EPISODE 18: World Class Fussball/Soccer

The Atari Lynx HandyCast

#PA2037, Published by Atari Corp.
In this episode I cover the first of two soccer games for the Lynx, World Class Fussball/Soccer, also known as World Class Soccer, released for the Lynx in 1992. Included are statistics for the game and a run-down on how to play it, along with reviews and ratings, some fun facts and trivia, and some listener feedback about the game. And Monty and I get into a spirited (and ultimately futile) discussion about the differences between soccer, football, and fussball.

“Did you see that ludicrous display last night?!
The thing about Arsenal is, they always try and walk it in!”

WORLD CLASS FUSSBALL/SOCCER VITAL STATISTICS
Release Date: September of 1992.
Initial Retail Price: ~$24.99 (US); £19.99 (UK).
Cartridge Information: Monaural curved lip-style cartridge of unknown ROM size.
Game Genre: Isometric-view 2-dimensional scrolling sports game for 1 player, or for 2 opposing players using the ComLynx cable.
Working Title: Super Soccer.
Alternate Title: World Class Soccer.
Screen Playfield Orientation: Landscape (horizontal).
Based On: The field sport of football (or soccer, as it is known in the US, Australia, and other countries).
Ports to Other Systems: This game was an Atari Lynx exclusive and was not specifically ported to any other systems.
Game Levels: There are no levels in World Class Fussball/Soccer.
Number of Players: 1-2 (with ComLynx support).
Packaging: A full-color standard flap-tab regular-size box (5 3/8″ by 4 3/8″ by 7/8″).
Instruction Manual: A 52-page (including front and back covers) stapled multi-lingual regular-sized booklet manual in monochrome, measuring the usual 4 7/8” high by 3 ¾” wide.

WORLD CLASS FUSSBALL/SOCCER CREDITS
Publisher: Atari Corporation
Developer: Brian A. Rice., Inc.
Programmers: Ted R. Niemiec, Brian A. Rice, Rob McCool, William B. Norris IV.
Graphics: Rick Incrocci, Glenn Leszczak, Joel Seider, Ted R. Niemiec, Thomas L. Fessler.
Music/Sound Effects: Clifford Falls, Chuck Batson.
Designers: Brian A. Rice, Ted R. Niemiec, William B. Norris IV.
Gameplay Consultants: Ihor Kutynsky, Thomas L. Fessler.

Be sure to check out our partner AtariGamer.com to stay “Lynxed In” to all of the latest news about our favorite handheld gaming console!

LYNX LYNKS
Kieren Hawken’s 2019 book “The A-Z of Atari Lynx Games Volume 1”.

Information About World Class Fussball/Soccer:
Atari Age title info/rarity guide for World Class Fussball/Soccer
Atari Gamer title info/rarity guide for World Class Fussball/Soccer
Digital Press title info/rarity guide for World Class Fussball/Soccer
GameFAQs article about World Class Fussball/Soccer
Moby Games article about World Class Fussball/Soccer
Wikipedia article about World Class Fussball/Soccer

Here is the feedback solicitation photo that is referenced in the Listener Feedback segment of this episode. This is perhaps my goofiest feedback pic yet.

Reviews and Ratings for World Class Fussball/Soccer:
Review by Michael Paul in Video Games (Germany; Issue #10; September 1992; page 135) [in German]
Review by Amaya Lopez in Zero (UK; Issue #35; September 1992; page 79)
Review in Game Zone (UK; Issue #11; September 1992; page 64)
Review (PDF) by Martin Gaksch in Power Play (Germany; Issue #55; October 1992; page 158) [in German]
Review (PDF) by Nourdine Nini in Joypad (France; Issue #16; January 1993; page 138) [in French]
Review (PDF) by Nourdine Nini in Joystick (France; Issue #34; January 1993; page 227) [in French]
Review (PDF) by Olivier Scamps in Player One (France; Issue #27; January-February 1993; page 142) [in French]
Review by Robert A. Jung at IGN (1999; updated in 2018)
Review by Jon Mc at Atari Gamer (2018)

