Should SI remove press conferences from future FM releases?

[DIJRP]

Please SI, less (repetitive) press conferences... So "YES".

[edgar555]

No. But they need a massive overhaul. Most of the questions being asked have been around for 3+ years and the addition of tones is SIs lame excuse for developing them. They literally need to scrap the model they're using and start again.

[Herbert Fandel]

I would love to see someone from SI just admit "Yeah that tone thing was a bit ...naff... wasn't it"

Or launch an impassioned defense of it.

Either would do

[Bracken]

No. But they need a massive overhaul. Most of the questions being asked have been around for 3+ years and the addition of tones is SIs lame excuse for developing them. They literally need to scrap the model they're using and start again.

Basically this, I want them in there as I think they are a fairly important part of a managers job (dealing with the media in some way, even if it's not an actual press conference) but the current model needs a serious overhaul

[cynet]

Remove them because there Boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sigh!

[Overmars]

I'd argue that the in-game press conferences are not at all true to life because in real life you can go off the script. In the game, you are essentially taking a multiple choice test that you already know the answers to. Not only are the in-game conferences dull, but they are an oversimplified version of reality.

[MacZidane]

I think we should all listen to the chap with the multiple exclamation marks and poor grammar.

His opinion is one that should be valued. Always a winner.

But failing that, and in all seriousness, I'm in favour of the press conferences staying in-game. Although I do agree they could do with being, shall we say, spruced up a bit.

[SmurfDude]

They are a load of rubbish in my opinion and I'm sure very few real life managers would bother with them save for special occasions, such as signing a top player. I doubt any manager enjoys standing in front of Geoff Shreeves before and after every match answering tedious questions.

As for their role in FM, unless you pay a programmer to add in thousands upon thousands of options and replies then they will always become repetitive.

[RBKalle]

I can't see how it can be improved though without ripping the whole thing out and rewriting it into something akin to what Hand of God is suggesting above. The current module can never be anything other than tedious, superficial, repetitive and nothing to do with what constitutes a press conference in reality.

And that's the main issue with every flawed aspect of recent FM iterations.

SI are too focused on throwing more and more new crappy icing on a cake that has become stale and barely palatable for a few years already... We keep on "eating" it because there are no viable alternatives and we've more or less grown accustomed to the staleness of the product.

But I really wonder how long SEGA and SI can go on like that... Current FM is quickly approaching its expiry date and frankly a new Match Engine wasn't the top priority IMO.

The basics of the game are desperately outdated and stem from what basically is computer ice age... I'm quite positive a more "modern" code would improve the game speed and the in-game dynamics.

But alas, all we get is a couple of half-baked new features and a handful of cosmetic changes

[TOUGHGUY]

... the player should be given a choice between playing the mini-game and selecting an option to give "platitudes and non-answers." If the second option is taken, the mini-game is ignored with no effect whatsoever (unlike sending an assistant manager) ... the player should be given the option to address specific issues related to the match, opponents or players to achieve a specific effect ... introduce "questions and controversies," basically broader issues

Huh! You saved me from typing a huge post. Totally agree. Limit press conferences in number, expand them immensely in depth - just like you said, focus on specific issues, specific effects - not necessarily specific only to matches, but broader team issues - and get rid of the same half a dozen questions repeated over and over again.

[Guest]

Removed.

They cant be done. In noway are they fun. They are not realistic. They are repetitive and boring. So why are they there?

Does anybody actually enjoy them? If not sigames seriously need to ask themselves why they bother putting them in there.

I dont think many of these new features they squeeze in every year actually add to the game, they detract from it most of the time.

The stuff that cant be simulated should be left to the imagination, like it was.

[MightyBlade]

Press conferences are dire. They are nothing but a clicking exercise. Same questions every time. I know people say listen to a press conference managers get the same questions time and time again! Well... Yes they do but they don't have a choice of 5 preset answers they can expand and adapt answers to the occasion.

[Gooner88]

Press conferences are part of being a manager, and if you dont like them you can just send an assistant

[Ackter]

No, they where removed because AI couldn't (and still can't) handle transformation.

No, they weren't. They were removed because they caused players to behave unrealistically. They had to be replaced for the match engine to move forwards. The system that replaced it was considerably better and resulted in more realistic football, while seriously closing some exploits at the same time.

