Okay, we launched this comp a few days ago, and in time honoured fashion, here’s a reminder before the closing date for entries.

This is tied in with today’s release of Football Manager 2010, the latest version of the long running video game favourite. We’ve got two copies of the PC/Mac version and one of the handheld version for Sony PSP to win. And the prizes are the Arsenal specific editions.

To enter, simply tell us the answer to the following question:

At the Q&A event held for Arsenal shareholders with manager Arsene Wenger last May, one particular squad member was described as ‘almost geriatric’ by one of the questioners. Which player was this?

Email your answer to [email protected]. Please write ‘Video Game’ in the subject line and make sure you include your name and address. We’ll draw the winners after the end of Sunday 1st November) and announce them the following day.

We forgot to mention this last time, but we’ll assume you would prefer the PC/Mac version unless you state you are after the PSP version in your email. However, if you have entered before today and not stated a preference, if you are drawn out of the hat, we will contact you to make sure which version you would like, so there’s no disadvantage to those who have sent in entries already. Just might save us an email, that’s all.

Now, there’s a bit of an understanding that we run the PR blurb in return for the generous offer of prizes. So for those of you who want more detail about the latest version of the game, read on…

Football Manager 2010 for PC and Apple Macintosh, and Football Manager Handheld 2010for Sony PSP will be released on October 30th.

Football Manager 2009 is the most successful in the Football Manager series to date, clocking up 22 weeks at No.1 in the UK (PC charts) and selling in excess of 1 million copies worldwide, as well as being voted the 2nd best video game of all time in a recent Radio 1 poll. According to data gathered from Football Manager 2009, people played the game for an average of 240 hours each. However, developer Sports Interactive has been made aware via the vibrant Football Manager community that the addition of big new features in the last few releases has come at the expense of attention to existing areas of the game and solving long standing issues.

With this in mind, Sports Interactive has spent the last year working closely with consumers and the Football Manager community to implement key improvements to this year’s game. Football Manager 2010 features new tools and changes across the board including some big additions to improve ease of use, navigation and feedback from the game with the introduction of a brand new match tactics system, the debut of a Match Analysis tool, a completely new look and new User Interface among other features.

“We have worked very hard with the Football Manager community to target not only the areas of the game that needed re-working but also what we could add to improve what’s already there. We’ve also conducted extensive usability studies which has led us to overhaul the whole presentation of the game, which we’re really excited about,” said Miles Jacobson, Studio Director at Sports Interactive. “There has been a lot of polish to existing areas of the game but it’s also driven us to introduce changes to answer some of the feedback. We’re extremely confident that having done that we will deliver the very best Football Manager to date in October.”

The introduction of a brand new tactics module makes it easier to instruct the team to play in the way the manager wants. Over the past year Sports Interactive has worked with some of the most respected independent tacticians in the Football Manager community – Richard Claydon, Gareth Millward, Rashid Daljit Abdullah and Mark Burton – resulting in the game having an even more extensive array of pre-set tactical options available, and the debut of touchline ‘shouts’ for issuing instant changes to your team’s playing style.

Feedback from matches has been improved to give the user better insight into where their team is going wrong, or right. A new Match Analysis tool lets players see where shots, passes, crosses, headers, tackles, fouls and interceptions have been made on the field for all players on the pitch. Managers can view this analysis both live in-game and post match, allowing them to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of both their team and their opponent’s and adjust their tactics accordingly.

Football Manager 2010 features a brand new User Interface, with a light and a dark skin to choose from as part of a vibrant new look and has undergone a complete navigational overhaul. The side bar navigation of previous years has been replaced by an intuitive tab system at the top of the screen, making Football Manager’s famed depth easier to navigate and will make the game more accessible to new players.

A brand new Data Editor will allow the addition of new divisions to existing leagues and of entirely new leagues as well as making it easier than ever to keep the game up to date, and do so for free. The delivery of information to the manager has been refined with users now able to sign up to the News Centre, an in-game subscription based newspaper that lets you get the news that you want about the football world and filter out the stories that you do not need, making the football world as immersive as you want it to be.

Following the debut of a 3D match view in Football Manager 2009, this year’s release sees a revamp with improved AI, over 100 new animations for the 3D pitch view, new stadiums, crowds, realistic pitch degradation and better lighting, creating an even more realistic match experience.

Further new features will be announced via a series of blogs in the months leading up to the game’s October 30th release date which will ensure that Football Manager retains its position as the most realistic, most played, highest reviewed and best selling football management simulation in the world.

Football Manager Handheld 2010 also has a host of new features and improvements, including a brand new skin for the game and improved match engine AI.

For further information please go to www.sigames.com or www.footballmanager.com.