A little guide today for those who experience problems with FM 2012 save files. From time to time I see messages: "My save doesn't load any more! Help!". Such FM gamers merely cannot continue playing their teams after the problem happens…

The solution is to backup save files!

I will just share my backup approach used for Q.P.R. story. It's quite simple and consists of 3 points:

- BAT script file

- Dropbox account

- Standard Windows Scheduler running the file

 

BAT script file

First of all, create a runnable script file that will make an archive with your save. My example of BAT file:

"C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe" a -t7z -pmypassword fm12.7z c:\dev\Single "C:\Users\Rayden\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2012\games\Q.P.R story.fm" "C:\Users\Rayden\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2012\tactics"

copy /y c:\dev\fm12.7z c:\Dropbox

del c:\dev\fm12.7z

As you see 3 commands are used here:

1. 7z.exe creates 7-Zip archive file with password='mypassword'. The resulting file contains my save game and tactics folder.

2. copy commands copies 7-Zip archive file to Dropbox folder uploading it to your Dropbox account.

3. del just removes created 7-Zip archive from your computer.

 

Dropbox account

Dropbox is a Web-based hosting service. It's very transparent in sense of file coping and synchronization. You may just copy a file to a Dropbox folder on your computer linked to your Dropbox account, and the file is uploaded to the web. Therefore you won't loose a FM12 save it even if your home machine is stolen and burnt

So you should just signup an account at Dropbox and link it to your folder installing client software. It's easy. Watch a video at Dropbox.com.

By the way, iCloud, Box.net and other alternative service can be used instead Dropbox.

 

Windows 7 Task Scheduler

You would get tired to run your BAT script manually. This is the reason why I recommend to setup its automatic daily start up by means of Windows 7 Task Scheduler.

Here are short guides that may help you in that:

- Schedule a task

- Where have the Scheduled Tasks gone to in Windows 7

Note for people having other operational systems:

Windows XP and Mac OS have also task schedulers. Just google with phraze "How to use task scheduler in Mac Os" or "How to use task scheduler in Windows XP".

 

I hope this guide will be really helpful for you!

Team Enduracers have revealed the full content and features of the upcoming Service Pack 2 for their popular Endurance Series mod for rFactor.

Team HistorX has released the manual for their upcoming Historic GT & Touring Car 1.9 mod for rFactor.

The HistoricSimracing Organisation has released their Formula 500 1972 mod for rFactor.

The release of the rFactor 2 open beta gets closer, new info on the planned release time has been revealed.

Kunos Simulazioni, creators of netKar Pro, have announced to be working on a brand new title that will be released in 2012.

Slightly Mad Studios have a new weekly development build of their WMD-powered Project CARS title, adding lots of improvement to the evolving title.

First previews and a video of DonPanoz LM55 mod for GT Legends.

SimRaceWay has added two new cars to their online racing title.

First previews of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera for netKar Pro.

A new preview of the Historic GT & Touring Car 2.0 mod shows off the Austin Healey Sprite Cockpit.

The Fanatec Wheel Fansite has benchmarked the upcoming CSR Elite wheel.

F1-S-R has released their Formula One 1994 mod for rFactor, adding another quality historic F1 season to the simulation.

Zach Griffin has released a new preview of Kart Sim, giving us another glance at his title that is planned to hit open-beta stage soon.

Team RMT's Arnold Wong has treated himself to some new hardware and instantly gave it a try with their work in progress World Super GT 2 mod.

It will be a happy Christmas for Gran Turismo 5 users as Polyphony Digital has announced the next update & DLC content pack that will be available starting December 20th.

Hello dear readers,

Q.P.R. story continues. Today I will talk about my team in a very good mood because squad blending process advanced extremely much during November and December.

Premier League results

We are on the firm 10th position which is enough for season expectations. But, but, but… I felt a taste of victories and started thinking "What if we could raise even higher"… There are only 5 points between QPR and Man United going the 6th. Well, we will see

Here are the matches I played during the reported period:

It's awesome and so unexpected to see that my players scoring 3 or more goals in every won game!

Another interesting fact is that victory over West Ham was my first one at Loftus Road (home stadium) this season! It happened in the 14th fixture actually…

So if you look at the Premier League home record, you will see Q.P.R. placed at the line #15.

Home record

 

But in the same time the Rangers has been performing fantastically at away venues. The 2nd in the league!

Away record

 

Matches

Of course, my favourite match, and the best in the whole FM12 career for a while is 4:3 away thriller against Manchester United. I didn't expect nothing but loss because The Red Devils were confident PL champions in the last season. They bought Danny and Zhirkov, and sold Park Ji  Sung only.

You may read about the great victory at Old Trafford and watch all goals in my additional FM Crowd blog:

Manchester United - Q.P.R. 3:4

Also I have posted match reports about two other important away wins at True Football Manager+:

Birmingham - Q.P.R. 0:3

Fulham - Q.P.R. 0:5

After the abovementioned matches my guys won West Ham and Stoke games confidently. And I got a feeling that Q.P.R. players blended into team finally and become unstoppable

But I knew it's only a feeling. The next match against outsiders WBA proved we are not ready to show some muscle when somebody gets a red card in our team. Zanev was sent off for stupid two-feet tackle in the centre of the pitch… After that it was really hard to cope with West Bromwich...

 

Comeback against Bolton

A separate post part should be devoted to our last match. Q.P.R. players managed to make a comeback in it! All 3 goals were scored by wingers-newcomers Popov and Oscar.

 

Watch all the match goals below. All 5 goals were scored after crosses

 

Q.P.R. players

For now I cannot criticize much any of QPR footballers because the team is in a wonderful form and having a winning streak.

Most of all I am happy with assisting abilities of Faurlin and Verratti. They simply don't get tired to create goal chances. Interesting that Faurlin plays at DMC position with Defensive Midfielder role and Support duty, meanwhile Verratti, as you know, is Attacking Playmaker.

Very good performances was shown by central backs Kaboul and Bjelland. Hinkel and Zanev have also been playing fine on flanks of our defence. By the way, Zanev displaced wonderkid Digne from the first eleven due to better defensive work on a pitch.

Finally all my forwards - Jay Rodriguez, Alberto Paloschi and Yaya Sanogo - started scoring goals more regularly. Though I feel two first ones are still in their adaptation process.

Ivelin Popov is the best player of the reported period.

Ivelin Popov

The winger had 3 MoM awards, scored 5 goals, made 4 assists in 6 games!

Popov form:

 

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Unfortunately, Shaun Wright-Phillips can be enumerated in the worst player list during last 10 games. Actually he is not so bad but his performance level decreased perceptibly comparing with the last season when he had been a team leader.

Yep, he is 31 years old. But I still believe SWP will prove useful to QPR. At least in this season.

SWP form:

 

Contracts of DJ Campbell, Fitz Hall, Matthew Connolly

There are 3 players whom I am going to get rid of in winter transfer window. All of them have contracts ending in summer. Hall and Campbell are too old already. They both cannot compete with the other QPR player of the same positions. For example, here is comparison of Campbell and Popov:

It's sad to sell Matthew Connolly but he wants more first team football, and I wasn't able to convince him somehow in our private chats. So Matthew is going away as well.

It's somewhat uneasy to loose 3 English players. It makes me thinking of searching other English footballers in winter to restore a national balance in the team.

 

Tough next matches

In my opinion it's a very hard schedule for us. Aston Villa going the 5th + 4 matches with grand clubs. So 5 of 6 upcoming Premier League matches are going to be a real challenge for The Rangers staying in marvellous form now!

Therefore just stay tuned to follow Q.P.R. story!