Football Manager 2013 Announced

[lynskey]

Video blog list (below):
01. FM 2013 press conference
02. Match Engine video blog
03. Match Day video blog
04. Network Games
05. Leaderboards
06. Match Engine 2
07. Director of Football
08. Staff Roles
09. Training System
10. Competition updates (mainly Youth academies etc)
11. Player Comparison
12. Transfers and Contracts
13. Transfers and Contracts 2: Transfer deadline day
14. The Media
15. International Management
16. Interaction
17. FM Classic (FMC) - introduction Part 1/5
18. FM Classic (FMC) - pre-match Part 2/5

Note: more will be added based on release and availability.

Video's (open the spoiler link):
01. FM 2013 press conference

Spoiler:

Video Blogs

02. Match Engine video blog

Spoiler:

03. Match Day video blog

Spoiler:

04. Network Games

Spoiler:

05. Leaderboards

Spoiler:

06. Match Engine 2

Spoiler:

07. Director of Football

Spoiler:

08. Staff Roles

Spoiler:

09. Training System

Spoiler:

10. Competition updates (mainly Youth academies etc)

Spoiler:

11. Player Comparison

Spoiler:

12. Transfers and Contracts

Spoiler:

13. Transfers and Contracts 2: Transfer deadline day

Spoiler:

14. The Media

Spoiler:

15. International Management

Spoiler:

16. Interaction

Spoiler:

17. FM Classic (FMC) - Introduction (Part 1/5)

Spoiler:

18. FM Classic (FMC) - Pre-Match (Part 2/5)

Spoiler:

19. FM Classic (FMC) - Match Day (Part 3/5)

Spoiler:

20. FM Classic (FMC) - Challenges (Part 4/5)

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by Tommo

Football Manager. Always.

Football Manager is the best-selling, most realistic football management series ever made. Football Manager 2013 celebrates 20 years of games from the people at Sports Interactive by introducing an array of new features.

This year’s version allows you to take control of any club in more than 50 nations across the world and includes all of Europe’s biggest leagues as well as database of over 500,000 real-world players and staff.

As well as some landmark new features in the Career Mode, there are now new ways to enjoy your Football Manager experience.


NEW TO CAREER MODE…

Match Engine
The 3D match engine has seen huge improvements this year. Everything on the pitch looks more realistic; from the stadiums, the players’ movement, intelligence, and the way the ball moves through the air.

We’ve also introduced hundreds of new animations to make the game feel more realistic and we’ve made the whole experience more televisual by introducing new camera angles and showing the kick-off and final whistle.

Manager Roles
Another notable difference is the significant restructure of the manager’s staff and a revamp of their roles. The most obvious is that we’ve introduced the position of Director of Football into the game for the first time, which will allow managers to pass on some of their workload, such as contract negotiations, if they choose to.

In addition to this, we’ve also increased the number of specialist coaching roles within the game and given the manager greater flexibility to choose which coaches offer advice and when. The manager can also choose to complain about boardroom interference – although that particular option should probably be used sparingly.

And much more…
A brand new training system, improved international management, tones in press conferences & a new user interface.


NEW WAYS TO PLAY…

Classic and Challenge Modes
Football Manager Classic is a less time-consuming way to enjoy Football Manager. The essence of the game is exactly the same – the manager still takes charge of a squad of players and competes at whatever level he or she chooses – but they will now find that a number of their responsibilities have either been taken over by their support staff or have disappeared completely.

For example, while the player still takes charge of training in FMC, this is carried out at a 'full team' level only – there's no individual player training. And when it gets to matches themselves, there are no team talks or opposition reports... you just go straight to a game using the same 3D match engine as Career Mode. The games are played out in a quicker 'highlights only' fashion, but you can even speed this up by going straight to ‘Instant Result’.

Players who opt for Football Manager Classic will also find that they have a couple of further options in terms of how they play the game; they can either play a full open-ended ‘Career’ or they can choose to play in the new ‘Challenge’ mode.

In Challenge mode they’ll find themselves in a particular situation which will test their management skills over a shorter game time – usually half a season. Can you win a trophy with a team consisting almost entirely of kids? Or could you guide your club to safety despite being bottom of the table at Xmas?

We first introduced Challenge Mode in Football Manager Handheld 2012 and it proved to be so popular that we’ve decided to include it in FMC too.

The game will come with four free-to-play challenges, each of which feeds in to a global leaderboard.

