Sports Interactive to Add MLS to Football Manager 2005

[kevruth]

I just received this announcement from Sports Interactive (the former Championship Manager makers) about Football Manager 2005:

Los Angeles E3 Expo : It's been revealed by Sports Interactive Managing Director Miles Jacobson that a deal has been concluded with the MLS which will not only see the MLS league in Football Manager 2005 (and sequals) but will also see the game released in North America through Sega, and called 'MLS Manager 2005' in the US.

Visit http://www.sigames.com for further details as we get them

This is great news. :)

[MetroAndAGuinessPlz]

Great news! Any word on release dates?

[kevruth]

Great news! Any word on release dates?

They are expected to release the game in late 2004. Now whether that includes the U.S. release at the same time or not I don't know. I doubt I will wait for the U.S. release and just get the UK version since who knows what other things might be different with the MLS version from the rest of the world.

[XaviusX]

"It's been revealed by Sports Interactive managing director Miles Jacobson that a deal has been concluded with the MLS which will not only see the MLS league in Football Manager 2005 (and sequals) but will also see the game released in North America through Sega, and called "MLS Manager 2005" in the US."


This is great! I have CM4, but I refused to buy the version after that, 'cause it didn't include MLS and the A-League. But now with this news, I will definitely buy it this year.

[DutchFootballRulez]

Well, since both Football Manager and MLS Manager will be exactly the same, one could order from Europe except for shipping times and what-not

[Anteaters FC]

MLS Manager? I have no clue on the business side of this, but how did MLS swing that? I mean, it's not called EPL Manager in England, Serie A Manager in Italy, etc.

Awful name, but great news to hear that I can buy it here. Not a bad tradeoff.

[Goodsport]

This is great! I have CM4, but I refused to buy the version after that, 'cause it didn't include MLS and the A-League. But now with this news, I will definitely buy it this year.

Same here! :cool:


-G

[Goodsport]

Well, since both Football Manager and MLS Manager will be exactly the same, one could order from Europe except for shipping times and what-not

If MLS Manager is to be released shortly after Football Manager (like a week, for example), then I would definitely wait for MLS Manager. That'll show SI and Sega that an MLS-branded product can sell here. :)


-G

[DutchFootballRulez]

Good point..maybe I'll wait for MLS Manager..but it does depend on the delay. However, the longer the wait the better the information on bugs and patches will be available.

[Sluggo12]

Sounds to me like only the title/packaging will be different for the US release. It seems like SI wouldn't be too keen on signing a promotional deal that forces them to release two substantially different games-- would they go to that sort of trouble for the US market, which, considering that this is a soccer management sim, will be one of their weaker markets in terms of sales?

Did this deal include licensing and logos for MLS? I haven't read all the fine details-- it would be nice if it did, as I believe there hasn't been licensing for the other leagues in previous versions, correct?

[DutchFootballRulez]

I believe the logos will be there as well. And hopefully players' faces on their profile screens. But no it won't be 2 Different versions. FM willbe the same as MLS Manager.

[Sluggo12]

It'll be nice to have it readily available here in the States instead of having to have it shipped overseas.

[LaBella]

Keeping my fingers crossed it comes out the same time as FM5... I'm addictedt o CM4 but need an upgrade :)

[DutchFootballRulez]

LaBella, I'd recommend upgrading your PC in the mean time. FM 2005 will have higher Memory and Speed requirements. Even CM 03/04 ran slower on the same machines as CM4. So we all will need to consider upgrading our CPUs and Memory.

[NASL Fan]

MLS Manager? I have no clue on the business side of this, but how did MLS swing that? I mean, it's not called EPL Manager in England, Serie A Manager in Italy, etc.



Well, they couldn't call it Football Manager because people stateside would think it was an NFL or College Football game with quarterbacks and field goals. Right? That leaves Soccer Manager or somesuch but that sounds lame. But I bet you're right in that MLS gave them so break on the rights in exchange for the free advertising of the name...