The impact of Football Simulations in football

In this digital age, we are constantly trying to find the simulations that allow us to replicate the sports we see on TV. A great simulation would allow us to be as authentic as the experience we get watching sports.

Sports like the NBA, NFL, F1, MotoGP, Football and some Olympic events all have existing games out there where consumers can play as their favourite stars or their favourite teams.

The most popular sport naturally has the most popular sports simulation games. Arguably football gaming simulations have provided the best gaming rivalry ever.

I’m talking of course about FIFA vs Pro Evolution Soccer (PES). No doubt EA sports’ FIFA game is the biggest and sells the most every time a new release becomes available.

FIFA’s popularity has risen to the point that it currently sponsors the Premier League’s goal of the month, player of the month and manager of the month’s awards.

The ratings prior to the release date always kick up quite a stir in the football community and often have some professional players reacting either positively or negatively to the personal stats generated by the EA coders.

What makes a football game so addictive and appealing to the consumer. Well to be honest it’s down to preference, there are so many different components to consider in football and developers have to find a way of maximising the experience with the software they have.

EA’s FIFA for me does meet the marketable demands that football has. The various innovative game-modes and unique gameplay have never been in doubt. The evolution of the game allowed global tournaments and the rise of E-sports.

So, I wanted to look at the appeal of some of the popular football games and instead of comparing them what makes them unique and which aspect of football they capture the most in their gameplay and overall experience.

EA Sports’ FIFA:

The biggest football game on the planet no doubt. Top of the food chain as previously mentioned and appealed to many both younger football fans and older football fans.

Its game play format along with the layout for tactics, instructions substitutes and much more make it easier for children to gain an alternative understanding to the way the game is played instead of having their impassionate parents ranting at the television.

Played on consoles mainly along with improving hand-eye coordination from the controller and social experiences from the ability to play online, regularly playing FIFA regularly gives younger fans a cultured and rounded understanding of football.

The game faces are eerily similar to the professionals they represent in game. Various formations and tactics mirror those we see week in week out and the depth of teams as well as different game modes allows the player(s) to play out ‘what-if’ and dream scenarios.

The impact of this game is second to none. The rise of eSports has meant professional teams have begun to sign the best available FIFA players to represent them in major eSports competitions on their game.

Ultimately FIFA have found themselves always finding themselves meeting the demands of modern gaming and modern football flawlessly.

Through their game, new consumers of the sport are given a version of football it may be slightly misrepresented but it’s a version no doubt.

Finding finite details to enhance the product year in year out whilst keeping some simplicity that allows beginners to learn the game.

An excellent teaching tool, an exciting hobby for all that love the game and it captures a lot of elements of the actual real game. Being able to forge a career as a manager or as a player.

FIFA definitely captures the fun aspect of the football. Although, in order to increase the in-game experience, the gameplay is often more fluid and slicker and doesn’t offer some performances or results you could come to expect from a real football match.

Sports Interactive Football Manager

Immediately the name of the game tells you what type of experience it tries to replicate the logistics managers face on a day to day basis.  A game that challenges you to see whether or not you’ve got the minerals to take on a professional football club and achieve glory.

The current name is an evolution of its origin ‘’Championship Manager’’ and has provided endless amounts of joy for users embarking on their own journey from all the professional leagues across the world.

Unlike most football games it covers 2,200 clubs in 50 or so countries, which include clubs that aren’t even full-time professional. Realism in transfer valuation, specific board demands and other realistic dynamics that provide an experience no other simulation can offer.

The closest existing simulation that provides you with the insight of life as a football manager. The game is detailed meticulously including reserve and youth players, allowing staff recruitment and a lot of unique variables that managers face in the real world.

The year on year progression has caught the eye of many in the football community both fans and professional clubs around the world. Football Manager has an impressive global network of over 1,000 scouts who contribute real life data that coders then integrate.

Football Manager has its own niche. It gives fans insight into hands on management, dealing with the peaks and troughs of different aspects of the chosen club. The database and algorithms have meant that a lot of professional clubs want in on the simulation.

Rightly so, even the world’s richest clubs couldn’t even dream of having such a reach. Most professional clubs, even the biggest can’t afford the time or resources to reach a network as impressive and as a result more and more clubs are adopting the existing FM database. David Moyes’ Everton staff in 2008 being the most notable case.

But it’s very knowledgeable in club history and club cultures, giving you any opportunity to learn something new.

Football Manager has had an influence on the course of some people’s lives. For instance, a student in Azerbaijan known as Vugar Huseynzade became FC Baku’ reserve team boss based on his Football Manager performances.

The story of Chris Darwen is another example of the influence of Football Manager in real life. A passion for an unknown club led him to develop the necessary skills through playing a simulation and ultimately ending up employed at the club he managed virtually.

Fans can also see the impact of new changes in the game. VAR, The Nations League and Europa Conference League were all played out in simulation in the game version released prior to the season its implemented.

So, FM 21 released in November 2020 introduced the ECL in the game’s football calendar before its inauguration in the current 2021/22 season.

Final Thoughts

There are no doubts in my mind that these simulations have a place in football.  They provide a unique experience for fans of the game and ultimately provide them with another way of understanding and appreciating the game.

They often appeal to more than one target group achieving multiple outcomes in go but overall bringing more attention to football.

Football can be viewed through a different type of lens through virtually playing out through some sims and avatars and not always relying on the monotonous opinions of paid pundits and ex-managers pre and post-match.

I can tell you there isn’t a more satisfying feeling then seeing the wonderkid you noticed and developed in one of your saves is actually making serious waves in the real world and some big and established clubs in big leagues manage to acquire their services.

It brings something new to your entire experience as a football fan. Whether you want to further your understanding or come to appreciate a new club’s culture, there is always an opportunity to learn through these simulations.

I enjoy taking control of a club’s destiny in my spare time and I’ve also come to realise when watching football how much managers may or may not have to contend with subconsciously.

These games are essentially imitations of the actual art itself. The experiences and skills gained through imitation have affected the lives of many positively  when it comes down to being part of the real thing.