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Sunday, 21 January 2007
Saturday, 20 January 2007
Susie
Most people pass off Susie as a shadow of its former glorious self, a one of millions of graphics and the number 1 place for graphicsers to hang out and help out. But in fact there really isn't any other place on the community like it. Susie was started many a years ago by Scene favourite Caleyjag as a place to host a mega pack of graphics for CM4 I am led to believe. Its success is largely thanks to Caley and his innovative Coding skills and his sheer commitment to everything he has done. The quality of Sortitoutsi far outstretches most of the scene. It is brandished as the number 1/ biggest site on the scene.
Susie is famous for its graphics or quantity of them rather. All be it this year has been disappointing on the graphics front Susie still cannot be knocked for quality and support from the scene. In a recent discussion on throw-in, another big boy of the scene, about where you go for graphics, Susie was the main place. Almost everyone but staff members of fm graphics said Susie. The other favourite is fm graphics. This shows that despite the rocky year Susie has suffered it still comes on top for choice of graphics.
However I won't lye and tell you Susie is at its peak. It is a falling(not fallen) giant. Earlier on in 2006 the site crashed due to server problems and took a while before it was back up. Years of hard work was lost and effectively only the members were held when Susie returned. Shortly after re-establishing Susie as a stable and working website, webmaster Caleyjag left the site to a former Moderator:- Smithjurd. The manner of the change was admittedly unsure and done behind closed doors. And being the over-involved sceners we are conspiracy theories were flying around as to what exactly happened, this lead to months and months of arguments and shifting of members and staff. The new generation of Susie was in and the old era of Caleyjag, Cleon and others had fallen. This lead to turmoil in the site and since this time last year when the "old era" was still going strong I casually say Susie has halved its visitors. Even more problems occurred mid way through 2006, such as new webmaster Smithjurds new way of working of either too strict of too lenient led to even more arguments between staff and members.
Despite its problems of the past 9 months or so no-one can deny the class that our biggest site has. Considering the fact that Susie doesn't get as many visitors as it used to its forums is full to the brim with graphics. Not so much on the site but you cannot breath for new posts and activity in the graphics forum. It is by far, the centre of the graphics community on the scene. If you were to look around the downloads area of Susie then look at a downloads area of any other site you will find that none match up to that of Susie. Every day a new batch of graphics fly into Susie's books. It just doesn't happen anywhere else.
Away from graphics Susie is also strong on general FM. Its often forgotten about features like the Staff and Player scout can't be found anywhere else. It is a dream feature that doesn't get anywhere near as much credit as it deserves. It is also regularly updated with decent and readable articles from the staff. There was a dry period in the summer of 2006 but after a brief T.W.A.T.S article from Fantastic at Balls acting as a kick up the arse rectified the creativity of the staff. Now the site is regularly updated with pieces.
Unfortunately the site is rarely projected to the scene as a good guy, its always shrouded in conspiracy theories and bad feeling. Not to mention the shocking state of their server. But we cannot get away from the fact that although Susie has past its golden best, it isn't dead yet, far from it.
Susie is famous for its graphics or quantity of them rather. All be it this year has been disappointing on the graphics front Susie still cannot be knocked for quality and support from the scene. In a recent discussion on throw-in, another big boy of the scene, about where you go for graphics, Susie was the main place. Almost everyone but staff members of fm graphics said Susie. The other favourite is fm graphics. This shows that despite the rocky year Susie has suffered it still comes on top for choice of graphics.
However I won't lye and tell you Susie is at its peak. It is a falling(not fallen) giant. Earlier on in 2006 the site crashed due to server problems and took a while before it was back up. Years of hard work was lost and effectively only the members were held when Susie returned. Shortly after re-establishing Susie as a stable and working website, webmaster Caleyjag left the site to a former Moderator:- Smithjurd. The manner of the change was admittedly unsure and done behind closed doors. And being the over-involved sceners we are conspiracy theories were flying around as to what exactly happened, this lead to months and months of arguments and shifting of members and staff. The new generation of Susie was in and the old era of Caleyjag, Cleon and others had fallen. This lead to turmoil in the site and since this time last year when the "old era" was still going strong I casually say Susie has halved its visitors. Even more problems occurred mid way through 2006, such as new webmaster Smithjurds new way of working of either too strict of too lenient led to even more arguments between staff and members.
