From The Author Of Hollywood Mogul 3
 

Hello,

A few weeks ago while doing a search, I came upon a "dynasty" post on this board that featured a play-by-play description of my game Hollywood Mogul.

I really enjoyed that post, and I searched this board and found a few more which I also enjoyed.

Not only were these posts interesting, but the comments to them were also interesting to me, as people followed what was happening.

I was really touched by this, and thought I might say thank you here on your board, so I became a member just so I could do that. But then I had another idea.

On Tuesday September 26, 2006, the newest version of Hollywood Mogul will be Pre-Released to my message board members. Hollywood Mogul 3 is a complete top-to-bottom rewrite.

This "Pre-Release" is a way for me to thank my message board members for their support, and their patience, as they've been waiting for HM3 for quite some time. The Pre-Release cost US$20 instead of US$29.99 when it is released wide later this year (probably December).

As I said, I really enjoyed the Dynasty posts. I wanted to express my gratitude for those posts, so ... I have received permission from your board admin to extend my HM3 Pre-Release offer to the members of THIS board as well. If you would like to download the Pre-Release version of HM3 meet me back here on Tuesday and I'll have a link for you. And here it is: http://www.hollywood-mogul.com/HM3_PR_Install.exe

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BUGS:
1. The game will CRASH unless you select a Studio Logo from Player Set-Up when you start a new game.
FIXED

2. The game will CRASH when you try to open MyOwnIdea database. And MAY CRASH if you try to save My Own Idea from within the game.
FIXED

3. This one's really weird. If HM3 is NOT in the upper left corner of the computer screen (if you're displaying larger than 1024x768, the Pop-Up menus have a black background. The work-around for tonight is to move the game to the upper left corner, or change the Font Color for Pop-Up menus (within the game).
FIXED

4. There is an ERRANT bug that occurs SOMETIMES when you hire a producer or director, and I am still trying to track it down.

HM3 PATCH FILE (version 3.08.0009)
Before you download the patch file:
1. MOVE your current hm3.exe to a safe folder.
2. Find your HM3 game folder in Windows Explorer.
3. In the sub-game-folder \MstFiles
DELETE player.mst
DELETE studio.mst
4. In the sub-game-folder \SourceMyOwnIdeaDB
DELETE ALL ten MyOwnIdea .sdb files.
5. In the sub-game folder \SavedGames
DELETE ALL saved game folders (SG000, SG001, etc)

Download the patch hm3.exe to your \HM3 game folder.
HM3 Patch file here: http://www.hollywood-mogul.com/hm3.exe

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Thanks for your interest.

NOTE: The Pre-Release is still a little buggy. All of the major problems have been addressed, and any errant bugs that are discovered will be fixed as soon as possible and a new .exe available free to HM3 owners. The members of my board know that in addition to getting a discount on the price, they are ALSO "test-driving" HM3 for its wide release. You should know that, too.

If you purchase the HM3 Pre-Release you own HM3, and will have access to all patches and updates for free.

Thank you for your time, and thank you for the really great Dynasty posts that featured Hollywood Mogul.

Good Luck At The Box Office,

Carey
HMdesigner

Great news Carey. As you can probably see from several posts on here, many of us have been keeping up with the progress on HM3 and eagerly anticipating its release. Congratulations on all your hard work, and I can't wait to play the new game.

Very cool. I've never registered on your board, but I've followed the game for a long time. Looking forward to the game.

:D

I'm looking forward to the release as well. It's one of the few games I'm going to follow upon release and seeing if I like it.

Excellent news. I might try this out.

Carey, I suspect you will find that this forum is full of people who enjoy playing, discussing, and writing about text sims -- sports or otherwise. We're well beyond just Front Office Football, obviously.

Hope you consider sticking around... and many thanks for the offer, I'm sure many here will find it enticing.

This is definitely game I will want to try. However, I'm glad for this pre-release because I will pick it up after the bugs have been ironed out. Hopefully, that will be after a Solecismic game has been announced.

Wow! Another developer popping up on the message board. This board should be renamed to Indie Games Central. This is very good news and I hope to hear some good reviews from fellow FOFCers.

I once thought of doing an AAR for HM2.5

But then my computer died.

I also once thought of doing a Dynasty Report for FM (or was it back in the CM days?)...but then my computer nearly died.

I don't consider these things anymore.


