Back in the day when this was booming, there was prizes, a lot of PL's friendlies different tournaments people did write ups for,prediction leagues and all sorts when you've seen and been a part of that, all of this now seems tame and lame. still the game is the same so it's alright, the urge to win is still there but I'm just thinking how long before i lose interest again because not a lot of different things happening.
"Back in the day" there was no such things as lunchtime PLs. Friendlies only and the Inter Conference cup.
The only income for CG came from credits being bought to pay for training, platyers being bought and Friendlies.
PLs were brought in to make money for CG which wasn't making enough (as was SL2, on which I will spit and pass no further comment).
Also, back in the day, there were multiple servers which would have led to greater interest from a variety of sponsors and advertisers who would have funded different types of prizes. And FAR more players.
You could play (and do well) very cheaply in those days --- not now though. Now you need a full program of Friendlies plus some PLs to ensure gelling and the concentration of everyone being in one place means transfer prices have risen considerably.
Many now seem to play mostly for PLs. Well they cost (especially if you aren't coming first or second in them) and they offer little else apart from the (paid for) enjoyment of taking part. There are players out there who enter PLs (for 500 credits) and never get near winning one but don't bother with a full program of Friendlies (at 100 credits a go) and then complain about performances.
The game itself is still basically the same (although subtle changes in game-play happen from time to time), the night games and Friendlies are the only ones that provide regular training benefits while PLs are fluff. The better managers with the better (and better trained) players cream off most of the PL prizes which they can then put towards buying better players. And coming into SL, there is no quick route to doing well. Understanding the game helps and learning how to build a squad to suit how you want to play (which has, itself to be worked out) and the only way to those two targets is patience and learning (from matches, from what opponents do and from the forum). It is not nearly as easy as it looks which is probably why it is so good to play and why so many old-timers are still at it decades after signing up. And not many games can say that.
