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At Last in the US

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 19
Date: December 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Finally arriving in the US is the greatest game of all time. This is the first US release of the manager series from SI Games. Originally called Championship Manager (1-4) the new iteration is known is Football Manager 2005 in Europe. For anyone who loves footy and loves stats this is definitely the game for you, it will take over your whole life as you search for the next David Beckham or push for promotion.

More info at sigames.com

The best sports simulation ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: February 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is a management simulation, which means it is very different than soccer video/computer games like FIFA 2005 or Winning Eleven 8. Rather than being a player on the pitch, Worldwide Soccer Manager gives you real power--you're in charge of the whole team, deciding the lineup, tactics, making in-game adjustments, and--best of all--which transfers you will try to buy.

Will you find an up-and-coming Brazilian sensation for next to nothing, or simply spend a fortune to get an established star like David Beckham to lead your team to glory? You can pick virtually any team in the world to manage, from MLS teams to European powerhouses to obscure South American clubs, and battle through league and cup competitions, experiencing the joys and pressure of being a soccer manager like Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho. You can even make comments to the media that can actually influence you players' performance in the next game.

There is plenty here to do for the obsessive soccer buff, or you can simply delegate the tedious responsibilities (like training) to your assistant coach. The actual games are 2D, with numbered circles representing the players, but are exceptionally realistic and very dramatic to watch. If you move up the game speed and cut out replays, it is 90 minutes of excitement packed into 3 or 4 breathtaking minutes. This is a fun way to learn about world soccer and the great players from all over the world, and the game's appeal carries on for season after season. Bored managing Manchester United after winning the treble? Guess what, Real Madrid wants you to be their new coach! Or take over an international team, have your pick of an entire country's best players, and lead your squad to the World Cup. There is even a Hall of Fame where you can see how you stack up against the best managers of all time.

I would recommend the game for all manager wannabes and soccer fanatics ages 11 and up, although younger players will need help getting started, because this game is literally a world in and of itself. For a big transfer budget and a winning start, begin with Chelsea, Real Madrid, or Manchester United. For the ultimate challenge, start with a second division club and: 1)get promoted to the first division, and 2) make it to the Champions League and go up against the big boys who have single players that get paid more than your entire team. Get this game and enjoy!

Premier sport sim game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: June 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This text-heavy but highly addictive sports management game puts you at the helm of a football club in one of countless leagues and divisions. I haven't found playing the US league all that compelling because of the lack of depth but taking on any of the lower division european clubs has caused me to spend countless hours devising new tactics to move my club up to potential european glory.

This game has a 2-d engine that allows you to watch the games you manage and make changes to your squad to reflect what is happening on the pitch. Away from the game days, you are negotiating with and searching for players to fill that one position you just need to win on the field. I stumbled across this game when it was still champman but this newest version is great--look for the 06 version around the holidays.

Bottom line, I don't work for SI but I am sold on this game. It has a few bugs but the folks at si games support their product with enhancement packs (patches) and email support. The game takes a long time to play unless you have a higher end machine. Familiarity with transfer rules, such as bosman, are helpful but not required as you kind of figure it out as you play.

It isn't madden or fifa--no fancy graphics or high frame rates--but it is maddeningly fun to play.

Cheers,

Prepare to be addicted (IF you're the right kind of person)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: April 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have been playing Championship Manager/Football Manager/Worldwide Soccer Manager since the 97/98 edition of the game, though it has changed relatively little. Small features have been added, the match engine (What determines if you win or lose the game) has been tweaked, and small graphical changes have been made. It has been a great game since I first found it, and very addictive.

Here is the crux of the game: You take control of a soccer team as a general manager/coach and you are in control of everything. What players focus on in practice (Training), who you bring in to your team, what they are paid, and how they play the game.

This game can be enjoyed from everyone from a huge soccer fan to a soccer newbie. The learning curve is VERY steep though, the type of person that plays this game is going to LOVE micromanaging things. It's not an arcade game, it's a pure simulation. The 2D match engine is boring, so I often turn it off. It's not meant to show you anything other than where on the field your players are.

The real fun is in tweaking your team over the years. Watching young players develop, seeing what the new crop of youngsters that enter into your youth academy are like and buying and selling international players.

The game features players from more than 500 teams from all across the world. It features all the major leagues in Europe, the MLS, The MFL (Mexican Football League), all the major leagues in Europe, and leagues across Africa.

The game has no drawbacks, but don't buy it expecting arcade action, the game is a thinker, and for those that love to tinker and tweak things and see how that affects things, you will LOVE this game.

Exciting manager game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

It's a tougher one than all those previous edition. I took Manchester United and yet its powerful team lineup couldn't bring me the glory I wanted. You've got to be down to details of managing the game tactics on the football field. You just can't rely on what you have won last match with the same tactics and lineup. I took Peterborough, a Division 3 team and after a hard while, to a higher Division 2 and was ripped apart by the computer A.I. Yet, it was all fun to find the best way, tweaking everythingon the run. I haven't mastered it enough yet after it first came out more than a year ago. The 2D bird-eye view on the overall game is most excellet now that you can realize how the game is going instead of purely words. Sometime the computer A.I. still does silly thing e.g. throwing a ball out of the line. I suggest you turn on the match for the whole game unless you are in the very lead of the match (e.g. more than 2-0). There are details you don't want to miss. One thing still is missing is the auto-match up over the internet. You still have to find out your own opponents to play an internet game. I just hope that one day they could have a similar "Magic" game like server for hosting all the games while you can jump right and out anytime. Buy it if you want to perform better than most of the managers in the world.

When you buy this game...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

...You hand over the control of your life. Nothing is as addictive as this game, and you experience the whole array of emotions. If you have any interest i football (soccer), try this game. I promise you won't be able to stop again!

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