Is this game realistic and bug-free?

Or is it all messed up like FM08 was up until months later when they released the 3rd or 4th patch or whichever it was.

What I want to know:

• Is the 3D match engine (or the 2D, or both) realistic?

• Is the transfer market realistic? Are you the only one who ever goes after big name players and looks to improve your squad while your rivals just stay the same for years and years, like in past games? Is there still that ridiculous "player has no intention of joining your club" problem where he won't join your team no matter how much you pay him? Everyone has their price, but when it says "player has no intention of joining your club," you can offer him 1 billion euros and he still won't join. That's what's ridiculous. Plus SI has no way of knowing which players would join which clubs for what money. For example, playing as LA a few years ago, if you wanted to sign Beckham, it would say "he has no intention of joining your club," and you could offer him 1 billion euros, and he still wouldn't come. Yet, in real life, everyone has their price, and LA offered him enough money, and he joined. So, is this problem still there?

• Are finances okay?

• Is the AI smart enough to try to compete with you? Say you're playing as Man City, and you make a bunch of great signings, and your team is in 1st place in front of Man Utd and Chelsea, and it's obvious they aren't good enough to beat you as they are. Is the AI smart enough to react to your team being so good? As in, will chelsea and man utd look to make big signings because you've improved so much that you've surpassed them, so they look to to get better and sign someone just because you've improved, even if they wouldn't have signed someone otherwise? Bassically is there real word, realistic transfers. Like if Man Utd dropped to 20th place, they would make some big changes. When a good team is doing terribly, do they make big changes like in real life, or not? How good is the AI in this regard?

• And everything else, are player attributes accurate? Cristiano Ronaldo scores 50 goals a season or whatever in real life, but in FM08 he only gets you maybe 10-20 from the winger position. Has he been improved? Also players like Luis Figo, or Ze Roberto (is he the brazilian winger on bayern Munich? The name is slipping my mind... maybe I'm thinking of someone else). Anyway, such players, just because they're old, doesn't mean they're still not great players. FM has always assumed that anyone over the age of 33 loses half the pace and half their attributes and is terrible. But there are a lot of older Brazilians who are still great players, but in FM all their attributes are half of what they should be simply because they're older.

Anyway, how's the game work? Is it fun and realistic, or is it buggy and unrealistic and aggravating with unintelligent AI, like FM08 when it was released (and still to some extent even after its fixes. At least it became playable afterwards).

Also, if FM09 isn't any good right now (should I be waiting for a new patch to come out or something - when's the next one come out?), what about FM live? I haven't heard anything about that for ages. Is it good, realistic, fun? How's it even work online?

Anyway, FM09, great game or not?

I think every FM is bugged until patched.

I haven't palyed it, but the general consenus is there are still crazy transfers and now the regens are too good.

• And everything else, are player attributes accurate? Cristiano Ronaldo scores 50 goals a season or whatever in real life, but in FM08 he only gets you maybe 10-20 from the winger position. Has he been improved?

You think he's going to score that many goals every season?

Also players who are either-footed play better than their attributes suggest.

I never buy an FM until it's patched.

Is it a great game? No

Is it any better than previous FMs? Not at the moment.

When it is finished it might be the best yet, but at the moment 9.1 is like playing a beta.

There were only 2 patches for FM 2008 let's not exaggerate please...

I certainly have found it the best FM version since Fm07 (when I started playing fm). Remember that I am not a 'fanboy' of SI as you can see a lot of my negative posts about Fm08 at its initial release.

- After playing a few seasons with 3D view I will never go back to 2D view.

- I have not found any unrealistic transfers so far; and yes my rivals do sign players that I am scared of playing against (e.g. Dortmond signing Van der vart in 2012). As to 'no intention of joining', I think it's realistic when your team has relatively low reputation, e.g Man City in real life.

- No issues with finances for me so far, currently in year 2013 (2008 to 2010 managing national teams only).

- The macromanagement of AI looks quite good to me.

- Player stats wise I can not comment much on it, as I play relatively low reputation teams with players that I am not familiar with.

I recommend an immediate purchase

It's an ok game for now. It may turn out to be very great after the patch. Who knows.

There were only 2 patches for FM 2008 let's not exaggerate please...

