Football Manager 2018 - How To Create 3D Kits

So with Football Manager 2018 changing the template for 3D kits now is a good time to release a guide on how to make them.

Football Manager 2018 Competition Review Screen Mod

Another change in FM18 is that we now have a new default fixtures & results screen which includes a couple of new items but is missing the goalscorers data shown in the other views.

So this is simple mod that adds the goalscorers back into this screen and to ensure it works across various resolutions I've turned the panel into a split panel so you can resize the league table panel to fit in the result details if you are playing on a smaller resolution.

FM18 COMP REVIEW SCREEN MOD DOWNLOAD PAGE  

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Redistribution Terms
You are free to post this content to your website provided:
1. It is not sold or behind a paywall.
2. You don't advertise it as being exclusive to your website.
3. My username and blog address are included: http://michaeltmurrayuk.blogspot.co.uk/

Football Manager 2018 - Match Review Screen Mods

Another change to the match screens in FM18 saw the old Overview screens being replaced with context specific Review Screens, however the default screens are a little lacking in detail so these mods use my Match In-Between Highlights panels to improve the data shown and add some better customization to the screens.

There are three screens in total:

Match Half-Time Review Screen

Match Full-Time Review Screen

Post-Match Review Screen

FM18 Match Review Screen Mods Download Page

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Redistribution Terms
You are free to post this content to your website provided:
1. It is not sold or behind a paywall.
2. You don't advertise it as being exclusive to your website.
3. My username and blog address are included: http://michaeltmurrayuk.blogspot.co.uk/

Football Manager 2018 Skinning Guide Part 2 - The Basics

This is a quick update of the FM2015 version, though nothing has changed so if you've read that one you already know what to do, I've just cleaned this up for FM18.

This is the second part of my Skinning Guide and will explain how to set up your first skin.

Football Manager 2018 - Match Day Backgrounds Mod

This is a small mod that re-enables background images on the match screens in Football Manager 2018 and Football Manager Touch 2018.

Backgrounds should now shown on all match screens apart form the pitch and presentation views (which is where you want the pitch showing), however the backgrounds will not show when you are in-between highlights on the pitch view nor will it remove the grey stadium background from 2D Classic Mode, though like with the default skins backgrounds should show behind pinned widgets.

Also if you are using the Dark Skin (or the Dark Base Skin) you will need to edit it first to enable backgrounds (instructions are with the Base Skins).

FM2018 MATCH DAY BACKGROUNDS MOD DOWNLOAD PAGE 

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Redistribution Terms
You are free to post this content to your website provided:
1. It is not sold or behind a paywall.
2. You don't advertise it as being exclusive to your website.

3. My username and blog address are included: http://michaeltmurrayuk.blogspot.co.uk/

Football Manager 2018 Match In-Between Highlights Mod

If you have downloaded the last few versions of this mod you should know what to do by now, though I have made a few changes this year but the instructions are largely the same.

So as you may have noticed the match screens have been redesigned in Football Manager 2018 which is actually a good thing for this mod as we now have more room to work with and the base coding is a lot similar to my coding than in previous years so I've been able to spend my time improving the individual panels instead of having to get it working in the first place.

As a change this year I have gone back to the Split Containers which allows you to adjust the width of the containers in game which allows you to more easily customize them to fit the content you want to display and your resolution, unfortunately you cannot adjust the height of the right panels in game that still needs to be done through editing the files.

To resize the panels just grab the divider between them and drag until they are the size you want, if you want to get rid of one of the containers just drag the line to the corner of the screen so it disappears.

Also thanks to the changes there is only the need for one version of the mod regardless of which skin or even which mode of FM you are using, though some of the information or screens might not show up in the Touch Mode as it doesn't support the same data as the full mode.

And as always outside of the match screen this mod make no changes, so it should be compatible with any skin that hasn't already altered these panels.

FM18 Match in Between Highlights Mods Download Page

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Redistribution Terms
You are free to post this content to your website provided:
1. It is not sold or behind a paywall.
2. You don't advertise it as being exclusive to your website.
3. My username and blog address are included: http://michaeltmurrayuk.blogspot.co.uk/

Football Manager 2018 - How to Add a Manager Picture

Like with FM17 Football Manager 2018 no longer allows you to add a picture to your manager instead encouraging you to use the Facegen system. However last years mod still works so at the moment you can add a manager picture with a bit of work though it may be disabled again in a patch and still has the same limitations as last year.

