Alright Boyz, Here We Go! The FM2008/WWSM2008 First Impressions Thread

[Flasch186]

does this run faster in Full screen mode or windowed? seems full to me but the picture isnt as good.

[Cringer]

Ouch, I feel like I have been stabbed in the back almost.

Paul McGowan, my on loan superstar striker in my one and only SD2 season just went on loan at St. Johnstone. St. Johnstone are promotion contenders who are sitting in 2nd place in the early part of the SD1 season. They just gave 1st place Dunfermline their first loss. I made the same length offer he did, as did an English team, yet he must have liked St. Johnstone better. I am sitting in 3rd place right now and just killed St. Johnstone two matches ago.

My Albion Rovers are listed as his only favorite club, it hurts he didn't want to come back to us and help us actually make a good run for the SD1 title. When I say superstar I mean it, he scored 40 goals in 35 games for us last year. Now I will have to play the guy, big ouch.

[Passacaglia]

Bah, looks like my club doesn't want to be a feeder. Oh, well.

While I was all worked up about how to do that, I accidentally accepted an offer for one of my strikers who I did NOT want to sell. I was all worried about having to cancel it at the last minute, but he turned down the offer anyway! I went into player interaction to say good things about him, and I found out I can ask him who he might recommend as a good signing!! Pretty cool. And the guy he recommended (from his old team) seems like he'll be pretty good so far.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Bah, looks like my club doesn't want to be a feeder. Oh, well.

While I was all worked up about how to do that, I accidentally accepted an offer for one of my strikers who I did NOT want to sell. I was all worried about having to cancel it at the last minute, but he turned down the offer anyway! I went into player interaction to say good things about him, and I found out I can ask him who he might recommend as a good signing!! Pretty cool. And the guy he recommended (from his old team) seems like he'll be pretty good so far.

While I have known about that, I don't think I have actually tried it out yet. I may have to give it a spin a few times with some of my players. I know I have asked a player once about who they would recommend for a coach and the guy didn't have a suggestion.

[Celeval]

So... I'm reasonably sure I'm getting the boxed version of WWSM2008 on Tuesday (and if not, I'll be picking it up from amazon myself soon after). The question is... does the direct download work as a demo before purchasing? And does that mean I can start a career with that, and pick it up with the boxed version without issues?

Any ideas?

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Celeval

So... I'm reasonably sure I'm getting the boxed version of WWSM2008 on Tuesday (and if not, I'll be picking it up from amazon myself soon after). The question is... does the direct download work as a demo before purchasing? And does that mean I can start a career with that, and pick it up with the boxed version without issues?

Any ideas?

Don't see why it wouldn't work. I'm pretty sure it's still labeled as a "try before you buy" download, so you should be able to play it for 180 gamedays and then you'd be bugged to buy it or stop playing. In the past, the WWSM download was a full version of the game locked at 180 days...

FM

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

Don't see why it wouldn't work. I'm pretty sure it's still labeled as a "try before you buy" download, so you should be able to play it for 180 gamedays and then you'd be bugged to buy it or stop playing. In the past, the WWSM download was a full version of the game locked at 180 days...

FM

might work...hmmm

[Celeval]

Doesn't look like it - the WWSM2008 download is "Worldwide Soccer Manager 2008 Downloader", and then: "There is no demo for this game. Buy It Now!". So, no dice. Ah, well.

[Cringer]

While trying to see if any players would recommend players for my team, I finally noticed that interacting with the players is also how you get guys to learn from other players. You don't really get to pick who they learn from, but it is still very cool. I have three younger guys learning from other players now. The older guys are only 2-3 years older, but still my top guys for the most part.

I am waiting to see if it has much effect for these younger guys.

[Passacaglia]

I don't think I see that option -- what does it say?

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I don't think I see that option -- what does it say?

It's not always there. I went through all of my senior squad and couldn't find one player who had that option but the first four I checked on my U18 squad all that the option to learn from someone else, check the following screenie:


In that case, Brill is a keeper on my senior squad and it's offering me the option of linking Faulds with him for tutoring. In the dropdown, I also have the option of linking him to Julian Speroni, my new keeper.

Regarding that screenie, see the team logo on the top left, well it's part of a superpack from FMEurope. The pack is 155mb but includes about all the important leagues. Here's an example of how the logos look:


the superpack can be found at this link:
http://www.fmeurope.net/index.php?op...ileinfo&id=313

Yeah, it's all in French, but click the grey down arrow next to the pack's name and it'll initiate the download...

FM

[Coffee Warlord]

Notts County is an absolute monster in their first year up in L1. Started off the year struggling horribly, probably due to the multitude of transfers we made with our new budget, but we've just been rolling.