And two betas to fix other issues that couldn't wait until the new year. Both of which caused even more issues.

• Is the 3D match engine (or the 2D, or both) realistic?

What do you mean by realistic? If you mean is it a good representation of football, then the answer is yes, if you mean is it actually realistic, then you will struggle to find a computer game that is actually realistic and FM makes a good attempt at it.

• Is the transfer market realistic? "player has no intention of joining your club," you can offer him 1 billion euros and he still won't join.

Yes, transfer market seems more realistic than 08. As for the second statement, that's dependent on player personality, which is also realisitic. Paul Scholes would be less likely to accept a contract based on money, than Robinho.

• Are finances okay?

What do you mean?

• Is the AI smart enough to try to compete with you?

I haven't got far enough to see how AI teams work, people seem to think there is a still an issue with AI signings, but whether or not that renders them incapable of competing with you, is a whole different debate.

• And everything else, are player attributes accurate? Cristiano Ronaldo scores 50 goals a season or whatever in real life, but in FM08 he only gets you maybe 10-20 from the winger position.

Nicolas Anelka is top scorer in the prem should this be replicated? Spurs and Newcastle were in relegation zones, should this be replicated? Come on, I can't take that question seriously and it has to be a joke if you think FM should basically replciate real life in every way, there's realism and then there's realism going too far.

Anyway, how's the game work? Is it fun and realistic, or is it buggy and unrealistic and aggravating with unintelligent AI, like FM08 when it was released (and still to some extent even after its fixes. At least it became playable afterwards).

It's fun, buggy, unrealistic, realistic, aggravating and unintelligent. It's whatever you make of it, some people hate it and some people love it. IMO some of the things you mentioned in your OP are non issues or unrealistic asks, so I expect you to dislike the game, whether it's good or not, either way why not try the demo rather than rely on forum opinion.

For me it is the best yet but one major bug is teams not playing young players with high potential and good stats - I am in my 3rd season and many good young players (potential internationals) are never played by the AI controlled teams. They are then given frees and retire in their teens or twenties. I have seen big teams pay lots of money for a player then never play them and then release them!

Yes to me best fm yet and im no fan boy as you can see if you search forums i hated demo but since buying final release and patching think the games great.Dont get me wrong still need another patch which were getting on 18th hopefully but in genaral best fm yet:thup:

Just remember it's a game and no matter how many years people spend programming it, nothing will every be as real as real life. It's a representation, and I think if you read the rants you will see there is the odd issue, but if you take away the exclamation marks and expletives and immature rambling nonsense there are probably 2 or 3 noticable ME issues (hitting the woodwork too often, DCs scoring long-range efforts too often, and defenders 'clearing' the ball against a colleague's bum), and there are a few mediocre transfers to big clubs that never play (not as many as on '08, tho), and negotiating with the AI has gone backwards in terms of realism and annoyance. A few other blibs here and there, but that's to be expected with such a massively complicated game.

That said, I'm enjoying the game far more than 08 or 07, so I'd recommend it. There's a patch due out before Xmas too, so maybe you'd like to wait until then.

No software is ever bug-free and realism is subjective. So even without having played it I can easily say the answer to the thread title is "No"

No and No.

and they're not minor bugs either.

Have now conceded eight goals from 30 yards or more in my last five games. They all follow the same pattern too - you pass it around for a bit in the midfield, spray one, it's intercepted and whacked in from range.

Starting to feel extremely cheap.

Is it a great game? Yes, the best of the FM series even with a few minor bugs.

Is it any better than previous FMs? Yes as above:P

Have now conceded eight goals from 30 yards or more in my last five games. They all follow the same pattern too - you pass it around for a bit in the midfield, spray one, it's intercepted and whacked in from range.

Starting to feel extremely cheap.

Closing down. Hard tackling.

Easy.

Closing down. Hard tackling.

Easy.

Yea, if only that worked!

hard tackling = fouls & yellow cards = freekick goals + 9-10 men game.

It works for me (as Newcastle) and I hardly concede long shots.

I ask my ass man a lot, and I look at the opposition players, and basically do my best to counter their efforts. I only use slightly tweaked tactics too. Okay, I only finished 7th, and yes, I conceded a lot early in the season but once I got into the swing of what I was doing wrong I started to do pretty well.