Despite its problems of the past 9 months or so no-one can deny the class that our biggest site has. Considering the fact that Susie doesn't get as many visitors as it used to its forums is full to the brim with graphics. Not so much on the site but you cannot breath for new posts and activity in the graphics forum. It is by far, the centre of the graphics community on the scene. If you were to look around the downloads area of Susie then look at a downloads area of any other site you will find that none match up to that of Susie. Every day a new batch of graphics fly into Susie's books. It just doesn't happen anywhere else.
Away from graphics Susie is also strong on general FM. Its often forgotten about features like the Staff and Player scout can't be found anywhere else. It is a dream feature that doesn't get anywhere near as much credit as it deserves. It is also regularly updated with decent and readable articles from the staff. There was a dry period in the summer of 2006 but after a brief T.W.A.T.S article from Fantastic at Balls acting as a kick up the arse rectified the creativity of the staff. Now the site is regularly updated with pieces.
Unfortunately the site is rarely projected to the scene as a good guy, its always shrouded in conspiracy theories and bad feeling. Not to mention the shocking state of their server. But we cannot get away from the fact that although Susie has past its golden best, it isn't dead yet, far from it.
Are We Really A Group Of Fansites For A Game?
Yeah so with the carry on over Article X or whatever it was called here still fresh off of peoples lips around the community I called help but ask the question are we really just a group of lads passionate about Football Manager? A Game?
Sometimes when having a wander around the scene- or rather seeing what Robs been up to at the community Blog- I think to myself does it really matter who is slagging off people over the in-ter-net? After all its only a small part of our lives this scene business. You would think it was a huge political movement or the official community of websites of the world wide web.
The scene is such a big part of the scene that the scene is now about the scene. Not fm. I can't remember who it was who said on throw-in that fm articles suck, or something along those lines. and that scene articles are the only thing worth reading. And I have to agree with him. I rarely find myself reading an article about the actual game itself, and if I do its just a referral to help me with something. Scene articles are more interesting if I am completely honest. If we compare 2 articles of the same age, so to speak, one being about football manager, the other the community. We will always find that the scene article will get more coverage and more general interest than the average how to win the league with £200,000 guide.
Since its the talk of the moment lets use the Site X article as our example of the scene piece. Its had 40 comments so far. Its now 18.19pm on Saturday 20th January 2007. And we will take a personal favourite that was released on the same day in this Uruguay Guide. I happened to be managing Panerol at the time of this release so I found this very helpful. Here it is. This article has had 1 tiny little comment since then, now 18.21, and its only a link from Rob to the community digest. Not a word of thanks from readers or nice job buddy.
Both articles were published the same day. I know that the Site X article has had more publicity due to a handful of scene sites passing comments on it and Pitchside only gets linkage from the portal. But it just goes to prove that people are more interested in the politics of the community surrounding the game than the actual game itself.
It is rather said that instead the community is talking about a cheap and petty slagging match between a bitter scene and the management of a website. At the end of the day we are here to enjoy each others company and advice about football manager. A game. The scene metaphorically speaking should be filled with lads sharing advice and chatter about what’s the best tactic to dominate the international scene. Instead we are told to stop spamming and have to read post after post of O RLY owls and over hormonal teenagers “wubbing” each other up in a gay manner.
The "proper" side of the scene that is actually focused on fm is rarely spoken about on the big scale. Its often associated with n00bs and a "scene career" starts off talking about footy manager but then moves onto scene relations and politics. It does happen. Its a very common trend I have found. Unless you fall into the habit of making graphics and skins you move on from fm and get bored and find yourself posting only in the "spam" forum of sites and only discussing scene affairs.
So why do we feel the need to so heavily discuss the scene? You could ask me why I wrote this, mainly because I am bored and there isn’t anything on tele and I need to save my money for tomorrow so I am staying in doing nothing, and its my Blog, I can do what I want. The events of the last few days prove that we are no longer a few sites who follow fm.
