[{"TitleName":"Football Manager 2","Publisher":"Addictive Games Ltd","Author":"Brian Rogers, Kevin J.M. Toms","YearOfRelease":"1988","ZxDbId":"0001827","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 54, Jul 1988","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1988-06-30","Editor":"Steve Jarratt","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"EDITORIAL\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nEditor: Steven Jarratt\r\nDeputy Editor: Dominic Handy\r\nAssistant Editor: Katharina Hamza\r\nStaff Writers: Mark Caswell, Philip King, Lloyd Mangram, Nick Roberts\r\nTechnical Writers: Jon Bates, Simon N Goodwin\r\nEditorial Assistant: Frances Mable\r\nPhotography: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson (Assistant)\r\nContributors: Robin Candy, Raffaele Cecco, Mel Croucher, Paul Evans, Philippa Irving, Brendon Kavanagh, Paul Sumner\r\n\r\nPRODUCTION\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nArt Director: Mark Kendrick\r\nAssistant Art Director: Wayne Allen\r\nDesign & Layout: Yvonne Priest, Melvyn Fisher\r\nPre-Print Manager: Jonathan Rignall\r\nReprographics/Film Planning: Matthew Uffindell, Nick Orchard, Ian Chubb, Robert Millichamp\r\n\r\nPublishing Controller: David Western\r\nEditorial Director: Roger Kean\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nSales Executive: Andrew Smales, Sarah Chapman\r\nAssistant: Jackie Morris [redacted]\r\n\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nTypeset by The Tortoise Shell Press, Ludlow. Colour origination by Scan Studios [redacted]. Printed in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group. Distribution by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nCOMPETITION RULES\r\nThe Editor's decision is final in all matters relating to adjudication and while we offer prizes in good faith, believing them to be available, if something untoward happens (like a game that has been offered as a prize being scrapped) we reserve the right to substitute prizes of comparable value. We'll do our very best to despatch prizes as soon as possible after the published closing date. Winners names will appear in a later issue of CRASH. No correspondence can be entered into regarding the competitions (unless we've written to you stating that you have won a prize and it doesn't turn up, in which case drop Frances Mable a line at the [redacted] address). No person who has any relationship, no matter how remote, to anyone who works for either Newsfield or any of the companies offering prizes, may enter one of our competitions.\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without the written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return anything sent into CRASH including written and photographic material, software and hardware - unless it is accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material is welcome, and if used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\nTotal: 96,590\r\nUK/EIRE: 90,822\r\n\r\n©CRASH Ltd, 1988\r\n\r\nCover Design & Illustration by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Addictive Games\r\nRetail Price: £9.99 cassette, £14.99 disk\r\nAuthor: Kevin Toms\r\n\r\nEver fancied being a Terry Venables or a Brian Clough? Well Football Manager 2 allows you to manage a football team of your own, buying and selling players and choosing tactics. The game has been written by Kevin Toms, the man who programmed the original some years ago.\r\n\r\nThe player can choose to manage any league team, but no matter which, must start humbly in Division 4. The team for the next match is selected by moving players out of the reserve pool into various positions on the field where the opponents players are also shown. There are three team selection screens, one each for defence, midfield and attack; the way players are positioned allows for various formations.\r\n\r\nEach individual player has a skill rating: the higher the skill the better he can tackle and dribble. Each player also has a position in which he prefers to play. A player out of position has an arbitrary skill rating of two, reducing his effectiveness. Each player's fitness level is also shown. If it falls below 50%, he must be rested from match play to recover.\r\n\r\nAs well as choosing the team, the manager must also choose two substitutes which can be brought on at half time if needed. The team formation can also be altered during half time.\r\n\r\nWhen the team has been chosen, the match action is displayed over three sections of the pitch, shown individually depending upon where the ball is. The players run around the pitch automatically, dribbling, tackling and shooting. If a goal is scored the name of the scorer is given. After the match the other results in the division are also shown, followed by a league table. Apart from playing league matches, the team also take part in the FA and League Cups.\r\n\r\nEach week some players come into the transfer market and the manager can make a bid for any of them. Players can also be sold to raise cash and reduce the wage bill.\r\n\r\nThe finance screen shows the profitability of the club. Gate receipts, wages and overheads are shown along with the weekly balance.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nJoysticks: Kempston, Sinclair\r\nGraphics: poor, with colour clash, but purely functional\r\nSound: limited spot effects for acknowledgement only\r\nOptions: nine difficulty levels, choice of 92 teams","ReviewerComments":["And as far as I was concerned Football Manager was the best thing since Clive Sinclair. But now things have changed, there are games such as The Double and Football Director available through mall order, so Football Manager 2 is well overdue. The sequel isn't just Football Manager with a few extras, it's a complete revamp of the old game. Kevin Toms has obvious looked at all the football strategy games around and taken what few good points they have. Then he's looked at the whole concept of sports strategy games and added a new dimension to it, making it more appealing to a wider range of people. People criticised the graphics in Football Manager, so they've been improved. But games of this genre shouldn't be judged on their graphical appeal - strategy games are all about planning and that's where Football Manager 2 is so good. If you plan your tactics realistically then you'll get realistic results - along with a few random elements thrown in (football is a funny old game). Real football fans everywhere will love it; it may not have mass appeal, but it's a leader in its field.\r\nPaul Sumner\r\n82%","It's take a long time for the sequel to the classic original to arrive but Kevin Toms has managed to make a big improvement to it. The graphics are good for this type of game with plenty of little players running about the screen, although there is a lot of colour clash. The best thing is the positioning of the players and the fact that they appear in the right area of the field during the game. The way the teams actually play isn't exactly brilliant with the players bunching up and all chasing the ball at the same time (a bit like Wimbledon without the fouls). However, the standard of graphics isn't that important in this type of game. The transfer system works well, as do the various tactical options such as extra training. Little of the play seems to be random so strategy works well. The game really keeps your interest as you feel you have some control over the way the team plays; the best game of this type yet.\r\nPhil King\r\n80%","I'm not a great fan of football management games but I did quite enjoy playing this. It has more to offer in the way of graphics, is easier to use than most other football games and is also well presented. The player selection is easy to use and not confusing at all. And with all the little pictures that are used in the game, you never get a boring screen just full of text. When the match is played, all the players move around the screen well but there is the usual colour clash which is to be expected. Football Manager 2 is a great improvement over Football Manager because of all the enhancements Addictive have put into it. You can now do man to man marking, there's a full 92- team league and a display of who has scored. For all you Football Manager fans, Football Manager 2 is an essential purchase.