Network Play
The brand new Network Play is fully integrated with Steam’s network functionality which means that players should be able to set up and enjoy games against their friends far more easily than before. The Network Mode also allows people to set-up special one-off leagues and cups and to import their team from their career mode, so you can now end any debate about whose FM team is better.

The deeper integration with Steam will also allow us to manage worldwide leaderboards, so, for the first time you’ll really know how good a manager you are.

Plus over 900 other new features!

Originally Posted by Mark

Below what I extrapolated from the press conference. Basically the same, just differently structured

Game to be released before Christmas.

2 new additional options
1. Classic Mode (FMC)
2. Challenge Mode

Classic Mode: Aims at gamers with less time on their hands. You take control over a squad but without all the fuzz you would normally have to deal with. Some responsibilities are taken over by staff, with for example training is on a team level, individual player training is gone. No teamtalks and opposition reports. All to improve the speed you play with.

In addition Classic mode gives you the opportunity to unlock certain 'rewards' to speed up your game even more, or at least make it easier to handle, by for example removing work permits, or to add a couple of million to your transfer budget.

Challenge Mode: Short game bursts of usually half a season, with different targets set for a specific time. Meet board expectations, avoid relegation etc..

In general (Main Career mode enhancements)
1. 3D engine enhanced. Stadiums, player movements, ball movement, hundreds new animations and a new camera angle to improve the feel you get while watching a match.

2. Staff: Introduction of director of football. Opportunity to pass on workload to the director of football, but this is optional.

3. Network game: full integration of STEAM, with worldwide leaderboards and easier accessable Network capabilities.

4. Loan, scouting and training systems completely overhauled.

5. Added individual tax regimes per country, playing a role when a player has to chose for a club.

6. Easier staff/player comparisation

7. New news items and more interaction regarding the media and tone system has been introduced to the press conferences.

[The Bruce]

What an atrocious video.

Is there a list of features so I don't have to watch that utter pish?

[Awhec]

can't watch the video right now, are they updated the website with the features then?

[Nick]

I can see the new Challenge mode killing community based challenges if SI have implemented it properly. Wait...

I can confirm community run challenges won't be affected.

[lynskey]

Classic mode - Condensed, less time consuming version to play.
Challenge mode
Unlockables
3D and dramatic changes to match AI, new and better cameras
Restructure of staff and roles, Director of Football
Network games via steam plus leaderboards
Revamped loan, scouting & transfer systems.
A total 900 new and improved features

Confident of a release date before Christmas.

[Nick]

The most "dramatic changes to the match engine" since FM2009.

You're saving yourself Miles, I'll keep listening.

[Nick]

Nation dependent tax regimes?

[Nick]

He says that a season in dummy mode will hopefully take between 8-10 hours.

[Nick]

25 video blogs between now and release day? Hear that Bruce? Twenty-fucking-Five!

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by Nick

25 video blogs between now and release day? Hear that Bruce? Twenty-fucking-Five!

Bought a new box of tissues in anticipation!

Looks like a lot of fluff as usual, the Steam integration is the only new feature.

[Nick]

Yeah, the 900-odd new and improved features will barely be classified as "features". Different styles of text etc. The Steam integration was definitely needed for network games. Hamachi was a pile of wank for the most part.

Would have been nice for a ball-park release date, even if they didn't know for definite.

[igor_balis]

Revamped match engine and better network games sound promising.

Nothing else of real interest...FMC sounds awful. I don't like their policy of appealing to 'casual gamer' mongs.

[The Bruce]

I can confirm it was well worth the extra few weeks for the announcement given the quality of that video. That banterectomy came to fuck all then.

Those '900 new features' are usually all toss as you say, something FIFA seem good at spinning too. 'WOW!!!! A new style of hinge on the box!!!"

[Guido]

Cue a few cosmetic updates, pretty much the same match engine as before and a pretty much new database, which will contain a fair few bugs that need fixing with a patch a few days/weeks after the initial release. Pretty sure the near post corner thing will still be present as well

Oh yeah, stickied this thread as well.

[andrewjames128]

Tone of voice introduced into dealings with the media....

So not only can I upset the 11 emotionally fucked inbreds that I pick for a match by telling them that I think they played well after a 2-0 win I can also now totally miff the media aswell. Bargain

[Tommo]

Not much there to entice me yet but revamp of loan, scouting and training will be interesting. The tone system being used with media is a good addition too.

E: Judging by the small screenshots the light and dark skins don't look as good as this year

[Bulfin]

Originally Posted by The Bruce

Those '900 new features' are usually all toss as you say, something FIFA seem good at spinning too. 'WOW!!!! A new style of hinge on the box!!!"