[bulletsponge]

Originally Posted by Cringer

While trying to see if any players would recommend players for my team, I finally noticed that interacting with the players is also how you get guys to learn from other players. You don't really get to pick who they learn from, but it is still very cool. I have three younger guys learning from other players now. The older guys are only 2-3 years older, but still my top guys for the most part.

I am waiting to see if it has much effect for these younger guys.

you can choose who they learn from, click on the mentors name at the very bottom of the screen by "linked player"

[DaddyTorgo]

what about a total graphical superpack including logos/facepacks/etc?

I know for 07 there was FMCentre Projects' FMC Graphics...has there been a superpack like that for 08 that anyone has positive reviews for?

edit: all I have been able to find are facepacks for individual teams and all. I'm wondering if anybody has a link to one that's all compiled already so I don't need to download a million files and extract them all.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

you can choose who they learn from, click on the mentors name at the very bottom of the screen by "linked player"

Wow, very cool. Thanks for the tip.

[DaddyTorgo]

pissed at the injuries right now!!

I have 3 of my 4 starting midfielders AND my top backup all injured right now. Fortunately I have SOME measure of depth, so I have two guys in there (one starter and one rotation-guy)

[wbatl1]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

pissed at the injuries right now!!

I have 3 of my 4 starting midfielders AND my top backup all injured right now. Fortunately I have SOME measure of depth, so I have two guys in there (one starter and one rotation-guy)

Yea, I'm getting absolutely killed with injuries this season for some reason. I documented earlier that my two strikers and top two midfielders went down, and now after two months I've just got three of the four back (the fourth tore ligaments...), and then the striker goes down for another month.

Needless to say, I've been drawing 0-0 and winning 1-0 quite a lot recently...

[Cringer]

One thing I have learned, when a coach says a player may be injury prone (not the exact words but that is what they mean), it seems to be pretty damn true.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Cringer

One thing I have learned, when a coach says a player may be injury prone (not the exact words but that is what they mean), it seems to be pretty damn true.

yeah. I tend to stay away from the injury prone / low "natural fitness" guys, or at least have plenty of backups.

this was just freak this year.

3 guys with long term injuries.

a broken arm, a broken ankle, hip injury off to a specialist.

And all at the same time.

[Cringer]

Well, I was kind of unaware of coaches labeling guys injury prone before I signed a couple key guys who ended up having that label. My top MC, Donnelly, was injured 3 times and missed a total of 3 months or so of his first season with me. THis year I really needed him going up to SD1, but also tried to sign some guys to cover. Thankfully he has been healthy so far, and is a huge layer for my team right now. I know an injury is coming though.

[daedalus]

if anybody else has ever figured out the 3 options for mentorship suggestion, i'd love to hear it.

i figure, maybe, the "learn from" is only for learning the moves. what i'm curious about is whether or not the other options is only about mental or whether they will gain in both mental part and the moves.

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Well, I was kind of unaware of coaches labeling guys injury prone before I signed a couple key guys who ended up having that label. My top MC, Donnelly, was injured 3 times and missed a total of 3 months or so of his first season with me. THis year I really needed him going up to SD1, but also tried to sign some guys to cover. Thankfully he has been healthy so far, and is a huge layer for my team right now. I know an injury is coming though.

there was a post earlier in this thread where marc mentioned taking it easy on young players' training. apparently, if they cannot handle the physical demands of the training load, they will become injury prone.

more things to add to the list of "damn, this fucking game is good."

status: remember, eating gives you the strength to keep on playing.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by daedalus

status: remember, eating gives you the strength to keep on playing.

+1

[FrogMan]

I'll say it again, I really, make that REALLY like the confidence screens. Seeing how people like my cheap signings, how they appreciate that we were able to take many shots on goal in a given game, or that they like the recent form of a particular player. Many nice touches there...

FM

[Coffee Warlord]

We've gone from strength to holding on by a fingernail, as I've been playing pretty much all day.

2 ankle injuries, 1 broken foot, 1 fractured cheekbone, and 1 prima donna asshole striker who won't re-sign with us later...god get this season over with.

[FrogMan]

Like how the scouting reports seem to give me a bit more. My scout just came back from his scouting trip in Scotland and one of the players in his reports was present as "...would be the 4th best striker in the squad if he were to join the club".

I think it's a lot better to know something like that than the usual and generic "would be a good signing" summary...

FM

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

We've gone from strength to holding on by a fingernail, as I've been playing pretty much all day.

