Eastside Hockey Manager returns on Steam today.. (3/26)

[SirFozzie]

I wouldn't have known this except for a Miles tweet, but it looks like the latest version of Eastside Hockey Manager will be going into Early Access on Steam today around 2 PM (if I'm reading the time differential right).

This is apparently coming out of nowhere, it was referred to by SI as Project Ouch.

Here's some info and links

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Miles Jacobson and Risto Remes • EHM The Blue Line

https://www.facebook.com/eastsidehockeymanager

Eastside Hockey (@eastside_hockey) | Twitter

and the announcement on the SI Games site:

For a brief golden age between 2004 and 2007, ice hockey fans across the globe could test their management credentials from the comfort of their own homes with the Eastside Hockey Manager series. The game, developed by management simulation specialist Sports Interactive and published by SEGA, appeared in three incarnations over the course of that period and developed a small, but enthusiastic global following.

The trouble was, in those days before mass digital distribution, reaching that small, but dedicated audience proved increasingly difficult and uneconomic so, reluctantly, SEGA and SI shelved the game in January 2007.

However, throughout the intervening years EHM has been kept alive by a dedicated section of the SI crew and now, thanks to the emergence of Steam’s Early Access programme, the game that was loved by so many hockey fans is making a dramatic return.

Eastside Hockey Manager: Early Access offers fans the most realistic, in-depth and immersive simulation of hockey management available, giving them the chance to manage club or country in any one of the world’s top hockey-playing nations.

EHM: EA allows you to take full control of your roster – you decide who to sign, who to trade and who to draft. You assemble the perfect coaching team and then, with everything in place, you can choose to either employ a head coach to guide your team from behind the bench, or take control of the coaching duties yourself. Whichever you choose, you’ll follow the action ‘live’ through the ultra-realistic ‘top down’ 2D match engine.

You’ve always known that you have what it takes to lead your franchise to hockey glory, haven’t you? Now, thanks to the re-emergence of Eastside Hockey Manager you have the chance to prove it all over again.

Eastside Hockey Manager: Early Access will be available from 6:00pm (GMT) today (26th March 2015) through Steam Early Access.


Eastside Hockey Manager: Early Access – Key Features

- Contemporary League Structures
EHM: EA includes 11 playable leagues (with more planned to be added during early access), each one featuring the up-to-date structure and rules from the current season.

- Dynamic 2D Game Engine
Follow the action through the top-down game engine, which incorporates state-of-the-art physics modelling (including realistic deflections and shot-blocking) and convincing player AI. There’s even a zoom mode for those who want to get closer to the action.

- Lifelike Trade Negotiations
Managers can gauge interest to trade proposals from their opposite numbers as well as getting feedback from their own assistant. Each team has their own needs and some are ready to offload prospects for that key veteran that makes them a true contender whilst others can be looking to move high-wage veterans in order to rebuild through the draft.

- Intuitive User Interface
The centralized navigation bar makes management easier and more intuitive with all key management controls incorporated into the main menu bar.

- Improved Player Progression
Players develop and age naturally, while the role-based attribute modelling makes players more realistic and more varied.

- International Management
EHM EA: includes 13 international tournaments for senior and U20 national teams, with tournaments hosted in a variety of nations and cities.

- Database Import
The database format allows the importing of user-generated up-to-date rosters and even historical starting databases (created for earlier versions of EHM).

- And Much, Much More…
The intuitive tutorial system takes users through the early stages, there’s an option to hide all visible attributes in the game for added challenge, a nation overview screen to view all the top leagues, clubs and players for each country, player/non-player profiles, option to start the game with a fantasy draft, up-to-date ‘all-star’ game formats with skills competitions and many, many other features.

[NoSkillz]

HOLY CRAP!!

[The Jackal]

Oh boy, that's trouble.

[SirFozzie]

That was my reaction pretty much too, Well done SI Games for keeping it completely underwraps until announcing, I wouldn't have known about it other then seeing a Miles tweet about how he was off line until the EHM:EA early access release at 1 PM GMT today.. I was like "What, SI Games is releasing a new game?" and looked it up..

And then I did the happy puppy dance.

Well, I would have if my leg would have allowed it.

[bhlloy]

Whoa, that's awesome news. Is it April fools a few days early?

[SirFozzie]

Planned improvements during Early Access include: Network Games (IE FM-Like Multiplayer)

- How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

Polish, polish, polish. But we’re also planning some extra features – a play-off tree view will be rolled out in the first update, with some major improvements to player progression following in the second. At some point in the Early Access cycle we also plan to include a network game mode and some further playable leagues. And we’ll be looking at features that you, the community, suggest – if we like them (and they’re technically achievable) then we’ll do what we can to get them into the final game.

[bhlloy]

My second thought is if they just re-released the 2007 version with up to date rosters, teams and competitions and made tweaks to the engine to better reflect todays NHL in terms of goals per game, this would instantly become the second best sports sim on the market. If they actually improve it beyond that, it's all gravy

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

Oh boy, that's trouble.

yup...

FM

[Travis]

The Oilers may have killed my interest in the NHL but they can't dampen my happiness at hearing about this. Very awesome!

[riz]

Hi guys, long time no see. I've been lurking around reading the forums every now and then but thought I'd post a thanks for anyone who has kept on playing EHM07 and keeping the community alive.

There is a preview here on the Early Access version:
EXCLUSIVE: Preview of Eastside Hockey Manger: Early Access • EHM The Blue Line

Also a LOT of more info on the TBL forums as well as a good recap our own forums:
Sports Interactive Community

Thanks guys !