I was thinking this aswell. One time I think EA said there were 200 improvements to manager mode so they must be really stretching this 900 figure.

I'll be getting FM13 as I always get them and get so much play time out of them. I'm still not going to put myself through these videos though.

[Tommo]

Some more info

Game Information

Football Manager. Always.

Football Manager is the best-selling, most realistic football management series ever made. Football Manager 2013 celebrates 20 years of games from the people at Sports Interactive by introducing an array of new features.

This year’s version allows you to take control of any club in more than 50 nations across the world and includes all of Europe’s biggest leagues as well as database of over 500,000 real-world players and staff.

As well as some landmark new features in the Career Mode, there are now new ways to enjoy your Football Manager experience.


NEW TO CAREER MODE…

Match Engine
The 3D match engine has seen huge improvements this year. Everything on the pitch looks more realistic; from the stadiums, the players’ movement, intelligence, and the way the ball moves through the air.

We’ve also introduced hundreds of new animations to make the game feel more realistic and we’ve made the whole experience more televisual by introducing new camera angles and showing the kick-off and final whistle.

Manager Roles
Another notable difference is the significant restructure of the manager’s staff and a revamp of their roles. The most obvious is that we’ve introduced the position of Director of Football into the game for the first time, which will allow managers to pass on some of their workload, such as contract negotiations, if they choose to.

In addition to this, we’ve also increased the number of specialist coaching roles within the game and given the manager greater flexibility to choose which coaches offer advice and when. The manager can also choose to complain about boardroom interference – although that particular option should probably be used sparingly.

And much more…
A brand new training system, improved international management, tones in press conferences & a new user interface.


NEW WAYS TO PLAY…

Classic and Challenge Modes
Football Manager Classic is a less time-consuming way to enjoy Football Manager. The essence of the game is exactly the same – the manager still takes charge of a squad of players and competes at whatever level he or she chooses – but they will now find that a number of their responsibilities have either been taken over by their support staff or have disappeared completely.

For example, while the player still takes charge of training in FMC, this is carried out at a 'full team' level only – there's no individual player training. And when it gets to matches themselves, there are no team talks or opposition reports... you just go straight to a game using the same 3D match engine as Career Mode. The games are played out in a quicker 'highlights only' fashion, but you can even speed this up by going straight to ‘Instant Result’.

Players who opt for Football Manager Classic will also find that they have a couple of further options in terms of how they play the game; they can either play a full open-ended ‘Career’ or they can choose to play in the new ‘Challenge’ mode.

In Challenge mode they’ll find themselves in a particular situation which will test their management skills over a shorter game time – usually half a season. Can you win a trophy with a team consisting almost entirely of kids? Or could you guide your club to safety despite being bottom of the table at Xmas?

We first introduced Challenge Mode in Football Manager Handheld 2012 and it proved to be so popular that we’ve decided to include it in FMC too.

The game will come with four free-to-play challenges, each of which feeds in to a global leaderboard.

Network Play
The brand new Network Play is fully integrated with Steam’s network functionality which means that players should be able to set up and enjoy games against their friends far more easily than before. The Network Mode also allows people to set-up special one-off leagues and cups and to import their team from their career mode, so you can now end any debate about whose FM team is better.

The deeper integration with Steam will also allow us to manage worldwide leaderboards, so, for the first time you’ll really know how good a manager you are.

Plus over 900 other new features!

[Ratchet]

Let's be honest - most of us are still going to buy it.

[Tommo]

Even West Ham Gaz?

[Ratchet]

Originally Posted by Tommo

Even West Ham Gaz?

I did say "most"

[ScholesCant Tackle]

Originally Posted by Guido

Pretty sure the near post corner thing will still be present as well

I know why Si actually put the Near Post corner thing into the game, I dont actually think it was a mistake.

A 4 year study into corners proved that the inswinging near post corner scored almost twice as many as a outswinging far post corner. The reason people think thats a bit off is, people remember the beautiful arching corner to the 6ft6 CB being looped across the goal into the far corner more than the inswinging, deflected header off the defender and tapped into the net with someones shin.

There is some method to its madness... still too many goals in FM though.

[Bulfin]

"The game will come with four free-to-play challenges, each of which feeds in to a global leaderboard."

That sounds like they're going to be charging for future challenges.

[Bernanke]

Originally Posted by Bulfin

"The game will come with four free-to-play challenges, each of which feeds in to a global leaderboard."

That sounds like they're going to be charging for future challenges.

Was just about to say this...

