FIFA Manager (video game series)
The Football Manager or FIFA Manager series (abbreviated FM ) is a management simulation from EA Sports for the PC. From 2002 to 2013 appeared in the autumn of each year, a continuation of the game. The current issue is the football manager 14 The English and Italian title of the game is since 2006 FIFA Manager (formerly Total Club Manager). In Spain it is called since 2007 and in Switzerland since 2010 also " FIFA Manager" and in France the game as LFP Manager is sold. On November 23, 2013 it was announced that the series will not be continued.
- 3.1 Football Manager 2002
- 3.2 Football Manager 2003
- 3.3 Football Manager 2004
- 3.4 Football Manager 2005
- 3.5 FIFA Manager 06
- 3.6 Football Manager 07 3.6.1 Football Manager 07: Extra
Manufacturer
Be Issued the games of the football manager series from the U.S. software maker Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. The game was developed by FM 06 by the German EA Sports Development Studio in Cologne, starting in 2004, but also in Canada. In January 2006, members of the EA Sports development team have founded the development studio Bright Future, which was relocated from March 2006, the entire deployment to Germany.
Cover
While the international cover is kept neutral in FIFA Manager since the name change in 2006, every year adorns the games packaging ( DVD-box) in Germany since 2002, a well-known manager and / or coach who was able to celebrate particularly great success with his club in the previous season. A similar concept exists since 2010 for the Swiss market. While previously the German Cover and the name has been adopted Football Manager, EA has since been producing their own cover for the German and French Switzerland under the name of FIFA Manager since 2011 and represents Swiss coaches.
Germany
Early in the series it was Rudi Assauer, a year later, Lothar Matthäus and 2004, then Leverkusen manager Reiner Calmund. 2005 was coach Felix Magath of VfL Wolfsburg on the cover (then Bayern coach ) and 2006 was the Werder Bremen duo Klaus Allofs and Thomas Schaaf to see. 2007 was the ex -HSV and ex - BVB coach Thomas Doll the " cover model ". For the FM 08 was Hans Meyer, former coach of 1.FC Nuremberg, committed as cover model. On the cover of FIFA Manager 09 with Joachim Loew was the first time a national coach to see. The cover of 2010 adorned Ralf Rangnick, the former coach of the German Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. On the FM 11 as early as 2005 Felix Magath to see that so is the first person who was twice on the cover. On the cover of which appeared in October 2011 FM 12, Thomas Tuchel of 1 FSV Mainz 05 to see. On the cover of FM 13 was Lucien Favre, coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach, pictured.
On the football manager 14 for the first time no coach has been shown, but the master shells of the First and Second Bundesliga.
Switzerland
In 2010, a trainer was shown in the back view. 2011 Ciriaco Sforza was selected as the cover image for the German and French Switzerland, in 2012 followed him Murat Yakin, 2013 for as if in Germany the Swiss coach Lucien Favre on the cover.
Survey
FM versions
Football Manager 2002
On 11 October 2001, the first football manager from EA was published. Some game developers and the kick -3- concept - author and project manager Gerald Köhler with his senior programmer Rolf Langenberg of the developer company Ascaron, which brings out the kick-off series have been previously recruited for the development of FM.
After you've chosen to start a team, you as a manager and coach of the club the ability to set the training schedule of the team players to buy in the transfer market or sell, expand stadiums and the club grounds to negotiate with sponsors on advertising contracts, in or to give post-match interviews and to determine which youth players to be included in the first team. In addition to the professional life has also a private one, which is to break up the gameplay a bit. It is possible to view the game as a text mode virtual game or watching games in 3D mode ( FIFA Engine).
The special feature of the game was to use at the time the licensing of numerous leagues, through which it was allowed EA, original player name, club name and club logos of these leagues. In addition, there was the possibility to extend the data with an editor to download data from other editors to thereby take almost unlimited challenges.
Football Manager 2003
Alternatives to the current navigation menu, an office was established, through which one enters by clicking on individual items in specific menus. This one took over from kick-off. In FM 2003 the first time was the "kicker " built into the game, which summarizes the most important of the respective game day after a game and also reports on other news. In FM 2003 is set to the graphics of FIFA Football 2002. Furthermore, the possibility is offered to integrate your own music into the game. This is to provide more variety. The default is 45 leagues in 23 countries ( some with original data), but you can top up by the editor.