\r\nNick Roberts\r\n72%"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: One for all fans of the very poplar football genre - top of the league!","Page":"20","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Paul Sumner","Score":"82","ScoreSuffix":"%"},{"Name":"Phil King","Score":"80","ScoreSuffix":"%"},{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"72","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Defeat looms over West Brom."},{"Text":"Whatever is Whelan doing in goal with Chris Woods at left back?"}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Presentation","Score":"77%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"40%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"80%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"79%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"79%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 55, Aug 1988","Price":"£1.25","ReleaseDate":"1988-07-28","Editor":"Dominic Handy","TotalPages":124,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"EDITORIAL\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nEditor: Dominic Handy\r\nAssistant Editor: Katharina Hamza\r\nProduction Editor: Barnaby Page\r\nStaff Writers: Mark Caswell, Philip King, Lloyd Mangram, Nick Roberts\r\nEditorial Assistants: Frances Mable, Glenys Powell\r\nPhotography: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson (Assistant)\r\nContributors: Jon Bates, Raffaele Cecco, Paul Evans, Simon N Goodwin, Ian Philipson, Philippa Irving, Brendon Kavanagh, Paul Sumner, Stuart Wynne\r\n\r\nPRODUCTION\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nProduction Manager: Jonathan Rignall\r\nArt Director: Mark Kendrick\r\nAssistant Art Director: Wayne Allen\r\nProduction Team: Ian Chubb, Melvin Fisher, Robert Millichamp, Yvonne Priest, Matthew Uffindell\r\n\r\nEditorial Director: Roger Kean\r\nPublisher: Geoff Grimes\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nSales Executives: Andrew Smales, Sarah Chapman\r\nAssistant: Jackie Morris [redacted]\r\n\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nTypeset by The Tortoise Shell Press, Ludlow. Colour origination by Scan Studios [redacted]. Printed in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group. Distribution by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nCOMPETITION RULES\r\nThe Editor's decision is final in all matters relating to adjudication and while we offer prizes in good faith, believing them to be available, if something untoward happens (like a game that has been offered as a prize being scrapped) we reserve the right to substitute prizes of comparable value. We'll do our very best to despatch prizes as soon as possible after the published closing date. Winners names will appear in a later issue of CRASH. No correspondence can be entered into regarding the competitions (unless we've written to you stating that you have won a prize and it doesn't turn up, in which case drop Frances Mable a line at the [redacted] address). No person who has any relationship, no matter how remote, to anyone who works for either Newsfield or any of the companies offering prizes, may enter one of our competitions. No material may be reproduced whole or in part without the written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return anything sent into CRASH including written and photographic material, software and hardware - unless it is accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material is welcome, and if used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\nTotal: 96,590\r\nUK/EIRE: 90,822\r\n\r\n©CRASH Ltd, 1988\r\n\r\nCover Design & Illustration by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"FOOTBALL MANAGER 2\r\nProducer: Addictive Games\r\nPrice: £9.99\r\n\r\nOnly last issue (79%) CRASH looked at Kevin Toms's sequel to the all-conquering Football Manager. Football Manager 2's extra features include the exact positioning of players on the field and the option to make substitutions at half-time.\r\n\r\nThe graphical portrayal of the match is a great improvement over the original, which was slow and unrealistic.\r\n\r\nPlayers may be bought and sold on the transfer market where bids are made. The finance screen shows the gate receipts, wages bill and overheads. In addition to the championship and FA Cup, the team also gets to play in the League Cup.\r\n\r\nAlthough there aren't that many more options, the general quality of programming and presentation is much better than the original's. The game really holds your interest and is definitely the best of the sports strategy genre.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"76","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Phil King","Score":"85","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Whatever is Whelan doing in goal?"}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"85%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 33, Sep 1988","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1988-08-11","Editor":"Teresa Maughan","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Teresa Maughan\r\nDeputy Editor: Ciaran Brennan\r\nArt Editor: Darrell King\r\nTechnical Editor: Phil South\r\nProduction Editor: Jackie Ryan\r\nDesigner: Catherine Higgs\r\nContributors: Guy Bennington, Marcus Berkmann, Owen & Audrey Bishop, Richard Blaine, Jonathan Davies, Mike 'Skippy' Dunn, Mike Gerrard, Graeme Kidd, David McCandless, Duncan McDonald, Nat Pryce, Peter Shaw, Rachael Smith, Ben Stone\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Mark Salmon\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Simon Stansfield\r\nAdvertisement Director: Alistair Ramsay\r\nProduction Manager: Judith Middleton\r\nMarketing Manager: Bryan Denyer\r\nArt Director: Hazel Bennington\r\nPublisher: Kevin Cox\r\nPublishing Director: Roger Munford\r\nFinance Director: Colin Crawford\r\nManaging Director: Stephen England\r\nChairman: Felix Dennis\r\n\r\nPublished by Dennis Publishing Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England.\r\nTypesetters: Carlinpoint [redacted]\r\nReproduction: Graphic Ideas, London\r\nPrinters: Chase Web Offset [redacted]\r\nDistribution: Seymour Press [redacted]\r\n\r\nAll material in Your Sinclair ©1988 Felden Productions, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publishers. Your Sinclair is a monthly publication."},"MainText":"Addictive\r\n£9.95 cass/£14.95 disk\r\nReviewer: Marcus Berkmann\r\n\r\nAnd over to Barry Davies in the commentary box... 'There's nothing on here... oh, it's one-nil!'\r\n\r\nYes, its footie time again, and as regular readers will know there's nothing that gets the old Berkmann pulse racing like a footie sim on the Spectrum. Football Director? Love it to pieces. The Double? Right result on the day Jimmy. Match Day 2? Work of flippin' genius Pedro.\r\n\r\nThe mater and pater of all, though, is Football Manager, the game that absolutely everybody must have bought at some point or other. Well, either that or some clot's got a quarter of a million of 'em - which, come to think of it, is a distinct possibility knowing the way footie sim fans think.\r\n\r\nOriginally released by Kevin Toms on his own Addictive label (since swallowed up by the mighty Prism corporation), way back in 1982, FM has sold consistently ever since - a unique achievement in the brief history of everybody's fave computerised tablemat.\r\n\r\nMr Toms has tried many times since to repeat the feat, but entirely without success. New game after new game from Addictive came a cropper, but every time it re-released Football Manager, it leapt straight back up the charts again. That grinning bearded mush is probably the best known face in computer gaming - and if its ever cropped up in your nightmares, I can tell you you're not alone.