Football Manager 2012: Tales, Trouncings and Triumphs

[naum]

This game has supplanted Civ, EU and Dom and other strategy games -- I had played with FM10 a while back but never that deep and only for a few weeks. I was disappointed there wasn't more options to "randomize" and create fictional leagues and such. But I've dived into this and for the 1st time in a long time, "next turn" syndrome is assaulting my need for sleep.

I know people decry the Steam DRM but it is nice how I can matriculate the game to a number of different machines. On my desktop, I took command of LA Galaxy --  and then created some other "practice" game league setups where I tinkered and toggled with tactics. On the laptop (a Macbook Air, for which the game says cannot run at even one star, but does well from what I have observed thus far) I created a single nation/league with Greece, and started unemployed. Turned down a job offer and now just took command of a "B" team (of which I cannot even pronounce).

I like the improvements over previous version -- it seems like some of the UI has been streamlined, though I think I will grow tired of giving (or having assistant coaches perform) pep talks and "player interactions". But it's a deep sim and having fun

This review made me want to go try OOTP (Out of the Park) Baseball 11, mentioned here and looks like it does the historical / fictional deal better.

You that have this -- how do you like it? In comparison to previous renditions? And how do you play -- do you start all sorts of games or just set up your favorite squad and proceed along for years? I wish the engine mechanics were more transparent -- I mean, how much influence do you really have? It's not like you can take the Lancaster Rattlers to elite status. I haven't seen FIFA 12 -- do some of the new FIFA 12 features come close to approximating the "management" part?

Some more reviews:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2011/oct/21/football-manager-2012-pc-mac?newsfeed=true
http://whatculture.com/gaming/pc-review-football-manager-2012.php
http://soccerlens.com/football-manager-2012-review/82736/

[caladein]

OOTP (at least the previous version) doesn't have nearly as slick a presentation as FM does, either on the interface side or during a game.

I can't say much to verisimilitude as I'm a big advanced metrics guy in baseball and only have a casual interest in soccer.  But from that perspective it did seem like OOTP was more about having to figure out true-talent from actual stats versus FM's player ratings being more transparent.

I didn't really dig into the historical seasons/settings at all as I mostly preferred to just field manage a current AA affiliate or the like.

[HaemishM]

FIFA 12's management features compared to FM 12 are as similar as paper football is to Madden 12. What you get in FIFA is a decent transfer market but with nothing like the depth of a Football Manager. FIFA 12 is about playing on the field. You could spend the entire time playing FM12 without ever watching a game sim, if you wish, and still have more than enough gameplay for a sim head.

[Ingmar]

So this is kind of like Baseball Mogul with actual production values (and a different sport)? I may have to check it out at some point.

[naum]

FIFA 12's management features compared to FM 12 are as similar as paper football is to Madden 12. What you get in FIFA is a decent transfer market but with nothing like the depth of a Football Manager. FIFA 12 is about playing on the field. You could spend the entire time playing FM12 without ever watching a game sim, if you wish, and still have more than enough gameplay for a sim head.

Think I meant this.

[HaemishM]

Ahh, NEVER MIND. 

[tmp]

So this is kind of like Baseball Mogul with actual production values (and a different sport)? I may have to check it out at some point.

Careful, it's a life stealer.

edit: it's also slightly different in scope from FIFA Manager, although i'm only comparing the '11 versions. The FIFA game seems to swamp you with tons of things which feel quite more gamey (like deciding the purchases and placement of every single hamburger stand and restocking merchandise, or developing entire towns with amusement parks and skyscrapers for profit) Football Manager appears quite more focused on actual management and well, football.

