Twilight of a Legend: Is Online Soccer Manager at the End of the Road?
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Ömer (15-Year OSM Manager)
It was 2009. When I first encountered this world, then known as "Online Football Manager" (OFM), I could never have guessed that football management would turn into such a long-term passion. Although I had to take forced breaks due to the busy pace of my work life, I have not left these stands for exactly 15 years. I didn't just play; I always provided financial support through in-game purchases because I respected the developers' efforts and desired the continuity of this world.
However, today, that old excitement has been replaced by deep anxiety and disappointment.Tactical Vicious Cycle: The 5-2-3 Hegemony
I have been watching with sadness as the game has lost its soul over the last two years, suffering from a kind of "tactical paralysis." The heart of a management game is strategic diversity. However, the halt in innovation and the lack of updates to the tactical engine in OSM have trapped the game in a monotonous structure.
Now, there is only one reality in leagues, battles, and cups: 5-2-3.
This formation has upset all the balances of the game. Experienced managers who have devoted years to this game, weaving squad engineering stitch by stitch, can lose to rookies who started yesterday and randomly selected the 5-2-3 formation. Tactical intelligence has been replaced by a rote meta that exploits the game engine's flaws. This situation kills the sense of competition and alienates us, the loyal players.###### The Shadow of Licensing Issues and Financial Difficulties
There are cracks not only in the game's mechanics but also in its visual and structural integrity. The disappearance of original team logos one by one, and the complete removal of some teams and leagues from the game, are the biggest proof that things are not going well in the background.
It is obvious that Gamebasics is in a serious bottleneck regarding licensing fees. The fact that the bill for this financial distress is being passed on to the player through increased in-game purchase prices makes the situation even more difficult. We are ready to support the game, but in return, we want to see a living, evolving, and licensed football atmosphere.
###### The Final Exit
At the point we have reached, I feel like this game, which I have been attached to with great passion for 15 years, is living its final moments. It feels like we are witnessing the silent closure of an era.
However, this is not a farewell letter, but a call to action. Please do not end this game. Bring back tactical diversity, be transparent about solving licensing issues, and listen to the voice of this community. As those who believe that OSM is not just a game but a culture, we are here until the final whistle blows. But the stadium is now very quiet, and the lights are about to go out. -
Hi, just saw your post on Facebook and replied there as well so I will copy my reply here as well
::I wouldnt say it will die out or end, but for me the mass decline started when they made this cheater medal ranking that has no point. With that they lost official osm world cup - people try to organize stuff nowadays but simply it cant compare to the prestige of official osm wc.
Also, lack of interest from game developers shown towards the crew wolrd and crew aspect of the game is really not explainable... I mean, league for friendly cb hasnt been updated for 3 or 4 years, what else can we say... also, crew ranking, crew battles - no changes for 7-8years.. why are they not trying to work on that is above me..
All in all, I agree with most of your (op) points, and I could go on with naming loads and loads of other problems.. but simply there is no point, the, just dont care for customer support sadly from what I have learned over the years (playing since 2007).
🥉 OSM World Nations Cup 2021 - 3rd place (Croatia)
Crew: Proud to be Croat -
Hi, just saw your post on Facebook and replied there as well so I will copy my reply here as well
::I wouldnt say it will die out or end, but for me the mass decline started when they made this cheater medal ranking that has no point. With that they lost official osm world cup - people try to organize stuff nowadays but simply it cant compare to the prestige of official osm wc.
Also, lack of interest from game developers shown towards the crew wolrd and crew aspect of the game is really not explainable... I mean, league for friendly cb hasnt been updated for 3 or 4 years, what else can we say... also, crew ranking, crew battles - no changes for 7-8years.. why are they not trying to work on that is above me..
All in all, I agree with most of your (op) points, and I could go on with naming loads and loads of other problems.. but simply there is no point, the, just dont care for customer support sadly from what I have learned over the years (playing since 2007).Author: Ömer (15-Year OSM Manager & Former World #1 Crew Member)
15 years... It’s easy to say. In this journey I started in 2009 under the name OFM, I didn't remain just an ordinary player. I was part of the only crew to sit in the "Top 1" (World Leader) seat for 2 years in global battles. I gave this game not just my money, but my time, my strategic intelligence, and most importantly, my effort. Out of respect for the developers, I have remained silent until today; however, the scene I see now is no longer something I can stay silent about.
OSM is slowly melting away before our eyes, and the reason for this collapse is not just technical inadequacies; it is because the game's scales of justice are broken.
Statistical Balloons and Medal Cheaters
The competitive structure of the game has unfortunately turned into a "cheat simulation." Medals that used to be won with tactical intelligence are now being stolen by armies of "fake accounts."
The system is very simple and equally painful: A league is created, and the manager enters 20 of their own secondary (fake) accounts into it. The goal is not to test tactics; the goal is to defeat these empty accounts to "farm" medal points for the global ranking.
