Football Manager 2009...Can you handle the media?

SEGA'S latest installment of Football Manager 2009, is slated to hit the shelves this Tuesday here in the US. The popular football managing game has added a some interesting features, including one, where YOU get to address the media at press conferences. Local and national journalists grill you about your play calls, trade speculations and any other story they can dig up. After the jump check out the trailer and a screen shot with a sample media question.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E0tmzwrxoY

Pretty cool feature if you ask me. So how does it work? There are three types of press conferences you can take part in. New job, pre-game and post-game interviews. During each press conference, a question is posed, an image of the journalist asking the question will be displayed, along with their affiliation.

Every question and answer is recorded over the course of season and could come back to haunt you....(some journalists will refer back earlier questions and answers that you have given)....so stay on your toes with your responses!!

We all know that the media loves a juicy story, and makers behind the game kept that in mind. Some of the interactive journalists are more understanding and straight forward with you, while others might pick you apart and can be less considerate. Therefore, each question has FIVE options you can choose from...plus...you can add your own comments.

Now, if you don't want to address the press, you can simply send your Assistant Manager on your behalf. But if you DO make an appearance, and things aren't to your liking, you can ask your press officer to wrap things up or even pull a Bobby Knight and storm out.

Football Manager 2009, features over 5,000 playable soocer clubs from over 50 countries, and about 350,000 players and staff to choose from around the world. Nevertheless, the game's designers keep you well up to date with detailed reports of each player, including their ratings and skill-set.

SEGA announced its release via a video on their YouTube channel.

"With the 3D view of the match engine, and dozens of animations for each player, this year is definitely one of revolution for the Football Manager™ series," commented Miles Jacobson, Studio Director of Sports Interactive. "We always said that we wanted to make the in-game match engine fully 3D but that we wouldn't do so until we were confident that it was technically possible, and after nearly 3 years work and with huge thanks to Sports R&D Division, it's now here."

Football Manager 2009, has versions available for PSP, PC and Mac computers.