Thanks to Aidan for writing this! Note that this was written during the 2013 season, but updated in 2024 for the last time to rectify some details.
Many members of PCMDaily have come across the name of "Man-Game" or simply, "MG". However, many don't know what it is or how it works. If you are curious as to how it works, what it is or interested in joining in, you might want to consider reading through this article. I hope to explain it in as little words as possible, but I'd also like to add details for anyone applying to be a new manager.
For just the basics, read the first 3 headings. It will give you an overall knowledge of the game. Under the final heading you can find some testimonials of MG-managers, saying how they have experienced the game so far.
Man-Game - What is it?
"Man-Game" is an abbreviation for Management Game. The entire game is centered around the management aspect of your own team, rather than taking control of your team in a 3D race. Each manager takes charge of their very own team and can control all aspects involved with its management, from choosing sponsors and designing a jersey to recruiting riders and selecting races (explained below). Pre-season months are the busiest for any manager. It is during this period that managers participate in an interactive transfer season, decide on sponsors, create the team jersey/equipment, select races for the team to participate in and create the race schedule for riders. Managers are also encouraged to open a Team HQ - a thread where you present the team along with any info you want to add; typically the riders of the team, sponsors, jersey, races and background info. It is also worth mentioning that a MG season is equivalent to almost a whole year, although they got shorter lately!
How do races work if I don't control my team?
It is quite simple, actually. Man-Game has a set calendar of real and fantasy races with different rankings, such as the UCI's .PT, .PTHC, .HC, .C1 or .C2 races. As mentioned before, each manager selects races and riders for these races pre-season. When the time comes for the race during the season, an independent race reporter, who has willingly applied to help out, creates a preview for the race with an overview of profiles, participating teams and potential winners. The reporter then plays the race on their PC (with a control team that has no influence on the result) and takes screenshots throughout. He then writes and posts a report explaining how the race panned out, much like we see in a PCM story. The exported results are also included in a race report. Click here for an example of a typical race report. A "Discussion Thread" (including the race preview) is also opened before then, and there managers discuss their team's performance in the race or anything related with fellow managers. Click here for an example of a race discussion thread.
MG's database: Who are the riders? Click here to download the MG database of the 2024 season. It is an Excel file, so all you need is preferably MS Excel or Excel Viewer (free) although you can use an alternative program to open the database as well. Upon opening it you'll be bombarded with colour-coded columns and rows of names and numbers, but just take a few seconds to find your bearings. You'll soon see that it's a PCM-style database with riders, their stats, teams and all the relevant info.
You'll also realize that riders have different stats than what you might think. Some riders are over-developed, other well-known pros have weak stats and there are quite a lot of riders with very high stats compared to a normal PCM database. This is all due to the evolution of MG: a game running for so many years is bound to be pretty different compared to real life! At the end of a season riders are nominated by managers to be added to the database. MG has a unique flavour as it allows almost any rider in the world to be added, such as unknown Kenyan or Finnish riders who develop to be stronger than someone like Wout Van Aert or Mathieu Van Der Poel. Riders don't develop randomly, each rider has a development path which is directed by their manager (explained below).
Stat Increases/Decreases, XP Levels and Training
In the DB, you'll see each rider has an XP level (1,2,3,4 and 4.max) and potential. As you know, the higher the potential, the bigger the stat gains for a rider. Rider earns experience (XP) by racing in different races. XP levels are divided into 100XP points. To gain an XP level, a rider needs to accumulate 100XP points, which isn't difficult to achieve. Levels work as follows:
- Level 1 (100 XP points)
- Level 2 (100 XP points)
- Level 3 (100 XP points)
- Level 4 (100 XP points)
- Level 4.100 (maxed out)
After advancing an XP level, a rider gets a stat gain, but only at the end of a season. The size of the gain is dependent on potential and the change of XP level. For example, a rider jumping from XP level 3 to 4, has a bigger gain than when he jumped from XP level 1 to 2. Managers also choose specific training programs for riders, based on how they want them to develop, eg. climber program, sprinter program, cobbles program, etc. Click here to download the stat gains form. You'll see the different program names, as well as the gains per XP level change. Please note that a rider can only advance one level per season, except for level 1. Level 1 riders can jump from level 1 to 3 in one season (they receive stat gains for level 2 and level 3 changes).
Riders receive XP points when racing. Different races offer a different amount of points for different XP levels. For example, a continental category 2 (lowest cat.) race offers 0 XP points for a rider on level 4, but that very same race offers 2 XP points for a rider on level 1 XP. An exception is made for the 'Tour de l'Avenir', where every U23 rider can be nominated by his manager to take part and gain 20 XP.
