Franchise Hockey 3: Announced

Grim.Reaper · October 11, 2016, 04:37:32 PM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 11, 2016, 04:29:00 PM
By the way - didn't FHM2 have the official licence? Edmonton Oilers are in the game and I thought that was a proper team.

I believe they could use player and team names, but none of the graphics, official awards, etc....all those things will come with the new game without using mods.

JudgeDredd · October 12, 2016, 04:35:16 AM

I don't see a mention of a better representation of the game. I found the current one pretty poor especially with what's out there for Football Manager

There's this giant "target" icon that moves across the ice rink and changes colour based on who has the puck. Problem is speeding up the game means you can't read the text nor can you keep track of what's going on. Simply having a small puck moving around as if it's being hit around would be a basic enhancement. A further enhancement would be to have players represented in some basic fashion and an even better enhancement would be how Football Manager does it now.

Of course, it did take Football Manager quite some time to get where it is now. For quite some time it was just the text flashing up, then it moved onto the flat "top down" view with player icons moving around.

So maybe it'll get there - but I just find the actual game representation very basic and not great for immersion on what's going on on the ice.

Grim.Reaper · October 12, 2016, 04:49:08 AM

Yes, not a strong point....but for me I never watch games anyway, I prefer to sim and focus on coaching and managing. Hopefully with time it gets better like fm or at least ehm.

Grim.Reaper · October 17, 2016, 05:49:18 PM

Beta released today.....will be downloading shortly.

Grim.Reaper · October 22, 2016, 04:09:42 AM

Been playing this since the beta release and have been enjoying it for the most part. Since still in beta for a week or so, there are a number of minor issues being seen and a couple of issues that need to be addressed before release, but overall I think its shaping up nicely, assuming you don't want to play multiplayer leagues since they took it out. The NHL license is a nice touch since you don't have to mess with mods...UI and interface can still be hit or miss but I don't see myself struggling with it. And as typical with most career sim games, the trading AI and roster management by the AI at times can be spotty. But if your into hockey, I really think over time it will continue to improve and really the only hockey game that is actively supported with the most upside.

JudgeDredd · October 22, 2016, 04:42:03 AM

Thanks for the heads up.

Is the interface hugely different from the previous one? I ask because it's taking me some getting used to - and I wouldn't want to learn it in 2 to relearn it in 3

For example, I wa stold a player was injured before going into a game. For the LIFE of me, I couldn't work out how to swap them out with a fit player. The drag and drop on a page showing your players wasn't working. I fully expect I was on the wrong page - but my point is it wasn't particularly intuitive foe a new player. In the end, I gave in and got the assistant to sort it out for me.

Grim.Reaper · October 22, 2016, 05:03:11 AM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 22, 2016, 04:42:03 AM
Thanks for the heads up.

Is the interface hugely different from the previous one? I ask because it's taking me some getting used to - and I wouldn't want to learn it in 2 to relearn it in 3

For example, I wa stold a player was injured before going into a game. For the LIFE of me, I couldn't work out how to swap them out with a fit player. The drag and drop on a page showing your players wasn't working. I fully expect I was on the wrong page - but my point is it wasn't particularly intuitive foe a new player. In the end, I gave in and got the assistant to sort it out for me.

No the interface is not hugely different from past version in most places. Where they did overhaul was within strategy/tactics to make it a little easier to complete, but yet more robust. If you had the past version, you would be fine with this one.

When you have an injured player, you would want to go to the roster screen and scratch them from the roster (right click on their name) or move them to the injury list (right click on their name) if a long term injury. Then if you wanted to fill their spot on the roster, you would change the roster to one of your minor league teams and right click on the player you wanted to move to the NHL roster. Then if you are playing as the head coach too, you would need to go to the various line/tactic screens to make adjustments there or let the AI do it for you. Personally, I am mostly playing as the GM only right now, which means I just need to worry about roster management and my coach is taking care of all this details for me.

JudgeDredd · October 22, 2016, 05:47:51 AM

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind when I next get an injured player (every game probably, right?)

Grim.Reaper · October 22, 2016, 05:51:15 AM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 22, 2016, 05:47:51 AM
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind when I next get an injured player (every game probably, right?)

Hopefully not or you need to get a better trainer or bring on players that aren't injury prone:)

Nefaro · October 23, 2016, 03:58:15 PM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 22, 2016, 05:47:51 AM
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind when I next get an injured player (every game probably, right?)

You gotta point.

Many of these text management sims have injury rates a bit high.

In this case, I'm specifically thinking of OOTP. I tend to lower their frequency a little before starting a new season. Perhaps the severity too. Had a few too many times where nearly half my starters were injured, often for weeks apiece.

Grim.Reaper · October 23, 2016, 04:30:36 PM

In the recent update for hockey beta, that made some very good changes to make injuries more realistic...I haven't seen anything too odd, but way too early to know for sure

Grim.Reaper · October 31, 2016, 03:45:33 PM

Released today!