Pro Cycling Manager

The Pro Cycling Manager is a cycling computer game that is currently in the eighth generation. Developed have been the seven games by the French computer game manufacturer cyanides.

In the game you take control of a professional cycling team of the UCI. You train the driver, negotiates contracts and must monitor the finances. These goals are a set that you must meet in order to remain with his team under contract. However, the main focus of the game lies in the 3D mode. It controls at the races the driver of his team itself, by giving them commands, their use varies, they attack / sprint or they can move to chase.

To make the race as realistic as possible, the cyclists differ in their attributes (climbing, time trials, sprinting, cobblestone, endurance, hills, etc.).

Erik Zabel's Cycling Manager

• Publisher: Singularity Software
• Release: October 10, 2001
• Original title: Cycling Manager
• Cover Athlete: Erik Zabel

The first manager only the most necessary things in road cycling have been implemented. It was missing a total of many things that are essential for a manager. A manager mode was as good as non-existent, so the only way to interact with other teams, consisted unrealistic to swap drivers themselves. There was no training mode, but already a fatigue mode. The graphics in 3D mode was outdated and lacked curves. There were only 20 teams (all GS I- Team from 2001, with the exception of Liquigas and Tacconi Sport), including 10 licensed original. However, the manager was characterized by realistic mountain stages and time trials, whereas sprints and classic race could produce the most absurd race courses. The race calendar of the game was limited to the most important race of the cycling calendar. The focus was on the three major national tours ( Giro d' Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España) and the World Cup races, supplemented by a few stage races (eg Tour de Suisse) and one-day races. Despite all this, the manager prepared many cycling fans fun and it was quickly put together a fan base, so that every year a new edition could be produced. The ( well-functioning ) tactics range of cycling manager was missing until RSM 07, which allowed to set before the race start team tactics.

Erik Zabel's Cycling Manager 2

• Publisher: Singularity Software
• Release: August 22, 2002
• Original title: Cycling Manager 2
• Cover Athlete: Erik Zabel

Compared to its predecessor Erik Zabel's Cycling Manager 2 was considerably more extensive. The manager mode has been greatly expanded, so now you could buy and sell driver, as there was now a first sponsors system. A training mode was introduced, which was, however, designed unnecessarily complicated and unsuitable for beginners. Yet many others could be improved, it still lacked some standards, contemporary Manager games such as an extended field of statistics. The graphics have been greatly improved, so you put on a new graphics engine, and there were henceforth in 3D mode curves, which were missing in its predecessor. The number of teams increased to 63, some of them licensed. In this manager sports groups were first divided into different divisions with actual facts ( "Top Club", "GS I" and " GS II" ), whereby the possibility of sporting ascent / descent has been integrated. Furthermore, it now was not automatically qualify (if you not have the status of a top club held ) apply, but the organizers had a " wild card " for each race. The results in sprint stages and some of the classics ( especially Paris -Roubaix ) were significantly improved, while the hilly classics sometimes brought forth still randomly similar results. With the increased number of teams and the number of races was increased, some tours (such as the Tour of Germany ) were later available as an official download. Also a first career mode was introduced with this manager, but this did not change the fact that this version also contemporary Manager playing other sports still lagged quite far.

Pro Cycling Manager 2003/2004

• Publisher: dtp entertainment AG
• Release: July 3, 2003
• Original title: Cycling Manager 3
• Cover Athlete: Tyler Hamilton