\r\n\r\nNow six years later, things have moved on just a wee bit (machine code has superceded Basic, for one thing), and Mr Toms new bosses clearly decided it was time for a sequel. The game was in fact announced at last year's PCW Show, accompanied by cries of \"And the three bears\" from myself and Phil. But a mere nine months later here it is on my desk - and it's a ripsnorter.\r\n\r\nAs he put this one together, Mr Toms clearly took notice of the new breed of footie management sims - the Football Directors and Doubles of this world. Both of these games radically overhauled the original blueprint of FM 1, though each chose a quite different approach. Footie Director, to the horror of programming snobs, did away with graphics completely, and instead supplied huge amounts of information (within a very tricky gameplay structure), which data junkies like me lapped up. The Double tried for more accurate representation of a footie season (and a manager's career) than FD: instead of presenting you with numerical info, it made you establish through observation, which players were any good and in which positions - meaning you worked by trial and error as well as by logic. FM 2, like the mass-market product it is, tries in part to combine both approaches, while staying essentially true to the basic (if not Basic) structure of FM 1. It's a fair old balancing act, but I think it works.\r\n\r\nThe graphics, as you'd imagine, are much improved. The pitch is split into three screens - broadly defined by Attack, Midfield and Defence - and as the ball is punted about the field, so the game follows it about from screen to screen. You're given a squad of (on level one), fairly nifty players - Peter Beardsley and Clive Allen aren't bad for Division 4 - and you have to play them in the right positions on the field. The positions as you choose them represne the part of the field that player will attempt to dominate. Each player, on both teams, has a skill rating of between three and nine, and generally the more skilled player will win more balls.\r\n\r\nThe other factor is fitness, measured between zero and 100. Players drop a little in fitness every time they play; if they drop below 50 they are considered \"unfit\" and are sidelined. Players who don't take part, though, increase in fitness, so you have to spend a lot of time juggling your players around and keeping a balanced squad, just in case a real nasty happens and someone snaps a pin. Youch!\r\n\r\nAs with FM1 there is the option, only at the start, to choose a skill level from one (easy) to nine (very %$@&*$ hard). Level one (easy) is dead easy, but you'll only discover this when you've been playing for 40 minutes and won every game 5-0. I think I would have preferred the same system as in Football Director, which puts your skill level up automatically if you do too well. But sooner or later you do find your natural skill level, whereupon things get really interesting.\r\n\r\nHalf time now becomes a particular boon. Here you can swop around your team, or bring on a substitute, if you feel that your tactics aren't working. If there's a weakness in your midfield, for instance, you can put a better player in the vulnerable position, or even bring in an extra player and drop, say, a striker. This means that watching the match is not the chore it always was, but both fascinating and absolutely necessary if you're going to learn from your mistakes.\r\n\r\nThere are loads of other new features - a full transfer market, success points, sponsorship and the League Cup to name but four - but what makes Football Manager 2 work is that its structure is basically sound. Internal logic is the be all and end all of this sort of game - lose it and you lose all attempt at credibility. For connoisseurs, I'd say this is probably nearer The Double in feel, but that game's massively complex structure much simplified. It also has the ruthless logic that Football Director imposes (if not its loving detail), which'll make it a vital purchase for anyone hooked on that game. I'm delighted with it, as I imagine Kevin Toms is. As John Motson would say, 'You have to shay, Jimmy, he wash absholutely nowhere.' (Eh? Ed)","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Fine sequel to the hoary old classic with a relatively simple structure, but no less playable for that. Addictive? You betcha.","Page":"32","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Marcus Berkmann","Score":"8","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"8/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 54, Jun 1990","Price":"£1.7","ReleaseDate":"1990-05-10","Editor":"Matt Bielby","TotalPages":92,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Matt Bielby\r\nArt Editor: Kevin Hibbert\r\nProduction Editor: Andy Ide\r\nDesign Assistant: Andy Ounsted\r\nContributors: Robin Alway, Marcus Berkmann, Joe Davies, Jonathan Davies, Cathy Fryett, Mike Gerrard, Duncan MacDonald, Paul Morgan, Jon North, Rich Pelley, David Wilson\r\nAdvertising Manager: Mark Salmon\r\nAdvertising Executive: Simon Moss\r\nPublisher: Greg Ingham\r\nAssistant Publisher: Jane Richardson\r\nManaging Director: Chris Anderson\r\nProduction Manager: Ian Seager\r\nProduction Coordinator: Melissa Parkinson\r\nSubscriptions: Computer Posting [redacted]\r\nMail Order: The Old Barn [redacted]\r\nPrinters: Riverside Press [redacted]\r\nDistributors: SM Distribution [redacted]\r\n\r\nYour Sinclair is published by Future Publishing Ltd [redacted]\r\n\r\n©Future Publishing 1990. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission."},"MainText":"FOOTBALL MANAGER II\r\nAddictive\r\n\r\n\"He has excelled in the creation of this game with his brilliance,\" remarks the inlay. It is describing, of course, Kevin Toms, and also provides a photo of his majesty for all to marvel at. The game, though, is of the 'lists of numbers' variety, with the dubious benefit of 'match highlights'. It's an update, would you believe, of the original Football Manager. The action sequences are a major improvement, thanks to the innovative use of Machine Code, but they get a bit boring after a couple of picoseconds as you just sit there and watch them. The lists are quite interesting too (as lists go), and should keep any number-fan occupied for a while.\r\n\r\nFor sheer historical accuracy, FM II deserves a mention. And it's also pretty good. Its only real problem is that it tries to be a bit of a jack of all trades, with its strategy stuff and flashy graphics. While this might appeal to most people, those who want to stick to one area might fare better looking elsewhere.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"54","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Jonathan Davies","Score":"80","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Football Manager - lists, lists and more lists! (The action sequences are pretty useless though.)"}],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS\r\n\r\nThe Overhead View\r\n\r\nThis features in MicroProse Soccer, Kick Off and most of the Codies games, among others. It has the advantage that you don't actually get to see the players faces (only their bald patches) and generally avoids some of the confusion you get in side views when too many players get all tangled in together and you can't quite tell what's going on. You often get a nice 3D view of the ball too, as it flies up into the air and then plummets back down to earth again. And on the minus side? Well, timing headers can get very, very tricky, but more importantly it doesn't always 'feel' quite right somehow. After all, when you watch a game of soccer, you never see it from above, do you?\r\n\r\nThe Side View\r\n\r\nA bit common, you get this viewpoint all over the place, but generally it's the most reliable method. It gives a good 'as seen on telly' angle, although things have to be quite well animated for it to work (not always the case) and you do tend to get horrible sprite 'scrums' at key moments.\r\n\r\nA Bit Of Both Views\r\n\r\nOnly spotted occasionally, in things like Gazza's Super Soccer, this technique can get very confusing indeed. You get a side view when the ball's in the middle of the pitch, but when you get near to either goal the whole thing flips round to give a sort of overhead/into-the-goalmouth sort of perspective. All very well, but it gives you a godawful headache after a while."