL

[scooter]

The salary cap does not change. The economics in the game don't change either though (players don't continue to ask for proportionally more money, income from ticket sales, etc.). You can change the salary cap by using the saved game editor that is floating around somewhere. But also be aware that just changing the salary cap doesn't change things - you still need to modify team salary budgets as well (it doesn't do you any good to raise the salary cap to $60 million if your team will only let you spend $40 million on salaries).

That's all I know from reading posts over on the SI Forums. I don't play in the NHL, so I don't know all the particulars. I'm a WHL man myself :cool:

[molson]

Surprised to hear about such a deal-breaker in a game that's gotten so much interest here. Has anyone had a game dynasty past 2-3 seasons?

[Travis]

Surprised to hear about such a deal-breaker in a game that's gotten so much interest here. Has anyone had a game dynasty past 2-3 seasons?

I'm currently in 2063, but I did go in and raise the cap and budgets using the editor after 3-5 seasons. Worked well as free agents get signed by CPU teams (I usually only go after a big ticket UFA if one of my top liners have retired and I don't have a prospect ready to step in, so maybe once every 5-7 years).

[Honolulu_Blue]

I'm currently in 2063, but I did go in and raise the cap and budgets using the editor after 3-5 seasons. Worked well as free agents get signed by CPU teams (I usually only go after a big ticket UFA if one of my top liners have retired and I don't have a prospect ready to step in, so maybe once every 5-7 years).

Can you tell me what you raised the cap and budgets too? Sounds like a good fix. And can you do this for a career that you've already started?

Thanks.

[Travis]

Can you tell me what you raised the cap and budgets too? Sounds like a good fix. And can you do this for a career that you've already started?

Thanks.

I can't remember the changes I made to budgets and don't have the editor installed anymore, but I'm pretty sure I increased the cap by about 5 million per year until I ended up hitting 65 million. Now that said, I probably overdid it a bit but I wanted to be sure that all big ticket guys would get signed.

Depending on how high you go you may have to increase stadium capacity or ticket prices of some teams to keep it even and you can do this on an existing game (or at least you could the last time I did it, but that was a while ago).

It does sound worse than it is, the version of the editor I used was quite well set up, so making the changes didn't take all that long, and I haven't had to play with any of those settings since.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I can't remember the changes I made to budgets and don't have the editor installed anymore, but I'm pretty sure I increased the cap by about 5 million per year until I ended up hitting 65 million. Now that said, I probably overdid it a bit but I wanted to be sure that all big ticket guys would get signed.

Depending on how high you go you may have to increase stadium capacity or ticket prices of some teams to keep it even and you can do this on an existing game (or at least you could the last time I did it, but that was a while ago).

It does sound worse than it is, the version of the editor I used was quite well set up, so making the changes didn't take all that long, and I haven't had to play with any of those settings since.

How hard is it to change this things?

I think I need to get an editor, if I want to continue to play this game. I'm really enjoying it, but the offseason and player movement have become a bit of a joke.

It's just after year 3 now and prertty much every team in the league is right up against the cap or their budget. There are a ton of top flight free agents sitting out there unsigned and you can't trade anyone, because no team can take on the salary. For example, I was looking to move Oleg Kvasha. He's scored 70+ points the last 2 seasons and has a reasonably $2.25 million deal, but no one can take him.

After a year of languishing on the free agent market, and missing the entire season, I managed to sign both Lecavalier and Joe Thornton to $3 million deals and made an offer to Ovechkin (RFA) at around $2.75 million or so, after he missed the entire last year as well. This was all obviously whack.

[Travis]

With the editor it's a snap, just can be time consuming to change each team (unless they've improved it to do blanket edits, but I somehow doubt that). Raising the cap (ceiling and floor) is done in one place, but team budget/stadium capacities has to be done for each team.

The editor you want is the save game version on the following page:

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=42

[Honolulu_Blue]

With the editor it's a snap, just can be time consuming to change each team (unless they've improved it to do blanket edits, but I somehow doubt that). Raising the cap (ceiling and floor) is done in one place, but team budget/stadium capacities has to be done for each team.

The editor you want is the save game version on the following page:

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=42

Thanks!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Well, I dowloaded the editor and ended up bumping up the cap by around $6 million and increased everyone's team budget by the same amount and increased some attendance.

So far, everything looks great. There's been a late run on all the significant free agents out there.

[molson]

It boggles my mind that they couldn't put something in the game that a user can do fairly quickly with an editor. Who makes a text sim you can only play for 2-3 seasons out of the box?

[Travis]

Well, I dowloaded the editor and ended up bumping up the cap by around $6 million and increased everyone's team budget by the same amount and increased some attendance.

So far, everything looks great. There's been a late run on all the significant free agents out there.

Good stuff, welcome to a very prolonged addiction ;)

[RomaGoth]

I played the '05 version for nearly 6 months straight (much to my wife's chagrin). I bought the '07 version and did not play it until about 2 months later. I found the previous version to be more fun and more realistic. Example: as the Red Wings, I was continuously being outshot in every game and regularly giving up 4-5 goals per game. Yes, I am a Red Wings homer, and I don't expect to win every game (where would the fun be in that anyway?), but c'mon.....I was being outshot and outscored by every team I played against. I changed tactics, line changes, positioning, numerous times to no avail. I even fired my coaching staff, made trades, nothing helped. I am now preparing to play the 2005 version again, and this time teams like Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Anaheim will not be winning Lord Stanley's Cup :p. Nothing against fans of those teams but I prefer the original six (and maybe a few expansion era teams).

Anyway, no matter how you look at it these games are a lot of fun and very addictive.

[Hurst2112]

Diving back into this game. Can't let go.

Downloaded the save game editor. My question is: Do you edit the save game file after every year or when you feel there should be a bump in cap space and team budgets/attendance?

[Travis]

Oh this could be bad. Just poking around on the EHM forums I ran across a dynasty a guy started using the Oilers from 1979. Upon reading further it appears he made a mod that'll basically start you in the 79-80 season (couldn't be "true" to how the NHL was then due to hard coding present in the game, but still) and it appears that there are fairly authentic draft classes done up to about 1984.

I haven't tried this mod yet and probably won't get a chance until next week, but I'm considering it very heavily which would mean cutting into or giving up on my 2070 career which I didn't think I'd ever do.

You can bet your bottom dollar Yzerman will end up as an Oiler if this is half as good as it reads to be though ;)

[samifan24]

Is this game still available as a direct download? Is it available at a discount since it isn't available or supported anymore?

[Travis]

Is this game still available as a direct download? Is it available at a discount since it isn't available or supported anymore?

Assuming my memory isn't completely shot, you can download the demo and unlock it by purchasing it through the demo.

http://www.eastsidehockeymanager.net/

Or go through their web store

https://www.elicense.com/sigames/store/index.asp

[samifan24]

Thanks. So it sounds like you can't play as an NHL team in this game for more than two or three years because of the salary cap problem. Is this still true?

[GMO]

Thanks. So it sounds like you can't play as an NHL team in this game for more than two or three years because of the salary cap problem. Is this still true?

