Football Superstars

As December tightens it’s icy grip it reminds us that the end of the year is nigh.  At such times it is common to look back on the months that have passed and think on what we have learned, who we have met and what mark they have left on us.

In FS we do this in a rather special way via the FS Community Awards.  The awards are your chance to recognise those players who have really stood out in your eyes.  Not always for a great reason, it has to be said.  Categories include Defender of the year, Young Star Player of the Year, Manager of the year and PMC of the year.  All very nice and wholesome.  They also include a series of special recognition awards such as The Steve Claridge I’ve had More PMCs Than Hot Breakfasts award, as well as the Best Excuse for a Poor Game award.

All of the nominations come from you, the players and then a shortlist will be generated for you to vote on.

To have your say and put forward your candidates head over to the forums and check out the awards.

The FS Community Awards

Apparently it was Halloween last weekend.  You’d think the Cybersports team had been getting into the spirit with ghostly makeup and haggard expressions.  Alas, this is not the case.  The pale faces, bloodshot eyes and eerie silences are not the result of good make up and well studied zombie impressions, but the effects of crunch time as the entire company has been frantically working away to prepare the next major game update. Sunlight has been forsaken and rest has been scorned while they put in their all to bring you the first update to the game from the in-house Cybersports Development team. 

With some trepidation (and the offer of copious amounts of coffee) I’ve managed to drag them from their frenzied work long enough to get the details on what you can expect to see in the months ahead.

More than just the addition of new content and some gameplay tweaks, this is the first phase in a major change to how players will be able to access, play and support the game. Unlike previous patches where a huge amount of content has been deployed in one fell swoop, this will be a staggered deployment.  However, for the sake of ease I’ve summarised the details of what you can expect to see over the next couple of months.

Gamepad support & control review 

Social football gaming has previously been dominated by the console market and as a result many of the players who come to Football Superstars do so from a console gaming background.  To such players the mouse and keyboard control system so familiar to PC gamers can be difficult to adapt to and many would prefer to use a gamepad such as an Xbox controller.   As such, the new update will provide integrated support for both Xbox 360 style gamepads.  This will include familiar and intuitive controls which the player will be able to use quickly and easily. This allows both console gamers and PC veterans to play on an even level.  Of course, those who prefer the mouse and keyboard set up can continue to play as normal.  They key here is choice and allowing people to play as they prefer.

Camera Options 

To enhance the changes to the controller options, there are also new camera settings available. This will allow the player to play the game in either a top-down mode or in a pitch side view, similar to watching a match from the stands, so a player can play the game the way they like it.  Players using the standard control set up will be able to switch between these modes at will, meaning they can use top down mode to get a wide overview of the pitch and then switch to over-the-shoulder view when that extra level of precision is needed.  The top down mode is the standard view for gamepad controllers.

Localisation 

One of the biggest aspects of the imminent game update is the roll out of our first stage of localisation.  This is involves the translation of all game text and essential website content for the non-English speaking market.  While Football Superstars already has a strong international player-base, this will open the game up to millions of players who would otherwise be intimidated by the exclusive use of English. It will also make it far easier for existing non-English speaking players to use the various website and game features relating to real world payments.  Any online transaction relies on trust between the seller and the customer, and that trust is much easier to gain if the customer is confident in the language being used.  To start with, the website will be translated into ten different languages. After that the first languages to be provided in the game itself will be French, Italian, German and Spanish, with Turkish, Russian and Polish then being considered following a strong existing player base in those countries and highly successful promotions. 

Needless to say, making the game more accessible is better for everyone.  More players means more matches and more business growth, which in turn means we can spend more time making ongoing improvements to the game itself.

Payment and Membership Changes

The game will soon undergo a total change in how subscriptions, membership and the associated benefits will work.  Currently, anyone can purchase a monthly recurring subscription to gain access to various game features such as in-game discounts, regular bonds and access to PMC ownership etc.  A few months back we offered a lifetime subscription which provided all of these bonuses for a larger one-off payment.  Following feedback from the community it quickly became clear that different players want different things out of their investment to the game, and so the new membership system has been designed to offer that.

Recurring and lifetime subscriptions are to be replaced with a new scaling membership level whereby your membership is based on the total lifetime expenditure you have made on your account. Furthermore, many features are being separated from membership level. For example, if a player wants to start a PMC then they will be able to buy one regardless of their membership level.  If the player spends £5 purchasing this PMC then this will move them up to tier 1 (£0 to £10 spent) and all of the inherent benefits that provides. Membership level never degrades, so even if that player never spends another penny, they will retain their level and the PMC. The membership levels and their appropriate benefits increase according to lifetime expenditure.  As such, players who have spent more will gain more such as exclusive items and skills as well as invitations to premium events.