Football Manager 2004
For the 3D game for the first time the new FIFA 2004 engine is built into the game. A new addition is the Football Fusion, through which it is possible to manage the team in FM and then to export the data in FIFA Football 2004 and there to control the team during the game directly. A result, the possibilities of both games combined. To use the function, but you need both games from EA. In addition to managing a club, it is possible since the FM 2004 to take over a team. Furthermore, you can even hold their own monthly training sessions and determine in "real time", which exercises have to complete the players.
It may also happen that you get offered a mission during the game to change, for example, for a short time to another club in order to keep this from relegation.
Football Manager 2005
Included is a database of 48 playable leagues from 28 countries. If one does not suffice the supplied clubs, it is possible to start your own club. This feature is known as Create a Club ( CaC ). To this end, several thousand towns and villages have been inserted, in which the association can be established. There is also the option of adding other villages with the help of the coordinates. However, it is only possible to set up their own club at the start of a game. The existing in previous versions private spaces have been taken from the FM, because he was allegedly out of date and still no new development.
FIFA Manager 06
In this FM 06 Create-a- Club feature can now be used every year, with private assets, which has accumulated in previous years, serves as a starting capital of their own association. A new strength system displays the skills of players 0-108 to ( previously 0-20 ). Furthermore, this power system now calculated differently. Another feature, the Football fusion, was removed from the game because there were problems with the compatibility of the data that has been transferred from the FM to FIFA Football.
EA has included for this version 68 leagues from 39 countries in the game. In addition, the football manager 06 are the images of players in many European countries - among others Germany, England, Spain, Italy and Belgium - are available. This is a feature that you could use in the previous FM versions only by database updates of fan communities. There also appear regularly new player pictures, so many top European leagues are almost complete with player images.
After the game, not a newspaper, but a Web page that summarizes the most important details of the game day will appear. Helping with post-hoc analysis of a game to the Match Analysis Tool ( MAT), which lists some detailed statistics of each game, as it delivers the running tracks and ball contacts of any player on the field.
Football Manager 07
The FM 07 again includes the missing of many players the private sector. At game start can now be edited his own family. The range of luxury objects was opened for players and fan sites, so that they can add as many items to the game starting this year. Moreover, many more features returned to the game. Thus, for example, 3D games are canceled again or appear as an alternative to the original 2D images and 3D player faces player. In addition, (almost all players from the Austrian Bundesliga and others) many new players photos came back.
We have added a lot of statistics, which already existed in football manager 2005. A total of 57 different statistics available, over the previous year are an increase by a factor of 2.5. For the first time in the Football Manager history can also control a player himself. In addition, recently co-operation agreements were possible. So you can buy from other clubs, for example, player or oneself gets money for sales. EA Sports could first acquire the licenses for the German regional leagues, the 2nd league in Switzerland (Challenge League) and the first Turkish league (Superliga). The club grounds mode was fundamentally renewed and now built in the style of SimCity. There are around 100 different buildings and dozens of options for landscaping ( walls, hedges, etc.).
In FM 07, the integration of jerseys, crests and players images is the game compared to previous FM versions much easier and can be subsequently edited. Furthermore, it is now possible to integrate Manager, presidents and stadium photos into play.
Since you " bugged " from the former football manager parts has learned, the team at Bright Future is now working more on finding bugs and eradicate. For this purpose all the bugs from the previous year were collected in a thread of the forum.
Football Manager 07: Extra
On February 22, the add-on was " extension " out. It includes several new features and additional new statistics. The newest feature of the " extension" is the opportunity to actively participate as a player-coach in the success of the team. For this, one needs to start producing his 3D head and spread his strength and talent. How many skill points you have at the beginning, depends on the overall team strength.
Another feature is the " appreciation and depreciation rounds ". At the beginning of the season, in the winter break and at the end of the season players will be further improved or deteriorated. Will have been upgraded to a player when he has played in the team feels good games lately he is so Downgraded, if he is injured for a long period or frequently or has problems. In addition, new original stadiums were built into the game and reworked the database. Also the 3D gameplay has been improved. So kick caught, for example, no longer with every little foul.
When a longer appeared some time after release a patch that fixes a crash that occurred through the construction of too many youth camps by the computer clubs.
Bright Future confirmed that all features of extension in FM 08 will be included.
