Luckily for me over the past few weeks I have been been beta testing the next version of Football Manager which is Football Manager Live (FML). I have to say that while it’s still buggy (it’s beta after all) I have been pretty impressed with it so far and am slightly scared at how much of my freetime I expect it will eat up.
FML is basically a huge multiplayer football management game, using the Football Manager match engine. Try to picture a cross between Football Manager, fantasy sports and an auction room and you get the basic idea. Up to 1,000 managers can play against each other to try and be the No 1 manager in their particular gameworld.
Gone are the days of managing Liverpool or Tranmere Rovers. In FML you have to create your own team team, design your kits, pick your pitch size and name your ground. Everybody starts the game with the same budget and around about the same level (Championship/League 1).
Once you have your team named and shamed you are in position to join a league. These are set up by player admins, and cater for a range of abilities, so it’s a bit like searching the lobby of an online FPS and looking for similarly ranked gamers. Furthermore, there are leagues catering for both FM fanatics who want to play for two hours a day, and for those of us who can only spare a few hours a week, or even a month. Interestingly, the fixture list for each league uses a ‘resolve by’ system – so instead of trying to commit players to specific match time slots, they’re given a deadline of up to three weeks to play each game. Consequently, you can hop online whenever you fancy and the chances are at least one of your scheduled opponents will be around. Failing that, control can be handed over to your computerised assistant manager, who’ll do a competent job in your absence.
The transfer market works like a little like eBay – managers identify the players they want, then put in the highest bids they can before the deadline arrives. The game uses the full FM database which means hundreds of thousands of players to purchase oh and a player can only player for one team so there is one Stevie G or Ronaldo between the thousands of managers. There are also be wages auctions, allowing managers to tempt the best players with the promise of a juicier pay packet.
The thing that I found hardest about the change in the live version of the game is how the finance works. Gone are the days of reading about the best wonder kids on fab sites like http://www.thefootymanager.com and grabbing them at below market value. Now you really have to get down and dirty with the bare bones of a squad, grind out results and then once your ranking improves you can sign the bigger stars.
The game has tons of other features such as chat rooms and players can submit replay footage of their best moments to a goal of the month-style competition, voted on by all the participants in their league. There is good banter between the different managers in the leagues.
FML will be available for free download from SI and players will be charged a monthly subscription to play the game much like World of Warcraft etc. That said for your money you won’t just get one version of the game SI will be pursuing a constant development process with the game, continually adding new features and tweaking gameplay, providing these changes to gamers in the form of regular downloads – a bit like the patching process we all know and love from the CM and FM series’.
Like I said at the start of this little ramble, while it’s pretty buggy still while it testing it has the potential to change the way we play football management games forever which can’t be a bad thing…. I’ll keep you posted!
Join thefootymanager.com Fantasy Football league – It’s FREE and there are prizes to be won!
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59 Responses to Football Manager Live Preview
Alex August 11, 2008
I would love to help with the beta testing, i could also assist with eastern european championships such as the greek.
Dom August 9, 2008
Anyone have an idea when its actually out???
just says summer 08 it and it ain't out!!!
Kamenryder August 9, 2008
Sure interested on it
Smarty August 7, 2008
Love to be a part of this
jeeco August 7, 2008
i have already registered, there is no invitation.
Willy August 5, 2008
I would like to be a beta tester.
scouser July 31, 2008
im not all in for the idea of 1000 people battling out for One liverpool. They should make multiple leagues so everyone can manage the team they want or at least have the competitive ability to top their own league with a lesser known team.
There is such a game that already exists online and is well and truly striving.
http://www.soccermanager.com
possibly the best online multiplayer football manager game there is. Go try it out!
Aashish July 24, 2008
PLZ
Niall July 24, 2008
Big names will sign for whoever pays them the most money, it's as simple as that. Like I said in the post players go in ebay style auctions so it is a case of whoever bids the most wins. Don't get me wrong though you have to be able to afford to do it and the bank may block a bid if they feel you won't be able to honor the contract!
