SWOS coming to PC

By Kristan Reed Published 2 March, 2007

"Later in the year" says Codies.

90s Amiga classic Sensible World of Soccer is coming to the PC, Codemasters has confirmed.

With the download-only title already set for release on the 360 this summer via Xbox Live Arcade, Codies is also planning to release the title via Windows Live Arcade "later in the year".

But those running Windows XP systems will be out of luck - the game will only run on those with Windows Vista initially. Support for other operating systems is planned at a later date.

Die-hard fans of the top-down footy favourite will doubtlessly spontaneously combust at the news that the game will be a completely faithful port of Sensible's Amiga classic.

Speaking in an online Q&A, Codemasters' director of casual games Nick Pili said: "To produce the authentic SWOS experience we'll be using the original source code used in SWOS 96/97, so you can celebrate now!

"The core gameplay will be untouched, and therefore identical to that within the SWOS 96/97 game. In this version the user will be able to play two main modes of SWOS. Mode 1 will be the original Amiga game with enhanced graphics and enhanced game features. Mode 2 will be the actual original Amiga game from the mid 90s. Again we haven’t altered the game code in any way," he added. Hurrah to that.

Sounds effects and chants have apparently been "improved" though. Boo. Hopefully they'll give gamers the choice of playing the game with the original Amiga sound as well, for maximum nostalgia value.

More importantly, though, online play will feature, presumably also against those playing on Xbox Live. High score tables will also feature as standard.

Pricing has yet to be confirmed for the title, but we're banking on it being another 800 pointer, which will, frankly, be a bargain.

We're hoping to get an early hands-on soon, so check back in the near future for more on this essential title.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Tomo #1 5 years ago

    Good news, but I wish they stuck at the new version.

    Last year's offering was good, but so damn buggy and too easy.

  • Machina #2 5 years ago

    What with WH40k MMO and this it has been a good week for game announcements...

  • Mo0k #3 5 years ago

    Ah yes!

    Shame about the Windows Vista part, though...

  • neuroniky #4 5 years ago

    Anybody knows if this will feature updated rosters? If so, I don't need any other soccer game for this next year.......

  • X201 #5 5 years ago

    "rosters"

    /wins spot the yank competition

  • skillian #6 5 years ago

    Pricing has yet to be confirmed for the title, but we're banking on it being another 800 pointer

    I don't understand this part. Please say MS aren't forcing that stupid arbitrary points system on PC users too?

    If I buy this game it'll be with cash or a Visa, not some printed bit of cardboard bought from Games Workshop.

  • SBfistfun #7 5 years ago

    Welcome to the next gen.

    Vista to play Sensi soccer!
    Edited by SBfistfun at 02/03/07 @ 17:11

  • OnlyMe #8 5 years ago

    Amiga games have always been next-gen!

  • QJ #9 5 years ago

    /Checks neuroniky's profile
    /Strips X201 of title

  • Hugundo #10 5 years ago

    "The core gameplay will be untouched''


    Stimulating.

  • smelly #11 5 years ago

    Hmm. Something tells me a little bit too much of "rose tinted glasses" syndrome going on here.

    This is going to be shit.

  • QJ #12 5 years ago

    2 player SWOS on an Amiga emulator on the original Xbox was still ace when I tried it a few months ago.

    As was Speedball 2. We need someone to speed up the development of the XBLA version of that pronto!

  • smelly #13 5 years ago

    Now speedball 2 im interested in...

    Last years SS i liked, i'd play the old swos on an emulator but i sure as hell wouldnt pay money for it, just for some tarted up sprites.

  • muters #14 5 years ago

    Sensi with a joypad though? It'll have to go a fair way to beat an Amiga emulator and a USB Zipstick.

  • [menace] #15 5 years ago

    What about licenses, real names etc?

  • smelly #16 5 years ago

    >What about licenses, real names etc?

    That'd involve spending money.. So I wouldnt hold your breath.

  • [menace] #17 5 years ago

    >>What about licenses, real names etc?

    >That'd involve spending money.. So I wouldnt hold your breath.

    Exactly.. but they were a big deal of the popularity of SWOS.

