Custom Start Date Patch: When should I release it?

[archibalduk]

As you might know, I have been developing a patch which enables users to change the start date/season in EHM 2007 (see this thread). I have created a simple exe file that can be used to easily select whichever start date you would like in EHM (see the screenshot below). It is very easy to use and doesn't make any changes to the ehm2007.exe or any other files. Testing is almost complete and I could be in a position to release it this week.

There remains one issue with the patch however; the teams in the World Championships are incorrect. Instead of the usual nations such as Canada and Russia, the first 16 nations of the alphabet (e.g. Afghanistan, America Samoa, Austria, etc) are present in the WC in the first season. EHM slowly corrects this over the course of nine seasons because each season two 'correct' nations replace two of the 'incorrect' nations. By season nine, the teams/nations in the WC are fine again. I'm working on trying to solve this but I haven't managed to find the cause thus far.

For me, I don't see this issue as a major problem. I would rather play with the 2011/12 season with the WC bug rather than stick with the original 2006/07 start date (thereby avoiding the WC bug). However I know others might find this bug a big deal. I would therefore like to know what you think I should do about releasing the patch and I'd really appreciate your views by voting in the poll I have created (see above this post).

[Alessandro]

I voted the second option. Imho there are still things we can work, maybe you'll be able to find something while you fix the Finland stuff, EHM is 5 years old now, so, one month more won't change much.

[CeeBee]

I probably won't use it till Manimal switches over with the new roster so I'm in no hurry

[archibalduk]

I probably won't use it till Manimal switches over with the new roster so I'm in no hurry

That's sounding like the most sensible option. I'll allow users to continue voting, but I expect I'll follow your advice. If a majority of users want it released sooner then I'll release it as a beta - otherwise I'll just hold on to it and keep working away at that darn WC bug!

[YZG]

I picked the second option, but my heart is more halfway between the second and the third than straight on the second. I do follow the WC in real life and on EHM and am not overly excited about 10 seasons with Anguilla or the American Samoa in the elite division. If the game'd picked alphabetically among teams with an actual national team, I wouldn't have minded much. Armenia would have been trashed, but at least they do play hockey in the WCs in real life (when they're not suspended for using ineligible players in the competitions, but that's a different story). But the way it picks them now with the bug is just plain annoying and deserves some further investigation I think.

BTW, if extra testers are required, I'm willing to.

- YZG

[Tyees]

I voted the first option. To me the WCs arent as important as the date itself. Plus with it out, someone might notice some other stuff that can be corrected or atleast brought up sooner?

[Loosie]

I voted the first option, like you said the WC will correct itself, and it's not THAT important to me. Although reading other posts, the second option may have been the better choice as it can be released at the same time as the Manimal roster update.

[Manimal]

My first roster release won't be set up to the changed start year. Right now, that would take too much time. We'll get on it after the release (which I'm guessing will be around late October, early November)

[archibalduk]

In case it helps, here's how the World Championships and World Championships Division 1 look in season 1:

[Manimal]

How weird that it's only alphabetically in the top division and not in Div. 1

[nino33]

I voted for the third choice (fix WC bug first), but I wanted to "explain" my choice - for myself I won't be using the patch to play in 2011, I'll use the patch in combination with the 1974 db, and one of the aspects of the 1974 db I am really looking forward to is playing in the NHL and hearing about all of the name historical international players in the News Items

In general I think "well done Arch!" however/whenever you release it!

Regards

[ElQuapo]

3rd choice for me.

The IHWC-bug is pretty much a game breaker for me - the same if we can't get player and competition histories up to 2010. It's just too big a part of the game with records etc.

If you do get these things to work though, then you are officially "The Man"!

[archibalduk]

The IHWC-bug is pretty much a game breaker for me - the same if we can't get player and competition histories up to 2010. It's just too big a part of the game with records etc.

I agree that the WC bug is a big issue and can appreciate that it is a game breaker for many people, but I personally don't find the player history bug as big an issue. Even if you play with the Manimal rosters using the normal 2006/07 start date you're still missing the past five seasons of career history because you're effectively playing with the 2011/12 rosters in the 2006/07 season. Thus there isn't any way of adding the 2006/07 - 2010/11 history using the 2006/07 start date either.

Either way, I'm working hard at trying to solve both of these issues. I've spent hours and hours on it this week but still no success yet...

P.s. Competition histories beyond 2006/07 however can be added to the custom start date patch.

[archibalduk]

Update: Player career history bug is now fixed - http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... 82#p128282

[Alessandro]

So you see that the wait was worth it

[archibalduk]

I've enabled vote editing so users can change their mind at any time and change their vote. I'm now swinging towards the second or the third option.

[archibalduk]

I've fixed the WC bug and, as far as I'm aware, all issues are now resolved. I'll be doing some final testing and will then upload it to the site.

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... 95#p128395

[archibalduk]

As this thread is no longer needed, I'll lock this thread. Thank you to everybody who voted and expressed their opinions. I'm glad I held off releasing it, as the majority of you suggested.