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Interactive released in November 2008 for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.
Whilst the game was subscription based, both major and minor updates were provided
within the subscription paid by users. Subscriptions could be purchased online using
debit/credit cards, or PayPal to play on a regular basis, or through boxed copies,
which were released in the United Kingdom on 23 January 2009. The servers for the
game shut down in May 2011.
Football Manager Live differed significantly from previous Football Manager titles,
whilst keeping the same match engine and many of their fundamental concepts.
Users were assigned to a "Game World" of up to 1000 players and created their club
and filled their squad with real players, similar to fantasy football. Players were
signed via a proxy bidding system similar to that of eBay with the player signing
with the highest-bidding club.[3] Whilst Football Manager Live utilised a very similar
database to that of Football Manager 2009, like its offline counterpart, aging
players retired and younger players were randomly generated in their place within
each game world, creating an increasingly fictional environment as seasons progress.
Clubs could choose a football association based on the number of matches the user
wants to play ("Casual" FAs for casual players and "Xtreme" ones for more
dedicated managers) and which play times were most convenient. Each FA had
its own ladder system with a premier league and several lower leagues which were
linked via promotion and relegation. Matchmaking for league fixtures was done
through a "resolve by" system in which users have to finish a game by a certain
deadline instead of having to meet online at a specific time. If a player could
not meet the deadline, an AI "assistant manager" took over their team for that match.
The game also added a role playing game-like skill training system for users.
Managers could improve their skills over time in coaching, physiotherapy, finance,
scouting and infrastructure to become more specialised or to suit their style of
play.
Players could also construct a stadium to accommodate several different fan bases
to the club. These included die hards, devoted, families, glory hunters and
corporates, each offering their own characteristics such as wealth and atmosphere.
There were 12 Gameworlds in Football Manager Live. The gameworld system was
radically changed in 2010 when they were split into two types: 'Fantasy Players'
and 'Returning Stars.' Previously, as a gameworld progressed over time,
'real life' players gradually aged and retired to be replaced by generated
players (or 'regens'). This remains the case with 'Fantasy Players' gameworlds,
but for 'Returning Stars' the gameworld is reset sporadically back to the present day.
The first gameworld, launched on 4 November 2008 was Cantona, and this was
followed by 8 other worlds until the first Pro-Gameworld, Toms, was launched
on 12 January 2009. Existing users were encouraged to join the first
Pro-Gameworld by having the opportunity to transfer the skills that they
had gained to the new Gameworld. This had not been possible when transferring
worlds previously and the challenge of playing the best was readily taken up.
Gameworlds were named after real-life ex-players.
In June 2010 the 3D match engine, first seen in Football Manager 2009 was
added to Football Manager Live.
On 26 November 2009, vast changes to the existing game were announced by SI. The most controversial
of these changes was the announcement of the resetting of all current game worlds to their initial states,
which would commence on 1 March 2010 This announcement caused controversy amongst the community as many
managers were upset by the results from this decision which would include losing all progress made up until
this date. SI in an attempt to make up for this action offered all current subscribers two months of free play
time though this was met with relatively negative reactions.
On 18 December 2009 Sports Interactive announced that it would be extending the free time for its managers until
the reset in March 2010. It was also announced following the outcry over lost skills that they would be
implementing a new skills system into FML after the reset which would allow current managers to use their
existing skill points after the reset. This move was met with great appreciation by the games current subscribers.
At the same time it was announced that the new version 1.4 would include youth academies and many
more extras which its subscribers have been asking for many months.
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