Football Manager Handheld 2013 kicks off

Sports Interactive's Football Manager Handheld 2013 is out today, hitting iOS, Google Play and the Amazon App store according to the game's site.

Player photos, two additional leagues, captain selection abilities, in-games achievements and Twitter support have all been added, thanks to Joystiq, who also feel that Messi is still the best. The numbers don't lie right?

The game's site also lists the Sony Entertainment Network for places to buy but the press release does not.

The press release has been included below for perusal.

BEST-SELLING MANAGEMENT SIM RETURNS OFFERING ACTION ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Football Manager Handheld 2013 offers up-to-date player data and enhanced gameplay for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets

12/12/12

Would-be football managers, from midnight tonight (local time), the whole world is once again your dugout as Sports Interactive and SEGA are delighted to announce the launch of Football Manager Handheld 2013 for iOS and Android devices.

This season's release not only includes up-to-date player and competition data, it also includes a number of gameplay enhancements, many of which have been implemented as a direct result of user feedback. These include:

- An all-new player comparison module (allowing managers to compare potential recruits against existing squad members or existing squad members against one another).
- Player photos (in licensed leagues)
- An increase in the number of playable leagues (from 12 to 14)
- A player form 'hot list'
- The facility to promote reserve team players to the first-team squad
- Club captain selection
- Improvements to the in-game news, media interaction and match engine
- Twitter support for all devices – allowing managers to share their exploits with friends
- A host of in-game achievements for manager to strive towards

In addition to these gameplay enhancements, there have also been a number of improvements to the user interface; in particular, specific 'skins' have been developed for the most popular tablet devices and retina support has been added for high-end iOS devices.

For managers who like to accelerate their progress through the game, Football Manager Handheld 2013 allows, for the first time, the purchase of a number of 'unlockable' features, including the introduction to the club of a 'sugar daddy', the option to expand the club's stadium, the ability to manage national teams from the beginning of the game and even taking a place on the board (giving the manager immunity from the dreaded sack). While all of these unlockables are available through the in-game store, many can also be 'earned' through in-game achievements as with previous iterations of the game.

Football Manager Handheld 2013 also sees the reappearance of the popular challenges (which first appeared in Football Manager Handheld 2012) and the introduction of a whole new challenge, 'The Dangers of Capitalism'.

Football Manager Handheld 2013 is available at midnight tonight (local time) through iTunes, Google Play and the Amazon App Store. For further information, go to www.footballmanager.com