Football Manager 08
The release date for the FM08 was October 30, 2007, in Austria, the game was mostly sold until November 2. For the first time, it is possible also in the German version of the game, covering the talent or the strength of the players who do not belong to their own club. In this case, the lower the league, the less information about the player you get. This also attracts a whole new scouting system with it. The 3D mode and the AI were again revised significantly for this part. For previous versions, known problems in 3D mode ( player runs out of play, player strikes the ball to nowhere, etc.) have been fixed, but also graphically some was modified. However, the engine is the same as in the previous versions.
Football Manager 08 was released mid-January 2008 in addition to the mobile phone.
Football Manager 09
The FM09 is, like its predecessor, appeared again on October 30. The biggest changes are the conversion of large parts of the graphic engine on which the game " FIFA 09", a novel text mode to resemble a live ticker, a more extensive employee area, as well as a optional brighter style. It was also announced by Bright Future, that there will be no add -on like football manager 07, but updates will be free.
In Germany selling games show on the cover of the coach of the German national football team, Joachim Loew.
Football Manager 10
The FM10 was released on October 29, 2009. Starting this year, the product for the Swiss market no more than fantasy football, but FIFA Manager is marketable. For the first time there was an online mode where up to eight players can compete against each other for free. More than 400 large and small changes were integrated. The 3D mode has been revised yet again.
In Germany, the cover showed the coach of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim Ralf Rangnick. The Swiss edition shows a manager in the back view, looking down on the pitch.
On June 2, 2010, the fifth update appeared. It was the update for the Football World Cup 2010 in South Africa, in which you can perform any national team for the World Cup in a new game mode.
Tests and Quotes:
- 87 %; "Many improvements in detail, even more long-term motivation and interesting online mode make the Bundesliga Manager a championship contender ," Spieletipps.de October 16, 2009
The online mode for FM10 was set on February 8, 2011.
Football Manager 11
The FM11 was released on October 28, 2010. On 12 August 2010 it was announced that will be displayed for the German market Felix Magath, the coach of FC Schalke 04, on the cover. He is the first person was to be seen there twice on the cover ..
The Swiss edition of FIFA Manager graced Ciriaco Sforza.
The main innovations are, inter alia, a completely revised strength system by which the players strength can be set individually for each position now and also the player's experience plays a larger role (player with little experience get a deduction of their strength values , whereas those with strong experience a Bonus ). Player transfers can now be better planned in advance by praising the player through the press or with him leads preliminary. In addition, the tactics menu was revised, thus setting the tactics to be simplified.
Also new is the introduction of so-called " Premium Services". Four additional functions for € each about 5 can be purchased via the EA Store. This is a " Live Season " feature called, by which the database is updated weekly and thus you can join the game at any time during the season, "Team Control" which allows the control of all players in 3D mode ( By default, only a certain player itself can be controlled ), a " Premium online Account ," which provides additional features in online mode makes it accessible and a " fan Pack " which includes additional player pictures, and graphics.
Football Manager 11 is available in three versions: The standard version there is also an " anniversary edition " to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series, which also includes a book with background information on the history of the series as well as tips. In addition, the " Premium Online Account" and the " Fan Pack " are already included. In addition, via download only, a "Special Edition" available that includes all four premium services.
In the test of the Looki football manager 11 received a rating of 85 percent. Although criticism was that he has a total of little innovations and many bugs contain. Blessed is the successor but. Because of its claim and its general sophistication
Football Manager 12
Football Manager 12 and FIFA Manager 12 was released in German-speaking countries on 20th October 2011. On the German Cover Thomas Tuchel, coach of FSV Mainz 05 is first mapped to the Swiss Murat Yakin Cover, at that time coach of FC Lucerne.
In FM 12, the focus was placed on the offline mode and installed 700 new features and improvements. The 3D game has been completely redesigned and reprogrammed the AI , what better effect to, for example, substitutions and tactics of the enemy AI Manager in respect. There is also a new accommodation with 25 buildings with a total of 289 configuration levels; Building also grow old and need renovation from time to time.
The finance department has been expanded, where now the sponsorship also main, premium, is secondary and local sponsors distinction between what is intended to show the financial differences between top clubs and smaller clubs. Another big improvement is the squad analysis, which analyzes the team after the selected game systems and, for example, sales of dead-end players excites or suggesting a sparse position in the team. Since AI managers use this tool, they are now acting more realistic in the transfer market. It is again the classic text mode is available that shows the build-up play / attack a team step -by-step.
