The Soccer Game (shareware version) Copyright (c) New Era Software 1989 Features include := FINANCIAL : sponsorship tv+radio broadcasts record sales ground maintenance gate receipts salaries cash flow shares bank loans betting contracts players on free loan buy and sell players purchase and sacking of staff SQUAD : maximum of 20 players emotional stability age experience skill consistency field positions injuries retirements testimonials goals scored - season+total matches played - season+total contract termination+renewal transfer-listed players offers from other clubs player of the month young player of the month man of the match MISCELLANEOUS: instructions ! on screen help 1270 players 100 teams 4 divisions (20 teams in each) 20 European teams 100 physios 100 treasurers 100 scouts 100 assistants edit team and player names friendly matches manager of the month League Cup F A Cup Cup Winners Cup UEFA Cup European Cup levels of difficulty fast or slow results service results from all matches league tables for all 4 divisions scorers high goal scorers list fixturelist next match information view any other team's squad at any time information on signings between teams transfer market print outs music FULL VERSION (available on request) includes LOAD AND SAVE GAME: continue game from where you left off UNLIMITED SEASONS : play forever if you can!!! INDEPENDENT ALTER UTILITY TO CHANGE TEAM AND PLAYER NAMES PERMANENTLY:This is of use if you require the database to be changed. It allows you to directly alter team names or your default player names. Saved games will not be affected But all new games will immediately access the ALTERed data. Useful, for instance, if you wish to create a Scottish rather than English default team setting. Some team names are verified, due to the fact that they are used as European competition teams. T H E S O C C E R G A M E The object of this outstanding game is to become a successful manager of a football team. At the outset you are contracted for a number of years to a fourth division team. From this lowly base you try to build up a reputation which ensures other teams have an avid interest in desiring your managerial qualities to be present at their club. Consequently, when your contract expires you may, if you're extremely talented, get offered a contract from a first division team. If, however, you are incompetent as a manager (whether by spending too much of the club's money, selling too many of their shares, losing too many matches, etc), your contract will not be renewed and no other reasonably-minded team will offer you another contract. The game will be over. Whilst under contract it is still possible for you to be sacked - for gross misdemeanours - but not possible for you to leave your current club for another. Success is measured in a number of ways. Largely it is a personal matter. Some people may play the game to win a European cup, others only for the FA cup; some will play the game to amass large sums of money, others to be top of the first division. Others still will be playing to remain as an active manager for as many seasons as possible. The menus use conventional selection methods : the arrow keys on the keypad move the bar in the corresponding direction; Home moves to the first option; End moves to the last; Pg Up moves to the top of the column; Pg Dn moves to bottom of the column. All menus can be MOVED to display any information hidden beneath them. Ctrl pressed with Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Pg Up and Pg Dn will enable movement of any menu to any part of the screen.ESC will exit any menu. The "Soccer Game" uses a database of 1270 players, 100 teams, 100 treasurers, 100 scouts, 100 physiotherapists, 100 managers, 100 assistant managers. The MAIN MENU Options The F2 Function key : This toggles the active strip menu. If staff is showing then pressing F2 will change the current options to team (and vice versa). The TEAM options: 1) The PLAY option : From here you can play your next match, arrange and play a friendly match or quit (or quit and save) the game. The "friendly match" option lists teams available for midweek friendly matches. If you wish to play one of them you select the team otherwise press ESC to return to the strip menu. The "quit option" brings the game to a halt. In the full version of "The SOCCER GAME" (a mere œ10) a save game option is offered. 2) The HELP option: Offers you two choices. General and Display. Selection of "General" will bring up what you are presently reading. "Display" will be specific to whatever activity you are engaged in. 3) The LEAGUE option: This lists all four league tables (you move through them with the right and left arrow keys - no need to press ENTER) and offers the option to print them out. 4) The TEAM option: Offers manifold options : to alter a player's name rearrange the team check on your transfer-listed players change the current display print out the current display The "alter name" option lets you change the name of any of your players. "Rearrange" team option enables you to switch players from one location to another. This is necessary for moving players from the RESERVES section into the first eleven. "Transfer listings" enables you either to put a player on the transfer market or, if already on the transfer market, to look at the prices different teams have offered for him and decide whether to sell him or not. "Display" option will permit three different displays of information about your players. Their SKILLS (how competent they are - mentally as well as physically); their CONTRACTS (the amount of time left before expiration of their contracts); their GOALS SCORED, etc (the number of goals scored since you became manager - this season and in total - and number of matches played - also this season and in total). "Print out": prints out the current information displayed. The STAFF options: 1) The ASSISTANT option: Enables communication with your assistant manager. He can provide the following facilities: to display information about your next opponents display information about any other team to provide a fixture list for the season to air his views The "next opponents" option displays information about your opponents. It states the league in which they play, their position, the odds against you winning and lists, with relevant SKILLS their first team and one reserve. "Check other teams" enables you to choose any of 80 teams to view. Their team and staff are displayed with relevant SKILLS. "Fixturelist" displays a list of all the league matches you are playing in that particular season, filling in the results as each match is played. "Views" gives an indication of how balanced your team is. The assistant may inform you, for instance, that a defender ought to be given priority in your transfer market dealings. 2) The PHYSIO option: The physio informs you of probable lengths of injuries to players. He is also capable of telling you any number of items of useless information. 3) The SCOUT option: Your scout can be your most useful asset if you know how to use him (if you think I'm going to tell you you're wrong). "High scorers" lists the top goalscorers from the entire football league - included are goals scored in any competitive match. "Report" tells you how successful the scout has been in attempting to find a player matching your requirements as stated in the following option. "Get a player" enables you to tell the scout to look for a player of your chosen field position and your chosen skill level. If he finds one you will possibly be offered a cheap deal for the player concerned. "Transfer market" enables you to attempt to buy any player currently on the transfer market. The transfer market is a volatile entity, so if you see some one you want to buy, don't wait until next week! The scout doesn't consult the transfer market: he leaves that to you, whilst he deals directly with the clubs and the players. 4) The FINANCE option: Your treasurer can provide the following: Shares - buying and selling Weekly financial statement Loans Gambling facility "Shares" gives you the current market price of your shares in the club. You are free to buy and sell them as you wish, but remember they are the club's and not personally yours. Selling too many will cause, inevitably, your sacking. "Weekly balance" is a cashflow statement showing your income and expenditure for the last week. "Loans" offers you the opportunity to borrow money from the bank at an ex- tortionate interest rate. "Gamble" lets you stake the club's money on your forthcoming match. Some Words Of Advice: Try to stick to a 4-3-3 formation if you can. Or 4-4-2 if you must. Avoid obvious idiocies such as playing without a goalkeeper. Discover quickly how your Scout operates. He is probably your single most useful asset. If players are injured rest them. Use your Physio to find out the probable length of their injury. Some players simply get too old to play, or lose their skills for one reason or another. There is little you can do. Appease them if they want something. If they want nothing, sell them. Cup matches are unpredictable. They are usually worth a bet. Do not sell too many shares. Do not allow yourself an overdraft of more than œ50000 The Soccer Game (shareware version) Copyright (c) New Era Software 1989