Unfortunately, from the very beginning of the FM series I have been noticing proportionally increasing fall in, what I like to call, playability. However, I cannot answer the question asking what causes such effect. When one of the administrators of the Polish forum, Icon, was asked in an interview for FCMC about what is going to come along with the release of FM 2009, answered shortly: "Another disappointment. From year to year instead of getting better, the game is becoming less playable". Another respected Polish FM-maniac, Profesor, plays all his careers on FM 2006. It seems as FM 2008 has brought more controversy than any other game from the CM/FM series. Why is that so?

Not many of you probably remember the times when Windows 95 was something new and no one even dreamt about a 32 bit colour quality. Lack of a personal computer and group meetings at a house of this lucky person who had one, where Speedway was played, 4 lines of different colours speeding in circles, or Wolfenstein, not the 3D one - that was the reality back then, which determined my view, word opinion would be a bit of a misuse in this case, on computer games. In comparison Championship Manager was quite a wonder - back then, if I recall correctly, it was the 1996 version. Hard, fully in a foreign language, but addictive and requiring attention - and I was only able to play it at a friend's house! Was unreachable in the quantity I needed, it was the fobidden fruit! It looked different than other games I knew, it was all about something different. It required thinking and involvement. And going back to all those memories I reach a conclusion, that playing that same CM in year 1996 and now in 2008 are two, completely different approaches. Many of you will say that they have had contact with older games, that you know what GTA 1 or Fifa 99 are. However, the message I am trying to send here is that it is impossible to understand or rather feel the pleasure that came from playing them now, in 21st century. You might find this opinion not true, but I see the difference between approaches to games of people who remember those times and the ones who don't. Before they were considered a passion, right now they are just a tool, like The Sims, only needed to satisfy the needof entertainment. Back then there wasn't so much choice, every game was priceless and months would be spent on playing one product. Nowadays novelties are easily accessible: in shops, supermarkets, internet auctions and unfortunately on torrents. When was the last time, dear reader, that you have spent a few months playing one, only one game?

The truth is that nowadays I would not play CM 96/97 for very long. I also have already gotten used to some doze of graphics, Polish language and many other new functions. Another feature worth pointing out is the calculation abilities, which 10 years ago would not be even considered to be possible. We look at old games from a completely different perspective, we categorise it as a curiosity instead of a program equal to modern productions. So what is all that sea of words I am writing here right now for? The purpose for them is to show that a lot of people, more than you might think, have noticed a decrease in a very important subjective factor - playability. And people who notice that are the older ones, who also have more managerial experience. It is worth mentioning, because many are losing pleasure that is supposed to be coming from playing the game. You don't notice us, because we don't spend time on the Prompter or any other hang out place for FM-maniacs. We have jobs, universities and often families, so the time is truly a scarce resource. If we do we try to spend it on playing the game, instead of being active on the scene. We spend it on the game which we can afford and we do not steal it, contrary to many younger fans. Just to prevent any attack on the previous statement - I am not saying that only youngsters steal games. The olders wouldn't even know how to do it and since they are making money - they don't have to do that.

The quantity and the quality of bugs in the game, and their influence on the entertainment coming from it, is a subject for another article. I just wanted to prevent the argument coming, that I am concentrating only on the bugs. I mention it, because I believe it is a way of me contributing to the development of the series. We should judge FM as if we were on a dance competition, not in "Dancing With the Stars", and I believe that is the main message that I wanted to pass on to you with this text.

What is important is that all the opinions, criticism and praise, have a common goal - to make the game better. We are, in a sense, supporters of two rival teams - always ready for some verbal aggression, but together supporting the same national team. For some FM 2008 is a good and addictive game, for others it's a step back and continuing the decrease in playability. I complain as always and reminisce about the year 2006, A. De Raph defends FM, Brudas just keeps on playing and enjoying his life. But all of us, for you and with you, want to build Revolution! Viva la Football Manager!