Version 9.1

[Solecismic]

I'm trying an experiment with Steam. I spent some time last month looking over the numbers, analyzing how each version has done, month by month.

I realized, to my surprise, that FOF9 really hasn't done that badly, except when compared to the first month or so of FOF7 and FOF8 specifically on Steam. Overall, not too bad when compared to pre-Steam versions. I talked to a couple of people in the business recently, and they tell me I'm certainly not at OOTP's level, but for a sports sim, I'm doing pretty well.

What makes it look bad from my perspective is that Steam takes a nice chunk of change off the top of each sale. Fees, a healthy percentage off the top. It was all great with FOF7 and FOF8 because they marketed new independent games very well.

Several years later, and there are just too many games out there. Visibility just isn't what it used to be.

With the update, I'm trying some new Steam tools for visibility. It should generate a good number of new views, and interest peaks for my games in late September and right at the end of the year. Temporary, but it should be a good number.

The new update is small, code-wise. Just a handful of fixes. I've also had quite a few (maybe a record for me) people complain about the play text disappearing when input is ready for the new play. An artifact of the new multi-threaded architecture which also makes FOF9 really fast. I think I got the timing down to keep that text up there properly now, though.

The big add is the 2024 player and coaches file and the 2024 schedule. That's a lot of work. I can't promise I'll do it again in 2025, but I want to give FOF9 another shot at being current - see if this thing can actually become more a success.

With that in mind, please review FOF9 on Steam. It's pretty close to a major bump, given the positive/negative review ratio, but not quite there, and new reviews count more under their new system - particular reviews they consider "salient" - meaning it looks like people actually played the game and have something to say about it. They always seem to have a new algorithm going.

I hope I've given people a good amount of entertainment over the years. The reviews are important. I don't know if this is my last rodeo, but I'd like to go out with a hit here. If you reviewed it negatively earlier on and have gotten a lot out of the series, I hope you reconsider and at least delete your review. I don't want anyone to lie if they feel it's not worth recommending.

Thanks for your consideration.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I'm trying an experiment with Steam. I spent some time last month looking over the numbers, analyzing how each version has done, month by month.

I realized, to my surprise, that FOF9 really hasn't done that badly, except when compared to the first month or so of FOF7 and FOF8 specifically on Steam. Overall, not too bad when compared to pre-Steam versions. I talked to a couple of people in the business recently, and they tell me I'm certainly not at OOTP's level, but for a sports sim, I'm doing pretty well.

What makes it look bad from my perspective is that Steam takes a nice chunk of change off the top of each sale. Fees, a healthy percentage off the top. It was all great with FOF7 and FOF8 because they marketed new independent games very well.

Several years later, and there are just too many games out there. Visibility just isn't what it used to be.

With the update, I'm trying some new Steam tools for visibility. It should generate a good number of new views, and interest peaks for my games in late September and right at the end of the year. Temporary, but it should be a good number.

The new update is small, code-wise. Just a handful of fixes. I've also had quite a few (maybe a record for me) people complain about the play text disappearing when input is ready for the new play. An artifact of the new multi-threaded architecture which also makes FOF9 really fast. I think I got the timing down to keep that text up there properly now, though.

The big add is the 2024 player and coaches file and the 2024 schedule. That's a lot of work. I can't promise I'll do it again in 2025, but I want to give FOF9 another shot at being current - see if this thing can actually become more a success.

With that in mind, please review FOF9 on Steam. It's pretty close to a major bump, given the positive/negative review ratio, but not quite there, and new reviews count more under their new system - particular reviews they consider "salient" - meaning it looks like people actually played the game and have something to say about it. They always seem to have a new algorithm going.

I hope I've given people a good amount of entertainment over the years. The reviews are important. I don't know if this is my last rodeo, but I'd like to go out with a hit here. If you reviewed it negatively earlier on and have gotten a lot out of the series, I hope you reconsider and at least delete your review. I don't want anyone to lie if they feel it's not worth recommending.

Thanks for your consideration.

Just bought it, will review after some game time later today.

[jcasanovadavis]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I'm trying an experiment with Steam. I spent some time last month looking over the numbers, analyzing how each version has done, month by month.

I realized, to my surprise, that FOF9 really hasn't done that badly, except when compared to the first month or so of FOF7 and FOF8 specifically on Steam. Overall, not too bad when compared to pre-Steam versions. I talked to a couple of people in the business recently, and they tell me I'm certainly not at OOTP's level, but for a sports sim, I'm doing pretty well.

