Foreword

The “football manager” series is one of the great Paradebeispielen from the simulation genre terms of target groups. While the player mainstream before the (alleged) complexity and the rather dry subject is discouraged, football and friends of the simulation provided exactly the task, which always have been they are already from childhood: the favorite team of A to Z Guide.

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FM 10 Packshot

And so also the audience proved to be of “Football Manager 10″ (FM 10), the latest addition in the series, is defined as a relatively clear. Primarily, it is to convince the diehard main community with careful new features. If this is successful, is to be clarified in this test. Unlike some in ‘ an overview of the basic features should be given in this context, and context of the just described target group but other classical sequel. Because the matter is, will show how, thanks to some tweaks einsteigerunfreundlich long been not so as you might think.

FM 10 at a glance

All beginnings are difficult

Offers at the entry “Football Manager 10″ still all options that a simulation lover can wish. So, you can choose the more realistic career path, where you can choose from the offers of three randomly certain clubs. In this way, the potential Super Manager may lands once in the third Division, in which the different activities in the Club to a large extent by voluntary members be performed. Although applies in this case especially, that all beginnings are difficult; for the ability to shape – a task that is of course some time and effort to complete the next German master from a soccer technical underdog thanks to superb management offers but.

Less ambitious players should therefore access the conventional mode, where you can just choose a Club of choice and plays thus may advance to the major title. The third version will appeal to adventurous natures of an own association can be established and individually designed to the place of the pennants of the jerseys. It is also interesting that still also a small life simulation can be added, in which it is to be successful in private life, for example, in dealing with the wife or the children. Other areas include: whether investment or investment in homes and cars – the guru of the Association must also in the domestic home progress provide. In this context, one should expect but really only a little gimmick, but not a full, exciting area.

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Moderate character editor in action

In any case, character creation, which is however not very many options follows after the election of the Association: addition to key data for the person, select of an image and the rudimentary design of the header section and the clothing the editor offers little opportunity to create an individual character. The creation is complete, it is already in the heart of FM 10, still formed by the Association overview. In this first moment newbies are likely to feel kill: about the successful menu navigation in the upper third of the overview, many areas can be controlled. On the individual points are however useful selected, so you should find yourself relatively quickly rightly on the important surface. Moreover, it is commendable that advance different difficulty levels for various areas of FM 10 set can, so that especially beginners, for example, at the beginning can set lax partner in contract negotiations.

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The Club is the most important area

Still applies at this point in fact: all beginnings are difficult, at least a bit. Because right now not everyday business waiting the new Manager, but somewhat more elaborate preseason, which means that large number of tasks are waiting for: budgets must negotiated, season goals be defined, player contracts extended, created training plans and targets or set, training camp planned, transfers made, staff recruited and gangs and merchandise marketed – a fullness of task which can kill a somewhat at the beginning. All the better that the makers give a more relief in the form of (hopefully) competent employees at the hand the player at this point in addition to a clear menu structure. For example, once the place of sport directors is occupied, can tasks such as the Organization of the training camp handed, while the Marketing Manager to the merchandise and take care of the construction manager to the expansion of the Stadium this if necessary. And who wants to take care not to the team or the tactics, leaving the support the appropriate staff in the coaching staff simply. An innovation ensures also for the stadium construction for the first time einsteigerfreundliche conditions: Wen deters the more elaborate Stadium Editor, can increase the capacity of the home arena of simple controller. A corresponding budget provided is seconds done this within less.

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The preparation of season holds many tasks

How much responsibility you ultimately makes, you can set different well for each scope. Especially in training and team area, there are some tasks that can be delegated without problems until the Assembly of the bench of the establishment of training plan. Beginners are caught this well since can nevertheless always have their say on major decisions such as player sales and still own activities despite ceded skills develop. The claim that “football manager” for beginners much too complex fails, can so as lapses be described. Veterans are likely to interfere with, however, of the above options, the complete management of the Association for many accounts for just the thrill of the object. The opportunity is open to these players but remains to fulfill all the tasks and to take over ultimately even the sparse interaction with the fans rooted.

