First impressions of the game

[Kjartan Pittúr]

I think, this thread could be useful.

My first impressions so far: You get, what you expect. People who enjoyed the RUM-Series will be even more delighted, because you will find all the features you loved plus a lot of new features which are, after the first hours of playing, all useful.
I really like the calibre-scale and even more I think, the research did a pretty good job. Okay, Sam Burgess as World Class is a bit early, but it's fine, I guess.

The match engine is pretty basic but personally I don't need much more. You can see the numbers of the players and the player who's scoring is flashed shortly.

I will add more impressions tomorrow. But until then I have to say: Great job, I love it!

 

[BakkiesBokke]

I think, this thread could be useful.

My first impressions so far: You get, what you expect. People who enjoyed the RUM-Series will be even more delighted, because you will find all the features you loved plus a lot of new features which are, after the first hours of playing, all useful.
I really like the calibre-scale and even more I think, the research did a pretty good job. Okay, Sam Burgess as World Class is a bit early, but it's fine, I guess.

The match engine is pretty basic but personally I don't need much more. You can see the numbers of the players and the player who's scoring is flashed shortly.

I will add more impressions tomorrow. But until then I have to say: Great job, I love it!

Thanks for the first impression. I haven't downloaded the game yet and won't do till Friday thanks to work! Out of interest, are the unlicensed Super Rugby player names similar to the players' actual names, or will it be a tough job to decipher?

 

[SeanO'Brien]

Thanks for the first impression. I haven't downloaded the game yet and won't do till Friday thanks to work! Out of interest, are the unlicensed Super Rugby player names similar to the players' actual names, or will it be a tough job to decipher?

Well I cant get onto the game (Steam is being horrible to me) but I looked on the editor and the manager of the British and Irish Cats is Warren Gutland so I'm assuming its similar for the Super League.

 

[kieranreading]

Thanks for the first impression. I haven't downloaded the game yet and won't do till Friday thanks to work! Out of interest, are the unlicensed Super Rugby player names similar to the players' actual names, or will it be a tough job to decipher?

Yeah they have just changed 1 letter in the surname so its easy enough to work out.

- - - Updated - - -

Thought the editor would be better so you are able to create teams, leagues, players and move players between teams.

 

[Wendigo7]

Can you adjust finances in custom editor and completely reconfigure leagues?

Might be interesting if there is a world league patch

 

[stus768]

How do u retrain a secondary position?

 

[Kjartan Pittúr]

Richie McCow :lol:

As far as I can see, the editor edits teams, players and leagues, no finances. A World League would be possible I guess, but I think you have to dublicate the teams, which is later in the game a bit stupid, because you will have two Sam Burgesses, two Richie McCows and two Ma'a Nonis.

I haven't had a closer look on training.

Maybe in general for the people who aren't sure of buying: It's the first time for Alternative Software releasing this for money. Even in the for free 2012-version you could feel the passion and the creativity on which the game was build and now there is the same for the 2015-version. There are always things to improve, in that case for example the possibilities with the editor. The interface is a bit oldschool, here is the question what you personally expect. For me, it's okay to make two or three unnessesary clicks more, because the depth of the game is, in comparison to certain other rugby manager games, huge. The whole RUTM reminds me a lot of old FM-versions, which where not as polished and as chubby as FM15, but still much more specific than the in Germany much loved EA-manager-games. To sum up: Think about what you want. If you want a really deep rugby manager game with the possibility of playing both northern and southern hemisphere teams in a realistic way and lots of other possibilities, RUTM will be a lot of fun for you. If you want a polished rugby-version of FM15, you'll have to wait.

 

[stus768]

Richie McCow :lol:

As far as I can see, the editor edits teams, players and leagues, no finances. A World League would be possible I guess, but I think you have to dublicate the teams, which is later in the game a bit stupid, because you will have two Sam Burgesses, two Richie McCows and two Ma'a Nonis.