The third part of the series waited in the German version with a new name. Due to the weak in Germany sales of the predecessor, the new German publisher dtp chose the name-change. International one remained at " Cycling Manager ", as sales were surprisingly good, especially in France. Striking changes have occurred, but also in the game. 3D and Manager Part were retreaded, striking primarily related to new animations of the driver. With this version different types of materials ( frames, wheels, helmets, etc. ), training camps and scouting of young drivers around the world were introduced. The number of teams was reduced to 40, the game the 30 GS I- Team of the Year in 2003 and ten of the best GS II teams were represented, of which about half with original name. However, these teams were divided into two in the game unrealistic divisions x 20 teams that had different race calendar. The invitation of the predecessor system was abolished, what part of the players led to great criticism of Cyanide makers. However, the game has been greatly marred by some glaring bugs. Only after several patches, the manager was playable. The race results were improved again ( in the patched version ), by introducing new attributes such as " cobblestone " and " hills " were the classics are made ​​much more realistic, and the Sprint system is one of the best in the series. Negative were the time trials, the above average produced many surprise winners on the one hand and on the other hand had unrealistically small time intervals. In professional circles, the game is considered one of the weakest of the series. Despite all the criticisms, the manager sold for the first time in Germany quite good, especially favored by the comeback of Jan Ullrich and his thrilling duel with Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France 2003.

Pro Cycling Manager 2004/2005

• Publisher: dtp entertainment AG
• Release: June 25, 2004
• Original title: Cycling Manager 4
• Cover Athlete: Jens Voigt

When Cycling Manager 2004/2005 Manufacturer Cyanide put his focus primarily on the manager part. For example, the Training Saves was renewed and introduced shape highlights the driver. In addition, " race points " have been integrated so that the top riders could no longer be used on your mood for the whole season. The system was designed sponsors realistic and increases the length of the material. Man returned ( similar) form for invitation system of Cycling Manager 2 back, the team number has not increased, but the players were able to enjoy more licensed teams than in the predecessors. However, the scope of the manager was still always upgradeable compared to others at the same time. The graphics, however, was hardly improved, only a few little things like realistic environmental elements, written on the road driver names and famous cycling venues (eg, the round trip on the Champs- Élysées ) were installed. Bugs were still very numerous, the retail version suffered from the pressure, the game time for the start of the 2004 Tour finish.

Pro Cycling Manager 2005/2006

• Publisher: Crimson Cow
• Release: June 21, 2005
• Original title: Pro Cycling Manager
• Cover Athlete: Jens Voigt

Unlike its predecessor, it now focused primarily on the graphics mode, the manager part remained almost identical to the parts. However, it was possible from now on to change a career within the team. For the 2005 season, the UCI cycling reformed with the introduction of the UCI ProTour. In cycling manager they tried to best implement the far-reaching changes, which also neatly achieved in spite of an integrated in-game ascent and descent option ( to increase motivation for managers of Professional Continental teams). With the exception of the big teams, almost all teams were represented with original names in the game, the players were able to choose between all the ProTour and Professional teams, apart from athletic irrelevant Wismilak International teams from Indonesia. The 3D mode has been completely renewed. The artwork was for a manager now very presentable, details such as different seating positions, starting numbers, world and national champion stripes on the sleeves of the jerseys, and arm and leg warmers were integrated. Furthermore, there was a track editor, which allowed players to create their own stages. Cyanide facilitated the editability of his game immensely, for the now large fan community it was easy, the game add new races and teams. Bugs were again not unusual in comparison to its predecessors, however, an upward trend was evident. Through a guided in TV and print media advertising campaign Cycling Manager 2005 is still the best-selling game of the series.

Pro Cycling Manager 2006 - Tour de France

• Publisher: Crimson Cow
• Release: June 23, 2006
• Original title: Pro Cycling Manager Season 2006
• Cover Athlete: Ivan Basso

For the Pro Cycling Manager 2006 Cyanide could win the Tour de France for itself as a partner. The race of the A.S.O. are now represented with original names and leading jerseys in the game, so this race do not contribute more names such as " Tour de France ". Also almost all the teams are now licensed original, from the big teams is only Discovery Channel with fancy names go ( "Lost Channel" ). In Part managers made ​​many improvements, such as a new manager goal and training system. The graph is based on the same engine as its predecessor, but added are HDRR, some details in the route design, especially the animation of spectators, now many are especially in mountain stages along the course, make trellises and can fro beside the drivers. Is commented on the race in this issue of euro sports commentator Karsten Migels. The manager was surprised how rarely with as few bugs and is considered a high point so far of the game series that can enhance any terrain with very realistic results. Detracted from the sale of the game, however, is complicated by the doping scandal around the physician Eufemiano Fuentes, also in the German Radstar Jan Ullrich. In the game itself doping plays no role since the first edition, because otherwise you would not come to the coveted licenses for the cycling team.