That said, been waiting for HM3 with as much anticipation as I've been waiting for EUIII (or was waiting, I guess) so I'd be happy to get in on that, even with a few bugs crawling around.

Though it'll be yet another thing to steal time from EUIII Beta....:(

So, in effect this is a 33.3% discount for the game? And I can just buy it and wait for the bug free version to be released?

I liked HM1, even though I sucked at it.

Sounds like a great deal. I'm in.

Best news I've had in a while. This is great, I've been dieing for this game.

Wow. See ya Tuesday. Great news

My wife just informed me that regardless of what I think, the pre-release WILL be purchased. It's the only text-sim she likes and has waited a long time for an update.

So, with that, I guess I need to sign-up.

I enjoyed the game as well, but she put in way more time than I ever did into it.

This is one of my favorite games. I'm looking forward to seeing the new version.

I'm getting near GM (at which my life will return back to some semblence of sanity for a while at least ;) ) ... so will try and give this a whirl then ... sounds intruiging :D

What are the new features?

Very cool. I have thought of getting HM2 buthave put it off knowing a 3 was coming out sometime. I may have to try to get this now.

Where did I put that jar of pennies?

There was a decent preview up with screenshots on the website but it looks like it is gone now for some reason.

So if I bought HM2 earlier this year I am eligible to recieve HM3 for $10? Or do I get a $10 discount so I'm just as well of buying this prerelease? Can someone help me out here?

I saw the screenshots also. I have been following the development recently and been thinking of buying the game. But by looking at the screenshots, it seemed like the interface was very complicated. Each screen had so many options and looked cluttered. Anyone who has played the prior versions, can you let me know how the interface was? Thanks.

I am in the same situation as you. My understanding is that you can wait until the actual release in November-December-whenever and pay $10, OR you can get the pre-release and pay $20 like everyone else. I may be incorrect, but that is my understanding.

That is what I understand as well.

Just curious, but does this mean we need to sign up on their message board to get this, or is something going to be worked out for us specifically?

Ditto on Tasan's question.

My understanding from reading the post is that all we have to do is show up back here in this thread on Tuesday & we'll find out how to get the discount as FOFC'ers.

Certainly curious about this one, and I remember trying the demo for the last version of the game. No way I buy the game without seeing a feature list or screenshots of the game though, which I can't find.

It was actually quite streamlined and very easy to get a handle on in HM2.. and I tend to be really picky about interfaces. :)

From what I remember of the HM3 screenshots, it may have looked cluttered to you, but they were actually much more sleek and streamlined than might appear at first glance.

Hmmmm, I remember having seen some screenies from the game and a number of features throughout the past year or twelve that it's been developed. But they've changed message boards.

I'm sure something will be up by Tuesday though.

Looked quite good to me, though.

Sounds like this might be my next purchase.

Really excited about this. Hadn't played HM2 until reading this thread and can't wait to buy the new release tomorrow.

I got a email talking about the release tonight..too bad i have an early class

I received an email as well.

What? We're supposed to receive an e-mail? :confused: :(

Nice letter, and welcome to the board!

I might jump on that discounted offer as well. Very generous of you!

So, do any of you guys got ideas already on some of your first movies to be released?

I plan on releasing the final masterpiece of the great Smurfs of Doom series. It never was finished, such a shame. :( Some great movies there...

Smurfs of Doom 1: Blue Meanies
Smurfs of Doom 2: Operation Sunshine
Smurfs of Doom 3: The Beavers Strike Back
Smurfs of Doom 4: Lil' Greenies
Smurfs of Doom 5: Revenge of the Smurfs

SoD 6 was never made, sadly. :( Though, SoD 5 did bomb...the rest had all made near a billion each, but part 5 just...sucked. Eh, that happens.

What does it take to get the email?

The emails were simply just a reminder that the prerelease was tonight for those who were signed up for the Ezboard for hollywood mogul, I'm sure by tonight everyone here will have the link or an email so I wouldn't worry.

How the AI?

put me on list.

I going to make movie about texas university football qb. he grow up from high school to star at texas u. then he become super coach. i call my movie Major Asswhite

Based on a true story I see.

I thought he was coming here tomorrow to share the link.

Definitely interested...