[Nebu]

For me, FM (formerly Championship Manager) is the best game of the decade.  It is both amazingly accessible and ridiculously complex at the same time.  Unfortunately, I haven't had enough time on the 2012 version to really feel the improvements.  Maybe this weekend.  I will say that I'm very atypical for the game's fan base.  I prefer to play with completely fictional players rather than rely on established teams and players.  I usually will start in one of the lower leagues in Ireland or England and work my club up the ranks.  It's a wonderful way to get a full appreciation for the complexity in the construction of the game.  While your club may have the talent to move up leagues, you immediately feel the financial constraints when trying to compete with larger (and richer) clubs.  It makes for a wonderful challenge, but often can lead to frustration. 

Tip: Make sure that you do some reading on setting up team and individual player strategies so that you get the most out of your player's performance.  It can take me quite a few matches to really flesh out how I want to play offensively and defensively before I hit the transfer market to fill gaps in my talent. 

LOVE THIS GAME!

[Xuri]

Been playing the series on/off since 1993, and it's an awesome game.

A bit of trivia: The Football Manager-series was called Championship Manager from 1993 to 2004, at which point the developers (SI Games) split with the publishers (Eidos), signed a deal with a new publisher (Sega) to continue the series under a different name (Football Manager), while Eidos continued developing using the old name (Championship Manager) and a new codebase & team/player-database. Despite the confusion, the fans knew what was what, and while the FM-series has continued to bloom, Eidos ran the CM-series into a brick wall and are now developing iPhone versions, having dropped the PC as a platform for their game 

[HaemishM]

I played Championship Manager a few years ago, and compared to Football Manager, it's crap. It feels the same on the surface, but the more you poke around with it, the thinner it feels.

[naum]

Tip: Make sure that you do some reading on setting up team and individual player strategies so that you get the most out of your player's performance.  It can take me quite a few matches to really flesh out how I want to play offensively and defensively before I hit the transfer market to fill gaps in my talent. 

Inside the game or external sources?

There is a ton of data and it can be paralyzing, especially if you're managing a low budget team and need to be exceedingly efficient in making decisions. In my laptop game, I keep trying to hire another scout (and I'm not even sure this is a prudent move), but I'm a couple hundred dollars short (of what is permitted by board) of hiring even the most "obscure" scout.

Ahh, NEVER MIND.  

I was confused too, as evidenced by my OP -- I stumbled across references to EA FIFA 12 and assumed as you did until I did some more looking. And it's been a few years (I think it was FIFA 09 was the most recent XP for me -- and it was on a Wii, which I don't believe EA wholeheartedly adopted for the platform and just plopped in a version fit).

[HaemishM]

FIFA on the Wii is a goddamn abomination.

[naum]

FIFA on the Wii is a goddamn abomination.

Yes it was disappointing in so many ways. But really, oddly, what was most irksome was that I tried to use the "classic" controller instead of the Wii-mote and it sort of worked, except for the function to "escape"/"go up" a menu option.

[tmp]

In my laptop game, I keep trying to hire another scout (and I'm not even sure this is a prudent move), but I'm a couple hundred dollars short (of what is permitted by board) of hiring even the most "obscure" scout.

Try to look for staff with "personality: unambitious" on their personal description sheet. It seems these guys ask for considerably less money than others.

[Lucas]

I've been playing FM (formerly CM, as you have already mentioned) since the first game back in 1992.

Currently, I've very little time to play it, especially because of my style of play: I love to micro-manage everything, and I watch every game (except pre-season friendlies) of my team on "full" or "extended highlights", so it takes quite a lot of time.
---

At the moment, just to check things around, I've decided to try out the Scandinavian area: selected Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland; playing in Sweden First Division south (below Superettan), with IF Limhamn-Bunkeflo 2007 (I'm still setting everything up).

My wonderful stadium in the Malmoe district:

I don't think I'll manage to post some kind of "story", too little time, but maybe I'll update you from time to time.