Generally though you'll need a few seasons under your belt stockpiling prize money before you could bid for a top player. You simply don't have the cash to do it once you start the game!
Bilal July 23, 2008
could someone send me an invite plz waiting to play this game
imalegend@live.com
Will July 23, 2008
Do the big names sign for teams that are doing crap…….
So basically is it easy to sign big named players
Annd i havee no ideaa about setting this up :L
ash July 22, 2008
hey, dont suppose anyone has any football manager live beta invites do they? or knows somebody who has any? im desperate for one, id really appreciate it, ud have a friend for life. let me know at……….. ashadams03@hotmail.com
thanks
Alex Spears July 19, 2008
"Football Manager Expert"
Niall July 15, 2008
@ danilinho
Players can move in wage auctions when they are free which is basically like a ebay bidding system but on wages, best contract gets the player!
Niall July 15, 2008
The latest season has just finished so i'm hoping to get a few more invites sorted out because I think they will have one more season until the game gets a release!
FM Live does indeed have the option to create small comps that you can open to everybody or just invite your mates. You can set a deadline that people have to play the matches in (say two weeks) and if they don't then computer AI will control your team. To add some extra spice you can charge and entrance fee as well with he winner taking the pot of cash at the end!
You can't though use real teams in FM Live!
miquinho July 15, 2008
PS. I meant if they agree, they could , instead of setting up everything themselves, still play in this LIVE style but with real clubs/leagues?
miquinho July 15, 2008
I have played every version of this , including earlier other games on old Amstrad systems etc. (Good ol' Speedie and Cottee etc ,p).
I got a bunch of ideas for an improved 09.. but perhaps FML is the right way to go (09 will be the classis play at home for yourself with all the real teams then and FML for fantasy given obvious reasons?) Does the FML allow friends/group create a smaller subsystem where they can indeed if they all agree be 8-9 teams from one league (or even across the countries and have a relative measure)? Basically meaning like fm network only now one has the option of playing on random days and have a kind of sync system or?
Anyway… if you got any of those invites left , feel free to indulge
Much obliged… tjoheii
Mike
Viscal El Barca para siempre
danilinho July 14, 2008
so what will happen to the team, when you do leave? do the players come available on free?
Karlos July 14, 2008
hey dunno if im a bit late ¬¬
but if there are any more beta invites going out then id love to have one
If not then no worries ill wait till it is released
karlos
Niall July 7, 2008
As it stands if you are bored with your team you can start over which basically means you create a new team, get a new small transfer and start again in the lower divisions.
You can't takeover another team if the manager ditches it!
danilinho July 7, 2008
just a quick question, the team you create, is that the team you have to stick with, or can you take over at an other users club, for example if the team in question is a top team but is doing rubbish, can a user take the throne, for example scolari taking over from Avram Grant
Sam July 5, 2008
i have hadan invite so no need to email me one now
Mike Brown June 28, 2008
I suppose all the FML invites have been given out…but if not, I'm interested! My e-mail is – mikebrown89@hotmail.co.uk
Cheers
Mike June 26, 2008
I would love an FML invite, im a big fan of CM and FM since the early days!
Niall June 25, 2008
I've been in touch with SI seeing if they will sort me out with a few more so fingers crossed!
Sam June 24, 2008
thanks in advance for the invite when u get them plz dont forget
LFC4Ever June 24, 2008
Thanks for the invite to the beta, it's blooming great. I'm pretty much just playing friendly's at the minute but can't wait for the leagues tio start.
Really like the way you can chat to managers while the games are being played!
Torres June 24, 2008
I think thios look really really cool. Can't wait to see how things go
Niall June 23, 2008
It's using the 07 engine and is very similer in many ways but the main difference is that it isn't as 'big' plus you have chat rooms and what have you!
The beta testers won't just win because there are tons of good players you can pick up in ebay style wage auctions. Teams are ranked as well so some competitions only let people with a max two star rating enter. Leagues are seeded as well so you are grouped with teams with a similer ranking to you.
