OK, so I haven't played an MMO since FML shut down. Thats over 2 years ago.
Unless you count something like Clash of Clans or Kingdom's of Camelot, which you surely can't!
So I saw articles about a 4000 person battle and a £9k real money ship being killed and thought there must be some hype. FML players know only too well that a 10 year+ game life must be something special.
I am downloading now and preparing to choose my race and style, I think I'm going to try mining and then who knows. Unfortunately smuggling isn't an option otherwise I'd be Hans Morgan and have a teddy bear called Chewbacca sat next to me... but enough of my Star Wars fantasy.
I don't really wan't to be a trader as I do enough math, negotiating and thinking at work.
In Ultimate Football Live development news we have reset the economy and are working on the primitive alpha economy. My thought is to start it really tight and then just encourage activity with mass inflation. Which will cause more spending and test infrastructure and transfer stability more. I will tidy up the economy in the later alpha versions. But first thing is to get people doing the basics. Buying, selling, leagues and playing games.
OK more updates to come soon.
See you on the other side...
(I really need a kind of Space reference - To infinity and beyond..... I'll work on this for next time).
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Monday, 13 May 2013
Heroes and Villains
So I robbed the title of a Villa fanzine and never really blog about them but I am a season ticket holder and it is the time to get thinking as a Villa fan. My Football Manager 14 cap on and what I would like to see, and think will happen at Villa Park.
First we have 1 week left and Wigan have to beat Arsenal (away), Sunderland beat Spurs (away) and we then have to lose to Wigan to go down. We should be ok, although Benteke showed that he is human and is young with his red card against Chelsea. He cost s the game and created an outside chance that he will have cost us the season that he did a huge job at saving.
If we do stay up the summer will be dictated by who stay and who goes. We have seen Stan Petrov go, and Richard Dunne who has been around training for a few months appears to be next. I imagine Shay will graciously move on, some one will give him a game in the Prremiership I'm sure, Wigan, Norwich and Southampton could be takers or if any of the youngsters like Krul or Begovic move he would be a great interim. This would mark the end of O'Neill's big money boys.
You look at the like of Ireland, who will be available if anyone who would buy him, although it would be a gamble for any takers. The 8m value he had in the part exchange now a distant dream, and the benfit from moving him on would only be salary and dressing room harmony.
I think the final for sale character is Darren Bent. Now I wouldn't sell him, but he didn't want to sit on the bench for a top 6 Tottenham team so a bottom 6 team, behind a 21 year old and I think he'll be going. For a slice of the £18+ deal. It is a shame as he proved potent at Villa, but a season on the bench and people will smell a deal. If West Ham don't sign Carroll he could rock up there. Fulham, Everton, and Stoke could also be his destination.
Others who could go are McLeish's last stand Holman, who has done decent in sporadic sub appearances, N'zogbia, who despite being resurgent still struggles to remain first team, Albrighton who lacks the work ethic for a Lambert team in my opinion. I fear for Bannan, who has never quite lived up to the hype. With Given, Dunne, Petrov, Bent and Ireland represent about 250k a week, and the young lads who kept us up will see a serious pay day i'm sure.
The people we don't sell is obviously more important. Lowton, Weimann and Benteke have all been linked away. I think the 3 would be mad to move. Guaranteed first team football at a team with lower expectations is a great way to develop your trade. But keeping these 3 from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs respectively is as big as any new signings. If we stay up I think they will stay.
After that we start building and the Lambert approach is to buy young. We remain weak at the back with 3 recognised centre halves in Baker, Clark and Vlaar I think this may be first port of call. To me Clark is a better holding midfielder than defender and some new blood will help solid us up in the area we have definately been weakest. Personally I think Scharner may be a shout from Wigan if they do drop, but the youth approach may lead us to a younger player from the Championship. Tom Lees at Leeds could be a punt, although I would favour a more mature head. Lescott is the dream, he would calm a yound team and improve our poor defensive set pieces single handedly, but I may be getting carried away.
