GM Games

Members
  • Content Count

    715
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    82

Reputation Activity

  1. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from SerHawkes in [itch.io Devlog] Release of CTFMv2 Test version   
    Hello Everybody, After a long period of recoding the whole game we are now ready with the first test version of the new CT Football Manager. The test version is playable but we still have a long list...
    View the full article
  2. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] The Puck Drops on Franchise Hockey Manager 8   
    The Franchise Hockey Manager series returns for the 2021-22 season with plenty of new additions.
    OOTP Developments and Com2uS has packed many new features and improvements into it. Driven by community feedback. FHM 8 is their strongest entry yet in our longstanding NHL®-licensed PC hockey strategy series.
    [This press release is made courtesy of OOTP Developments]
    Choose one of dozens of leagues around the world and select a team to guide to glory, including a chance at the ultimate prize: FHM 8 is licensed by the NHL®, allowing you to take the reins of your favorite franchise to capture the Stanley Cup®.
    Take control of a national team and try for international supremacy. Choose a historical game, where you can begin in any year in NHL® history right back to the beginning in 1917. Or if you’d like to create your own customized league, you can do that as well!
    .
    Release the Kraken!

    Draft your own version of the expansion Seattle Kraken or enter the league with their real lineup.
    Take control based on in-game events

    Alter players’ styles and tactics in response to game events.
    All new for Franchise Hockey Manager 8:
    NEW FINANCIAL SYSTEM!: Build your Legacy with the new financial system, allowing you much more control over your budget and operations. NEW ON-ICE DECISIONS!: You directly influence your players’ choices on the ice! UP-TO-DATE 2021-2022 NHL® ROSTERS: The fans are back in the stands, and we have fully-updated rosters, teams, leagues, and stats for the 2021-2022 NHL® season! A LIVING, BREATHING HOCKEY WORLD!: New rumours, news stories, and new stats reveal your hockey world. IMPROVED 2D GAME MODE!: The 2D game system has undergone many changes to improve player behaviour, animation, and statistical output, and received some new graphics and aminations too! REALISTIC HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Junior, College, and European leagues in historical games have been significantly fleshed out, so young players will no longer just be free agents before they’re signed or drafted, and the Sponsorship/Affiliate system that was used by the NHL up until the 1960’s is now simulated as well. BUILD YOUTH SYSTEMS: European teams will now be able to take steps to improve the quality of the young players entering their youth systems. ADJUSTABLE TRADE DIFFICULTY: Trading difficulty can now be adjusted, allowing for easier or more difficult trade negotiations – or nearly impossible ones! MORE POSTGAME FEEDBACK! A new postgame analysis screen points out the good, the bad, and the ugly of both teams’ performances. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS: 2D Mode now has a “highlights” option that’ll allow you to view only the game’s key moments, or just the goals. NEW CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS: Custom games can now add tournaments that allow the participation of teams from multiple leagues, and can add new leagues after the game has started. YOUR OWN NOTEPAD: Players now have a user-editable “Notes” view that can be used to record your own notes, reminders, etc. regarding them. HOCKEY CARDS! We’ve added a new “hockey card” style for displaying player portraits on some screens. FHM 8 is big, bold, and packed with improvements – continuing to build on the foundation of our long-running hockey strategy series.
    Join in the conversation about FHM 8 on discord or below on Reddit..
    The post The Puck Drops on Franchise Hockey Manager 8 appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  3. Thanks
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] It’s here! FirstAccess for DDS: Pro Football 2022 launches September 10th   
    A new season of NFL football is upon us and with that comes the FirstAccess of Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2022 (DDSPF22).
    Let’s share with you some of the core elements of the game and what’s new in this years experience?
    New Dark User Interface
    DDS:PF22 brings a brand new look giving the user an incredibly beautiful and easy-to-navigate football sim interface while being designed for long play sessions.

    Player Detail
    Social types, multiple player traits, player mentoring options and player storylines give players a true life quality. You’ll feel like you’re managing real athletes – not just looking at numbers on a screen!
    Personality Traits
    Financial System
    New improvements to the financial system lets you tailor contract values to positions for an even more realistic financial game world.

    What’s New in DDSPF22 ?
    Customization options have improved even more! Edit more details on coaches, hall of fame configuration options, overall rating options, multiple playoff options, a new 17 game schedule and new data export capabilities for you to analyze data your own way. The game engine has received multiple improvements as well. New play design options allow for motion and play action plays; revamped depth options allow for designation of third down backs; a total revamp of the penalty system allows you to take control over accepting penalties in 2D play, as well as AI improvements for penalties and 4th down logic. Link your league with Draft Day Sports: College Football for a totally immersive game universe. Bring rookies in from DDS:CF and track your college universe without ever having to leave DDS:PF. Use coupon code PF22FIRST at checkout and you will save 10% when you pre-order. This offer is only good during the pre-order stage so get your copy today!
    Leave a comment about DDSPF22 on our sub-reddit..
    The post It’s here! FirstAccess for DDS: Pro Football 2022 launches September 10th appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  4. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] Out of the Park Baseball 22 is here! Available worldwide!   
    Out of the Park Baseball 22 is here!
    Franchise mode is transformed with incredible new 3D MLB ballparks, a brand new KBO license, a huge upgrade to the coaching system, loads of new player and team strategies, all new 2021 Opening Day rosters and rules, and more! Plus! The brand new Perfect Draft!
    GM Games will be putting out a full review from our own Nick Tylwalk. Resident expert on OOTP and he’ll dive into the details for you.
    [This press release is made courtesy of Out of the Park Developments]
    Out of the Park Baseball 22 – the 22nd version of the award-winning sports strategy franchise – delivers an incredible experience that new and returning fans alike will love! With complete authenticity licensed by MLB and the MLBPA and a bounty of offline and online experiences found nowhere else, it is truly the Infinite Baseball Sandbox.
    Here is some of what you get in OOTP 22:
    Stunning new 3D ballparks for every MLB club transform Franchise mode!
    You won’t believe your eyes! We have added incredible new 3D versions of every MLB ballpark – implemented from the ground up in the largest development project OOTP Baseball has ever undergone. Franchise mode is simply transformed! Everything is new in every MLB stadium in glorious detail.
    Combined with major updates to ballplayer 3D animations, the leap forward in the in-game experience is simply astounding – and is like nothing you’ve ever seen before in our 22-year history. We have put the finishing touches on all the stadiums and they are ready for launch!
    New Coaching system upgrades have a huge impact on Franchise mode!
    We have dramatically upgraded the coaching systems! For the first time ever, employ a first base and third base coach, have specialists teach players and prospects specific skills, hire coaches away from other teams, align your coaching staff to maximize their talents to apply to your players, and more. It’s a fantastic new addition to running a team that you’ll love – and wonder how you lived without!
    All new team and player strategies, trade settings, and new trading AI!
    Our community is always asking for more control of their teams and experiences – and we have delivered! Impressive new player and team strategy options are added, along with more choice in league trading settings and improved AI trading that leads to more realistic offers than ever. You have more control at your fingertips than you thought was ever possible!
    3D Ballpark Construction Kit 2.0
    By popular demand, we have added dozens of new items and features to the beloved 3D Ballpark Construction Kit in version 2.0! Hundreds of thousands of stadiums were created by players around the world, and we’ve taken tons of that feedback and added it. New items, attributes, and features to the ballpark will keep you delighted for hours as you create your own perfected version of baseball heaven!
    New 2021 rosters, rules, and events!
    Accurate 2021 MLB and MiLB rosters, rules, and schedules. Baseball is changing more than ever, and OOTP 22 has everything covered – including the dramatic changes to the minor leagues. It’s an entirely new minor league structure in 2021 with new team affiliations, leagues, and rules – and OOTP 22 has it all!
    Dozens of international pro and independent baseball leagues around the globe are also included, with up-to-the-minute accuracy for teams, rosters player stats, and ratings. Plus…
    For the first time ever – the KBO license AND more awesome new 3D KBO ballparks!
    OOTP 22 features a brand new Korean Baseball Organization license! The KBO has become incredibly popular around the world, and OOTP 22 has all of the teams and players from around the league. Plus! KBO-specific rules, including Regional Draft Rounds, foreigner signing limits, and more. And! BREAKING NEWS – we have just added 10 brand new 3D KBO ballparks in for launch! This the most authentic KBO experience on the planet.
    Perfect Team 22!
    Perfect Team roars back this season with a raft of new features, options, and modes – including the all new Perfect Draft mode. Experience Perfect Team in an all new way, exploring the rich collection of incredible players and history that make Perfect Team mode the unique phenomenon it is.
    Much More
    Out of the Park Baseball 22 is the result of 22 years of making the best baseball strategy game possible! Every day each week we produce dozens of videos and podcasts, including the popular weekly show This Week In Perfect Team. With more than 10 live shows each week – all featuring Twitch Drops! – no one produces more content and rewards their viewers than OOTP. With multiple Franchise series and our flagship audio podcast OOTP Now, you are hearing from the developers and the community every day.
    Come join the conversation about the release of OOTP22 Baseball with us on reddit…
    The post Out of the Park Baseball 22 is here! Available worldwide! appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  5. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] ‘Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 2021’ Get to know First Access!   
    Draft Day Sports College Basketball 2021 First Access has arrived. The team went over a list of more than 250+ community suggestions for the game and included a good number of those.
    Are you itching for the excitement of March (especially since the NCAA Tournament was cancelled last year)? This is what you need – Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 2021.
    [This press release is made courtesy of Wolverine Studios]
    Recruiting…
    Wording is courtesy of Wolverine Studios – Recruiting has received some of the most important upgrades this time around starting with the totally redesigned recruit card above. You now can perform your recruiting actions right from this card itself as well as getting new information about the recruit’s level of interest right on the card as well as a better way to see the ratings you have already scouted on the player. You can also communicate via text message with recruits right from this screen too!

