Football Manager 2014 Discussion

[KyzBP]

I, personally, don't have a problem with Cyanide but I DO have a problem with it being a browser game.  A game like that should have a lot more resources devoted to it.  Oh, well.

[Grim.Reaper]

I, personally, don't have a problem with Cyanide but I DO have a problem with it being a browser game.  A game like that should have a lot more resources devoted to it.  Oh, well.

Likely will never happen anyway:)

[vyshka]

They did an okay job with Blood Bowl, but it was extremely unpolished and I imagine they would have never got that license if it wasnt for the lawsuit between them and Games Workshop. They are on the 3rd or 4th iteration and still dont have a proper windowed mode. I imagine if they had developed a real Front Page Sports Football game it would have been a disappointment. It appears that either the web game came and went without any notice or it was never released.

[KyzBP]

They did an okay job with Blood Bowl, but it was extremely unpolished and I imagine they would have never got that license if it wasnt for the lawsuit between them and Games Workshop. They are on the 3rd or 4th iteration and still dont have a proper windowed mode. I imagine if they had developed a real Front Page Sports Football game it would have been a disappointment. It appears that either the web game came and went without any notice or it was never released.

I actually like their Blood Bowl.  The UI could have been a bit better but it's certainly playable.

At the half way mark of my FM game, despite a four game win less streak, we are tied for first.  I don't think it will last though as we seem to be fading.

*Make that 5 games.  I'm benching all my starters.  >:(*

[Grim.Reaper]

They did an okay job with Blood Bowl, but it was extremely unpolished and I imagine they would have never got that license if it wasnt for the lawsuit between them and Games Workshop. They are on the 3rd or 4th iteration and still dont have a proper windowed mode. I imagine if they had developed a real Front Page Sports Football game it would have been a disappointment. It appears that either the web game came and went without any notice or it was never released.

I actually like their Blood Bowl.  The UI could have been a bit better but it's certainly playable.

At the half way mark of my FM game, despite a four game win less streak, we are tied for first.  I don't think it will last though as we seem to be fading.

*Make that 5 games.  I'm benching all my starters.  >:(*

I could never bring myself to play the blood bowl games...I just simply want a good American football game without creatures playing it:(

Another football game that had "potential" was Head Coach Football....it actually had the premise I wanted (coach/manage and then see things unfold with decent graphics), but really did not click with me when released, never liked how it was implemented.  Maybe if they would have stuck with it, in a few versions it could have gotten there.  With the NFL as popular as it is, really is truly amazing that nobody has tried to corner the market on the PC (maybe Madden is just too big to over come even though only on a console).

[Nefaro]

I actually like their Blood Bowl.  The UI could have been a bit better but it's certainly playable.

At the half way mark of my FM game, despite a four game win less streak, we are tied for first.  I don't think it will last though as we seem to be fading.

*Make that 5 games.  I'm benching all my starters.  >:(*

I have enjoyed Blood Bowl but all versions of BB have two big issues:

1)  Bad AI

2)  Regular multi-player desync.


Considering that multiplayer matches are timed and if you want to win you'll have to sit there playing unimpeded for a good twenty or thirty minutes.   Mix in the occasional desync, which tends to get worse until you disconn from each other, and even it's cool persistent online team management side can be frustrating at times.  This wouldn't be such an issue with me if the single-player AI was passable but it's bad.  Once you have a vague idea how to play, you can beat it like the chicken you're having for dinner.

Players have been begging for this stuff to be fixed ever since the original version and now, on the third release, they still haven't really fixed them.

[KyzBP]

I actually like their Blood Bowl.  The UI could have been a bit better but it's certainly playable.

At the half way mark of my FM game, despite a four game win less streak, we are tied for first.  I don't think it will last though as we seem to be fading.

*Make that 5 games.  I'm benching all my starters.  >:(*

I have enjoyed Blood Bowl but all versions of BB have two big issues:

1)  Bad AI

2)  Regular multi-player desync.


Considering that multiplayer matches are timed and if you want to win you'll have to sit there playing unimpeded for a good twenty or thirty minutes.   Mix in the occasional desync, which tends to get worse until you disconn from each other, and even it's cool persistent online team management side can be frustrating at times.  This wouldn't be such an issue with me if the single-player AI was passable but it's bad.  Once you have a vague idea how to play, you can beat it like the chicken you're having for dinner.

Players have been begging for this stuff to be fixed ever since the original version and now, on the third release, they still haven't really fixed them.

I never played multi-player but the AI is kind of suspect and that gives me a chance to win once in awhile.  ;D

[vyshka]

So I finished my season tonight. The 2nd half was agonizing. We started with a run of 13 out of 15 points in January, then I lost 1 of my 2 strikers for 6 weeks that had been on a tear and the team just lost steam at that point. We were sitting in 3rd place then. We wrapped up the season winning only 1 of 10 games, fell out of the playoffs to 8th place, and got to watch a team we just beat 7-1 go into the playoffs instead of us. I picked up my 2nd manager of the month award for the January run, but the rest of the season ensured I wouldn't be a serious contender for manager of the year.

Managed to pick up the Thumping achievement for my 7-1 win, and the Team Performance achievement the same week for 5 players making the team of the week.

Now to rebuild and try again next year.

[Grim.Reaper]

So I finished my season tonight. The 2nd half was agonizing. We started with a run of 13 out of 15 points in January, then I lost 1 of my 2 strikers for 6 weeks that had been on a tear and the team just lost steam at that point. We were sitting in 3rd place then. We wrapped up the season winning only 1 of 10 games, fell out of the playoffs to 8th place, and got to watch a team we just beat 7-1 go into the playoffs instead of us. I picked up my 2nd manager of the month award for the January run, but the rest of the season ensured I wouldn't be a serious contender for manager of the year.

