Hey guys, long time no speak! :) Most of you may remember my last post including a little announcement about my vacation from writing and playing FM, it was a much needed break to freshen my mind and sharpen my creativity which seems to have dulled down recently. Well, that was almost a month ago and we are now so, so close to the release of FM13 (BETA version.) So as you might expect I won’t be carrying on my Scarborough/Charlton story.
With FM13 just around the corner I have already started planning for the Scouting Network and making my preparations for the year ahead. This responsibility which includes a passion and obsession with making the site bigger and better every year has led to a difficult decision. As of FM13 I will no longer be writing my stories on FMS nor any other site (of course I wouldn’t write for another site, that would be like supporting Sunderland :))
I want to thank all of you for your incredible support, I don’t like thanking individuals as there are too many to thank I’d hate to leave anyone out, but seriously, thank you all so much. Its funny, while people say these stories help gamers develop their skills and gain more passion to start a new save, its actually you guys that have helped me. Without your continued interest in my stories I probably wouldn’t have taken Newcastle to financial greatness, Malaga to World domination, Scarborough to Champions League glory or even resurrected Charlton from their fall to the lower leagues. And without doing all that I wouldn’t know the game as well as I do now, so in a weird way its your support that has developed my gaming skills.
So, that is the bad news, but lets focus on a little bit of better news. Myself and Johnny have been discussing a few ideas and things to do for the new games release and to be honest this is one of the reasons I have decided to stop writing stories. I want more time to write tactics, tips and of course make the scouting network better. So I will still be here writing as always and with a little luck you should be getting more helpful posts come FM13.
OK so that is all the announcements and important news out of the way, now I want to share something a little more personal and ‘real life’ based. As many of you know I managed Scarborough in my last FM12 story, guiding them from 9 divisions below the top flight to continuous Champions League glory. And I’m sure you remember me saying how sad I was at not been able to watch my club (Scarborough Athletic) any more due to their new stadium location. Well, today Scarborough were playing away to Pickering Town FC (where I grew up as a kid.) And guess who traipsed down to see the match. :)
It was actually a really good turn out with an attendance of 648 people, most of which were Scarborough fans they made quite a bit of noise :) Scarborough took a two goal lead inside the opening 15 minutes from two very well worked goals…both of which I’d have been proud of. But then Pickering rallied and won the match 3-2, a real shock as no one expected my old hometown to get anything from this match. Below are a few images of the ground and then a video just to show how much racket the away fans made :) Sorry for the quality its from my iPhone.
Hope you enjoyed the noisy ‘Red Army’ lol :) Anyway, I had a great afternoon and despite losing really enjoyed the game. That game got me considering tactics, different systems and management styles etc, so I’m officially itching at the bit for FM13! So I’ll be back with a bang in two weeks time :) See you then guys and thanks for taking the time to read.
Gaurav Chaddah
6 октября, 2012 at 18:24
Gutted! Darren, I love reading your stories but if its best for you then that’s fine, but at least our tips and things will still be around which I love to read, who will you be playing with on the new game?
Darren Smith
6 октября, 2012 at 18:39
Yeah it will be a little weird not writing my stories, but I think Newcastle will probably be my first save.
saltwater
6 октября, 2012 at 18:43
Can’t believe this! Your stories were always so good, what a shame! But your tips and guides always helped and maybe you can try and concoct another super tactic like the Arsenal one with more crucial free time on you hands.
Still, big big blow to the stories section on FMS. So is Johnny and Bhargav the only writers on the main site at the moment? And is there any possibility you will return?
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2012 at 19:32
There will be some big changes on the website mate, I’ll make an announcement pretty soon. The website will be a lot better from now on, that’s what I can tell you now :)
As for the stories section, we already have quite a few cracking stories on the forum, some of them even better than the stories we ever had on the main site. So there’s no blow at all in my view.
Darren Smith
6 октября, 2012 at 19:41
Thanks for the kind words Saltwater, I won’t be returning with my stories unless something in my personal life changes drastically, its just too cluttered at the moment and I can’t get everything done. But as you said I will be working on the more tip based tactics and of course doing tonnes of profiles on the scouting network which takes up the majority of my time.