The preparatory phase is mastered and next on the first match of the season at long last, so we encounter much receptive. So it offers is to look at the game in different modes. These include the self-explanatory text and video-text mode and the Sofortberechnung. In visually moderate but most relevant 3D (see also next section) you can watch the game from the perspective of FIFA and occasionally by the Bank from instructions pure ROAR, what however has too frequent use of the effect, that the referee shipped off the angry Manager in the stands. Away from them, it is also possible in FIFA “Be a Pro” manner actively intervene in the action which is however limited preparing pleasure due to the not always comprehensible activities of the browser. Because, like in the previous players in FM 10 to tend the leather hollow on the 10 times back and forth to fit themselves or go through opposing striker without tackling but. Also partly explain crazy results 7: 2 between two German first division club.

Diehard FM players are likely to know the problem just described enough. Anyway, the search must be already very closely to the innovations – apart from the multiplayer separately to be treated – to lead to a concrete result. This does not mean, however, that the makers of bright future turned fiddling; Instead, there are about 400 smaller changes, for example, in the Verhandlungsbalancing or the mentioned simplified stadium expansion, which have been implemented. As a result, that FM 10 in many places seems easier, accountability and more stable.

Technical implementation

Who the previous “football manager” parts knows, who knows that one may expect graphics technically no big jumps. This unspoken tradition also FM 10 joins a seamlessly. So the menus work although revised, but have long ago nothing of their very special, somehow technocratic style which in this case however forfeited, not a nuisance but is more authentic. In this context also the Visual design turns out of 3D-Modus’ rather insipid what is reflected in an unspeakably animated audience and only partly successful players in total at the level of a FIFA 2007. At all – little surprise – is found again many component from the sister series: Player movements in cutscenes, but the commentary in the game, FIFA can be regularly greet.

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The Visual implementation moves as usual not on the amount of time

All’ it sounds theoretically not very good, is but in practice no bigger problem. Never played with the graphic relating “football manager” a major role, what is remarkable in some way for a simulation. Quite possible, that is some ‘ inveterate Manager even with pure text mode would be satisfied, which is anyway more often chosen after a long period of playing as the not necessarily exciting in the long term but time-consuming 3D. The gameplay can, however, (as previously mentioned) with one part idiotic Passport shot behavior and many corkscrews result a little to be desired.

For this the makers in other, much more place can score: as part of this test no serious bugs and inconsistencies could be found, so that incidentally in other than the predecessor – no cancellation is done the simulation from this page. Because the menu navigation as mentioned is excellently managed, can be overlooked this year generously on the striking visual shortcomings of the series.

Multiplayer

The great innovation, the “Football Manager 10″ brings with it, be found in multiplayer mode as long demanded by the player community, as previously it was only possible to play with up to four players on a screen. The new, revised multiplayer it is basically a light version of the solo game, where quick decisions are needed instead of long been mulling: leagues can be played out in an extreme case via the Internet within a few hours and also on transfers must, similar to such as in online auction houses, lightning fast mitgeboten be. Such a gameplay accordingly, are fast rewarded actions below each defined time limit with bonus payments. The focus of attention also pared down management of team is this course primarily, while the other aspects while back in the background, but remains of appropriate menu points and some needs to play a role.

The new multiplayer is a nice complement all in all. People who like FM because of its detail and complexity, will need some time to be warm with the mode designed more for speed and a simple game principle.

Conclusion

To measure a newly laid game only on the great new features that it brings with it, you’d have “Football Manager 10″ probably issue a bad certificate. This is in this respect concern that such an evaluation criterion is perfectly legitimate. As only really outstanding innovation it could be admitted only the new part of multi player FM 10 then, while the many small changes and improvements would hardly in the standings.

In the sum of a catalogue of such assessment would grab – he may be so fit somewhere else – too short in the case of FM 10. Overall, the many small changes to a game to convince white quite add up. This however includes that tolerated the idiosyncratic, really unsightly in the 3D graphic style and looks over some silliness in the behaviour of the player across. Away those responsible provide from but a game, to capture the white. It is notable, this should apply both veterans and beginners.

&Lt; div > Photo Gallery “Football Manager 10 test” (33 images)

The old cliche that “football manager” just something for football madman is, seems to have thus come in the year. Although a certain affinity to the subject is still necessary to be able to make friends with such a title; However, we need long since no tough time more, to get the still complex management baked. Here a good approach has prevailed through different options, which allows the individual adjustment of the level of difficulty and the tasks to be fulfilled – if not even the best example of this, as small changes help a game to a round thing to make.

In this respect especially beginners to may feel invited to take the matter in the attack. And also veterans will come with a little understanding and last but not least thanks to the updated, comprehensive license at their expense.