2 ankle injuries, 1 broken foot, 1 fractured cheekbone, and 1 prima donna asshole striker who won't re-sign with us later...god get this season over with.

you playing all day too? lol...me also.

just had a GREAT match before dinner. Blanked ManU at the Olimpico in Turin 4-0, with 4 goals by Fred. Clinging to a slim lead over Inter in Serie A as the season winds down. So many injuries, just want to get the season over with!

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

Like how the scouting reports seem to give me a bit more. My scout just came back from his scouting trip in Scotland and one of the players in his reports was present as "...would be the 4th best striker in the squad if he were to join the club".

I think it's a lot better to know something like that than the usual and generic "would be a good signing" summary...

FM

yeah...i find that very useful when looking to sign new players, projecting whether I should offer them backup or first team $$ and squad status

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

you playing all day too? lol...me also.

just had a GREAT match before dinner. Blanked ManU at the Olimpico in Turin 4-0, with 4 goals by Fred. Clinging to a slim lead over Inter in Serie A as the season winds down. So many injuries, just want to get the season over with!

And down in the trenches, Notts County scraped away a win on away goals to reach the *cough* Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

And down in the trenches, Notts County scraped away a win on away goals to reach the *cough* Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

congrats!!!

i've tried playing as a LL manager before...I just find I enjoy playing with a larger club and the abilities that that affords more. To each their own though. Heyy...maybe I can get Notts County as a feeder and send you some of my stud youngsters.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by daedalus

there was a post earlier in this thread where marc mentioned taking it easy on young players' training. apparently, if they cannot handle the physical demands of the training load, they will become injury prone.

more things to add to the list of "damn, this fucking game is good."

status: remember, eating gives you the strength to keep on playing.

Yeah, I saw that post and actually took part of what he said to test it out. That is that some young guys can benefit from being trained hard, and you can get their physical up. I created some PT and FT training schedules that were strong on physical training and tried some guys out in those. I have since abandoned those, since I saw no positive effect.

My injury-prone players right now though are guys I signed and came in that way. I just never noticed it/didn't scout them really before signing them.

[NoSkillz]

Well, after a few years of being lucky enough to get FM for free due to my research work on EHM, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on getting the new version of the game. After fooling around with the demo, it really looks like this is the best version yet for helping a 'non-expert' grasp the myriad concepts in the game, whether it's through the revamped confidence screens or the new individual scouting reports.

Question is: do you guys suggest that I be patient and order FM by mail or should I feel safe ordering the digital download of WWSM from D2D?

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by NoSkillz

Well, after a few years of being lucky enough to get FM for free due to my research work on EHM, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on getting the new version of the game. After fooling around with the demo, it really looks like this is the best version yet for helping a 'non-expert' grasp the myriad concepts in the game, whether it's through the revamped confidence screens or the new individual scouting reports.

Question is: do you guys suggest that I be patient and order FM by mail or should I feel safe ordering the digital download of WWSM from D2D?

What do you mean by safe? I have the DD of WWSM and am perfectly happy. I know a couple guys have had trouble getting there second copy of the game, if I remember correctly. I had no problem grabbing my second DD copy and installing it though. I haven't had any problems at all.....

[SirFozzie]

wow, I never got a free copy of WWSM/FM for being the Revs Researcher.. The Marcs.. you got some splanin' to do! (Kidding).

Just had something happen to me for the first time. I had Rio Ferdinand on my shortlist, and as January rolled around, I get a message from Ferdinand's agent that if I manage to get a bid accepted by Man Yoo, Ferdinand would love to play for Inter.

Needless to say, over the next couple weeks I pushed it to get Man Yoo to accept a bid. Now I have a real star in defense

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Just had something happen to me for the first time. I had Rio Ferdinand on my shortlist, and as January rolled around, I get a message from Ferdinand's agent that if I manage to get a bid accepted by Man Yoo, Ferdinand would love to play for Inter.

Needless to say, over the next couple weeks I pushed it to get Man Yoo to accept a bid. Now I have a real star in defense

wow, tHat is pretty cool!

FM

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by Cringer

What do you mean by safe? I have the DD of WWSM and am perfectly happy. I know a couple guys have had trouble getting there second copy of the game, if I remember correctly. I had no problem grabbing my second DD copy and installing it though. I haven't had any problems at all.....

If you decide to go DD, then by all means DO NOT USE BOONTY. That I cannot stress enough. I re-downloaded from Direct-2-Drive and haven't had any problems yet, I'm very happy with them.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

If you decide to go DD, then by all means DO NOT USE BOONTY. That I cannot stress enough. I re-downloaded from Direct-2-Drive and haven't had any problems yet, I'm very happy with them.

You are who I was thinking of when I said "I know some guys have had some problems."

I used Boonty, haven't had a problem. You had enough for the whole board though so no arguement from me.