As Johnny has mentioned things are changing here, but its certainly for the best!
Nick
6 октября, 2012 at 19:54
Gutted about this, but your Arsenal tactic and the post for it was very good, so hoping for more of the same! As the tactician maybe you could do a fan feedback section where people request, say, a good 3-5-2 that incorporates a target man, or an out-and-out 4-3-3 like Johnny’s tactic. That would be ace, good luck for the future! And also, got Inverting the Pyramid for my birthday, it’s brilliant.
saltwater
6 октября, 2012 at 20:03
I have always struggled to make a balanced 3 at the back tactic as one tweak could make it overly attacking or overly defensive. I would like to see this too!
Darren Smith
6 октября, 2012 at 21:45
Sorry you’ll be gutted Nick, a part of me will miss the stories too, but it has to be done for the better of myself and the site. As Johnny once said to me ‘its better to help thousands than please hundreds’. Obviously I’ve edited that quote slightly but the point is the same…by upsetting a few hundred that truly love the stories thousands could benefit from the tips I now have time to write. As for the tactics idea, while I won’t be doing tactics for others I will be doing my own…I can’t say anything yet but that feature may be introduced though.
Kevin
6 октября, 2012 at 19:56
Hi There Darren
Of course I can fully understand your decision not to write stories, I made the same one myself :) Having just come off a 50 hour work week plus 10 hours commuting, heck there’s no time for hardly anything let alone hobby writing.
Anyway, all your stories have been flipping brilliant (I had to say it) and when you came over to FMS it just elevated the site even more. I also think your articles have been superb and heck your Y2G system was the basis and inspiration of my own Moneyball system. I’m sure your future articles will no doubt help countless others in the future.
Oh your Scarborough Athletic adventure today, specifically those pictures brought back memories of Bath City, Trowbridge Town, Avon Bradford ( who?) and Westbury United.
Thanks for sharingthem and all the FM entertainment.
Cheers
Kevin
Darren Smith
6 октября, 2012 at 22:04
Thanks for the kind words Kevin, it was a difficult decision as I have truly enjoyed sharing my in game experience…after all writing about our games makes us push harder than we usually would and as mentioned makes us achieve things we couldn’t do on our own. Feels like the end of an era, but good things have to give way for even greater things and that is what we are doing here. I can’t wait to write more tips and tactics this year.
I was so tied up last year that I stopped writing tips and the sort of articles I managed in FM11, so hopefully I can get back to what helped everyone before, I’m said but also excited to get on with the new era.
Moving onto the Scarborough game, it was fantastic to finally see them again, I think the last time I saw a match was like 11 years ago…shows how old I’ve gotten as those horns ringing in my ear were a little annoying, I used to love them at the age of 14 :)
Tom Miller
6 октября, 2012 at 21:24
Real shame not being able to come home from college and read the amazing stories that you have written. Thanks for inspiring loads of people to have fun with football manager and I have enjoyed reading you stories for years :) Good luck with the scouting network and tips this year
Thanks :)
Tom
Darren Smith
6 октября, 2012 at 22:05
Yeah it is a shame mate, I am a little sad to stop writing these stories myself. Hopefully the scouting network will flurrish as a result and the main site will get more tips and tactics though.
Bhargav
6 октября, 2012 at 22:44
Ah Darren, this is sad news :( I really learned a lot from you and had a great time reading your stories. But at least you will still be writing strategies. I will sorely miss your stories, though.
Darren Smith
6 октября, 2012 at 23:02
I agree it is sad as I have become attached to writing for you guys, it has become a part of my weekly routine but things need to change in order to move forward so hopefully this will be for the better.
Lye
7 октября, 2012 at 04:13
I missed your stories mate as all have been entertaining and exciting but i know you will be here for better things to help the community in developing their game skills. So we will still see you around. Thanks for the wonderful stories and i am eager to see what you and Johnny have in your sleeves.