},{"Text":"ALMOST EVERY SOCCER GAME EVER RELEASED (DEPRESSING ISN'T IT?)\r\n\r\nBobby Charlton's Soccer - Dacc\r\nBrian Clough's Football Fortunes - CDS\r\nBryan Robson's Superleague - Paul Lamond\r\nEmlyn Hughes' Soccer - Audiogenic\r\nEuropean Five-A-Side Football - Silverbird\r\nFA Cup Football - Virgin\r\nFighting Soccer - Activision\r\nFootballer of the Year - Gremlin\r\nFootballer of the Year II - Gremlin\r\nFootball Director - D&H\r\nFootball Director II - D&H\r\nFootball Fever - Tanglewood\r\nFootball Manager - Addictive Games\r\nFootball Manager II - Addictive Games\r\nFour Soccer Sims - CodeMasters\r\nFootball Frenzy - Alternative\r\nGary Lineker's Superstar Soccer - Gremlin\r\nGary Lineker's Hotshot - Gremlin\r\nGary Lineker's Superskills - Gremlin\r\nGazza's Super Soccer - Empire\r\nInternational Manager - D&H\r\nInternational Match Day 128 - Ocean\r\nKenny Dalglish Soccer - Manager Cognito\r\nKick Off - Anco\r\nLeague Challenge - Atlantis\r\nManchester United - Krisalis\r\nMatch Day - Ocean\r\nMatch Day II - Ocean\r\nMexico '86 - Qual-soft\r\nMicroprose Soccer - Microprose\r\nPeter Beardsley's International Football - Granslam\r\nPeter Shilton's Handball Maradona - Grandslam\r\nPlayer Manager - Anco\r\nPremier II - E&J\r\nProfessional Soccer - CRL\r\nRoy Of The Rovers - Gremlin\r\nSaint And Greavsie - Grandslam\r\nSoccer Boss - Alternative\r\nSoccer 7 - Cult\r\nSoccer Star - Cult\r\nStreet Cred Football - Players\r\nStreet Gang Football - CodeMasters\r\nSuper Soccer - Imagine\r\nThe Double - Johnson Scanatron\r\nTracksuit Manager - Goliath Games\r\nTwo Player Super League - D&H\r\nWorld Cup Carnival - US Gold\r\nWorld Cup Soccer - Artic\r\nWorld Cup Soccer '90 - Virgin"},{"Text":"AND STILL TO COME\r\n\r\nThis is of course World Cup Year. And what happens in World Cup Year? Yes, hundreds and hundreds of new Speccy soccer games suddenly appear, that's what. There are going to be oodles of them - but how are you going to be able to tell them apart? What you need is a handy-dandy reference sheet to keep score on, isn't it? And - by Jingo! - what have we got here but the very thing! Simply keep reading YS, fill in the scores of all the new games in the spaces provided as we print them and 'Bob's your uncle' (as they say)! Now all you need do is take this copy of the mag down the shop with you whenever you intend to buy a footie game. You won't regret it! (Oh, and by the way, we've not included any budget games here - there'll be plenty of those around too. Check out Matchday or the Codies' World Cup offering for starters.)\r\n\r\nWORLD CUP '90 SCORE CARD\r\n\r\nGame: Adidas World Championship Football\r\nCompany/Release Date: Ocean - May/June\r\nNotes: Programmed by Smart Egg Software, this one has to have a good chance around World Cup time.\r\nScore: 85%\r\n\r\nGame: England - The Official Football Game\r\nCompany/Release Date: Grandslam - May/June\r\nNotes: Grandslam has secured the official England licence, meaning it can use the images of all the individual players (say John Barnes, or Bryan Robson). It's also planning a feature which modifies the team's performance if one of these is injured and can't play. Blimey!\r\nScore: Never released\r\n\r\nGame: European Superleague\r\nCompany/Release Date: CDS - June\r\nNotes: Another management game to add to the list.\r\nScore: 80%\r\n\r\nGame: Football Manager World Cup Edition\r\nCompany/Release Date: Addictive - any day now\r\nNotes: Apparently even better than Football Manager 2. It comes with its own World Cup wall chart and a competition with 'prizes' like getting your picture up alongside Kevin Toms on the packaging of the yet-to-come Football Manager 3!! Blimey!\r\nScore: 82%\r\n\r\nGame: Italy 1990\r\nCompany/Release Date: US Gold - April\r\nNotes: We await US Gold's entry with bated breath. The one thing we're certain of is that it won't be a replay of World Cup Carnival (surely?).\r\nScore: 81%\r\n\r\nGame: Golden Boot\r\nCompany/Release Date: Ocean - to be announced\r\nNotes: We don't know much about this (including a firm release date) but it's a wacky football game programmed by Ocean France (responsible for Beach Volley, which looks less and less likely to ever appear on the Speccy).\r\nScore: Never released\r\n\r\nGame: Kenny Dalglish Soccer Match\r\nCompany/Release Date: Impressions - April\r\nNotes: A pretty straight, eight-way scrolling side-view footie game with a Kenny Dalglish licence attached. Again, a full review next issue.\r\nScore: 46%\r\n\r\nGame: Kenny Dalglish Soccer Player\r\nCompany/Release Date: Impressions - end of next year\r\nNotes: More in the Footballer Of the Year mould (though more arcadey than that apparently), this new Kenny game follows the fortunes of an individual player trying to make it into a team and then on and upwards from there.\r\nScore: Never released\r\n\r\nGame: Kick Off 2\r\nCompany/Release Date: Anco - May\r\nNotes: Hopefully a souped-up, less scrappily presented version of the original Spectrum game (on compilation now, though it was only released a few months ago).\r\nScore: 80%\r\n\r\nGame: Liverpool - The Official Football Game\r\nCompany/Release Date: Grandslam - April\r\nNotes: The first of the two 'official' Liverpool games, this one gets to use the images of the various players...\r\nScore: Never released.\r\n\r\nGame: Liverpool FC\r\nCompany/Release Date: Ocean - September\r\nNotes: ... while this one uses the official team badge and colours.\r\nScore: Never released.\r\n\r\nGame: Manchester United\r\nCompany/Release Date: Krisalis - any day now\r\nNotes: Another game sponsored by a team as opposed to an individual player, we'll have a full review next issue.\r\nScore: 74%\r\n\r\nGame: Player Manager\r\nCompany/Release Date: Anco - July\r\nNotes: Like a sort of cross between Kick Off and a management game, this was a massive hit on the 16-bit machines recently and deservedly so. Will it do the same on the Speccy?\r\nScore: Never reviewed in YS\r\n\r\nGame: Subbuteo\r\nCompany/Release Date: Goliath - May/June\r\nNotes: Based not on football itself so much as the popular 'flick-to-kick' table-top game. Will we see giant fingers reach down onto the pitch? You'll have to wait and see! (Again.)\r\nScore: 81%\r\n\r\nGame: Super League Manager\r\nCompany/Release Date: Audiogenic - May\r\nNotes: Audiogenic's first Emlyn Hughes game got a critical drubbing from Marcus (and then went on to sell by the lorry-load of course). How will this management offering fare?\r\nScore: Never released.\r\n\r\nGame: Superleague Soccer\r\nCompany/Release Date: Impressions - out now\r\nNotes: A pretty basic management game by all accounts. Again we'll be having a look at it next month.\r\nScore: 52%\r\n\r\nGame: Vinnie Jones\r\nCompany/Release Date: Again Again - September\r\nNotes: Too late for the World Cup, this will in fact sell on the 'merits' of soccer hard-man Vinnie himself. We can hardly wait.\r\nScore: Never released.\r\n\r\nGame: World Cup Italia '90\r\nCompany/Release Date: Virgin - May\r\nNotes: And last, but by no means least, it's Virgin's game, the only one officially sponsored by the World Cup tournament itself. Hurrah!\r\nScore: 79%"},{"Text":"NAMING YOUR FOOTIE GAME\r\n\r\nThis is the trickiest part of writing any footie game. Although coming up with a name is fairly easy, the chances are that it's already been used seven times before. To assist with this problem we've designed the YS Footie Game Naming System™. Simply pick one word from each column and put them all together to come up with a convincing title.\r\n\r\nGary\t\tRobson's\t\tAdvanced\t\tFootball\t\tGame\r\nBrian\t\tThe Hamster's\tTen-a-Side\t\tSoccer\t\t\tSimulator\r\nKevin\t\tLineker's\t\tSuper Footie\tDirector\t\tPlus\r\nWayne\t\tOf The Rovers'\tBoring\t\t\tTracksuit\t\tManager '90\r\nDarren\t\tMonkhouse's\t\tQuite Good\t\tPickled Onion\tChallenge\r\nBernadette\tToms'\t\t\tStrip\t\t\tNinja\t\t\tFootie Quiz"},{"Text":"RATINGS\r\n\r\nBeing the tricky things they are, footie games don't quite fit into the usual way we rate our games, so for the purposes of this feature here's a one-off system we've devised that hopefully takes into account all their little (and dearly loved) idiosyncrasies.