When you visit some profiles in the global rankings, you encounter comical figures: 6000 matches, 5900 wins! These statistics contradict both the nature of football and the mathematics of the game. This is not success; it is open manipulation.
"Proof Exists, Punishment Does Not"
The most painful part is that these cheats are not done in secret. Everything is out in the open. As managers who believe in the spirit of fair play, we have reported these cheaters dozens of times with proof. The result? A big nothing.
The reporting system either doesn't work or is ignored. While detecting someone who puts 20 accounts in the same league and plays against themselves is a process that would take only seconds in the database, the fact that these people still stand at the top of the rankings is the biggest disrespect to us honest players.
The Moment Competition Was Sold: The $250 Summit
I have to note a very bitter truth here. We played this game with passion and stayed at the top for 2 years. However, the final point competition has reached is no longer "effort," but "commerce."
I say this with sadness and by underlining it: The crew currently sitting at the Top 1 spot was sold to other individuals for approximately $250. What kind of competition can we talk about in an environment where a crew, a success, and a ranking change hands for money? While this is a fact that OSM officials surely know or could easily find out, turning a blind eye to it is a picture of how all the effort invested is being wasted.
Final Word: Not Resentment, But Sorrow
I am not writing these lines to spew anger at the developers. I am writing because I am sad to witness the slow death of this game, which has been a part of my life for 15 years, right before my eyes.
• The tactical sterility of the 5-2-3,
• The deletion of licenses and logos,
• Financial impossibilities being reflected on the player,
• And worst of all; the fact that cheaters, effort thieves, and those who buy accounts with money are held in high esteem...
This game was our youth, our passion. Please save OSM from this swamp of cheating. Otherwise, even if the servers remain open, the spirit that makes the game a "game" will have died long ago.neversaynever.
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Author: Ömer (15-Year OSM Manager & Former World #1 Crew Member)
15 years... It’s easy to say. In this journey I started in 2009 under the name OFM, I didn't remain just an ordinary player. I was part of the only crew to sit in the "Top 1" (World Leader) seat for 2 years in global battles. I gave this game not just my money, but my time, my strategic intelligence, and most importantly, my effort. Out of respect for the developers, I have remained silent until today; however, the scene I see now is no longer something I can stay silent about.
OSM is slowly melting away before our eyes, and the reason for this collapse is not just technical inadequacies; it is because the game's scales of justice are broken.
Statistical Balloons and Medal Cheaters
The competitive structure of the game has unfortunately turned into a "cheat simulation." Medals that used to be won with tactical intelligence are now being stolen by armies of "fake accounts."
The system is very simple and equally painful: A league is created, and the manager enters 20 of their own secondary (fake) accounts into it. The goal is not to test tactics; the goal is to defeat these empty accounts to "farm" medal points for the global ranking.
When you visit some profiles in the global rankings, you encounter comical figures: 6000 matches, 5900 wins! These statistics contradict both the nature of football and the mathematics of the game. This is not success; it is open manipulation.
"Proof Exists, Punishment Does Not"
The most painful part is that these cheats are not done in secret. Everything is out in the open. As managers who believe in the spirit of fair play, we have reported these cheaters dozens of times with proof. The result? A big nothing.
The reporting system either doesn't work or is ignored. While detecting someone who puts 20 accounts in the same league and plays against themselves is a process that would take only seconds in the database, the fact that these people still stand at the top of the rankings is the biggest disrespect to us honest players.
The Moment Competition Was Sold: The $250 Summit
I have to note a very bitter truth here. We played this game with passion and stayed at the top for 2 years. However, the final point competition has reached is no longer "effort," but "commerce."
I say this with sadness and by underlining it: The crew currently sitting at the Top 1 spot was sold to other individuals for approximately $250. What kind of competition can we talk about in an environment where a crew, a success, and a ranking change hands for money? While this is a fact that OSM officials surely know or could easily find out, turning a blind eye to it is a picture of how all the effort invested is being wasted.
Final Word: Not Resentment, But Sorrow
I am not writing these lines to spew anger at the developers. I am writing because I am sad to witness the slow death of this game, which has been a part of my life for 15 years, right before my eyes.
• The tactical sterility of the 5-2-3,
• The deletion of licenses and logos,
• Financial impossibilities being reflected on the player,
• And worst of all; the fact that cheaters, effort thieves, and those who buy accounts with money are held in high esteem...
This game was our youth, our passion. Please save OSM from this swamp of cheating. Otherwise, even if the servers remain open, the spirit that makes the game a "game" will have died long ago.@omerovvvvv
Now, well, i have not spoken for some time. However.
