Emlyn Hughes International Soccer

Infobox VG
title = Emlyn Hughes International Soccer


developer =
publisher = Audiogenic Software Ltd.
released = 1988 (C64)
1989 (Amstrad CPC/ZX Spectrum)
1990 (Amiga/Atari ST)
genre = Sports
modes = One player, co-operative or Versus
ratings =
platforms = Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
media = Cassette, Floppy disk
input = Keyboard, Joystick

"Emlyn Hughes International Soccer" (EHIS) is a football (soccer) computer game first released in 1988 by Audiogenic Software Ltd.. The game is named after the popular English footballer Emlyn Hughes. It initially appeared on the Commodore 64, with other versions produced for the Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST and Amiga.

The game was programmed by Graham Blighe with additional coding by Michael McLean. Gameplay included arcade-style action and the management aspect of the sport. Critical response to the game was generally positive with accolades and high ratings from the industry magazines.

History

It debuted on Commodore 64, but versions were also developed for Amstrad, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST and Amiga as part of Audiogenic's general cross-platform strategy. Upon its release it was hailed by some as the most realistic football simulation ever made, and gathered enthusiastic reviews, in particular from "ZZAP!64".The program was in the UK computer games charts for over three years following its release, and it still enjoys a small but enthusiastic cult following almost 20 years after its release [ [http://www.ehis64.net/community.php EHIS Community site comment] ] .

Every version of the game was programmed by Graham Blighe and produced by Peter Calver, with graphics created by Andrew Calver, and playtesting by Jeremy Wellard; the strategy section was coded by Michael McLean (in later versions Terry Wiley). The music for the Commodore 64 version was written by Barry Leitch.

The inspiration for the game came from International Soccer, a highly-successful cartridge game for the Commodore 64 that had been released by Commodore themselves in the early 1980s. Indeed, "EHIS" offered an optional mode in which the controls were deliberately limited, to simulate the restricted options available in the earlier game. This both provided an easy introduction and helped to emphasise the extent to which the controls had been enhanced.

At the time of its release "EHIS" faced heavy competition from titles such as "Match Day II" (1987), "Kick Off" (1989) and "Microprose Soccer". However, what made "EHIS" different from the other games of its time was the fine balance between playability and simulation - it was not as slow as "Match Day II", nor as reflex-driven as "Kick Off" and "Sensible Soccer". As a result, the appeal of EHIS was strongest among those who preferred skillful, tactical football to frantic arcade action. Despite limited graphics, and a side view of the action (whereas "Kick Off" had recently introduced the bird's-eye perspective), "EHIS" held its own because of a powerful control system that gave the players unprecedented control over the game.

Gameplay

"EHIS" gameplay included the basic running, kicking, shooting style but also had advanced technique gameplay which added depth and realism to the game. For example; turning naturally involved changing direction of the joystick, but instead of coming to a halt straight away, the player would slow down, stop and start to run in the direction of the joystick.

"EHIS" advanced techniques included The '5-direction' option. This meant that you could pass and shoot up to 5 different directions from where your player is facing. This was achieved by holding the fire button and pushing the joystick at an angle from where your player is running and releasing the button. Other techniques include sidestepping, barging, heading, back heels, lobs, diving headers, sliding tackles and many other miscellaneous features.

This was the first time that management features had been included in an arcade-style soccer game, and the identities of the players were reinforced with a rudimentary on-screen commentary, another ground-breaking feature. The game was also highly configurable with everything from the players' stats and names to the pitch and shirt colours.

The management aspect included picking your squad (based on player skills and fitness levels). Amongst the many options you can compete in competitions including cup, championship and leagues. "EHIS" was one of the first football games to include a full season of gameplay. You would compete in a league competition (home and away) and take part in a knock-out style cup competition. Throughout the season your player's fitness and morale would fluctuate and they could even get injured.

Reception

"Zzap!64" awarded the game with a 90% rating, gaining a "Zzap!" 'Zizzler' accolade. "Quite simply the best football game on the 64!" ["Zzap!64", issue 43, November 1988, p 28] "Commodore User" gave an 84% rating explaining that "this isn't quite "Microprose Soccer" but it's still a vast improvement on many of the football games available." ["Patterson, Mark. "Commodore User", December 1988]

"Sinclair User" gave the game a 91 rating and a "Sinclair User" 'Classic' accolade. "Best Spectrum football game. Ever." [Dillon, Tony. "Sinclair User", issue 84, March 1989] "CRASH" however gave the game a lukewarm reception, giving a 70%, "Playing matches is fun (especially with two players), although play is not quite up to the standard set by "Match Day II"." [King, Phil. "CRASH", issue 63, April 1989, p 87] "Your Sinclair" gave a 5/10 rating stating that the game was "Well implemented (control systems aside) but ultimately deriative football game combining action and strategy to little effect." [Berkmann, Marcus. "Your Sinclair", issue 40, April 1989, p 98.] "The Games Machine" reviewed both the Commodore 64 and Spectrum versions in the April 1989 issue. The C64 version received an 88% rating while the Spectrum version garnered a respectable 85%. ["The Games Machine", April 1989.]

"Amstrad Action" reviewed the game alongside other football games; "MicroProse Soccer", "Streetgang Football" and "Gary Lineker's Hot Shot"; in the football special issue of June 1989. Emlyn came on top with a 93% and the "AA" 'Mastergame' accolade. "You ain’t played footie on your CPC 'til you’ve mastered Emlyn!" [Webb, Trenton. "Amstrad Action", June 1989, issue 45, p 38, 39.]

Legacy

There are other videogames ans projects related to this title:

* Emlyn Hughes Arcade Quiz [ [http://hol.abime.net/2846 Emlyn Hughes Arcade Quiz] at hol.abime.net]
* EHIS2 project [ [http://www.di.unipi.it/~lettere/EhisHome/The_Ehis2_Homepage.html EHIS2 project website] ]
* Emlyn Hughes Cosmos, [ [http://futbolochentoso.blogspot.com/2006/10/c64-soccer.html Comment of futbolochentoso.blogspot.com] about C64 Soccer and Emlyn Hughes Cosmos (in Spanish)] rare videogame. [ [http://www.la-redo.net/?p=5828 Comment on www.la-redo.net] about computer football games evolution including Emlyn Hughes Cosmos (in Spanish)]

Audiogenic subsequently developed two other arcade soccer games, "European Champions" (released by Ocean Software) and "Wembley International Soccer", both of which extended the degree of control, though neither sold in great numbers. However, they did introduce another innovative feature - the option to switch between side-on and top-down views, which made replays particularly interesting. Note: Graham Blighe also wrote the arcade section of these games, with the exception of the [IBM PC] version of "European Champions".

References

External links

* [http://www.ehis64.net Emlyn Hughes International Soccer Community] Home of the Emlyn Hughes International Soccer Fans
* [http://hol.abime.net/2847 EHIS] at hol.abime.net
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/emlyn-hughes-international-soccer EHIS] at mobygames.com
* [http://homepages.tesco.net/~parsonsp/html/emlyn_hughes.html EHIS] at homepages.tesco.net/~parsonsp
* [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=86376 EHIS] at eurogamer.net
* [http://www.taringa.net/posts/juegos/792963/La-historia-del-Emlyn-Hughes-International-Soccer.html EHIS] at taringa.net (in Spanish)