I thought I’d start a thread on FM 2024, since there was a rousing discussion of the game in the thread on Out of the Park Baseball, and as far as I can tell FM24 does not have its own thread. Plus, I finally installed and played the game, which is available on GamePass. I’ve never played the franchise before. I’m glad I’ve given a try! I’ve started a career mode as Manchester United.
I think OOTP could learn a thing or three from this game. Career mode models all sorts of interesting things that could be applied to baseball. E.g., there’s a detailed screen about not only team chemistry but also the players’ “social hierarchy.” I had to make all sorts of interesting hiring and firing decisions. I had to attend a coaches’ meeting, a player meeting, and field a dozen difficult questions at a press conference. During the team meeting, I dismayed my players by insisting we’d contend for the Premier League championship. The game let me walk back my comments, but a couple players were still eyeing me warily. I also have to decide things like captaincy, and in one contract negotation, a player wants the assistant captaincy, which would require me to strip it from someone else. I had to make decisions about who needed extra conditoning. I deferred to my staff on who to play where, as I know next to nothing about the team or its players, but a competent manager has free rein over all that.
But I was surprised that most fun of all was just playing a match. My first was an intra-squad friendly. I chose to pit the team’s first 11 vs its second 11. I hollered encouragement and instructions from the sidelines. (Again, OOTP, why not let us managers holler from the dugout like this?) After a few minutes of live play, the game shifted to highlights; both sides had exciting chances, but the game remained scoreless until 2 minutes left in regulation play. Abruptly the first 11 scored two goals in quick succession, one by midfielder Jadon Sancho, the other by striker Mason Greenwood. It ended 2-0. Really fun to watch it play out.
I am not competent to decide many of the questions the game asks me, lol. E.g., tactics – I have no clue! I am no expert on football (soccer); I’m a casual fan at most. (Interestingly, my American high school did not play American football – only what my English dad used to call “proper football.”) I made no substitutions at all in my little friendly match, which must be coaching malpractice. I’ll try to work up the courage to be more active, lol.
A couple questions in the meantime. First, I can’t figure out who my captain and assistant captain(s) are. Anyone know where I find this info? Second, uh, what should my team goal be? Do I have some say over which events we’ll participate in eventually?
Also, I’m intrigued that the star player on my team is Raphael Varane (who I gather has now retired?), a defensive back. I can see that he has awesome defensive skills, and he has worldwide fame as a result. In fact, he made a couple highlight defensive plays in my friendly game. (He’s also quite injury-prone, which I imagine might have contributed to his decision to retire.) But are there stats that quantify his value? Ice hockey has some of the same dynamic: it’s easy to assess the value of forwards – do they score goals and make assists? It’s harder to assess the value of defensemen. Sure, goals and assists still count, but many D-men are prized for shot-blocking or more obscure analytical stats. I see FM eventually will give me some analytical data, and even now it gives players ratings, with Varane among the highest-rated.
Anyway, I’m super impressed with this game, and I will play on. It’s interesting that the game is touting its switch to the Unity engine for FM 2025. I’m sorta surprised they weren’t using it already; even I use Unity for my gamedev, lol. Anyway, I will certainly be getting that iteration when it arrives, which won’t be for a while. In the meantime, Gamepass users, give FM2024 a try. :)