I haven't had a closer look on training.

Maybe in general for the people who aren't sure of buying: It's the first time for Alternative Software releasing this for money. Even in the for free 2012-version you could feel the passion and the creativity on which the game was build and now there is the same for the 2015-version. There are always things to improve, in that case for example the possibilities with the editor. The interface is a bit oldschool, here is the question what you personally expect. For me, it's okay to make two or three unnessesary clicks more, because the depth of the game is, in comparison to certain other rugby manager games, huge. The whole RUTM reminds me a lot of old FM-versions, which where not as polished and as chubby as FM15, but still much more specific than the in Germany much loved EA-manager-games. To sum up: Think about what you want. If you want a really deep rugby manager game with the possibility of playing both northern and southern hemisphere teams in a realistic way and lots of other possibilities, RUTM will be a lot of fun for you. If you want a polished rugby-version of FM15, you'll have to wait.

Found out how. You must have a coach who specialises in the position. Was annoyed that both Dave Ewers and Thomas Waldroms second positions are lock.

Agree with you. UI could do with a bit of an upgrade as it could be easier to navigate. But a great first effort. A lot more depth and i enjoy the match engine where you can choose which moves to do. Definitely a great base to build a series on.

 

[jlockey85]

I may be being stupid, but where do you change the selected place kicker? I am playing with Gloucester and I want to play Laidlaw 9 and Hook 10, but it seems to default to the 10 kicking and I want to change to 9. Hooked missed 3 conversions and I missed out on a loosing BP!

 

[amz]

I bought the game (as I do with every rugby game) but did not played, just looked trough teams. I was disappointed to see the same UI which was a good effort for an individual programmer but for a 34 Euro game I find it a bit meh, they could have done it better. Editor looks handy, might prove very helpful to enhance the game.

How is game engine? Is also a 3D game engine?

 

[BakkiesBokke]

I bought the game (as I do with every rugby game) but did not played, just looked trough teams. I was disappointed to see the same UI which was a good effort for an individual programmer but for a 34 Euro game I find it a bit meh, they could have done it better. Editor looks handy, might prove very helpful to enhance the game.

How is game engine? Is also a 3D game engine?

Personally I think the tactical side of the game is more important than a crisp interface.

Does the computer intelligently alter its own tactics?

 

[amz]

It's not the bling bling I am after but the way interface is working, it's pretty difficult to navigate trough various screens.

 

[Casfan]

I have played this for sometime now, and I am loving it, At first I found it hard to get into, but I then found the Quickstart guide which was very helpful, although I still keep looking at the full manual, and now I am hooked. It is relatively straight forward to edit the Southern Hemisphere teams, so if that is where you want to play you will enjoy it too. It may not have the polish etc. of Football Manager ( but being realistic that would have been a huge ask, that game has been going for years and years), but it is definitely the best rugby management game I have seen or played. I do hope that if this is a success , they keep building on it year after year, in which case I will be a very happy tiger.

 

[Saints1]

Its hard for me to get used to because I know nothing about union, but this has the fundamentals to be a massive success. I'll write more when I get a bit more time but if you're prepared to master the menus there is a lot of depth here and it should be every union anorak's dream. I've enjoyed what I've achieved to date and I look forward to sharing stories on TRF about my no doubt monumental failures.

But we have the rugby management game we've all been waiting for. Well, you have, Alternative need to provide an alternative code for me to say that!

 

[Regan]

Might have to get this then!

I enjoyed the free series, was just iffy about forking up $40 for this one.

 

[BakkiesBokke]

It's not the bling bling I am after but the way interface is working, it's pretty difficult to navigate trough various screens.

I agree with you now on the interface, having played it a bit! It would be nice to be prompted with things more often a la Football Manager.

I have questions:

When playing as the Sharks (called Durban in the game), there doesn't appear to be any Vodacom or Currie Cup fixtures? Likewise when playing as the Natal Sharks (called Natal in the game), there doesn't appear to be any Super rugby fixtures? Am I missing something?