Pro Cycling Manager 2007

• Publisher: Crimson Cow
• Release: June 28, 2007
• Original title: Pro Cycling Manager Season 2007
• Cover: A fantasy image with cyclists on the Champs- Élysées

For the Pro Cycling Manager 2007 management part was heavily revised. Developer Cyanide corresponded to the desire of the community to modernize the layout. In addition, the Manager is now part of complex and easier to use. The race calendar is now visible on every manager screen and you can simulate clicks on the respective race directly to the desired date. A weekly newspaper is every 7 days the most important events in the cycling world Represents the transfer system has been completely revised. The player can before each race, which he simulated set the team tactics. The AI ​​of the drivers and the Computer Manager has been improved. A one-day form has been introduced, which can significantly increase the performance of a driver during a race, but also weaken. You can leave your own driver watching opposing driver to find out their form on the day. The graphics have been improved as every year. Since, however, was the main focus of developers on the revision of the managers part, there were only small improvements in the track area, at the start and the goal enemas. Most teams and circuits are reconnected with original licenses included in the game, including the Tour de France is still a partner of the game. For the first time was also a reaction to a different platform. In addition to the usual PC version was release on the PlayStation Portable. This focuses mainly on the 3D race.

Tour de France 2008 - Pro Cycling Manager

• Publisher: Koch Media
• Release: PC: June 24, 2008; PSP: July 11, 2008
• Original title: Pro Cycling Manager Season 2008
• Cover: A fantasy image with cyclists in the countryside, dotted and yellow jersey

The eighth manager of this series has now changed for the fourth time the publisher after last season's manager did not meet the expected financial expectations Crimson Cows. Crimson Cow but announced in early 2008 to publish its own manager. This would mean for cycling Manager Pro is that it in years would be a competing product. However, the community hoped for by the competition two high-quality products, which are both fighting for the small market.

In Part Manager there were two major changes. Firstly, the training system has been revised and introduced U -23 race. The training system was the old, in which the player to monitor the whole year his driver and increase the amount of exercise before a big event, had to changed based on a fitness plans. In these fitness plans are set on the beginning of the year, the training levels for the entire season. This one is planning the race for the driver and then increased the workload there.

The introduction of U- 23 races, the developers promised a better recognition of talent, so introduce the game closer to the real cycling. This race was also requested by a majority of the community. Unfortunately the player can not in 3- D mode to play, but only evaluate the results lists. Almost a tradition are demanded by the fans for years part of a manager making up that basically. Below is a strongly pronounced financial section, which is still only very sporadically occurs in the game as well as a simple menu. Because the RSM 2008 must always jump between multiple windows back and forth to make all the settings and make comparisons between drivers.

The 3- D mode had also undergone some fundamental changes compared to the other years. Obligatory were the improvements in the graphics area. In addition, but also the energy system has been changed. The three bars with total energy that could be repeatedly charged in the race, attack power and a bar, which rose at great expense and when it was full, the driver caused a slump, was replaced by three new indicator bar. From this game, there was a bar for the total energy, which decreased during the race and could not be replenished, an energy bar for effort and an attack bar. When the bar was empty for efforts, the player was able to keep no more fast pace. The attack bar empties in attacks, but fills up again quickly. In addition, the driver is now had to be provided with bottles. Although these have no direct influence on the energy, but with a shortage of bottles driver suffers a so-called bonking. Through the many good innovations and a very extensive BUG FREE to the community in 2009 hoped for yet another increase in cycling manager.

In addition, there are, as in previous versions, a usable editor, where can change the data for drivers, teams and races or stages.