[Super Bladesman]

No, they weren't. They were removed because they caused players to behave unrealistically. They had to be replaced for the match engine to move forwards. The system that replaced it was considerably better and resulted in more realistic football, while seriously closing some exploits at the same time.

The only mistake, if you can call it that as the timings don't line up, was not removing the sliders at the same time. If only the tactics creator had been about then...

[Ackter]

Sssssh.

No wait, I wasn't a mod then and would therefore be safely able to ignore the resulting forum implosion. Yes, they should have removed the sliders then.

[KingBuzzo15]

No, they definitely need to be more dynamic. It is fun winding up the opposition

[4Five9]

I'd like to see them go as they currently add very little to the game.

There are many elements of a real manager's day to day work that don't translate into a game/simulation. This, in its current guise, is one of them. If you want realism then where are the indepth nutritional reports and dietary advice for players, when do we get advice from physios and specialists such as podiatrists on orthotics and gait altering devices and the progress the players make and so on. Some things despite being realistic, are either dull, too specialised or mindlessly repetitive. For example, imagine having to spend the vast majority of game time on training rather than playing games and transfers, this would be realistic but perhaps, not fun.

A simulation is ultimately still a game and games like this are supposed to be an entertaining leap into a different world. Not a clickathon where you have little interest in what the buttons say or do but rather try to find the click that gives you the optimum result/minimises the negative impact; where eccentricities are excessively punished rather than celebrated ("When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"). Too many games seem to be designed with the purpose of maximising the time the user has to play the game; FM really doesn't need extra time sinks. According to Steam (and I probably should be embarrassed about this), I racked up 1959 hours on FM11 before buying this version! It's pretty obvious that you're getting the game right (and that I should get out more) but a couple of things are a wee bit crap, current press conferences being one of them.

It's a shame because when media interaction was initially added, I really enjoyed the novelty and uses (the interactions that came prior to press conferences) but this seems to be a bit of a stale dead end at the mo. I'm not sure this would be worth the time and/or dedicating resources to develop the AI enough to make it entertaining when there are plenty of other areas that might add a lot more to the game.

[Äktsjon Männ]

I'd like to see them go as they currently add very little to the game.

There are many elements of a real manager's day to day work that don't translate into a game/simulation. This, in its current guise, is one of them. If you want realism then where are the indepth nutritional reports and dietary advice for players, when do we get advice from physios and specialists such as podiatrists on orthotics and gait altering devices and the progress the players make and so on. Some things despite being realistic, are either dull, too specialised or mindlessly repetitive. For example, imagine having to spend the vast majority of game time on training rather than playing games and transfers, this would be realistic but perhaps, not fun.

A simulation is ultimately still a game and games like this are supposed to be an entertaining leap into a different world. Not a clickathon where you have little interest in what the buttons say or do but rather try to find the click that gives you the optimum result/minimises the negative impact; where eccentricities are excessively punished rather than celebrated ("When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"). Too many games seem to be designed with the purpose of maximising the time the user has to play the game; FM really doesn't need extra time sinks. According to Steam (and I probably should be embarrassed about this), I racked up 1959 hours on FM11 before buying this version! It's pretty obvious that you're getting the game right (and that I should get out more) but a couple of things are a wee bit crap, current press conferences being one of them.

It's a shame because when media interaction was initially added, I really enjoyed the novelty and uses (the interactions that came prior to press conferences) but this seems to be a bit of a stale dead end at the mo. I'm not sure this would be worth the time and/or dedicating resources to develop the AI enough to make it entertaining when there are plenty of other areas that might add a lot more to the game.

Superb post, 100% agreed

[themadsheep2001]

Basically this, I want them in there as I think they are a fairly important part of a managers job (dealing with the media in some way, even if it's not an actual press conference) but the current model needs a serious overhaul

Seconded, I want them in, but they need a major overhaul, they need to be far more context driven

[Govnar1]

No, they weren't. They were removed because they caused players to behave unrealistically. They had to be replaced for the match engine to move forwards. The system that replaced it was considerably better and resulted in more realistic football, while seriously closing some exploits at the same time.

I'd like to see them go as they currently add very little to the game.