\r\n\r\nPlayerbility: Having forked out your dosh and loaded it up, will you be over the moon or sick as a parrot? In other words, is it any cop... or is it utter crap?\r\n\r\nAt The End Of The Day: ...will you still be playing it? Or will it have joined the potato peelings, used tea bags and missives from Readers Digest in the dustbin?\r\n\r\nKit: Aesthetic appeal, really. Lists of numbers are all very well, but are they decently presented? And if it's an arcade jobbie, are the graphics any good? Especially high marks go to those games with two or more colours used on the players, or a choice of team outfits.\r\n\r\nAtmosphere: Is it just like being in the stands at your local ground (apart from getting a bottle smashed across your cranium every ten minutes that is)? Or might you just as well be standing in a queue by the fish counter at Waitrose counting the dandruff on the back of the person in front of you? Here's where to find out!"},{"Text":"SO YOU WANNA WRITE A FOOTIE GAME?\r\n\r\nHere are a few features you may wish to incorporate when devising your own 'tuff turf' footie extravaganza...\r\n\r\nA celeb, preferably glistening and grinning, with his signature scrawled across the box.\r\n\r\nImportant-looking statistics, and screenloads of them. These should not only be wholly incomprehensible but, so as to thwart even the most dedicated of punters, boast no underlying logic whatsoever.\r\n\r\nMinimal player interaction. Keep him waiting for hours just to 'PRESS ANY KEY'.\r\n\r\nA big green box with lots of footballers on it. They all have one.\r\n\r\nTacky adverts round the pitch carrying plugs for your other games.\r\n\r\nDisastrous artwork all over the place. Muscles where you never knew they existed.\r\n\r\nFree poster and badge that you wouldn't particularly want to stick anywhere (see artwork).\r\n\r\nA 'STOP THE TAPE' message halfway through loading. Meanwhile, you've dozed off and the tape runs on to the end."},{"Text":"THE FIRST FOOTIE GAME IN HISTORY\r\n\r\nA bit of a tie (almost), but by checking out all my back issues of YS, getting hold of various release dates, dismissing the really early stuff that's virtually unrecognisable as Speccy games as we know them today, and consulting with all the experts I could find, it has to be... Football Manager from Addictive! That's right, it's the one with mugshots of that cheery bearded bloke all over it (Kevin Toms actually. Ed). Originating in the days of long shorts and over-the-knee footie boots, it sold squillions of copies, mainly because it was released on everything from the ZX81 to the Teefal HY9000 De Luxe Deep Fat Fryer. We didn't stand a chance really.\r\n\r\nIt was, of course, the first of those dreadful 'management' jobbies, in which you spend the whole time staring at lists of things. Written in 100% Basic, it featured some chronic 'action scenes' and a unique 'customising' feature. (In other words, you could break into the program and do all sorts of despicable things to it.) The punters loved it.\r\n\r\nAs for the first action game, that's a bit harder. It was probably Artic's World Cup Football, the first of the little-people-running-around variety. Unfortunately though it was, to be honest, utterly, utterly terrible. The graphics especially were complete rubbish. It was so bad, in fact, that US Gold decided to use it as the basis for its renowned World Cup Carnival game. (Hurrah!) Far better is Matchday, which appeared soon after - the first proper, enjoyable footie action game."}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Kit","Score":"57%","Text":""},{"Header":"Atmosphere","Score":"81%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playerbility","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"At The End Of The Day","Score":"76%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"80%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 76, Jul 1988","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1988-06-18","Editor":"Graham Taylor","TotalPages":108,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Graham 'El Presidente' Taylor\r\nStaff Writer: Jim Douglas\r\nProduction Editor: Tamara Howard\r\nArt Editor: Gareth Jones\r\nDesigner: Andrea Walker\r\nAdventure: The Sorceress\r\nZapchat: Jon Riglar\r\nTechnical: Andrew Hewson, Rupert Goodwins\r\nContributors: Tony 'I'm a headbanger' Dillon, Chris 'Leave off my jelly babies' Jenkins\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Katherine Lee\r\nDeputy Advertisement Manager: Margaret 'I'll spell that for you' Caddick-Adams\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Alison Morton\r\nAd Production: Emma Ward\r\nPublisher's Assistant: Debbie Pearson\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\nMarketing: Clive Pembridge\r\n\r\nPhone: [redacted]\r\nFax: [redacted]\r\nSubscriptions: [redacted]\r\nBack Issues: [redacted]\r\nEditorial and Advertisement Offices: [redacted]\r\n\r\nThis Month's Cover: Bryan Talbot\r\n\r\nPrinted by Nene River Press, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by EMAP Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1988 Sinclair User ISSN No 0262-5458"},"MainText":"Label: Addictive\r\nAuthor: Kevin Toms\r\nPrice: £9.95\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nJoystick: various\r\nReviewer: Graham Taylor\r\n\r\nFootball Manager was ridiculously successful. It was successful on the ZX81, successful on the Spectrum, successful on everything else and then it proved successful for a second time on budget. The thing is, in this age of multicoloured, high speed, ultra smooth sprites, it looked like complete dung. But it played brilliantly.\r\n\r\nWhat to expect then of FM2? Would it look better and play worse? Would they dare to get away with such dodgy graphics in 1988? Would it be glossy and naff? No! It's great! it still looks a bit tatty around the edges (couldn't you have redesigned the character set even Kevin?) and the actual football bit, though definitely improved - they don't look like sticks any more - is not exactly state of the art. However, actual gameplay is even better!\r\n\r\nFootball Manager 2 it should be stressed, is, like the original, not actually a game in which you play football at all. You just make all the decisions for your team and then watch the events unfold in animated 'edited highlights' of the match. If this sounds dull then a) you obviously haven't played the original b) you underestimate the degree to which the matches really reflect your choices.\r\n\r\nAt the start of the game you can choose whether to accept membership money. (Hold out for a better offer if you have the nerve). You pick your team, start in the fourth division and by wise buying, selling and training of players, plus a little luck you win matches, make money and buy better players and... you get the picture. If you're lucky, you make money and climb the divisions, if not...\r\n\r\nThe differences between FM2 and FM1 are summarised elsewhere. The real difference is the way your decision over formation and player selection affects the match very directly. If, for example, you are forced to put a weak player in midfield you can 'see' the weakness in the play highlights. It's very impressive.\r\n\r\nThis game has everything - injuries to cope with, players' fitness and passing styles to be analysed, finance reports (later on you can even invest in a new stadium if you have the dosh)!. You play both league and cup matches and have to plan accordingly... you might want to 'rest' a key player for a league match if an important cup tie is coming up - get him fitter and take your chances with the less important match. That the game takes this into account and that it really does make a visible difference is the reason the game is so good.