    Quadrants…
    One of the biggest new additions to the game is the use of NET and the NET quadrants to determine which teams will make the championship tournament with at-large bids. This replaces the outdated RPI system and allows you direct insight into seeing which of your wins (and losses) are playing key roles in determining your tournament fate.

    The additions don’t stop there though – we’ve got upgrades in every facet of the game such as the changed 2D screen to improve game play, the redesigned strategy screen which will let you see all of your player proficiencies at once so you know which sets to focus on, new recruiting filters to help narrow your lists even more.

    Updated sub matrix features, sim engine improvements to make players stand out more at smaller schools, additional options to skip portions of the summer periods and so much more including the redesigned dashboard screen above which lets you get more information on your players and get to recognize them better which is important in a college game with so much player turnover.

    WHAT’S NEW IN 21?
    Brand new realistic enhancements like the NET Quadrant system to determine who makes the post-season tournaments makes the game feel even more true to life. Recruiting upgrades allow you to recruit directly from the revamped player card, see more information on the interest level of your school and new recruiting filters make it even easier to target in on your favorite recruits. A host of new page additions such as the redesigned dashboard screen, new schedule screens, improved ways of selecting simulation times, game by game updates while simulating and changes to the strategy screen to display team proficiencies make the game even easier to navigate and use. Customize it all! Do the editing yourself with our new database editor to change team and conference names, change logos, courts and much more or check out the community created mods to really enhance your gaming experience. The game engine has received multiple improvements as well. New changes have been made to the 2D screen for a better experience there including extra popups when players have great games and changes to the simulation engine itself allow for better players at smaller schools to be more impactful on the stat lines and play an outsized role for their team in some cases just as they do in real life. Link your league with Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021 for a totally immersive game universe. Automatically transfer your draft eligible players to DDS:PB21 and you can track standings, stats and rosters from your college world right inside of DDS:PB21 now! Grab a copy of DDSCB21 with (-10%) First Access code CB21FIRST right here https://gmgames.org/draft-day-sports-pro-basketball-2021/download/
    Discuss this story with the GM Games community on reddit…
    The post ‘Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 2021’ Get to know First Access! appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  6. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] WSBA Sim Recap   
    Welcome to the WSBA Sim Recap – a weekly blog piece to talk about the latest happenings in the WSBA – the first ever online league run by Wolverine Studios. If you’re looking for all the details on the league or to even join yourself click the button below and check out the league for yourself.
    Check Out The WSBA Homepage Can Anyone Stop The Bison?
    Chicago entered the sim with an 8-0 record and continued their unbeaten streak with seven more wins and even more impressive all of those wins were double digit victories. SG Ben Greer has been amazing leading the team with 26.3 PPG but he’s not doing all the heavy lifting. SF Justin Brown has been no slouch himself averaging 20.1 PPG to go with 10.9 RPG, 7.3 APG and 1.9 SPG. As long as these two are healthy I’m not sure anyone can stop the Bison this season.
    Charlotte Gets A W!
    Charlotte, on the other hand, entered the sim looking for its first victory and they didn’t wait long – dispatching of the Boston Irish 112-102 – at the beginning of the sim. The Wasps would go on to win one more game but at an overall record now of 2-13 their hopes are clearly of ping pong balls bouncing their way and not of the playoffs.
    OKC Makes Their Move…
    While the attention of the league has been focused on Chicago, Oklahoma City has been kicking up some dust in the West. The Twisters are 13-1 themselves and have a big three that would make anyone jealous. PF Shon Roberts currently leads the league in scoring at 29.9 PPG (to go along with his 11.3 RPG, 3.2 BPG and 2.2 SPG) and is possibly the early leader for MVP.
    The Twisters also rely heavily on PG Shota Sumbatashvili and C Noel Bishop. This overseas dynamic duo from Estonia and Australia respectively provide the perfect compliment to each other and while either one could be a top option on any team here they represent the second and third options in the pecking order which is a fantastic luxury for the Twisters. Could we be heading to an OKC/CHI final? That’s what it looks like after the first two sims.
    Want To Be Part Of The Fun?
    The league sims our games live on Twitch every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM EST. Join our Twitch channel and watch the excitement for yourself! Maybe you will even want to join up and be part of the league – we still have open teams to manage. To find out which teams are available and learn more about how the league works visit the WSBA at https://www.draftdaysports.com/WSBA/
    The post WSBA Sim Recap appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  7. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] WSBA Sim Recap   
    Welcome to the WSBA Sim Recap – a weekly blog piece to talk about the latest happenings in the WSBA – the first ever online league run by Wolverine Studios. If you’re looking for all the details on the league or to even join yourself click the button below and check out the league for yourself.
    Visit the official WSBA homepage Two remain unbeaten…
    There were two teams who survived the first month of the season unbeaten. The Chicago Bison ran all over their opponents to a dominant 8-0 start while the Houston Blast were no slouches in the West running off victories in their first seven games.
    The keys to victory for both teams lie on opposite ends of the floor. Chicago leads the league in PPG allowed per game with a stingy 93.5 allowed while Houston has been running up the pace and the score on their opponents with an impressive 121.9 PPG scored. These two teams will meet in our next sim in a potential preview of the league finals.
    Roberts, Riggs honored…
    Oklahoma City forward Shon Roberts and Dallas guard Jerry Riggs both took home player of the week honors in the first two weeks of the season. Roberts is averaging an impressive 28.3 PPG with 11.0 RPG, 3.9 BPG and 2.7 BPG – he’s a massive force on both ends of the floor early on for the Twisters. Riggs is living up to his “bucket getter” attribute with 31.3 PPG in the early going here including a beautiful 53 point performance in a 129-117 win over Portland.
    When will Charlotte win?
    The other big story from the first month of the season is the lone team on the wrong end of the standings as the Charlotte Wasps started off 0-7. Wasps GM AJ Rizzo knew the season would be a challenging one as the Wasps were projected for last place in the East in the season preview guide but an 0-fer start has to be a disappointment still. Charlotte will look to upcoming games against Memphis and at New York (both teams currently sit with two wins) as opportunities for that elusive first win.
    Catch the action LIVE
    That’s it for the WSBA recap this week. Be sure to catch the action unfold LIVE every Wednesday night at 7:30PM on our Twitch channel.
    The post WSBA Sim Recap appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  8. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Rigafan in [itch.io Devlog] Release 0.8.5   
    Hello Everybody, First of all Happy New Year to everybody. This is of course the first release of 2021, and the main focus have been on bug fixing and changes for recruiting Recruiting For recruiting...
    View the full article
  9. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] The Puck Drops on Franchise Hockey Manager 7   
    The Franchise Hockey Manager series returns for the 2020-21 season with plenty of new additions.
    A return of the deepest, most authentic hockey strategy gaming experience you can find. Choose one of dozens of leagues around the world and select a team to guide to glory, including a chance at the ultimate prize: FHM7 is licensed by the NHL®, allowing you to take the reins of your favorite franchise to capture the Stanley Cup®.
    [This press release is made courtesy of OOTP Developments]
    Take control of a national team and try for international supremacy. Choose a historical game, where you can begin in any year in NHL® history right back to the beginning in 1917. Or if you’d like to create your own customized league, you can do that as well.
    However you choose to play, you have control of your team and can oversee finances, select strategies, hire your staff, make trades, sign free agents, and draft the newest generation of stars as you try to build a championship team – and then make it into a dynasty.
    2D Engine