I'm playing it and there's no problem so far.

[samifan24]

I'm playing it and there's no problem so far.

How far along are you? If you read posts earlier in the thread, several people report this bug as being pretty bad. Several people used an external editor to adjust the budget but I wish doing that wasn't necessary.

[Honolulu_Blue]

How far along are you? If you read posts earlier in the thread, several people report this bug as being pretty bad. Several people used an external editor to adjust the budget but I wish doing that wasn't necessary.

I found it to be necessary. Easy, but necessary.

I downloaded the editor, bumped the Cap from $44M to $50M. I adjusted every team's budget by about the same (a $6M or sligthly more increase), and adjusted some average attendance to give some teams a boost. This was all quite easy to do and I am not very tech savy.

I've played almost an entire year since I made those adjustments and it's been great. All the big names were signed, trades were plentiful, it worked out well.

Without the adjustment, things were a mess. A good number of players were never signed (e.g., LeCavalier, Thornton, and Ovechkin all in one year) and no one could make any deals because they were all up against the cap or their own internal budgets. The game sort of slowed down to a crawl.

I guess if you wanted to over look all that, the game was still playable.

I made the fix and have been having a blast.

[Mike Lowe]

Anyone have a license to this game they are no longer using? I so want to try this game but with the full patch as I am having problems running it on my PC without it.

[Travis]

Just playing out the playoffs after my first season using the retro mod (which starts you off with the 79/80 rosters) and have enjoyed it immensely so far. Biggest "issue" is that the staff files weren't touched, so you're getting the "current" (for when the game was released) coaching staffs with the 79/80 rosters, so in some cases you've got retired guys coaching or scouting their younger selves. Secondary (and again, minor to me) is that due to hardcoding in the game there are some fake teams present (as you can't change the league size).

Personally, that's not too much of a problem and while I can't comment directly on how well the draft classes work out, based on the scouting I've done so far, well, suffice to say that I'll definitely be doing my best to position myself for a few favorites (Fuhr, Kurri and Yzerman will be mine for sure). Throw in trying to lure Tretiak and a few others over from Russia (unsuccessfully thus far) and it's been a very pleasant change of pace.

With the EHM boards being down, if anybody is looking for the files, use the following:

79/80 Mod Files
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/80913133/1979_ehm07-mod_version3.rar

Logo Pack
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/82883411/Classic_and_Fantasy_Logos_v3.rar

These are not files I've in any way contributed to but are the one's I'm using right now and having a blast with.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Just playing out the playoffs after my first season using the retro mod (which starts you off with the 79/80 rosters) and have enjoyed it immensely so far. Biggest "issue" is that the staff files weren't touched, so you're getting the "current" (for when the game was released) coaching staffs with the 79/80 rosters, so in some cases you've got retired guys coaching or scouting their younger selves. Secondary (and again, minor to me) is that due to hardcoding in the game there are some fake teams present (as you can't change the league size).

Personally, that's not too much of a problem and while I can't comment directly on how well the draft classes work out, based on the scouting I've done so far, well, suffice to say that I'll definitely be doing my best to position myself for a few favorites (Fuhr, Kurri and Yzerman will be mine for sure). Throw in trying to lure Tretiak and a few others over from Russia (unsuccessfully thus far) and it's been a very pleasant change of pace.

With the EHM boards being down, if anybody is looking for the files, use the following:

79/80 Mod Files
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/80913133/1979_ehm07-mod_version3.rar

Logo Pack
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/82883411/Classic_and_Fantasy_Logos_v3.rar

These are not files I've in any way contributed to but are the one's I'm using right now and having a blast with.

Thanks for the updates, Travis.

This definitely sounds really cool. If I install these files, can I still play my current season? How do I determin whether I want to start a game using the retro files as opposed to the current ones?

[Travis]

Thanks for the updates, Travis.

This definitely sounds really cool. If I install these files, can I still play my current season? How do I determin whether I want to start a game using the retro files as opposed to the current ones?

All I've done on my hard drive is to rename the old universe folder something else. I might not be doing it the right way, but as far as I know, when you start a new game, it'll automatically read the currently titled universe folder in that directory. So I just keep them all there and depending on what I want to play, just rename the appropriate folder as universe then fire up the game. Your saved games aren't affected by this (so far as I've been able to tell). So right now I have RetroUniverse and CurrentUniverse, then for whichever one I want to fire up a game with, shorten it to Universe and load the game up.

If there is a way to get the game to give you a choice when you load (if you have more than one folder called universe maybe) I'm not sure what it is, but this method has worked well for me thus far.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Downloaded the save game editor. My question is: Do you edit the save game file after every year or when you feel there should be a bump in cap space and team budgets/attendance?
I'm wondering the same thing as Hurst2112 here. For you folks who've edited the cap space, etc., how often do you have to do it?

[Honolulu_Blue]

I'm wondering the same thing as Hurst2112 here. For you folks who've edited the cap space, etc., how often do you have to do it?

I have only played through one year since I have edited the cap space and budgets, so I can't really answer that question.

My thinking is that, I don't think you'll need to go through the exercise every year. I don't think players keep asking for more and more money, though I could be wrong.

I just finished my season a few days ago and I'm about to go through the draft and free agency. I will be able to get a better sense of things after that.

[RomaGoth]

HB, are you the Wings? Assuming you are, how are you faring? As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I controlled the Wings in the 2007 version of this game, they stunk up the NHL. I am just curious if you're doing any better.

Also, does anyone know if the salary cap editor works with the 2005 version?

[Ajaxab]

Anyone know if '07 works with Vista?

[Honolulu_Blue]

HB, are you the Wings? Assuming you are, how are you faring? As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I controlled the Wings in the 2007 version of this game, they stunk up the NHL. I am just curious if you're doing any better.

Also, does anyone know if the salary cap editor works with the 2005 version?

I am the Wings, but in name only. I started things out with a fantasy draft, so beyond some Wings' prospects, Kronwall and Hasek, I had no Wings on my team.

The core of my team through the first 3 seasons was Phanuef, Turco, the Sedin twins, and Cheechoo.

Also, the first time I ever played the first SI EHM I played with the Islanders. Since then I have had an odd fetish for the guys. No matter when version of EHM I play I almost always end up, for at least one season, with Mark Parrish, Oleg Kvasha, Shawn Bates, Matthias Weinhandl, and/or Aaron Asham. In this case, I had all but Asham at one point or another.

I've been very successful. 4 Cups in 4 years (a little too successful actually). I did some poking around the SI forums for some tactical advice. That helped.

[Travis]

HB, are you the Wings? Assuming you are, how are you faring? As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I controlled the Wings in the 2007 version of this game, they stunk up the NHL. I am just curious if you're doing any better.

Also, does anyone know if the salary cap editor works with the 2005 version?

I haven't played the 2005 version, but I'm 99% sure you need the game specific editor.

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=24

That has both the pre and saved game editors. Not sure what the functionality is of each, but hopefully that saved game editor will have what you need.

