Football has an estimated 4 billion fans globally, making it the most popular sport in the world. So it’s no surprise that the lucrative gaming market has long associated itself with the beautiful game.
This article explores how real-world football impacts the gaming industry, particularly in the realm of football video games genre, and how this relationship enhances the experiences of fans and players alike.
The Evolution of Football Video Games in Brief
Few reading this will have played the early Commodore 64 games such as the 1982’s Kevin Toms Football Manager (still available now for those that love some retro gaming) or 1983’s International Soccer. Some like me will remember the 1988 delights like MicroProse Soccer, Tracksuit Manager, or Emlyn Hughes International Soccer. For those older though, 1981’s Pele’s Soccer on the Atari is a trip down memory lane.
Around this time there were also 8-bit consoles like the Sega Master System, and the NES (just ask any middle aged man about the joys of duck hunt to hit him right in the childhood feels) but I’m trying to keep this specifically to football.
Personally for me anyway, it was more when the Atari and Amiga became popular that things took off in roughly 1989. And any self-respecting mid 40’s football fan will definitely have a childhood memory of ripping the joystick off it’s suctions playing Sensible Soccer or Kick Off with it’s birds eye view of the pitch (Dino Dini also made Goal!). There was also titles like Player Manager where you could combine both managing the team and playing.
Things went up quite a few levels in 1992, and not just the Premier League forming. My teenage life changed with the introduced of a game called Championship Manager, (although Championship Manager ’03 was far better for reasons I will go into momentarily). I feel the need to clarify that in 2004 Sports Interactive made their last Champ Man, and the series was taken over by Edios who ran it into the ground. SI took their coding in a split, and made Football Manager 2005 and all subsequent versions, so are henceforth called FM in this article.
Also in 1992, Nintendo launched the SNES in Europe with flagship Super Mario Bros 3, to kick-start the console wars with the Sega Mega Drive that had been out a year or two already but really only had Sonic the Hedgehog and Golden Axe.
Gameplay went up another notch in 1994 though. For it’s launch, Sony PlayStation One had International Superstar Soccer (the first in the Pro Evolution Soccer series), and the Sega Mega Drive had the Christmas 93 must-have FIFA International Soccer (the first of the EA Sports FIFA franchise which had international teams only).
Now there are a couple of big deals here for these games. Firstly, you really had only one computer/console and things were a clear split between them. It was to become a clear divide in many camps; Playstation vs Xbox vs SNES vs N64 vs SEGA, Street Fighter vs Mortal Kombat vs Tekken, Pro Evo vs FIFA, or even football management games vs playing virtual matches multiplayer.
But back then PES, FIFA, and Championship Manager all had something huge in common. They didn’t have the license to use real player data so used fake names, teams and stadiums. It did exist though, Premier Manager for example did have all the licensing and ran an updated yearly version for a decade.
I mentioned earlier Championship Manger ’93 was better, as it used a real player and team database for the first time. FIFA 96 was the first version to have some real players. But it wasn’t until Pro Evolution Soccer 3 in 2003 that the trickle of licensing came to PES, and FIFA Football 2004 had already taken the true pendants who wanted the real player names and teams.
The rivalry between FIFA and PES was often cited as a great rivalry in the history of sports video games. But to be fair, a lot of it came down to the knowing the controllers, which was the shoot button and gameplay when playing with friends. In those days it wasn’t online, and rage quits involved holes in bedroom doors.
The Champ Man 00/01 version was then the first to allow you to edit the database and add players in, allowing for manipulation as well as adding yourself in as a player or creating the Gibraltar league well before it was included. For those hit with a wave of nostalgia reading this, Eidos released Championship Manager 2001/2002 Season as a legally free download. With many updated patches and season player database refreshes, it continues to have a dedicated fan club of it’s own.
For retro-gaming clarity, I should reference LMA Manager too as I believe it was the first management game with a fully 3D match engine. FM went down this route later, but I think the true Champ Man aficionado prefers the earlier versions as it was simpler and you could fly through the seasons quickly with just commentary. But hey, some of us are from the generation that got football score updates waiting to teletext to refresh.
The PS2 had a decent selection of football titles too as graphics improved, including Actua Soccer. And there were of course other management simulation games that came and went but brought innovations and role play including Ultimate Soccer Manager, Total Club Manager (which became FIFA manager) and Premier Manager 3 (the one where you could build food kiosks).
But ultimately, few gaming franchises are as beloved and popular as FIFA and Football Manager, with both having a dedicated football gaming fanbase from all over the globe including playing professionals. Arguably the test of time proved they were the pinnacle of their football gaming genres in a stats-driven world.
Of course, most players will be fans of real-life football too, and both are popular because of the dedication to being as realistic as possible.
Playing Ratings & Performance Updates
One of the main ways that real-world football impacts FIFA is with player ratings. FIFA updates player ratings regularly based on recent performances, which means that the game reflects the current form of players from around the world. If a player is on a prolific scoring run, for example, then they will become much more effective in the game, mirroring real life.
And the release of these are a big deal among the players themselves heavily pushed by the clubs social media team, as well as the FIFA pro YouTuber challenges, etc which is all big business.
Transfer Market Dynamics
FIFA and Football Manager remain popular franchises with gamers buying the new version each year due to the fact that the real-world transfer market is reflected in the game. Player transfers are quickly reflected in the game updates, which means that gamers are able to enjoy a realistic and engaging experience with squads that are up to date and accurate.
Real World Events & Game Features
Specific game modes, events, and in-game updates are also inspired by current real-life football events. These can include major events like the World Cup, Euros, and Champions League. This alignment can keep games current and engaging, which will make them more appealing to dedicated football fans from around the world.
Realism, Authenticity & Licensing
Gamers want a realistic gaming experience that will bring them as close to playing professional football as possible. This means that all the big and small details need to be authentic, such as sponsors, stadiums, and player likenesses. The game’s authenticity is further enhanced by accurate depictions of club kits, such as the iconic Liverpool football shirts, which are meticulously recreated to match their real-world counterparts.
FIFA is highly regarded for this as they have licensing agreements with football leagues, clubs, and organisations to provide accurate depictions. And technology has advanced so much that even on FC24 on the switch my son recognises all of the players by face alone.
Community & Fan Engagement
These days, the FIFA fanbase is as global and passionate as the real-world fanbase. This is thanks to online gameplay, social media, and esports competitions that can help build communities and turn gaming into a social experience.
Football video games have a reciprocal relationship with real-world football. They base the content on the sport but also contribute to its popularity. Games like FIFA and FM introduce players to lesser-known teams and leagues, broadening their interest and viewership. This expanded interest can lead to increased attendance at matches and viewership of live games.
There are many fantastic stories from FM fanatics who have visited clubs they have taken to glory in the game series. And I can personally confirm it improved my geography knowledge hugely back in my school years, national flags and capital cities were a doddle.
As you can see, there are many ways that real-world football impacts the football computer game. Games like FIFA are all about providing a highly authentic, realistic, and enjoyable gaming experience, which means that it needs to reflect what is happening in real-world football. This can create a superior and realistic gaming experience that helps fans feel as if they are immersed in the world of professional football and gives them the chance to engage with fans from all around the world.