    The game simulation has been rebuilt from the ground up, and now shows games in a top-down, fully-animated view that lets you see every second of the action.
    All new for Franchise Hockey Manager 7:
    Historical International Tournaments: International games have been added to historical play, so you can control a team in legendary events like the 1972 Summit Series and the Miracle on Ice in 1980. We’ve also added a large number of non-NHL players to the historical database, so if you want to see what the cold war-era NHL would’ve looked like with the stars of the Soviet bloc added, that’s now possible. More Customization for Custom Leagues: Custom league setup much more flexible – you can now add as many leagues as you want, all of them fully customizable. The playoff editor also has a new custom configuration option in addition to the pre-set default systems. Redesigned Scouting System: The scouting interface has been simplified and made a little more visually appealing with the addition of maps showing the coverage your team (and individual scouts) have. Scouting reports have also been changed to provide more useful and relevant information, and Scouting Levels now include an estimate of the player’s likelihood of reaching his potential. Reworked Draft Screen: Mock drafts, a draft review, and scout recommendations have been added. Additionally, we’ve moved the draft dates in modern and custom games – they now occur in early July, as they do in historical, which allows expansion teams to participate in them during their first season. Configurable Historical Evolution: When when you opt to turn on historical editing, you can now specify if you want changes like league foundings/closures, team expansion and deactivation, and rule changes to continue as they did historically or not, in any configuration you want. More Farm Team Control: If you want more control over your farm team, you can now have direct control over their depth charts and staff hiring. Schedule Editing: A long-requested feature, schedules can now be exported for editing, and then re-imported. Waiver and Intraleague Drafts: The beloved Waiver Draft has been added to historical play in the years it existed, along with its predecessor, the Intraleague Draft. Additionally, both are also available as options that can be activated for any other type of league. Other significant changes and additions include:
    Reworked the news screen to show more headlines and flag personal messages and those which need a reply. Real-life full-career stats are now included on the player screens in historical mode, so you can see if a player is matching his real performance…or cheat a little, if you want to see how a potential draft pick really turns out. A team search tab has been added to the player and staff search. Various international upgrades: national teams run by the user no longer clear rosters after tournaments end, so you don’t need to rebuild them, international staff histories are now recorded, and we’ve made various UI improvements and fixes to get the international screens working a little better. The continue button now alerts to you to upcoming events like drafts and trade deadlines. Database improvements like significantly expanded international stats histories for players, award histories for most leagues, and more The success of a national team now has an effect on the quality of new players generated by that country. Players can now be designated as Untouchable if you don’t want to get trade offers for them, and players on other teams can be flagged as “Not Interested” if you don’t want them to be included in trade offers to you. The Aging attribute had been split into Aging and a new attribute, Development Rate to make our modelling of player career arcs more flexible. Roster AI has received a number of adjustments, mainly in the area of how the AI determines player value; most of these are designed to take advantage of systems (line chemistry, etc.) that didn’t exist when the last major roster AI revision was done. AI teams’ free agent-signing behaviour has also been improved. The player search screen’s filter now allows minimum ratings scores to be included in the filter criteria.-We’ve made some database and player generation changes to significantly reduce the memory usage of long-term leagues, allowing much better long-term game performance for users with limited RAM. Many new things are editable on the player, team, and league screens – contract settings, favourites, foreign player restrictions, among others. Boxscores can now be exported as csv files. The later years of historical player data got a lot of re-work, fixing some inaccuracies and significantly adding to the number of post-2010 players who haven’t made the NHL yet In addition to all of that, there are the usual large variety of smaller and internal changes, tweaks, database changes, interface improvements, and the 20-21 team and player updates!
    Join in the conversation about FHM 7 on discord or below on Reddit..
    The post The Puck Drops on Franchise Hockey Manager 7 appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  10. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] New Featured Leagues To Enjoy!   
    Earlier this year we embarked on a project which we are calling Featured Leagues here at Wolverine Studios.
    We know there are a good number of online leagues out there but we wanted a program which highlighted leagues who not only were active and solid leagues but also were committed to keeping their leagues on the latest versions of our games and committed to providing a social presence as well through outlets like Twitch, YouTube and other social channels so that they were really sharing the league with the public. In return we’re happy to highlight what the league is doing and even offer members a special discount in the future. We’re happy to announce two leagues that have promised to fulfill this criteria.
    The first league is the Weekend Warriors Pro Football (WWPF) league. We are very excited that the WWPF has asked to join this program. The WWPF is one of the most respected Draft Day Sports: Pro Football leagues spanning more then ten years in their sim.
    As of writing the WWPF does have a few open slots – if you are looking for a top notch football league experience click that link above and join up today! They will be moving to DDS: Pro Football 2021 version very soon.
    The other league is a venture of our very own – the Wolverine Studios Basketball Association (WSBA). We are going to be running a fictional GM-only style league and we’re going to be broadcasting the sims live on our Twitch channel.
    The league was just announced this week and we’re taking applications for team ownership. To learn more about the league just click that link and the application to join the league will be there. We are very excited to get this started up for our Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021 fans!
    Joining an online league is an exciting way to test your skills against your fellow gamers. Do you have what it takes to compete and be victorious? We hope to see you in our leagues or following them on their social accounts. You can follow the WWPF on Twitter at @WWPFInsider and the brand new WSBA account @WSBAHQ
    The post New Featured Leagues To Enjoy! appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  11. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] Splash! Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021 for Windows PC   
    Chris the co-ordinator of GM Games, takes you through the newest presentation in Draft Day Sports Pro Basketball 2021 (DDSPB 21) Take control of your favorite franchise and lead them to basketball glory with Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021.
    With the additions of the “Slybelle Real World Mod (Team Logos, Names)” and the “GM Games – Pro Photo Pack (Player, Draft, Coach, Court Photos)” you’ll be playing a franchise mode full of graphics, realism and life. Mods are here: https://www.wolverinestudios.com/board/viewforum.php?f=328
    [This press release is made courtesy of Wolverine Studios]
    We dug down deep into the AI for this year’s version to make sure that the AI was even smarter when it comes to things like roster building decisions and most importantly trading.
    We have completely overhauled trading in this year’s game not only to make the AI even more intelligent especially when it comes to valuing and trading draft picks but to make things more user friendly for you as well.

    You can see that now when going to make a trade you are able to see more detail about the other team in the trade. You can view what stage of build process they are at and what their biggest needs are. Don’t want to wait for trades from the AI? Use the brand new option to immediately shop a chosen player to the AI controlled teams. We even have added an option in the free agency session to replicate sign and trades to bring the realism to an entire new level!
    A Brand New Look…
    We didn’t just work under the hood either. Last year’s version saw a massive transformation in the game as we moved it to the Alchemium Unlimited platform. This year we started to show just how powerful this platform can be.
    DDSPB21 with Slybelle Real World Mod & GM Games Pro Photo Pack
    We’ve redesigned many of the areas of the game such as the player card above to make the information more vibrant, easier to read and better looking. You also see in that screenshot one of the many other new features we have added this year – player types.
    Players in DDSPB21 have always been created to be incredibly unique so that the job of building your roster was an exercise in putting together players that fit well as opposed to simply finding the highest rated players there are. Player types now help you to identify with badges players that fit a certain description such as a “bucket getter”.
    So Much More…
    DDSPB21 with Slybelle Real World Mod & GM Games Pro Photo Pack
    That’s only the tip of the iceberg for what’s new this year. Here’s just a quick list of some of the other new items.
    Offseason start mode Universe mode allowing you control of multiple teams at once New and more realistic player and coach models New schedule and new schedule screen New draft pick monitoring screen Expanded lineup tracking features New milestone tracking feature Offseason injury options Free agency rumors to help make decisions with D-league select players that skip college and enter the draft after playing a year in the d-league Expanded coach and player personalities Expanded linked league option with Draft Day Sports: College Basketball to allow stats and player information from your DDS:CB league to be visible right in your DDS:PB league DDSPB21 with Slybelle Real World Mod & GM Games Pro Photo Pack
    Join in the conversation about DDS PB21 on discord or below on Reddit…
    The post Splash! Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021 for Windows PC appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  12. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] Headline Features of Football Manager 2021 Mobile   
    Football Manager 2021 Mobile will land on the iOS and Android stores on November 24th.
    To get you fully prepared for another successful season ahead, here are this year’s squad additions.
    YOUR WORLD JUST GOT BIGGER
    There are three brand-new nations for you to test your managerial prowess as we welcome Argentina, Mexico and Canada to the Football Manager Mobile series.

    This means there are new divisions to dominate and a fresh pool of players to scout – unearth the gems hiding in those parts of the world.

    TOTALLY REVAMPED TACTICS
    Tactics in FM21 Mobile have been finely tuned so you can get the very best out of your squad. Managers now have more tools to play with including a host of renewed tactical templates as well as brand-new player roles. Simply select a tactical style from pre-sets so you can Gegenpress, Tiki-Taka or Route One your way to glory.
    Within that tactics, you can now deploy Roaming Playmakers and Inverted Wingers in your team to give you new ways to piece together your tactical masterplan.

