By this point you're probably wondering what the hell I am gibbering on about. Perhaps you have read on incase I reveal I'm on drugs and you think I might reveal my source. Maybe it's just out of curiosity. Whatever the reason, I've got you hooked, which is exactly what Championship Manager has done to millions of people for many, many years.
The bit at the top did actually happen, last Thursday night in fact. It was a fitting way to end it all. I knew that it would be the last match in CM 03-04 I'd play, and possibly of any CM game. The next day, I'd be getting my hands on Football Manager.Incase you don't know what Championship Manager is, allow me to explain. It is a computer game which has been around for the last ten years or so, devloped by the geniuses at Sports Interactive. People who play it apply for jobs in real life, and it has supposedly been the reason for divorces, such is the realism and addictiveness. But now an era is at an end.
About a year ago, Sports Interactive, the devlopers, revealed they were splitting with the publishrs, Eidos. Eidos got the name, and a few other bits and bobs, SI got the game code etc. I know which I'd rather have. About two days after the demo of Football Manager came out; Edios' new version of Championship Manager was mysteriously put back until the new year. Thursday night was the last match I'll ever play in an SI devloped Championship manager. Football Manager is effectively the next step, whilst Eidos' version will have the same name, but it'll never be the same again.
The time I have wasted whilst playing this game is extraordinary, but I'm not alone. It is addictive. Once you get started, it's hard to stop. You find yourself putting off homework, or doing studying at the same time. CM's is simple, but it's complex. No flash graphics, but I doubt they would improve it.
Championship Manager can be played at the same time as doing other stuff, like tidying your room (aye right), doing homework, coursework or the weeks reading for Uni (it's amazing how much more interesting some experts ramblings seem when broken up by cup finals and the like).
Championship Manager can be played at the same time as doing other stuff, like tidying your room (aye right), doing homework, coursework or the weeks reading for Uni (it's amazing how much more interesting some experts ramblings seem when broken up by cup finals and the like).
CM has created some player legends, players who were outstanding in one version or across a range of them. The likes of Johann Porhallsson, Porarinn Brynjar Kristjansson and Andri Sigporsson may never make it in the world of football, but they made it in CM. Simon Davies was superb at Scunthorpe before moving to Spurs (maybe someone used it to scout him), whilst Kim Kallstron got a move to Rennes and is now in the Swedish national side. Other stars include Allan Bak Jansen, Michael Twiss and Paul Teather. They've done nothing in real football, but by god they were good in CM.
Like any game, you can live your fantasies. St. Mirren winning the treble and competing in Europe is a reality, as is Scotland doing well. Taking Gretna to the SPL in three years was a fine achievment in the old version, as was taking Carlisle from their traditional position at the foot of division 3 to the Premiership. Oddly enough I always managed to fix it to avoid relegation. Funny that.
The funniest thing that happened to me regarding CM was when I got a message from a stranger via an instant messaging program on the net. On discovering I was a Saints fan he started asking if Ian Ross and Jose Quitongo were as good in real life as in the game! Most odd.
But those days are over now. It's on to Football Manager for me. Championship Manager will still exist, but will be nowhere near as good as as the game devloped by the brains behind one of, if not the, most successful PC game ever.
The manager is dead. Long live the manager.
The manager is dead. Long live the manager.