When we think of Football video games, we instantly think of current big names like EA Sports FC (It’s in the game) and eFootball, heirs to a lineage of games that dates back to the beginnings of gaming. Bitmap Books, faithful to its ambition to accurately document the history of video games, here tackles a dense subject that has not been explored in depth: the evolution of football video games, from their first infancy to major contemporary simulations. In A Tale of Two Halves: The History of Football Video GamesRichard Moss engages in a meticulous, richly illustrated analysis, which traces the technical and cultural evolution of this prolific genre. It is from a digital version – which took me a little longer to read – offered by the publisher that I am giving you a little feedback.
The beginnings of football video games
The adventure begins in the 1970s, a time when the first football games appeared in rudimentary forms. In A Tale of Two HalvesMoss takes us back to that era with tracks like Pele’s Soccer on the Atari 2600, where the technology limited graphics to a few pixels, reducing matches to simple football abstractions. It wasn’t the complexity of the game that attracted people, but the very concept of bringing football to the screen. These first titles were real cultural markers, in their infancy, but significant, which already captivated players with their innovative approach.
Over the decades, technological evolution has enabled notable advances in graphics and gameplay. The 90s, marked by the introduction of 3D, saw the arrival of iconic games like FIFA International Soccer et Sensible Soccerwhich establish the foundations of realistic sports simulation. These games mark a turning point by incorporating more precise game mechanics and graphics that revolutionize the player experience.
Unsuspected historical wealth
What makes the strength of A Tale of Two Halvesit is his concern to cover all the diversity of this genre. Moss unearths little-known titles like Hat Trick Hero, LiberoGrande or Sega Worldwide Soccerwho, each in their own way, have contributed to broadening the horizon of playful possibilities. This in-depth research immerses us in a world where Japanese games, sometimes exclusive to the local market, enriched the gaming landscape with surprising innovations. Who mentioned Captain Tsubasa?
Moss’s effort doesn’t stop at popular classics; it extends to curiosities of the genre. For example, the book explores niche games like Go! Go! Beckham! Adventure on Soccer Island or Mega Man Soccerhybrid titles that deviate from realism to embrace a more adventurous style of gameplay. Through these unique choices, Moss pays homage to football games which, despite their eccentricity, have captivated an audience looking for new and offbeat experiences.
Unpublished interviews for a human perspective on development
In order to go beyond simple analysis, A Tale of Two Halves offers interviews with key figures in the industry, such as Kevin Toms, creator of the first Football Manageror even Marc Aubanel, involved in FIFA International Soccer. These personal testimonies reveal the challenges, sometimes technical, sometimes creative, that developers faced in their quest for fidelity and innovation. The anecdotes shared shed light on the complex reality of video game creation, reminding us that each title, whether a success or a failure, hides a story and aspirations.
These stories are not only informative, they humanize the creative process often perceived as anonymous. We discover the pitfalls, the artistic choices, and the growing influence of players’ expectations on the final product, from the complexity of the algorithms to the pressure to best reproduce the intensity of the king sport. This part of the book adds a depth that is often lacking in purely technical analyses.
Between nostalgia and critical analysis
In 628 pages, Moss does not simply seek to relate facts, but to celebrate a time when the football gaming market was saturated, teeming with bold and varied titles. It revives the spirit of a period when each studio sought to bring its own vision of football. Today, the sector is dominated by two giants, EA Sports FC and eFootball, leaving little room for small studios to venture into this field.
The book also addresses the case of management games, such as Championship Manager or Premier Managerwhich allow players to take on the role of coach without directly controlling the action on the pitch. These games, although strategy and management oriented, captivate a passionate audience, obsessed with the complexity of team management and tactics, proving that video game football can take varied and engaging forms.
Careful aesthetics, for equally meticulous content
Bitmap Books once again demonstrates its editorial know-how. The work, beyond its historical precision, offers a careful graphic presentation, with signed pixel illustrations 8-Bit Football and chapters embellished with custom sprites that pay homage to the visual evolution of football games. The book even includes decorative elements such as laces as bookmarks, adding a touch of tangible nostalgia for collectors and enthusiasts.
By diving into this book, we relive the emblematic periods of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, before the era of microtransactions and Ultimate Teams. Moss deliberately chooses to focus on this period, refusing to address recent structural changes imposed by modern economic models. This choice gives the book a nostalgic dimension, reminding players of FIFA Street or PES of their memories of games with friends on the same screen, far from complex multiplayer networks and in-game purchases.
An essential book for football and video game enthusiasts
The Tale of Two Halves succeeds in its challenge: it offers an exhaustive and accessible analysis of the evolution of football games. Moss has not only brought together rich and varied information, but in 628 pages he has captured the essence of a unique era, marked by innovation and passion for sport. Whether you are a nostalgic player of Sensible Soccera team management enthusiast on Football Manageror a curious person wishing to discover unusual titles, this work proves to be a captivating read.
For those looking to dive back into the world of football, far from modern excesses, A Tale of Two Halves is an ideal gateway. This book, with its erudition and comprehensive approach, is essential for any fan of virtual sport and retrogaming.