Riders have a fixed number of race days per year, i.e. a rider can't race more than his race days. Typically, continental teams racing continental races are better suited for riders on level 1 and 2, whereas WT teams are better for riders on level 3 or higher. Maxed out riders are suitable for any team.
A typical scenario in MG is when managers try to recruit young riders on level 1 and loan (loaning explained below) them to continental teams to develop. These riders return with a higher XP level and stats for the next season. Likewise, it can often happen that Continental teams loan their self-developed Level 4 riders to WT teams to max them out.
Furthermore, a maxed out rider can be trained to permanently improve stats, but at a very high cost of the team budget.
Pre-Season Planning: Racing Calendar and Goals
Before a team enters the transfer season, it is required to enter races for the following season. As mentioned, races have various different classifications and contribute differently to ranking points. A team has a fixed number of total race days for a season. During the planing phase, managers fill in a form indicating which racha they wish to partake in.
After a team's racing calendar has been finalized, it is required to list 5 official goals which it hopes to achieve. The criteria for goals varies every year, but generally each team is required to have a win goal and overall standings goal (eg. top 5 in team rankings for Continental Europe Tour). Goals are essential in determining a team's budget, explained in detail below.
Team Budgets and Riders' Wages/Salaries
Riders are recruited and bid for in the transfer season (more info below). Each team is assigned with an annual budget which is spent on riders' wages, training riders and buying riders from other teams. Each budget has a wage/salary cap, the maximum amount that the team can spend on all the riders' wages. The size of the cap is dependent on the team's division (i.e. Continental, Pro Continental or Pro Tour), for example, in 2013 the salary cap was €1,2 million for a continental team. This means that a CT manager can spend up to €1,2million on all the wages, but he does not have to spend all of it. If the manager does not spend all the money of the salary cap, he can use the remainder of the money as he pleases, eg. training.
Each team in a division has the same salary cap, but not all teams have the same budget. The size of a team's total budget, is determined by the difficulty of the 5 pre-season goals selected, more difficult goals = bigger budget. However, bigger isn't always better - the amount of goals accomplished by a team determines the budget size for the following season. Obviously, more accomplished goals = bigger salary. Let's say a CT team has a budget of €2million. And they've used up their entire salary cap (€1.2million), that leaves them with €800 000 left to spend for training or buying new riders.
Transfers: Renewing Contracts, Recruiting Riders and Loan Deals
At the end of a season, before the transfer period, established teams need to renew contracts of riders they wish to keep for the following year. There is a specific procedure that needs to be followed when negotiating contracts. A manager will offer his riders contracts and this info will be sent to an administrator. The admin returns a form that has processed by an algorithm which shows which riders have accepted the offers, who have declined and who is asking for more. Managers have a total of 3 offers per rider when negotiating. Riders whose contracts are not renewed, will be released into the free agent market. Note that riders who are under contract can be sold or traded to other teams during the transfer period.
Recruiting of new riders begins after the renewals period and after team goals have been finalized. The process is open for set period of days, usually ~ 2 weeks. There are specific rules and procedures to follow when a manager wants to sign a rider from the free agent market, buy a rider from another team or establish a loan deal; all rules can be read here.
In summary, when attempting to sign a rider, a manager opens a thread with the rider's name as well as the amount he is willing to offer under its team name. Fellow managers can improve on that offer by bidding with higher offers, whose increases are regulated by the transfer rules, just like in an auction. The thread remains open for 48hours after the last bid/post, after which it is locked and the rider contract is given to the highest bidder. Click here for an example of a bidding thread.
Deals where riders can be transferred from one team to another are also made during this transfer period. It works in a similar fashion to free agents, but generally managers have communicated to one another via PM to establish deals. A deal thread includes teams, riders, amounts and contract agreements in the main post. Deals are sealed after 24 hours in this case. Click here for an example.
Loan deals are similar to transfers, but a rider is loaned to a different team for a season, usually to gain XP points in a relevant division (such as level 1 rider loaned to a CT team). Loan deals also include specific clauses that need to be met, such as team A being required to ensure that a rider from team B gains 1 full XP level. Riders can be exchanged for money or for other riders. The salary of a rider can also be split between the loaning and borrowing team. Click here for an example of a loan deal.
Ranking System: Races and Teams
Man-Game's points system is identical to the UCI's point system. Races are classified as follows, in order of importance:
- Pro Tour [.PT] | Subdivided into normal PT races, Monuments and Grand Tours.