For the first time, the developers worked together with the community to add new content. The "Your Feature!" Action brought many small innovations, such as the speech before the game. After voting 12 features emerged. The online mode has not been extended, but all premium features from the previous year for all players are available.
Football Manager 13
On 31 May 2012 the Football Manager 13 was officially announced. He appeared on 25 October 2012. On the cover of both the German and the Swiss edition is the Swiss coach Lucien Favre, pictured at this time coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Football Manager 14
FIFA Manager 14 was released on 24 October 2013. It is a so-called Legacy Edition, in addition to some minor changes only contains an updated database and is otherwise identical to its predecessor, FIFA Manager 13. This was several times as a " rip-off " by fans and the trade press or called "Update for almost full price ." For the first time there was also on the cover of the game box and to see a coach, but only the master shells of the First and Second Bundesliga.
Publications for the game
In April 2008, a blog was started by the developers, who are interested to keep abreast of the developments to the FM 09 and some background information on the development team to date. In addition, there are on the homepage since April 2008 FM Interactive, a monthly online magazine that deals with the development team, the various fansites and football manager. Also an extra Twitter account has been created. The publications are, however, irregular and at times also inactive.
Editierszene
In the FM fan base over the years a large Editierszene has formed, which makes it his goal to bring more realism to the game and this is accomplished, inter alia, through the creation of new leagues, coat of arms, jerseys, player images, and modifications of the gameplay. On many international fansites to find our own products for free download. The EA already created (from FM 2007 Bright Futures) countries are thereby extended by extension in the leagues tree and using an international fan site network. With the FM 2006 players images were becoming more popular as each player without the player image by the missed dedication EAs a monotonous gray image in profile has ( modified for FM07 ). This means that each player looks the same after 15 years Duration. Particular caused a stir here at the German fansite "Soccer Zone" released " Gamer Pictures League patch " that contains over 4,000 players pictures for football manager 2007, is unprecedented. The Fansite "FM Total" has now brought out, for example, the FM11 100 players images files, most of which contain the full squad player pictures from a specific club. Also grown in popularity have called NADL records (names off thinking leagues ). The fan page " FMCorner " has also been published several times the large " mega patch " which unlocked all the countries included in the game and has created to any club in a league with original club data and crests. After a break of this last appeared for the football manager in 2012. In January 2013 " FMCorner " officially also the " mega patch " was announced for the FM13, which is to be published in March 2013.
Bright Future: editor support for FM 07 through a specially optimized editor, which can be, for example, teams of NADL - produce records with a few mouse clicks. The editor also eg Player changes can be inserted in the FM. There is for football manager 07 for the first time an editor for " Quotes ".
The editor was the first time included in the FM 07 after several years with the game, in older versions you could download it on numerous fan sites. He has since been included in any part of the series.
Manager Stories
A few years ago an own sub- community has developed the Manager Story community. The purpose of a Manager story lies in the fact, sometimes also from the player to describe the experiences of the FM from the perspective of a coach. Readers give the story feedback and suggestions for improvement. Since the beginning of the year there are so-called managers Story elections official FM board. Here, the community selects the best story of the month. The elections were but now discontinued due to disputes and continued on an independent platform.
Criticism
Although the games are rated by both the trade press and from the public throughout very good, there is still a high potential criticism. In particular, the rigid policy of EA Sports is in the center. For example, the internationally successful football manager must be, not sold on the basis of exclusive licenses, which are owned by EA Sports in Germany.
The annual successor of the series differ only marginally from the previous most playful, however, be sold at full price. As at the date has to date still every game of the series exhibited major errors, which are mostly cleaned up by EA and Bright Future by patches. For the 2007 version 70 games tester was equipped with a test version as a preventive measure. Also, the intra- German test department was reactivated.
For computers that are no longer on the cutting edge of time, the game will run, depending on the number of calculated leagues, sometimes very slowly, and so takes up a large amount of time. Since the Football Manager 2007: Extension Bright Future works according to official figures from optimizing the calculation processes and so the time required to reduce significantly sometimes. In the selection of leagues is displayed also the extent to which the computer is expected to be utilized.
It was also expressed criticism that errors of past parts have not been resolved and incorporated into the latest issues and supplemented by new programming errors.
Weblink
- Official German side
- Football Manager series at MobyGames (English)