    This revamp also considers set-pieces, which have been re-defined for the FM21 season. Not only can you assign a list of set-piece takers, but you can now dictate player instructions for both defending and attacking dead-ball scenarios. Get your centre-backs and target men in prime positions to meet the ball in dangerous areas at both ends of the pitch or organise intricate short-corner routines to surprise your opponents.
    BRAND NEW PLAYER DYNAMICS
    Squad hierarchy and player social groups give you, the manager, the full picture of your team. Understanding squad dynamics is crucial when controlling player morale and building success as a squad. Learn how your players operate and communicate together to create an atmosphere everyone can develop in.

    This new feature is bolstered by the addition of Club Captains. Now you can assign a captain and vice-captain when you walk into the training ground doors on day one. In FM21 Mobile, like in other iterations of FM, the captain’s role is crucial in maintaining a relationship between you and your players. Get the skipper on your side and the dressing room will be a happier place but upset your captain and your team’s morale may suffer. You cannot afford to get things wrong with the team’s leader.

    NEW AND IMPROVED INTERACTION
    You now have far more interaction options, including both conversation topics and answers. You’ll be able to speak to players and the media on a whole host of different subjects, giving you the detail you need to control every moment and make decisions in your club’s best interest.

    On the other end of these conversations, most commonly, will be players as FM21 has revamped their role in interactions. Players now give far more feedback to the events they experience and will be more vocal – as they are in real life – in reaction to things they admire or are unhappy about.
    FEEDER CLUBS
    Existing affiliate links between elite clubs and feeder clubs now allow those managers to send and receive young players on loan to help aid their development while winning valuable points for the feeder team. FM21 Mobile also allows you to create new affiliate links with feeder clubs so you can build your network in order to secure valuable deals.
    ENHANCED NEWS AND MEDIA
    News items and media articles are now much more reactive and responsive to you and your club’s movements. You’ll have the ability to comment on what you see too which can come in handy when you have to defend your player’s poor performances and publicly back your squad. FM21 Mobile blurs the lines slightly between the match action and the media reaction.
    CUSTOMISE PRE-SEASON
    FM21 Mobile gives you the ability to arrange your own friendlies. This new level of customisation allows you to test your squad against the very best and work on pre-season sharpness.

    And that’s it, another exciting season of FM21 Mobile awaits with new features that bring you ever closer to the football world you’re creating.
    Join the conversation about it with the GM Games community…
    The post Headline Features of Football Manager 2021 Mobile appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  13. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] Football Manager 2021 Beta Available Now   
    Introducing Football Manager 2021 in 60 seconds. This marks the beginning of our FM21 feature reveal period. Screens that only get a few seconds of air time here will make a huge difference to your world in FM21 Football Manager 2021 Beta is now live and ready for installation on the Epic Games Store and Steam.
    If you have bought FM21 from a SEGA-approved digital retailer, you’ll be delighted to know that the game is now fully playable* and includes the online modes Create-A-Club and Online Career Mode with cross-compatibility between Epic and Steam. As always, any progress made in Career Mode can be carried forward when your game updates on full release on Tuesday 24th November.
    WHAT TO EXPECT FROM FM21
    We’re sure that most of you know the drill by now, but this is a Beta and not the full game, so you may encounter some bugs and glitches which our developers will be working tirelessly to fix before full release. Feedback is essential to us, so if you do find any issues, please use the Report Bug button on the sidebar in the game. Alternatively, you can log them on their community forums.
    HOW TO INSTALL
    PURCHASES FROM EPIC
    Quit and restart the Epic Games Launcher and you’ll see that Football Manager 2021 is available to install.
    PURCHASES FROM STEAM
    Simply quit and restart Steam and you’ll see that Football Manager 2021 is available to install.
    PURCHASES FROM ANY OTHER PARTICIPATING DIGITAL RETAILER
    Your retailer should have sent you a confirmation email with a code, or a link to redeem your code which can be activated on Steam by following the instructions below:
    1.    Launch the Steam client software and log into your Steam account or create a new, free account
    2.    Click the Games Menu
    3.    Choose Activate a Product on Steam
    4.    Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the activation process
    *Fantasy Draft, The Store, Steam Workshop and both the Pre and In-Game Editor are not available in the Beta.
    Discuss this story with the GM Games community…
    The post Football Manager 2021 Beta Available Now appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  14. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021 FirstAccess Begins Today!   
    For as long as we have been in business our focus has been squarely on developing the best franchise mode in sports gaming. We’re proud to announce that with today’s FirstAccess release of DDS: Pro Basketball 2021 that franchise mode has reached new heights! Today starting at noon EST you can pre-order, download and play the latest beta build and see for yourself.
    PRE-ORDER DRAFT DAY SPORTS: PRO BASKETBALL 2021 So how do you take the best basketball simulation game on the planet and improve it? As Walt Disney once said, “There is no magic in magic, it’s all in the details.” The same holds true for us – it’s all in the details.
    Details Matter…
    Let’s take a look at the player card for example. In order to plus the presentation we’ve completely redone the player and jersey models in this year’s game to make the players more vibrant and come alive better. We also completely changed the header to provide not only a more attractive view but also make the detail a bit easier to read. As for the card itself we’ve totally redone the ratings display and added a brand new player type feature so that you can quickly see with colors and icons who are exceptionally skilled players. The end result – a beautiful and vibrant player card that delivers you the info you need in an attractive and clear manner.
    Speaking of redesigns take a look at the new dashboard screen and the new look at your team roster. Replacing simple text we have full color clickable mini cards that have all the info you need on each player. The gain here? You’re able to constantly visualize your players and that’s key. This is just one of the steps we have taken this year to bring your players to life. Not only do they still have their individual play styles that make them unique pieces to your team’s puzzle but we’ve taken steps such as this to really help you to find that attachment to them. They’re not just names and ratings – they’re YOUR players.
    If you’re a veteran of the 2020 version you’ll also notice that the flow has been changed in terms of the links to make more sense. Now your left side contains the league and then team specific links while the top contains information pertaining to your player in the game. It’s little details like this that go a long way in making your experience better.
    Immersion Is King…
    One thing that felt important in making you connect with your league is telling the story of other players in the league so we have introduced milestone tracking in this year’s game. The game already contained a rich and deep almanac that you can peruse at your leisure to remember the good old days of the league but we wanted to add something new that connects you with the players and their personal quests to achieve greatness during the course of your league. Not only can you check out these milestones any time you would like but you’ll also get notifications of them while you simulate the league so that you always know when those important milestones have been reached.
    Speaking of those notifications do you ever feel that while simulating that you’re missing out on too many things? Now you’ll receive notifications specific to your team after each game so you know how your team and top players performed as well as notifications about injuries, trades, special events such as triple doubles and the aforementioned milestones so that you always have your finger on the pulse of the league.
    Making Good Into Great…
    This year’s version is chalk full of other important improvements such as the major work that went into trading. As you can see we’ve now given you tools to make trading more intuitive for you while at the same time making the already smart AI even smarter. You now get to see what sort of building stage the other teams are in as well as their biggest needs. Don’t want to wait for trade block offers? Add a player to a trade and ask the team for an offer on the spot now. We’ve even added the ability to perform sign and trades during free agency. We’re not only increasing the realism and presentation of the game world but we’re continuing to make it deeper and deeper with new features like these.
    We didn’t even let the boundaries of immersion stop with DDS: Pro Basketball 2021. In the past you’ve been able to link your league with a DDS: College Basketball league to import rookies automatically. That’s nice functionality but why stop there? This year when you link leagues you’ll be able to check out the standings from your college league as well as see the rosters and stats for each team in the scouting section. The only reason you’ll have to leave the game is to actually proceed the college league in DDS:CB – everything else about the league will be at your fingertips in the game – even the ability to tag players you want to monitor for future drafts!
    Really we can go on and on with amazing improvements and new features in this year’s version but we think you get the idea…nobody cares more about franchise mode in a basketball game and nobody does it better than we do! You can find out about more new features as well as view more screenshots and see the game trailer at the official DDS:PB21 homepage but we know you’re ready to get your hands on the game so hit that button below and get started. #BuildYourDynasty with Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021.