- Pro Tour Higher Class (.PTHC)
- Continental Higher Class [.HC]
- Continental Category 1 [.C1]
- Continental Category 2 Higher Class [.C2HC]
- Continental Category 2 [.C2]
Races with different classifications carry different weighting a for points, eg. C2 vs HC: HC races count more points towards continental races than C2. Stage races and one-day races also have different point weightings. Overall classifications, Points classifications, Mountains classifications and U25 classifications also contribute different amounts (listed in order of class, carrying most points). Click here to have a look at the ranking's point scales.
Different rules apply for which races different teams can enter. Continental teams are limited to C1, C2 and C2HC, but can receive wild cards for HC races. Pro Continental teams can enter C2, C2HC, C1, HC and PTHC races, but can only enter riders below a certain average (~72) in C2 and C2HC races. PCT teams are also eligible for wild cards to World Tour races if they pay a fee, but the points they potentially gain don't count towards the rankings. PT teams obviously compete in PT races, as well as the option of PTHC races. Click here to have a more complete look on it all.
Team HQ
When a new manager is appointed they are encouraged to open a HQ thread for their team. It contains all relevant info about the team and should, ideally, be updated throughout the MG with previews of races, race reports and rumours regarding the next season. Browse the MG's HQ forum for examples. It is always appreciated when a manager has made an extra effort in their HQ, it also promotes the team with other players.
A word from me and other manager's testimonials
Although it may seem pretty complicated at first sight with all the planning and organizing, that is exactly what makes it so unique and fun. I never thought I'd enjoy this thing as much as I actually am, so give it a shot. For any first time managers I suggest you read this whole post if haven't already done so. The more you know, the better - it stops you from making rookie mistakes due to insufficient knowledge. Don't be afraid to ask current managers for advice, if you join MG. Also, drop me a PM if there's something you'd like to know.
SotD (joined in 2009): I have been playing the Man-Game for a very long time, and I have enjoyed every bit of the way so far. Throughout the years I have progressed in the role-play environment, while undergoing a lot of changes in my personal life as well. From being a new and unexperienced member towards winning the rankings title 3 consecutive seasons, and lately toning down the competitive nature of the team – and myself. There really has been room for all of these different approaches, and the community is just spectacular. For anyone enjoying role playing games, and/or manager games this absolutely is a must try. The Man-Game universe is so different to any other gaming experience I have had in my life. I have always enjoyed manager games like Football manager, and to a certain degree RPG, but I have never before (and likely never afterwards) enjoyed a game to this degree. It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of free hours every day or not – the game is there, always living and thriving. Have you ever actively played a game for more than a decade without it ever becoming boring and repetitive? I have only ever experienced that with the Man-Game.
baseballlover312 (joined in 2014): The Management Game isn't just another surface level season mode. It's its own universe. After years of developing talents and crafting a team identity, your riders are no longer names on a spreadsheet or generic PCM models - they're characters in an ever-expanding story that you and dozens of other people get to share.
jandal7 (joined in 2016): It's hard to know what to put here because I am not sure "my MG experience" represents the opportunities and fun of the game completely - but I suppose that is the awesome thing, there are so many ways to win and to have fun. The game accommodates different playstyles and there is no one approach to squad-building which makes you more likely to win, meaning you can play it your way and still find success. My experience is that I have managed to rise up the divisions of the game to the top division by developing young talents in-house, and focusing on finding fun and unique riders rather than traditional leaders. I know others who have had huge success going all-in on one-day classics and terrain depth. I know some who have risen the ranks without a top-tier leader, and some who have promoted on the back of somehow luring one of the biggest stars in the world to the second division and wreaking havoc. I know some who have got very analytical, or used their super skills to promote back-to-back. I know some who have spent most of their time floundering in the third tier and are still loving it. I know all of these stories and care about the other teams because of the tight-knit drama-free community and sense of camaraderie you get with the other managers. I didn't know a lot of them before I started the game and I have had a great time negotiating, competing, bantering and making this awesome alternate cycling world with them. I know it can seem like a lot but it's really simple if a fool like me can understand it, and the welcoming community will offer you a lot of support if you want it!
Ulrich Ulriksen (joined in 2019): I joined the Mangame in 2019. My biggest regret is I didn't join 5 years earlier. If you like cycling and/or PCM and you are just a little bit analytical it is a must. The community is very welcoming and there are so many ways to play the game it means you can really build your own path within a much bigger world and get a lot out of it, whether your team wins 1 race all season or dominates the competition.
Edited by Nemolito on 08-07-2024 14:11
