Demo Bugs!

Software Bugs or actually just bugs are a very popular term whenever a new version of Football Manager comes around. Like any game developers one of the main reasons SI released the demo is to get feedback regarding the game functionality from the users. So, if you find a bug you’re welcome to post in Sports Interactive Buggy Forums.

Football Manager 2010 Demo Download

Football Manager 2010 is about to come out in 30th October according to the new trailer. However, the demo is already out and if you’re looking for download links you can find them right here.

Second Season on its Way

My second season at the head of the unknown Italian team from Trento was on its way. The loans had already returned to the teams, and left behind some holes. The league top goalscorer, Federico Rispoli, returned to my parent club Atalanta (they were relegated, by the way) and with him excellent centre-back Marco Biffi and second goalkeeper Marco Zanoni. This trio was an integral part of the thrilling success that led to the impressive statistic of having the best defense and offense in the Italian low divisions.

Except the joy of being promoted, this phenomenon also had positive side effects. The players value tags jumped drastically as a result of the increased team reputation, what also resulted in enhancement of the resources at my possession. My wage budget was doubled, allowing me to adjust sums in order to buy players attached to other clubs. Yippee.

I decided not to fill the hole in my defense, and to give the first team shirt to last season rotation player Alessandro Larini. The big shoes of Rispoli were filled by two talented strikers – the first, his very team-mate from Atalanta named Fabio Zambalera whose speed and finishing ability gave him the highest price tag at my team (I guess reputation also had something to do with that); The second is also a natural fast striker but with much more experience – 26 year old, from Serie A team Catania – lethal Giovanni Longobardi. These two shall be given lots of playing time I’m afraid, because of a pre-season injury occured to my technical striker Gaetano Ferruggia. In addition to these two I also signed Gabriele Sanci, 18, from Juventus youth academy and a rising star from Moldova named Arthur Patras; I discovered the latter while checking Poli 1921, a Romanian team known for producing one of the bargains in the game – Gabriel Torje (just to satisfy your curiosity, French-side Toulouse bought him for £1.5M). Oh, and I also loaned a young goalkeeper from Atalanta to be my second goalkeeper, named Simone Colombi, let’s hope I won’t be forced to use him.

On the other side of the transfer curve I received repeated (gosh, NO MEANS NO!) transfers offers for my captain and right back – Michele Lestani, striker Sergio Ercolano (heading monster, he is) and my right winger Luca Piraccini. I wasn’t too impressed with those offers despite the highest one reaching £72K (bear in mind, these players value stood on 5 to 10 thousands just two months ago). My team financial status has worsen, however, and I do hope I’ll be able to hold onto these players at least until next season.

Furthermore, in a desperate try of improving the financial status I decided to release all U-19 and reserves players for free and pay £320K as compensation. It’s true that this is a high sum overall, and perhaps it was a mistake but when you look on the long run I was going to pay the very same amount of money through their wages, so I’d rather dispose them once and for all allowing my better players more training attention and generally less headache. The compensation sum decreased from the bank balance and not my transfer budget, so it’s all good, I guess.

Here is my squad; Whoever written first is usually the starting player but there are secondary positions that I didn’t write otherwise it was a complete mess.

GK: Enrico Rossi Chauvenet; Simone Colombi
DR: Michele Lestani; Jacopp Maria Mariani
DL: Silvio Novelli; Luca Buonocunto
DC: Alessandro Larini; Matteo Scarone
MR: Luca Piraccini; Gruter Andre
ML: Gabriele Venuti; Arthur Patras; Stefano Giola
MC: Andrea Bandiera, Andrea Campagnolo, Claudio Squadrani
AMC: Gabriele Sanci
FC: Fabio Zamblera, Giovanni Longobardi
ST: Sergio Ercolano, Gaetano Ferruggia

Mezzocorona

As previously mentioned, I started off a new game.

What enthused me to load up Football Manager again after a long period of inactivity, was the Champions League matches. This enthusiasm was tuned down immediately by the changing license ads and loading time of the game. I honestly believe that Sports Interactive should restore FM’s opening to what it used to be few years ago – a clickable badge and no more.

I clicked on the ‘New Game’ icon, and shortly after found myself facing colorful flags. The Italian leagues caught my attention, also with medium database so my machine won’t explode when FM sets up shortlists.

Then I was facing the biggest dilemma of starting a new game – who should I manage?
I already had in mind what type of game I’m looking for, thus, I searched for the club with the lowest estimated value and chose it with no seconds thoughts.

