Gaming

THE iconic video game Football Manager has captured the imagination of millions of fans around the world.The popular game sold six million copies last year – meaning it has raked in a fortune for its developers.
Football Manager is mostly played in the UK and according to them are close to generating 2 million players a yearCredit: Sports Interactive
Football Manager allows players to take charge of their favourite football team and manage them all the way to glory.
It has also launched players into the real world of professional football, most famously Stade de Reims coach Will Still.
Since its release, the gaming community has expanded rapidly, with last year’s game played by six million people.
Miles Jacobson has been the man behind Football Manager since the first game was released.
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Under his leadership has managed to grow the firm Sports Interactive from five staff to over 250 – with around 1,300 researchers around the world.
Miles told the BBC: “The way that I see it, I’m actually making the game for me – it just so happens that there are a few million other people like me out there.
“Games aren’t cheap for people to buy, so we’re determined to make the best value for money game every year, so people are getting a lot of playtime out of their £40-50 that they’ve worked so hard to try and get.”
Today marks the release of the 20th game in the Football Manager series and this will be the last of its kind – with next year’s game set to be reimagined and redesigned on a different engine.
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Football Manager’s graphics have improved drastically since its release in 2004.
With better technology, it evolved from its text-based beginnings to using motion capture rendering players in 3D.
However, Football Manager 24 is ditching motion capture for “motion matching” which uses real data from football matches and applies it to the movement of footballers in the game itself.
This year’s game will make a debut in Japan for the first time in its history, with the addition of the J-league (Japan’s top football league) also being added to the game.
Another new feature that is set to excite players is the ability to continue from where they left off in Football Manager 23 – As players progress from last year’s game can carry directly into Football Manager 24.
According to Sports Interactive, this feature has already been used by 25 per cent of players who had pre-ordered the game.
For next year’s game Miles Jacobson confirmed that women’s football will be added.
If you are into your football have a look at why Mauricio Pochettimo refuses to rule out managing Tottenham.
Or check out how fans managed to get on the track at the end of the F1 Brazillian Grand Prix.
Miles Jacobson studio director of Sports Indirective grew up supporting Watford F.C.Credit: Rex
FM24 will cost players £44.99 on PC and £39.99 on consoleCredit: Sports Interactive More