Thanks to some work from Cyrius50 at www.manager-online.fr it is now possible to add a Manager Picture when adding your Manager to the game, however at the moment it isn't possible to apply the picture to existing profiles nor to change the image so make sure you are happy with it before applying it.

Football Manager 2018 Manager Picture Mod Download Page

Football Manager Touch 2018 Manager Pic Mod Download Page 

Football Manager 2018 Skinning Guide Part 1 - How to Extract Default Files & Understanding File Structure

 

 

This is a simple guide to explain how to extract the fmf files that contain the default files for Football Manager 2018 and explains the file structure of the files to make it easier for people to modify the game themselves.

This is a simple update for FM2018, if you read the previous version of the guide then you don't really need to read this as its generally the same, there are just two changes for FM2018;

- Location of the fmf files has changed slightly as the 3D stuff is now packed into fmf files as well.

- Whilst Football Manager Touch 2018 is again a seperate entry in your Steam Library it looks like both versions of the game include the same files so regardless of which version you are making content for it looks like you only need to extract the fmf files of one which should save some hard drive space. Note however if the games get patched independently then you may need to check over the patch files for any changes made to the mode you are editing.

Football Manager 2018 - How To Locate or Move your User Data Location

Since FM2016 the Preferences menu no longer lists or allows you to change your User Data Location, this feature was removed from the game because it was confusing people. However you can still change it by following the link below.

Your User Data Location is the place on your hard drive where user generated content is stored, this includes data generated by the game such as save games, tactics and shortlists. It also includes graphics (kits, logos, faces etc) and skins that you may have downloaded or created.

These instructions are exactly the same as they were for Football Manager 2017, so rather than rewriting the guide it's easier to just link to last years and the only thing you need to change is any reference to 2017 to 2018 for Football Manager 2018.

How To Locate or Move Your User Data Location

Football Manager Touch 2018 Base Skins

As with recent Football Managers to make certain changes in Football Manager 2018 you are required to add files to the skin folders, whilst this isn't a problem for fan-made skins it is a slight problem if you are using the Default Skins included with the game. So to help people out I have again made some Base Skins for FM2018 that allow you to add and modify the default skins without breaking your game.

Full instructions on when and how to use the Base Skins can be found on the download page, please ensure you read the page in detail before downloading the Base Skins as it will save you problems in the future.  

Base Skins for Football Manager Touch 2018 Download Page

Currently there are six versions of the Base Skin - one based on the Default Skin, one based on the Dark Skin and finally one based on the Retro Skin Touch Mode Skin with a Touchscreen version of each also included.

If you have any further questions on the Base Skins please ask any questions in the Skinning Hideout on the Official SIGames Forums.

Football Manager 2018 Base Skins

Please note that these skins will only work with the Full Mode of Football Manager 2018, Football Manager 2018 Touch Mode Base Skins will be released separately over the weekend.

As with recent Football Managers to make certain changes in Football Manager 2018 you are required to add files to the skin folders, whilst this isn't a problem for fan-made skins it is a slight problem if you are using the Default Skins included with the game. So to help people out I have again made some Base Skins for FM2018 that allow you to add and modify the default skins without breaking your game.

Full instructions on when and how to use the Base Skins can be found on the download page, please ensure you read the page in detail before downloading the Base Skins as it will save you problems in the future.  

Base Skins for Football Manager 2018 Download Page

Currently there are three versions of the Base Skin - one based on the Default Skin, one based on the Dark Skin and finally one based on the Light Skin for the Full Mode of FM2017.

If you have any further questions on the Base Skins please ask any questions in the Skinning Hideout on the Official SIGames Forums.

Football Manager 2018 Beta - Skinning/Graphics Information

With the Pre-Release Beta at this page contains information on some of the changes and skinning options for Football Manager 2018.

Also note that as this is a beta things are likely to change before release and that some features have been disabled in the beta.

Once the full game is out I'll be releasing updated more detailed information as I get it.

How to Locate and Move your User Data Location in Football Manager 2018

These instructions are exactly the same as for FM2017 you just replace 2017 with 2018 in the below guide:

Football Manager 2017 - How To Locate or Move Your User Data Location 

What Graphics can I transfer over from FM2017.

