Like many fans around the world, I've sunk hundreds of hours into the Football Manager series, managing giant clubs to glory and turning minnows into winners. With a new season approaching, so too is the next entry into the franchise, Football Manager 2015.
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The games continue to improve each year, but there are of course still additions the fans would like to see, both to improve the gameplay and available features. Below are five of the biggest additions or changes the series could use heading into next year:
1. Improved Board and Ownership A.I.
Developing smart and realistic computer-controller characters or entities is among the most difficult aspects of a game to get right--look at most strategy games and their struggle to create a reasonable and realistic diplomacy system that the A.I. will actually follow. The boards in Football Manager can be similarly frustrating, and will often be too harsh or disregard your successes in the midst of a rough patch.
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I realize plenty of managers get the sack (especially during ownership changes), but when I've gotten my Spanish club promoted twice in my first two seasons while being expected to finish last both times, getting the boot because a new owner comes in is the last thing that should happen.
It's especially frustrating when dropping just a few points drastically changes league position and your board won't recognize that when criticizing your performance or firing you outright--it's all about context, and the A.I. doesn't always have it. Even if that does mimic real life to a degree, it's incredibly harsh on the player who has spent hours improving his or her team.
2. Less Morale Manager
Morale and mentality definitely play a role in a team's performance and a manager's job, but sometimes in Football Manager it feels like they're all that matters. Your team will play poorly for long stretches seemingly for no reason when things were going fine as morale drops, creating a self-feeding cycle of negativity as results suffer. You can speak to your team and individuals about the bad performances and they promise to do better, but most of the time there is no improvement in the on-field product.
3. More Licenses
It would be great to see more official badges and kits in the game, though this is no doubt an expensive request. Fan-made packs of club crests, player faces and kits are available to download online, but official inclusion of these would go a long way in creating a more authentic experience, even if it doesn't affect the gameplay much.
4. Addition of the German National Team
This is related to the last point, but deserves its own section. Though I'm sure the developers would of course prefer every team and club to be in the game, an inability to come to an agreement for the German National Team has always left them out of the series.
This does actually affect the game in some way--German players can be offered any bonuses you'd like for national team appearances, because the caps will never come. Especially after Die Mannschaft won the World Cup, there's no better time to get them into the game...and probably no time that it's more difficult to do so, either.
5. Improved Graphics, Within Reason
To be clear, I'm not asking for FIFA-level graphics from Football Manager. The game is about the management, tactics, and club activity--the match engine simulations are only a visual manifestation of your work. The graphics are simple and serve their purpose, but I still think improvements could be made to make simulations more enjoyable. If low-end options are kept so everyone can run the game smoothly, some optional upgraded textures and player models wouldn't hurt anyone, right?
Those are some of my main issues in the game, and some of the changes or additions I'd like to see to address them. Let us know if you share similar concerns below, or what you'd like to see in FM 15. Unfamiliar with the series? Watch the video below for a look at match days.