YouTube Videos About World Class Fussball/Soccer:
Playthrough/Gameplay (World-of-Longplays)
Playthrough/Gameplay (gameOn)
Playthrough/Gameplay (AtariLynxChannel) [no sound]
Playthrough/Gameplay (GameplayMuseum)
Playthrough/Review (MrVenom1974) [in German]

Retailers Selling World Class Fussball/Soccer:
B & C ComputerVisions: Bruce at B & C is selling World Class Fussball/Soccer for US$19.95 (cart/manual combo) and US$29.95 (NIB w/scuffed box) through eBay under the user name MyAtari…check his online store on eBay for availability.
Best Electronics (last updated January 7, 2021; check website for availability): US$45.95 (CIB); US$9.95 (loose cart).
The Gamesmen (Australia): Not Available.
The Goat Store: US$0.99 (cart only w/damaged label) and US$3.98 (CIB w/damaged box).
Telegames (UK): £29.99 (including tax; NOS with box and manual).
Video 61 & Atari Sales: US$49.95 (cart/manual combo).

After-Market and Home Brew Lynx Titles Now Available:

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Luchs Soft in Germany (prices include VAT but not shipping costs):
Alpine Games (€55,92)
Ejagfest Slideshow (€49,97)
Quadromania (€55,92)
Retro X-MASsacre (Pre-order; €44,02)
Space Battle (Single: €55,92)
Space Battle (Double: €74,96)
Unseen (€49,97)
Yastuna-The Alchemy of Cubes (€49,97)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Luchs Soft.

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Songbird Productions in the US (prices do not include tax or shipping costs):
Alpine Games ($59.95)
Alpine Games Bonus Card ($49.95)
Biniax 2 ($49.95/$79.95)
Bubble Trouble ($69.95)
A Bug’s Trip Redux ($49.95)
Centipede ($49.95)
CGE 5th Redux ($39.95)
Championship Rally ($59.95/$89.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (Regular: $59.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (Black PCB: $59.95)
CyberVirus ($59.95)
CyberVirus: Lost Missions ($49.95)
Fat Bobby ($69.95)
Hyperdrome ($69.95)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf ($69.95)
Lexis ($59.95)
Loopz ($59.95/$89.95)
MegaPak 1 ($59.95)
Othello ($49.95/$79.95)
Ponx (Regular: $49.95)
Ponx (Black PCB: $59.99) [Out of Stock]
Quadromania Redux ($49.95)
Raiden ($69.95)
Remnant: Planar Wars ($59.95)
SFX (Regular: $49.95)
SFX (Black PCB: $59.99) [Out of Stock]
SIMIS ($59.95/$89.95)
T-Tris ($49.95/$79.95)
unnamed ($59.95)
Xump: The Final Run ($49.95)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Songbird Productions.

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Telegames in the UK (all prices include VAT):
Alpine Games (£55.00)
Bubble Trouble (£49.98)
Championship Rally (£49.99)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (£49.99)
CyberVirus (Limited Production; £49.99)
Fat Bobby (£49.99)
Hyperdrome (£52.98)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf (£49.99)
Lexis (£49.99)
Lynx Reloaded (Pre-order; with Othello and MultoPong; £44.99)
Ponx (£39.98)
Raiden (£52.98)
Remnant: Planar Wars (£49.98)
SFX (£39.86)
SIMIS 5 w/Space Invaders (£49.98)
Sokomania (£52.98)
T-Tris (£49.98)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Telegames.

