FIFA Manager 08 (PC)

...but that doesn't mean that FIFA Manager will not try to challenge their superior position so again this year they try their luck with the FIFA Manager 08.

AT a Glance
At a glance it seems an interesting alternative in its category that means a football manager tycoon game. FIFA Manager makes sure that highlights the reasons that make it different from its competition from the beginning of the game when you have loads and loads ...
...really in comparison with the FIFA Manager of the past but that can be a good thing as it didn't take loads of time to acclimatise myself with the "new" version.
If you haven't played it in the past you will have no problem whatsoever to get into the game as the keys and the menus are very user friendly and with some practice you will be ready to play.
I found the vertical menu on the left very practical with the automatic ... more

Football Manager 2008 is the King in the jungle of the manager games, but that doesn't mean that FIFA Manager will not try to challenge their superior position so again this year they try their luck with the FIFA Manager 08.

AT a Glance
At a glance it seems an interesting alternative in its category that means a football manager tycoon game. FIFA Manager makes sure that highlights the reasons that make it different from its competition from the beginning of the game when you have loads and loads of interesting and more than satisfactory options to play with.

So you can seat on the bench of your favourite team, you can try your luck as an manager of your national team, you can become a football player (try Beckham - its great!) or you can congregate your dream team and try to manage them! You even have the choice to be player and manager at the same time - if the digital manager you choose is between the ages of 8-40!!!Really cool option to think about! Its very clever. After you make your choices your career can start.
I have to mention here that the choices you are making on the initial screen are very important as they will define the role that you are going to play as a manager or coach or a captain of the team and a programme does the management for you (!) if you choose to be a coach or football player.
This is what makes it different from football Manager 2008 BUT its my biggest objection/negative thing I have to mention about this game. If it's about managing a team (FIFA MANAGER 2008 it says on the title) why does it giving you the option to be something else and have nothing to do with the management of the team/players??

INTERFACE - ABOUT THE GAME
Nothing new really in comparison with the FIFA Manager of the past but that can be a good thing as it didn't take loads of time to acclimatise myself with the "new" version.
If you haven't played it in the past you will have no problem whatsoever to get into the game as the keys and the menus are very user friendly and with some practice you will be ready to play.
I found the vertical menu on the left very practical with the automatic hiding that offers useful links and advices and it doesn't take any space.

FIFA Manager 2008 in not about only your and you team's activities in the field but also in the activities outside of it. That means that if you have chosen the "hard way" with absolutely everything to pass through your own hands then you have to deal with the sponsors, merchandising, with the tactics that you are going to follow with the teams, regular coaching transitions, contracts, technical team, academies, facilities, press conference and generally …everything! The very practical and user friendly menus can make this a piece a cake for you - rest assured!
You can still have personal life as a manager as in the previous ones and you can create a family before or after the beginning of our career. You can spend as much time as you want on doing your hobbies, you can buy all the luxury items you like as well!

You can watch the matches in four different ways : 3D match mode, text mode, videotext mode and instant results.
The 3D match mode transfers you in the field and broadcast the game by using the "machine pattern" of FIFA 2008 : the courts, the players, the gameplay,narration everything is "FIFA products" which is probably a positive point!
The environment and the atmosphere are satisfactory and the football grounds are spot on. I thought that the realism during the games was limited and pixelised on many occasions but apart of these all were working fine!

The text mode it reminded me the mythical Championship Manager with written notes and comments and you have loads of info, reports; statistical analysis. The interesting thing in this mode is that you can intervene as a match is taking place and you can chose between two options that one of your players have which at times is really handy!

The videotext mode it will remind you as it did to me TV teletext and simply informs you about the score and the instant results mode is only taking you to the screen with the final results. Its seems boring but again is about the options you have made at the beginning of the game.

The training of the team is pretty cool. Nothing spectacular but good. You can help one of your players to concentrate on improving an area that needs improving and you can also create your own unique tactics. You an use the Match Analysis Tool (MAT), a useful tool that can give you ideas and suggestions about your players (e.g sell them!) or how successful are the tactics you are having.

The most interesting part of the game that has taken all my valuable time is the out of the football ground activities. The public relations, the merchandizing, the tickets, the facilities etc.
This aspect of the game is unique and none else is offering it - not even the Football Manager.
As an example, your comments on the press can play vital role on the atmosphere that your team has as well as the conversations that you can have personally with the players of the team. You can tell them what you want from them and how you plan to use them in the future. The first time I made use of this, after a few matches a player "approached" me and he wanted to know if I am in his immediate plans as he felt his talent has been neglected! Fascinating!

For your club to be ok, financial stability is needed. That means for example that you need to strike good deals with the sponsors. You have the option to sell the name of the football ground that you are using - see Chris Moyles Stadium of the Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club!! If you see that you are ok financially leave these to your assistant and get involved with the team- tactics, training etc depending on your initial options.
Your information regarding issues of your team is coming through
in-game internet sites and newspapers!

In comparison with the previous FIFA Manager, the 2008 version has more than 2.000 extra pictures of players and the addition of the Australian, Irish and Czech Republic championships. No bad addition but you will never go through all these!It is good I suppose to have options!!!

INSTALATION ISSUES
A problem that I had during the installation of the game is that when it was the time for the element «Ankaragü.tga» to be loaded, a message cropped up asking me to put the DVD in the Drive!!! While the DVD was in the drive! I didn't do anything and the installation was aborted! It freaked me a little bit. I did it again and the same problem appeared. Before I take it back and demand a refund I did some research on the internet and I realised that was a frequent problem of FIFA Manager 2008! The suggested solution (copy all the files from the DVD to your PC and rename the «Ankaragü.tga» to «Ankaragu.tga»and that's it!) worked for me and after a game I forgot all about it!

OVERALL OPINION
Generally, its a little bit better than last years but it cannot stand against Football Manager if we try to compare it. The way I see it is a brilliant alternative to Football Manager with the unique features of becoming a general/technical and marketing manager as well as the 3D coverage of the matches and the very interesting player editor as strong points.

Purchased from Amazon.co.uk:£24.97 - there is a £0.01 - £0.03 variation in the price from retailers like game.co.uk and tesco.com or even cheaper on eBay.co.uk if you fortunate!

Thank you for reading! 

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