Note that the Vodacom Cup runs alongside the Super Rugby competition, but is mainly for emerging (academy and colts if you like) players. The Currie Cup though is SA's top domestic competition, and the players who play in the Super Rugby competition should definitely be available and in the squads (perhaps with the exception of the top Springboks who would need rest for the Internationals that happen around that time - the Rugby Championship).

I don't suppose it is possible to get answers to these questions?

Also, is there any way to edit clubs' coaching attributes, facilities etc?

It is early days, but I'm really excited by this game, I am pretty sure it will become a solid platform finally on the Rugby Management front - it would be more fun and have more reach though with a bit of tinkering.

Have any other people got any thoughts?

 

[Dave]

There is a South Africa Division 1 who have an academy competition.
Durban (Super Championship) and Natal (South Arica Division 1) are different clubs in the game.

I agree with you now on the interface, having played it a bit! It would be nice to be prompted with things more often a la Football Manager.

I have questions:

When playing as the Sharks (called Durban in the game), there doesn't appear to be any Vodacom or Currie Cup fixtures? Likewise when playing as the Natal Sharks (called Natal in the game), there doesn't appear to be any Super rugby fixtures? Am I missing something?

Note that the Vodacom Cup runs alongside the Super Rugby competition, but is mainly for emerging (academy and colts if you like) players. The Currie Cup though is SA's top domestic competition, and the players who play in the Super Rugby competition should definitely be available and in the squads (perhaps with the exception of the top Springboks who would need rest for the Internationals that happen around that time - the Rugby Championship).

I don't suppose it is possible to get answers to these questions?

Also, is there any way to edit clubs' coaching attributes, facilities etc?

It is early days, but I'm really excited by this game, I am pretty sure it will become a solid platform finally on the Rugby Management front - it would be more fun and have more reach though with a bit of tinkering.

Have any other people got any thoughts?

- - - Updated - - -

The player with the highest Goal Kick attribute automatically takes place kicks.

I may be being stupid, but where do you change the selected place kicker? I am playing with Gloucester and I want to play Laidlaw 9 and Hook 10, but it seems to default to the 10 kicking and I want to change to 9. Hooked missed 3 conversions and I missed out on a loosing BP!

- - - Updated - - -

Drag and drop the 'S' button from next to the coach's name, onto the relevant player.
This will retrain the player to the position of the coach's positional expertise.

- - - Updated - - -

The player with the highest Goal Kick attribute automatically takes place kicks.

 

[BakkiesBokke]

There is a South Africa Division 1 who have an academy competition.
Durban (Super Championship) and Natal (South Arica Division 1) are different clubs in the game.

Thanks Dave. I'm guessing that there is no way of editing it so that the Sharks for example play domestic rugby and Super rugby? There are different competitions integrated for NH teams like Bath, where one plays in different competitions, domestic and continental.

 

[Dave]

There are 57 competitions in the game, with many clubs playing in multiple competitions, such as Bath,
who play in the Aviva Premiership, Euro Tier 1 Cup and the England-Wales Cup.

But Durban cannot be edited to play in both the Super Championship and the South Africa Division 1, unless
you want to double up the players and have 2 instances of each.

Thanks Dave. I'm guessing that there is no way of editing it so that the Sharks for example play domestic rugby and Super rugby? There are different competitions integrated for NH teams like Bath, where one plays in different competitions, domestic and continental.

- - - Updated - - -

If you have any questions about the game please put them in the one thread Questions Reference Rugby Union Team Manager 2015, as it is very easy to miss questions that pop up elsewhere. ( also please remember, please do not expect instant answers 24/7 ) Many thanks Dave

 

[Regan]

Ok so I bought it

Haven't actually played the game yet (I opened the editor first) and wow I'm really impressed with the editor, nice and basic/ simple. Makes it a breeze to edit.