Darren Smith
7 октября, 2012 at 13:28
Thanks Lye, its certainly for the best, can’t wait for FM13 now.
Niels Theis Bendtsen
7 октября, 2012 at 08:11
You said the same last year so I guess I wont to see it before I believe it.
But I can only say thank you for the inspiration and I hope to see more and better things on the site.
Darren Smith
7 октября, 2012 at 13:29
I understand your skepticism as the same announcement didn’t come to fruition last year, but things have changed. I spent the year not writing the sort of articles that really help and I have my own house to take care of now so I can’t see myself going back on the announcement this time around.
Joel
7 октября, 2012 at 11:11
What about the podcast will you still make that? (I hope you do)
Darren Smith
7 октября, 2012 at 13:31
There are no plans to stop doing the Podcast, but myself and Jake have been very busy recently so we haven’t had chance to record anything, whether this will prevent us from recording in the future only time will tell.
Thales De Mattos Oliveira
7 октября, 2012 at 13:49
If it is for the good of the site, then we can live without your stories. Good luck!
Darren Smith
7 октября, 2012 at 14:27
Thanks Thales.
vaibhavc
7 октября, 2012 at 14:16
Its sad to see that you wont be writing stories anymore, but I will be looking forward to your tips and tactics. At least you will be on the main site, posting tactics and stuff.
Darren Smith
7 октября, 2012 at 14:31
Exactly mate, the main site will still be very active and while my posts won’t be weekly there will be far more tips than I managed for FM12.
Rod
8 октября, 2012 at 00:43
I didn’t comment a lot but i always read your stories, so this are bad news, but you have to do what you feel more rewarding, and i’m sure we will be very benefited with you focusing in tactics. Good luck mate.
Darren Smith
8 октября, 2012 at 19:32
Thanks Rod, I just hope the extra useful posts will make up for my stories ending.
Zuil
8 октября, 2012 at 13:43
Hi Darren,
Im long time reader but first time commenter. Its a real shame that you will stop writing your stories as they have bought lots of us enjoyment for some time now.
And reading your stories and everybody else’s on this site it has inspired me to create myown blog, and I hope you and anybody else who reads this comment will visit my blog and vote on the team that I will manage on FM13.
myfootballmanagerjourney.wordpress.com
And once gain Darren thanks for all the enjoyment you have given me reading your stories and good luck for the future.
Darren Smith
8 октября, 2012 at 19:53
Thanks for the kind words Zuil.
Ana Garcia
8 октября, 2012 at 22:14
Wow so that’s Kevin you and I that are not planning on writing new stories Johnny must think we hate him or something! :)
Joke of course we all love him! But I really enjoyed your stories so they will be missed but at least you can focus or a different aspect which will benefit alot more people in need and in trouble with this very frustrating game!
Glad you not going for good and I look forward to your tactical masterclass posts in the future. :)
Darren Smith
9 октября, 2012 at 11:53
Yeah FMS has taken a huge hit in terms of stories, but its all the right timing as the main site adjusts direction slightly to offer more helpful posts. Hopefully I can contribute in that area come FM13, new games always make me nervous though :) What happens if I suddenly become crap lol
TheZiggy
9 октября, 2012 at 00:25
Sad to see you stop writing stories, but given what you’re doing with the site, something has to give. Unfortunately writing the stories takes a lot of time, especially collecting all the necessary screenshots and other bits.
It’ll be interesting to see the posts on tactics and other tips that you come up. I’m sure we’ll all learn something. The last year has seen very few posts in that line, so it’ll be certainly add something.
Darren Smith
9 октября, 2012 at 12:00
Thanks Ziggy, as you said something had to give eventually…you can’t keep adding more and more without taking something out from the bottom. But it will be nice to write more helpful posts again and try to offer a different insight into how the game is played.
silva
22 октября, 2012 at 19:36
Sad to see you going hope you will come back to write, would we be allowed to download your save?
Darren Smith
22 октября, 2012 at 20:30
I’ll still be writing guides and tactics etc…as for the save it isn’t available for download due to not been able to upload. The file is huge seen as its so far in and a custom database.