2009 Edition.

[wiggans]

I am thinking about buying the game. I have a question or two. Is there the option for fictional or historical rosters? Can you import graphics?

[DarthJaker]

I am thinking about buying the game. I have a question or two. Is there the option for fictional or historical rosters? Can you import graphics?

doesnt sound like there's historical rosters

[cooter3773]

When will historical rosters show up on football mogul?

[Soysauce]

We'll probably have to wait a few more years. I would believe 3 years tops.

[Arctic Blast]

The problem you run in to with historical rosters is...when do you start? Do you start in 1960...50...35???

[cooter3773]

1960 then you have the AFL and NFL and the start of the expansion era.

[EVEN11323]

Is there any sort of "Lahman" database for football?

[defcheetah]

So are the computers actually going to be able to initaite trades with you... I know the features been missing in the past versions.. because the trades were deemed unrealistic.. I would rather have bad trades.. it makes the game interesting... kinda a buying point with me.

[Arctic Blast]

1960 then you have the AFL and NFL and the start of the expansion era.

I would actually tend to agree with 1960. Not only the AFL came in, but also the Dallas Cowboys and, the following year, the Minnesota Vikings. Also, most teams by then were at least playing a somewhat modern version of football, with the forward pass not looked at like some sort of voodoo.

Like someone else posted, though, I don't think there's any sort of database like you have with Lahman for baseball, and entering every single player for that length of time would be a MASSIVE time investment.

[ohms_law]

When will historical rosters show up on football mogul?

Is there any sort of "Lahman" database for football?

As soon as it's released, I'm sure that Clay will use it. See: http://footballproject.com/

[4einc]

Hey Guys;

I know I don't speak for Clay although I kind of think that the date got pushed back a day or two as there were a bunch of bugs found by the beta testers that he wanted fixed before releasing FM2k9 for sale, so if it doesn't go on sale for a day or two you'll understand.

But once again I don't speak for Clay so don't quote me on anything.

[Clay Dreslough]

I would actually tend to agree with 1960. Not only the AFL came in, but also the Dallas Cowboys and, the following year, the Minnesota Vikings. Also, most teams by then were at least playing a somewhat modern version of football, with the forward pass not looked at like some sort of voodoo.

Like someone else posted, though, I don't think there's any sort of database like you have with Lahman for baseball, and entering every single player for that length of time would be a MASSIVE time investment.

Actually, Sean Lahman is like Bo Jackson: he excels at two sports. He just published an excellent book with stats for every NFL player (this book is worth buying if you're into football -- in addition to the stats, the decade-by-decade analysis is really well written and taught me a lot I didn't already know).

So, Sean has a good database of historical stats. But it will take a significant investment of time to get them working correctly in Football Mogul. In addition, football has changed more in the last 50 years than baseball.

Clay

[Clay Dreslough]

So are the computers actually going to be able to initaite trades with you.

Not this year. Sorry about that.

[Arctic Blast]

Actually, Sean Lahman is like Bo Jackson: he excels at two sports. He just published an excellent book with stats for every NFL player (this book is worth buying if you're into football -- in addition to the stats, the decade-by-decade analysis is really well written and taught me a lot I didn't already know).

So, Sean has a good database of historical stats. But it will take a significant investment of time to get them working correctly in Football Mogul. In addition, football has changed more in the last 50 years than baseball.

Clay

Wow, that book definitely looks interesting. I'll have to think about snagging it.

And yes, the changes in football over the past 50 years has been major, which is why I sort of question how well any kind of historical implementation would work. Maybe something for the past...20-25 years would work, though.

[Clay Dreslough]

I am thinking about buying the game. I have a question or two. Is there the option for fictional or historical rosters? Can you import graphics?

To answer the original question...

1) You always start in 2008. The default universe includes rosters at the start of the 2008 season (before Brady got injured).

2) There is a checkbox to start with completely fictional rosters. You can also start with real players but shuffle them randomly, or do a fantasy draft.

3) You can change the team logos and screen art. But we don't yet have the option to do things like change the font colors.