[Captain Trips]

Football Manager: Retard Edition

[Mark]

I am going to hijack this one to add some information from the press conference.

[TTGB]

Any news on release date?

[Nick]

Originally Posted by TTGB

Any news on release date?

It'll "probably" be before Christmas.

I'd say it'll definitely be before Christmas. Well it will if they have any sense.

[Tommo]

It's a shame that the small screenshots aren't available to view larger. Has anyone seen them about?

[Guido]

Originally Posted by Ratchet

Let's be honest - most of us are still going to buy it.

Yep. Doesn't mean I can't voice some criticism though The lack of competition is making SI lazy.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Guido

Yep. Doesn't mean I can't voice some criticism though The lack of competition is making SI lazy.

We'll get an FM lite ;-)

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Guido

Yep. Doesn't mean I can't voice some criticism though The lack of competition is making SI lazy.

This is the crux of the problem, and has been for a number of years now. Championship Manager has completely disappeared now hasn't it? (Rather than just being utter shite)

[Vim]

You're probably being over-critical some of you, but I do agree that there are not many clear new features.

I'm interested though in the changed AI system, should make a nice change to the match engine.

The new loan system was also needed, good that they included it.

[Dantastic]

Miles sounds like such a cunt when he says 'FMC'. The actual mode is a fairly sensible addition, but I doubt many of us will use it. Same goes for the ability to pass shit on to the Director of Football. Challenge mode & leaderboard stuff is pretty pointless, but Steam intergration should be useful.

Fingers crossed these AI changes are actually good ones, and sort out all the shit that we've been stuck with for years. Probably not though.

No matter what bollocks they roll out, it'll all come down to what the demo plays like (though I'll probably still end up buying it like everyone else).

[Tommo]

Hmm.

[Byron]

Right I'm sorry but what the fuck is that Tommo? It's essentially paying for cheats. I'll not watch the video and I expect I'll get the demo and buy the game but I'm not at all convinced that it's the right decision to take the game this way.

We shall see in time I guess.

[Vim]

They stole YDWAWK

Also, those money purchases are only available for FMC right? I really would not want such a thing in the actual game ... though from the video it seems it's just for Challenge mode.

I can also see behind those purchases, that you can give match preparation focus specifically for each match. This looks a very interesting and useful feature, so you can prepare defense better if you're playing against a bigger team, or prepare attacking set pieces if you're playing against small centrebacks.

[Ratchet]

The buying of cheats will hopefully be contained to FMC.

If it's not, then oh dear...

[newschooldevil]

Originally Posted by Byron

Right I'm sorry but what the fuck is that Tommo? It's essentially paying for cheats. I'll not watch the video and I expect I'll get the demo and buy the game but I'm not at all convinced that it's the right decision to take the game this way.

We shall see in time I guess.

We've just all been in a bit of a flap about this in the steam chat. The transactions are for the classic 'streamlined' mode, not the normal one.

[Vim]

Some more images:

Spoiler:

The user interface looks a bit ugly. Dark/alternative skin should fix that.

[Tommo]

Yup, Ratcher and NSD are right. Those are only available for 'FMC'.

I couldn't give a toss about playing quicker or add-ons. Just give me proper information on the real game.

Seen those earlier too, Vim. The calendar bar is sweet. Why do they have the headers in all capitals, looks so poor.

[P_3]

Ha, trying to fleece us of all our money. Good on you SI.

[Bulfin]

They should really mess with us on these screenshots and only have ten players on the tactics screen or something.

Them buttons look shit with the little shiny effect.

[Tommo]

More shots for you good people.

via here - http://uk.download-store.sega.com/sh...l-manager-2013

Spoiler:

[sad git]

Are those ss's that Tommo posted real?

[Tommo]

Yes they are.

By the looks this screenshot below the skin for the normal mode differs from the 'shiny' FMC skin.

[x12x]

I like the idea of faster seasons in FMC but I don't like the idea of being able to cheat during it, I seem to lose interest with my saves because I don't have to time to play for large periods of time and it can take weeks to finish a season so quicker seasons does appeal but the idea of not having a transfer window or not having to comply to rules takes the fun out of it, I know we don't have to use them but they seem to be stupid inclusions, just to make a bit of money...the sad thing is I'll get the game and will make the effort to unlock all of the stupid cheats in one save.

[Bulfin]

There are two biography tiles on that screenshot. Played, SI.

[Tommo]

Sorry for spamming with SS.

Staff delegation system here.

[Pokerface]

"Before Christmas" probably means the middle of November. The FM 12 journey continues.