Soccer Games On 8-Bit Machines

Mass entrance of computers in to people's homes began in early Eighties, with period of 8-bit machines - Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, above the rest. Of coursework, soccer games came with them. There were some attempts with this gambling section even before that (by companies Atari, Intellivision, Ramtek and some others), but the actual break out in quality of soccer games was made when computers came in to hands of "common" people, outside of huge companies. Home computers of that time were strong to carryover comparatively complicated tasks, with acceptable graphic and sound capabilities, and yet were affordable so that programming was not reserved for the large guys anymore. Some of those new gifted developers immediately began to make a new page in the history of computer games.

Important moment happened in 1983, when a programmer named Andrew Spencer developed International Soccer. With lovely graphics for that time, improved ball flight model comparing to his predecessors from 70s, and nine level of computer opponent (early games usually were players only), this game conquered the market in no time. Actually, there's some opinions, given from the fair historical distance, that this game is the best achievement when speaking of footy games on 8-bit machines, and even further.

On the other side, market was filled with rubbish titles and it was not clear how did their publishing houses find bravery to expose them to the public in the first place (who had a chance to play Tremendous Soccer by Imagine, or Peter Beardsley's International Footy by Grand Slam, knows what I am speaking about).

Possibly that appraisal was nostalgia colored, and possibly it was only the result of weak competition. In the coursework of the reign of 8-bit machines, there were several dozens of footy games produced, but only few of them could be called - lovely. Titles worth mentioning were - Match Day from 1985. (and it is sequel form 1988.), Gary Lineker's Superstar Soccer by Gremlin Graphics and two A Side by the company called Anirog (later renamed to Anco, the name that was yet to crave its name in the history of footy games).

Those games were cornerstones of soccer games on 8-bit machines, but their fame didn't last long. Eighties were coming to an finish, and with them vanished the age of simple games. 16-bit machines were coming, and with them came titles as Kick Off and Sensible Soccer. But, those will be the topic of another editorial.

Finally, when it all indicated that 8-bit computers were unable to bring out quality footy game, titles on C64 saved the day. In 1988, Microprose made their Microprose Soccer, and Audiogenic published Emlyn Hughes International Soccer. amazing games which approached the footy in different ways. Microprose Soccer reinvented the top down view (although graphically similar to, several years older, arcade game Tehkan world Cup), with rapid paced action, colorful graphics and tidy options like - replays and different weather in the coursework of the game. On the other side, Emlyn Hughes International Soccer used practically the same graphics as the elderly International Soccer, but with full range of new movements and ways to pass and kick the ball. It also involved different characteristics for each player in the team.