Championship Manager 2006

Did You Know?

• A handheld version was released for Sony's PlayStation Portable on 7 April 2006.
• A console version developed by Gusto Games was released on Xbox and PlayStation 2 in May 2006.
• A mobile version titled Championship Manager 2006 Mobile was developed by Dynamo Games, a BAFTA award-winning developer.

Key features

The most anticipated new feature was the updated "Gameplan" 3D match engine, described as a "3D representation of a football match". It is not a FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer-style 3D engine but a step beyond the top-down 2D view. The developers improved on Championship Manager 5's single isometric view by promising eleven different camera angles. Player interaction was improved with 32 types, including fines, homesickness, and relationships. The game included a more accurate and fully up-to-date database but did not add any playable leagues beyond the 26 found in Championship Manager 5, which the developers argued helped improve data quality.

Glitches

Before the International Update, Championship Manager 2006 was riddled with bugs. Forest Green Rovers had a few players, notably Alex Meechan and Bruno Teixeira, with top-tier stats but a value of roughly £40,000. Another exploit allowed users to sign players without covering their wages. South American talent often had bargain prices compared to their abilities. The Xbox version featured fake players at Manchester United, Chelsea, and Plymouth Argyle. Cesar Daniel Caceres Canete and Danilo Belic had incorrect ages, starting at eight and fourteen, meaning they would keep developing for years. Some player histories omitted transfer moves, showing only one club. Finally, a glitch let users alter the transfer status and value of loaned players, making it possible to sign them for free on cheaper contracts.