2D items such as kits, faces, logos and trophies should all be reusable from FM18, though some ids might need updating and for kits third kits might need adding/removing.

3D items such as 3D Kits, Match Balls and Video Ads won't work as the 3D Match Engine has been re-written for FM18 so these will need updating or moving, however as the 3D stuff is now packed into fmf files we won't be able to make any changes until after the full release.

And as always skins from previous versions will not work in the new game. Whilst skin related mods might but it depends on whether the underlying code has changed, you can try these but for full compatibility you'll have to wait until the full release of the game as the code may change between now and release. 

How to Make the Sidebar Icon Only

Like in FM17 you can make the sidebar show icons only by adjusting a setting in the preferences menu instead of having to edit the xml files.

From the Preferences -> Interface menu on the left side under General Settings is an option 'Sidebar icons-only' if you tick that the sidebar will display icons only no matter your screen resolution. 

How to Turn Off Background Music

A new feature in FM18 is the background music that will play on the main menu, however if you don't like this music it can be turned off from the Preferences -> Overview Menu - Look under Match options on the bottom left and there will be a 'Play background music' option you can untick.

It might be possible to change the music, but that will have to wait until I have had time to look at the game files. 

Can I add a Picture to My Manager?

Like in FM17 it is no longer possible to add a picture to your Manager. Whether the mods that re-enabled this will work in FM18 is unknown and will need to wait until we have access to the game files.

On the plus side you can now edit your manager from within the game (option on the Manager Profile Screen) so you can change your tie colour when you move clubs. 

Though Facegen is currently disabled in the Beta so you won't be able to use this until the full release.

How to Change the Colour of the 3D Match Ball

Like in FM17 we can now recolour the 3D Match Ball from within the game.

If you goto the Preferences -> Interface -> Skin Colours screen.

At the bottom are options for the Standard Ball Colour and Winter Ball Colour.

To change the colours just click the colour bar and a colour picker will popup, select your new colour and click ok.

To undo your changes just click the 'Restore Default Colours' option.

Football Manager 2018 Nears Release

As always a little late but if you aren't already aware the Football Manager 2018 Public Beta is now available for those of you who have pre-ordered a digital copy from a participating retailer.

With the full release due on the 10th November 2017.

And as normal with the beta we cannot currently access the game files, having to wait for the Resource Tool to be released with the full release later this week. This means there isn't much that can be done skinning wise.

 

The plan is to get the Base Skins out over the weekend, and then have a look and see what other mods and guides need updating.

The biggest obvious change in FM2018 is that the match screens have been completely reworked so it will likely take me some time to update my various match mods.

You should also notice a slight change to my blog - I have added some tabbed pages at the top which will act as indexes for the last few versions of Football Manager and should hopefully make it easier for people to find previous content.

Football Manager 2017 Patch 17.3.1 - How To Add a Manager Picture

Football Manager 2017 (and Football Manager Touch 2017) has made some changes to how the manager picture works, with one of the new features being the ability to turn a photo into a facegen image used by the regens in the game, unfortunately it seems the adding of this feature removed the ability for you to assign a image to your manager via a config file like you do with players, SI for some reason also removed the option to add a manager picture from the preferences menu.

Whilst pre-patch 17.3.1 it was possible to use some coding from FM16 to get the picture back this workaround was disabled in that patch, however thanks to some work from Cyrius50 at www.manager-online.fr it is now possible to add a Manager Picture when adding your Manager to the game, however at the moment it isn't possible to apply the picture to existing profiles nor to change the image, and it may be disabled again if the game gets any more patches.

Football Manager 2017 - How To Add a Manager Picture

Football Manager 2017 (and Football Manager Touch 2017) has made some changes to how the manager picture works, with one of the new features being the ability to turn a photo into a facegen image used by the regens in the game, unfortunately it seems the adding of this feature removed the ability for you to assign a image to your manager via a config file like you do with players, SI for some reason also removed the option to add a manager picture from the preferences menu.

Thankfully it is actually possible to add back the manger picture option to the preferences menu which allows you to assign an image to your manager like in the past, and this is a fairly simple change that just involves copying over one of the xml files from Football Manager 2016.