Championship Manager Season 00/01 (PC)

...game I ever played was Championship Manager Season 1997/98. I bought it from new. And still play the game to this day. Over the years the style of play and the game itself have changed beyond all recognition. Would I still like the game? Is it still as addictive? These were questions I wanted to know and finally I got hold of Championship Manager Season 00/01. This is my opinion.

~*~ INTRODUCTION ~*~
++++++++++++++++++++
...to even think about. Championship Manager has been the best football management sim game for a lot of years. They work hard on it and it works. I think I would have to say that what is bad about the game is finding your way around. The game is big so therefore there is a lot of navigating to do but even though I realise this I do not like it. I find something new think to myself brilliant and then lose it again and have to search for ages to find ... more

The first management Sim game I ever played was Championship Manager Season 1997/98. I bought it from new. And still play the game to this day. Over the years the style of play and the game itself have changed beyond all recognition. Would I still like the game? Is it still as addictive? These were questions I wanted to know and finally I got hold of Championship Manager Season 00/01. This is my opinion.

~*~ INTRODUCTION ~*~
++++++++++++++++++++

Made by Eidos Interactive Championship Manager Season 00/01 is in its own words the most complete football simulation game. It is unlimited complexity and involvement. You can either run the entire game or allow some aspects to be run for you. You can be as involved as you want. To ensure you are aware of all aspects of the game it comes complete with a 71 page users manual. The manual will help you get up and running and allow you to play the mechanics of the game. It will tell you all about the features it has whilst also acting as a guide book for soccer managers from the four corners of the globe.

The first part of the guide deals with the installation , specific features and interactively of the game and the second deals with the details of the game and analysis of the games key areas.

~*~ PACKAGING ~*~
++++++++++++++++

The game is enclosed in a sturdy plastic case and looks quite nice with basic graphics on the front displaying a Mitre football. On the reverse are graphics showing stills from the game itself and giving the basic rundown of the game.

I cannot say strongly enough how careful you have to be getting the CD out of the case. They use this centre button system now to hold the CD in place and unless you depress the button at the same time as removing the CD you risk the chance of cracking it. The case itself is the more durable plastic casing available. It is not that quick to crack c**p that you seem to get on magazine covers.

~*~ SPECIFICATIONS ~*~
++++++++++++++++++++

MIN SPECS
¨ Win 95/98
¨ Pentium 133/AMD 166
¨ 16Mb ram
¨ 4X speed CD rom
¨ DirectX 7 (Included)

NB: Minimum system specifications will only allow the user to select and play one league and to run with the minimum database loaded.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SPECS
¨ Pentium 200/AMD K6-2
¨ 32 Mb ram
¨ 100% Win 95/98 compatible sound card

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE:
¨ Pentium 200/AMD K6-2 or greater
¨ 64 Mb ram

NB: Your system may require the latest Windows 95/98 drivers for your particular hardware - available from manufacturer.

~*~ INSTALLATION ~*~
++++++++++++++++++++

It is the basic plonk it in your drive and follow the auto-run instructions. This will open and install CM00/01 onto the hard drive. If auto-run has not been enabled click on setup.exe on your CD drive. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the game and its components to your computer.

This game is played around the world and as such has a variety of languages. The default setting is the same as the language currently used on your computer. You can play the game in English, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish though. The currency settings are set the same way. The actual installation on my computer took 3 minutes and 10 seconds.

Once the game has been installed click on the Make New Game button to create a new game world. From the list of available leagues you can pick your team. You would have already decided on the size of the game and the amount of background and Foreground leagues you use.

~*~ PLAYING the GAME ~*~
+++++++++++++++++++++++

The game has gone a long way since I first played it. The format and layout are much different but the overall concept is the same. Buying well and within your means is the most important thing to do. You need to ensure you have good scouts. Hire and fire until you get the best you can. If you are in a lower division many will not come to you but persevere as it is important. Do not always take the advice of the scouts either, remember it is advice. You could say an opinion rather like this. You might think it good or you might not bother.

When you go to place a bid for a player you will see what your available funds are. It is no good trying to buy outside this range as you wont be allowed and you could incur the wrath of your chairman. You could always ask your chairman for more funds but again he might say no, than again he might say yes so it never hurts to try.

As I say I like to play a 3-5-2 attacking formation. I think this suits my persona and if nothing else I might steal a goal. It really depends on your team. Having just three defenders along the back means they have to be good, as does your goalkeeper or you will keep leaking goals and losing games. If you are going to play attacking football ensure you have a sound defence first or you will end up closer to relegation than promotion.

You can also give your players individual orders. This is handy if you have one really decent player as you can perhaps give him something of a free role. Enabling him to play in this way opens up the game somewhat for your team. I like to have around three players with the ability to run with the ball and hold the ball up. I prefer the defenders to be able to try through passes. It all adds to the depth of your team.

