Wolverine's Faceoff Hockey Announced

Ajaxab · 09-09-2008, 11:53 AM

Details are sketchy at this point, but it looks like we have a relatively new hockey text sim to begin following (hxxp://www.wolverinestudios.com/news/foh090908.html). Anyone know anything about Rick Cole?

wade moore · 09-09-2008, 12:48 PM

I did some searching and it looks like .400 Studios did a release of this game in 2003. Very hard to find much of anything on it, but it is up on metacritic.

DaddyTorgo · 09-09-2008, 12:58 PM

was this the "season replay only, no career sim" one?

Ben E Lou · 09-09-2008, 01:00 PM

Operation Sports - FaceOff Hockey Comes To Wolverine Studios

DaddyTorgo · 09-09-2008, 01:04 PM

not to dig on wolverine, in fact consider this somewhat of a compliment, but is there a sport wolverine won't create a sim for?

as a gamer, i enjoy it!

DaddyTorgo · 09-09-2008, 01:05 PM

dola

i was right. curious to see if this will be single-season replay only, or will have progression.

i'd imagine sales of the latter would do better than those of the former

DaddyTorgo · 09-09-2008, 01:06 PM

triple-dola

if MFFF had kept his nose out this would be a quad-dola

JonInMiddleGA · 09-09-2008, 01:20 PM

I thought I recognized the programmer's name from somewhere.

Scroll down the list just a couple of names.
Medley Games - The Medley Crew

And here's a review of the 2004 version
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/to...ey/review.html

NoSkillz · 09-09-2008, 01:27 PM

I'll reserve judgement until the product is released but I find it VERY hard to believe that an updated version of FaceOff Hockey will provide a better gaming experience than the last version of EHM.

Gary Gorski · 09-09-2008, 01:28 PM

We're basically taking the game on "as-is" and Rick is developing a new roster file for it for the 08-09 season and that is what we are going to be selling out of the game. It is a single season only game as it stands now. It is the game that started with .400 and was supposed to be brought back at Medley but I don't really know what happened there. All I know is they decided to go their separate ways and Rick and I started talking and he decided to bring the game to us and felt we could help promote it and move it forward which I think we can. FaceOff actually started as a board/card game that has been around for a very long time that has a very loyal fanbase and we hope to be able to generate that kind of interest with the PC version. If you are a board/card game player we're also going to be continuing on with that version of the game as well.

We are actively searching for a programmer for the series who can help us take it to a career orientated sim. The good news is that the game has a rock solid statistical engine - we already have components for the career side of things with our other games so its really a process of merging the two together to create a great career hockey sim. If you are a programmer and are interested in talking about taking on the role of lead developer for the game feel free to email or IM me.

DaddyTorgo · 09-09-2008, 01:36 PM

Gary - can we expect "Wolverine Studios: Curling" soon?

Matthean · 09-09-2008, 02:42 PM

Info link on the site is borked. Even the page for DDS: PF is rather sparse.

samifan24 · 09-09-2008, 04:26 PM

While I understand that the Wolverine people need a new programmer to essentially "build on the existing game foundation," it is nonetheless disappointing to find a game limited to single season replay only in this day and age.

JonInMiddleGA · 09-09-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samifan24

it is nonetheless disappointing to find a game limited to single season replay only in this day and age.

While I'm not what you'd call optimistic about this particular game, the single season replay really isn't all that odd when you consider the origins of FaceOff.

It was (and still is) a single season reply game for the tabletop. The previous attempts at converting it to the pc, and apparently the next try now too, are (as far as I can tell) essentially just a computer conversion of the tabletop game. And that genre is still pretty dominated by the single season or "replay" gamers as opposed to the "career" gamers.

WSUCougar · 09-09-2008, 08:00 PM

I played the heck out of the tabletop FaceOff back in the day. Even made up player cards for myself and my friends, then drafted a league.

samifan24 · 09-09-2008, 09:06 PM

[quote=JonInMiddleGA;1828516 It was (and still is) a single season reply game for the tabletop. The previous attempts at converting it to the pc, and apparently the next try now too, are (as far as I can tell) essentially just a computer conversion of the tabletop game. And that genre is still pretty dominated by the single season or "replay" gamers as opposed to the "career" gamers.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I wasn't aware of this.

Capital · 09-09-2008, 09:22 PM

I'm glad to see a hockey game in the works...even if I have to wait until next season for a career sim. Other than EMH2007 - just couldn't get into FM's interface - but that's been beaten to death.