At full back we have Lowton, and then the less concrete Stevens, Bennet, Lichaj. We have trialled Clark and Baker at left back Each of these has their merits and weaknesses but I think a left back may be on the cards. Creswell was Lambert's first choice and he may go back for him. I would have a look at Danny Rose if he was available, he would be very exciting. But that depends on Tottenham.
In midfield we hold with Westwood, Delph, Sylla, Bannan, El Ahmadi and a returning Gardner. I think KEA has more to give and hope we can see it but if Gardner is going to crack it I think and hope next year will be his time. A goal scoring midfielder would add so much to Lambert's approach and youth football say he could be the guy. Westwood, Delph and Sylla become more acomplished in each close season performance. Signing in this area I think is very unlikely, but selling Bannan become even more possible with the strength of these other 5 plus the potential in players like Carruthers could be due a look in too. Especially in the more aggressive shape he plays when he uses a midfielder in the hole.
He does opt for a 3 up top approach with strikers on the wing. The athleticism of Gabby and work rate of Weimann lend them perfectly to this. But the signing of Dawkins proved he saw a need to back this up. N'Zogbia could do this and the manager obviously fancies Bowery, but with these guys representing out strikers and in N'Zogbia's case in the hole midfielder's too, I think another face may be required. Again Carruthers and potentially Burke who I like the look of could do a job here. But maybe Callum McMannaman if Wigan go down could be a move. If Scott Sinclair becomes available I would be straight onto that. Even matching the 8m Man City paid, he could be shades of Gabby.
Up top we have Benteke and if he stays we will be a threat. Power, pace, control and a coolness in front of goal. Gabby and Weimann have contributed from the wings, but I fear for Weimann's ability to control play up top alone. Bowery definitely has a physical element, and think he may be a great prospect. Would love to see him get a goal, possibly against Wigan in the big mans absence. A signing here may be greedy, and I think someone like Sinclair would be much more likely, but if Lambert has another Benteke in line no one would say no to that.
Things will look up at Villa next year, the future is definately bright and we have potential to burn.
As long as the unlikely doesn't happen this week obviously.
First we have 1 week left and Wigan have to beat Arsenal (away), Sunderland beat Spurs (away) and we then have to lose to Wigan to go down. We should be ok, although Benteke showed that he is human and is young with his red card against Chelsea. He cost s the game and created an outside chance that he will have cost us the season that he did a huge job at saving.
If we do stay up the summer will be dictated by who stay and who goes. We have seen Stan Petrov go, and Richard Dunne who has been around training for a few months appears to be next. I imagine Shay will graciously move on, some one will give him a game in the Prremiership I'm sure, Wigan, Norwich and Southampton could be takers or if any of the youngsters like Krul or Begovic move he would be a great interim. This would mark the end of O'Neill's big money boys.
You look at the like of Ireland, who will be available if anyone who would buy him, although it would be a gamble for any takers. The 8m value he had in the part exchange now a distant dream, and the benfit from moving him on would only be salary and dressing room harmony.
I think the final for sale character is Darren Bent. Now I wouldn't sell him, but he didn't want to sit on the bench for a top 6 Tottenham team so a bottom 6 team, behind a 21 year old and I think he'll be going. For a slice of the £18+ deal. It is a shame as he proved potent at Villa, but a season on the bench and people will smell a deal. If West Ham don't sign Carroll he could rock up there. Fulham, Everton, and Stoke could also be his destination.
Others who could go are McLeish's last stand Holman, who has done decent in sporadic sub appearances, N'zogbia, who despite being resurgent still struggles to remain first team, Albrighton who lacks the work ethic for a Lambert team in my opinion. I fear for Bannan, who has never quite lived up to the hype. With Given, Dunne, Petrov, Bent and Ireland represent about 250k a week, and the young lads who kept us up will see a serious pay day i'm sure.