Anyways, down the road (and more patches) and I'll play my usual two-three other games:

- Havant & Waterlooville (English Conference South, career game)
- Manchester United (played with them since Championship Manager 2)
- FC Modena (Italian serie B, my hometown)

[Bann]

I decided to start my coach in SE asia. I figured since I don't know much about soccer, I wouldnt really know players from anywhere, and it might be fun to mess around in smaller leagues. I am currently helming the Singapore Young Lions. I decided to spend my very meager transfer budget on the tallest striker I could find, because asians are in general shorter, no? So I'm 5 games into my first season and Lloyd Brunson, American Giant and overall oaf has 5 goals, 4 of them headers.  He is a man among boys when the ball gets crossed into the box, but a total turnover machine if he gets the ball anywhere else.

I  this game.

[Der Helm]

Played those games a long time ago. Loved them. Might get this. How different is this from FM11 which I could get on steam ?

[Nebu]

Played those games a long time ago. Loved them. Might get this. How different is this from FM11 which I could get on steam ?

FM 2012 is on steam now also.  $39.99

I'm still debating if the 2012 version is significantly better than 11.  I don't use real players, so the updated rosters are meaningless to me.

[tmp]

There's a demo out so you can check the differences. At a glance the main improvements seem to be fleshed out management/recruitment for the youth team and better feedback on strength of your own team and the competition. Also, perhaps the ability to include/drop leagues on the fly for those who like to jump between various clubs as part of the career.

[Montague]

According to Steam I have almost 1800 hours in FM 2010, and I knew absolutely nothing about soccer when I bought it. Especially starting at the lower leagues this game will eat your soul. There's always a carrot to shoot for - try to avoid relegation, get promoted, then get to the Premier League, then get to European competition - plus buying and selling in the transfer market, developing players, upgrading your facilities, your backroom staff, build a new stadium. You just never run out of things to do.

[tmp]

Especially starting at the lower leagues this game will eat your soul. There's always a carrot to shoot for - try to avoid relegation, get promoted, then get to the Premier League, then get to European competition.

And not even necessarily in this order. I took a second tier team predicted to get the relegation for my FM11 game and by some miracle managed to get them without save/load cheating to the group stage of Euro cup in their 2nd year (as result of winning national cup in year one) The prize money from that alone was triple the club's starting budget; going to come handy seeing how they have decent shot at promotion this year, too

[veredus]

If anyone is interested I made a six tier US league with promotion/relegation. If you want the mod or just more details send me a PM.

[naum]

I've definitely been sucked into a vortex, and being consumed by this game.

And it doesn't help that I keep starting new games.

Doing OK in my current laptop game, where I took the mantle of the Portland Timbers -- revamped the squad, signed a bunch of international players on the cheap, loaded up with speedy D / M with speed and good passing skill, hoping they'll train into quality in other aspects. Kept the star striker on board and splurged on a good GK.  About 2/3 of the way through MLS season (2nd in the league, started unemployed and nabbed the position in Nov/Dec) and am in 3rd place in W. (an improvement over 8th place finish the previous season). However, I wish I knew what I was doing before I started as I've made a mess of things in some ways -- the MLS has stringent "registation" parameters and when players came off injured reserve, I had to juggle the squad roster… …and then, a couple international slots expired, and it looks like I'm on the hook for salaries of some departed players (and players I could have wheedled international slots / draft picks out of too!)… …and my roster is bare bones with the cap hitting me.

Still, squad is playing good -- I just do not have depth and injuries and suspensions will probably do my season in…

I am such a micromanager in this -- I've tried relying on assistants but gotten burned too much in blindly following their advice & edicts.

Did give OOTP Baseball a try and it feels like playing a spreadsheet, and worse, a spreadsheet where I do not know what influences what. FM is spreadsheet-like too, but it has soul and the engine, while partially opaque to a degree, has lots of the cues and indicators telling me what attributes do what.  Also, the lack of real logos in OOTP is chinch-y, though the random portrait generation is a nice touch. It's presentation also suffers.

[tmp]

Also, the lack of real logos in OOTP is chinch-y, though the random portrait generation is a nice touch.

On that note, for the Football Manager there's a great logo pack (over 15k of them, cover pretty much everything) available here  It's for FM11, but FM12 appears to be backward-compatible so can be used with it, too.