Sometimes when having a wander around the scene- or rather seeing what Robs been up to at the community Blog- I think to myself does it really matter who is slagging off people over the in-ter-net? After all its only a small part of our lives this scene business. You would think it was a huge political movement or the official community of websites of the world wide web.
The scene is such a big part of the scene that the scene is now about the scene. Not fm. I can't remember who it was who said on throw-in that fm articles suck, or something along those lines. and that scene articles are the only thing worth reading. And I have to agree with him. I rarely find myself reading an article about the actual game itself, and if I do its just a referral to help me with something. Scene articles are more interesting if I am completely honest. If we compare 2 articles of the same age, so to speak, one being about football manager, the other the community. We will always find that the scene article will get more coverage and more general interest than the average how to win the league with £200,000 guide.
Since its the talk of the moment lets use the Site X article as our example of the scene piece. Its had 40 comments so far. Its now 18.19pm on Saturday 20th January 2007. And we will take a personal favourite that was released on the same day in this Uruguay Guide. I happened to be managing Panerol at the time of this release so I found this very helpful. Here it is. This article has had 1 tiny little comment since then, now 18.21, and its only a link from Rob to the community digest. Not a word of thanks from readers or nice job buddy.
Both articles were published the same day. I know that the Site X article has had more publicity due to a handful of scene sites passing comments on it and Pitchside only gets linkage from the portal. But it just goes to prove that people are more interested in the politics of the community surrounding the game than the actual game itself.
It is rather said that instead the community is talking about a cheap and petty slagging match between a bitter scene and the management of a website. At the end of the day we are here to enjoy each others company and advice about football manager. A game. The scene metaphorically speaking should be filled with lads sharing advice and chatter about what’s the best tactic to dominate the international scene. Instead we are told to stop spamming and have to read post after post of O RLY owls and over hormonal teenagers “wubbing” each other up in a gay manner.
The "proper" side of the scene that is actually focused on fm is rarely spoken about on the big scale. Its often associated with n00bs and a "scene career" starts off talking about footy manager but then moves onto scene relations and politics. It does happen. Its a very common trend I have found. Unless you fall into the habit of making graphics and skins you move on from fm and get bored and find yourself posting only in the "spam" forum of sites and only discussing scene affairs.
So why do we feel the need to so heavily discuss the scene? You could ask me why I wrote this, mainly because I am bored and there isn’t anything on tele and I need to save my money for tomorrow so I am staying in doing nothing, and its my Blog, I can do what I want. The events of the last few days prove that we are no longer a few sites who follow fm.
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Oh Behave
I know its fashionable to hate throw-in. And its easy to do so, but come on... All they get is stick. I know they bring it upon themselves but we are meant to be a community. A community that's based around footy manager. Petty articles aren't needed are they? Really...
Throw-in.com is one of, if not the best community on the scene. The forums are run great, maybe a little strict at times but so what, members are more or less happy because they keep posting. If you don't enjoy posting then fuck off and shut up. There is talk at the minute of scrapping post counts at throw-in and there was a cool club established the other day. It all looks like Susie a few months ago and we know what happened there. Members weren't happy and did fuck off and shut up.
It would be a shame to see it happen to throw-in. I like throw-in, well I lye, some of it does my balls in but generally the lads at ti are sound enough. Throw-in is one of the biggest producers of guides on the scene. I know that I hate guides because they are illiterate and boast no creativity or sense but so what, ti produces enough and they help me. The myth of getting staff to produce loads of crap is bollocks, most of the guidance I get is from members who do team guides. People like Joaquin17, Hammer, Simmo etc etc. These guys help out the most. Staff don't do a lot to the naked eye at ti tbh. Throw-in also is home to one of the best graphicsers or however you spell it in Seafire. His ideas and production rate is bloody good for the lack of support he gets from his fellow staff and other members. Without dragging on and going all boring, ti is helpful, its not perfect, far from it. But it does its little job and does it well.
However, there is a lot wrong with I admit. Click Here for the latest edition to slagging throw-in off. I have to give it to the writer that hes spot on in many places. Slayer does shout from the rooftops that hes TI owner. There is elitism going on, cool club yes I am looking at you. And everyone is kissing everyone else's ass.
