Football Manager 2009 Strawberry Demo

Football may seem simple enough when observed from the outside, but the job of a team manager is not nearly as easy as you might think. Training the actual players is but a small part among the other responsibilities, especially in the case of bigger teams that have to compete against the best clubs in the world.

Football Manager 2009 is the ultimate soccer simulator, that contains an enormous database featuring players, clubs, nations and every competition out there, along with detailed information about them. Thus, whatever your favorite team might be, you can be sure that it can be found within the game, together with its full roster and data regarding salaries, upcoming fixtures and previous achievements.

As far as the actual game is concerned, the basic mechanics remained the same, meaning that the action is still turn-based and you have to make the desired changes in between the rounds. The matches, however, can now be observed in full 3D, thanks to the new engine that has been included with this installment. Fortunately, the older 2D view is present as well, which is good news for those of you who do not have the computer power to handle the new graphics.

Another chapter that has been greatly improved is the media impact on the sport, since you all know how important the press is for a team's morale or its fame. Thus, there are now much more news stories about various topics and happenings in the football world, as well as press conferences and transfer rumors that give you a hint about the possible dealings between the other teams. On the other hand, this can also mean that your failures are much more prone to cause unfavorable news stories about your and your team.

The finance aspect has been refined as well, since it now features much more realistic wages, salaries and budgets, all of which affect the financial stability of your club. Hence, beside sponsors and various competition bonuses you receive for good results, you also have to keep an eye on ticket prices and transfers, if you want to avoid bankruptcy.

Football Manager 2009 is aimed toward those who really enjoy soccer, since the amount of options and information available can overwhelm anyone who is anything less than a hardcore fan of the sport. In the end, this installment brings enough improvements and new toys to be worth the transition, especially thanks to the new 3D simulation engine that renders the matches.