What makes it look bad from my perspective is that Steam takes a nice chunk of change off the top of each sale. Fees, a healthy percentage off the top. It was all great with FOF7 and FOF8 because they marketed new independent games very well.

Several years later, and there are just too many games out there. Visibility just isn't what it used to be.

With the update, I'm trying some new Steam tools for visibility. It should generate a good number of new views, and interest peaks for my games in late September and right at the end of the year. Temporary, but it should be a good number.

The new update is small, code-wise. Just a handful of fixes. I've also had quite a few (maybe a record for me) people complain about the play text disappearing when input is ready for the new play. An artifact of the new multi-threaded architecture which also makes FOF9 really fast. I think I got the timing down to keep that text up there properly now, though.

The big add is the 2024 player and coaches file and the 2024 schedule. That's a lot of work. I can't promise I'll do it again in 2025, but I want to give FOF9 another shot at being current - see if this thing can actually become more a success.

With that in mind, please review FOF9 on Steam. It's pretty close to a major bump, given the positive/negative review ratio, but not quite there, and new reviews count more under their new system - particular reviews they consider "salient" - meaning it looks like people actually played the game and have something to say about it. They always seem to have a new algorithm going.

I hope I've given people a good amount of entertainment over the years. The reviews are important. I don't know if this is my last rodeo, but I'd like to go out with a hit here. If you reviewed it negatively earlier on and have gotten a lot out of the series, I hope you reconsider and at least delete your review. I don't want anyone to lie if they feel it's not worth recommending.

Thanks for your consideration.

Great news. I will definitely review and I am looking forward to the update. Thanks!

[Lann]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

The new update is small, code-wise. Just a handful of fixes. I've also had quite a few (maybe a record for me) people complain about the play text disappearing when input is ready for the new play. An artifact of the new multi-threaded architecture which also makes FOF9 really fast. I think I got the timing down to keep that text up there properly now, though.

1000 thanks just for this.

[NawlinsFan]

Thanks Jim! You continue to make this old mans heart feel good.

[jcasanovadavis]

To the community - Based on this update, can we use the mods that were available pre-update to utilize with the updated rosters? I am a little stuck on what I need to do to utilize logo packs and update logos and team names.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

Also, I did leave a review, Jim.

[Capital]

Just curious, can you start a new game in FOF9 as an expansion team?

Thanks Jim for all of years of entertainment!!!

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Capital

Just curious, can you start a new game in FOF9 as an expansion team?

Thanks Jim for all of years of entertainment!!!

You can set up a league and players file such that your team won't have any players, and it gets filled with complete scrubs. There's no expansion draft in the game, though, and you wouldn't make any meaningful decisions until after the first season is done. But by the 2nd season, you'd be a lot like an expansion team.

[Haiku]

If you can make it a yearly or bi-yearly release, that would benefit you in the long run. There's a core base that is looking to support you. If you are able to implement a decent number of improvements each year along with updated rosters, that would be enough. OOTP does not make huge changes other than a couple of new features every year. OOTP's second project, FHM, didn't start well in the past but is currently pulling off positive reviews in the same range, around 80%, as your game. I also don't think they have significantly more sales than FOF9. Your game is also outperforming your direct rival DDS Pro Football by a large margin and yet they release yearly, while you don’t.

So yeah FOF9 is doing pretty well, all things considered.

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I've also had quite a few (maybe a record for me) people complain about the play text disappearing when input is ready for the new play.

This alone is a game changer for me! Thanks a lot.

[Stanley92]

I like this post. FOF9 get a little boost then, not only with new rosters, but some tweaks and fixes.

Yes the market have changed and Steam is just too powerful and suck in every game creator or they look lost these days.
It's a bloody shame since things worked in the past without a middle man that just helps out folks to install and categories their games.
Some sort of general hub that makes the lazy ones of us feel good.
Then not to forget Steam probably market products better since everyone talk about Steam. But as Jim say they charge a huge sum for it.
It's a future we have to live with.

Always been "against" Steam. Had some games some 20 years ago that was needed to be started with Steam ( a new company then). Whatever mail and password for that account I used is long forgotten (got a different today).
The point is I got the DVDs at my home but when trying to install in a new PC Steam stops me. I have to get permisson from the one (myself) who first installed the games. No way around that. Steam stole my games. Simple put.

That's a consumers problem and I get that producers/developers are also in the hands of this powerhouse Steam.

[Capital]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

You can set up a league and players file such that your team won't have any players, and it gets filled with complete scrubs. There's no expansion draft in the game, though, and you wouldn't make any meaningful decisions until after the first season is done. But by the 2nd season, you'd be a lot like an expansion team.

Excellent idea. Thanks for the information.