Refinements being made specifically for the Xbox 360 version of Football Manager 2006 include a completely reworked control scheme, support for both HD and regular televisions (players using the latter won't be able to use the game's split-screen and quick tactics options), and Xbox Live support of some kind--possibly with some sort of marketplace functionality. While we weren't able to play the game ourselves, the control scheme seemed incredibly simple--the context-sensitive face-button commands were listed along the bottom of the screen at all times, and the shoulder and back buttons were used to activate menus. Some of the load times in the early work-in-progress version were pretty lengthy, and although they'll no doubt be optimized, Sports Interactive has seen fit to make those times less tedious by including an archive of some 25,000 soccer trivia questions.
Further information on Football Manager 2006 Xbox 360 is scarce at present, but when we questioned Sports Interactive's Miles Jacobson about a possible North American release for the game (the PC version will be released as Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006), he did offer some interesting news for any soccer management fans outside of Europe. Basically, Football Manager 2006 Xbox 360 hasn't been confirmed for a North American release at this time and will likely make it across the pond only if the upcoming PC version is considered a success. If the Xbox 360 game doesn't get a release in North America, though, Miles has "guaranteed" that the European version will be region-free and thus suitable for soccer fans all over the world who wish to import it.