As for Vista, it looks like the 3.0.2 patch should have taken care of any issues, but their forum is currently being moved, so hard to verify (I'm playing on XP myself, so of little to no help, sorry).

[Travis]

oh, and dola ;)

To update the 79/80 story, I made the playoffs behind the offensive efforts of Gretzky and Messier despite the lackluster goaltending of Dave Dryden and Eddie Mio. Made it through a few tense series before nearly being swept in the Western finals by Minnesota (lost the first 3, won game 4 at home before getting eliminated in game 5).

Minny went on to get smacked around by the Isles quite quickly in the Cup finals.

Onto the draft and after a bit of maneuvering I managed to snag Coffey though I still ended up having to trade for the rights to Kurri. Had a trade offer that I thought might bring Orr to Edmonton only to be trumped at the last minute then watched a contract offer to Vachon get turned down. So in recovery mode I sent a huge offer out to FA Marcel Dionne and my fallback goalie plan (40 year old Gary Cheevers). Nabbed both of them, added Coffey, Kurri and Anderson to the lineup and I'm still only ranked #6 in the preseason power rankings (understandable as a lot of my "name" guys aren't overly developed yet).

So yeah, heading into season two I should be able to score even more than last year (finished with 399 goals as a team), but still pretty questionable as to whether I can improve on the 280ish goals against we gave up last season. Here's hoping Cheevers still has a bit left in the tank.

[RomaGoth]

oh, and dola ;)

To update the 79/80 story, I made the playoffs behind the offensive efforts of Gretzky and Messier despite the lackluster goaltending of Dave Dryden and Eddie Mio. Made it through a few tense series before nearly being swept in the Western finals by Minnesota (lost the first 3, won game 4 at home before getting eliminated in game 5).

Minny went on to get smacked around by the Isles quite quickly in the Cup finals.

Onto the draft and after a bit of maneuvering I managed to snag Coffey though I still ended up having to trade for the rights to Kurri. Had a trade offer that I thought might bring Orr to Edmonton only to be trumped at the last minute then watched a contract offer to Vachon get turned down. So in recovery mode I sent a huge offer out to FA Marcel Dionne and my fallback goalie plan (40 year old Gary Cheevers). Nabbed both of them, added Coffey, Kurri and Anderson to the lineup and I'm still only ranked #6 in the preseason power rankings (understandable as a lot of my "name" guys aren't overly developed yet).

So yeah, heading into season two I should be able to score even more than last year (finished with 399 goals as a team), but still pretty questionable as to whether I can improve on the 280ish goals against we gave up last season. Here's hoping Cheevers still has a bit left in the tank.

Two words:

Nicklas Lidstrom.

Draft him when you get the chance. Best d-man that ever played the game. Hands down. ;)

[Travis]

Two words:

Nicklas Lidstrom.

Draft him when you get the chance. Best d-man that ever played the game. Hands down. ;)

Unfortunately, due to how the game is coded, I won't get the chance (and I mean that as Lidstrom is my favorite defenseman of all time). From what I've read, the mod includes pretty accurate draft classes through the 84 draft (when Mario enters), but past that it'll be regens and "fake" players. I'll still get a chance to go after guys like MacInnis, Housley and Scott Stevens, but no Lidstrom.

That said, for my long career (on hiatus now in the 2070 season) I always focused on having a very deep D core and responsible forwards. I think in this one I'm going to really try and embrace the run and gun style (going for 3 lines that can score then an uber enforcer line) so I'll be spending most of my cap on forwards and try to keep Coffey going as long as possible. In the end I don't doubt I'll revert to my normal habits as having a GAA of 3.50+ just irks me, but I'm going to see just how stacked I can make my top 3 lines through drafting and free agency before Gretzky and Messier cost me half my cap.

[RomaGoth]

Unfortunately, due to how the game is coded, I won't get the chance (and I mean that as Lidstrom is my favorite defenseman of all time). From what I've read, the mod includes pretty accurate draft classes through the 84 draft (when Mario enters), but past that it'll be regens and "fake" players. I'll still get a chance to go after guys like MacInnis, Housley and Scott Stevens, but no Lidstrom.

That said, for my long career (on hiatus now in the 2070 season) I always focused on having a very deep D core and responsible forwards. I think in this one I'm going to really try and embrace the run and gun style (going for 3 lines that can score then an uber enforcer line) so I'll be spending most of my cap on forwards and try to keep Coffey going as long as possible. In the end I don't doubt I'll revert to my normal habits as having a GAA of 3.50+ just irks me, but I'm going to see just how stacked I can make my top 3 lines through drafting and free agency before Gretzky and Messier cost me half my cap.

You have a sound strategy for the long term. That 3.50 GAA is actually pretty normal for most of the 80's though....:D

[Travis]

You have a sound strategy for the long term. That 3.50 GAA is actually pretty normal for most of the 80's though....:D

Oh I know, I'm just a defenseman at heart so anything over 2.50 means improvements need to be made ;)

[RomaGoth]

Oh I know, I'm just a defenseman at heart so anything over 2.50 means improvements need to be made ;)

Perhaps you are just accustomed to the last ten or so years of deflated GAA?

Hmmmmm? :cool:

[RomaGoth]

So I was dabbling in the 2005 version last night, putting a bunch of guys on the trade block, and I get an offer from Florida that I just could not refuse:

Florida offers:

Stephen Weiss

for

Mathieu Schneider

How could I turn this down? What would YOU do?

[Travis]

So I was dabbling in the 2005 version last night, putting a bunch of guys on the trade block, and I get an offer from Florida that I just could not refuse:

Florida offers:

Stephen Weiss

for

Mathieu Schneider

How could I turn this down? What would YOU do?

Throw in Bouwmeester on their side and see what else it'd take on your side to get it to work ;)

[RomaGoth]

Throw in Bouwmeester on their side and see what else it'd take on your side to get it to work ;)

Heh, I also managed to dump Shanahan for a 19 year old goalie prospect, a 21 year old defense prospect, and that defenseman Ehrhoff or whatever his name is.

Or I could just trade all of my old players to the Rangers. :lol:

[RomaGoth]

I am the Wings, but in name only. I started things out with a fantasy draft, so beyond some Wings' prospects, Kronwall and Hasek, I had no Wings on my team.

The core of my team through the first 3 seasons was Phanuef, Turco, the Sedin twins, and Cheechoo.

Also, the first time I ever played the first SI EHM I played with the Islanders. Since then I have had an odd fetish for the guys. No matter when version of EHM I play I almost always end up, for at least one season, with Mark Parrish, Oleg Kvasha, Shawn Bates, Matthias Weinhandl, and/or Aaron Asham. In this case, I had all but Asham at one point or another.

I've been very successful. 4 Cups in 4 years (a little too successful actually). I did some poking around the SI forums for some tactical advice. That helped.

Are you playing EHM 2005 or 2007?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Are you playing EHM 2005 or 2007?
Do you somehow think that EHM 2007 is coded in such a way to make the Detroit Red Wings suck?

[RomaGoth]

Do you somehow think that EHM 2007 is coded in such a way to make the Detroit Red Wings suck?

