Hey everyone, need some help making a decision

[fenrrris]

So I'm waiting for OOTP 2006 as we speak and I'm realising that I'd like to try something new. I already pre-ordered OOTP though and I don't have a ton of money to spend. As much as I'd like to try two or three different games to see how they suit me, it's not an option. So what's the over-arching opinion on sports sims? Is FM the best there is? Is Front Office up to snuff? Does Bowl Bound have a few more hours of quality play-time? I can only afford to buy one other game, and I'd like to be buying with a well-educated opinion. I'd also get Puresim as a baseball fanatic, but then again I'm a reasonable american football fanatic as well. Any advice at all? There's no need to expound the intricacies of each game: I'd just like a rough idea as to how strongly I should consider each franchise. Thanks in advance!

[Franklinnoble]

Well, Front Office Football would be my pick, but, then again, it's due for an update sometime this year...

I like Bowl Bound, and I like PureSim, too... it'd be a toss-up between those two for me.

[condors]

Go with SI's Football Manager if you can only get one other game but FOF and get in a good multiplayer league would be option #2.(although not sure how long it would take to get into a league).

[sovereignstar]

My thoughts are that you should only buy FOF2k4 if you plan on playing in a MP league (very fun). Pass on BBCF and try the PureSim demo if you've got some time. Football Manager is shit hot, but it largely depends on what you know about soccer OR what you are willing to learn. Actually, all the games you listed have demos. Try them. :)

[King of New York]

fenrris,

1) Total College Basketball gets my highest recommednation. Great sim speed, recruiting is a challenge but not overwhelming (you only have to fill a few spots each year), setting your own schedule adds another strategic element, and you get a good feel for each player's strengths and weaknesses. Feel the immersion!

2) FOF2k4: the graphics are so outdated as to be painful and managing a football-team-sized roster is time-consuming, but the game engine is great, drafting and playcalling are always fun.

3) Eastside Hockey Manager: Personally, I would put this at number 2, but for a casual hockey fan or someone with little interest in the sport, perhaps the appeal would not be so great. Sim speed is fast, lots of different leagues means that the replay level is high. The 2-d game engine takes a bit of getting used to, and the off-season moves slowly, but I still give this one a strong recommendation.

4) Football Manager 2006: 10 million soccer fans cannot be wrong. The match engine is brilliant, roster management is a challenge, and your tactical decisions are very important. However, this game is killing my computer: with 3.2 Pentium 4 processor and 4 GB Ram, running just one league, huge database, I still spend most of my time staring at a grey screen waiting for the game to process. That's why I bump it down to #4.

[Pumpy Tudors]

2) FOF2k4: the graphics are so outdated...
the what

[Bee]

Just about all of them have demos.

[King of New York]

the what

Sorry, I mean the interface, the UI, the pixel thingies

[wade moore]

Just about all of them have demos.

Bingo... around here, everyone has their niche favorite... you really have to figure out what fits YOU. The only bad thing about demos is that the ones that have MP will not give you the chance to try that out, but just know which ones have MP and thriving leagues (mainly just FOF and OOTP I think) and which ones don't.

[fenrrris]

Thanks, guys. I think FOF would be my definite first choice, but if it's going to be updated this year I'll put the pass on it as it does look a bit out-dated.
EHM is one of my old favorites, so no need to suggest that one, but it's always terrific to meet another hockey fan.

I hadn't even thought of TCB. I personally find college basketball to be a little lacking in personality, though. March madness is a thrill, but the teams are all faceless to me. They run the same games and have already lost all their real talent to the NBA, which I seem to find a lot more entertaining than most serious fans.
I think I'll download the FM, TCB, and Puresim demos. FM seems to be, if not always the first choice, the best recognized game.
I was hoping for an american football game to stand out, but the Brits will probably take the cake here. Depending on the demos I'll most likely shell out for FM and hope the wait for a newer FOF isn't too long. Thanks for the help!

[Bee]

Thanks, guys. I think FOF would be my definite first choice, but if it's going to be updated this year I'll put the pass on it as it does look a bit out-dated.
EHM is one of my old favorites, so no need to suggest that one, but it's always terrific to meet another hockey fan.

I hadn't even thought of TCB. I personally find college basketball to be a little lacking in personality, though. March madness is a thrill, but the teams are all faceless to me. They run the same games and have already lost all their real talent to the NBA, which I seem to find a lot more entertaining than most serious fans.
I think I'll download the FM, TCB, and Puresim demos. FM seems to be, if not always the first choice, the best recognized game.
I was hoping for an american football game to stand out, but the Brits will probably take the cake here. Depending on the demos I'll most likely shell out for FM and hope the wait for a newer FOF isn't too long. Thanks for the help!

If you're not a soccer fan, I'd suggest downloading Marc Vaughan's tips for Football Manager as well as the demo. It's a good starting guide and will help you avoid being overwhelmed by the game.