Due on PlayStation this October, LMA Manager 2002 delivers the whole new 2001/2002 English and Scottish football seasons complete with updated statistics for every player, the new team strips and all the transfers from the summer break for the 340 featured European clubs.

With a RRP of just £19.99, the 2002 update retains the award-winning graphics and gameplay mechanics of the 2001 edition, but has been enhanced for speed of play. Improved loading times make the gameplay flow a great deal quicker and an overhauled AI engine ensures that the 3D match is more realistic and natural than ever before.

On an international level Codemasters will launch territory editions of LMA Manager 2002, following the ongoing success of last year's dedicated French, German, Spanish and Italian versions, which are all Top 5 games in their territories.

Utilising its headline licenses from LMA Manager 2001 and featuring localised leagues, the localised versions are: Roger Lemerre La Selection des Champions 2002 (France), BDFL Manager 2002 (Germany), Manager de Liga 2002 (Spain) and Football Manager Campionato 2002 (Italy).

Codemasters will continue its anti-piracy initiative with LMA Manager 2002. First seen in LMA Manager 2001, Codemasters' FADE system is an encrypted piece of code, which can identify if a counterfeit CD is being played.

If activated the FADE code allows the game to play but over the playing session, key elements of degradation result in the pirate copy being little more than a demo.

The FADE system was particularly effective in combating distribution of illegal copies of LMA Manager 2001 and is being enhanced with even tighter security measures for this edition of the game.

Says Simon Prytherch, who's led the LMA series since the beginning and is now head of the Codemasters' Hoodoo Studio responsible for the game:

"Our development work on the PlayStation 2 edition of LMA Manager 2002 has actually helped us adapt some of the PS one game code to improve the speed, responsiveness and fluidity of play over the 2001 edition.

"Football fans who need the latest season's stats - every last one of them - are well catered for with LMA Manager 2002, all wrapped up in the game that makes players feel as if they really are managing a football club."

Michael Hayes, Codemasters' Marketing Director, adds: "The LMA games are the season's champions year in and year out. We've mastered the art of delivering the most successful console-based football management game every time and this start-of-season edition is something LMA fans have been asking for."