The united. Personally my friend playing there told me. Number 1 crew for some time it was. And what happened? It got sold for €300. What happened? The name was changed to EXD venom, and a guy wrote “free palestine” on the motto of the crew. And the crew then simply vanished.On top of that, i have to urge the game devs, seriously , the top 100, why do we have to report cheaters through such a complicated system? Please start checking the leaderboards regulalrly to ensure fairness. That is all i will say for now.
Regards -
As you all know (or at least should being you active users of internet), OSM as well as all other games have to follow rules.
What we know and what we can prove beyond any doubt, are completely different things. This means that we can't lock users just because we know they're cheating.
The unbeatable tactic? That doesn't exist, there was a time back in the days where 442 was the most powerfull one, other times the 451, then 433 and now 523/532... well my 433 is still working like a charm, why? Because I buy players to keep it at his max.
Like every trends, the fact that a lot of users started playing 523, lead to some optimal adjustments and it may look unbeatable, just because no one is spending time trying to find out how to beat it just because they like the outcome of their 523Logos? What kind of logos or licensing we deleted? As far as I'm aware we didn't removed any...
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The deals made with crews... well, there's nothing we can do.
It's a matter of moral values. I would never sell something I earned with so much sacrifice, but this is our world these days...
We saw recently the winner of peace Nobel prize handing it to someone else....
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@SpecialOne i understand. There is only one question, regarding the players who are cheating. Why can’t you lock their accounts?
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How do you know accounts belong to them?
If you can't prove he's the real owner, which rule did they broke?
....I won't go further to not teach them even more
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." --Winston Churchill
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How do you know accounts belong to them?
If you can't prove he's the real owner, which rule did they broke?
....I won't go further to not teach them even more
@SpecialOne When there were old crew battles accounts did not belong to same people in crew, yet we were not allowed to fix matches.. old battle system had to be stopped and changed with threats of account bans. Why cant match fixing be enough for this cheaters to be deleted or banned? Or is it normal that someone has 100:2 goal difference after 7-8 games and all teams in their league goal difference like its handball league and not a football league (after 7-8 games goal diff's in style: 55:43, 34:67 etc...)?
🥉 OSM World Nations Cup 2021 - 3rd place (Croatia)
Crew: Proud to be Croat -
One quick look at guy at number 1 in world/global ranking (his Tajikistan league + in Africa finals same opponents) and just by looking everything is clear.
🥉 OSM World Nations Cup 2021 - 3rd place (Croatia)
Crew: Proud to be Croat -
Oh yeah, Im being bit annoying with replies now but I just noticed something as well. Last couple years OSM has system where you are allocated in leagues depending on your level, so if I am level 10 manager I am mostly being thrown in league filled with level 10, 9 mangers, rarely lvl 8 ones. Yet these "professionals" on global ranking all are playing leagues filled with level 1-3 managers? How come I cannot play against such managers unless I specifically invite them in my league?
All in all, enough proofs for those who want to tackle the situation properly
🥉 OSM World Nations Cup 2021 - 3rd place (Croatia)
Crew: Proud to be Croat -
Old Crew battles: Different times, different Internet policies and more...
If there's match fixing, rules are broken, so punishments are applied... but again, not easy to prove...
There're out there places where cheating is taught as well as the justifications, leaving us with hands tied to apply punishmentsWe need to find the moment when they make a mistake and get caught, but we can't be 24/7 on top of those users
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Sorry... Won't be discussing this any further. Need to disclose things to explain and that will be just extra info for cheaters...
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." --Winston Churchill
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Sorry... Won't be discussing this any further. Need to disclose things to explain and that will be just extra info for cheaters...
Do not misunderstand me; if OSM were just an ordinary mobile app to me, I would have simply pressed the "uninstall" button and moved on with my life. However, this platform, which has been a part of my life for exactly 15 years since 2009, which stays in the back of my mind even during the busy pace of my work, and which I have made financial and emotional sacrifices to support, is more than just a game to me.
I thank those who built this game and those who have given us this excitement for years for their past efforts. Mine is not just a complaint, but also a call for hope. I hope these criticisms reach the right places and we can return to those green fields with our old excitement. -
No misundestanding sin here and your 'complaints' are legit
This is what the community is here for, to enjoy the game, have fun with other players and suggest changes, provide feedback.
If it was non sense, I would just let it go and not react!
Same way as we grown all these years, OSM and everything around also grown. While everything was 'allowed' when we were a small game, nowadays being OSM this big and part of an way bigger company, every small thing is checked by hundreds of people on internet and we've to follow tons of rules we just ignored before because no one cared with that small game... Not the same anymore!
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@SpecialOne absolutely.
However let me just say @Majstor-Matt was correct. It’s fine that you don’t want to talk about it but there should be something done,
If you look in detail you’ll find the cheaters. -
What if I join your league, with tons of suspicious accounts where everything will point to those accounts belong to you and are being used for you to farm medals?
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is there anyone here like that?!?!?!