    PRE-ORDER DRAFT DAY SPORTS: PRO BASKETBALL 2021 The post Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021 FirstAccess Begins Today! appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  15. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] ‘Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021’ what you need to know about First Access!   
    Draft Day Sports Pro Basketball 2021 is just around the corner and, after what feels like an eternity of waiting, Wolverine Studios have dropped a number of exciting new features ahead of the full release date.
    So how does Wolverine Studios take their basketball simulation game and improve it? As Walt Disney once said, “There is no magic in magic, it’s all in the details.” The same holds true for Wolverine Studios – it’s all in the details.
    With the additions of the “Slybelle Real World Mod (Team Logos, Names)” and the “GM Games – Pro Photo Pack (Player, Draft, Coach, Court Photos)” you’ll be playing a franchise mode full of graphics, realism and life. Mods are here: https://www.wolverinestudios.com/board/viewforum.php?f=328
    Details Matter…
    Let’s take a look at the player card for example. In order to plus the presentation we’ve completely redone the player and jersey models in this year’s game to make the players more vibrant and come alive better. We also completely changed the header to provide not only a more attractive view but also make the detail a bit easier to read. As for the card itself we’ve totally redone the ratings display and added a brand new player type feature so that you can quickly see with colors and icons who are exceptionally skilled players.
    The end result – a beautiful and vibrant player card that delivers you the info you need in an attractive and clear manner.
    DDSPB21 Player Card with Slybelle Mod & GM Games Pro Photo Pack
    Speaking of redesigns take a look at the new dashboard screen and the new look at your team roster. Replacing simple text we have full color clickable mini cards that have all the info you need on each player. The gain here? You’re able to constantly visualize your players and that’s key. This is just one of the steps we have taken this year to bring your players to life. Not only do they still have their individual play styles that make them unique pieces to your team’s puzzle but we’ve taken steps such as this to really help you to find that attachment to them. They’re not just names and ratings – they’re YOUR players.
    DDSPB21 Dashboard with Slybelle Real World Mod & GM Games Pro Photo Pack Mod
    If you’re a veteran of the 2020 version you’ll also notice that the flow has been changed in terms of the links to make more sense. Now your left side contains the league and then team specific links while the top contains information pertaining to your player in the game. It’s little details like this that go a long way in making your experience better.
    Immersion Is King…
    One thing that felt important in making you connect with your league is telling the story of other players in the league so we have introduced milestone tracking in this year’s game. The game already contained a rich and deep almanac that you can peruse at your leisure to remember the good old days of the league but we wanted to add something new that connects you with the players and their personal quests to achieve greatness during the course of your league. Not only can you check out these milestones any time you would like but you’ll also get notifications of them while you simulate the league so that you always know when those important milestones have been reached.
    Speaking of those notifications do you ever feel that while simulating that you’re missing out on too many things? Now you’ll receive notifications specific to your team after each game so you know how your team and top players performed as well as notifications about injuries, trades, special events such as triple doubles and the aforementioned milestones so that you always have your finger on the pulse of the league.
    DDSPB21 Fast Sim & Toasters with Slybelle Real World Mod & GM Games Pro Photo Pack Mod
    Making Good Into Great…
    This year’s version is chalk full of other important improvements such as the major work that went into trading. As you can see we’ve now given you tools to make trading more intuitive for you while at the same time making the already smart AI even smarter. You now get to see what sort of building stage the other teams are in as well as their biggest needs. Don’t want to wait for trade block offers? Add a player to a trade and ask the team for an offer on the spot now. We’ve even added the ability to perform sign and trades during free agency. We’re not only increasing the realism and presentation of the game world but we’re continuing to make it deeper and deeper with new features like these.
    DDSPB21 Trading with Slybelle Real World Mod & GM Games Pro Photo Pack Mod
    We didn’t even let the boundaries of immersion stop with DDS: Pro Basketball 2021. In the past you’ve been able to link your league with a DDS: College Basketball league to import rookies automatically. That’s nice functionality but why stop there? This year when you link leagues you’ll be able to check out the standings from your college league as well as see the rosters and stats for each team in the scouting section. The only reason you’ll have to leave the game is to actually proceed the college league in DDS:CB – everything else about the league will be at your fingertips in the game – even the ability to tag players you want to monitor for future drafts!
    Grab a copy of DDSPB21 with First Access code PB21FIRST right here https://gmgames.org/draft-day-sports-pro-basketball-2021/download/
    Discuss this story with the GM Games community…
    The post ‘Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2021’ what you need to know about First Access! appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  16. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] Com2uS (Korea) has acquired 100% stake of Out of the Park Developments (Germany)   
    Com2uS has announced that it has acquired 100% of the stake in Out of the Park Development (OOTP), a German game company.
    Founded in 1999, OOTP is a German company that provides PC-based sports management games such as ‘Out of the Park Baseball (OOTP Baseball)’ and’ Franchise Hockey Manager’.
    ‘OOTP Baseball’ is a management game that has secured the license of MLB, an American professional baseball game, and is currently being serviced through the Steam platform and online downloads.
    Com2uS is expecting high synergy between the two companies with this acquisition of OOTP. Com2uS, which already has the know-how of global sports licensed games such as MLB, NBA, and KBO, plans to strengthen its competitiveness by adding OOTP’s management genre capabilities. In addition, the company is in a position to successfully lead the global market expansion of OOTP games and mobile version services through organic collaboration. 
    Com2uS has raised its brand status through global business performances in the United States and Europe, as well as a long-established global business network, and will further promote M&A for overseas companies in the future. 
    Markus Heinsohn, CEO of OOTP answers questions about the acquisition:
    Q: How long do you intend to stay on board before the next project?
    A: I have absolutely no plans to leave the company anytime soon. It’s my dream job and what I can do best, so why change? Andreas will retire in about 3 years, he’s already a grizzled veteran. 
    Q: I know that COM2US has kinda good in-game graphics in their mobile games, such as MLB 9innings. Can I expect their graphic nohows can be adapted into OOTP pc?
    A: We do not know yet how the 3D engine of the Com2uS products work, so for the short- & medium-term future, the OOTP 3D engine will stay in place.
    Q: And do you expect a change in the billing policy to occur? I know that Korean games are very charge-inducing.
    A: No change here, shop systems will remain the same.
    Q: Will there be a price increase for the next product?
    A: I am pretty sure the answer to that is no. We have toyed with that idea in the past, since games have been at the same price for decades while everything else got more expensive, but I think $39.99 is still the sweet-spot for us.
    Q: I know Com2us has a different league license (eg KBO). So, do you have any plans to make other leagues a reality like MLB?
    A: Yes, that is the plan.
    Q: As you know, Korean fans of OOTP have long wanted to translate OOTP into Korean. Is it finally the moment they’ve been waiting for?
    A: Yes, translation work starts immediately and we hope it’ll be done in time for the OOTP 22 launch.
    Q: Congrats. What would you anticipate to be the biggest positive impact or difference in the game in 3 years due to this sale?
    A: Thanks! I think all areas will benefit, as we now have bigger resources and more experience in the background. If I had to guess though, the biggest progress will probably be made with our mobile product(s), as here our experience so far has been quite limited.
    Q: What does this mean for the development of PT? Will you be drawing on COM2US for development advice, given their track record in running microtransaction-model games?
    A: They are very happy with PT, but you are right, they have lots of experience with these kind of game modes. We’ll see if that experience can be applied to PT in a meaningful way… I personally expect this to happen more for marketing purposes than the game design itself.
    Come join the discussion about the acquisition…
    The post Com2uS (Korea) has acquired 100% stake of Out of the Park Developments (Germany) appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  17. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] Kicking off Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 for Windows PC   
    Wolverine Studios has announced that Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 is now available today worldwide (October 1st, 2020). DDS:PF21 has been rebuilt from the ground up on the Alchemium Unlimited platform to provide a new presentation for American football management.
    [This press release is made courtesy of Wolverine Studios]
    If you are looking for a true franchise mode experience DDS:PF21 has it in spades. You have the ability to run every aspect of your franchise from designing and calling plays, deciding your weekly strategies, hiring coaches and of course signing and drafting players. Speaking of the draft it has been totally redone to give you the most interactive and immersive experience in any football game. Enjoy the running commentary from the on-screen announce team, insightful draft tidbits and of course the thrill of making your selection hoping you have just unearthed the next gem to be the star of your franchise.
    That’s just the start of the new additions to this year’s game. Here are just a few more of the new things you will find in DDS:PF21
    See the Las Vegas Raiders with the Real World Mod, and the players with the GM Games NFL.com Player photo pack
    Lifelike Players
    Players now have social types, multiple player traits, player mentoring options and player storylines in addition to ratings that accurately impact the outcome of the game based on the formations they are used in. Not only will you have to find the best players for your favorite scheme but you’ll have to make sure they are forming a good team off the field as well. You will feel like you are truly managing a football team and not simply managing a bunch of numbers.
    New Ways To Analyze Players
    Take advantage of the new performance grades to let you see a high level view from your coaches on how a player has been playing in each game and new notifications show you exactly when a player has increased their ratings during the off-season or season thanks to their training schedules.
    More Customization
    You already enjoyed the ability to customize so much about the game such as team names, logos, player faces and more but DDS:PF21 takes that customization to a whole new level. Edit more details about coaches, configure your own hall of fame requirements, choose from multiple playoff options and explore the new data export capabilities to analyze statistical data in the way you want to!
    And Most Importantly…Even More Realistic Results
    The game engine has received multiple improvements to give you what really matters and that is realistic results and results that are truly impacted by your decision making. New play design options allow for motion and play action plays, revamped depth options allow for designation of third down backs, a total revamp of the penalty system allows control in accepting penalties and the AI has received multiple upgrades in penalty and 4th down logic.
    Catch your team in 2D mode. Either watch after a sim, see highlights or coach your team for hands-on action.
    So if you’re ready to hit the gridiron this season with a game that is truly dedicated to franchise mode then Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 is for you. A free, fully-playable demo is available at wolverinestudios.com
