Eidos announced Championship Manager Online last week. It was only shown behind closed doors at EGN/GameStars Live but I managed to sneak in before they shut them. As a man who has spent far too much time on previous incarnations of this game, the online version feels me with dread. Don't they know we have lives to lead? Actually, what little they showed of the game suggests that it may be easier to manage a Champ Manager addiction when playing online rather than off. With matches scheduled bi-weekly there is none of that "just one more game" temptation...
Essentially how it will work is that every player in the league - and there will be hundreds of leagues - has to choose a level 1 team to start. Maybe Lincoln City or Northampton Town. Then, as the game goes on, players will get offered better jobs until they reach the pinnacle of the game - working for Rupert Lowe at Southampton (well, if it's good enough for Sir Clive?) Developers Jadestone were keen to talk about building a community around the game, and with Champ Manager's branding who would bet against them? Well, Sports Interactive, developers of Football Manager 2005 and previously the Champ Manager games, just might. Anyway, lets have a quick straw poll of Champ Manager fans - on or offline, which is most appealing?