I got the email myself. Time for me to hurry up and finish reading Antony and Cleopatra and do my Rhetoric chapters so I can start playing shortly after midnight. :)

I am looking forward to this game as well. I played the hell out of the first one. I once cast Adam Sandler in a pro wrestling slapstick comedy. I believe that was my top earning franchise of all time. My biggest surprise success was a historical epic-drama with Matt Damon as Bobby Fischer.

Put me on the list of those interested.

Yeah, I'm waiting for the link as well...

That's a difficult offer to pass up. I've been intrigued by others' posts about the game, so I might have to give it a shot for $20.

can the lazy among us get a link to a demo for HM2? I'd be intrigued enough to try out the demo for even the previous version so i have some idea what i'm getting into with the franchise, but i'm wayyyy too lazy to go find the demo myself.

thanks der!

Isn't it midnight yet?


Okay, so its midnight in half the US, thats about the whole world isn't it? ;- )

Currently d/l it

Downloading it now myself.

Me too.

Weird. I got an email earlier, but not one with the link.

Crappity crap....no email for me, and no link from the creator on here...dang it.

I can't really get into it right now because of school, but the interface is going to take some time to get used to. Wow, in HM2.5 you had like around 7 genres to choose from. in this one there is over 60.

If you go to the boards, he has it on the front page.

It's in the 1st post.

And I'm a sleepy moron. Thanks for the help guys, knew I could count on ya'll.

In a lovely bit of irony, I will be skipping Theatre Appreciation tomorrow morning to play Hollywood Mogul 3.

I've tinkered with this game for 10 minutes and already, it's bye-bye HM2. No words can describe my glee at the options of genres, sub-genres, and settings options.

Not to mention the other options in determining your movie. Oh man, oh man, I'm giddy.

I figured that the long wait between HM2 & HM3 we'd see at least some improvement on the interface... guess not.

Yeah, huge disapointment. In many cases it has gotten worse. Now I can't even figure out how to hire talent.

You have to greenlight the project first.

Wow. I suck at the demo of 2.5. Badly. Maybe I need some time with it before I decide to plunk down any money on a game I suck so bad at :)

Yeah, I'm having the same problem. I think I'm going to play the demo for 3 days, and that's about it for now. I actually like the interface of 2 better.

Like with most games, it's probably going to take a day or two of playing around to get used to the interface. Just like with pretty much every other text sim out there.

I did too, but my first film in HM3 netted some $2.2 billion. To tired to figure out what's going on tonight though.

Is the link public, or no?

I haven't released a movie yet because it keeps looking for the studio logo and not finding it. Ugh.

I may give up on this until tomorrow morning.

Looks deep, but it's waaay too late to get into it.

The problem is that the names for the logo files in game do not match the names for the logo files in the logos folder.

By clicking on the second icon, Game Options. Select Player Options. Then in the bottom left select the diamond next to Studio Logo. Then select a logo file.

Edit: You might also want to start a new game, then change the game type from default to custom. Select 10 players. Make them all human players. Then change each one of their logos to one that exsists in the logo folder. And then change the number of players and whether they are human or AI back to how you want them to be. And then start a new game.

Another Edit: Or, you could look down a few posts and follow the directions to install the patch.

Downloaded it and testing now. For first time in years since "Tetris" came out my wife is interested on a computer game wow!

Btw, no real actors database yet, right?

The interface is really bussy for me with the back office and the gold colours so i have created a new "all blue" background in photoshop and also edited the fonts colors etc, looks less bussy for me this way, I'll look now what else can i edit from the interface.

Compare Interface screenshoots:

Original: http://www.prodeportes.com/hm3/original.jpg

Mine (more simpler and easier to read imho): http://www.prodeportes.com/hm3/mine.jpg

Hollywood Mogul 3 Patch File
 

Hi,

It is now 6:37 a.m. US Central Standard Time. If you are reading this and HAVE NOT yet downloaded the Pre-Release version of Hollywood Mogul 3 you can do so here: http://www.hollywood-mogul.com/HM3_PR_Install.exe.

That Install file INCLUDES the patch file to fix the logo problem reported early on.

If you have ALREADY downloaded the Pre-Release version, please follow these directions:

HM3 PATCH FILE (version 3.08.0009)
Before you download the patch file:
1. MOVE your current hm3.exe to a safe folder.
2. Find your HM3 game folder in Windows Explorer.
3. In the sub-game-folder \MstFiles
DELETE player.mst
DELETE studio.mst
4. In the sub-game-folder \SourceMyOwnIdeaDB
DELETE ALL ten MyOwnIdea .sdb files.
5. In the sub-game folder \SavedGames
DELETE ALL saved game folders (SG000, SG001, etc)

Download the patch file to your \HM3 game folder from http://www.hollywood-mogul.com/hm3.exe.