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by Cringer

You are who I was thinking of when I said "I know some guys have had some problems."

I used Boonty, haven't had a problem. You had enough for the whole board though so no arguement from me.

I've kept my recent aggravations off the board to get the thread back on track, but suffice to say that to date there has been no resolution and no satisfaction.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

what about a total graphical superpack including logos/facepacks/etc?

I know for 07 there was FMCentre Projects' FMC Graphics...has there been a superpack like that for 08 that anyone has positive reviews for?

edit: all I have been able to find are facepacks for individual teams and all. I'm wondering if anybody has a link to one that's all compiled already so I don't need to download a million files and extract them all.

Here's a link to one mega facepack:
http://files.filefront.com/Framed+Me.../fileinfo.html

It's a framed style, downloading it right now (353 MB) although I'm usually not really bothered by the lack of player pictures...

FM

[FrogMan]

dola, seeing logos on about each and every team was much more important to me, especially when looking at the list of fixtures for big competitions like the UEFA Cup or the Champions League...

FM

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

Here's a link to one mega facepack:
http://files.filefront.com/Framed+Me.../fileinfo.html

It's a framed style, downloading it right now (353 MB) although I'm usually not really bothered by the lack of player pictures...

FM

and here's the original thread on the SI forums about that facepack...
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...6/m/5182026453

FM

[Coffee Warlord]

Gah. Can't play till late tonight (xmas with the woman's family today), but we have the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy...with two of our players suspended since they decided to both get red carded in the same match.

[NoSkillz]

Originally Posted by Cringer

What do you mean by safe? I have the DD of WWSM and am perfectly happy. I know a couple guys have had trouble getting there second copy of the game, if I remember correctly. I had no problem grabbing my second DD copy and installing it though. I haven't had any problems at all.....

Just the answer I was looking for. I've read this entire thread and noticed the problems Toddzilla had with Boonty along with some of the early complaints regarding WWSM owners being 'second class citizens' compared to FM owners (re: patches and support).

If you've had no complaints with D2D then that's the avenue I'll take.

Oh, and SirFozzie - I was a head researcher for EHM so I think I got some extra perks for the effort!

[Glengoyne]

Hey I just opened up a copy of the CD version of WWSM.

When I click on the "get an update" ...because I have read the first part of this thread, I know I want to have the patch... a browser page pops up that says "There is an updated version of your game available, but we can't find it".

It is next to impossible to find anything on the Si site. Anyone know what patch I should use for WWSM (CD-ROM)..or where to get it?

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

Hey I just opened up a copy of the CD version of WWSM.

When I click on the "get an update" ...because I have read the first part of this thread, I know I want to have the patch... a browser page pops up that says "There is an updated version of your game available, but we can't find it".

It is next to impossible to find anything on the Si site. Anyone know what patch I should use for WWSM (CD-ROM)..or where to get it?

you know, I read "next to impossible" and laughed, then tried to find the patch through their website and couldn't. That's idiotic... Anyway, there's a stickied thread on their forums with links to patches.
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...1/m/5902009263

Link to the patch for the boxed version of WWSM2008:
http://204.155.67.168/patch/fm08/WSM2008_v8.0.1_Patch_Boxed.exe

or a mirror of it:
http://www.gamershell.com/download_22113.shtml

FM

[SirFozzie]

You're using the CD Version? Get one of the following patches (got this from a Forums thread)

Worldwide Soccer Manager 2008 – Boxed Retail

PC (Boxed Retail)
http://204.155.67.168/patch/fm08/WSM...atch_Boxed.exe

PC Mirror (Gamershell):
http://www.gamershell.com/download_22113.shtml

PC Torrent (Boxed Retail):
http://torrents.sigames.com:7000/tor...4D31A685EBB4CD

Mac (Boxed Retail):
http://204.155.67.168/patch/fm08/WSM....0.1_Patch.dmg

Mac Mirror (Gamershell):
http://www.gamershell.com/download_22114.shtml

Mac Torrent (Boxed Retail):
http://torrents.sigames.com:7000/tor...91D82951826B2B

Make sure you get a PC and not a Mac version

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

Here's a link to one mega facepack:
http://files.filefront.com/Framed+Me.../fileinfo.html

It's a framed style, downloading it right now (353 MB) although I'm usually not really bothered by the lack of player pictures...

FM

thank you sir!

[st.cronin]

I couldn't find the patch at the si site, either. I had to google, then click around til I found it.

Si makes great products, but their website is one of the worst I have ever been on.

[Passacaglia]

For those interested, a beta version of FM Genie has "leaked" -- it works for me, if I change the name of the wsm.exe file to fm.exe.

[astrosfan64]

What is FM Genie?