\r\n\r\nFM2 is all FM1 was and more, the graphics are (a bit) better, although that would never be a reason to play this game, there are a few extra features but what is really astounding is the sheer playability. My favourite strategy game on the Spectrum, no contest.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"An improvement on a legendary game. It still looks a little tatty but plays brilliantly.","Page":"96,97","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Graham Taylor","Score":"94","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND THE ORIGINAL\r\n\r\nYou can choose players' positions.\r\n\r\nPlay graphics are better.\r\n\r\nThere are even more management elements - like sponsorship and improving your ground.\r\n\r\nYou can play for both football cups.\r\n\r\nYou can use substitutes at half time to replace weak players.\r\n\r\nYou can specifically train players' passing skills and adapt them from match to match."},{"Text":"PLAYING TIPS\r\n\r\nMark man for man - don't put a weak player next to a strong one.\r\n\r\nDon't play out of position - players only perform well when doing what they are best at.\r\n\r\nMatch players to formation - if it is designed for a strong attack make sure you have one!\r\n\r\nWhen bidding for players don't underbid too much - you won't win."}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"68%","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"80%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"99%","Text":""},{"Header":"Lastability","Score":"99%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"94%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) Issue 29, Feb 1990","Price":"£1.6","ReleaseDate":"1990-01-04","Editor":"Steve Cooke","TotalPages":124,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"EMAP B & CP [redacted]\r\nTelephone [redacted], Fax [redacted]\r\n\r\nEditor: Steve Cooke\r\nDeputy Editor: Rik Haynes\r\nReviews Editor: Laurence Scotford\r\nDesign Editor: Jim Willis\r\nContributors: Eugene Lacey, John Minson, John Cook, Pat Winstanley, Christina Erskine\r\nIllustration: Geoff Fowler\r\nAdvertising Manager: Gary Williams\r\nDeputy Advertising Manager: Jerry Hall\r\nAdvertising Production: Melanie Costin\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\n\r\nSUBSCRIPTIONS\r\nEMAP Frontline, Subscriptions Dept [redacted]\r\n\r\nCOLOUR ORIGINATION\r\nLatent Image [redacted]\r\nBalmoral Graphics [redacted]\r\nProprint Repro [redacted]\r\n\r\nTYPESETTING\r\nCXT [redacted]\r\n\r\nDISTRIBUTION\r\nEMAP Frontline [redacted]\r\n\r\nPRINTING\r\nSevern Valley Press, Caerphilly\r\n\r\n©EMAP B&CP 1989\r\nNo part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission."},"MainText":"Spectrum, £9.99cs, £14.99dk\r\nC64, £9.99cs, £14.99dk\r\nCPC, £9.99cs, £14.99dk\r\nST, £19.99dk\r\nAmiga, £19.99dk\r\nPC, £19.99dk £14.99dk\r\n\r\nThe sequel to the biggest selling footy management game ever. FM II offers a deluxe reworking of Football Manager - the original soccer management game, with loads more options and features. Enables you to make key management decisions such as buying and selling players, picking the team, deciding on play formations, commercial decisions and stacks more.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"82","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Ace Rating","Score":"920/1000","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"The Games Machine Issue 9, Aug 1988","Price":"£1.25","ReleaseDate":"1988-07-21","Editor":"Oliver Frey","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"EDITORIAL\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nEditor: Oliver Frey\r\nAssistant Editor: Nik Wild\r\nProduction Editor: Barnaby Page\r\nSoftware Co-ordinator: Richard Eddy\r\nStaff Writer: Robin Hogg, Stewart Wynne\r\nEditorial Assistant: Frances Mable\r\nPhotography: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson (Assistant)\r\nContributors: Jon Bates, Robin Candy, Mark Caswell, Mel Croucher, Robin Evans, Roger Kean, John Woods, MC Wynne\r\n\r\nPRODUCTION\r\n[redacted]\r\nProduction Manager: Jonathan Rignall\r\nArt Director: Markie Kendrick\r\nAssistant Art Director: Wayne Allen\r\nProduction Team: Matthew Uffindell, Ian Chubb, Yvonne Priest, Melvin Fisher, Robert Millichamp\r\nEditorial Director: Roger Kean\r\nPublisher: Geoff Grimes\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nAdvertisement Sales Executive: Andrew Smales, Sarah Chapman\r\nAssistant: Jackie Morris [redacted]\r\n\r\nMAIL ORDER\r\nCarol Kinsey\r\n\r\nSUBSCRIPTIONS\r\nDenise Roberts\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nTypeset by the Tortoise Shell Press, Ludlow. Colour origination by Scan Studios [redacted]. Printed in England by Carlisle Web Offset [redacted] - a member of the BPCC Group. Distribution effected by COMAG, [redacted].\r\n\r\nCOMPETITION RULES\r\nThe Editor's decision is final in all matters relating to adjudication and while we offer prizes in good faith, believing them to be available, if something untoward happens (like a game that has been offered as a prize being scrapped) we reserve the right to substitute prizes of comparable value. We'll do our very best to despatch prizes as soon as possible after the published closing date. Winners names will appear in a later issue of THE GAMES MACHINE. No correspondence can be entered into regarding the competitions (unless we've written to you stating that you have won a prize and it doesn't turn up, in which case drop Fran Mable a line at the PO Box 10 address). No person who has any relationship, no matter how remote, to anyone who works for Newsfield or any of the companies offering prizes, may enter one of our competitions.\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return anything sent into THE GAMES MACHINE - including written and photographic material, hardware or software - unless it's accompanied by a suitably stamped, addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photographic material is welcome, and if used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\n©Newsfield Ltd, 1988\r\n\r\nCover Design & Illustration by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Spectrum 48/128 Cassette: £9.99, Diskette: £14.99\r\nAmiga £19.99\r\n\r\nHot on the trail of the Atari ST version reviewed last month (65%), come the Spectrum and Amiga updates.\r\n\r\nTo begin, you choose a team from the available 92 which is placed in the fourth division with half a million pounds in the bank and companies clamouring to offer sponsorship. From here, the only way is up through the ranks to the first division, and to win the major division and league cups on the way. As team manager you have to make all decisions to get the best out of your men. As long as your club is solvent it remains in the league. If liquid assets fall into the red however, bankruptcy and defeat soon follow.\r\n\r\nThe Amiga version is virtually identical to the ST game, no attempt has been made to enhance it . Control of the Spectrum version is easier than on the 16-bit machines, and the players are more independent - less likely to play follow the leader. Despite the lack of 'pretty' graphics, the Spectrum game is the most playable of all.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"66","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"The players pitch into do their best for the manager - Amiga."}],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"AMIGA\r\n\r\nOverall: 63%"}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"68%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"C&VG (Computer & Video Games) Issue 86, Dec 1988","Price":"£1.2","ReleaseDate":"1988-11-16","Editor":"Eugene Lacey","TotalPages":180,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Eugene Lacey\r\nDeputy Editor: Julian Rignall\r\nSub-Editor: Seamus St. John\r\nStaff Writer: Matt Bielby\r\nArt Editor: Andrea Walker\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Garry Williams\r\nSales Executive: Joanne Cook\r\nAdvertisement Production: Lora Clark\r\nGerman Correspondent: Carsten Borgmeier\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\n\r\nEditorial and Advertisement Offices: [redacted]"},"MainText":"FUNNY OLD GAME INNIT CECIL?