The FMM Burnout by PriZe

You know that feeling when the new FMM is about to release? That feeling that although you are sure it's not going to be all that you wanted, you have moaned about it for weeks on Vibe, you still know you are going to get it the moment it's in the App store. Great feeling isn't it? It gives you some sort of rush and i don't know about you but my mind bubbles with ideas for careers, challenges articles etc.

But a few days or weeks later you start to realize that the new release isn't all that jazz, the new features are a bit bland, or you have figured them out and what you do turns into a routine. And to top it off you've just posted 3 careers at the same time which all three of them are just EPIC you NEED to complete them...  And now you start to notice that next to the game being 95% the same you feel now HAVE to play the game for the careers instead of choosing to... And before you know it you go from every day playing to once every three days until you stop playing all together. To off course jump on the hype train for the next version 😉

The burnout

This people is what i call the FMM burnout... Andwhat i just described is exactly what i've gone through the last month or three. And you know what? It bloody happens to me almost every year   And every year i tell myself it's not going to happen this time...

So why am i rambling about this? Well reading between the lines on Vibe luckily i am not alone and read that more people feel burned out or i see the signs of this. So i thought well since i make the same bloody mistake every year i am extremely qualified to post about this topic to hope you and i won't make the same mistakes.

Top 5 mistakes i make

So here are my 5 key mistakes to hopefully help you not to be as stupid as me 

1. Don't over commit

My number one mistake. Doing to much at the same time, be it too many careers at the same moment or participating in too many events. Reduce the amount of things you do at the same time. This will at least bring some focus and will make you feel less obligated to play because the next update needs to get out as it has been 2 weeks since you posted.

2. Don't rush

Don't rush... As simple as that! Why rush through seasons to get things out. You have a bloody year to play the game  Also don't worry to get stuff out there to be the first to post it. I sometimes see careers or tactics posted that are half done. Why would you put out crappy content just to be first. If your post is good or unique it will get views and get attention.  

Also with tactics post launch there will be some updates after the release. Instead of trying to get a godlike tactic straight away take your time to have fun instead of concentrating only on getting a new  god tactic. Believe me this nearly killed FMM 18 in the first 3 weeks for me 

3.  You play for yourself

Now this one is a bit more for the people that are active content wise. What ever you do, the love for the game got you posting and sharing content. Always play and post content you like. Don't start a save or participate in something you think you need to for the community. Want to do the 100th Isak save? Then do it! If that keeps you playing and active go for it! I've missed some great opportunities with players who are now to old to do a 1KC with 

4. Make notes of your ideas

Now this was something i wouldn't do, but @Ashez actually gave me this tip years ago. And tbh i sometimes still forget to do this. But why is this usefull?

After a few months and especially after the last big update the game gets a bit stale for me. Writing down all the things you want to do during the year will create a backlog of stuff to keep you  invested in FMM. There is so much to do, from testing to creating in FMM and on Vibe that you can get lost in the possibilities and get bored. Personally for me i try to push more complex testing or careers to after the last big update as i have a better understanding of Match engine and i know i won't get screwed due to major changes to the game.

5. Mix it but don't drink to much

A gin and tonic or a rum and coke, i love a good mix! And the same goes for FMM. I like to mix what i do to keep things fresh. If you know what you want to do career / content wise. Why not mix up playing careers and making content with participating in some of the excellent Community competitions? Participating the Challenge Cup and VSL gave me some excellent ideas for stuff to do on my own. It also keeps me motivated because when i did my Isak 2KC, yeah the first 10 years where fun, but the other 20 where dull as ****. Do keep mistake nr 1 in mind. Don't over commit 

Concluding

 Well that's it lads! I hope you had a bit of fun reading this as all should be taken with a grain of salt. If you have found this a bit usefull, want to share your thoughts then please do!

Thanks for reading and let’s give the @Foxy a big applause for the graphic and adjustment of my Dinglish🤣

Cheers PriZe

Edited July 24 by PriZe
Forgot the epic Fox😑

[Ashez]

Excellent work Prize, I relate to this article oh to well. 

The one thing I'd add is to keep your expectations in check and sometimes play it safe, a massive cause of my burn out this year is I've focused on ideas which are just too big or impossible and those failures have ate away at me and made me not want to play. I had three big ideas ear marked for 2018 and I couldn't get any to work which broke me. I enjoy pushing the game by bringing new and unique creations to Vibe but that philosophy has meant I've posted nothing of note for two years now. Personally I've really struggled to pull my ideas in but I really wish I was able to, believe it or not I've played a decent amount of 2018 but I can't say I've enjoyed it. 