    GM Games will be coming out soon with a review and more video content. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow General Manager Games on Google News to stay updated. Discuss the game with other manager fans on Reddit!
    The post Kicking off Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 for Windows PC appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  18. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 Now Available!   
    Purchase DDS:PF21 Wolverine Studios is proud to announce that Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 is now available both here and on Steam. DDS:PF21 has been rebuilt from the ground up on the Alchemium Unlimited platform to provide the most stunning and realistic experience in simulation football today.
    If you are looking for a true franchise mode experience DDS:PF21 has it in spades. You have the ability to run every aspect of your franchise from designing and calling plays, deciding your weekly strategies, hiring coaches and of course signing and drafting players. Speaking of the draft it has been totally redone to give you the most interactive and immersive experience in any football game. Enjoy the running commentary from the on-screen announce team, insightful draft tidbits and of course the thrill of making your selection hoping you have just unearthed the next gem to be the star of your franchise.
    That’s just the start of the new additions to this year’s game. Here are just a few more of the new things you will find in DDS:PF21
    Lifelike Players
    Players now have social types, multiple player traits, player mentoring options and player storylines in addition to ratings that accurately impact the outcome of the game based on the formations they are used in. Not only will you have to find the best players for your favorite scheme but you’ll have to make sure they are forming a good team off the field as well. You will feel like you are truly managing a football team and not simply managing a bunch of numbers.
    New Ways To Analyze Players
    Take advantage of the new performance grades to let you see a high level view from your coaches on how a player has been playing in each game and new notifications show you exactly when a player has increased their ratings during the off-season or season thanks to their training schedules.
    More Customization
    You already enjoyed the ability to customize so much about the game such as team names, logos, player faces and more but DDS:PF21 takes that customization to a whole new level. Edit more details about coaches, configure your own hall of fame requirements, choose from multiple playoff options and explore the new data export capabilities to analyze statistical data in the way you want to!
    And Most Importantly…Even More Realistic Results
    The game engine has received multiple improvements to give you what really matters and that is realistic results and results that are truly impacted by your decision making. New play design options allow for motion and play action plays, revamped depth options allow for designation of third down backs, a total revamp of the penalty system allows control in accepting penalties and the AI has received multiple upgrades in penalty and 4th down logic.
    So if you’re ready to hit the gridiron this season with a game that is truly dedicated to franchise mode then Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 is for you. Don’t just take our word for it though – view our trailer below and then try a free demo for yourself.
    Get Social With Us
    The most important thing we do is interact with our customers. You can find us on these social networks to keep up with the latest information on DDS:PF21 and all of our other games.
    TWITCH – https://www.twitch.tv/wolverinestudios
    YOUTUBE – https://www.youtube.com/c/wolverinestudios
    TWITTER – https://twitter.com/wolverinestudio
    FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/wolverinestudios
    INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/wolverinestudiosgames/
    Purchase DDS:PF21 The post Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 Now Available! appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  19. Thanks
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] It’s here! FirstAccess for DDS: Pro Football 2021 launches September 1st   
    A new season of NFL football is upon us and with that comes the FirstAccess of Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 (DDSPF21). GM Games plans to put out a thorough review this month from our own legend Grant Piper.
    Let’s share with you some of the core elements of the game and what’s new in this years experience?
    Franchise Mode
    Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 combines a realistic and deep franchise mode with a beautiful interface to give you the football simulation experience you many have are looking for.
    You Are In Control
    Make trades, sign free agents, customize your gameplan and playbooks down to the finest details including creating your own plays and when it’s gameday you can call your own plays and watch the action unfold as the physics based game engine shows you the action in fun and exciting 2D gameplay. Don’t want to do it all? Hand over some of the responsibilities to the AI and only control what you want to.
    Improved 2D Gameplay
    Build Your Dynasty
    Choose your favorite franchise and get ready to lead them to the promised land. Play season after season in this career based simulation. Every season brings new challenges with salary demands, drafting new players and player personalities. Marvel at the achievements in the historical archives so you can relive the excitement of past seasons. There’s nothing else that puts you in your own game universe like Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021.
    The draft is HERE!
    What’s New in DDSPF21 ?
    DDS:PF21 is totally rebuilt from the ground up on our new “Au” platform giving the user an incredibly beautiful and easy to navigate interface. Social types, multiple player traits, player mentoring options and player storylines give players a true life quality. You’ll feel like you’re managing real athletes – not just looking at numbers on a screen! New performance grades let you see quickly how players are performing and at what point in the season they are earning improvement bonuses in their ratings. Customization options have improved even more! Edit more details on coaches, hall of fame configuration options, multiple playoff options and new data export capabilities for you to analyze data your own way. The game engine has received multiple improvements as well. New play design options allow for motion and play action plays, revamped depth options allow for designation of third down backs, a total revamp of the penalty system to allow you control over accepting penalties in 2D play as well as AI improvements for penalties and 4th down logic. Use coupon code PF21FIRST at checkout and you will save 10% when you pre-order. This offer is only good during the pre-order stage so get your copy today!
    Leave a comment about DDSPF21 on our sub-reddit…
    The post It’s here! FirstAccess for DDS: Pro Football 2021 launches September 1st appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  20. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] Share Your Dynasty – Part 2   
    Tim Moungey
    Wolverine Studios Community Manager
    We continue our dynasty writing advice series this week. Last time, I discussed the most common mistakes that beginning dynasty writers make. Today I’ll be talking about how you get started with writing a text sports sim dynasty/AAR.
    Decide what type of dynasty it’s going to be
    You might think the most important decision is what team you’re going to play as and write about. It’s not – in fact, that’s actually one of the least important choices you’ll make. Rather, it’s choosing the type of dynasty that will inform everything else.
    Generally speaking, there’s four main types of dynasties/AARs
    GAMEPLAY
    This is the most common one. You play the game, report the results, and talk about what decisions you’re making and the strategies you pursue. This is exclusively first-person (I), with you as the narrator. Every streaming dynasty falls into this category, though some might combine elements of later type.
    In many ways, this is also the easiest one to write. You don’t have to think about characters, there’s no need to be concerned with how the story is progressing – you simply just write down your thoughts, commentary, and how the game is going.
    What appeals to readers about gameplay dynasties/AARs is seeing the mechanics of the game and witnessing the thought process of the decisions you’re weighing – for example, do I keep my star PF and SG together, or do I trade the PF for an older elite C and draft picks that can be used to both win now and have the assets to try and lengthen my window?
    NARRATIVE
    The second most frequent dynasty/AAR type is narrative. Here, you’re telling a story built around a cast of characters in the game universe and the events that happen while you play. This can be any point of view – although first and third will appear the most often.
    Here, you have the greatest freedom in terms of structure. For example, many of my dynasties/AARs over the years have used a framing narrative that surrounds the game’s story, which ends up giving readers two main stories to follow – the framing narrative and the one within the actual game itself. Sometimes, they even get more interested in the framing narrative than the game’s! Another example: Tiger Fan’s excellent OOTP narrative dynasty set in the late 1800s/early 1900s that makes heavy use of the epistolary device (i.e. telling the story in letters).
    As you might guess, readers are most interested in the characters and story with a narrative dynasty/AAR. The game results and the strategy take a back seat to the drama (or comedy) that’s playing out in the writing.
    HISTORICAL / JOURNALISTIC
    With a historical/journalistic approach, you’re playing the game and reporting the results without discussion of your decision-making and strategy options. You’re also not putting a spotlight on the story or characters, because they’ll emerge through your reporting.
    Examples of this include the History Book genre of AARs of Paradox Interactive games and the newspaper articles that Point Guard uses in many of his Draft Day Sports: College Basketball dynasties (note: he uses a blend of narrative and journalistic, so it’s possible to combine genres).
    For fans of this genre, it’s the feeling you get of reading a really well-written textbook, reading a newspaper, or following along with your favorite blog. The story develops organically and you become invested in tracking the results – cheering for a team or player, or getting mad when it’s suddenly reported that the team’s star QB has signed with a division rival.
    INTERACTIVE
    These dynasties are all about collaboration. It’s not just you who are the creator of this work – it’s the input of others. I’ve seen different takes on this – the most common for sports sims is having other people create players, inserting the players into the game, and reporting how their career develops – and if there’s choices to be made about an inserted player’s career – such as should the player demand a trade? – the decision is made by that player’s creator, not you as a writer.
    Other variants – the collaborative gameplay dynasty/AAR, where the writer takes volunteers for different areas of decision-making/strategy choices, or makes the choices a groupthink project, where people vote on which route to take. A classic example of this is Bryan Swartz’s dynasties for different games over the years.
    The draw with interactive dynasties is that your readers are able to take active part in the game experience with you. Be forewarned, however: While interactive dynasties obviously have the highest rate of reader participation and comments, you need to be organized and absolutely commit to a timetable to keep things moving.
    Pick your team and set a writing schedule for yourself
    Okay, so you’ve got your dynasty type in mind. You’ve probably already picked your team, but if you haven’t, go ahead and do that. Now comes the other important part of ensuring you have a long-lasting dynasty/AAR – setting a writing schedule.
    This can be as loosely defined as “once a day” or “once a week” or as specific as “Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm”. But you need to set a schedule, and here’s why: The key to creating a readership and making sure you’ll write is to do so consistently.
    I’ve worn a lot of hats in my career – teaching, writing, public relations, social media marketing, etc. And the one thing I’ve found is with anything that involves serial writing – whether it’s a dynasty/AAR, a blog, or a social media campaign – is that consistency matters. Stick to the schedule you create and readers will know that, “Hey, it’s 9:30 pm on Tuesday night. Mike Inkwell will have a new post on his Milwaukee Bucks dynasty to go read!”
    If readership is your goal, I can not stress the importance of consistency enough. It’s one of the ways I’ve been very successful at helping clients and employers break their website and social media traffic metrics.