Hmmm....never thought of that. I wonder if the developers at SI are Red Wing haters. :eek::(:mad::rant:

[Apathetic Lurker]

Hey, anyone have this problem.... Got a new computer with Vista. Around(never same date) the end of season, beginning of new season my game freezes up and wont let me continue....Earliest was June 27th, latest was july 5th for the freeze....

[RomaGoth]

Hey, anyone have this problem.... Got a new computer with Vista. Around(never same date) the end of season, beginning of new season my game freezes up and wont let me continue....Earliest was June 27th, latest was july 5th for the freeze....

Sorry, I play on XP still.

[scooter]

Hey, anyone have this problem.... Got a new computer with Vista. Around(never same date) the end of season, beginning of new season my game freezes up and wont let me continue....Earliest was June 27th, latest was july 5th for the freeze....

Are you sure it's a freeze? At that time of the season, there is a lot of work being done by the computer (reset stats, sign free agents, etc.). Have you just left it for a while (like 10 minutes) and come back to it? That's what I do. If it's not that, I don't know what it is as I'm still playing on XP as well.

[RomaGoth]

Hey, anyone have this problem.... Got a new computer with Vista. Around(never same date) the end of season, beginning of new season my game freezes up and wont let me continue....Earliest was June 27th, latest was july 5th for the freeze....

Also, this may sound like a dumb question, but did you buy the license for the game? Without the license you can only go so far into the game.

[RomaGoth]

I haven't played the 2005 version, but I'm 99% sure you need the game specific editor.

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=24

That has both the pre and saved game editors. Not sure what the functionality is of each, but hopefully that saved game editor will have what you need.

As for Vista, it looks like the 3.0.2 patch should have taken care of any issues, but their forum is currently being moved, so hard to verify (I'm playing on XP myself, so of little to no help, sorry).

Where do I place the "game-editors" anyway? Do they go in the data folder?

[Travis]

Where do I place the "game-editors" anyway? Do they go in the data folder?

They're programs unto themselves, so you can pretty much put them where you want (as far as I can remember, HB might be able to chime in on this as I believe he installed the in game editor recently). Biggest thing is to back up your game file before editing it in case something goes awry (never have had an issue, but I've only done pretty simple edits).

[RomaGoth]

They're programs unto themselves, so you can pretty much put them where you want (as far as I can remember, HB might be able to chime in on this as I believe he installed the in game editor recently). Biggest thing is to back up your game file before editing it in case something goes awry (never have had an issue, but I've only done pretty simple edits).

Cool thanks!

I also have a question towards players of EHM, but it applies to any of the text based sports sim games. Has anybody ever not fulfilled expectations set by the board/owners? For example, when I start the Red Wings dynasty, the board expects me to be "serious Stanley Cup contender". What happens if you are just average? What if you make the playoffs but never win the Cup? I am just curious, as it has never happened to me but one never knows what can happen.

How sad to get fired from a virtual managerial position. :(

[duff88]

Cool thanks!

I also have a question towards players of EHM, but it applies to any of the text based sports sim games. Has anybody ever not fulfilled expectations set by the board/owners? For example, when I start the Red Wings dynasty, the board expects me to be "serious Stanley Cup contender". What happens if you are just average? What if you make the playoffs but never win the Cup? I am just curious, as it has never happened to me but one never knows what can happen.

How sad to get fired from a virtual managerial position. :(

If you don't do a good job, you're going to get fired. You can turn off that option though.

[GMO]

Here's an interesting comment from Riz:

Originally Posted by GMO
Because EHM is dead, it would be nice to make the code made Open Source so we could all work on it to improve it.
But, unfortunately, it will probably not happen.

Riz:
Errr... EHM is not actually dead...as in "dead". The development was put on hold and is still on hold at the moment...on the long term injured reserve. The game itself lives on through the people who keep on playing it and creating their own content like rosters for it. As for the development of the game itself, there should be a post in this thread from me explaining the current situation (me working on FM etc.) and that pretty much still is the case.

But you are right about the code, it will not be made open source
=======================
Sports Interactive Community (http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php?t=27051&page=6)

[JetsIn06]

Just bought this after getting into a hockey mood with NHL 09. I'm intimidated. Anyone know of any guides out there for help with roster type stuff?

[Icy]

Step by step guide for the first days after taking over a team (it's for ehm05 but most of it still applies):
The Blue Line :: Download (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=8)

Tactics guide:
The Blue Line :: Download (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=248)

The whole The Blue Line :: Home (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com) site and forum are the best resource site for ehm that i have found around.

[JetsIn06]

Step by step guide for the first days after taking over a team (it's for ehm05 but most of it still applies):
The Blue Line :: Download (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=8)

Tactics guide:
The Blue Line :: Download (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=248)

The whole The Blue Line :: Home (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com) site and forum are the best resource site for ehm that i have found around.

I've checked most of those out...my biggest problem is not really understanding how the contracts work with the loans, the different colored players, etc. Also, is there an overall rating somewhere?

I downloaded thee freeware version last night and am actually getting more into it. Their are even more recently updated rosters for it!

Thanks Icy!

[DeToxRox]

Ugh, I am an idiot. I accidentally deleted all my EHM 07 stuff cleaning up my computer last night. I meant to get rid of 05. Oh well.

The dynasty is dead though.

I took the Boston Bruins back to prominence over a 54 year period, winning 11 Cups, 17 President Trophies, and I made Ilya Kovalchuck the 2nd highet goal scorer of all time with 832 goals, highlighted by a season he had 88.

That season, BTW, we won 61 games and stormed through the playoffs to win out 3rd cup. I had Kovalchuck playing on a line with Savard (Who would leave for more money in the off season) and 4th round pick Sergi Kozlov, who has 20 in passing, creativity and teamwork. He finished with 61 assists in his 2nd year, and would retire with 1021 for his career.

Basically my dominance came when I had an elite top line and seven solid D. I always had a great goalie, but that is because I drafted one every year without fail. I was like the Wings in the fact that I had many different netminders win a Cup for me, but no Vezinas.

My blueprint was simple: Trade guys (sans the truly elite) before they hit 29 for more picks, then draft like hell. I had so many scouts hired they were double dipping regions, but it made for me have some unreal drafts.

I have to reinstall this mofo and get going again, I am amped to start anew.

[samifan24]

Does anyone know if any roster pack makers ever created an updated roster pack for the 2008-09 season?

[DeToxRox]

Does anyone know if any roster pack makers ever created an updated roster pack for the 2008-09 season?

ehmtheblueline.com has one, I forgot where but I got it off there a few days ago. It's very well done, and I think it was just finished days ago so its as up to date as you'll get.

[Hurst2112]

Is there a walkthrough or readme file for adjusting the database with the pre game editor? I'm at a loss to where I should adjust the cap and team budgets.

Thanks

(re: Eastside UK pre game editor)

[Honolulu_Blue]

How hard is it to change this things?

I think I need to get an editor, if I want to continue to play this game. I'm really enjoying it, but the offseason and player movement have become a bit of a joke.

