30 YEARS SINCE I LAUNCHED FOOTBALL MANAGER

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Kevin Toms

It’s worth putting that headline in caps. It was January 1982 that the first advert for Football Manager (my original game) appeared on the newstands in Computer and Video Games magazine.  30 years on, that foundation game has grown into a genre of computer games. My original game was very playable, and very popular, spending years high in the Gallup charts of the time. I still hear regularly from people who loved and still love playing it. I am proud of what I created.

I believe I can still write good enjoyable games and soon I will be launching a new Football Manager type game for the iPhone.

The first ever advert for Football Manager by Kevin Toms

The first ever advert for Football Manager by Kevin Toms

I thought it would be nice to do 2 things, show a copy of the original ad-

And to highlight a link to the pdf of the magazine here.

The magazine is the February 1982 issue but it was published in January 1982, so that is the first advert for Football Manager, 30 years ago. A life changing moment for me! :)

Filed under: Addictive Games, Football Manager, Games Design, Kevin Toms, The 80s | Leave a Comment »

SOPA and PIPA are not the way to stop Piracy

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Kevin Toms

I have had my own intellectual property pirated(I have heard all the excuses and justifications). It’s tough to take, but, the solution being put through the US law process at the moment is wrong. It will mess with the Internet and damage freedom of expression. Big, powerful companies will exploit it to bully and get what they want, just as they do now with Patents etc.

Here is a good explanation of why it is bad law

Filed under: Life, Thoughts, Philosophy, Money and Business | Leave a Comment »

Tottenham Hotspur Nerve

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Kevin Toms

Of course they lost it, a bit, it was to be expected. Great though that it is a 4 way race now, with Chelsea still in touch, it’s going to be an exciting season at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, can still catch up, but realistically it’s unlikely that the 4 leading teams will all stumble by 12 points, so I think it is down to the top 4 now.

Filed under: Football, Premier League | Leave a Comment »

Tottenham Hotspur Champions

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Kevin Toms

The style of play, the positive attitude, the very astute manager, the continuous good form. – There are a lot of things that point to Spurs becoming champions this year. It seems unlikely only because Manchester United are so established and Manchester City are so rich in players.

But Spurs have been building to this for a long time, and it’s only the points table that now highlights it, so people are talking about it.

Personally I think they have the best chance to win it. They only have to hold their nerve!!

Filed under: Football, Premier League | Leave a Comment »

My iPhone/iPad Football Manager game 57 -Estimation

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Kevin Toms

57.62% complete. – That is what I wrote earlier  on Facebook. I have been involved in many projects, with many estimations. But they are mostly flawed with software development. They try to make developing software like building a bridge, something that is done with fixed materials, specifications etc.

But, often software is changed mid project, in fact so frequently that methods like extreme programming were invented to cope with that. The equivalent with building a bridge would be to change the materials half way across building the span from steel to a newly invented plastic.

So, I invented my own method to suit the way I am working on this game. And I am 57.62% complete. :)

Filed under: Football Manager, Games Design, Software Development and Delivery | Leave a Comment »

2012 the Year of Positivity

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Kevin Toms

Why should it be? Because we are surrounded right now by doomsayers. The demise of the Euro, global recession, austerity measures, no future for young people, the coming year will be the worst, etc etc.
Let’s make a football analogy. If you send your team out saying they are going to lose and there is no hope, what will happen? They will lose.
But what if you say the other team is vulnerable, that if we raise our game we can beat them. Then you might just win.
The point is, inspirational leadership is needed. And we lack that right now. Leaders yes, no inspirational leaders.
So I think we have to lead ourselves. My resolution for 2012- try and see the positives and ignore the gloom merchants!! Have a great year! :)

Filed under: Life, Thoughts, Philosophy, Money and Business | Leave a Comment »

The Joy of Siri

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Kevin Toms

A friend of mine has an iPhone 4S with Siri. He was talking to it the other night. “Wake me up at 7:30″ he told it. His wife, who was nearby in the bedroom said angrily- “Are you talking to her or are you talking to me??!”.

.. Seems that Siri can become the “other woman”!

Filed under: Fun, Life, Thoughts, Philosophy | Leave a Comment »

My iPhone/iPad Football Manager game 56 – Filtering design

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Kevin Toms

It was interesting asking people what they wanted or needed in a Football Manager game. Everyone has different preferences and I have my own. In fact, a key part of putting the game together is filtering. I have plenty of ideas of what I want to do, and in the past I have generated a lot of work for myself with trying to implement all those ideas.

These days I am taking a different approach. I am ruthlessly filtering. Filtering out anything that is not truly essential. That is not so simple to do. Just like those that answered my questions I have my own opinions on what must be included. And it’s up to me to challenge every single one of those opinions!!

Filed under: Football Manager, Games Design, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch | Leave a Comment »

My iPhone/iPad Football Manager game 55 – a Follow Up??

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Kevin Toms

Craig asked me a question on my Facebook page. It was a question about the follow up, and building up expectations, referring to Jon Romero. Well I replied on Facebook but he raised a very good point. This game I am writing, is in a way a follow up to Football Manager, the original Football Manager written by me. But, I am not trying to do a follow up. In fact, for me, this is starting fresh, with design ideas and plans of what I want to achieve over time. When I put this game out, it’ll just be the start of the ball rolling.. :)

Filed under: Football Manager, Games Design | Leave a Comment »

My iPhone/iPad Football Manager game 54 – Honing

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Kevin Toms

Honing, is that the right word? Laser focused on cutting, paring it down. Progress is good but I won’t be happy about it for a while yet. I know what I want it to be, and I know what the plans are. Now it’s just the implementation, turning it all into a product! :)

Filed under: Football Manager, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch | Leave a Comment »

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