{{Short description|1988 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title=MicroProse Soccer |image = Microprose Soccer Coverart.png |developer = [[Sensible Software]] |publisher = [[MicroProse]] |designer = |programmer = Chris Yates<ref name='rgmakingofmicroprosesoccer'>{{cite magazine |title=The Making of MicroProse Soccer|magazine=Retro Gamer|issue=226|publisher=Imagine|date=28 October 2021|page=38-41}}</ref> |artist = [[Jon Hare]]<ref name='rgmakingofmicroprosesoccer' /> |composer = [[Martin Galway]]<ref name='rgmakingofmicroprosesoccer' /> |released = 1988 |genre = [[Sports video game|Sports]] ([[List of association football video games|association football]]) |modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]] |platforms = [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Atari ST]], [[MS-DOS]], [[ZX Spectrum]] }}
'''''MicroProse Soccer''''' is an [[List of association football video games|association football video game]] published by [[MicroProse]] in 1988.<ref>[http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/microprosesoccer.htm Microprose Soccer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225220452/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/microprosesoccer.htm |date=2007-12-25}} at ysrnry.co.uk</ref> The original [[Commodore 64]] version was developed by [[Sensible Software]] and ported to other systems. In the [[United States]], the game was released as '''''Keith Van Eron's Pro Soccer''''', named after [[Keith Van Eron]].<ref name='rgmakingofmicroprosesoccer' />
Designed by [[Jon Hare]] and programmed by Chris Yates, they adapted the gameplay format of [[arcade video game]] ''[[Tehkan World Cup]]'' (1985) while adding their own elements to create ''MicroProse Soccer''. It is the forerunner of the 16-bit ''[[Sensible Soccer]]'' series.
== Gameplay == The game can simulate a full 11-a-side game of football on a grass pitch, or 6-a-side soccer,<ref>[http://homepages.tesco.net/~parsonsp/html/microprose_soccer.html Microprose Soccer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222184056/http://homepages.tesco.net/~parsonsp/html/microprose_soccer.html |date=2007-12-22}} at homepages.tesco.net/~parsonsp</ref> based on the American indoor league of the time.
A single player can work through a World Cup (or Indoor League) tournament, or take on a series of increasingly tougher computer teams. A two-player friendly can be played head to head.
The control method was designed to be as simple as possible, lending itself to fast and flowing football (in the manner of the later ''[[Sensible Soccer]]''). A quick tap of the fire button passed forward, a longer hold of the button chipped the ball at height. Pushing backwards and fire did an overhead kick. Pushing forwards and fire took a shot.
Most unusual was the "banana kick", the strength of which could be varied among three settings in the options menu. By pushing diagonally as a shot was taken, the ball would swerve in the air to get round defenders and goalkeeper. Rival game ''[[Kick Off (series)|Kick Off]]'' would also add this after-touch feature.
Most versions featured a simulated "action replay" after a goal was scored, with the C64 version featuring black & white stripes to resemble a video rewinding.