But at the end of the day people en mass visit throw-in. And of late it has been Susieafying (don't worry, just break it down, Susie-a-fy-ing) itself and people have started to question the running of the site. If you don't like it, like I said don't go. Lets put to rest bitchy argumentative articles and posts around the community eh? You know it makes sense.
Only a short post but you got 2 for the price of one today, so shut up.
Throw-in.com is one of, if not the best community on the scene. The forums are run great, maybe a little strict at times but so what, members are more or less happy because they keep posting. If you don't enjoy posting then fuck off and shut up. There is talk at the minute of scrapping post counts at throw-in and there was a cool club established the other day. It all looks like Susie a few months ago and we know what happened there. Members weren't happy and did fuck off and shut up.
It would be a shame to see it happen to throw-in. I like throw-in, well I lye, some of it does my balls in but generally the lads at ti are sound enough. Throw-in is one of the biggest producers of guides on the scene. I know that I hate guides because they are illiterate and boast no creativity or sense but so what, ti produces enough and they help me. The myth of getting staff to produce loads of crap is bollocks, most of the guidance I get is from members who do team guides. People like Joaquin17, Hammer, Simmo etc etc. These guys help out the most. Staff don't do a lot to the naked eye at ti tbh. Throw-in also is home to one of the best graphicsers or however you spell it in Seafire. His ideas and production rate is bloody good for the lack of support he gets from his fellow staff and other members. Without dragging on and going all boring, ti is helpful, its not perfect, far from it. But it does its little job and does it well.
However, there is a lot wrong with I admit. Click Here for the latest edition to slagging throw-in off. I have to give it to the writer that hes spot on in many places. Slayer does shout from the rooftops that hes TI owner. There is elitism going on, cool club yes I am looking at you. And everyone is kissing everyone else's ass.
But at the end of the day people en mass visit throw-in. And of late it has been Susieafying (don't worry, just break it down, Susie-a-fy-ing) itself and people have started to question the running of the site. If you don't like it, like I said don't go. Lets put to rest bitchy argumentative articles and posts around the community eh? You know it makes sense.
Only a short post but you got 2 for the price of one today, so shut up.
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Sexy FM
Whilst loading up fm for another session with the "game" I was just thinking how different this experience is since I first set eyes on the series a long long time ago- CM 00/01. When the "game" actually was a game all those years ago the appearance of the game was not as important of a factor as it is now. The Game could stand on its own two feet and the sheer "nicotine" that filled your lungs when you got to December of your game with Man Utd kept you coming back for more.
These days the "game" is a simulation and I am now unqualified as an experienced manager, despite having a shelf in my room with every edition of the game, all of which well used. I am 14, therefore cba with game in game out developing a tactic. I tell you this a lot don't I? So I will stop there. Basically the game now needs versatile new graphics and guides to keep you interested.
I suppose that's a bad situation. I know that for me FM is a shadow of its former glory that came about in 2001/2002. But since then the games graphics have come on leaps and bounds. When I first got CM it was pretty ugly to say the least, and didn't do anything but stack up appointments at the Opticians. Its panels of blue with the legendary yet simplistic nav bar on the left was about all you could see. It was simple and basic and compared to other games of the time- not necessarily management games- it was pretty far behind the market.
Championship Manager 00/01
It is nothing much is it? But it wasn't required to be a work of art. It was all part of the experience to stay up till silly o'clock in the morning, and wake up next morning not in the morning at all, with sore eyes that sting when you blink. You know you've achieved something.
Championship Manager 01/02
Pretty much the same story here. It was the finest edition of the game was 01/02. I think most would agree with me, in most discussions on the scene people say that 01/02 is the meaning of the series etc etc blah blah blah. You have heard it all before. Again a shit advert for Photoshop
Championship Manager 4
Oh look what we've got here. This is new huh. I remember when this came out, it was a revelation and a complete regeneration of the game. 2D pitches as well, ooh very fly. This was the first time we had proper fm skins that could change the look of the game completely. Its new experience it offered was fantastic to some. Unfortunately the game was late, had too many patches and was generally a shit tip of a game. But it had to start somewhere. Look where we are now. Its debatable as to how good the game is, but hey, I'm hooked. Simulation or not. This was the first of its kind and was a new step in making the game sexy.
