How Soccer Video Games Have Evolved
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Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win has started to think about the history and evolution of soccer video games.
The world first got a taste of soccer video games in the 1970s. The Binatone TV Master MK IV console offered a pong version of the sport. NASL Soccer was released in late 1979 and is considered a retro favorite.
The 1980s saw the development of soccer video games. RealSports Soccer was released in 1982 on the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. International Soccer followed shortly after in 1983. Tekhan World Cup was introduced in 1985 by Tehkan, now known as Tecmo. The Kick Off series began in 1989 and influenced further innovation in future games, such as Football Manager.
Kick Off 2 came out in 1990 and received a positive reception from critics and players alike. The introduction of the isometric viewpoint was a game-changer for soccer video games. FIFA '93 was an immediate bestseller and introduced 76 different teams with 20 players. Other 1990s video game titles include International Virtua Striker (1995), Actua Soccer (1996), LiberoGrande (1997), and Superstar Soccer.
Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer was groundbreaking for soccer video games. EA's FIFA series has been around for 20 years and is still the most impactful series of its genre. Rocket League is a new style of soccer game released in 2015. Football Drama is an interactive card battle game. Since 2000, soccer games have advanced so that the visual and gameplay styles are true to real-world soccer.
The evolution of soccer video games since the 1970s shows potential for future games in this genre. Online casinos have found innovative ways to engage their players with soccer-themed slot games and the sport is being enjoyed in VR with games like Final Soccer.