  • Merlinho #18 5 years ago

    Hold on. Don't I have this game already on the PC on my shelf? Yes I do. Still, it'd be good to play it online :)

  • T-Bag #19 5 years ago

    Still the best football game ever. I enjoy playing the Amiga version more than any current football game.

  • neosalad #20 5 years ago

    well. 800 points. i really hope so. was fearing it might be a 1,200 pointer-er!

    weird to pay so much for an old amiga gem! but to play on XBL will be nice. unfortunately i dont have a vista PC or intend in the next 6 months to buy one.

  • green_nifta #21 5 years ago

    >>> What about licenses, real names etc?

    >> That'd involve spending money.. So I wouldnt hold your breath.

    > Exactly.. but they were a big deal of the popularity of SWOS.


    The original SWOS didn't have any official licenses, they just included the real names, winged it and hoped nobody came after them. Simpler days...

    If you tried that to do that in a game today you'd be sued so fast your ass wouldn't touch the ground.

  • [menace] #22 5 years ago

    >The original SWOS didn't have any official licenses, they just included the real >names, winged it and hoped nobody came after them. Simpler days... If you tried >that to do that in a game today you'd be sued so fast your ass wouldn't touch the >ground.

    Erhm yes, that's kinda my point..

  • Brocken #23 5 years ago

    newstarsoccer.com ;)

  • smelly #24 5 years ago

    I thought the original changed the vowels in the names?

  • absinthe #25 5 years ago

    Ah yes nostalgia.
    You remember it was good but when you play it now, it's actually crap.

  • Tufo #26 5 years ago

    What SWOS have you ever played Absinthe. Twonk.

  • absinthe #27 5 years ago

    Well I was part of the QA team actually, twonk.
    But that's not the point is it.
    It won't be as good as you remember it, that's the point.
    Move on people.
    Edited by absinthe at 04/03/07 @ 19:15

  • OnlyMe #28 5 years ago

    How long since you played it? I play it regularly, and it's about 1000 times more playable than 99% of the games we have today. Still. It's the game equivalent of The Beatles!

  • T-Bag #29 5 years ago

    I still play it regular and it is every bit as good as it always was.

    I would go as far as to say it is one of the greatest games ever made.

    Not sure I am going to be able to play it using a joypad though!
    Edited by T-Bag at 04/03/07 @ 21:08

  • kring17 #30 5 years ago

    this is still the best game in the history of games! and there are still ALOT of people playing it around the world... look at [link url=http://www.sensiblesoccer.info,]http://www.sensiblesoccer.info,[/link] they have more than 5000 members!

    oh, and you can already play the amiga version online via an emulator

  • crazyhorse174 #31 5 years ago

    "Well I was part of the QA team actually, twonk.
    But that's not the point is it.
    It won't be as good as you remember it, that's the point.
    Move on people."

    Err...actually, it IS still every bit as good.

  • smelly #32 5 years ago

    Well i've just played it on an emulator to remind myself.. And no it isnt. In fact i was bored within minutes (despite liking it first time around).

    Last years SS2006 was great (in 2p.. single player sucked balls), they shouldve stuck with that, improved the AI, better gfx, management, sack the person who designed the frontend, etc.

  • MrChuckles #33 5 years ago

    I never liked it on the PC, just because of the joystick. I don't think they make the 'Epyx 500xj' anymore :-)

    Ah, what a perfect sensi joystick that was... CLICK, CLICK, CLICK. None of this analogue shite.

  • Tufo #34 5 years ago

    I still play it daily, and love it. I don't even care if this version is good (oh ok then, i do), i'll still be playing the WinUAE version if it doesn't live up to past glories. SWOS' brilliance is as evident and as immoveable as gravity to me. It's just part of the world now :)

  • gtbahfm #35 5 years ago

    I play SWOS against my old school friends on the Amiga every Christmas when I head home to see my folks, and I can honestly say that it hasn't lost anything over the years. Like most fans, all I want to see is the same gameplay as '96 with much better sounds, some smarter graphics and ability to play the game easily (without messing about with emulators) against other people whenever you want. Not too much to ask I don't think.