Sensible Soccer is getting a 'spiritual successor' called Sociable Soccer
The odd thing about Sensible Soccer, the early-90s "association football videogame," is the title: "Sensible Soccer." Not football. Soccer. It was, to be clear, developed by a UK-based studio called Sensible Software, and so maybe the allure of alliteration trumped European sport sensibilities. Hard to say, and it doesn't really matter. What's important here is that Sensible Soccer went over big with fans, and now Jon Hare, the "godfather of football videogames," has launched a Kickstarter to help fund a follow-up called Sociable Soccer.
Sociable Soccer is a "spiritual successor" to Sensible Soccer, but it sounds like it won't stray too far from the formula laid down by its predecessor. A zoomed-out, overhead perspective similar to the original game remains available, and it will also offer "dynamic pitchside cameras" for a view more akin to those of FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer. It will be more of an arcade experience than a hardcore sports simulation, allowing players to represents nations, clubs, or even user-created clans. More than 30 single-player trophies are up for grabs, and there will be local and online multiplayer support as well.
The developers are seeking £300,000 ($457,000) in support, and seem to be off to a pretty decent start, ringing up more than £13,000 and counting in its first day. That may be because, as Tim put it, it's "basically catnip for old Euro football nerds like me." The Kickstarter runs until December 12.
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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.
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