£50k, Serie C2/A side Mezzocorona (meaning in English: Mezzo/a – half, Corona – crown) is my first try of low league management in FM 08.

Player Interaction

Player interaction is sort of misguided name for any media communication that deals with players. The purpose of this feature is presenting, realistically as possible, the newly-painted reality of our football world and giving the statistics-based game a human touch.

Obsession

I think you’re taking this little game far too seriously.

Half Crown, Half Football Pt. 1

I reached the level of actually playing the game, rather than researching and writing about it.I started off this new nature by taking over Serie D recently-promoted side, Mezzocorona, a club which by no means should be an opener for those who went through such a process as myself – you see, Silvio, Stefano and Federico aren’t attractive as Gerrard, Fabregas or Rooney; nor sexy (scratch that latter comment).

3D Match Engine?

Championship Manager and FIFA Manager already use a 3 Dimensional Match Engine, is it time for Sports Interactive to step forward?

“I’m very critical. Not only when it goes about game play in general, but especially when we talk about a match engine.
Yes, the FM match engine works better as there are less flaws and obvious bugs than in the CM match engine.

But.

There is something else that does not just measure in bugs and flaws.
The longer I’m playing the CM2008 demo there is something I can only describe as “fun factor” in watching the 3-D engine.
Okay, there are moments when playing FM when I stand up and cheer because I did won a cup, championship, promotion.

But.

In the CM2008 demo I had some moments just when I have seen a perfect header goal. Which is something I always have to guess in FM.
In CM2008 you can see the header.
BGS brought something back to the game that was always part of CM:

Emotion.

Bugs and flaws can be patched, but emotions is something more difficult to create.
You are on the right path.” – KUBI, administrator of LLMAddicted & Get Managing

The community is split on the question of whether a 3d match engine would be a good addition to the data sheet – some just love watching dots bouncing around after scoring a goal, others watch the commentary and use their FIFA-inspired imagination to keep up with the game. The real question is… Can Sports Interactive succeed in presenting a high-standard 3d match engine? Much popular games such as FIFA 08′ and Pro Evolution struggle, and they have much more experience than our newbie SI.

I played Total Club Manager 2005 (now FIFA Manager) and it was really shambolic to see that I win matches while watching the 3d engine, and lose when watching commentary (I didn’t tweak anything, so perhaps that’s the reason?). I do hope that this won’t be the case whenever Miles Jacobson decide it’s show-time.

As always though, we men want the perfect combination of knowledge (Football Manager) and beauty (FIFA Manager), but settling for comfort (the wife).

Welcome Algeria, Egypt & Tunisia!

Good news for all the Africans out there as Football Manager 2009 African research team confirm the addition of Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia to the African playable leagues alongside lonely South-Africa in next year version. I know for sure I’ll give a serious try in any of those countries, especially following my positive experience with South African First Division side, Black Aces (awesome club names they got there, e.g. Kaiser Chiefs, Orlando Pirates et cetra).

After a quick sniff through their research team website I found some interesting database-packs available there, so make sure you check them out if you fancy some exotic challenges in your current 08′ copy!

Own Goal

There has been an intresting suggestion through various forums that the new version (8.0.2) of Football Manager isn’t enjoyable because of unrealstic goals ratio per match.

“I just want to know what the opinion here is. This version was awful on release. 8.01 made it usable but still many issues which made the game very difficult to enjoy. 8.02 seems to have added new issues. Now, teams are scoring 3 goals a game on average. This included a game between Rangers and Gretna that finished 11-1. I also see the board confidence problem when you lose a promotion playoff is not listed as being fixed….I hope it has!!!!!” – FM-Britain

(Editor note: It hasn’t, sorry buddy).

“i dont want to go on and on but i just carnt play 8.02 i just find it to unrealistic and very easy …
ive tried playing 8.01 for the last few days and it got my blood boiling it seems not matter who i have up front i have 25 shots on goal and score just once…
with the 8.02 i have 15 shots and score 5 …
so to an exstent i carnt play either and im sure im not the only one…
dont get me wrong i appreciate everything si have done over the years but for me this has to be the worst release yet…” – SI-Games

Sports Interactive programming crew do seem to be aware of the problem, asking for any constructive feedback on the goals ratio of 8.0.2 version.

However, despite finding such a major bug they don’t feel a 8.0.3 is needed – and their main goal will be FM 2009.