Sometimes players act up both on and off the pitch. If they do you will be warned about this and you have the option to discipline them. You wont be asked to discipline them but you should. If you do not they will continue to act in the same way. You have the option to give an official warning, or fine 1or 2 weeks wages. The reasons allowed are:

· No reason
· unprofessional behaviour
· Dismissal in prior match
· Violent behaviour
· Poor performance

Be careful when you discipline. There is no saying that the player is going to be happy and may actually be furious! It pays to always give a warning first and think what reason most closely matches the offence.

If I tried to give you all the ins and outs of the games you would be reading for the next 5 hours. The game literally has that much depth in it and then some more. The important things to note are that the game is controlled mainly through the messages you will receive. Sometimes you just have to read a message sometimes you are required to act. If you hear of a player you want having interest shown click on his name and show your own. If someone bids on a player of yours click on the action button and decide whether to sell him or not.
~*~
When it comes time to actually play a match and you have selected your team it is time to sit back and watch how your 11 warriors play. You have different views whilst the teams are playing. The main default setting is Match Overview. This gives you the match commentary, who scored, attendance, the last 5 minutes possession (which I find useless), the attendance and who the ref is. I think the ref is important due to yellow and red cards but I never bother to change the style of play because of a referee and I doubt you will.

Another view is Match Stats. This is as it sounds with Shots on Goal, On Target, Off Target, Corners, Free Kicks, Throw Ins, Fouls and Red & Yellow Cards. You might find this interesting. You can watch other scores or the league tables. One of the better ones is to keep an eye on when your players are getting tired. When they see low bring on your subs and revitalise the team! The worst view is Action Zone. A total waste of space and I would suggest you by-pass it to save yourself severe boredom!

~*~ BEST THING IN THE GAME ~*~
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I like the fact that you can edit this game and end up with an entirely new team. If you are willing to take the time you can create a team from anywhere. I live in Fakenham and if I so wanted I could create a ground with statistics for attendance. I could create a chairman, assistant Manager and coaches. I could create players as good as I might want with family names so that my kids could associate with the game on a more personal level.

I too like to have my families names in the team and love it when teams come in offering me £13.5 million to buy one of them. If you want to edit the database you need to do this before you start the game. If you mess up don't worry as you can always load it again. I can honestly say that when it works it adds a whole new dimension to the game.

I start them all off as 17 year olds. This is so they can improve and have a long and successful career within the game. The only negative point is trying to hold on to them when their contracts end. I make their favourite team the team I create as this helps and I make their favourite players other players within the team. You should be aware that their wages could become too much and force you to sell them though! A shame but it does happen.

~*~ WORST THING IN THE GAME ~*~
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is hard to even think about. Championship Manager has been the best football management sim game for a lot of years. They work hard on it and it works. I think I would have to say that what is bad about the game is finding your way around. The game is big so therefore there is a lot of navigating to do but even though I realise this I do not like it. I find something new think to myself brilliant and then lose it again and have to search for ages to find it.

I just wish the navigation was as easy as in CM 97/98. I know it can't be due to its size of the game but I can dream can't I?

~*~ CONCLUSION ~*~
++++++++++++++++++
I think it is probably fairly obvious to you all how I feel about this game. It is the best football management simulator around. Progressive games have been produced and updates made throughout the years but at no time have the makers erred. The game is as playable now as it was when I first played it in 1997. To think that I only ever played a management sim game because I played half a season free on a magazine disk. I have been hooked ever since. This game is harder now than it was but it is addictive. No two games are ever the same, no two matches will have the same result. You get the thrill of trying to take a team to the top of the Premiership and beyond. If you edit the game before hand it can be your family members the crowds are cheering for. Take a chance and get the game you wont be disappointed.

Features:
· Twenty-six concurrent leagues will be playable.
· Accurate profiles and histories for over 50,000 players, managers and coaches, collated by a dedicated army of football fans from every corner of the globe.
· Get involved with national and local media. Read and reply to media stories about the clubs, players and events in the game.
· New leagues added:- Rep of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Turkey, Greece, Russia, Poland, Croatia, Finland and Australia.
· Managers now have the chance to approach the Football Association to request the postponement of fixtures and to complain about the referee!!!

~*~ COST ~*~
+++++++++++
UK £9.99 - www.amazon.co.uk
US $34.95 - www.amazon.com

Manufacturers hoe page from where you can go to the country of your choice:
http://www.eidos.com/

Championship Manager 01/02 Demo and other downloads
http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/downloads/demo.html

Championship Manager is the most important game of your life.

October 12th is a long time to wait. Too long, which is why the most important demo of your life is now online. Download this preview of Season 01/02 to give you a small fix of the definitive football management simulation. There is only one Champ Man.
The Championship Manager demo will last for SIX game months, please make sure you save the game before late December. You will be able to continue the games you start with the demo when the full game is released on October 12th. ** (Direct quote)**

 

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