[Peely]

Great article, @PriZe. I've definitely experienced FMM burn-out in the past. Playing FMH2013 and 2014 pretty solidly and two thirty season careers on 2014 did it for me.

A four year break has perked up my interest in the game again and I'm having enough fun to ignore the obvious issues, at least for the time being. We'll see how long it lasts this time. 

[Rob2017]

Great article mate and every single bit of it rings true. It’s all about targets on here. I love the short quick career challenges.

[ManLikeRobbieBrady]

Cracking read mate, related to every word as I'm currently going through this burnout. I've found going back to an old-fashioned, slightly-aimless save has allowed me to enjoy the game again.

[Woody]

Its like your in my mind 😲 get out!!!

Great article though mate.

[Foxy]

Great article mate.

I think the key is to enjoy what you are doing and once it stops being fun take a break or try something else. 

If I start something I like to try and finish it and after a few false starts with careers I now tend to get a little way into a career before I post a thread on here so I know it will stick before I present it to the world. I also don't worry about it force myself to play just because I have a career on here. If I want to play I do and if I fancy a day or more off then I do that.

 

[scratch99]

This is spot on - I identify with pretty much all of it. That's why I disappeared for a couple of months recently, I just needed to get away from FMM for a bit. That's why I only rarely participate in competitions, even though I enjoy them. That's why I killed my ill fated journey to the Netherlands for a 1KC (I wasn't enjoying it). That's why I sometimes play and post so slowly compared to others...

Mate, you've summed it all up so perfectly here. And judging from the response, this is something that affects a lot of us. Thanks for the article.

Now we just need someone to write an article on the other side of the coin, when it's all golden and you're all in, and you stop doing any work and forget to pick the kids up from school (has not happened - yet!), etc.  

[PriZe]

12 hours ago, Ashez said:

The one thing I'd add is to keep your expectations in check and sometimes play it safe, a massive cause of my burn out this year

completely agree! It's frustrating when it doesn't work out and kills all the fun. I do believe that when you just jump in to this game it's a little less of a risk. Once you get to know the game and want to start pushing boundries this is a real threat imho.

12 hours ago, Peely said:

A four year break has perked up my interest in the game again

Glad you are still around mate and looking into the game again   Your scoring with pensioners is still a good career to follow but two 30 year careers i can imagine you were a bit done with the game!

13 hours ago, Rob2017 said:

 I love the short quick career challenges.

Good that you mention it! I did some this year as well, there are some lovely short challenges!

 

12 hours ago, ManLikeRobbieBrady said:

I've found going back to an old-fashioned, slightly-aimless save has allowed me to enjoy the game again.

Also works haha just cracking out some good results with a fun team with no big goal is indeed good!

12 hours ago, Woody said:

Its like your in my mind 😲 get out!!! 

Great article though mate.

I think i'm worried we think a like  

[PriZe]

11 hours ago, Foxy said:

I think the key is to enjoy what you are doing and once it stops being fun take a break or try something else. 

this all the way!

 

9 hours ago, scratch99 said:

Now we just need someone to write an article on the other side of the coin, when it's all golden and you're all in, and you stop doing any work and forget to pick the kids up from school (has not happened - yet!), etc.  

FMM FTW! Who needs a family or responsibilities ;-)

[JustM1kePlays]

Cracking article. I always take too much on and never finish anything. FMM19 this will change. 

[PriZe]

4 hours ago, JustM1kePlays said:

Cracking article. I always take too much on and never finish anything. FMM19 this will change. 

🤣FMM burn-out king?😜

[Taff]

Fantastic artical @PriZe, I’ve been feeling the burnout more than ever this year, to the point where I only have 1 career to my name along with a H2H (that’s still going)

the rest has been participating with in Vibe events, normally when I struggle I like to find a nice challenge but just can’t find the motivation this year

but the community here at Vibe is 110% the reason I keep going, just the support from the guys here is always enough to keep me going 

[Dar J]

7 hours ago, Taff said:

Fantastic artical @PriZe, I’ve been feeling the burnout more than ever this year

Same for me.. I've not played the game this year as much as I do other years.

My advice would be to try and ignore things you can't change in the game and worry more about things you can actually change

[BatiGoal]

Well said, PriZe. 