Resources for Atari Lynx Console/Game-Related Collecting Materials/Tools:
Resource: Game Boy Color cases for Atari Lynx cartridges from Amazon
Resource: 2 1/2″ coin storage sheets from Amazon.
Resource: Atari Lynx regular-size game box sleeves from BuzzandBingosMoonCircus (eBay).
Resource: Atari Lynx custom game box sleeves from RetroProtection.
Resource: Building a custom Atari Lynx game box shelving unit from AtariGamer.
Resource: Atari Lynx II display stand in a choice of two colors from RoseColoredGaming on Etsy.
Resource: Atari Lynx I and II display stands (along with cartridge stands) from TelltaleShop on Etsy.
Resource: BennVenn’s drop-in LCD replacement kit (solder-type; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com’s 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx I).
Resource: BennVenn’s drop-in LCD replacement kit (solderless-type; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com’s 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx II); Pre-order only.
Resource: BennVenn’s ElCheapoSD storage cartridge for Atari Lynx.
Resource: RetroHQ’s GameDrive SD storage cartridge for Atari Lynx.

“Thank You’s” and Other Lynks:
Antic: The Atari 8-Bit Podcast (Thanks to Brad Arnold, Randy Kindig, and Kevin Zavitz for the shoutout about The HandyCast in Episode 50!)
AtariGamer.com (Thanks to Igor for incorporating The HandyCast into his excellent website!)
The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to The Podfather himself, Ferg, for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in both Episode 151 and Episode 154!)
The Atari Jaguar Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to Shinto for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in Episodes 22 and 26!)
Curtis Herod (Cujo)‘s The Bl^ck Book v2 (Check HERE to see the now-expired Indiegogo campaign, where you can find out more about the book. And please consider purchasing Curtis Herod’s The Black Book v2 by emailing him at [e-mail].)
Into the Vertical Blank Podcast (Thanks to hosts Jeff and Steve Fulton for “singing” about The HandyCast in Season 1, Episode 10!)
Please Stand By (Thanks to Zerbe and Ferg for helping to promote The HandyCast on several episodes of this fun-to-listen-to show, starting with Episode 60!)
The RCR Podcast (Thanks to the Retro Computing Roundtable: Paul Hagstrom, Quinn Dunki, Jack Nutting, and Carrington Vance, for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 167!)
The Retro MacCast Podcast (Thanks to Retro MacCast hosts James Savage and John Leake for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 475!)
Retro Video Gamer Forums (Thanks to Eugenio/TrekMD for helping to promote The HandyCast on his wonderful forums!)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks go to everyone who contributed feedback about World Class Fussball/Soccer (and other games) for this episode: Eugenio Angueira (TrekMD), ebbhead1991, Alan Gleaves, Kieren Hawken (The Laird’s Lair YouTube Channel), Igor (AtariGamer.com), Bill Kendrick (XEGS Game by Game Podcast), Jon McQ (AtariGamer.com), Mongrel Dog God, Erick Perez, Scott Rhoades, SneedyK, and Kevin A. Strade. I really appreciate your feedback!

Also, I would like to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: “8-Bit Core” by Tagirijus (opening and closing theme music), along with “Berghain (Instrumental Mix),” “Lunar Orbit,” “Lunar Phases,” “Lunar Walk,” “Stolen Moments (Instrumental Mix),” and “Times of Your Life ,” all by Monkey Warhol.

Thanks also to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson) for the “Oooh, let’s party!” and “Leaving so soon?” digitized speech clips captured from the Atari Lynx game Pinball Jam that are used at the beginning and end of each episode of The HandyCast.

I would especially like to thank Shinto for submitting his memories of various Atari Lynx games he’s owned in the past to The Atari Lynx HandyCast…they are greatly appreciated. And you should all check out Shinto’s wonderful Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast; it’s definitely worth listening to, even if you’ve never owned a Jaguar. You can find it here.

Many, many thanks also go to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, Please Stand By.

Finally, my thanks to the Podfather himself, Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. Please, check out his don’t-miss podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; you should also visit his website here.

I hope you enjoy this episode of The Atari Lynx HandyCast. And please don’t forget to visit the official Atari Lynx HandyCast website by clicking here!

-Mark

Next Episode: “EPISODE 19: Tournament Cyberball 2072”

The post EPISODE 18: World Class Fussball/Soccer appeared first on The Atari Lynx HandyCast.