[Mike Lowe]

Wow. This is shocking, yet welcoming, news.

[SirFozzie]

Riz, you rat bastard! How could you keep us in the dark...

But on second thought, thanks for bringing EHM back

[Fidatelo]

Does this version have the same FM-style emphasis on tactics like the 04-07 versions?

[Honolulu_Blue]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!

[Logan]

So what's the best way to get the very basics for this, like system requirements? I haven't played a computer game in the better part of a decade.

[Icy]

WOW dreams came true!!! Can't wait to buy it and for the latest TBL rosters!

[Ramzavail]

Holy shit!

I can't find it on steam though and that link above is giving me that vindicosuite business. But I'm pumped!

[SirFozzie]

apparently it will launch on steam for early access later today. I will probably live stream it a bit on Twitch (I have a habit of doing that)

[The Jackal]

So, FOFC league?

[Grover]

So I can't wait to join the new version EHM FOFC league...

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

So, FOFC league?

no online multiplayer at launch though...

FM

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

no online multiplayer at launch though...

FM

Yeah, but gauging potential interest.

[Ramzavail]

I'd be in.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by riz

Hi guys, long time no see. I've been lurking around reading the forums every now and then but thought I'd post a thanks for anyone who has kept on playing EHM07 and keeping the community alive.

There is a preview here on the Early Access version:
EXCLUSIVE: Preview of Eastside Hockey Manger: Early Access • EHM The Blue Line

Also a LOT of more info on the TBL forums as well as a good recap our own forums:
Sports Interactive Community

Thanks guys !

I as thinking about starting a career with my beloved Quebec Remparts but reading through the preview, this caught my eyes:

Another neat feature is the import_config.cfg file which can be used to set how the EHM 2007 database is imported/converted in EHM:EA format. You can set the start date, league/rules structure (either EHM 2007 rules/structures or 2014/15 rules/structures) and rename leagues. So it will be possible to create an EHM:EA version of Nino’s 1974 rosters which will have the correct 1974/75 start date. I have had a quick play around with Nino’s rosters in EHM:EA and it works great in the game. It also looks as though young players will appear in the game once they reach a certain age (but I haven’t fully tested this).

Start dates from 1970/71 until 2014/15 are currently supported.

hrm, might be tempted to restart way back in 1979-80, expansion year when the Nordiques but also Wayne Gretzky and his Oilers joined the NHL

I'm thinking this is as close to instabuy as I could think for a game on Steam...

FM

[SirFozzie]

Oh, and FM15 is 33% off this week.

You know, just in case you haven't paid ENOUGH to SI already

[Arles]

I've always been a big fan of this game, congrats on the release!

[Lathum]

how much?

[EVEN8184]

Looks like it's up now. $14.99, on sale for $11.99 until April 9th.

[djsatu]

Been craving a good hockey sim for a long long time. The last eastside hockey manager was awesome, and this is gonna be amazing! 13 bucks Canadian is a steal!

[Ramzavail]

Purchased

[SirFozzie]

So... Foz has a new game to play. And as traditional when such things happen, I'll spend some time talking about it on Twitch.TV. Be there, or be Rectangular.. or a Dodecahedron. If you want to be a dodecahedron, I ain't stoppin ya. Weirdo.

Twitch

Edit: Stream done for now

[Grover]

I must get home so I can spend my money on this.

[Travis]

So out of curiosity, will buying this version mean that we get the finished version when it's ready (ie: updates to EA until it's "done") for no extra cost or is the early access version it's own product/separate purchase?

[SirFozzie]

Correct, you'll get the full game when it comes out

[Travis]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Correct, you'll get the full game when it comes out

Welp, that pretty much confirms that purchase.

Thanks!

[SackAttack]

dibs on the Panthers in the FOFC league. (what? look at that line, man. I gotta strike early!)

[SirFozzie]

I got Bruins

[Grover]

Flyers! (In ahead of Jackal, yuss!)

[Honolulu_Blue]

RED WINGS

[MizzouRah]

OMG... what a day! $12 I'm IN.

Here is a good review and links to real roster/photos/logos.

http://gmgames.org/eastside-hockey-m.../#!prettyPhoto

[MizzouRah]

Haven't played in years.. anyway to make it full screen? If I check that box and hit OK it just goes back to unchecked and is displayed in a very small window.

[Fidatelo]

Anyone know how this game reacts to high-DPI settings? I know that DDPB and FOF don't play well with my Surface because it uses the 150% scaling.

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Grover

Flyers! (In ahead of Jackal, yuss!)

Heck, I'll take the Lightning.

[MrBug708]

Kings?

[BYU 14]

This is awesome!!

And Coyotes if we do a league

[sovereignstar v2]

Awesome that the game is attempting a comeback - I've already purchased.

I always have to giggle when there is talk of FOFC hotseat leagues starting up. They *never* work out.

[Travis]

I'll call dibs on the Oilers for a league, though I'm guessing that's a ways off yet.

[RomaGoth]

This is awesome news. EHM is the one game I have played consistently since 2007.

My only issue is that I have never used Steam and am very cautious as I do not like DRM of any kind.

Can anyone reflect on their opinion of Steam who has experience using it? I don't want to buy a game I can't access without connecting to the internet, seems kind of counterproductive (at least imo).

[Vince, Pt. II]

Steam is quite possibly the best thing the Internet has ever come up with.

[MrBug708]

You don't need the internet to play steam games. Just to download