When this change is applied all lifetime expenditure up to this point will be taken into account, so current subscribers will be rewarded for their loyalty and support to the game.  It also means that any purchases made on the website will not only give you immediate benefits, but will also go towards your membership level when the change-over is completed. The numbers given are only an example until the final pricing is locked down, but they give you an understanding of how things will be changing.

This means that a player will get out exactly as much as they put in and allows them to retain those benefits if they are unable to buy more for any reason. It also allows players without access to a credit card to gain access to all the features of the game.  This results in one of the most flexible membership systems available on any online game. 

This is a massive change for Football Superstars and so will be a staggered update.  The first stage is to remove recurring subscriptions and the lifetime sub from the shop while the new system is being implemented on the back-end, ensuring a smoother transition. Game time will be purchased on a month by month basis until the second stage comes in.  Any existing subscribers will retain their status until the the new system is launched and they are moved into their appropriate membership level.

Bonds into Credits

FS Bonds have been hugely popular since they were introduced but are about to receive an overhaul and will soon be replaced by FS Credits.  This is more than simply a name change but is a change to how they are purchased and how you can use them.  Where FS Bonds had a conversion rate of 1 FS Bond to 1000 FS Dollars, FS Credits will have a 1 for 1 exchange rate; one FS Credit is worth the same as 1 FS Dollar.  This makes it far easier for you to manage your funds.  Added to this, you will be able to make purchases in game using FS Credits in place of FS Dollars without having to convert them first. This streamlines the purchasing process dramatically. 

One of the biggest benefits is the extra granularity this allows.  Whereas previously we could only charge multiples of 1 FS Bond for any website feature or special item, this will allow us to make items and services available for much more scaling prices.  Items could now be purchased for 500, 1500 or even 75 FS Credits.  This allows for a far more diverse pricing system which will support the expansion of the items and services on offer as well as ensuring that the pricing is much clearer for the player.

Manage your funds from inside the game

To further streamline the purchasing process, the Wallet is being removed. Currently, when you purchase bonds they are added to your wallet, and must then be assigned to a specific character on your account if you wish to use them in game.  However, with the launch of Superstar Management this summer there is a greater need for players to have a pool of bonds in their central wallet.  This is being resolved in two ways.  Firstly, the wallet itself is being removed and now Credits will be shared across all characters on an account.  This means that you will never need to assign Credits to a character, but can use them as soon as you receive them. 

Furthermore, the actual purchasing process is being streamlined with the implementation of the first phase of the In Game Browser.  This will eventually provide all of the website functionality from within the game but will start with opening up the purchasing process, meaning a player can purchase Credits while playing the game without the need to log out and go to the website, providing instant Credits as and when you need them.  When combined with the changes to the membership system already mentioned, this will make it far easier for you to get what you want when you want it.

Extras on the side

Added to all of the above additions are a number of small but significant changes to improve the gameplay experience overall such as a change to how Tab is used in matches, meaning players will be far more reliant on their wits if they want to be first on the ball as well as a new tip system will help guide new players through their first few levels as they explore the Football Superstars world.

Bring it on!

The net result of all of the above is that Football Superstars is becoming more accessible to new players of all backgrounds, languages and experience levels as well as providing more options on how you pay for your gaming experience.  

Of course, telling you all of this is one thing, but nothing compares to trying it out for yourself.  As such, the team are busy ironing out the feature so we can get them up on the test world for you to get a hands on experience.  We’re eager for you to see these things first hand and so keep your eyes on the news page for word on when the first test sessions will be taking place and how you can get involved.

Running a competitive PMC is no small feat, and keeping them going consistently through an ongoing competition can also be hard work.  While the managers of the teams involved in the Superstar League will tell you it has its own rewards, there are some who need more immediate gratification and can’t commit to an ongoing event.

It is for such people that the Open Leagues were created.  An Open League is a tournament with no set fixture schedule, no winners and no losers.  It is a chance for PMC teams to come together and play a bunch of matches at their own leisure. 

Something different

“So how is this different to a PMC friendly match” I hear you cry.  Well, there are a few differences.  Firstly, there is a list of fixtures drawn up with only those teams who have entered and been accepted taking part.  There are two legs to each fixture, so the same two teams cannot play against each other more than once within the Open League, this encourages teams to play a variety of opponents.

More importantly, as these still class as tournament matches then there are Experience and FSD end of match rewards for all teams who play.

Open now!

Most Open leagues are one night events, condensed like this to mean more teams are online and ready to play.  However, this week we are launching the first week-long Open League events.