It's just after year 3 now and prertty much every team in the league is right up against the cap or their budget. There are a ton of top flight free agents sitting out there unsigned and you can't trade anyone, because no team can take on the salary. For example, I was looking to move Oleg Kvasha. He's scored 70+ points the last 2 seasons and has a reasonably $2.25 million deal, but no one can take him.

After a year of languishing on the free agent market, and missing the entire season, I managed to sign both Lecavalier and Joe Thornton to $3 million deals and made an offer to Ovechkin (RFA) at around $2.75 million or so, after he missed the entire last year as well. This was all obviously whack.

With the editor it's a snap, just can be time consuming to change each team (unless they've improved it to do blanket edits, but I somehow doubt that). Raising the cap (ceiling and floor) is done in one place, but team budget/stadium capacities has to be done for each team.

The editor you want is the save game version on the following page:

The Blue Line :: Download (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=42)

Well, I dowloaded the editor and ended up bumping up the cap by around $6 million and increased everyone's team budget by the same amount and increased some attendance.

So far, everything looks great. There's been a late run on all the significant free agents out there.

Hurst, while this isn't a walk through by any means, I went through and did the same thing using the editor in the link above. It was really easy.

There should be an overall cap number and then there is a budget for each team. The pain in the ass, if I recall, is that there is no way to filter out just NHL teams. I had to go through all the teams in the game and keep a record of each NHL team to make sure I didn't miss any.

It worked really well.

I hope this helps. If I can figure it out, you should be able to. I'm not good with stuff like this.

[DeToxRox]

I just had a ridiculous season by Mr. EHM himself, Ilya Kovalchuck. I Ditka'd away my draft for him, and put him with Tavares who I tanked for. In year four together, we have 1 Cup and making a run at our 2nd. Ilya finished the regular season with 80 G and 81 A for 161 points. Tavares added 80 helpers himself en route to a 135 point season.

He has 316 assists already, and he's just turned 23.

[Hurst2112]

Thanks HB. I'll gie it a shot today.

Is it the same game editor or the pre game editor? I'm guessing the save game editor because nothing in the pre game has the selections you speak of (unless I'm missin' it).

[Blade6119]

The blue line just released a new database that is amazing, with all the updated rosters all the way down through real NCAA players and updated drafts.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Also, this may sound like a dumb question, but did you buy the license for the game? Without the license you can only go so far into the game.

Yes... Bought it the day it came out. It isnt the demo

[Apathetic Lurker]

Are you sure it's a freeze? At that time of the season, there is a lot of work being done by the computer (reset stats, sign free agents, etc.). Have you just left it for a while (like 10 minutes) and come back to it? That's what I do. If it's not that, I don't know what it is as I'm still playing on XP as well.

Yes it's a freeze.. With 2 gigs of ram it should breeze right thru it. Left it alone for about 5 hours the 1st time(overnight) and short 20-30 minutes the other few times. Tried a new career with a different team..same result.


Wow didnt realize when I wrote the original. Guess open heart surgery makes you forget things..lol

[scooter]

Wow didnt realize when I wrote the original. Guess open heart surgery makes you forget things..lol

It's funny. I don't even remember writing that post. I hope you were able to fix your problem, both with the game and with your health :)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Thanks HB. I'll gie it a shot today.

Is it the same game editor or the pre game editor? I'm guessing the save game editor because nothing in the pre game has the selections you speak of (unless I'm missin' it).

I think it is the save game editor. I'm almost positive.

[samifan24]

Is it possible to play with completely fictional rosters in this game? I know the cap problems make playing the game out of the box almost impossible but does the game have an option to use completely fictional players a la FOF? If I can play with fictional players and not have to worry about the cap problems, I might have just found an offline version of MetroHo.

[NoSkillz]

Is it possible to play with completely fictional rosters in this game? I know the cap problems make playing the game out of the box almost impossible but does the game have an option to use completely fictional players a la FOF? If I can play with fictional players and not have to worry about the cap problems, I might have just found an offline version of MetroHo.

Yes it does. I believe there is a check box during the league setup that says "use real players" and you just uncheck it...

[RomaGoth]

Does anyone know where the salary cap figure is in the 2005 EHM saved game editor? I am done with one season and cant find it. I can increase the amount to spend on my payroll, but I am unable to locate the league salary cap itself. This means that although my player budget is now 45 million, the salary cap itself is still only 39 million.

Any help is appreciated.

[samifan24]

To follow up on my previous question, is this game playable with fictional rosters as a workaround to the NHL salary cap bug or is the salary cap bug a showstopper no matter which "mode" you play? Also, can I edit the start years and included teams (move Carolina back to Hartford)?

[Honolulu_Blue]

To follow up on my previous question, is this game playable with fictional rosters as a workaround to the NHL salary cap bug or is the salary cap bug a showstopper no matter which "mode" you play? Also, can I edit the start years and included teams (move Carolina back to Hartford)?

I am not sure about editing start years and the like, but you can fix the salary cap bug pretty easily. I think the process is discussed above.

[JPhillips]

I've been fooling around with the roster update and in those forums they say there is no way to change the start date.

[Blade6119]

Is there a reason why the first CHL draft(this is the case in all 3 leagues) is sooo weak compared to later drafts? Having played a dynasty in all the leagues i find that players going in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the second year draft would be top 10 talents in the first draft. Its now standard practice for me to dump my picks the first year, they seem pretty much useless.

[scooter]

Is there a reason why the first CHL draft(this is the case in all 3 leagues) is sooo weak compared to later drafts? Having played a dynasty in all the leagues i find that players going in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the second year draft would be top 10 talents in the first draft. Its now standard practice for me to dump my picks the first year, they seem pretty much useless.

I think it may be because the initial draftees are programed into the database, where as the next year they are probably regens. Yes, I agree - keeping those first draft picks is pretty much a waste. If it really bothers you, set up a game, run it on holiday for a year or two, then create a new manager for the team you want and go from there.

[RomaGoth]

Question for anyone here who might still be playing this game, or might remember some things about it.

I am in dire need of tactics advice, I cannot seem to get Lidstrom, Zetterberg, and to a lesser extent, Datsyuk, to perform to what I would classify as their full abilities.

In one season after 10 games, Dats only has 1g/6a for 7 points with a rating of 8.00. Lidstrom is the really frustrating one, with just 3 assists, no goals, and a rating of 7.70 after 10 games.

What I am looking for is some advice as to how to get these guys to play better and with a higher rating. I am not trying to lead the league in scoring, just want a better overall performance from my star players.

It bugs me that a guy like Mark Parrish has more points and a higher rating than Datsyuk, or that Dan Hamhuis has more points/better rating than Lidstrom.

Appreciate any help here....:)

[Fidatelo]

You realise you are only 10 games in right? I'm pretty sure there are a lot of 10 game stretches in real life where Dats and Lidstrom have played at or below those levels.

[DeToxRox]

Fuck people who bump this thread. I always get hope that it is someone saying Riz is working on a new EHM. :(

[Travis]

Biggest thing is to realize that as mentioned above, you're dealing with a very small sample size.