The people we don't sell is obviously more important. Lowton, Weimann and Benteke have all been linked away. I think the 3 would be mad to move. Guaranteed first team football at a team with lower expectations is a great way to develop your trade. But keeping these 3 from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs respectively is as big as any new signings. If we stay up I think they will stay.
After that we start building and the Lambert approach is to buy young. We remain weak at the back with 3 recognised centre halves in Baker, Clark and Vlaar I think this may be first port of call. To me Clark is a better holding midfielder than defender and some new blood will help solid us up in the area we have definately been weakest. Personally I think Scharner may be a shout from Wigan if they do drop, but the youth approach may lead us to a younger player from the Championship. Tom Lees at Leeds could be a punt, although I would favour a more mature head. Lescott is the dream, he would calm a yound team and improve our poor defensive set pieces single handedly, but I may be getting carried away.
At full back we have Lowton, and then the less concrete Stevens, Bennet, Lichaj. We have trialled Clark and Baker at left back Each of these has their merits and weaknesses but I think a left back may be on the cards. Creswell was Lambert's first choice and he may go back for him. I would have a look at Danny Rose if he was available, he would be very exciting. But that depends on Tottenham.
In midfield we hold with Westwood, Delph, Sylla, Bannan, El Ahmadi and a returning Gardner. I think KEA has more to give and hope we can see it but if Gardner is going to crack it I think and hope next year will be his time. A goal scoring midfielder would add so much to Lambert's approach and youth football say he could be the guy. Westwood, Delph and Sylla become more acomplished in each close season performance. Signing in this area I think is very unlikely, but selling Bannan become even more possible with the strength of these other 5 plus the potential in players like Carruthers could be due a look in too. Especially in the more aggressive shape he plays when he uses a midfielder in the hole.
He does opt for a 3 up top approach with strikers on the wing. The athleticism of Gabby and work rate of Weimann lend them perfectly to this. But the signing of Dawkins proved he saw a need to back this up. N'Zogbia could do this and the manager obviously fancies Bowery, but with these guys representing out strikers and in N'Zogbia's case in the hole midfielder's too, I think another face may be required. Again Carruthers and potentially Burke who I like the look of could do a job here. But maybe Callum McMannaman if Wigan go down could be a move. If Scott Sinclair becomes available I would be straight onto that. Even matching the 8m Man City paid, he could be shades of Gabby.
Up top we have Benteke and if he stays we will be a threat. Power, pace, control and a coolness in front of goal. Gabby and Weimann have contributed from the wings, but I fear for Weimann's ability to control play up top alone. Bowery definitely has a physical element, and think he may be a great prospect. Would love to see him get a goal, possibly against Wigan in the big mans absence. A signing here may be greedy, and I think someone like Sinclair would be much more likely, but if Lambert has another Benteke in line no one would say no to that.
Things will look up at Villa next year, the future is definately bright and we have potential to burn.
As long as the unlikely doesn't happen this week obviously.
Friday, 26 April 2013
Forum hater reply
We got a forum post over at UFlive forums today which I started replying to.
Proud of my reply I decided to publish it here as I want as many people as possible to hear its message.
Basically theres a discussion about the lack of news on the project. Something the official blog and this blog are trying to address.
Anyway it is right that some lesser believers are starting to have doubts and like the vocal majority in the FML days this can at times turn to angry posts, like the one below. His forum name is not a real name (maybe initials) so it can be seen as anonymous:
'For all I know you may already have a beard down to your chest after waiting 2 years for nothing.
I do admire your blind faith but it's all in hope of butt licking for a place as a tester when/if they finally get to that in 2015/18 but it will be butt licking well wasted as in reality nothing will ever come of Utter Failure Live.
All this was was a group of fat nerds with ideas way way way above their stations and capabilities as has been proven.
Leave football management games to the big boys (Si)
Over and out'
Proud of my reply I decided to publish it here as I want as many people as possible to hear its message.
Basically theres a discussion about the lack of news on the project. Something the official blog and this blog are trying to address.
