You Know... (FM Related)

[Chief Rum]

...I realize that it's only just recently that Sport Interactive has begun making their games downloadable, but really, they should make it much, much easier to buy the game. Such as a link on the front page, saying Buy Game, Play In Minutes! or some such nonsense. I mean, come on, it shouldn't be this hard.

I bought EHM a month or so ago, and it took me forever to figure out just what I needed to download to get the full game going and be sure I had everything. Now I have the itch to try FM 2006, and it's even MORE difficult to figure out.

Honestly, folks, this should be easier. You could literally lose one customer already just because no one happened to think they should make the site a little clearer to actually purchase the game (I would think that would be area number one SI would focus on with its Web site).

If anyone can give me the exact details on what I should download from sigames to get the game going and up to speed (and how purchasing online is handled with it), I would appreciate it. I have a broadband connection, so size of download matters little. Thanks.

[CraigSca]

Funny you should say this - I tried the exact same thing a couple nights ago. I looked all over the site, couldn't find it. Went to the FM2006 link, clicked on downloads...only a patch and some other stuff. Finally I thought, "the heck with this" and did something else.

Makes no sense to me either.

[Icy]

I searched for it for you, but agree that it was not easy, i got the link from the forum but can't see it on their website:

http://www.shopsega.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHomePage&SiteID=sega&Locale=en_US&Env=BASE

It seems you will get also an extra free game when buying online, Virtual Fighter.

[FrogMan]

chief, pm me your email addy and I'll send you the 100k file that starts the download from Sega. That download is the try-and-buy that you don't need to register until when you're past the 180th day of gametime...

FM

[Glengoyne]

I've sent people to their site before to download the demo for their CM/FM games. Not one of them has been stubborn enough to wade through all of the crap to get to the download.

[FrogMan]

about the SI website, yeah, it's not done for us North Americans. You click on the WSM2005 logo at the top, it takes you to this page:
http://www.sigames.com/wwsm/

where you only get news about FM2006...

Marc? anyone from SI? get a web programmer on the ball...

FM

[FrogMan]

chief, pm me your email addy and I'll send you the 100k file that starts the download from Sega. That download is the try-and-buy that you don't need to register until when you're past the 180th day of gametime...

FMforget about pm, here's a direct link to download that little file:
http://drh.digitalriver.com/servlet/DownloadServlet?productID=38931800&siteID=sega

I had forgotten that I had put that thread from the SI Forums in my favourites over there...

FM

[FrogMan]

dola, and yes I realize I'm beside your point that it really shouldn't be this hard to buy/download/play a game. Just trying to help you get it ;)

FM

[MikeVick7]

Not to offend anyone, but were you looking for FM2006 or WWSM2006? Cause you can't download FM2006.

If this isn't the case, then don't mind me. :)

[CraigSca]

I was looking for FM2006. I hate having to wait for a separate WSM patch as opposed to a FM patch. Just makes the game even more confusing...

[terpkristin]

Nothing against SI Games, but I think they've been a wee bit busy to make updates to the website.

For exaple, I pointed this out to MV MONTHS ago:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/kpilotte/fmxbox360releasedateoops.jpg

And it's still not fixed.

Hmmmm though speaking of FM, maybe today would be a good day to pop my FM cherry...

/tk

[FrogMan]

Hmmmm though speaking of FM, maybe today would be a good day to pop my FM cherry...

/tk
huhoh, we'll see ya next Summer then... Have fun!

:D

FM

[kcchief19]

Hmmmm though speaking of FM, maybe today would be a good day to pop my FM cherry...
I had a similar thought yesterday. I tried CM 2 or 3 years ago based on the reviews despite my lack of interest in soccer and lost interest within about 15 minutes because I hated the interface and decided it just wasn't worth the effort given my complete lack of soccer understanding.

So another thread inspired me to try it again. It took me about 20-30 minutes to navigate the Web site, register and download the beta version of the demo. It looks like there is a Gold version of the demo, but it was "unavailable" for some reason. Glad to hear I'm not alone on being confused by the Web site.

I finally got it loaded and against lost interest quickly. The interface was more intuitive than the previous version I tried, but all I did was click continue for 15 minutes waiting to hear if I'd been hired for the job I applied for. There's probably some secrets to getting started I don't know about, but the beta vesion has no documentation or tutorial, so I was a bit lost.

I'm assuming OOTP BM will end up a lot like FM. Knowing baseball will make it easier, but I'm going to hate going back to a full screen version of the game again -- it makes multiplayer league management a bitch. When you're trying to post in a forum, converse trades on AIM or writing a league article.

[Icy]

kcchief19 you can play also in windowed mode. Go to preferences and uncheck there Full screen (or something like that).<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_969814", true); </SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_969814", true); </SCRIPT>

[Chief Rum]

They couldn't make this more difficult.

Now that I have downloaded the game, I am downloading the patch. And I couldn't find any mirrors for the WSM patch, so I had to download straight from SI. And it says it's going to take 4 hours to download a 90 MB file. WTF? (I have broadband)

Honestly, they need to hire someone to run their Web site pronto, because the only thing keeping me around right now is past experience with the game.