Joining these events could not be simpler.  All you need to do is head on over to the Tournament Homepage and sign up to the event of your choice.  Look there now and you’ll see the event for tomorrow night, as well as the 730 and 1130 7-day events.  The real beauty of an Open League is that it requires minimal commitment or obligation.  You can play as much or as little as you like within the event.  The results and tables are purely for your own interest, as there is no winner or loser within such an event.

So, if you are a manager of a PMC then you have nothing to lose.  Sign up and get involved.  It’s a great chance to mingle with some new teams and to get some practice in for the serious competitions.

Visit the Tournament Homepage

Many of you may have experienced problems in over the last week or so in regards to match start errors or game crashes. The good news is that we have a fix for this ready to go. However, we want to give it a road test and put it through its paces. As such, we will be running two Open League events this weekend on the test server, Hurst. These are open for sign up on the tournament home page and we would like as many of you as possible to take part is this test to make sure all is well.

To take part in this, you simply need to sign up as normal. However, as this will be taking place on Hurst then you will need to install the test world client here: http://footballsuperstars.com/test_world/download/

A new account migration has taken place so all your characters and PMCs will be up to date as of Friday 10th September. The purpose of this test is to assess match server stability, in particular the creation and starting of matches and the delivery of rewards. As such, could you please email community.management@cybersportsworld with your feedback. If you notice any problems then please describe them in as much detail as possible and include screenshots.

As match rewards from the test server do not carry over onto Pele or Cruyff, we would like to incentise teams to take part by offering you something for your time. As such, could the managers of the participating teams please email community.management@cybersportsworld with the names of the players who took part in your team, and we will reward each player with 5 FSB.

Many thanks to one and all. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to ask.

We love our community.  They’re a rather spectacular bunch of people who make me love my job, and we’re always proud and grateful when we see them giving up their own time to help their fellow player.

One such case is Lexis, who joined the game last year and since then has developed a great understanding of the game and the community.  He’s distilled this wisdom and experience into his Football Superstars Total Guide for the Newcomers.  Not simply a quick start guide, just is an overview of many of the questions a new player will have after they have a few matches under their belt and are keen to get a deeper understanding of the game.

Whether you are a veteran of the pitch or a newcomer to the beautiful game I strongly recommend that you check it out.  For those who desire some further reading material, Benjimoron has also helpfully compiled a list of recommended topics which I also suggest you take a look at.  You’re sure to learn something to your advantage.

If you’ve got something you want to share with the community or spotted something which you believe needs wider exposure then drop us a line at community.management@cybersportsworld.com and let us know about it.

Time certainly flies when you’re having fun. It seems only yesterday that we were frantically checking teams and getting ready to kick off season one of the Superstar League.  In fact it was a month ago, which means we are now halfway though.  Good heavens!

It’s certainly been a busy few weeks, with the teams cramming in their matches but no-one has yet to take a clear lead in any of the divisions.

For those of you who haven’t been keeping track, the Superstar League is in fact two separate competitions - the 1130 and 730 leagues.  The 11-a-side league has twelve teams within a single division all vying for the top slot.  Meanwhile the 7-a-side league needed three divisions to hold all of the teams.

State of play

The halfway point signals the start of the transfer period when the teams are able to tempt over players from other clubs and freshen up their rosters.  The teams are already busy making the transfers and you can check out who is going where by checking the Superstar League forum.

The next few weeks are going to be extremely tense.  Just looking at the 1130 league and Echelon FC are sat at the top with 19 points.  They can’t afford to get comfortable there though, as AFC Tigers and Universal FC are both only two points behind, and both with a game in hand.

Division One of the 730 league tells a similar story.  This time it is the Tigers at the top of the table, with both Storm FC and Devils FC nipping at their heels from two points away.  Of these, it is Storm who have the game in hand, and with this week including a fixture between Storm and Devils then the things look very interesting indeed.

Meanwhile in division two, Redwhite United are gripping onto the top slot, but only by the skin of their teeth with only a goal difference of one holding second place TS Wiselka at bay.  Both teams will need wins this week if they wish to hold off Team Hungary who are dangerously close with only two points between them and first place.

Things are looking a little more clear cut in division 3, where SFC Spirits are sitting pretty with fifteen points, five points clear of second place Multiple Scoregasms who are being threatened by FC Nemean Lions who are only one point behind.

Keeping things moving

Of course, this is just how things stand now.  A lot can change within a seven days, with most teams having two matches to play per week.

We’ll be back to have a look at how things stand in a week once the transfer window has closed and the players are settling into their new homes.  In the mean time you can follow the action yourself by checking out the fixtures, results and tables through the Tournament homepage. 

Smith and his crack team of journalists have done it again and delivered another issue of Top Corner Magazine.

This is a World Cup special with a superb write up of the event as well as the regular player and PMC profiles and match write ups.

Check out the full magazine now