I always counter it by doing something completely different. Got a potential burn-out after my multiple failed 1K assists challenge. Been testing tactics from the real life ones to the bizarre ones and currently holidaying thru seasons as Chairman. Ideas for a brandnew career will hit me sooner or later. 

[Woody]

1 hour ago, BatiGoal said:

Well said, PriZe. 

I always counter it by doing something completely different. Got a potential burn-out after my multiple failed 1K assists challenge. Been testing tactics from the real life ones to the bizarre ones and currently holidaying thru seasons as Chairman. Ideas for a brandnew career will hit me sooner or later. 

I miss a good @BatiGoal career 😆

[PriZe]

On 31/07/2018 at 09:42, Woody said:

I miss a good @BatiGoal career 😆

Are there any good @BatiGoal careers?😳

[Woody]

20 minutes ago, PriZe said:

Are there any good @BatiGoal careers?😳

Ermmm....there must be 😉

[Cockers2505]

I agree totally with you @PriZe and think it is an excellent piece, my take on a lot of problems with FMM is the need to have success and quickly, gone are the days where you would take your own team and try to win everything, because to be truthful with all the help out there, basically any team can win the top league, and eventual Champions League, the holy grail of cups.

Nobody wants to play to 30 seasons because it gets tedious and boring, you can simply look at the wonder kids list of the future, buy as many as you can early on, knowing your team will be the ultimate force in say 6 to 8 seasons, then it's game over with the right Tactic, Training and Money, basically any club in any country can be champions of the world in 10 seasons, my opinion though, others may disagree.

I think to try and keep fresh, Challenges are the way forward, your own challenge or those already created, wanting your name on a leaderboard whether it is the bottom or the top, is more satisfying than playing 20 seasons where you win EVERYTHING year in year out, I did it with Oldham, got them to the Premiership in 4 seasons, won the league by the 6th, and then went on to conquer everything before the end of my 10th season, got bored and started again on some Challenge, but again thats my opinion, in fact in all the years of playing Champ manager, Football Manager and whatever else these were called back in the 80's, I don't think I have ever reached the end, maybe that could be my next challenge... to reach the end...

I think this Forum is brilliant, the banter, write ups, help, and general interest, keep up the good work and inspiration to all those out there that dream to be the next @PriZe, @BatiGoal, @Taff , @Ashez or @Foxy to name but a few of the Legends as I would put it, thanks from me for making this each year THE best Football game period...

Edited August 1 by Cockers2505

[Taff]

26 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

I think this Forum is brilliant, the banter, write ups, help, and general interest, keep up the good work and inspiration to all those out there that dream to be the next @PriZe, @BatiGoal, @Taff or @Foxy to name but a few of the Legends as I would put it, thanks from me for making this each year THE best Football game period...

[Cockers2505]

Note I'm not included @Taff, I'm still learning the ropes after nearly 30+ years 🤣 I'll be a legend of failures at this rate...

[Foxy]

31 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

don't think I have ever reached the end, maybe that could be my next challenge... to reach the end...

Before this year i have never played more then 8 seasons on CM/FM before but having a challenge or 3 to do has kept the save going for me and now im determined to reach 30 seasons.

Quote

dream to be the next @PriZe, @BatiGoal, @Taff or @Foxy to name but a few of the Legends

Not sure I qualify as a legend but thanks for the compliment.

[Cockers2505]

 

3 minutes ago, Foxy said:

Before this year i have never played more then 8 seasons on CM/FM before but having a challenge or 3 to do has kept the save going for me and now im determined to reach 30 seasons.

 

There should be a League table for 30 year Finishers, the table should include the Managers profile wins, cups, goals, goals against etc etc

I'll probably never be on it to be truthful, FMM 19 will be out before I get there 🤣

[Cockers2505]

4 minutes ago, Foxy said:

Before this year i have never played more then 8 seasons on CM/FM before but having a challenge or 3 to do has kept the save going for me and now im determined to reach 30 seasons.

Not sure I qualify as a legend but thanks for the compliment.

Your welcome, just thought of the first names that came to me as what I would call a legend, and your there with the best, i'm sure there are more that stand out but ran out of names

[Cockers2505]

See another legend springs to mind, well adds to this conversation @Ashez

[Ashez]

44 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

I agree totally with you @PriZe and think it is an excellent piece, my take on a lot of problems with FMM is the need to have success and quickly, gone are the days where you would take your own team and try to win everything, because to be truthful with all the help out there, basically any team can win the top league, and eventual Champions League, the holy grail of cups.