Managed to pick up the Thumping achievement for my 7-1 win, and the Team Performance achievement the same week for 5 players making the team of the week.

Now to rebuild and try again next year.

Ouch...hoping to get some time with this game over the weekend, sadly I go back to work tomorrow so it will have to wait....been great reading all the good input from the people in this thread.

[BanzaiCat]

Another football game that had "potential" was Head Coach Football....it actually had the premise I wanted (coach/manage and then see things unfold with decent graphics), but really did not click with me when released, never liked how it was implemented.  Maybe if they would have stuck with it, in a few versions it could have gotten there.  With the NFL as popular as it is, really is truly amazing that nobody has tried to corner the market on the PC (maybe Madden is just too big to over come even though only on a console).

Thanks for mentioning this. I really wanted to like this game and gave it several tries, but it was never engaging enough for me.

As for Blood Bowl, that was another big disappointment. Love the board game, but the PC game cheats horribly with its die rolls, making the game a huge frustration for me.

[KyzBP]

So I finished my season tonight. The 2nd half was agonizing. We started with a run of 13 out of 15 points in January, then I lost 1 of my 2 strikers for 6 weeks that had been on a tear and the team just lost steam at that point. We were sitting in 3rd place then. We wrapped up the season winning only 1 of 10 games, fell out of the playoffs to 8th place, and got to watch a team we just beat 7-1 go into the playoffs instead of us. I picked up my 2nd manager of the month award for the January run, but the rest of the season ensured I wouldn't be a serious contender for manager of the year.

Managed to pick up the Thumping achievement for my 7-1 win, and the Team Performance achievement the same week for 5 players making the team of the week.

Now to rebuild and try again next year.

That's a rough season.  Nothing worse than getting your hopes up at the beginning of the season only to see them come crashing down.  I usually manage to get out of the Conference N/S in the first year and then linger awhile in the Conference Premier.  I have a feeling I'll be doing the same as you at the end of this season. :(

I was reading a guide at work today (http://www.fmscout.com/a-player-attributes-roles-and-duties-explained.html) and am tempted to restart my game with some of these things in mind. 

[KyzBP]

Another football game that had "potential" was Head Coach Football....it actually had the premise I wanted (coach/manage and then see things unfold with decent graphics), but really did not click with me when released, never liked how it was implemented.  Maybe if they would have stuck with it, in a few versions it could have gotten there.  With the NFL as popular as it is, really is truly amazing that nobody has tried to corner the market on the PC (maybe Madden is just too big to over come even though only on a console).

Thanks for mentioning this. I really wanted to like this game and gave it several tries, but it was never engaging enough for me.

As for Blood Bowl, that was another big disappointment. Love the board game, but the PC game cheats horribly with its die rolls, making the game a huge frustration for me.

Head Coach was a Day One purchase for me.  I had such high hopes for it.  I knew it was going to suck the minute I was able to sign any Free Agent without any competition from other teams.  Then having to play 6 minute quarters just to keep the stats realistic.  Such a disappointment.

[BanzaiCat]

Brant might give me he'll for this, but after reading through this thread this looks like it might be an enjoyable game from e management perspective.

I rank soccer up there with tennis, baseball, and golf as some of the most boring spots in the world to watch. But playing tennis and golf is actually enjoyable. Soccer...well, if it's me in control and the management aspects are immersive, and you can go off on 7-1 tears on occasion...I think I might check this out eventually.

[KyzBP]

Brant might give me he'll for this, but after reading through this thread this looks like it might be an enjoyable game from e management perspective.

I rank soccer up there with tennis, baseball, and golf as some of the most boring spots in the world to watch. But playing tennis and golf is actually enjoyable. Soccer...well, if it's me in control and the management aspects are immersive, and you can go off on 7-1 tears on occasion...I think I might check this out eventually.

If you like sports management sims Banzai, you'll love this.  I never played, watched, or even gave any thought to soccer until about 13 years ago when I accidentally bought this game thinking it was for American Football.  I've bought nearly every iteration since.  I'm especially impressed with this version of the game.

Let us know if you pull the trigger.

[vyshka]

So I finished my season tonight. The 2nd half was agonizing. We started with a run of 13 out of 15 points in January, then I lost 1 of my 2 strikers for 6 weeks that had been on a tear and the team just lost steam at that point. We were sitting in 3rd place then. We wrapped up the season winning only 1 of 10 games, fell out of the playoffs to 8th place, and got to watch a team we just beat 7-1 go into the playoffs instead of us. I picked up my 2nd manager of the month award for the January run, but the rest of the season ensured I wouldn't be a serious contender for manager of the year.

Managed to pick up the Thumping achievement for my 7-1 win, and the Team Performance achievement the same week for 5 players making the team of the week.

Now to rebuild and try again next year.

That's a rough season.  Nothing worse than getting your hopes up at the beginning of the season only to see them come crashing down.  I usually manage to get out of the Conference N/S in the first year and then linger awhile in the Conference Premier.  I have a feeling I'll be doing the same as you at the end of this season. :(

I was reading a guide at work today (http://www.fmscout.com/a-player-attributes-roles-and-duties-explained.html) and am tempted to restart my game with some of these things in mind.

Yeah it wasn't a very serious campaign. I just picked a team and dove in to see what was new and how classic played. I should have spent time working on the staff and squad at the beginning of the season. I wasn't too disappointed with the season. We were predicted to finish 17th, and the board expected us to be mid-table.

fm scout has some decent guides about roles, attributes, and philosophy.