For decades now, we’ve been able to replicate the on-field exploits of our favourite footballing stars, with the help of the right games machine. A new version of these games is released every year, and it would probably be unfair to say that every new release is a substantial improvement on its predecessor.
In terms of realism, you might feel that many of these games leave much to be desired. But is this really the case? And is realism something that these games should really be aiming for?
How realistic are football games right now?
A modern football game bears a much closer resemblence to the real thing than many of the games of the 90s and early 2000s. Arcade-style games like Virtua Striker never tried to emulate the real matchday experience. Nowadays, things are a little different. The modern Football Manager database includes just about every player in every league of note on the planet – right down to the amateur level. In fact, some enthusiasts have even modded the game to provide access to even lower divisions.
Do we need too much realism?
Of course, there’s naturally a limit to how much realism we want from a football game. Or, indeed, any game. The primary objective here should be to have as much fun as possible. The mechanics of a hands-on EA game are always going to be balanced for three or four minutes per half, and so if you deviate from this formula and try to play for forty-five minutes per half (or more), then the result is unlikely to be satisfactory.
Of course, what really matters to many football fans is the inclusion of their favourite teams and players. You might sit on the sofa in a replica shirt every evening, cheering on your heroes as you direct them with a control pad.
Is realism a winning strategy for Football Manager?
Football manager has become so realistic that it’s been endorsed by many in the real-life game. As the game becomes closer and closer to real life, we might expect some players to make the leap from one to the other. Maybe, just maybe, there might come a day where a manager goes from lifting the Champion’s League in the virtual world to getting their hands on the real trophy.
This is good news for the overall reputation of the game, which is based around providing as realistic and comprehensive an experience as possible.