I'm finding it strange that people keep insisting that you can't do anything about long shots when there are plenty of people who don't have the problem. Surely when a lot of people can counter it, the old maxim "it's your tactics" is absolutely spot-on. If people didn't close down the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Alonso, heck - the likes of Krankar, Giovanni, even Fabian Delph - long shots would fly in from all over.

I agree there CAN be a lot if you can't be bothered setting individual instructions (and the "fun" versus "tactics" debate can be had another time), and I agree that centre backs shouldn't score this type of goal except once in a blue moon across the entire season (okay, I had a couple of these from poorly cleared corners), but overall you CAN counter it, it doesn't NEED to be a problem, and it doesn't HAVE to ruin the game.

People seem to float the "fanboy" title about when folk say they have countered an issue but the only way that would fit would be if those such as myself are, I dunno, lying or something. Which I'm not.

The bugs exist, I won't argue that, but none of bugs - for me - are game breakers.

hard tackling = fouls & yellow cards = freekick goals + 9-10 men game.

Good defending training + good defensive coach + targeting the correct players = a realistic amount of yellow cards and hardly any reds.

In my experience anyway. (two teams - Leeds and Newcastle, plus if you count the demo, Chelsea).

It works for me (as Newcastle) and I hardly concede long shots.

I ask my ass man a lot, and I look at the opposition players, and basically do my best to counter their efforts. I only use slightly tweaked tactics too. Okay, I only finished 7th, and yes, I conceded a lot early in the season but once I got into the swing of what I was doing wrong I started to do pretty well.

I'm finding it strange that people keep insisting that you can't do anything about long shots when there are plenty of people who don't have the problem. Surely when a lot of people can counter it, the old maxim "it's your tactics" is absolutely spot-on. If people didn't close down the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Alonso, heck - the likes of Krankar, Giovanni, even Fabian Delph - long shots would fly in from all over.

I agree there CAN be a lot if you can't be bothered setting individual instructions (and the "fun" versus "tactics" debate can be had another time), and I agree that centre backs shouldn't score this type of goal except once in a blue moon across the entire season (okay, I had a couple of these from poorly cleared corners), but overall you CAN counter it, it doesn't NEED to be a problem, and it doesn't HAVE to ruin the game.

People seem to float the "fanboy" title about when folk say they have countered an issue but the only way that would fit would be if those such as myself are, I dunno, lying or something. Which I'm not.

The bugs exist, I won't argue that, but none of bugs - for me - are game breakers.

The people that sit there and shout "its your tactics" also always seem to manage high quality teams...

The people that sit there and shout "its your tactics" also always seem to manage high quality teams...

I don't think that means much if they play the game in a realistic manner. I always manage high profile teams in lower profile leagues, I try to manage them in as realistic a way as possible, and sometimes that means that I can dominate leagues, but struggle in Europe. The reason I claim it's your tactics is because i'm willing to accept that my shortcomings in Europe are down to my managerial style rather than a fault with the game. Most people who complain about the game seem to accept no responsibility for their shortcomings whatsoever.

The people that sit there and shout "its your tactics" also always seem to manage high quality teams...

It's your tactics.

And I'm managing Witton Albion.

I'm not talking about build-up play, I'm talking about losing possession in a seemingly non-dangerous area of the pitch and watching it fly in from 35 yards within a matter of seconds.

The people that sit there and shout "its your tactics" also always seem to manage high quality teams...

Leeds are only high quality in L1. It's a struggle in the Champ and I haven't got them to the prem yet. However, I have beaten Prem teams as Leeds so although I can't claim consistency in this, I'm sure the scenario will work given the same declining increment of quality lower down the leagues and in poorer quality countries.

Non-league, of course, is a whole different game, and I won't try to comment on that at all, hence their own forum.

Haha, another beauty. Burton's keeper gets a backpass, is immediately closed down by my striker, and hits a ball that covers the entire length of the field and lands on the attacking penalty spot, and is volleyed in past a keeper who had all day to come for it for the winner, while two central defenders stand in no man's land despite starting goal-side of the attacker.

I'd love to post all the things testers were looking at instead of the match engine during paid hours, but I have a feeling most would be pornographic.