It really is good fun and quite addictive!
danilinho June 23, 2008
so basically, when it does come out, the beta testers will just win
still cant wait tho, ive always avoided mmog games, but with this one i cant resist
so is the beta based on the fm08 engine, is it simlar in certain ways or is it completely revamped
looks like am gna need a new laptop!!!!!!
Niall June 23, 2008
All of the invites have gone for the time being… When I get hold of some more I'll email to the people who have lest their email addresses for me.
@ Lee
Glad to help mate, look me up on there as eNiallators FC… I'll have you a match!
Niall June 23, 2008
I think they are hoping for a release in time for the new season. They added a load of new managers this weekend so they are gradually increasing the load on the servers. This suggests to me they are planning on a August launch.
I pretty sure it will probably have something close of the 09 database although because only one team can have say Steven Gerrard you find yourself generally with a team of unknowns anyway so the database doesn't really matter.
danilinho June 23, 2008
so will it be released to coincide with the new season?
will it be using the fm08 database or will FM live and 09 have the same one?
A June 22, 2008
Are there any more invites left? I’d love to test it out. Thanks.
Sam June 22, 2008
whoops i missed out a letter in my email addy its
s.milney@hotmail.co.uk
Fist June 22, 2008
If you still have one of those invitation to the beta i'd like to join
fistandantilus2000ATgmail.com
Sam June 22, 2008
soz bout bad typing lol
Sam June 22, 2008
if you have any invites left plz ivite me coz i signed up to be a testewr but havent recieved and email
s.miney@hotmail.co.uk
Lee June 22, 2008
thanks for the invite – you've made my day!
kaffa June 21, 2008
I would love an FML invite.
iluvcompetitions@gmail.com
Lee June 21, 2008
Hi,
I would love a chance to take part in the FML beta, i've been playing champ manager since the early 90's. I've always dreamed of something like FML, to pick your wits against real people. I signed up day 1 to register for the beta, i check my email everyday but still no invite. Please pick me
Thanks,
Lee.
2scoops June 21, 2008
Hi please pick me for the FML beta invite i would be 100% committed!
Please
Wish me luck
Niall June 21, 2008
@ Cliff
I'm eNiallators FC and have just finished 2nd in the WF1 Division 1 (I was robbed
)
Cliff June 19, 2008
I'm on this now and really looking forward to starting an actual league. I'm currently mainly playing friendly's at the minute. What is your team?
Niall May 26, 2008
@ sharkybow
Go to http://www.footballmanagerlive.com/ and register for the community… There is detailed info in there as to how to maybe got involved!
sharkybow da manager May 26, 2008
how did you download it and can i get the procedures for installing it plz plz plz plz lz plz plz plz lz plz plz plz plz plz plz plz lz plz plz plz lz plz plz plz
Niall May 22, 2008
@ Jeeco
I was emailed by SI/Sega to see if I wanted to be a beta tester for it, it would have been rude not to indulge. Pretty sure if you emailed them they would send you an invite!
Niall May 22, 2008
@ Tom
You do get to see the action in the same sim as FM08… You can also interact with the other managers while the match is being played. The default match speed in medium but if both players agree then you can speed it up or slow it down!
conor l May 18, 2008
i am deffo doin this it sounds amazing
but dnt really get how the kits work and the players you start off with cud some 1 help me??
jeeco May 14, 2008
where did you get this?
Tom Gladman May 14, 2008
sounds cool
just one query though: do you actually get to see the action?
Chrissy April 30, 2008
As always, great read buddy!
Niall April 29, 2008
@Cliff – I just got an email from Sega asking me to signup and away I went. I think there are about 1000 beta testers at the minute.
@Zammo – They do not have a date confirmed but summer was mentioned. Gievn its state of plat the minute I put it nearer Sept or so.
Jumper April 29, 2008
I'm loving the idea of a global goal of the month….. Kick ass!
Zammo April 29, 2008
Oh my God this sounds amazing, didn't even kow it was coming out. Can't wait. When is it released?
Cliff April 29, 2008
How did you get this?