Gary Gorski · 09-10-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

While I'm not what you'd call optimistic about this particular game, the single season replay really isn't all that odd when you consider the origins of FaceOff.

It was (and still is) a single season reply game for the tabletop. The previous attempts at converting it to the pc, and apparently the next try now too, are (as far as I can tell) essentially just a computer conversion of the tabletop game. And that genre is still pretty dominated by the single season or "replay" gamers as opposed to the "career" gamers.

Well you are correct - for those that don't know FOH has a very long (decades) history of being a top notch tabletop game and it has guys that have been playing in leagues for 20+ years. When the game was converted to a PC game for .400 it was (and still is) a computerized way to play the tabletop game. The PC game has had some minor upgrades to it (like shootouts) but we are working with what we have and right now that's a single season replay sim.

There's a small but extremely loyal fan base there and they want their yearly version of the game and that is what we aim to give them. This was somewhat of a hurried process with the time frame from Rick leaving Medley Games but we're going to do the best we can to get it ready for this NHL season. In the discussions I had with Rick the #1 most important thing above anything else was simply keeping the game alive for the people who have invested so many years into the game. From the comments we have seen so far, the loyal FOH fans are extremely happy and hopeful that their favorite game will have a more stable future now than it has recently had.

However the turnoff to the PC game to most people at .400 is a similar one expressed here - the sports games most here generally play are career based games and we do plan on really reworking the game so that not only do you have the option of playing it replay style but also in a full career mode too. I don't know when that will happen - I hope its for next season - but the biggest goal was to at least keep it alive for the people who play it the way it is now. It's a different audience - one that we hope will integrate into our community and get hooked on some of our career based games too. Its the same thing with Music Wars Rebirth (coming very shortly BTW) - totally different game, totally different audience but its going to be a very good game that we just need to get people to give a shot.

Who knows - maybe there's merit in opening up some of our other games to being replay sims as well as career sims. One thing I have found in making the games is that there is always someone who wants one more option.

DanGarion · 09-10-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

not to dig on wolverine, in fact consider this somewhat of a compliment, but is there a sport wolverine won't create a sim for?

as a gamer, i enjoy it!

Nascar/Autoracing...

Capital · 09-10-2008, 02:43 PM

As someone who played plenty of single-season reply with Strat-O-Matic, I can understand the appeal. I for one have morphed completely into the career aspects of text sims. That being said, your post was well said.

DaddyTorgo · 09-10-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Gorski

Well you are correct - for those that don't know FOH has a very long (decades) history of being a top notch tabletop game and it has guys that have been playing in leagues for 20+ years. When the game was converted to a PC game for .400 it was (and still is) a computerized way to play the tabletop game. The PC game has had some minor upgrades to it (like shootouts) but we are working with what we have and right now that's a single season replay sim.

There's a small but extremely loyal fan base there and they want their yearly version of the game and that is what we aim to give them. This was somewhat of a hurried process with the time frame from Rick leaving Medley Games but we're going to do the best we can to get it ready for this NHL season. In the discussions I had with Rick the #1 most important thing above anything else was simply keeping the game alive for the people who have invested so many years into the game. From the comments we have seen so far, the loyal FOH fans are extremely happy and hopeful that their favorite game will have a more stable future now than it has recently had.

However the turnoff to the PC game to most people at .400 is a similar one expressed here - the sports games most here generally play are career based games and we do plan on really reworking the game so that not only do you have the option of playing it replay style but also in a full career mode too. I don't know when that will happen - I hope its for next season - but the biggest goal was to at least keep it alive for the people who play it the way it is now. It's a different audience - one that we hope will integrate into our community and get hooked on some of our career based games too. Its the same thing with Music Wars Rebirth (coming very shortly BTW) - totally different game, totally different audience but its going to be a very good game that we just need to get people to give a shot.

Who knows - maybe there's merit in opening up some of our other games to being replay sims as well as career sims. One thing I have found in making the games is that there is always someone who wants one more option.

kudos to you for recognizing the priority of the long-time users of the game and putting that ahead of anything else Gary.

sachmo71 · 09-11-2008, 03:39 PM

Can you play historical seasons? If so, how many rosters will come with the game?

09-09-2008, 01:00 PM	#4
Ben E Lou Morgado's Favorite Forum Fascist Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC	Operation Sports - FaceOff Hockey Comes To Wolverine Studios __________________ The media don't understand the kinds of problems and pressures 54 million come wit'!