==Development== The game was designed by [[Jon Hare]] and programmed by Chris Yates. Hare cited the [[arcade video game]] ''[[Tehkan World Cup]]'', released by [[Tehkan]] (Tecmo) in 1985, as the basis and the inspiration for the game.<ref name="Retro">{{cite magazine |title=The Sensible Game: Jon Hare Reveals the Drive and Inspiration – Direct and Indirect – For the Beautiful Game That Became Sensible Soccer |magazine=[[GamesTM|Retro: The Ultimate Retro Companion from Games<sup>TM</sup>]] |date=2010 |volume=3 |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |location=United Kingdom |pages=224-231 (228-9) |url=https://issuu.com/topov81/docs/retro_volume_3/228}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=In the chair with... Jon Hare |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |date=March 2009 |issue=61 |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |location=United Kingdom |pages=62–69 |url=https://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_061/page/62/mode/2up}}</ref><ref name="RG33">{{cite journal |title=Developer Lookback: Being Sensible |journal=[[Retro Gamer]] |date=January 2007 |issue=33 |pages=36–41 |url=https://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_033/page/36/mode/2up}}</ref> He referred to it as an "arcade conversion" of ''Tehkan World Cup'',<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wallström |first1=Andreas |title=Another Sensible Interview with John Hare |journal=[[Zzap!64]] |date=July 2005 |issue=108 |pages=19–21 |url=https://archive.org/details/zzapp_64_issue_108_600dpi/page/n18}}</ref> but said it was not "a carbon copy" as they also added their "own elements" to the gameplay.<ref name="Retro"/> ''Tehkan World Cup'' used a [[trackball]] to control the direction and speed of the shot, which they incorporated into the game by adapting the [[game physics]] for more conventional [[joystick]] controls.<ref name="Retro"/><ref name="RG33"/>
Preview pictures of the game appeared in an issue of ''[[Zzap!64]]'' magazine, with a plea for a publisher to come forward.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}
The Electronic Pencil Company ported the game to the [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]]. The programmer created a 6502 emulator, transferring the game code and logic to the 16-bit machines.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | YSinclair = 82%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/microprosesoccer.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-11-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225220452/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/microprosesoccer.htm |archive-date=2007-12-25}}</ref> | CRASH = 90%<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/65|title=World of Spectrum - Crash-65|website=World of Spectrum}}</ref> | SUser = 75%<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/sinclair-user/87|title=World of Spectrum - Sinclair User-87|website=World of Spectrum}}</ref> | rev1 = ''[[Zzap!64]]'' | rev1Score = 97%<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzap100/100thspec5.html|title=Zzap!64 100th Issue Pull-Out Special Page 5|website=www.zzap64.co.uk}}</ref> | award1Pub = ''Zzap!64'' | award1 = Gold Medal | award2Pub = ''Crash'' | award2 = Crash Smash }} ''[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]'' gave 90% for the game.
The game was voted Best 8-bit Simulation of the Year at the [[Golden Joystick Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/computer--video-games/92|title=World of Spectrum - Computer & Video Games-92|website=World of Spectrum}}</ref> In the Spectrum sales charts, it briefly reached the number one position before being replaced by ''[[Kenny Dalglish Soccer Manager]]''.<ref name='sinclairuser0989'>{{cite magazine |title=Full Price 20|magazine=Sinclair User|issue=90|publisher=EMAP|date=18 August 1989|page=42|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=90&page=42|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref> In the all-formats charts, the game was kept off the top position by ''[[RoboCop_(1988_video_game)|Robocop]]'',<ref name='nce10thJune89'>{{cite magazine |title=Top 20 Full Price Games/Robocop Blasts Chart Records|magazine=New Computer Express|issue=|publisher=Future Publishing|date=10 June 1989|page=5|url=https://archive.org/details/NH2021_New_Computer_Express_Issue031.pdf/page/n3/mode/2up|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref> which had been at number one for a record eighteen weeks.<ref name='nce10thJune89' />
==Legacy== ''MicroProse Soccer'' was the basis for the ''[[Sensible Soccer]]'' series, which was created by the same designer Jon Hare and programmer Chris Yates.<ref name="Retro"/><ref name="RG33"/>
In 2023, a spiritual sequel ''Tiny Football'' was released by MicroProse on [[Steam (service)|Steam]].<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/1887010/Tiny_Football/</ref> The original game is also available on the platform.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/1544740/MicroProse_Soccer/</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.mobygames.com/game/keith-van-erons-pro-soccer ''MicroProse Soccer''] at [[MobyGames]] * {{abime|id=2467}} * [http://www.crashonline.org.uk/65/mpsoccer.htm ''MicroProse Soccer''] at crashonline.org.uk
{{Sensible Software}}
[[Category:1988 video games]] [[Category:Amiga games]] [[Category:Amstrad CPC games]] [[Category:Association football video games]] [[Category:Atari ST games]] [[Category:Commodore 64 games]] [[Category:Crash Smash! award winners]] [[Category:DOS games]] [[Category:Golden Joystick Award winners]] [[Category:MicroProse games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:Sensible Software games]] [[Category:Vertically scrolling video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Video games scored by Barry Leitch]] [[Category:Video games scored by Martin Galway]] [[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]