Anyway it is right that some lesser believers are starting to have doubts and like the vocal majority in the FML days this can at times turn to angry posts, like the one below. His forum name is not a real name (maybe initials) so it can be seen as anonymous:
'For all I know you may already have a beard down to your chest after waiting 2 years for nothing.
I do admire your blind faith but it's all in hope of butt licking for a place as a tester when/if they finally get to that in 2015/18 but it will be butt licking well wasted as in reality nothing will ever come of Utter Failure Live.
All this was was a group of fat nerds with ideas way way way above their stations and capabilities as has been proven.
Leave football management games to the big boys (Si)
Over and out'
My reply is somewhat sarcastic but here you go enjoy:
There's a picture of me some where. I'm a skinny long haired hippie. Bit of a geek, but I am an economist\analyst so its an important skill in my job. Maybe I lack a bit of match fitness, but I did announce retirement from my playing career when I tore my bum muscle paying football when I was 23.
Anyway,
We never contested SI's ability to make a game, we all play FM (most of us at least), only their decision to not make an MMO. The first CM was made by those guys in a kitchen somewhere, and our team are more qualified than they were at that point. (Look where SI are now).
The game we have in development in its current state with a little interface polish would be a competitor for any football management MMO on the market. But that isn't much of a statement as there isn't much competition outside of Asia and our ambitions are much higher than matching a. Sorry you've ran out of patience but no one has failed at anything.
We hope you guys stick with us and come on this ride with us, but also remain certain that through nostalgia, curiosity or hidden excitement the doubters of this project will give our game a go when it comes true. We also back ourselves to give you a game at this point that captures your imaginations and was worth the wait.
Friday, 12 April 2013
UFL Leak
** first off I'm sorry about the pictures on this post. Blogger is having one of its episodes. Will have to move over to Wordpress**
So why shouldn't I do an unauthorised leak?
I have been a bad tester lately. I haven't been logging in for all the wrong reasons. Putting my day job before the project and well thats all hopefully out of the way.
The game is looking good. There are leagues and games and I'm the worst team in the game world, and my bank balance is a car crash. But when we go live i'm sure it'll be alright. Anyway. I'm not sure what I can and can't show, because I know the ME and leagues haven't been released yet. But heres a sneak peak at what I think is safe to show.
Here is a little glimpse of something never before seen in UFL:
Sorry is that not enough... well check this out:
Don't let my ugly mug put you off how pretty the game is.
Apparently i'm clueless when it comes to status points. Gutted!!
OK OK 1 more... last one though
Ivorian Army!!
Thats all your getting. Until next time. I don't want anyone getting annoyed at me. I'll figure out what I can and can't show and get some more up soon.
Until then
See you on the other side.
So why shouldn't I do an unauthorised leak?
I have been a bad tester lately. I haven't been logging in for all the wrong reasons. Putting my day job before the project and well thats all hopefully out of the way.
The game is looking good. There are leagues and games and I'm the worst team in the game world, and my bank balance is a car crash. But when we go live i'm sure it'll be alright. Anyway. I'm not sure what I can and can't show, because I know the ME and leagues haven't been released yet. But heres a sneak peak at what I think is safe to show.
Here is a little glimpse of something never before seen in UFL:
Sorry is that not enough... well check this out:
Don't let my ugly mug put you off how pretty the game is.
Apparently i'm clueless when it comes to status points. Gutted!!
OK OK 1 more... last one though
Ivorian Army!!
Thats all your getting. Until next time. I don't want anyone getting annoyed at me. I'll figure out what I can and can't show and get some more up soon.
Until then
See you on the other side.
Friday, 29 March 2013
The Found Elephant
From no where I have decided I miss blogging. If you still check this blog you are probably mental. It is 18months since my last post. But the near 20,000 views shows at one point we were onto a good thing. Mainly rambling on my soapbox, but you guys listened so it reflects worse on you.
So here I am again a more grown up version of Thom.