There are many elements of a real manager's day to day work that don't translate into a game/simulation. This, in its current guise, is one of them. If you want realism then where are the indepth nutritional reports and dietary advice for players, when do we get advice from physios and specialists such as podiatrists on orthotics and gait altering devices and the progress the players make and so on. Some things despite being realistic, are either dull, too specialised or mindlessly repetitive. For example, imagine having to spend the vast majority of game time on training rather than playing games and transfers, this would be realistic but perhaps, not fun.

A simulation is ultimately still a game and games like this are supposed to be an entertaining leap into a different world. Not a clickathon where you have little interest in what the buttons say or do but rather try to find the click that gives you the optimum result/minimises the negative impact; where eccentricities are excessively punished rather than celebrated ("When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"). Too many games seem to be designed with the purpose of maximising the time the user has to play the game; FM really doesn't need extra time sinks. According to Steam (and I probably should be embarrassed about this), I racked up 1959 hours on FM11 before buying this version! It's pretty obvious that you're getting the game right (and that I should get out more) but a couple of things are a wee bit crap, current press conferences being one of them.

It's a shame because when media interaction was initially added, I really enjoyed the novelty and uses (the interactions that came prior to press conferences) but this seems to be a bit of a stale dead end at the mo. I'm not sure this would be worth the time and/or dedicating resources to develop the AI enough to make it entertaining when there are plenty of other areas that might add a lot more to the game.

[Mr Ford]

they need massively improving many a game has been decided in the pre-match press confernece interms of the mind game.

[Sir Stuart Wilson]

Add nothing to the game, have little to no effect in game so they take up unnecessary time. The fact that they haven't been developed at all since their inception shows they are nothing but a filler attribute.

[Ackter]

Ah yes, I remember you now.

Shouldn't have bothered trying to educate you.

[QWERTYOP]

No. They're a part of football now. Most managers in the real world don't like them much either.

[Govnar1]

Ah yes, I remember you now.

Shouldn't have bothered trying to educate you.

Please, educate me.

[Ackter]

No thanks, I don't particularly want to enter into another discussion about conspiracy theories and bad guesses.

Press conferences are rubbish, though.

[Govnar1]

No thanks, I don't particularly want to enter into another discussion about conspiracy theories and bad guesses.

Press conferences are rubbish, though.

All good than, it's kind of being conspiracy theoretician and bad guesser!

[jWaSiMhE]

It doesn't matter that you are asked the same questions by the end of a season because how many questions are there actually available to ask about? Use your imagination. I use the comments bit to liven it up a bit.

[SRL88]

I personally don't attend them, but I wouldn't remove them as it gives people who want to go to them the opportunity too.

[Jibby123]

It doesn't matter that you are asked the same questions by the end of a season because how many questions are there actually available to ask about? Use your imagination. I use the comments bit to liven it up a bit.

Not sure how easy it would be to code, but they missed a trick there on the additional comments part on NETWORK games. If the guy(s) on the other end of the line playing against you could see what you wrote in the additional comments bit you have a big plus to the game when it comes to wind up's, mind games, more immersive realisitc experience etc.

As it is the additional comments, network game or not, are pointless to me in a "you're just talking to yourself" way. Unless you swear, the game recognises that ok which is a start I guess.

[Bracken]

To elaborate on my previous post, I think Press Conferences can be important, both in the game and in real life. Who doesn't remember Mourinho's first press conference at Chelsea? It set the tone for the way he would work with the players, the press and other managers, and it definitely had an impact on the players and the fans. And remember Benitez's list? Again, it had an impact. If press conferences are implemented correctly in the game, they could have the same impact. I think there should be fewer of them, to enhance the impact they have on important occasions (rival games, big games, new transfers, or whenever the user chooses to hold one).

I think what we need however is a dramatic makeover of the media module. The press should be far more active, I don't want to just be asked about players I might sign, but I want them to be constantly making stories about who I might be selling, who might be replacing me, whether I'm about to move clubs, that my player is unhappy with my management etc. These stories may, or may not, be true, but should have an impact on my players and the fans, and I as a manager should be able to decide how to respond to them. That could be through an interview with whoever posted the story, a press conference, or just through player interaction.

For example, currently my players come to me when they want a new contract, I'd like to see them go to the press, and I have to deal with it through the press or privately. It should create a narrative about the player possibly leaving or being unhappy, all things that should come up in any press conference or interview.