Thanks. Sorry about the stupid logo bug. My bad.

HMdesigner

I have been playing with editing, now i have edited also all the top buttons and the interface to more colorfull ones and it looks better imho.

http://www.prodeportes.com/hm3/icy.jpg

I'm sure I'll be getting this game this evening when I get home from work. Icy, are you planning on releasing your interface mod? I'm not a fan of the busy backgrounds in general and prefer something more streamlined like what you've done. Thanks.

B

Yeah, i'll release the files and instructions on how to set them up.

I'll be downloading when I get home from work this evening. Thanks, Carey!

Me as well. I'm excited about this one.

Both look very good, can't wait to try them!

The hall of fame score calculated at the end of the game should be changed. From what I can tell, right now

Hall of Fame Total = Studio Final Cash + Personal Net Worth.

If you take out a huge loan just before ending the game, the hall of fame total does not really represent your game results. I suggest one of many alternatives:

Hall of Fame Total =
a) personal net worth + studio final cash - outstanding loan
b) personal net worth + studio net profit/loss
c) some other weighted combination

Does anybody know how you negotiate with the agent? The only option i saw was to accept the agent's offer..maybe it was because i was playing last night and I was tired. I wont have achance to play intill after 7.

Hmm.. HM3 tonight or poker... HM3.. Poker..

tough one...

You can make your own offer. Though after a couple of attempts and not giving them close enough to what they want, they walk.

I just got my first billion dollar worldwide hit several years into the game. It was a historical epic based on the War of the Roses. :D It's #3 Worldwide all time behind a couple AI studios.

So far I haven't had a franchise go beyond two movies, but I'm experimenting with doing parts 2 and 3 at the same time a la Pirates.

I'm also reviving my favourite mystery franchise from HM2, to see if I can get it long-running. :)

What settings are you playing with? I thought mine were somewhere in the middle, but don't matter what I put out, everything is grossing more than a billion. I have more money than I know what to do with, and in this case that's not a good thing.

Ok, so apparently you don't need to know what you're doing to be good at this... I've already made two, billion dollar movies... and I've only made three in total.

I'm playing at New in Town, with 2 competitors.

Most of my grosses have been around $300-500+ mill. worldwide. I've yet to replicate the War of the Roses success, though.

If you are making a lot of money and want more of a challenge, I suggest starting a game at a higher difficulty level.

The default and easiest difficulty level, "New In Town", multiplies your box office results by 500% over the hardest difficulty level. Also, on the easiest level you only lose $120 million a year to studio expenses. At the hardest difficulty level you are losing $600 million a year to studio expenses.

My first three films grossed 2 billion each in just box office revenue, not including other revenues and I wasn't even trying nor did I have much idea of what I was doing. Dumb luck maybe, but a little discouraging at the moment.

I haven't played yet, but maybe ths is going to be like FOF where you really need to be playing on the highest level to get the "true" experience?

Sounds like it to me. That's going to be my approach from the start, although if I end up making a $200 million movie that grosses 75 cents I might change my approach. :D

So far my favorite moment from cruising around the demo has to be an original screenplay for a children's movie. Present day setting, self-esteem at stake, children for a primary audience, families for a secondary audience, set on a distant planet, with an 8 y/o female lead.

The title?

Box of Death

seems like the opposite of past versions where I would spend hours getting everything "right" and barely break even or lose tons of money even on the easy settings - today on the 2nd easiest setting I blasted through a movie, just to get a feel for it and made a ton of cash.

Obviously a movie about McDonald's happy meals.

The download say the version is 2.1.2? Is that correct. If you haven't download anything yet is the first link the full exe including the patch or not?

Speculation/Rumors

There is some debate as to how the profits for movies are computed, such as whether the month of release is important, or if certain genres of movies perform better in the United States rather than overseas. Also, it is generally believed that science fiction films require more special effects to create a realistic universe, while a Drama or Comedy would not need any.

Some ideas on how films perform:

* Horror Films make more money in October.
* Action Films and Comedies perform well in the summer months.
* Dramas are best in the winter.
* Love stories do best in February