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roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games
@roadtotheball.bsky.social
21 followers 22 following 8 posts
Celebrating the wonderful world of football (soccer) video games from past to present. Run by A Tale of Two Halves: The History of Football Video Games author and games journalist/historian @mossrc.bsky.social.
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roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 13h
Yes! Konami code on the title screen, and there's a barking sound to confirm you did it correctly.
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Reposted by Retro Football Video Games
foxhack.bsky.social
Spoopy Foxhack / Dave Silva @foxhack.bsky.social · 13h
You forgot to mention they don't have a whistle anymore.

They bark.
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roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 1d
ISS Deluxe has a cheat code that turns the match officials into dogs. It's adorable.
A dog linesman. The referee is a dog.
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roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 4d
Zidane Football Generation (2001) had a toggle between three different perspectives and made impressive use of the Game Boy Color's meagre capabilities, but I was mostly amused by the fact it sometimes gave me a free kick when I fouled my opponent.
The game featured interstitial still shots of Zidane for notable moments in a match. The vertical scrolling viewpoint The diagonal scrolling viewpoint, which is probably meant to give off 16-bit FIFA vibes. The side scrolling perspective.
roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 5d
Some funny bugfix logs for the AI in EA's F.A. Premier League STARS from March 30, 1998, a bit over a year before the game was finished.
Bugs Fixed 1. Fixed bug causing players to spin uncontrollably after a canned animation completes its playback. 2. Fixed bug allowing the ball to penetrate the net. 3. Fixed bug in switching logic on volley shots. 4. Fixed invisible wall in front of net bug. 5. Fixed bug where the ball is attached to a celebratng player’s hand. 6. Revised tackle model to minimize ball blipping. 7. Fixed bug causing the goalie to get stuck outside the 18 yard box.
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roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 6d
More examples:
Player Manager 2 Super League Manager Fantasy Manager Tracksuit Manager 2
roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 6d
My favourite aesthetic: mid-90s football management game skeuomorphism.
Premier Manager II On The Ball (or Anstoss in the original German release) Ultimate Soccer Manager European Superleague
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roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 8d
When Paul and Oliver Collyer were looking for a publisher for Championship Manager (originally called European Champions), they sent demo builds out to all the major companies, including EA, which declined due to the lack of 'live action' graphics. This is their rejection letter.
10 Jun 91 Dear Oliver and Paul, In response to your demonstration disk of the game European Champions, and after further discussions within our development group we do not think that it is the right piece of software for us to take on as a release. The main reason that we do not think it is suitable is that your game is based on statistics and without any 'live action' the game would not appeal to the audience that we generally sell to. Football games of this type are generally advertised in the back of magazines, such as the ones you include copies off; and not normally given a high profile, full colour A4 page of advertising. The sort of product we would have to compete with is the 'Kick Off/Player Manager' range of products and to be honest, European Champions does not compare with either because there is no live action. I hope I haven't put you off altogether, but would recommend you follow another route and contactthe companies that already publish that genre of games and I wish you every success in finding a suitable publisher, if you haven't already of course. I would be happy to look at any future products of yours that you feel we may be interested in. Yours sincerely, Scott Probin Assistant producer PS. Your discs were infected with the Lamer II Exterminator virus. Please check your collection!
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roadtotheball.bsky.social
Retro Football Video Games @roadtotheball.bsky.social · 9d
Behind the scenes on Sony's FIFA/ISS killer from the late PS1 days, This is Football, which featured the legendary Clive Tyldesley in the commentary chair and is perhaps best remembered for its dedicated "dive" and "intentional foul" buttons.
Clive Tyldesley starting a commentary recording session for This Is Football (1999). Player animation editor for This Is Football (1999). A photo of a mo-cap actor doing a bicycle kick, with the ball hanging from a string attached to a long yellow pole. One of the stadium models for This Is Football (1999).
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