Basically, it should be more immersive and more reactive. The media has permeated almost every level of the footballing world now, and that should be reflected in FM

[kingfisher-blue]

Definitely Not. It`s part of todays football world. But it should be improved.

[jWaSiMhE]

As it is the additional comments, network game or not, are pointless to me in a "you're just talking to yourself" way. Unless you swear, the game recognises that ok which is a start I guess.

The whole concept of playing FM (not counting network games) is all about talking to yourself anyway. or at least you are creating a detached fantasy in your own mind if you get what I mean.

[hluraven]

I definitely think they should stay - but at lower levels they should be far less frequent. In my team's 120 year history, we have been involved in a number of press conferences you can count on one hand in real life, in FM it is nearer 40 per season at BSS level.

I can cope with them being boring, repetitive and having barely any impact, that is all reasonable and realistic, but it is not realistic to expect part-time managers at obscure clubs to go through two a week.

[Lawlore]

They way they are implemented, they are boring and repetitive. This is because, as others have mentioned, they stick rigidly to the same topics, with exactly the same wording, the same questions, the same answers.

They've long needed to be developed, but the way in which they have been developed (by adding tones which alter the text of the PC report by one word) was lazy.

Simply adding a much, much larger variety of questions, and a wider selection of answers, is a starting point. Even without going into controversial areas that would cause licensing issues, there is enough in the game to allow a far greater variety of angles from which journalists approach you.

And this is another point- these journalists allegedly have personality traits. Use it. Show it. Pitch the questions from them in a way appropriate to their personality, and their opinion of you. If someone is aggressive and doesn't like you, spin the report that way regardless of your answer.

"Manager X out to kill football by packing the defence"

"Nothing subtle about Manager X's attack, attack, attack game"

"Manager X: Player Y is staying, like it or not."

And, of course, vice versa, where someone who likes you and is friendly spins everything in a nice way.

"Manager X: I'd love for Player Y to stay."

etc.

And mix up the answers- at the moment, the STRONG AGREE - AGREE - NEUTRAL - DISAGREE - STRONG DISAGREE style is only contributing to the repetition. And I'm not simply talking about randomising the order of those, but of having more complex reactions from any choice. There's already a hint of it when you say something outlandish, with the "glad to see his manager has a sense of humour" response (for example), but it could be developed so much more- even moreso if the tones had some actual influence. Responses to questions aren't that black and white, they aren't going to affect everyone in the same way, and people don't want to answer in the same way.

An example: I'm being asked about whether I'm concerned about the opposition's star striker. Standard question, and my answer is the disagree one, essentially recognising he's a threat but that there are ten other players to worry about.

Cautious response: Obviously Z has talent, but it'd be naive to ignore the rest of the team.

Aggressive response: What, and ignore the other ten players on the pitch? Yeah, that'd be smart.

Assertive response: No, Z is just one player, and we're facing the whole team.

Reluctant response: I'm not sure I agree with that- there's more to the team than just Z.

etc.

[Jibby123]

The whole concept of playing FM (not counting network games) is all about talking to yourself anyway. or at least you are creating a detached fantasy in your own mind if you get what I mean.

Got you, but meant more that the 'additional comments' part in press conferences really is talking to yourself on game, as in it has no effect to the game, you might as well imagine yourself saying it rather than typing it out; even on network games when it could actually be an amusing/frustrating part or addition in playing human v human (having no idea how easy that would be to code admittedly).

[chesterfan2]

I agree that they can be made to be alot better, more varied in terms of questions and answers at the very least, but I see them more as a work in progress and something that will improve given time.

[tigerhgrrrrrr]

Surely this is a module within the game and as such could be swithced on or off. Should have that option especially as Ass Man doing them is still influencial but at the whims of the Ass Man's abilities.

Actually I think they add flavour but are just another thing to have to better or lose.

[x42bn6]

The very fact that they are mundane and boring in reality was pretty much a sign it should never have been "revamped" in the first place, really. Although I guess some people get a kick out of the mundane.

Just make it optional. It's not that hard.

[Herbert Fandel]

Just make it optional. It's not that hard.

I can see it now, Miles sat in next years promotional video grinning away as he struggles with the facial contortions required to tell us all about FM14's leading brand new feature...