That said, seeing AvR of 7.50 or higher is usually a good thing. If Datsyuk is getting an 8.0 AvR while averaging just under a point per game, I would say you're likely on the right path already.

One thing I remember about playing the game is that a lot of success comes from being willing to stick to a plan long term. The players get more acquainted with their line mates and tactics the longer they play them, so even if the tactics aren't perfect for them, their performance in the system will improve as time goes on.

Lots of good info here as well:

The Blue Line :: View Forum - The EHM Guide (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=35)

Mostly for the Tactics and Lines [EHM2007] Thread but lots of other good info there.

I'd also recommend, if you have the time/patience, to set individual tactics rather than just line tactics. Once you've played long enough/really set up the team to your liking then you can get away with line tactics a bit more (or so I've found), but early on, if you really want to get every last bit of performance out of a player, this is a good way to go.

Hand in hand with that is customized training. I make up my own training programs and make sure I control what programs each player is in to try and get the stats up that I'm looking to develop with each player. This can make a huge difference in how well they develop/perform.

[RomaGoth]

Fuck people who bump this thread. I always get hope that it is someone saying Riz is working on a new EHM. :(

Someone is working on a new EHM, not sure how it will turn out but it should be interesting at least....

The Blue Line :: View Forum - Dabo Hockey Manager (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=47)

[RomaGoth]

You realise you are only 10 games in right? I'm pretty sure there are a lot of 10 game stretches in real life where Dats and Lidstrom have played at or below those levels.

Yeah I realize this, but it happens throughout a season, in very long stretches sometimes. This isn't the only season I have tried, I have also played several in a row with similar results.

[RomaGoth]

Biggest thing is to realize that as mentioned above, you're dealing with a very small sample size.

That said, seeing AvR of 7.50 or higher is usually a good thing. If Datsyuk is getting an 8.0 AvR while averaging just under a point per game, I would say you're likely on the right path already.

One thing I remember about playing the game is that a lot of success comes from being willing to stick to a plan long term. The players get more acquainted with their line mates and tactics the longer they play them, so even if the tactics aren't perfect for them, their performance in the system will improve as time goes on.

Lots of good info here as well:

The Blue Line :: View Forum - The EHM Guide (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=35)

Mostly for the Tactics and Lines [EHM2007] Thread but lots of other good info there.

I'd also recommend, if you have the time/patience, to set individual tactics rather than just line tactics. Once you've played long enough/really set up the team to your liking then you can get away with line tactics a bit more (or so I've found), but early on, if you really want to get every last bit of performance out of a player, this is a good way to go.

Hand in hand with that is customized training. I make up my own training programs and make sure I control what programs each player is in to try and get the stats up that I'm looking to develop with each player. This can make a huge difference in how well they develop/perform.

Thanks for the input Travis. I actually use a lot of the info from The Blue Line forum, just wish it was a little more active over there sometimes.

As for your advice, I am probably getting a little too antsy after only ten games, but I have seen this happen all during the season as well in past games and I am not sure why.

So would you say it isn't so much what I am doing wrong, but more how unrealistic it is that a guy like Hamhuis or Parrish are tearing it up, at least in the early season?

I will definitely take your advice and stick to a system though. I always wonder how much the player tactics, coaching style, and team tactics really matter in these sim games...:confused:

[johnnyshaka]

Maybe those guys aren't as good as you think they should be? :)

[RomaGoth]

Maybe those guys aren't as good as you think they should be? :)

:lol:

Probably true, but I am a homer....

[Honolulu_Blue]

So would you say it isn't so much what I am doing wrong, but more how unrealistic it is that a guy like Hamhuis or Parrish are tearing it up, at least in the early season?

I've always had good luck with Mark Parrish in that game. He always scored a lot of goals for me.

Maybe those guys aren't as good as you think they should be? :)

Being that you're in Edmonton, I really don't think you're in any position to comment on the quality of hockey players. It's been far, far too long since you've seen many good hockey players 'round them there parts.

[johnnyshaka]

Being that you're in Edmonton, I really don't think you're in any position to comment on the quality of hockey players. It's been far, far too long since you've seen many good hockey players 'round them there parts.

Well, the Oilers aren't the only guys on the ice during a game up here...actually, most of the time, I question if they are even in the building at all!!

In all honesty, I haven't gone to an Oilers' game the last several years without asking who they were playing...if there isn't somebody on the other team worth watching then I'd rather not go. Hope that changes soon enough.

[RomaGoth]

Well, the Oilers aren't the only guys on the ice during a game up here...actually, most of the time, I question if they are even in the building at all!!

In all honesty, I haven't gone to an Oilers' game the last several years without asking who they were playing...if there isn't somebody on the other team worth watching then I'd rather not go. Hope that changes soon enough.

Come on now, you know you miss seeing Horcoff's nifty moves.

[johnnyshaka]

Come on now, you know you miss seeing Horcoff's nifty moves.

You mean like the one he used to sign that contract.......yeah, I really miss that move.

[Travis]

Come on now, you know you miss seeing Horcoff's nifty moves.

He really is in a class by himself when it comes to missing wide open one timers on the power play.

I also like his follow up move of giving up on the one timer, stopping the pass and hoping the goalie slides too far across the crease anticipating a one timer before placing it right in the goalie's crest.

Sigh.

[chrisj]

Fuck people who bump this thread. I always get hope that it is someone saying Riz is working on a new EHM. :(

Me too. :(

[Mota]

I'd also recommend, if you have the time/patience, to set individual tactics rather than just line tactics. Once you've played long enough/really set up the team to your liking then you can get away with line tactics a bit more (or so I've found), but early on, if you really want to get every last bit of performance out of a player, this is a good way to go.

That was huge for me. My teams always struggled until I went into each player one by one and told them to play up to their skillset. Lines change constantly and setting your tactics by line will cause people to play the wrong styles occasionally, but at the individual level you can get the best out of every player.

[RomaGoth]

That was huge for me. My teams always struggled until I went into each player one by one and told them to play up to their skillset. Lines change constantly and setting your tactics by line will cause people to play the wrong styles occasionally, but at the individual level you can get the best out of every player.

So are you saying that using line tactics is a waste and to just use the individual ones? I have been using both types for many years....just curious what others have done.

[Mota]

So are you saying that using line tactics is a waste and to just use the individual ones? I have been using both types for many years....just curious what others have done.

I also use both, but find that the players play to their strengths more when you give them the individual tactics.

[GMO78]

Riz, who created EHM, is asking for help with AI trade exploitation.

"I'd be interested in hearing a bit more about the trade AI exploitations. ".

It's good that he's at least thinking about it a bit.

Go to http://community.sigames.com/showthr...53235-Ehm-2011 (http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/153235-Ehm-2011)

[RomaGoth]

Riz, who created EHM, is asking for help with AI trade exploitation.

"I'd be interested in hearing a bit more about the trade AI exploitations. ".

It's good that he's at least thinking about it a bit.