I'm not talking about build-up play, I'm talking about losing possession in a seemingly non-dangerous area of the pitch and watching it fly in from 35 yards within a matter of seconds.

I've only really seen the problem consistently at corners (poor clearance, lose possession, concede a goal), but I'm sure thre is a solution just like there is in general play.

The other time I've seen people complaining about ("every other game") is when your player kicks the ball up a colleague's bum and it ricochets to an attacker and then you concede again. I see it a couple of times a season, but then that could be luck - or good training or tempo or something else I'm doing unintentionally.

When a team loses possession in midfield and concedes immediately, it sounds like a DMC with high determination/stamina is needed. Hard to say what the problems are with everyone's game without seeing everyone's.

Just to emphasise what I'm saying: there ARE issues with the ME, I'm not defending it outright, but to say the issues make the game not worth playing is simply wrong. There are solutions to almost every minor issue.

Haha, another beauty. Burton's keeper gets a backpass, is immediately closed down by my striker, and hits a ball that covers the entire length of the field and lands on the attacking penalty spot, and is volleyed in past a keeper who had all day to come for it for the winner, while two central defenders stand in no man's land despite starting goal-side of the attacker.

I'd love to post all the things testers were looking at instead of the match engine during paid hours, but I have a feeling most would be pornographic.

I goalkeep non-league waaaay below FM's lowest league, and have conceded similar goals IRL. SIMILAR, I hasten to add.

Personally I'd be less worried about why a keeper with low enough anticipation and concentration to be playing in that league didn't come for a long-ball, and be annoyed with how a GK in that league could possibly kick a ball into the opposition's penalty area ;-). I'm lucky to get mine to the halfway line.

But like I said, non-league is an entirely different game in FM. Their attributes and pitches and managers are so poor I'm sure the ME's caculations are so close that it can't possibly function without a few glitches.

I'm well aware that i may not be a tactical genious, but when you regularly conceded desperation long shots from centre backs who have a long shots stats between 1-7 there's clearly something wrong with the game. And those that just sit there and say "its your tactics" are, quite frankly, not helping matters.

The longshots have been acknowledged and are being looked at for the next patch.

In the mean time, tactics can help prevent it from happening.

The people that sit there and shout "its your tactics" also always seem to manage high quality teams...

I'm quite certain it has something to do with either your tactics or your players. I've been playing a network game with some friends in German 3. Liga (high quality teams indeed). One of the guys is sitting rock bottom in the league table and keeps conceding goals from long shots all the time, while four of us haven't conceded any. Last I checked I had conceded four goals in 13 matches.. one penalty shot, one unlucky own goal from a cross and two against another human player in a match where we were completely annihilated tactically.

I'm well aware that i may not be a tactical genious, but when you regularly conceded desperation long shots from centre backs who have a long shots stats between 1-7 there's clearly something wrong with the game. And those that just sit there and say "its your tactics" are, quite frankly, not helping matters.

I understand how frustrating that would be, but you have to udnerstand that not everyone is experiencing that problem so logically it can't be an issue with the ME and has to be something to do with tactics. I have conceded 5 goals in my first 14 games and all of those have been headers, I don't think i've eevn seen a long shot on target against me.

Another reason I think it is tactical, is that I originally thought there was a problem with long shots when I was using my own tactic, then I downloaded Knap's tactic and haven't noticed the problem anymore. So, my tactic was up the left and rather than blame the game I blamed my own tactical inadequacies.

It's your tactics.

And I'm managing Witton Albion.

It's not just about tactics.

Whenever there is a match engine bug in a game, there will naturally be some styles of play that are able to take advantage of that fault in the game, and some styles of play that will arbitrarily suffer as the match engine does not agree with the style.

What annoys me is those people that have stumbled (yes, stumbled) across tactics that the faulty match engine likes all of a sudden think they are really good at the game, and that nobody else can master the tactics.

I have mastered the tactics and I do dominate nearly all my games, but the faulty match engine doesn't allow me to score at the same rate of goals/chance as my opponents.

If it happens every now and then, it's luck/chance etc = fine. If it happens every other game, it is a bug. BUG. All together now, B (yeah) U (whoo) G (dada).

