Football video games have a long history dating back to the early decades of the gaming industry. The first digital version of this sport appeared on the Binatone TV Master IV console in 1976. While many consoles at that time were primarily for playing games like Pong, which involved paddles trying to insert a square ball into goals, the Binatone TV Master IV also had variations of squash and football.
As more powerful portable consoles like the Intellivision and Atari 2600 were released, soccer games began to evolve to become more similar to the actual sport. Games like “NASL Soccer” in 1980 and “Pele’s Soccer” in 1981 introduced new perspectives and gameplay elements that set the stage for future titles in the sports genre. The advancements continued with the release of “International Soccer” for the Commodore 64 in 1983 and “Tekhan World Cup” in 1985.
By the late 1980s, the introduction of 16-bit consoles marked a turning point in football video games. Games like “Kick Off” in 1989 and “Sensible Soccer” in 1992 brought more realism and complexity to gameplay. The rivalry between EA’s “FIFA” series and Konami’s “International Superstar Soccer” (ISS) began in the early 1990s, leading to a decade-long showdown for supremacy in sports video games.
In 1993, EA released “FIFA International Soccer,” setting a new standard for authenticity and 3D simulation in football games. Konami’s “ISS” series also gained traction, fueling a fierce competition between the two franchises. This rivalry continued for years, with both companies pushing each other to innovate and improve their games.
In recent years, the landscape of football video games has shifted with EA abandoning the FIFA license and Konami putting the PES series on hiatus. New titles like “eFootball” have emerged, adopting free-to-play models and introducing new gameplay elements. Despite these changes, the passion for football video games remains strong, with players like Diego Alonso Gomez Perales finding a virtual outlet to fulfill their dreams of being part of the sport. The future of football video games is sure to hold more exciting developments as technology continues to advance and new innovations are introduced to the genre.