Nobody wants to play to 30 seasons because it gets tedious and boring, you can simply look at the wonder kids list of the future, buy as many as you can early on, knowing your team will be the ultimate force in say 6 to 8 seasons, then it's game over with the right Tactic, Training and Money, basically any club in any country can be champions of the world in 10 seasons, my opinion though, others may disagree.

I think to try and keep fresh, Challenges are the way forward, your own challenge or those already created, wanting your name on a leaderboard whether it is the bottom or the top, is more satisfying than playing 20 seasons where you win EVERYTHING year in year out, I did it with Oldham, got them to the Premiership in 4 seasons, won the league by the 6th, and then went on to conquer everything before the end of my 10th season, got bored and started again on some Challenge, but again thats my opinion, in fact in all the years of playing Champ manager, Football Manager and whatever else these were called back in the 80's, I don't think I have ever reached the end, maybe that could be my next challenge... to reach the end...

I think this Forum is brilliant, the banter, write ups, help, and general interest, keep up the good work and inspiration to all those out there that dream to be the next @PriZe, @BatiGoal, @Taff or @Foxy to name but a few of the Legends as I would put it, thanks from me for making this each year THE best Football game period...

I 100% agree, it's always annoyed me that SI ignore the competitive element completely, yeah I understand why they do but ask anyone here how much enjoyment they bring. Imagine even something simple like regular DLC challenges and stuff, you've seen how creative we can be with limitations, imagine having SI's input or tools! 

As for the 30 season limit I've never done it on the mobile game, I did there or four times on the PSP though, twice in 2013 even! 2014 was the turning point for me as I was iffy on that game but I played a decent amount, 2015 was basically the same iirc then 2016-18 were awful or decent at best. My longest save on 2018? Five seasons......Not even sure I managed much more on 2017 tbh. That spark has vanished from me in recent times, I still try but not much works or keeps my attention tbh. The frustration from failed attempts is a struggle though, I've had three big risky saves this year completely screwed by updates or injuries and it makes me not want to try again. 

9 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

 

There should be a League table for 30 year Finishers, the table should include the Managers profile wins, cups, goals, goals against etc etc

I'll probably never be on it to be truthful, FMM 19 will be out before I get there 🤣

I used to post a Retirement Challenge, I'm not sure if Dan moved it forward or not though. 

5 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

See another legend springs to mind, well adds to this conversation @Ashez

Legend < Has Been 😛

[Cockers2505]

16 hours ago, Ashez said:

I 100% agree, it's always annoyed me that SI ignore the competitive element completely, yeah I understand why they do but ask anyone here how much enjoyment they bring. Imagine even something simple like regular DLC challenges and stuff, you've seen how creative we can be with limitations, imagine having SI's input or tools! 

As for the 30 season limit I've never done it on the mobile game, I did there or four times on the PSP though, twice in 2013 even! 2014 was the turning point for me as I was iffy on that game but I played a decent amount, 2015 was basically the same iirc then 2016-18 were awful or decent at best. My longest save on 2018? Five seasons......Not even sure I managed much more on 2017 tbh. That spark has vanished from me in recent times, I still try but not much works or keeps my attention tbh. The frustration from failed attempts is a struggle though, I've had three big risky saves this year completely screwed by updates or injuries and it makes me not want to try again. 

I used to post a Retirement Challenge, I'm not sure if Dan moved it forward or not though. 

Legend < Has Been 😛

I think for me, the best was when I played it on a Commodore Amiga, and it was 5 or 7 disks, can't remember if it was FM or CM? otherwise the 01/02 has to be the best, I find we are trying to turn the FMM into FM, to many people want soooo much in a Mobile game, it's called Mobile for a reason, I admit I play it on an iPad now, much better than my phone, but still, please please please stop trying to make it so complicated, fix whats wrong now, rather than add more crap that will cause more problems down the line... 

Edited August 2 by Cockers2505

[UKFootballScore]

great read that was! really good points and ones that meant I haven't played the game for nearly 8-9 months now!

really want to get involved for the new release and get making content again as I bloody loved doing content for vibe in the past.

cheers @PriZe

[samhardy]

Quality article @PriZe, really hit the nail on the head and something everyone can relate to.