Now you may have STUMBLED (all together now, S (yeah) T (whoo)...) across tactics that allow you to take chances better than mine, but it is just luck for some players. You may have chosen much worse tactics, and not be dominating games so much, but the faulty match engine likes your tactics.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to pick up where the tactics go wrong by watching and analysing matches. It is luck.

Am I supposed to think to myself, OK in the last match, Torres had two very easy one on one chances where he broke clear of the defence, but instead of shooting ended up heading towards the corner flag and crossing.

Mmmm, is that because we have too high a tempo? I know, I'll change my tactics (which have so far made me dominate every match) to see if next time he will just bloody shoot.

You make me sick...

You make me sick...

Deal with it.

I understand how frustrating that would be, but you have to udnerstand that not everyone is experiencing that problem so logically it can't be an issue with the ME and has to be something to do with tactics. I have conceded 5 goals in my first 14 games and all of those have been headers, I don't think i've eevn seen a long shot on target against me.

Another reason I think it is tactical, is that I originally thought there was a problem with long shots when I was using my own tactic, then I downloaded Knap's tactic and haven't noticed the problem anymore. So, my tactic was up the left and rather than blame the game I blamed my own tactical inadequacies.

So explain to me then - where is the tactical setting that equates to the option "turn ai long shots on"?

Which is another reason why the tactics interface needs to be started from scratch. There's only so much pressing you can do with lower league teams before they collapse on the pitch.

Another beauty! 89th minute, 0-0, central defender takes a touch that sprays it five yards in front of him, AI striker takes one touch and belts it in from a full 40 yards. Long shot rating? '4'. My playoff chances are pretty much gone now but I'm actually laughing.

Deal with it.

Make me, Captain

You make me sick...

Oh for crying out loud, are you intent on dragging yet another thread down to your level with pathetic whiges like that?

Anyway, enough of my tales of woe for this thread. Carry on lads.

So explain to me then - where is the tactical setting that equates to the option "turn ai long shots on"?

Which is another reason why the tactics interface needs to be started from scratch. There's only so much pressing you can do with lower league teams before they collapse on the pitch.

Ah, but you've agreed with me in a way And I agree with you. The problem is tactics based, however, the actual problem with the game is tactical difficulty, which causes our tactical problems. Rather than being an ME problem or glitch it's actually more to do with complexity of tactics and how irritating it can be that one wrong click of the slider can ruin your tactic/game.

Essentially "it's your tactics" is right, but that doesn't answer how hard it is to make your tactics work

Oh for crying out loud, are you intent on dragging yet another thread down to your level with pathetic whiges like that?

_____________________________

R.I.P. Nomis07

It was the tactics that killed him

_____________________________

Thanks so much for your input everyone. Can anyone please comment on the new patch? (I heard one would be released before xmas, and it's after xmas, so I'm assuming one came out). Also, if someone could please post the link to where I can buy the mac version of the game (for someone living in the U.S as well). Thanks!

I have been playimg this game since the day it came out and i think it´s very buged still after 2 patches, like my strikers score from like 1 of 7 one on one situation they get, players stops while running into the box with crossing coming there way and runs out of the box.

I´m at season 4 and i have scored from one free kick and i have good free kick takers and sometimes they don´t even shot at the goal from like 20-30 meters from goal,

after the patch my players stop running for the ball or walk very slowly to the ball.

Trying to sell players are easier, but after the patch when i´m offering contracts to players they want like 30-40thousand for playing a single game, and i saw Valencia sign Gonzalo Pineda and 4 days later he was transfer listed and not needed by the club.

And the defender still forget that the other team has a striker.

Patch 9.2 still feels like a beta, so I wouldn't mind 9.3 coming out before February to be honest. FM 2009 may need 4 patches in total before it becomes the best ever.

The defending sucks. Your team keeps to the middle of the pitch always leaving room on the flanks, and the wingers in 9.2 find it too easy to dribble down and cross. Players near the ball walk towards it, and stop just before reaching it and remain transfixed as if they have just seen a vision explaining the meaning of life, while an opposition player runs at full speed from 20 yards away, takes the ball and scores. There's a lot of weird stuff like that which I'm noticing more and more as the newness of the good stuff in it wears off.