[Soukyan]

Mmm... I do love me some FM. It is, as others have pointed out, a game that will consume you. The 2012 update is well worth the money. It is so well-designed and a pleasure to use. That sounded a bit pervy... ah well. Go get it if you've even a passing interest in football.

[Ice Cream Emperor]

So I started trying this out, and as expected it is completely, 2000% overwhelming gibberish slash aggravating UI. But it does seem potentially kind of fun if I could ever figure out what the fuck is going on.

So for those with more FM experience, any beginner/basic tips? Are there particular areas of management to focus on that give unexpectedly high returns? Like obviously the transfer market is kind of key, but is there any benefit to customizing my players' training regimen? How important is morale? Youth development? What is the point of all these damn press conferences? Etc.

A link to some basic primer elsewhere would also be acceptable, but I want to avoid the full-fledged 'wiki of perfect strategy' effect where I find some site that plays the game on my behalf.

[Stokowski]

This any use?

http://www.gamefront.com/files/17682640

[tmp]

Morale is probably pretty crucial -- high morale tends to make the players perform better on the pitch, and vice versa, losing a few matches and low resulting morale leads to 'playing nervously' or 'without confidence' in the following games. On the other hand, too high morale can lead to overconfidence and the players getting lazy, so it's careful act to balance.

The press conferences are one of tools which allow to manipulate it -- what you say can trigger a positive or negative 'PR' reaction in some of your players. Depending on what expectations you have before the match you can also affect the performance, or how big blow to morale it'll be to lose the forthcoming match, stuff like that.

[Lucas]

Yep, good starting suggestions by tmp. Also:

- Training is VERY useful once you manage to master it, but realize that you can leave it totally alone (preset regimens) and you can do relatively fine as a beginner, while you first learn other basic game systems ;

- Youth Squad: again, I consider it an "advanced" game system, feel free to ignore it while you learn the basics ;

Here is one of the best training guides out there:

http://www.mantralux.com/2011/10/training-and-match-prep-masterclass/

----

The official game forums are REALLY your friend, lots of people ready to give out advices (you have to register in order to read some of them):

http://community.sigames.com/index.php


If you are a total newbie, read the online official manual (you can also browse it while in-game):

http://www.footballmanager.com/webmanual


- For your first few games, do not start with a top tier euro club: yeah, feel free to stick to the (for example) english, italian or spanish championship, but choose a low (third tier or lower) profile squad: less players, less staff and scouts. Yes, abysmal attributes but at least you'll have a better idea of what's going on on a daily basis.

- Regarding tactics and attributes, there are various nuances that you won't pick up if you are totally new to (real) football, but anyway: 4-4-2 is your average starting tactic. Even for a total beginner, by looking at it I guess you can immediately realize that, in theory, it covers the entire field in a reasonable manner, both when it comes to attacking and defending. So yeah, use it then feel free to explore the more bizarre ones out there.

If you have time try to watch a good portion of a game with full highlights, not just "extended" or "key": especially as a beginner, you'll understand what that tactic means when it comes to the movement of your players on the pitch

- Do not underestimate how useful is to pick up the right players for your corners and free kicks

- Regarding the "opposition instructions", if your team and the other play with the same formation, it's a general good rule to "tight mark" and press the opposition wingers, tight mark the striker (or strikers, but DON'T press them, they'll lure you out of position).

Sometimes you may get lazy during the latter stages of a game, maybe you are ahead and you don't feel like changing things around.

- Still, if you are ahead in the score, 15-20 minutes to the final whistle and you're playing a team at your level or below, there is no need of course to have an aggressive and attacking attitude. Slower tempo, shorter passes so that YOU can dictate the flow of the game. But your team must show good composure and have a decent passing attribute (if you're playing a better team and you're ahead, counter-attack or total defending is a good tactic, instead).

On a related note, the time wasting bar is your friend in the latter stages of the game both if you are ahead or you're trying to tie the game. Use it.