    Remember, this is for fun and enjoyment
    I realize I’m getting heavy into the explanation of theory and craft here, so let me step back a bit and point out that no one is getting paid for their dynasties/AARs (with the exception of streamers who have a large enough subscriber base to rake in advertising and sponsorship dollars). It’s an exercise in fun and writing development – a chance to escape into the world and story you’ve created and share it with fellow game lovers.
    We’re out of time for today, so next week I’ll conclude this series with a FAQ and/or discussion of common issues that come up in dynasty and AAR writing. If you have something you’d like to see me address in that post, feel free to leave a comment.
    The post Share Your Dynasty – Part 2 appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  21. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] The Global Community of Text-Based Sports Sims   
    Tim Moungey
    Wolverine Studios Community Manager
    One of the most underrated aspects of the gaming world – whether console or PC – are the communities that spring up around a particular product. This is even more so the case in the Internet age, where ease of low-cost digital communication has coincided with the rise of English as the primary global language to make the establishment of and connection between playerbases a simple prospect.
    So it is that in my decades now of playing text-based sports sims that I’ve found literal lifelong friends – from places like Ireland, England, Spain, Brazil, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Slovenia, Germany, and many more countries too numerous to list here. And of course, all across the continental United States and stretching out to Hawaii and Alaska.
    Primarily this occurs through multiplayer leagues – many of which run for literal years in real-life terms. And even when a league finally disbands, the creation of new ones finds many of the same people migrating from league to league – or, frequently – participating in multiple MP leagues at the same time. Chats spring up in Facebook Messenger groups or in other conversation mediums such as Slack, where the discussion becomes a mix of the game, the league, and off-topic/real life topics. Over time, this forges friendships – something that can be difficult in our adult years, as numerous research studies have demonstrated.
    The friendships forged from these leagues can sometimes have far-reaching effects. Just to give one example, when I was looking for another job a few years ago, one of my European friends from a Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball league looped me in to a Creative Writer position at his company – a mobile game developer. I actually made it as far as the final round, where I finished second to someone who already had experience working with that type of development. While I didn’t get the job, it was still an opportunity I never would have had access to otherwise.
    You might counter that the MP community is small, the bulk of text-sim players are those who play solo. This is true. But even the solo player base creates opportunities for community. See Paradox’s AAR forums, where players write stories about their games, our own Dynasty section, etc. It’s a display of creativity and imagination that draws people in, makes them want to read and stay around. (And in some cases, even purchase games because the story has hooked them in – something I’ve accomplished with more stories than I’ll ever know).
    Though the MP base is small, and the overall sports text-sim market a niche within the video game industry (save for perhaps Football Manager, which enjoys the advantage of a lengthy history and showcasing the world’s most popular sport), that makes creating community and forging connections all the easier. And in a way, it’s fitting – just as the sports text-sim market is comparatively small, so too are the number of developers. Many of them are independent, solo projects programmed on a part-time basis until they secure a stable enough revenue stream to quit their day job and work on the games full-time.
    Thus, ask Gary if he knows X or Y text-sim developer and he’ll almost certainly say, “Yes.” This developer community, despite technically being competitors in a business sense, frequently converse with one another, and many have met in real life. So rather than cut-throat as many industries are, there’s a spirit of cooperation and supporting one another – sometimes leading to business partnerships as developers come together under an umbrella. Such is the case with Gary and Brooks and Shaun in the PureSim days (who I hope will make a return to baseball at some point).
    This developer community also frequently supports and encourages novice developers to grow the industry and bring in fresh talent and voices. Gary, as many of you know, began with .400 Software Studios, with Total Pro Basketball and Total College Basketball as a self-taught developer. Even me, your Community Manager, has dusty design documents from the beginnings of projects lying around (an Olympics-style text-sports sim, a basketball player RPG that would synergize with the Draft Day Sports basketball engine, even a traditional RPG that would be a Wolverine Studios genre first if it ever came to fruition).
    But it isn’t just on the development side that sports text sims benefit from community. Professional licensing is expensive – a cost far beyond the reach of most independent developers. For legal reasons, team names and logos are fictionalized by default. With a modding community, who willingly volunteer their time, energy, and skill, real-world databases are created. These user mods greatly assist in the immersion factor of the game for players, who are used to the real world and sometimes don’t desire to immerse themselves in a fictional universe.
    Finally, and this is one of the most recent developments in the sports text sim community, are streams and shares of video gameplay. Historically, game streaming has been the province of action-oriented games – leading to the rise of esports leagues (now considered a professional sport by many people). Text-based sports simulations typically haven’t received the streaming treatment. But that’s changing. We’re seeing more and more players streaming and creating “Let’s Play” video dynasties, and they’re attracting attention.
    We’ve even started doing this ourselves by way of creating streaming developer diaries in the last week or so. They’ve been favorably received, giving us another avenue and opportunity to communicate directly with our players and gain their feedback on things such as proposed changes and feature wishlists. It’s a much more immediate, intimate experience that allows for faster compilation of player opinions, rather than just the old way of re-reading the forums and emails and compiling data that way (Note: We still use those methods, too. It allows us a more complete picture of what players want and think).
    As you can see, the community involved in the sports text sim world, smaller than other genres though it may be, is not a single, monolithic entity. Rather, it’s a broad, literally globally-spanning phenomenon that involves numerous strands. Whether it’s the multiplayer leagues, the solo player dynasties, the tight-knight developer and modding groups, or the newly arrived streams, there’s plenty of ways to get involved in the rich, vibrant community of our genre. To take your first steps, why not visit our forums or download one of our free demos?
    The post The Global Community of Text-Based Sports Sims appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  22. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] Shaun Sullivan to expand role with Wolverine Studios   
    For those of you unaware of Shaun Sullivan, he has been a fixture in the world of computer sports games for over two decades. Fans of the old Front Page Sports Football series might remember him as one of the creators of some of your favorite add-on utilities that helped make online multiplayer leagues super realistic. In the past Shaun has lent his development talents to our golf series and Shaun also was the architect of a fantastic baseball sim titled PureSim Baseball which even had a few versions released under our umbrella years ago.
    Last year we were extremely fortunate to pick up our relationship with Shaun again as we worked closely with him merging his Alchemium Unlimited platform with Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2020 and Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 2020. The results of that partnership have spoken for themselves as the basketball titles received a beautiful new interface with expanded capabilities. All in all it was an entire refresh of an already outstanding series.
    This year Shaun has once again been lending his talents to Wolverine Studios as he has continued to sharpen AU and has been working both with Gary Gorski on the next gen of the basketball games as well as with Brooks Piggott in helping to bring AU to Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021. The combo of an already fantastic game and the Alchemium Unlimited platform are sure to make our Draft Day Sports: Football titles the premier football sim games on the market this fall.
    Shaun’s role in the company also will be taking on further expansion in 2020. After the successful combinations of AU with our annual Draft Day Sports titles, Shaun will be once again working directly in product development with the company. We look forward to continuing to work with Shaun to deliver the best sports simulation game experiences possible.
    The post Shaun Sullivan to expand role with Wolverine Studios appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  23. Thanks
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [GM Games] OOTP Developments and Solecismic Software Part Ways   
    In a shocking development, Out of the Park Developments and Front Office Football’s Jim Gindin have parted ways after working together for more than two years on the much anticipated Front Office Football 9. Fans had been eagerly looking forward to a marriage of Front Office Football’s statistics engine and Out of the Park Development’s graphics and UI.
    In a statement, Out of the Park Developments cited a change in direction for the studio and a lack of resources to continue dedicating to the project. Jim Gindin partnered with Out of the Park Developments in February of 2018 and has been working on the newest iteration of Front Office Football ever since.
    Despite the optimism, the project had been plagued with a lack of communication and long development times. At the time of their split, the game still does not have a release date. Out of the Park Developments has seen a lot of recent success and have moved to a yearly release model for their most popular franchises which include Out of the Park Baseball and Franchise Hockey Manager.
    The good news is, Out of the Park Developments released all of the code for Front Office Football 9 and the naming rights back to Jim, the original owner. Jim Gindin and Solesmic Software have been releasing critically acclaimed football manager games for years and this project should not hamper those efforts. The game might not look the way fans had imagined when the two first teamed up but as of now, there is still hope for a release of the next Front Office Football game sometime in the future.
    You can read the full statement by Out of the Park Developments here.
    You can follow up with Jim’s blog here.
    Join in on the discussion on reddit…
    The post OOTP Developments and Solecismic Software Part Ways appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article
  24. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from Chris in [Wolverine Studios] Understanding Advanced Stats   
    Tim Moungey
    Wolverine Studios Community Manager
    What Do Those Advanced Basketball Stats Mean, Anyway?
    Sports metrics and measures of analysis have made dramatic improvements over the last decade or so. We’re now able to better pinpoint from a statistical perspective just how good a given player or team actually is. Here at Wolverine Studios, we keep current on the latest models and advanced statistics and find ways to integrate them into our games.
    But that can often lead to confusion from people who aren’t as familiar with the latest trends. What’s Offensive Rating?, they ask, and what does that stat tell me about my team and players? Consequently, we thought it’d be a good idea to talk about some of the advanced stats for one of our flagship games, Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball – specifically, explaining what they measure and how you can use them as a gauge.
    Offensive Rating, Defensive Rating, and Net Rating
    The brainchild of statistician Dean Oliver, Offensive Rating, Defensive Rating, and Net Rating mark one of the biggest leaps forward in terms of understanding how both players and teams perform on those respective sides of the ball.
    Offensive Rating
    Team
    We won’t delve into the mathematical formulas here, as they can be rather eye-glazing and don’t address what you want to know. But simply put, a team’s Offensive Rating measures how many points a team scores per 100 possessions.