09-09-2008, 01:20 PM	#8
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	I thought I recognized the programmer's name from somewhere. Scroll down the list just a couple of names. Medley Games - The Medley Crew And here's a review of the 2004 version http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/to...ey/review.html __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 09-09-2008 at 01:24 PM.

09-09-2008, 01:27 PM	#9
NoSkillz College Benchwarmer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Catharines, Canada	I'll reserve judgement until the product is released but I find it VERY hard to believe that an updated version of FaceOff Hockey will provide a better gaming experience than the last version of EHM. __________________ MY CURRENT FM19 DYNASTY - FM19: "Ludere causa Ludendi - To Play for the Sake of Playing" - Queen's Park FC (Scottish League Two) MY OLD FM11 DYNASTY - FM11: From Semi-Pro Minnows to the EPL - Dover Athletic FC My Personal Blog - Now on the Tee - Golf, Sports, Poker, Life 2006 GOLDEN SCRIBE AWARD WINNER FOR BEST 'OTHER SPORT' DYNASTY - EHM2005: Sharpening Swords in Buffalo

09-09-2008, 01:28 PM	#10
Gary Gorski Wolverine Studios Join Date: Oct 2003	We're basically taking the game on "as-is" and Rick is developing a new roster file for it for the 08-09 season and that is what we are going to be selling out of the game. It is a single season only game as it stands now. It is the game that started with .400 and was supposed to be brought back at Medley but I don't really know what happened there. All I know is they decided to go their separate ways and Rick and I started talking and he decided to bring the game to us and felt we could help promote it and move it forward which I think we can. FaceOff actually started as a board/card game that has been around for a very long time that has a very loyal fanbase and we hope to be able to generate that kind of interest with the PC version. If you are a board/card game player we're also going to be continuing on with that version of the game as well. We are actively searching for a programmer for the series who can help us take it to a career orientated sim. The good news is that the game has a rock solid statistical engine - we already have components for the career side of things with our other games so its really a process of merging the two together to create a great career hockey sim. If you are a programmer and are interested in talking about taking on the role of lead developer for the game feel free to email or IM me. __________________ Wolverine Studios http://www.wolverinestudios.com

09-09-2008, 04:26 PM	#13
samifan24 Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NC	While I understand that the Wolverine people need a new programmer to essentially "build on the existing game foundation," it is nonetheless disappointing to find a game limited to single season replay only in this day and age. __________________ "You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball...and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time." -Jim Bouton

09-09-2008, 12:58 PM	#3
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	was this the "season replay only, no career sim" one?

09-09-2008, 01:04 PM	#5
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	not to dig on wolverine, in fact consider this somewhat of a compliment, but is there a sport wolverine won't create a sim for? as a gamer, i enjoy it!

09-09-2008, 01:05 PM	#6
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	dola i was right. curious to see if this will be single-season replay only, or will have progression. i'd imagine sales of the latter would do better than those of the former

09-09-2008, 01:06 PM	#7
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	triple-dola if MFFF had kept his nose out this would be a quad-dola

09-09-2008, 01:36 PM	#11
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	Gary - can we expect "Wolverine Studios: Curling" soon?

09-09-2008, 02:42 PM	#12
Matthean Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008	Info link on the site is borked. Even the page for DDS: PF is rather sparse.

09-09-2008, 08:00 PM	#15
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	I played the heck out of the tabletop FaceOff back in the day. Even made up player cards for myself and my friends, then drafted a league. __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

09-09-2008, 09:06 PM	#16
samifan24 Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NC	[quote=JonInMiddleGA;1828516 It was (and still is) a single season reply game for the tabletop. The previous attempts at converting it to the pc, and apparently the next try now too, are (as far as I can tell) essentially just a computer conversion of the tabletop game. And that genre is still pretty dominated by the single season or "replay" gamers as opposed to the "career" gamers.[/QUOTE] Thanks, I wasn't aware of this. __________________ "You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball...and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time." -Jim Bouton

09-09-2008, 09:22 PM	#17
Capital High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000	I'm glad to see a hockey game in the works...even if I have to wait until next season for a career sim. Other than EMH2007 - just couldn't get into FM's interface - but that's been beaten to death.

09-10-2008, 02:43 PM	#20
Capital High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000	As someone who played plenty of single-season reply with Strat-O-Matic, I can understand the appeal. I for one have morphed completely into the career aspects of text sims. That being said, your post was well said.

09-11-2008, 03:39 PM	#22
sachmo71 The boy who cried Trout Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: TX	Can you play historical seasons? If so, how many rosters will come with the game?

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