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Need honest opinions regarding FM 2007 and FM 2008


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I have not purchased FM 2008 yet because over the winter I didn't want to be a beta tester for SI and I was also still really enjoying FM 2007. In my opinion, FM 2007 was the best FM yet. I was using Minimal Fuss's tactics and therefore designed my teams around a system because I am 34 years old and frankly don't have the time or inclination to endlessly test out new tactics and strategies.

When I come on to these boards I here lots of complaining about FM 2008 and its tactics and quirks (corner kick issues, scouting, training, whatever.)

So my question is, is it worth buying FM 2008? Can I find a reasonable tactic (no cheating or ridiculous formations) that I can constantly use and stick with and still enjoy the game? Or is everyone patiently waiting for FM 2009 to come out? Is FM 2008 really better than FM 2007 or just a buggy, unforgiving roster update?

Thank you in advance for your honest responses.

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Personally, I'm finding it much more immersive than FM'07 was; for whatever reason, '07 never really engaged me. I think the on-pitch movement is more realistic in '08 and the AI is tougher than ever.

I'm a game developer by trade so bugs *really* tend to catch my eye, and aside from a couple of minor UI glitches and a few issues with the MLS rules, nothing major gets under my skin with FM'08.

I'm 34, too, and I don't find I have to spend hours monkeying around with tactics .. I can pretty much set up a tactic "right out of the box" that does what I want it to. That said, I do make slight tactical adjustments throughout a match depending on the situation - not much manual tweaking, really, but loading pre-set tactics to defend, to counter, to attack, that sort of thing. But I've been doing that since FM'05 ...

Really, my advice would come down to this: are you still deeply enjoying your FM'07 save? If so, continue playing and wait for '09. If not, and you're getting the itch to fire up FM again, go out and snag a discounted copy of FM'08.

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I have not purchased FM 2008 yet because over the winter I didn't want to be a beta tester for SI and I was also still really enjoying FM 2007. In my opinion, FM 2007 was the best FM yet. I was using Minimal Fuss's tactics and therefore designed my teams around a system because I am 34 years old and frankly don't have the time or inclination to endlessly test out new tactics and strategies.

When I come on to these boards I here lots of complaining about FM 2008 and its tactics and quirks (corner kick issues, scouting, training, whatever.)

So my question is, is it worth buying FM 2008? Can I find a reasonable tactic (no cheating or ridiculous formations) that I can constantly use and stick with and still enjoy the game? Or is everyone patiently waiting for FM 2009 to come out? Is FM 2008 really better than FM 2007 or just a buggy, unforgiving roster update?

Thank you in advance for your honest responses.

Also haven't got FM2008, enjoying FM2007 for now, in like 2050 with Chelski...addictness days around 130!!! Please tell me where you found that tactic, did a search, but came up with nothing :( also hardly have time to tweak and tweak...thanks will really appreciate it :)

Cheers

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Also haven't got FM2008, enjoying FM2007 for now, in like 2050 with Chelski...addictness days around 130!!! Please tell me where you found that tactic, did a search, but came up with nothing :( also hardly have time to tweak and tweak...thanks will really appreciate it :)

Cheers

I got it a LONG time ago from the tactics board and it is largely based around a dominant target man that is good in the air. It is a solid tactic and I always know which type of players to look for at each position. I do tweak it according to match conditions.

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I love FM08, and I think some of the new additions are excellent. Of course as with all games there are a few "bugs", but these are easy to avoid, and for £10 (Sainsburys) you can't really go wrong. Only thing is FM09 is going to be out in a few months, hopefully, so you may as well wait for that.

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I love FM08, and I think some of the new additions are excellent. Of course as with all games there are a few "bugs", but these are easy to avoid, and for £10 (Sainsburys) you can't really go wrong. Only thing is FM09 is going to be out in a few months, hopefully, so you may as well wait for that.

Bargain for a game that will last a lifetime...

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If you waited for so so long, you might as well wait until fm09 comes out. There really arent any new features in FM08 that are a must have. Some of the things have been improved and some of the things have gotten worse. If you dont like messing with tactics then FM07 is a going to be better game for you. Perhaps in FM09 players will not follow your tactics to the letter and actually start using some common sense.

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I'm still really enjoying the game.

It hasn't held my interest as much as previous versions have though. The most I've managed on 08 is 8 seasons.

Hopefully the regen issue will be sorted in 09.

Can't wait to hear some news about it either.

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I suppose it depends on what you like; FM 08 is a lot more in depth tactics-wise, the AI are smarter and you have to look at tweaking quite a bit, however the down-side (for me anyway) is the match-engine isn't really as good (too many goals from set-pieces and quite a few 14 shots on goal, no goals, the opposition has one and they score). Both are great games but you might as well wait for the next instalment.

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The regens in 07 are too good, though.

No such thing as too good :D

The transfer system isn't better in 07. Its the same old crap its been since fm05.

Its better than 08. It may not be fantastic, but IMO, it is much better than 08.

ive never had a problem with regens ,currently in 2025 with arsenal and found plenty of good/excellent regens

My first long term game was fine, but my last one has been terrible for quality regens. You can get lucky but it shouldn't be down to luck, there should be alot of quality anyway.

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I think it depends what you look for in your game.

As a "pick up and play" piece of software then I think that each subsequent release will probably appeal less and less to you.

If you enjoy being challenged and wish to do more than win all your games each season with one of the big boys, then I would suggest that FM08 is indeed the way to go.

I certainly wouldn't wait for FM09, because you have already stated that you have no desire to be a Beta tester, (which I can completely understand).

I am of a similar age to the original poster and I have at times been pretty critical of FM08. That being said, after a couple of months sabbatical I once again find myself playinig FM08 again rather than reverting to FM07.