"We have made huge changes to the press module to make the game even more enjoyable for all our players, completely revamping the way in which the majority of players go about the day-to-day tasks of being a real-life football manager, we have made the press-conferences optional..."

Don't encourage them to just make it optional. Logical as it sounds it will give them an excuse to add in an on/off switch, call it a new feature and be done with it.

Encourage them to actually put in some effort and make the module half decent.

[SmurfDude]

I can see it now, Miles sat in next years promotional video grinning away as he struggles with the facial contortions required to tell us all about FM14's leading brand new feature...

"We have made huge changes to the press module to make the game even more enjoyable for all our players, completely revamping the way in which the majority of players go about the day-to-day tasks of being a real-life football manager, we have made the press-conferences optional..."

Don't encourage them to just make it optional. Logical as it sounds it will give them an excuse to add in an on/off switch, call it a new feature and be done with it.

Encourage them to actually put in some effort and make the module half decent.

Making something like press conferences enjoyable to the masses isn't feasible, so there's really no point encouraging them to improve it. The human language and communication is far, far too dynamic to make features like this enjoyable in the long-term. The AI would need to be so ridiculously sophisticated to keep them interesting for longer than 5 minutes, and that sort of AI just doesn't exist

[lam]

They need work, but should not be removed. They are great for messing with heads, beit a positive or negative game.

If you don't like them, then get an AM that can handle them and give them to him......simples.

[ChelseaAllTheWay]

Press conference need a lot of work but shoul not be removed! Everytime we speak to the press, present a player we just bought or anything else, the questions are always the same and it annoying. They should rethink that, take time to transform it into a fun way and that it matter more. Because if you are a manager that speak to the press or always send you assistant manager, it doesn't really matter! But in the real world, if we take the example of Mourinho, some clubs would not take him because of his records in front of the press..

[x42bn6]

I can see it now, Miles sat in next years promotional video grinning away as he struggles with the facial contortions required to tell us all about FM14's leading brand new feature...

"We have made huge changes to the press module to make the game even more enjoyable for all our players, completely revamping the way in which the majority of players go about the day-to-day tasks of being a real-life football manager, we have made the press-conferences optional..."

Don't encourage them to just make it optional. Logical as it sounds it will give them an excuse to add in an on/off switch, call it a new feature and be done with it.

Encourage them to actually put in some effort and make the module half decent.

Since it's mundane and boring in real-life, the ultimate press conference module would be mundane and boring.

I mean, look at Cleverbot. Cleverbot's responses are based on what its previous conversations are like - in the tens of millions. Clearly, slimming it down just for football would cut it down substantially but you are talking thousands of conversations in itself.

Something like Cleverbot would be the way to go but would you put all your faith in something that simply can't be tested and will inevitably spit out nonsense?

If you go down the approach of just giving the module more questions, answers and phrases, that scales out really badly and is arguably wasted effort. Especially since you will need thousands just to make it feel not repetitive. Just look at your song list on your music player on your computer - you need hundreds of songs and you still occasionally hear one song at least twice daily. And that's fully random - you will have specific, targeted categories for press questions.

[Jelboo]

Not remove, but improve. They're a part of being a manager!

[Govnar1]

They need work, but should not be removed. They are great for messing with heads, beit a positive or negative game.

If you don't like them, then get an AM that can handle them and give them to him......simples.

Does anyone take real life football press conferencies siriously?

[Federico]

Remove them from universe. I don't trust my assistant so im FORCED to attend to all of them. I don't EVEN read the questions anymore it's just a quick click on the answer I KNOW it's the right answer. Adding tones IT'S NOT an improvement. It's just a further button to click on.

Useless, silly, repetitives, boring, time-wasting. You say PC are part of real life of a manager. In real life you're not being asked 20 questions, the same 20 questions for years and years and years every single match you play, whatever the league or cup match you're going to play.

[x42bn6]

Does anyone take real life football press conferencies siriously?

Only on occasion, I think. For example, the Charles Insomnia incident, or Kevin Keegan lovin' it.

I suppose the press care and that influences players somewhat, but at the top level, you'd think that these matter less with agents and representatives around, who know way more about what is happening "on the ground" than the press.

[Govnar1]

Not remove, but improve. They're a part of being a manager!

Sleeping, eating, driving to work and traveling are all parts of being manager. Should SI include sleeping/eating/driving/traveling mini games in FM14 as well?