Franchise Hockey Manager-- OOTP on Ice

[Mike Dunn]

Out of the Park Development's new franchise is Franchise Hockey Manager. Pre-order in a month, release in September, but the pre-order gets you the beta.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/f ... ost3440241

Anybody following this? Planning to get this?

[John]

I have been following FHM 2013's development daily, though I have been so busy tonight that I didn't see the big announcement until you posted it here, Mike. I'm a little surprised by the September release date, but good for them for taking their time to do it right. You know I'm a big hockey nut - it's my second-favorite sport behind baseball - so this was of course right up my alley. FHM even includes online league play! No, no, I'm not going to be commissioning a PEBA hockey league. But it's still cool that the option exist.

One area of disappointment for me is that a full fictional mode, complete with an OOTP-style wizard for setting up fictional leagues, isn't planned for the initial release. Or at least it wasn't. With this delay, there may be a chance that we'll see it in the first official release. Here's JeffR, FHM 2013's new "producer," on the possibility of fictional leagues making it into the initial release:

Definitely can't commit to anything like that right now, but if, a few months down the road, we found ourselves ahead of schedule for September, it would make sense to use the free time to look at adding back things that got cut in the push for an early-2013 release. No promises, though.

This is definitely one to watch!

[Jason]

Very cool!

I have tried to reach out to Markus several times about possibly developing a professional basketball simulation. There is literally nothing of any real value out there on the market. Never got a response.

The development was/is actually something that I would even be interested in backing financially, if given the same care as the OOTP Baseball franchise.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this new hockey program will be received. I have never been a fan of the sport, but maybe this will open my eyes to it!

[Borealis]

Anybody following this? Planning to get this?

I think the Real Life Boy Wonder Aurora GM will be very excited about this!!! I find it intriguing....

I have tried to reach out to Markus several times about possibly developing a professional basketball simulation. There is literally nothing of any real value out there on the market. Never got a response.

I'd think if they can do hockey, hoops can't be that different!

[Nigel]

I've been all over it but like John I saw this before the OS announcement. Definitely pre-ordering !!


Perhaps if enough of us pre-order we could have a PEBA online beta hocket league ?

[Bill]

I haven't decided. Probably at worst case, I'll buy it just to support the company. I like hockey, but don't follow it very closely anymore because I don't have cable (and hockey is almost exclusively on cable).

I'd be sold more if we could do fictional leagues. Maybe a foreign league would scratch that itch enough for a while.

[John]

Perhaps if enough of us pre-order we could have a PEBA online beta hocket league ?

I wouldn't run it, but I would certainly participate in it.

I'd be sold more if we could do fictional leagues. Maybe a foreign league would scratch that itch enough for a while.

I get the sense that the developers underestimated the draw of fictional leagues but are now getting clued into the demand. I expect to see work done on beefing up the fictional portion of the game before FHM 13's release.

[Nigel]

Having now read the actual announcement it seems that due to the number of beta builds that are expected out a PEBA beta online league probably wouldn't work but I'll look into it and would be prepared to try and commish such a league

Would anybody be prepared to try a beta online even if it meant several restarts due to new builds coming out?

[Mike Dunn]

I can't think of a more boring name for a game sim. I remember when the devs first announced it, they asked for name suggestions at the OOTP forum. This was the best they came up with???

I had suggested "Get the Puck Out of Here," which at least had 'out of' like OOTP. But I guess they played it safe.

[Steel Dragons]

I would only be interested if they did an Football game like OOTP

[Greg A]

Out of the Park Development's new franchise is Franchise Hockey Manager. Pre-order in a month, release in September, but the pre-order gets you the beta.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/f ... ost3440241

Anybody following this? Planning to get this?

I can't wait!!!

[Greg A]

Very cool!

I have tried to reach out to Markus several times about possibly developing a professional basketball simulation. There is literally nothing of any real value out there on the market. Never got a response.

The development was/is actually something that I would even be interested in backing financially, if given the same care as the OOTP Baseball franchise.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this new hockey program will be received. I have never been a fan of the sport, but maybe this will open my eyes to it!

I am with you Warnke!!! We need a hoops sim too :)

[Neil Thomas]

Yes Mark! Yes Warnke!

[Denny]

Very cool!

I have tried to reach out to Markus several times about possibly developing a professional basketball simulation. There is literally nothing of any real value out there on the market. Never got a response.

The development was/is actually something that I would even be interested in backing financially, if given the same care as the OOTP Baseball franchise.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this new hockey program will be received. I have never been a fan of the sport, but maybe this will open my eyes to it!

I am with you Warnke!!! We need a hoops sim too :)

Agreed....that would be excellent! NBA basketball is my true sports love.

[John]

Would anybody be prepared to try a beta online even if it meant several restarts due to new builds coming out?

Restarts don't bother me in the slightest. I'm familiar with this from my experiences with OOTPB beta test online leagues. It certainly would be no barrier for me with FHM '13.

Regarding fictional leagues, as I expected, it seems like the devs are going to use some of the extra time before release they have provided themselves to shore this area up. Here's Sebastian Palkowsk, lead developer, on the topic:i

No promises but one reason we decided on this schedule was the possibility to get the community more involved into the development process. With you guys playing/testing the game we will listen/discuss features for the game, moving them up and down our priority list. A fictional game start wizard and international play most likely will get some love from us as soon as possible. We already now that you want it.