Championship Manager 03/04
The Same here, don't need another pointless description.
Football Manager 2005
A new name, a rebirth of the brand and game we all love. This new skin called 'Metallic' developed by sports interactive's Ter was magnificent. It was a revolution and was the first time proper images were used. It was even better than the previous CM 03/04 skin which was also held in high regard. Around this time Sortitoutsi.net was starting to make it big as the home of graphics on the net.
Various skins were available and the skinning community was really starting to take off. It existed before hand at CM Skins and Susie earlier but 2005 was the year that got the ball rolling faster. Susie proclaimed to be the biggest fm skinning site on the scene. And it was.
It was as seen here the big boom year for graphics. Not just skins. If you look at how many skins were available it was a lot. There were more for 03/04 but that page was taken from this time 2 years ago, so the 'scene season is still early. Over all though 05 boasted more graphics.
I don't need to go onto 06, its pretty much the same story but footy manager 07- the current game- is rather new and shexy. The attitude this time around to skins has been more relaxed. There aren't a lot of skins available for this edition is there?
Check This Out
In there it says that he might not be looking in the right place. Hes not, there just aren't any available. And the ones that are are pretty crap. Even Hellenic hasn't lived up to my expectations set by the last edition. But why aren't there any skins this time around?
It is maybe because Flexion- the default 07 skin- is so god damn sexy. I have never seen a skin like it, only maybe Turnstyle III of fm 06 by Ricey matched up. It is the perfect colours to keep you into the game and stop you from turning it off rubbing your eyes. It flows smoothly and I like it a lot. It is a gapping contrast from its predecesors and is at the cutting edge of design.
Maybe artists who previously designed skins find it hard to beat. It doesn't need changing maybe? Or maybe they just can't be arsed like most of the sceners today. Graphics are such a big part of the community now a days and the lack of skins this time around does ourselves no favours. It would be a crying shame if creation of skins didn't pick up.
Our game needs to be sexy, we have become used to it now, we can't rely on Ter only to satisfy us. Get your fingers out Skinners.
These days the "game" is a simulation and I am now unqualified as an experienced manager, despite having a shelf in my room with every edition of the game, all of which well used. I am 14, therefore cba with game in game out developing a tactic. I tell you this a lot don't I? So I will stop there. Basically the game now needs versatile new graphics and guides to keep you interested.
I suppose that's a bad situation. I know that for me FM is a shadow of its former glory that came about in 2001/2002. But since then the games graphics have come on leaps and bounds. When I first got CM it was pretty ugly to say the least, and didn't do anything but stack up appointments at the Opticians. Its panels of blue with the legendary yet simplistic nav bar on the left was about all you could see. It was simple and basic and compared to other games of the time- not necessarily management games- it was pretty far behind the market.
Championship Manager 00/01
It is nothing much is it? But it wasn't required to be a work of art. It was all part of the experience to stay up till silly o'clock in the morning, and wake up next morning not in the morning at all, with sore eyes that sting when you blink. You know you've achieved something.
Championship Manager 01/02
Pretty much the same story here. It was the finest edition of the game was 01/02. I think most would agree with me, in most discussions on the scene people say that 01/02 is the meaning of the series etc etc blah blah blah. You have heard it all before. Again a shit advert for Photoshop
Championship Manager 4
Oh look what we've got here. This is new huh. I remember when this came out, it was a revelation and a complete regeneration of the game. 2D pitches as well, ooh very fly. This was the first time we had proper fm skins that could change the look of the game completely. Its new experience it offered was fantastic to some. Unfortunately the game was late, had too many patches and was generally a shit tip of a game. But it had to start somewhere. Look where we are now. Its debatable as to how good the game is, but hey, I'm hooked. Simulation or not. This was the first of its kind and was a new step in making the game sexy.
Championship Manager 03/04
The Same here, don't need another pointless description.