With regards to the match engine, I wouldn't say that the 08 version is poorer than the 07 version, (rather that it is different). (I am talking about the fully patched versionhere).

There are still pretty serious issues, (affecting my game at least), with regards to the ability of "grey" AI teams, the finance model, (which is always going to be a challenge), and the "corner cheat" is still there but just looks a little different now.

The ME is frustratingly more challenging and tactical mastery at the click of a few buttons is certainly a thing of the past, (and I think a good thing), but if you work at it and remember to look for incidents that affect the game rather than real life then success is achievable.

There are some nice new little features such as "best eleven", which unfortunately seems to have been rushed in without being finished, (but is worth it's inclusion in it's current state).

SI have certainly had thier problems with FM08 and the journey from initial release to final patch seemed far more torturous to an outsider than previous issues, (but what the hell would I know about programming anyway).

CM03/04 had the slick & easy pick up and play feel to it that seemed to appeal to all.

FM06 was a change in style and structure and this makes it hard to compare to CM.

FM07 took steps forward after some excellent work on the patches and was excellent.

FM08 was a real nightmare out of the box and struggled with some poor results post patching but they eventualy got there and with the latest patch provided us with a game that is an improvement, (albeit only slight), on the previous version.

I would say that any FM issue is worth the price becuase even if you decide that the changes are not for you, you will have already spent enough time on the game for it to be considered a worthwhile purpose.

I would say take the plunge and give it a go.

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I never managed to succeed in FM07 as I did in FM06, so I didn't even consider buying FM08. By the time I stopped playing FM07, I was reading "tactical bibles" and what not, and nothing seemed to work consistently. I'm 27, I work all day, and I just don't have the time. SI never bothered to explain exactly what each setting did, which just left many players clueless. I remember some people would say team mentality would have effects even if all players had individual mentalities set. Of course, that went against all logic, and I think at some point SI resolved the dispute, but it goes to show just how unclear the game is.

I don't want to win everything with a magical formula, I just don't have the time or will to be a specialist in SI's very peculiar view of what football is and how it works. Of course, having to release a "new" game every year doesn't really help. They don't even have the time to fix all that needs to be fixed (like the assistant manager) or to provide proper documentation (telling players exactly what each slider does). I'll just keep having fun with other games and FM06 until these forums tell me something's changed.

I don't say this out of spite, I just really loved CM and then FM, and it seems to be going downhill fast. Some have argued that FM is supposed to be a management simulation, rather than a game. If that is the case, then that's exactly what's wrong with it. It couldn't be further away from real management experience, and it's certainly not as fun as it used to be. Good night you all.

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I never managed to succeed in FM07 as I did in FM06, so I didn't even consider buying FM08. By the time I stopped playing FM07, I was reading "tactical bibles" and what not, and nothing seemed to work consistently. I'm 27, I work all day, and I just don't have the time. SI never bothered to explain exactly what each setting did, which just left many players clueless. I remember some people would say team mentality would have effects even if all players had individual mentalities set. Of course, that went against all logic, and I think at some point SI resolved the dispute, but it goes to show just how unclear the game is.

I don't want to win everything with a magical formula, I just don't have the time or will to be a specialist in SI's very peculiar view of what football is and how it works. Of course, having to release a "new" game every year doesn't really help. They don't even have the time to fix all that needs to be fixed (like the assistant manager) or to provide proper documentation (telling players exactly what each slider does). I'll just keep having fun with other games and FM06 until these forums tell me something's changed.

I don't say this out of spite, I just really loved CM and then FM, and it seems to be going downhill fast. Some have argued that FM is supposed to be a management simulation, rather than a game. If that is the case, then that's exactly what's wrong with it. It couldn't be further away from real management experience, and it's certainly not as fun as it used to be. Good night you all.

I have very simple home-made tactics for 07 that work very well. It's just a case of using common sense and observing the changes the opposition makes.

(Simple enough that I only have individual mentality on one player, apart from when the opponents go 4-2-4 - then it's two).

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I'd say stick with FM 2007 until the demo for FM 2009 comes out. Have a look at the FM 2009 demo and if that doesn't grad you at all then carry on playing FM 2007. There's no rule that says you have to buy every game SI produce, in fact if you don't buy it every year then theoretically they should then be forced to work that little bit hard to win back your custom and perhaps even try to find out why you didn't buy that game.

I say theoretically though because there are so many people who buy the game even though they think it's poor and then spend months just slagging it off.

I didn't buy FM 2008 as I felt there was nothing in the demo that warranted buying the new game for. The skin was ghastly (though easily solved by the plethora of miles better skins developed by FM fans - the Noche one in particular is great from the screenies I've seen) and none of the new features were essential to the game. In past years demos of new games have often meant going back to an older game was a problem as you owuld be looking for the new feature but this time it was easy to go back to FM 2007, which is the more fun game to play.

I've spent a little bit of time on FM 2008 at a friend's house on a hotseat game but can honestly say that FM 2007 is the more enjoyable to play. FM 2008 just lacks that 'X Factor' that FM 2007 had in abundance (I feel that FM 2007 is the best game in SI's portfolio). That's noy saying FM 2008 is a bd game but it's just not one that makes you want to shell out for money for it. Even at a discounted price I wouldn't buy FM 2008. I would wait for FM 2009.

One of the most annoying bugs - the atendance issue - is still in the game even after all these years where clubs don't get anywhere near their real life attendance and the media module is still very poor and high profile games still feel loike any other game and in the PL the televised games module AI is still lacking. For example Man Utd v Arsenal is a cert to be on TV every season but on FM 2008 often gets missed out for such wonderful games as BOlton v Fulham. ???????????

I have good expectations for FM 2009 myself and I'm looking forward to seeing what the demo is like.

If you're enjoying FM 2007 then keep on playing it.

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