[MikeVick7]

They couldn't make this more difficult.

Now that I have downloaded the game, I am downloading the patch. And I couldn't find any mirrors for the WSM patch, so I had to download straight from SI. And it says it's going to take 4 hours to download a 90 MB file. WTF? (I have broadband)

Honestly, they need to hire someone to run their Web site pronto, because the only thing keeping me around right now is past experience with the game.
Chief Rum - The version of WWSM that you downloaded already has the patch. (6.0.1)

[Chief Rum]

Chief Rum - The version of WWSM that you downloaded already has the patch. (6.0.1)

Awesome. Thanks. Do I still need to download the exe-only fix they have, or is that already set, too? The Digital River slow down fix, I mean?

[kcchief19]

<script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("postmenu_969814", true); </script><script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("postmenu_969814", true); </script>kcchief19 you can play also in windowed mode. Go to preferences and uncheck there Full screen (or something like that). Whew. Thanks, Icy. I feel better now.

[Desnudo]

Chief Rum, the SI website is a labrinth maze of confusion. Since the English aren't crazy, I have to assume it's confusing to them also. It's been that way since I've been playing the CM/FM series.

If you need to purchase and download something, I'd start at Sega's website.

[yabanci]

Just to reinforce this for the SI people, I was going to purchase the download version one night and had the same problem. Couldn't find where to do it, got sick of the hassle, and said screw it. Another lost sale.

[MikeVick7]

Awesome. Thanks. Do I still need to download the exe-only fix they have, or is that already set, too? The Digital River slow down fix, I mean?
Nope, the game, as far as WWSM 2006 download goes, is up to date.

I will warn you that if your computer has hyperthreading, I would go into preferences in the game and take "threading" off. The game will crash about every 5 mins if you leave it on. This should be fix when they release the next patch.

[FrogMan]

Nope, the game, as far as WWSM 2006 download goes, is up to date.

I will warn you that if your computer has hyperthreading, I would go into preferences in the game and take "threading" off. The game will crash about every 5 mins if you leave it on. This should be fix when they release the next patch.
What he said is right about the build number of the downloadable version of WSM2006.

I don't know why it's not said anywhere that this should be a try-and-buy thing and not a "pay it so you can download it" thing at the Sega website...

I'm real high on the game and have kept myself well informed of when the game was coming out but I can see that not only Sega is to blame for not promoting the sales of WSM2006. SI should do better with their website to at least give us, North Americans, a place to go to that make sense...

As for hyperthreading, I don'T have it and the game has yet to crash on me during play. Crashed a couple of times when I started a new game, but I think it was because I was trying to start a game too big for my pc...

FM

[Marc Duffy]

Totally agree, the website at SI is slightly neglected and it's my fault and I will get this all sorted in the next few weeks. I am on paternity leave currently.

[Marc Duffy]

Just to reinforce this for the SI people, I was going to purchase the download version one night and had the same problem. Couldn't find where to do it, got sick of the hassle, and said screw it. Another lost sale.

Ok, as far as I am aware there isn't a "try before you buy" demo available from SEGA or on the SI website. I'll get that sorted (I think it's an oversight from someone)

I know when I got the ootpbaseballmanager.com website up and running I asked for one. you can get it from : http://www.ootpbaseballmanager.com/moregames.php?type=view&id=2

This will allow you to play six months in game before making the purchase

[FrogMan]

Totally agree, the website at SI is slightly neglected and it's my fault and I will get this all sorted in the next few weeks. I am on paternity leave currently.
Thanks Marc, good to see you on the ball. Congrats on that paternity thing ;)

FM

[daedalus]

Totally agree, the website at SI is slightly neglected and it's my fault and I will get this all sorted in the next few weeks. I am on paternity leave currently.First, as Frogger said, Happy Baby! :D

Second, truth be told, the SI website has improved significantly since a few years ago. On the other hand, a lot of work still needs to be done with regards to navigation, load time (for a relatively text-dominated site) and ease of use. Also contributing to the frustration, of course, is the high opinion we hold of and high expectation we have of SI. We know SI produces quality game and we want to get to it! So anything impeding us is frustrating. Glad to hear that you are working on it, though. Thankee. :)

[FrogMan]

First, as Frogger said, Happy Baby! :D

Second, truth be told, the SI website has improved significantly since a few years ago. On the other hand, a lot of work still needs to be done with regards to navigation, load time (for a relatively text-dominated site) and ease of use. Also contributing to the frustration, of course, is the high opinion we hold of and high expectation we have of SI. We know SI produces quality game and we want to get to it! So anything impeding us is frustrating. Glad to hear that you are working on it, though. Thankee. :)
and you know what this thread has made me realize daed? Even though I had the downloader file (the 122k file that allows you to start a download of the try-and-buy") I realized that this link was not presented anywhere but in the middle of the thread announcing the release of WSM2006. This means that since that day, only people who've paid up front for WSM2006 have been able to download it. The concept of "try-and-buy" is just not in effect, at least not the way the various links have been presented over at SI. I'm thinking this is really impending the sales of the digi-download of WSM...