Go to http://community.sigames.com/showthr...53235-Ehm-2011 (http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/153235-Ehm-2011)

Is he working on a project for EHM or something? This post is a bit vague, and you have to log in upon clicking on that link.

[GMO78]

I don't want misquote anyone so here is what Riz wrote:

"Taking any of the actual current FM engines would mean a complete rewrite of the EHM 2007, so I don't see that happening ever. Also, 3D would be totally out of the question as any hockey project with a 3D would have to compete visually against some top notch graphics from the action/arcade hockey games and it would require a pretty big team of animators and artists to get it even to the earlier FM levels of detail. I'd personally be more than happy with an updated 2D with maybe a higher frame rate and a substantially upgraded AI

And yes, a powerful DB editor along with a competition editor would also be a must for any future EHM project imho. "

and as for when/if an updated EHM might be ready:

"Like I've been saying all along... I wouldn't hold my breath just now. I've just been digging around the old code a bit lately and playing the game as I've been listening to some Rangers games "

and also

"I'd be interested in hearing a bit more about the trade AI exploitations. Any examples or links to previous discussions about these issues are welcome ".

[PilotMan]

You know, EHM is the one game that has escaped my collection. It's too bad that they stopped making it. Is it still considered the best career sim out there?

[RomaGoth]

I don't want misquote anyone so here is what Riz wrote:

"Taking any of the actual current FM engines would mean a complete rewrite of the EHM 2007, so I don't see that happening ever. Also, 3D would be totally out of the question as any hockey project with a 3D would have to compete visually against some top notch graphics from the action/arcade hockey games and it would require a pretty big team of animators and artists to get it even to the earlier FM levels of detail. I'd personally be more than happy with an updated 2D with maybe a higher frame rate and a substantially upgraded AI

And yes, a powerful DB editor along with a competition editor would also be a must for any future EHM project imho. "

and as for when/if an updated EHM might be ready:

"Like I've been saying all along... I wouldn't hold my breath just now. I've just been digging around the old code a bit lately and playing the game as I've been listening to some Rangers games "

and also

"I'd be interested in hearing a bit more about the trade AI exploitations. Any examples or links to previous discussions about these issues are welcome ".

Well according the above it doesn't look like there will be anything to report for a new EHM then. I still have my fingers crossed though, as I still love that game.

I also see you posted the same question on the Blue Line board, but in case you didn't see it, here is an entire thread (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1530) over there dedicated to EHM trades.

[EagleFan]

For the lifeof me I still can't get into the game. I keep losing any sense of reality when I start playing as each attempt has yielded games averaging over 100 shots on goal per game. Is there some setting when I start a game that I am messing up?

Tried again not too long ago and one of my first games was a 14-1 victory where my team outshot our opponents 86-22. Either I should be immediately hired as an NHL coach or I am doing something wrong setting up the game. :)

[RomaGoth]

For the lifeof me I still can't get into the game. I keep losing any sense of reality when I start playing as each attempt has yielded games averaging over 100 shots on goal per game. Is there some setting when I start a game that I am messing up?

Tried again not too long ago and one of my first games was a 14-1 victory where my team outshot our opponents 86-22. Either I should be immediately hired as an NHL coach or I am doing something wrong setting up the game. :)

Interesting shot totals. I actually adjust the settings for both individual players and each line and tend to get pretty realistic results. Make sure you are putting guys together that should be together (i.e., don't put a fighter with two goal scorers, etc..). Also, make sure you are using the latest database (3.0.4).

I love EHM, but I really wish a new one would be made. Damn you SI Games. :rant:

[RomaGoth]

dola

Preseason games tend to have ridiculous shots/goals as well, so if you are still playing preseason games, give it a longer try and finish a season or two. You should get more realism at that point.

[DaddyTorgo]

Interesting shot totals. I actually adjust the settings for both individual players and each line and tend to get pretty realistic results. Make sure you are putting guys together that should be together (i.e., don't put a fighter with two goal scorers, etc..). Also, make sure you are using the latest database (3.0.4).

I love EHM, but I really wish a new one would be made. Damn you SI Games. :rant:

Can't blame SI. Blame all the assholes in the Scandinavian countries who pirated the game so that it wasn't commercially viable for SI to make anymore

[RomaGoth]

Can't blame SI. Blame all the assholes in the Scandinavian countries who pirated the game so that it wasn't commercially viable for SI to make anymore

I realize that was part of the problem, but I don't believe that was as big a problem as SI would have you believe. I think more of the problem was that SI failed to promote the game in the first place, and text sims being the niche game that they are, you need to promote the hell out of them. I had never even heard of it until I started looking online for hockey games one day, waaaay back in 2005. :)

[bhlloy]

I kinda have the same issue as EF, 2007 was clearly made for a post-lockout NHL and the goals/game and shots/game average is way, way to high for a realistic sim game. I've never seen 14-1 but it's very normal to see 7-4 games with each team having 50+ shots, at least for me. That and the fact that average rating is almost exclusively tied to points (you can have the best shut down line in the game but if they aren't scoring they'll only rate at about 6 per game) makes it very hard for me to get into in terms of realism. Which is a shame, because the GM parts of the game are second to none. Nobody has done scouting and development better and trade/FA AI is excellent.

If there was just a 2008 version that made the on ice product more like the real life NHL and Riz rethought his approach to average rating/how much defensive players actually mean to a hockey team, that would be up there with FM as an almost perfect sim game.

[Mike Lowe]

What's always kept me from getting this game (or just into it)

1) Can't change the start date making updated rosters seem goofy.

2) The recycling of retired players into the draft pool the very next year...or least that's my understanding of it.

[RomaGoth]

What's always kept me from getting this game (or just into it)

1) Can't change the start date making updated rosters seem goofy.

I have always found this annoying as well....

2) The recycling of retired players into the draft pool the very next year...or least that's my understanding of it.

From what I have seen/read/heard/witnessed, it often takes 2-4 years for some of the retired veterans to be recycled. The first year you play is the only one that recycles players more quickly.

[Travis]

The retirement recycle pattern all depends on where they are from. I can't remember which was faster but I believe North American players got back through the system in 2-4 years while European players took 3-6 years or something like that due to the development systems used. So I suppose technically they do come back a year later, but it's as a young player, not a NHL draft eligible player. So depending on what level you're controlling your team at would affect how long until you see the regens.

[MizzouRah]

Anyone still playing? I see there is a "try and buy" link over at The Blue Line. Someone has updated rosters too..

[Honolulu_Blue]

Anyone still playing? I see there is a "try and buy" link over at The Blue Line. Someone has updated rosters too..

I haven't played it in years, no.

In order to play the game any length of time you need to use the editor and go in and fix the salary cap and team budgets, because the cap and budgets stay completely flat, whereas player's expectations seem to grow.

So, if those adjustments aren't made you have a bunch of star players sitting out as UFAs because they demand big deals and no one has the cap space to fit them in.

[MizzouRah]

I haven't played it in years, no.

In order to play the game any length of time you need to use the editor and go in and fix the salary cap and team budgets, because the cap and budgets stay completely flat, whereas player's expectations seem to grow.