\r\n\r\nFootballs have been kicked around computer screens for just about as long as the gaming habit has existed. 1988 saw more releases than ever before - Tony Dillon asks what is and what is not good computer football.\r\n\r\nOf all the simulations, authentic endorsements and plain old original attempts, there can't be any topic that comes as close to a games player's heart that our very own Soccer. Even in the very early days of paddles and mono displays, where the Grandstand home entertainment console reigned supreme with it's incredible 4-game selection football was one of them. Admittedly it was nothing more than computer tennis with double the number of bats, but it was still football. And it was the first.\r\n\r\nSince then, many have tried to recreate the feelings of running about on an open pitch, being buffeted by the wind, the cheers of the crowd and smells of the other players. What we at C+VG have tried to do is come up with a comprehensive guide to the more memorable ones, the best, the worst, the one with the nicest graphics, the one that you couldn't tell the difference between the ball and the players, or indeed the players from the pitch, or simply the one that we liked the most. Also, we've put our heads together and come up with a league table of all the football games around at the moment. Including the ones we didn't get to mention. So, here goes, straight into section one, which funnily enough is about.\r\n\r\nARCADE FOOTBALL\r\n\r\nOf the three genre of football games (Arcade, Managerial and Diagnostic), the arcade is easily, judging by the sales, the most widely popular, though games like Football Manager still rank high up in the list of best selling games. There were many early attempts at football games way back in the dawn of programming history, when programming people were just finding their feet. Now defunct Artic, for example, released World Cup I and II, which both featured small matchstick men, slow gameplay and a very low computer skill level. Funnily enough, World Cup II was given a facelift (well, not really a facelift, more a snip-and-tuck around the chin) and was released by US Gold under the title World Cup Carnival to coincide with the World Cup happening at the time. It came packaged with lots of photographs, posters and other World Cup memorabilia. Nevertheless it flopped and went down in game history as one of the worst games ever, ranking up there with The Great Space Race itself.\r\n\r\nProbably the most successful of the early arcade football games was International Soccer on the Commodore 64. Originally only available on cartridge (now released on tape and disc by CRL), it featured large blocky graphics, crude animation and a tendency to crash quite a lot (well, mine did!). The funny thing is, even with todays high programming standards and the high level that consumers expect to find of today's software, it's still one of the best you can get on the 64. Except, of course, for a slightly altered version I saw a while ago, changed by the hands of our dear friend, Mr Gary 'Moose' Penn, who changed the players from their running state, and placed them all in wheelchairs, which is sick, and terrible (snigger), and not (cough, splurt) at all (ready to burst) funny (Ha ha ha).\r\n\r\nSo, what else happened that shook the world of football gaming? Matchday did! Written by Jon Ritman, and Bernie Drummond, it was quite simply incredibly superior to anything that had appeared before it, on the Spectrum anyway. It featured large, well animated graphics, a goalkeeper that could dive and a chance to play through a knockout championship to win the FA Cup, as well as simultaneous two players to boot. Not long after that came Matchday II, which had all the above and then some, such as jumping headers, a league facility with a code entry system, and improved graphics, not to mention DSS. What's DSS? The Diamond Deflection System. What this does is work out what direction the ball's going to travel in when it hits off another player, with the player's speed and direction brought into account.\r\n\r\nBetween these two came the game that should have been a lot better and, judging by its features, it was. Unfortunately, it wasn't. Super Soccer included things like sliding tackles, enemy levels and extra training, but was so bug-ridden and unplayable that it flopped. One major bug was the energy thing. If you played a long game, the players would run out of energy quite quickly. What they would finally end up doing was jog around the pitch at a snail's pace, then if you tried to do a sliding tackle, they wouldn't get up again, so basically 80 minutes into the game, the pitch would be littered with dead players.\r\n\r\nBoth the Nintendo and Sega have their own soccer games, Nintendo's is called Soccer, and is quite playable and has several levels of play. It also has a two-player option, but suffers from slightly sluggish joycard response. That withstanding, it's still a lot better than you can buy on most home computers.\r\n\r\nSega's World Soccer is one of C+VG's all-time favourite games, and can be held responsible for many hours of lost work time - particularly the case with Gary Williams, the Ads Manager. Unlike him, though, the game is absolutely brilliant and fully captures the spirit of a big game, with the players able to do overhead kicks, banana shots and slide tackles. It's a shame that it's only available on the Sega, as it's the best soccer game on any home system.\r\n\r\nUp until recently, games have been displayed in semi forced perspective 3D, which works really well but often makes aiming for the goal difficult. Now a new trend is emerging: the overhead viewpoint.\r\n\r\nGames like European 5-a-Side and Supercup Football let you view the action from above, which gives a much more accurate look at the action, with the size of the ball increasing and decreasing to denote hoots skyward. Easily the best, however, is the new one from Microprose/Sensible Software. It's smooth, fast, very playable and extremely polished and scored 95% in the last issue. It's menu system is incredible, and the game comes a very, very close second to World Soccer - it's easily the greatest football game available for home computers.\r\n\r\nBut these are mere highlights of all the arcade football games around at the moment. Check out the league table for the full C+VG report. Now, let's move onto the next section, which by some staggering coincidence happens to be about.\r\n\r\nMANAGERIAL FOOTBALL\r\n\r\nMoving completely away from games that require fast reactions and an eye of an eagle, and onto the slower, more thoughtful games that are around the managerial. Typically: in a managerial game you take the role of the manager/secretary/accountant of your chosen team and have to make all the right decisions with the ultimate aim of taking your team to the top of their league and winning the FA Cup/World Cup/Nations Cup/whatever. Of all the ones I've seen, rather than mention games that stand out, I'm going to talk about the companies involved.\r\n\r\nFirst is Kevin Toms' company, Addictive. They released the first successful managerial game way back in, oh, well it was a while ago. It was then hailed as the best football game ever (not much of claim; check out the opposition at the time!) and was pretty simplistic. Written in 100% basic, it consisted of a series of screens with a choice on some of them. After cycling through them, you get a few highlights of the match you just played, with matchstick men and beepy sound effects. Though not much by today's standards, it still has to get a mention for being the original. I wish I could say the same for it's successor, FM2. The only difference between them were screen redesign and better graphics on the game highlights. A shame really, considering what could have been done.