Sony has tasted success with its very successful range of soccer games. The PSP will also get a soccer game but this time it is expected that the European version will be called Football. Have a look at the first in-game images of stadiums from Football by following the Screens tab above. For a Q&A with the game's developers and details of how this game has been specially planned for handheld use, as well as the by now necessary so this isn't just a port... question, read on.
Who knows where your next challenge will come from or who that challenger will be? With the power of WiFi compatibility and the User Alert System, Football (working title) enables you to challenge complete strangers spontaneously. And with so many international and club teams to choose from and several cup competitions to enter, every day is a matchday!
Key Features:
- Choose from over 150 teams and take them to glory at domestic or international level
- Unlock new club sides, special teams, extra stadia and cup competitions by achieving success in various game modes
- Advanced User Alert System pinpoints other PSP players within range for instant ad hoc challenges
We've seen football games on PS2, can you tell us what is different about this title?
We've focused the game modes around the strength of the PSP, i.e. its portability. We have therefore extended Challenge Mode offering a rich reward structure in the form of unlockable content. Each challenge gets harder, with the rewards getting better. As this is based around a high score table (rather than a football score), we hope to encourage what we call 'pass and play', where the PSP can be passed amongst a group of competitive friends to see who can get the best score.
We have focused our competitions toward a single player, but in keeping with the unlockable content / reward structure. Players will start with a small sum of money, only being able to afford mediocre teams, and with success comes more money, better teams etc. These follow through to exhibition mode, and WiFi mode, such that the volume of content you have at your disposal is also a mark of how far through the game you are.
Being portable and single player, we have also had to cater for multiplayer Football in a different way to PS2. Using WiFi ad-hoc mode, we allow users to see all other users in their vicinity, challenge them to a game, and then take them on!
So it's not just a port?
No, although we have maintained the accessibility, depth and fun of the PS2 versions!
Are there many major differences in the development for a software title for PSP?
The design has to take into consideration the nature of the new console - small screen, portability - etc., which does change some approaches to implementation.
Tell us more about the WiFi elements in the game.
Football is a very social game, and therefore it was a priority for us to cater for this on a single player platform. Football PSP therefore offers 1v1 gaming, which we will develop to 4v4 with subsequent releases.
Are you going to include any downloadables that can be used to enhance the title at a later date?
Not in the initial version, but PSP has brought up a host of application ideas for downloadable content.
As a developer what is the most exciting element of working on software for PSP?
To be involved in the development of a first generation product to coincide with the launch of the platform is very exciting in itself. However, the true excitement comes in adapting the gameplay in fun ways for a portable platform, especially when thinking about people playing Football on planes, trains and buses, at school or work!
What features has the game got that takes into consideration the fact that the PSP is portable?
WiFi was the biggest consideration. As was stated above, football is a very competitive and social game, and we didn't want to lose that. Catering for the single player football fan, and providing them with new ways of playing games in a more 'portable' way was always a goal. However, the PSP is a very good console to develop on; its power and features mean that not too many compromises need to be made when compared with other consoles.