So, if those adjustments aren't made you have a bunch of star players sitting out as UFAs because they demand big deals and no one has the cap space to fit them in.

Thanks.. what about the freeware version - the original EHM? I remember playing that for a good stretch and it also has updated rosters and what not.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Wow...thinking about EHM the other day.

I haven't played FOFC in at least 2 years...and EHM longer. And I was thinking about getting back into something. But the #1 reason is as HB says - I don't have the patience to make these updates just so I can start playing. By the time I finish the behind the scenes to make it playable, I think I'd be burnt out.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Thanks.. what about the freeware version - the original EHM? I remember playing that for a good stretch and it also has updated rosters and what not.

I haven't played the original freeware version in ages. Since before EHM 2005 came out.

[MizzouRah]

I haven't played the original freeware version in ages. Since before EHM 2005 came out.

Me either.. but I might fire it up since it's out there still.

[MizzouRah]

Action! PC Hockey 2012 is releasing 8/9

I really wish this was a career sim.. I still might pick it up. :)

Action! PC Hockey (http://dksports.com/hockey.htm)

This is pretty cool: New Alternate Reality Mode! Alternate reality mode brings a new level of strategic depth and variety to Action PC Hockey. In alternate reality mode, results are driven by ratings, which are hidden from the user, rather than by raw statistics. These ratings are based on real statistics, but with some random variation. Ratings are generated each time a new season is started. This leads to more realistic coaching and general manager decisions. Coaches might consider giving backups more playing time based on their season performance during the season replay. In other modes of play, coaches only need to play backups in the event of injury, fatigue, or over-usage because they know the starter is always the better player.

[SlyBelle1]

Action! PC Hockey 2012 is releasing 8/9

I really wish this was a career sim.. I still might pick it up. :)

Action! PC Hockey (http://dksports.com/hockey.htm)

This is pretty cool: [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/COLOR][/FONT]

This is the third release of the game and it gets better and better. It is a great game and I highly recommend it. Also, if your not sure about it, the developer actually offers a 30-day money back no questions asked return policy. Therefore, zero risk in trying it out. I think it is the best text hockey game out there. Yes, it does not have career built in, but still very fun to play a ton of seasons.

[MizzouRah]

This is the third release of the game and it gets better and better. It is a great game and I highly recommend it. Also, if your not sure about it, the developer actually offers a 30-day money back no questions asked return policy. Therefore, zero risk in trying it out. I think it is the best text hockey game out there. Yes, it does not have career built in, but still very fun to play a ton of seasons.

I'm sure I'll give it a go.. there is a 10% discount for early orders. Looks like I need to make $40 in OT this week. :)

[SlyBelle1]

And in case anybody wasn't aware, new career sim hockey game coming from OOTP later this year....

WTHM - General Discussions - OOTP Developments Forums (http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/wthm-general-discussions/)

[SlyBelle1]

I'm sure I'll give it a go.. there is a 10% discount for early orders. Looks like I need to make $40 in OT this week. :)

You won't regret it:) Very good text sim of hockey.

[lighthousekeeper]

what the hell man

[MizzouRah]

You won't regret it:) Very good text sim of hockey.

Thanks!

[Icy]

There is also GM hockey, really good sim and a new version is coming out soon:


We have been working for more than a year on our new GM Hockey game, called GM Hockey Legacy. It is scheduled to come out just before the beginning of the new hockey season (September 2012). You will be able to start a dynasty anywhere between 1980 and 2012, create your own team and much more. Stay tuned.

http://www.lesims.net/?lang=eng

OT: I see they are also working on a football game... interesting...

[bhlloy]

I have to admit I have never heard of that game Icy, very interesting. How the AI?

[EagleFan]

... and does it have a beer tent?

[MizzouRah]

There is also GM hockey, really good sim and a new version is coming out soon:


We have been working for more than a year on our new GM Hockey game, called GM Hockey Legacy. It is scheduled to come out just before the beginning of the new hockey season (September 2012). You will be able to start a dynasty anywhere between 1980 and 2012, create your own team and much more. Stay tuned.

http://www.lesims.net/?lang=eng

OT: I see they are also working on a football game... interesting...

I had version 09 and it was kind of an odd game. Very nice guy who programmed the game, but I just couldn't get into it.

I think I'm going to save the 10% and get the Action! PC hockey 2012 game today, even though it's a replay sim, just playing out each game should be fun.

[SlyBelle1]

I had version 09 and it was kind of an odd game. Very nice guy who programmed the game, but I just couldn't get into it.

I think I'm going to save the 10% and get the Action! PC hockey 2012 game today, even though it's a replay sim, just playing out each game should be fun.

I don't think you'll regret it and for a decent price too! There is a new alternative reality mode that will give some varability in a season so things don't necessarily have to play out like real life. Just missing the career things that carry over from season to season. I'll be interested to hear your feedback. Just remember, it is a text game, not a graphics game by any means, but still captures the spirity for me.

If you have questions, post them at the forums:

Hockey Forum (http://actionpcsports.yuku.com/forums/5/Hockey)

[Mike Lowe]

Is it even possible to purchased EHM 2007 still? I'm not sure how to even go about getting a license...bummed!

[riz]

Is it even possible to purchased EHM 2007 still? I'm not sure how to even go about getting a license...bummed!

Technically it hasn't been on sale anymore for a number of years now. As Miles mentioned in the FM15 Q&A last night, some licensing deals require us to pull games from being sold after a certain period of time as the license runs out.

This same affected the NHL EHM releases and even if we wanted to keep on selling it, we couldn't do so because of legal rammifications. So in a way it is a catch-22 with the licenses. Technically you'd want to have them for authenticity but they will hinder the shelf-life of the product.

So probably the ideal method of release for any future EHM (in my personal opinion) would have to be fictional players/teams in the official release with easy support to import any community-made rosters.

Incidentally, the EHM Blueline community will be releasing their 2014 roster set for NHL EHM 2007 sometime soon and they also have made an unofficial patch over these years that allows you to start the game with a more current start date. Just in case anyone is interested (links are for the latest 2013/14 season updates):

Roster Updates • EHM The Blue Line (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=77)
Custom Start Date Patch v1.5 (With Retro Launcher) • EHM The Blue Line (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=8283)

Sorry for the bump to anyone who expected some other kind of news :)

[Mike Lowe]

Thanks, Riz.

So even if I came across a license somehow, it won't work? Is there something over at TBL that will allow me to play the full game beyond the trial?

Might not matter, because as it stands I can't get past this error in starting up the trial, post-patch:

"No restrictions - at least one of the days, executions or hours must be restricted 15"

[riz]

There are still some boxed copies of the game floating around in some shops and online, but you cannot buy new eLicenses anymore afaik.

I don't think the TBL start date patches can be applied to the trial version but it might be worth asking on their forums as they have had a lot of people succesfully join the community after the game officially went off the shelves.

[riz]

TBL 2014 rosters are out now !

[2014-15] TBL Rosters v7.0 • EHM The Blue Line (http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=12946)