\r\n\r\nOne company that I have to mention are D+H games, a company almost solely devoted to managerial games, especially football ones. Though none of their games require huge amounts of thought, feature no graphics, have a tendency to be slow and are generally small, there is still an edge of the seat feeling when playing a match as minute by minute it updates the score. Probably their most famous one is Football Director, What a lot of people don't know is that Football Director is only part of a series. As well as the usual Football Director II, which boasts nicer screens and faster gameplay (except on the +3, which is six times slower than any other version), there's a two-player Super League, which is identical to Football Director except that it boasts two-player simultaneous action, and International Manager, which is Football Director set in the topsy turvy world of international football.\r\n\r\nThe last company I have to mention is the company that has recently written the best ever managerial game, Goliath Games. Headed by Doug Mathews, of ex-Scanatron fame, Track Suit Manager was the company's first release, and was well-received by everyone and featured all the teams in the World Cup, and all the players in all the teams (around 700 in all) as well as accurate statistics on all of them, a revolutionary ,match commentary system that gives you a continuous flow of text telling you what's happening on the turf. All this would normally cost speed, but in this case it doesn't. The speed of the game is fully adjustable via the joystick, from the full 45 minutes a half, right down to eight seconds a half. The Spectrum version is a bit slower than the Commodore version, and boasts a masterful piece of compaction. All the data just fits, and looking at the statistics I've been given, there were two bytes left at the end of it. The funny thing is there were two spelling mistakes, \"Substitute\" and the other one escapes me for the moment. The point I am two letters missing altogether, so if those letters were included, there would be no room left at all.\r\n\r\nI can't talk about managerial games, though, without mentioning the worst: Soccer Boss. Soccer Box is not a very good game. In fact, it's very bad. It boasts amazingly s-l-o-w gameplay, unresponsive controls and is sooo easy. Needless to say, it's still riding high in the budget software charts. Makes you think, doesn't it?\r\n\r\nBut of course, there are many others. This is just the cream of the crop and we simply haven't the space to re-review all the old games, for the simple reason that there are so many of them. We came up with over 30! Plus there are lots of pools prediction things and record filers and lots of other serious gimmicks that can't be classed as games.\r\n\r\nWe leave you now with the league tables. We've done two because it just isn't fair to class arcade games alongside strategy games.\r\n\r\nIf you've written a football game that you think is any good, or you know of one that isn't mentioned here and you think it should be, then why not drop a line to C+VG. Even if it doesn't get reviewed in the mag, we'll still get back to you and let you know what I think of it. Please include an S.A.E. if you want the tapes returned.\r\n\r\nFOOTBALL DEATURE - LEAGUE TABLE 1 - STRATEGY\r\n\r\nTitle: Tracksuit Manager\r\nHome Ground: Goliath Games\r\nRealism: 9/10\r\nDepth: 8/10\r\nSpeed: 9/10\r\nVisuals: 7/10\r\nFun: 8/10\r\nTot: 41/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Brain Clough's FF\r\nHome Ground: CDS\r\nRealism: 6/10\r\nDepth: 8/10\r\nSpeed: 8/10\r\nVisuals: 2/10\r\nFun: 10/10\r\nTot: 34/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Football Director 2\r\nHome Ground: D+H Games\r\nRealism: 4/10\r\nDepth: 6/10\r\nSpeed: 6/10\r\nVisuals: 5/10\r\nFun: 8/10\r\nTot: 29/10\r\n\r\nTitle: The Double\r\nHome Ground: Scanatron\r\nRealism: 8/10\r\nDepth: 6/10\r\nSpeed: 3/10\r\nVisuals: 3/10\r\nFun: 6/10\r\nTot: 28/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Football Director\r\nHome Ground: D+H Games\r\nRealism: 4/10\r\nDepth: 3/10\r\nSpeed: 3/10\r\nVisuals: 4/10\r\nFun: 7/10\r\nTot: 21/10\r\n\r\nTitle: 2 Player Super L.\r\nHome Ground: D+H Games\r\nRealism: 4/10\r\nDepth: 3/10\r\nSpeed: 2/10\r\nVisuals: 3/10\r\nFun: 8/10\r\nTot: 20/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Int. Manager\r\nHome Ground: D+H Games\r\nRealism: 5/10\r\nDepth: 3/10\r\nSpeed: 3/10\r\nVisuals: 3/10\r\nFun: 5/10\r\nTot: 19/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Football Manager\r\nHome Ground: Addictive\r\nRealism: 2/10\r\nDepth: 1/10\r\nSpeed: 3/10\r\nVisuals: 3/10\r\nFun: 5/10\r\nTot: 14/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Football Manager 2\r\nHome Ground: Addictive\r\nRealism: 2/10\r\nDepth: 2/10\r\nSpeed: 2/10\r\nVisuals: 5/10\r\nFun: 3/10\r\nTot: 14/10\r\n\r\nTitle: On The Bench\r\nHome Ground: Cult\r\nRealism: 3/10\r\nDepth: 2/10\r\nSpeed: 1/10\r\nVisuals: 2/10\r\nFun: 3/10\r\nTot: 11/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Soccer Boss\r\nHome Ground: Alternative\r\nRealism: 2/10\r\nDepth: 1/10\r\nSpeed: 1/10\r\nVisuals: 2/10\r\nFun: 1/10\r\nTot: 7/10\r\n\r\nAll the marks are corresponding to the best version of that game. The +3 version of Football Director 2, is six times slower than any other version, so it would be unfair to review that version.\r\n\r\nFOOTBALL FEATURE - LEAGUE TABLE 2 - ARCADE\r\n\r\nTitle: Sega Soccer\r\nHome Ground: Sega\r\nGraphics: 9/10\r\nSound: 8/10\r\nPlayability: 8/10\r\nValue: 8/10\r\nFun: 9/10\r\nTot: 42/10\r\n\r\nTitle: MicroSoccer\r\nHome Ground: Microprose\r\nGraphics: 9/10\r\nSound: 7/10\r\nPlayability: 8/10\r\nValue: 8/10\r\nFun: 7/10\r\nTot: 39/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Match Day 2\r\nHome Ground: Ocean\r\nGraphics: 8/10\r\nSound: 6/10\r\nPlayability: 8/10\r\nValue: 7/10\r\nFun: 8/10\r\nTot: 37/10\r\n\r\nTitle: International Soc.\r\nHome Ground: CRL\r\nGraphics: 5/10\r\nSound: 4/10\r\nPlayability: 9/10\r\nValue: 9/10\r\nFun: 8/10\r\nTot: 35/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Match Day\r\nHome Ground: Ocean\r\nGraphics: 7/10\r\nSound: 4/10\r\nPlayability: 7/10\r\nValue: 6/10\r\nFun: 6/10\r\nTot: 30/10\r\n\r\nTitle: European 5-a-side\r\nHome Ground: Silverbird\r\nGraphics: 6/10\r\nSound: 6/10\r\nPlayability: 5/10\r\nValue: 8/10\r\nFun: 4/10\r\nTot: 29/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Gary Lineker's SS\r\nHome Ground: Gremlin\r\nGraphics: 6/10\r\nSound: 4/10\r\nPlayability: 6/10\r\nValue: 5/10\r\nFun: 5/10\r\nTot: 26/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Peter Beardsley's\r\nHome Ground: Grandslam\r\nGraphics: 6/10\r\nSound: 4/10\r\nPlayability: 6/10\r\nValue: 5/10\r\nFun: 5/10\r\nTot: 22/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Supercup Football\r\nHome Ground: Silverbird\r\nGraphics: 3/10\r\nSound: 2/10\r\nPlayability: 4/10\r\nValue: 6/10\r\nFun: 4/10\r\nTot: 19/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Super Soccer\r\nHome Ground: Imagine\r\nGraphics: 5/10\r\nSound: 3/10\r\nPlayability: 3/10\r\nValue: 2/10\r\nFun: 3/10\r\nTot: 16/10\r\n\r\nTitle: Roy of the Rovers\r\nHome Ground: Gremlin\r\nGraphics: 2/10\r\nSound: 1/10\r\nPlayability: 2/10\r\nValue: 1/10\r\nFun: 1/10\r\nTot: 7/10\r\n\r\nTitle: World Cup Carn'\r\nHome Ground: US Gold\r\nGraphics: 1/10\r\nSound: 1/10\r\nPlayability: 1/10\r\nValue: 1/10\r\nFun: 1/10\r\nTot: 5/10","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"98,99,100,102","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Tony Dillon","Score":"14","ScoreSuffix":"/50"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Computer football - second only in popularity to computer Ninjas."},{"Text":"European Five-A-Side - budget footy smash."},{"Text":"Sega Soccer - C+VG's all time fave footy game."},{"Text":"Gary Linekar failed to score."},{"Text":"Microprose Soccer - is the one to watch,"}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Realism","Score":"2/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Depth","Score":"2/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Speed","Score":"2/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Visuals","Score":"5/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Fun","Score":"3/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Total","Score":"14/50","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]