Championship Manager 2007 (PC CD)

The lowdown:
Since 1993, the Championship Manager series has been the most popular football management game in the world - for a while it was the best selling PC game of all time in the UK! Ever since original developer Sports Interactive left to work on Football Manager for Sega though it’s never quite been the same. This new version is a definite improvement on last year’s game though, with a brand new interface that’s arguably better than any of its rivals. As well as the new Match Analysis Tool there’s also a new team talk feature and the chance to give individual instructions to specific players. The accuracy of the database of players still doesn’t come close to that of Sports Interactive, but it’s still far from second division.

Most exciting moment:
The new Match Analysis Tool is probably the game’s biggest new feature, with a truck load of statistics to examine at the end of every match, for not just the game itself but every individual player involved. Not all of it is always useful but it certainly does help when deciding what changes to make to your side.

Since you ask:
After Sports Interactive left the series, publisher Eidos set-up their own brand new development studio just to work on the Championship Manager series. Named Beautiful Game Studios, the team is based in Wimbledon with their own in-house research team for player statistics.

The bottom line:
Second best is still good enough.-HARRISON DENT

An innovative new Match Analysis Tool is an ‘under the bonnet’ reveal of statistical information relevant to every player and every game including; goals scored, runs made and shots/passes/tackles made or failed. This offers each manager a true representation of the information on offer to top flight football managers.

Managers will now be able to praise and criticise players in a brand new team talks feature and give individual instructions to players either pre-match or at half time and receive staff feedback on performances. Plus behind the scenes there is also a huge backroom staff of improvements including transfers, negotiations, news, media and pre-match build up along with player and club data accurate up to the closing of the August transfer window, a refined AI system and the introduction of two new leagues: Conference North and South.

Championship Manager 2007 allows you to manage your club to glory, dealing with everything from tactics and training to transfers - everything you would expect a real-life football manager to do without owning a sheepskin coat.

New Features:
ProZone - For the first time, exclusive to Championship Manager, use ProZone for full match analysis – as used by top football managers. This new feature provides you with stats for every player and every game including: goals scored, runs made and shots/passes/tackles made or failed.

Comprehensive data update to player, staff, club and league data - including Conference North and South. Contains all transfers up to the end of August Transfer Window.

International management - Live the ultimate fans dream and manage your country to glory in the biggest tournaments in the world

Overhauled front end interface - All new skins, with ‘Dynamic Side Bar’ and ‘Menu Shortcut’ system.

Team talks - Pre-match, half-time and post match talks. Praise/criticise players and give individual instructions e.g. intimidate/go in hard – but be careful not to start a mass brawl.

Speed navigation (SpeedNav) - The new speed navigation feature allows you to quickly cycle through players, clubs and competitions. Simply use the arrow on the top bar and you will find the game easily cycles to the next option on the quick select menu.

Overhauled player interactions - The player interactions have been totally overhauled for CM2007. You will find that players will respond directly to your promises, so don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.

Improved contract negotiations - Players will now demand more than just money. You’ll find personalities come into play like never before. In the modern day era players are not happy to sit on the bench, so be sure to offer the correct terms or risk losing out on your star signing.

Overhauled news and media text - The news and media has been given a total re-write, You’ll find that every story you read is more compelling than ever before, making the overall experience of CM a great one.

Improved match engine AI - CM2007 again continues to revamp and improve the football on show. Put your team out and watch them play to your tactics and style of play like never before, offering you the most realistic match action to date.

In-game help - CM2007 comes complete with in-game help so if you’re ever stuck you should find a solution to your problem quickly.