    Player
    As you might expect from the above, a player’s Offensive Rating measures how many points that individual scores per 100 possessions.
    The higher the offensive rating, the better the number, obviously. So what’s a good offensive rating? That depends. For the last two seasons, the average NBA offensive rating has been 110.4, according to Basketball Reference. In the early 2000s – before today’s perimeter-oriented offense, it ranged from 103-106.
    However, take note of any time a player, team, or lineup has an Offensive Rating below 100. That means they’re scoring less than a point per possession. That’s not very efficient usage at all.
    Defensive Rating
    Team
    As you can probably guess, Defensive Rating looks at how many points a team gives up per 100 possessions – or the opposite of what Offensive Rating measures.

    Player
    Similar to what we’ve already seen, a player’s Defensive Rating tells us how many points a player surrenders per 100 possessions.
    Completely opposite to Offensive Rating, you want the Defensive Rating for both your team and players to be as low as possible. Don’t be surprised if a player has an average Defensive Rating over 100, though – only 30 people in NBA history have ever achieved a Defensive Rating under 100.
    Net Rating
    Simply, net rating is the difference between Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating. A positive number is good; a negative number bad. Let’s take a look at some of the lineup data from a save to see how this is displayed in DDS:PB.
    Our in-game lineup tracking lets you easily see what the good (and bad) rotations areAs you can see, the team’s most used lineup and third-most used lineup are playing very well, and there’s a potential Death Lineup (h/t to the Golden State Warriors for introducing this to our basketball vocabulary) at the bottom of the screen. Excellent net ratings all around.
    Where there’s an issue? The second-most used lineup. That’s a horrible Net Rating. And although we haven’t shown you the full screen, it’s clear from looking at the aggregate lineup data that Mike Berry and Jason Minor on the court together is the issue – every single lineup involving that pair has a negative Net Rating, regardless of who else is with them.
    Effective Field Goal %, True Shooting %, and Usage Rate
    The days when Field Goal Percentage and 3 Point Percentage were the best measurements of a player’s offensive efficiency have been dead since the 1990’s. We now have Effective Field Goal %, True Shooting %, and Usage Rate, which paint a far more clear picture of just how good a player is on the offensive end.
    Effective Field Goal %
    The math here is simple enough – (Field Goals + 0.5* Three Pointers)/Field Goal Attempts. What EFG % has over plain FG% is that it takes into account the fact that three-pointers are worth more on the stat sheet than two-pointers.
    So you could, for example, have a player who attempts 10 field goals inside the arc and makes 4 of them. You could have another player who attempts 10 field goals behind the arc and makes 4 of those. On the stat sheet, the FG % will be 40% for both. But the EFG will be 40% for Player A, and 60% for Player B. That’s a massive 20% difference.
    What qualifies as a good Effective Field Goal percentage will, like everything else, depend on your league. In the early 2000s, the league average was around 47-48%. In today’s NBA, the average is 52.4%. Averaging them, you can use 50% as a ballpark measure.
    True Shooting %
    So what’s missing from Effective Field Goal %? That’s right – free throws. True Shooting % (TS %) rectifies that. The formula is Total Points Scored/(2*(Field Goal Attempts + 0.44 * Free Throw Attempts).
    As a rule of thumb, True Shooting of 50% is average, 55% is excellent, and above 60% is world-class efficiency. To gain a complete measure of how good a shooter a player is, it’s best to take into account both their Effective Field Goal % and their True Shooting %.
    Usage Rate
    The calculation is incredibly lengthy, so we’ll simplify it for you.Usage Rate establishes what percentage of a team’s plays a given player was involved in that resulted in one of the following: a field goal attempt, a free throw attempt, or a turnover.
    An average usage rate is around 20%, which is logical – 100% Usage available, divided by five players on the court = 20% usage per player – everything be equal.
    Where this matters in DDS:PB terms: You want your most effective players, as measured by Effective Field Goal and True Shooting percentages, to have the highest Usage Rates to maximize your team’s offensive efficiency. Let’s look at the same team from earlier to see an example.
    DDS: Pro Basketball 2020 is full of advanced stats to help you make decisionsGreat news here from the team’s perspective – Kendall Dallas  has the highest True Shooting and Effective Field Goal percentage *and* the highest Usage Rate. No wonder this squad went 48-34 this season. Dennis Sanchez, on the other hand, looks terrible from those metrics. But that’s why he’s only played in 3 games this season. The staff knows he’s a poor performer in their setup.
    As you can see from that screen, there’s more advanced stats we could talk about, but we’ll reserve those for another post. We hope you’ve found this information helpful. To check out a free demo of Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball or any of other sports simulations, go here.
    The post Understanding Advanced Stats appeared first on Wolverine Studios.
    View the full article
  25. Like
    GM Games got a reaction from CTGames in [GM Games] ESPN story references General Manager (GM) Games   
    This week GM Games was contacted by Dave Wilson, Senior Editor of ESPN. Our conversation talked about the history of sports sims, the differences between AAA sporting titles, his family and the current simulation replays of events lost. It was an honor to be considered for reference.
    For the organization, being at this since 2011, it is a milestone to receive the acknowledgement of the effort for sim sports lovers. It is with pleasure to share the article from ESPN for our users and hope more people find their way in to simulation sport gaming.
    Dave references and chronicles many of the sports simulation developers we have been including on our website for years. You will find these games under our categories either by sport or platform in our navigation menu.
    Unfortunately, it is an odd time for sports considering the loss of march madness, delay of major league baseball, and the postponed NBA and NHL playoff schedule. Let’s hope that we get the real thing back as soon as possible.
    For those indoors and are learning about these games, you will find a list of free games here to try. Please join the GM Games discord server and tell us about your favorite games or career stories.
    Signed, Chris, Director of GMGames.org
    The post ESPN story references General Manager (GM) Games appeared first on GM Games - Sports General Manager Video Games.
    View the full article