Football Manager 2005
A new name, a rebirth of the brand and game we all love. This new skin called 'Metallic' developed by sports interactive's Ter was magnificent. It was a revolution and was the first time proper images were used. It was even better than the previous CM 03/04 skin which was also held in high regard. Around this time Sortitoutsi.net was starting to make it big as the home of graphics on the net.
Various skins were available and the skinning community was really starting to take off. It existed before hand at CM Skins and Susie earlier but 2005 was the year that got the ball rolling faster. Susie proclaimed to be the biggest fm skinning site on the scene. And it was.
It was as seen here the big boom year for graphics. Not just skins. If you look at how many skins were available it was a lot. There were more for 03/04 but that page was taken from this time 2 years ago, so the 'scene season is still early. Over all though 05 boasted more graphics.
I don't need to go onto 06, its pretty much the same story but footy manager 07- the current game- is rather new and shexy. The attitude this time around to skins has been more relaxed. There aren't a lot of skins available for this edition is there?
Check This Out
In there it says that he might not be looking in the right place. Hes not, there just aren't any available. And the ones that are are pretty crap. Even Hellenic hasn't lived up to my expectations set by the last edition. But why aren't there any skins this time around?
It is maybe because Flexion- the default 07 skin- is so god damn sexy. I have never seen a skin like it, only maybe Turnstyle III of fm 06 by Ricey matched up. It is the perfect colours to keep you into the game and stop you from turning it off rubbing your eyes. It flows smoothly and I like it a lot. It is a gapping contrast from its predecesors and is at the cutting edge of design.
Maybe artists who previously designed skins find it hard to beat. It doesn't need changing maybe? Or maybe they just can't be arsed like most of the sceners today. Graphics are such a big part of the community now a days and the lack of skins this time around does ourselves no favours. It would be a crying shame if creation of skins didn't pick up.
Our game needs to be sexy, we have become used to it now, we can't rely on Ter only to satisfy us. Get your fingers out Skinners.
Tuesday, 16 January 2007
Meh
Well fm-fusion is taking a while and is under scrutiny as to whether it will open or not. So I guess I will be back posting updates here. I have taken a back seat role recently in football manager and have taken part in the discusting deed(s) of *un-ravels list*; using pre-made tactics from sites around the scene, giving teams a little more cash, and saving before big matches so if I lose I can restart. Basically I cheated. Yes I am now evil, I don't deserve a place on the community and you should all click away right now before I poison you even more with my hideous fm habbits.
Sooo...
A relatively new site by Gobwolf has been completed and is ready to go. Fmtacland.com is the place. Its basically a very small and basic tactics portal that has 3 sections; attacking, normal and defensive. Simple and effective. It was at this convenient little place that I stumbled across a wonder tactic. I can't fault it. RL Barca its called Click Here. I am currently on another Arsenal team using the tactic and am in September. Early days I know but its bagging goals and the team is playing generally very sexy. I suggest that if you are a lazy ass at times like me and can't be chewed with tweaking settings every 20 seconds then this tactic shouldn't go a miss.
I am not feeling very creative at this present moment in world history so I will update soon/ tommorow when I have progressed further with Arsenal and picked out something else to complain about.
Sooo...
A relatively new site by Gobwolf has been completed and is ready to go. Fmtacland.com is the place. Its basically a very small and basic tactics portal that has 3 sections; attacking, normal and defensive. Simple and effective. It was at this convenient little place that I stumbled across a wonder tactic. I can't fault it. RL Barca its called Click Here. I am currently on another Arsenal team using the tactic and am in September. Early days I know but its bagging goals and the team is playing generally very sexy. I suggest that if you are a lazy ass at times like me and can't be chewed with tweaking settings every 20 seconds then this tactic shouldn't go a miss.
I am not feeling very creative at this present moment in world history so I will update soon/ tommorow when I have progressed further with Arsenal and picked out something else to complain about.
Tuesday, 9 January 2007
The End(Well For Now)
I know this didn’t last long, but I won't be updating much/ if at all for a while. I started this Blog to practice some writing and get me into gear for a new role I will shortly be taking on at a new site on the scene. I think I done alright, not many articles but I think I have done OK. I might update if I suddenly get a new lease of creativity that I cannot hold in.
See you not so soon
See you not so soon
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