Archive for the ‘Editorials’ Category
“Loans – useful or useless?” It’s a question that was posed recently on the official forums and I believe it highlights the fact that many people do not understand how to use this piece of squad management effectively. Loans can be a very useful tool, both taking them on or doling them out, in order to increase your financial position and aid in player development. The stumbling block, of course, is changing your attitude towards what a loan should be and your exact motivations for participating in a deal. Loans are not simply just a way to get rid of your worst players. A natural tendency is for managers to identify their best XI and look to offload the…
The advances of information technology in the 21st century has allowed unprecedented access into the everyday lives of the general public. Websites, iPods, cell phones, PDAs, social networking tools, e-mail, credit card transactions, all electronic devices and services you can think of are more or less collecting precise data on the habits of it’s users. This data, after compiled together over a large cross-section of users, is one the most highly sought after pieces of information for consumer-based businesses. “This system… collects information about your computer hardware specification. It doesn’t ask for, or store, any personal information at all – just…
In amongst an argument over whether Sir Alex Ferguson uses a 4-4-2, a debate broke out about the “4-6-0” in FML. Or was it the other way round? Either way, it did raise some questions about whether the 4-6-0 is a cheat formation. The examples in the following two paragraphs are both taken from Fowler. The one on the left is used by Wisla Warriors, and the other by Athletico. I’m going to put my cards on the table from the start – I do not think the “decapitated” 4-6-0 in use in FML currently is a realistic tactic. Does that make it a cheat? No. I am very much of the opinion that you can play any tactic you want to. Anything that can be countered is not…
Often instantly decried as a group for cheats, is there a place for them in FML ? What is a cartel? In its simplest form it is a group of people working together for the betterment of one or all. As such it is a base factor in any community and will prevail in some way whether we want it or not. I here represent the prohibited but existing Russian Cartel of Toms GW. Yes we do exist and we do exploit every possibility to tweak the game for our needs and goals. In order to achieve our needs and goals we need some changes if not in the game, then in Toms Pro-GW. The above was taken from a short-lived but explosive thread in the SI fora. It’s an issue that raises…
In response to the many calls in the forums for SI/Sega to address the concerns of dwindling numbers in older game worlds, an announcement was made at the time of the launch of the last new game world (Altobelli), keeping in mind many of the concerns raised in the past about new users in old worlds (see Protectionism). The big announcement by SI/Sega was the implementation of free trial accounts. The purpose of course is to boost numbers in older game worlds but also to break down the assumption by many that old worlds are too hard to start in. Alongside this announcement was the addition of several new (optional) football associations for all game worlds, these are…
When there are managers who are blessed with great players, tons of money, immense tactical knowledge, and a huge stadium in which to make even more money on, there will always be the manager who isn’t blessed with any of those. They are the manager who will have to work with everyone else’s rejects, a small stadium, a very tight budget, and… Well, basically, for all the winning managers, there are losing managers, and for all the losing managers, there is always going to be one that stands out. The one in question, just happens to be the one whose article you are reading right now. Having just gone out at the first hurdle of all my official comps for the 5th…
One of the major announcements made by Sports Interactive in the change list that has seen a lot of talk in the forums is this… – Added the capability to create game worlds full of fake players which should help to level the playing field between those with expert knowledge of the FM database and those without! It’s fair to say that the ability to create a regen-only GW has met with a certain amount of excitement. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read this and instantly wanted one to open as soon as humanly possible. As a result, I was slightly disappointed to hear that Altobelli was confirmed as a Beginner gameworld when it opens it’s doors. Testing,…
Giving us something to play for – a radical overhaul of prize money Since FML launched we have had a number of issues which will not go away. In my opinion, the main three are: AI percentages and punishments A lack of a sense of progression Too many DYM competitions and the like Teams in premier divisions or even in major UFFA competitions go 100% AI. Teams in the lower divisions feel like there’s nothing to play for in a division full of dead teams and those above realise that spending lots of money to make the top division does not reap any rewards. And people joining new gameworlds feel they are at a complete disadvantage if they cannot get a great…
