BASIC DETAILS
- The game is being programmed in C++ and QT.
- The game will support Windows and Mac to start with. Linux will not be supported at least initially.
- The hardware requirements have not been announced, but it shouldn't be all that different to the requirements of OOTP.
- There is no confirmed release dates for either version 1 or version 2 (they will not announce the specific date until they are 100% they can meet a date). It is possible that once the game is in a regular release cycle (likely from version 3 onwards), it will be seeing a regular October or Christmas release.
- The game might be added to Steam Greenlight, but it will not be exclusive to Steam.
- OOTP were considering making pre-orders possible, but no final decision has been made. It might not make sense for the first version (in the view of OOTP).
- There will be options to sim through games (i.e. your head coach takes control), coach the game yourself and to take a vacation.
- It is possible to sim day by day or simulate days/weeks/months/seasons.
- It is possible to delegate tasks to the CPU, such as training, scouting, trading, drafting, setting lines.
- Both trading and transfer systems are included.
- Scouts can be assigned to a player, team, league, region or nation.
- The latest NHL CBA will be included in the game. Either it will be included in the first release or as a game patch.
- The original 82 game 2012/13 NHL game schedule will be included as well as the shortened 48 game schedule.
- The game will include a basic schedule generator (but you can create your own custom schedules using xml files just like OOTP).
- The schedule files include an option to set the home arena (so that it is possible to schedule neutral site games such as the Winter Classic and NHL Europe).
- The game might include FaceGen in the first version (it is a question of time and money). It is likely to be included in a future version if it is not included in version 1.
- A basic fictional mode is likely to be included in the game.
- Online multiplayer functions will be included with the first version.
- The mode is different to the EHM style in that the commissioner sends out a saved file to all of the GMs. The GMs load the file, make their changes and email their file back to the commissioner. The game imports all of the GMs files and then the commissioner sims however many days/games he wishes - and then the cycle continues.
- It is possible to start the game with a fantasy draft.
- Every player who has played at least one game in the NHL is included in the historic DB.
- When you start a game, the players are on the rosters of the teams that the started the season with.
- Every season, the real rookies will be imported into the game. There is a setting so that you can choose whether they are put on their real team or put into the draft pool
- All real life expansions will happen in game.
The game will feature a commissioner mode (i.e. an in-game editing mode), enabling the following to be edited in your saved game:
- League roster rules
- League rules
- League contract rules
- League regular season game rules
- League playoff game rules
- Team/league names and league structure
- Awards and finances
- Player editing
- The scoring level (goals per game)
- It is possible to move teams, delete teams, add new teams and hold an expansion draft (existing teams can protect their players).
- In additional to customisable foreigner limits based on the nationality of the league, there is an additional foreigner limit setting based on the nationality of the team. The reason for this is to accommodate for the KHL which has non-Russian teams.
- The game can start with a fantasy draft.
- The game can currently handle 8 conferences per league, 4 divisions per conference and 20 teams per division. Presumably this means a maximum of 8x4x20 = 640 teams per league!!
- An edited saved game can be shared as a quick start (So long as you do not sim any games before sharing).
- The goals per game will be editable on a per league basis.
- Penalties will be fully editable on a per league basis. It will be possible to to decide which penalties exist in a league, what the effect of the penalty is and how often they get called on average.
- There is a father/son field in the DB. However, it is unclear whether it will have any function in version 1.