Regarding press conferences and talking with your players, yep, Sports Interactive is trying hard to replicate the "psychological" aspect of the game. It's almost resembling some sort of weird roleplaying game now, but I like it.
---


The modding community, given the tools, is almost comparable to the Elder Scrolls one: you can find interface skins, logos, kits, player faces and more. Here is a good place for that:

http://sortitoutsi.net/forum/  ("FM Graphics" section)

[tmp]

- Do not underestimate how useful is to pick up the right players for your corners and free kicks

Also, experimenting with the set pieces instructions themselves.

Just yesterday i got quite annoyed with my free kicks always winding up in the goalkeeper's lap, and i made a change to aim for 'best header' instead. Result -- 3 goals scored in a single match that'd otherwise end up in a 0:1 loss. My fans were allegedly taunting the opposition fans about it during the game.

Or a promotion-worth goal scored in the last 5 minutes of the match -- because for defending the corners i set my central attacking midfielder to stick around the edge of the box. The ball got punched out, he grabbed it, raced across the entire field, passed to the poacher from the endline and that was, as they say, that.

[Lucas]

Absolutely: it's also linked to the "lazyness" factor (or just, information overload) when you want to micro-manage everything, a trap you can often fall into: for example, thanks to your post, you reminded me that I have to change the position of one of my midfielders when an attacking corner is taken: he's 163cm tall short, decent enough shooting but somehow I insist in keeping him inside the area, when he should stay immediately outside ready to unleash a bomb or destroy the ankles of any counter-attacker :P

[Lucas]

Fuckin' referee: Swedish Cup 2nd round, against a second tier (I'm third tier) team. They're nothing special, but I decide to start in a cautious manner, with a 4-1-4-1 formation. I actually give a nice, calm talk to my players, without putting too much pressure.

Well, by the seventh minute there are already two yellow cards shown, one for each team, and another one for my team around the twentieth. Still, they're isolated events, it's not like I'm constantly after the ankles of the others :P

My opponents are trying to get through, but my defense is always well placed: I planned on gradually switching to a more offensive attitude, but at minute 27 my guy who got a yellow card in the first few minutes of the match is sent off (a Defender Central) because of what appeared as a common foul.

So, ok, I take out a wide midfielder and put on a DC substitute (gave him a relaxed talk).....Who makes a foul in the subsequent action inside the penalty area!!!! Last man, sent off, Penalty scored, 0-1  and I'm down to 9 players.....FUUUUUUUUUUU 

What the hell?!?? Referee wanted to show off :(. So, one way or the other, score stays 0-1 'til minute 75: At that point I was on "extended highlights" and I thought: let's see if I can manage to tie the game...But during the highlight the opposition scores....Like it always happen in this cases when you just decided a brillant tactic to shake things around :P

Afterwards, my team collapsed and we lost 0-4.

During the press conference, I stormed out repeatedly shouting "The referee was a fuckin' joke". Damnit.

[naum]

Some external links that may be of interest to FM12 players…

How to Upload Match Highlights to YouTube

The Unofficial FM12 Guide
Huge ~300 page PDF…

[Ice Cream Emperor]

So does this game cheat on your behalf or am I just very lucky? So far my Ligue 2 team (predicted finish was I think 7th?) has lost one game out of 14, and we just beat Olympique Lyons in the French cup (albeit in overtime) to proceed to the quarter-finals. I'd like to pretend that my decision to set up in a 4-1-2-3 has unlocked my players' as-yet-untapped genius, and I did buy that one guy with Passing 15 (oo!) to help out in midfield, but this is starting to feel a little over the top.

That said: woo! Go LES HACS!

But also, relatedly, it seems like everybody on my team now wants to either be transferred or receive a renegotiated contract for like 2 to 3 times their previous wages.

[Ice Cream Emperor]

Oh, and the team we beat in the cup round before Lyons is also in second place in Ligue 1.