Goalies dribbling out with the ball, straight up to the opposition's striker and kicking the ball right at him, he takes it and scores. Then your Central Defender gets blamed, and gets a crappy rating. LOL.

Thank goodness these bugs are so hilarious, at least you can get a good laugh out of them. :-)

As many have said, it has tons of potential, so I look forward to the next patch soon.

Realistic? No. Bug-free? Depends if you call the lack-of-realism issues "bugs." If you do, then the lack of realism means it's loaded with plently of bugs. If you don't, then the game is quite playable and almost bug-free.

Realistic? No. Bug-free? Depends if you call the lack-of-realism issues "bugs." If you do, then the lack of realism means it's loaded with plently of bugs. If you don't, then the game is quite playable and almost bug-free.

Not really. There are many bugs which have nothing to do with the realism issue.

Good game? No.

Realistic game? In 8/10 cases certainly not.

Bug free? No, even after 2 patches there are game breaking bugs like the defenders and 1 on 1 issue.

Wait for the 3rd patch? Yes.

Sad thing is FM usually needs three patches before it´s enjoyable. Right now, the "bojan-bug", the monstreous regens turning up at age 15 in the national U21-teams, and the ME (the 1-1-thingy and the players acting like little girls on a picnic) bothers me the most.

Not really. There are many bugs which have nothing to do with the realism issue.

Good game? No..

Yes. Very subjective. I'm enjoying it...

Realistic game? In 8/10 cases certainly not

No arguement here

Bug free? No, even after 2 patches there are game breaking bugs like the defenders and 1 on 1 issue.

Hardly gamebreaking. These are realism issues, and not crashes or obvious, truely game-greaking issues like, for example, the Continue button not working or, say, agreed-upon future transfers going to someone else or not happening at all. Neither of which have been reported, to my knowledge.

The gane is quite playable in it's current state. It's just a matter of whether you like it or not. You don't. I do.

Waiting for the 3rd patch? Yes.

Fixed that for you.

Yes. Very subjective. I'm enjoying it...

Bugs are not subjective. Sorry.

Hardly gamebreaking. These are realism issues, and not crashes or obvious, truely game-greaking issues like, for example, the Continue button not working or, say, agreed-upon future transfers going to someone else or not happening at all. Neither of which have been reported, to my knowledge.

Game breaking is when something fundamental doesn't work. There are many fundamental areas that do not work. Choosing not to see them says something about you, not the game.

The game is quite playable in it's current state. It's just a matter of whether you like it or not. You don't. I do.

The game is only playable if you choose not to mind its broken areas. Again, liking the game says something about you, not the game itself. Your opinion counts only for yourself while the broken areas and the bugs in the game are facts. You may like this every year, some people don't.

Bugs are not subjective. Sorry.

That paragraph wasn't about bugs. It was about fun. Fun is subjective. Sorry.

Game breaking is when something fundamental doesn't work. There are many fundamental areas that do not work. Choosing not to see them says something about you, not the game

There are areas in the ME and transfer system that don't work realistically. But, they work. You watch matches. You transfer players. Choosing to confuse bugs with fundemental realism flaws says something about you, not the game.

The game is only playable if you choose not to mind its broken areas. Again, liking the game says something about you, not the game itself. Your opinion counts only for yourself while the broken areas and the bugs in the game are facts. You may like this every year, some people don't.

The ME and transfer system aren't broken, just because you say they are. Those parts of the game do indeed work, because we can all, if we choose, play many years with them. By definition, that means they are not "buggy." They just aren't realistic. You have every right to be unhappy with that lack of realism, and I'll support your opinion. But, the game is only unplayable if you choose to let the unrealistic areas rob you of your fun. Your opinion counts only for you and the general lack of true bugs in the game is a fact, though several minor ones do exist. You may not like the lack of realism year after year, but a lot of people, including myself, see progress and choose not to let the lack of realism deter us too much from our enjoyment of what is, ultimately, a fun game.

BTW, MS Flight Simulator X is the only piece of software that claims near-perfect realism. But it, ultimately, fails to be perfect. I get the feeling, no matter what SI does, you will never be happy with the realism in the game. And that, my friend, says quite a bit about you.