FM

[Senator]

So, I guess the moron question of the day is, "Hi, I am Senator, I want to purchase this new game that everyone is excited about playing. There seems to be some variations. A quick glance at Gamestop shows there is not a WSM available within 100 miles. Should I buy FM2006 from the internet, is it better or different than WSM, or should I just download this patched game from the link above and be done with?"

[MacroGuru]

I bought my copy from Sega, took me like 4 minutes total time.

[Pumpy Tudors]

So, I guess the moron question of the day is, "Hi, I am Senator, I want to purchase this new game that everyone is excited about playing. There seems to be some variations. A quick glance at Gamestop shows there is not a WSM available within 100 miles. Should I buy FM2006 from the internet, is it better or different than WSM, or should I just download this patched game from the link above and be done with?"
Football Manager 2006 is the exact same game as Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006. You can download the patched game from the link above and have the up-to-date version of Worldwide Soccer Manager. Just note that patches of FM and WWSM are not compatible with each other. The FM patch will always come first, and the WWSM patch will follow soon after. The games are exactly the same, though.

[MikeVick7]

Football Manager 2006 is the exact same game as Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006. You can download the patched game from the link above and have the up-to-date version of Worldwide Soccer Manager. Just note that patches of FM and WWSM are not compatible with each other. The FM patch will always come first, and the WWSM patch will follow soon after. The games are exactly the same, though.
You can, however, download different skins and various graphics and they will work on both games.

[Marc Vaughan]

Nothing against SI Games, but I think they've been a wee bit busy to make updates to the website.

For exaple, I pointed this out to MV MONTHS ago:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/kpilotte/fmxbox360releasedateoops.jpg

And it's still not fixed.

Hmmmm though speaking of FM, maybe today would be a good day to pop my FM cherry...

/tk

I passed it along to Duffster who does the webstuff for us when you mentioned it ... please be patient however as he's on paternity leave at the moment due to the small event of his baby arriving ...

[Crapshoot]

Btw Marc, I've been visiting SI for at least 6 years, and FWIW, I find the website confusing as well. You might want to make the purchase link for FM easier - I spent a good 10 minute hunting for the digital download. Might not be a big deal, but when you're selling to a society with a limited attention span.. :D

PS- This is obviously after Duffy gets back. :D

[CraigSca]

Why is it there are two different versions? Is it because Americans can't fathom that football means soccer overseas? How many Americans, who don't know that, would like a game like FM2006 anyway?

[Crapshoot]

Why is it there are two different versions? Is it because Americans can't fathom that football means soccer overseas?

Yup. Hell if I was a bastard, I'd sell it as FM, because people who don't know what it is in the US would buy it. :D

Dola -I've met plenty of Americans who can't phanthom the word football being used for the game that actually, you know, involves playing ball with one's feet. And these are "fans".

[Airhog]

Why is it there are two different versions? Is it because Americans can't fathom that football means soccer overseas? How many Americans, who don't know that, would like a game like FM2006 anyway?


Look at it from the opposite side. Many people might buy a game called football manager thinking it was american football.

[CraigSca]

Oh...well I guess there's my answer. :)

[Senator]

Ok, hell, I guess I will buy the download.

[terpkristin]

I passed it along to Duffster who does the webstuff for us when you mentioned it ... please be patient however as he's on paternity leave at the moment due to the small event of his baby arriving ...
Aw, it was no problem! I meant my post mostly as a joke. Personally, I'd rather SI keep kicking out awesome games than worry about a typo on the website. :)

I really meant nothing malicious by it, sorry if it came out that way. And congrats on the new baby to Duff.. :)

/tk

[Senator]

Odd announcing in this game.

"They think it's over...it is now."

[Marc Duffy]

Btw Marc, I've been visiting SI for at least 6 years, and FWIW, I find the website confusing as well. You might want to make the purchase link for FM easier - I spent a good 10 minute hunting for the digital download. Might not be a big deal, but when you're selling to a society with a limited attention span.. :D

PS- This is obviously after Duffy gets back. :D

To be fair, the current site was developed before we really got working with North America, and as a result it's not that great for certain things.

In the short term, I'll fix the problems raised in this thread. In the long term, I'll look at redoing certain key site elements

As a side note, how do you find www.ootpbaseballmanager.com for navigation and presentation

[Marc Vaughan]

Odd announcing in this game.

"They think it's over...it is now."

Its a famous piece of commentary in England, to the extent that we've had TV shows entitled as 'They think its all over' etc. ....

[Marc Duffy]

Nothing against SI Games, but I think they've been a wee bit busy to make updates to the website.

For exaple, I pointed this out to MV MONTHS ago:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/kpilotte/fmxbox360releasedateoops.jpg

And it's still not fixed.

Hmmmm though speaking of FM, maybe today would be a good day to pop my FM cherry...

/tk

This bug is now fixed

[Marc Duffy]

Just wanted to post to say that I've added a Try and Buy section to the front page of the site, I'm waiting on a WSM file (so for now the only offering is NHL EHM) but hopefully it goes part of the way of exposing this technology to you all.

I'm reclassifying some files and giving them new sections, and also just trying to tidy up some loose ends.

If you spot any problems, feel free to private message me!