So the people who used to read this blog will probably be most keen to here that I'm still involved in UFLive. Fairly heavily too. I designed an economy a while back, and while the game seems to have gone quiet behind the scenes we are all still very dedicated to the cause. I'm on the forum there every few days come say hi HERE.
If you are a fml'er of years gone by, we are now testing a game. I am still all Ivorian, in fact I own every Ivorian in the database. UFL's first single nationality team. #official
So other than that I have done very little gaming an obsession with FIFA Ultimate team quickly passed when I bought 20 quids worth of points and it ate my money and they took 2 months to give them back and I only got half. Basically expensive bollocks.
I did play some online matches with a few of the old FML crowd, from the FM Soapbox pod cast. But life kind of got in the way. That and the fact I fell out with FIFA. I do play some Call of Duty, but I'm rubbish. My temple run score is now around 12million.
In life I have a been working my ass off, i'm great at my job, and enjoying the chance to try something new. I was in service management for 6 years, then working in accounts for a couple of years and have now completely turned coat and worked in IT for 12 months. Varied doesn't cover it.
I'm still a long sufferig Villa season ticket holder. It's painful, but we do play better football now. Watch out for Weimann and Benteke. Both will have huge careers, as will Ashley Westwood who is such a smart player.. I may blog about the villa more actually.
2013 however is the year of music. I have tickets to see 2manyDJ's, The Stone Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, Sigur Ros, The XX, T in the Park and Bestival. I travelled last summer accross America.
New York - Niagra - Miami - New Orleans - LA - Las Vegas
So this year is calmer on the travelling but mental on the music. I may talk about America a lot too.
I'm not sure where this blog will go, but i've deleted historic posts. Partly due to age and partly due to the fact its all about a game that closed several years ago.
My target for 2013 is to buy a flat. Or half a flat. The part rent/part buy thing is standing out to me. Conservatives actually doing me a favour!
So there we go. I'm back, and after proof reading I sound like an old fart.
Till next time...
So here I am again a more grown up version of Thom.
So the people who used to read this blog will probably be most keen to here that I'm still involved in UFLive. Fairly heavily too. I designed an economy a while back, and while the game seems to have gone quiet behind the scenes we are all still very dedicated to the cause. I'm on the forum there every few days come say hi HERE.
If you are a fml'er of years gone by, we are now testing a game. I am still all Ivorian, in fact I own every Ivorian in the database. UFL's first single nationality team. #official
So other than that I have done very little gaming an obsession with FIFA Ultimate team quickly passed when I bought 20 quids worth of points and it ate my money and they took 2 months to give them back and I only got half. Basically expensive bollocks.
I did play some online matches with a few of the old FML crowd, from the FM Soapbox pod cast. But life kind of got in the way. That and the fact I fell out with FIFA. I do play some Call of Duty, but I'm rubbish. My temple run score is now around 12million.
In life I have a been working my ass off, i'm great at my job, and enjoying the chance to try something new. I was in service management for 6 years, then working in accounts for a couple of years and have now completely turned coat and worked in IT for 12 months. Varied doesn't cover it.
I'm still a long sufferig Villa season ticket holder. It's painful, but we do play better football now. Watch out for Weimann and Benteke. Both will have huge careers, as will Ashley Westwood who is such a smart player.. I may blog about the villa more actually.
2013 however is the year of music. I have tickets to see 2manyDJ's, The Stone Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, Sigur Ros, The XX, T in the Park and Bestival. I travelled last summer accross America.
New York - Niagra - Miami - New Orleans - LA - Las Vegas
So this year is calmer on the travelling but mental on the music. I may talk about America a lot too.
I'm not sure where this blog will go, but i've deleted historic posts. Partly due to age and partly due to the fact its all about a game that closed several years ago.
My target for 2013 is to buy a flat. Or half a flat. The part rent/part buy thing is standing out to me. Conservatives actually doing me a favour!
So there we go. I'm back, and after proof reading I sound like an old fart.
Till next time...
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