retired_hamed

Question - why do we have to unlock a major feature that we've paid for?

I've no issue with unlocking "novelties" like sugar daddy or eliminating the sack, nor do I have any problem with earning an international job in the course of a career, culminating in winning the World Cup with a bunch of Scottish blokes whose names all begin with M.

But to not have the option right from the start is just off, to me. The format is perfect for international management, a light load for just passing the time away on the occasional bus trip or just before bed-time. It's quick, it's functional, it's fun.

Unlocking major features in a game sucks, whether it's a new mode in FMH, new multiplayer levels in Timesplitters or new characters in a beat-em-up. While the satisfaction may well remain in having earned something, when said something was the reason you bought the game in the first place, it's just not on.

retired_l_c_1030

I agree with that... maybe Mark or another member of the team could comment on it?

retired_cacuna

It was a design decision - simple as that, International management is imho something which people should strive to achieve within a game, allowing them to instantly start as an international manager would have made it more 'so so' whereas now when you achieve an international management position you'll feel you've actually done something special.

retired_l_c_1030

fair enough, good answer and I can see where your coming from with that

retired_amandanb11

Does anyone know if any international job is available? I'm Australian and would therefore like to manage the Australian side, but I thought it may be limited by which area you originally manage in. And can you manage a club and international side at the same time?

retired_konkon89

I like the idea Marc

and yeah u're right, everybody is dreaming of it! and that get us more involved in the game!

retired_cacuna

Yes you can manage a club and a national side at the same time.

You aren't limited to just the nation you started a game in - but the available nations is determined by the number of players active in the game from each nation.

Australia is definitely manageable when you run the Australian league - unfortunately off the top of my head I don't know if it is if you manage elsewhere.

retired_amandanb11

Ok, Cheers Marc.

retired_hamed

It was a design decision - simple as that, International management is imho something which people should strive to achieve within a game, allowing them to instantly start as an international manager would have made it more 'so so' whereas now when you achieve an international management position you'll feel you've actually done something special. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Shouldn't that be up to the person who paid for the game?

It's not as if it's a minor feature that'll give you a small bit of joy, it's part of the reason I bought the new game in the first place as it offers something beyond the previous version.

Will it be taken to extremes? Will we be forced to start in the Conference like the management games of old, and have to earn our stripes before landing a plum job at Manchester United? Wouldn't this anger a considerable number of users who bought the game for the advertised features and find out they don't actually have the right to do so?

There's too much locking of content in the games industry these days. Have we bought the game, or simply the right to attempt it? It's very surprising because the PC game is very open. Everything is available from the start, there are no hidden features (and if there are, they're not advertised on the back of the box) and I feel like I can approach the game and have fun however I like.

Is this a PSP decision, based on the idea that console owners somehow prefer unlocking because it's been a mainstay throughout the platform's history? Because we don't. It's a major irritance, although it's far more annoying in multiplayer-led games where you've to slog through a dull single player campaign to unlock the maps, items, songs, or whatever that you really wanted in the first place.

Anyway, I realise I'm on a huge rant here so I'll switch over and say that the game is still great, I'm still hooked, making locked international management like that chaste girl you've been absolutely crazy about in every way possible but she's waiting for marriage. Or until you win the Asian Cup. I don't know which, but dammit woman put out already!!

retired_hamed

And on a non-rant topic, how big is the on-disc database?

When the mode's unlocked, will we have a greater selection of nations to choose from thanks to the game sacrificing a few players here and there in favour of players from the nation you choose?

It'd be quite nice to manage nations that the on-disc database has the players for, but never loads for a club-only game. After all, a UMD is far bigger than a CD so you can feasibly fit the entire thing on there. Guam would make a fun handheld challenge...