Software:International Superstar Soccer 98

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 video game
Not to be confused with International Superstar Soccer Pro 98.
International Superstar Soccer 98
North American cover art featuring Carlos Valderrama
Developer(s)Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Yasuo Okuda
Producer(s)Katsuya Nagae
SeriesInternational Superstar Soccer
FIFA World Cup
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • JP: June 4, 1998
  • NA: August 21, 1998[1]
  • EU: September 1, 1998
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

International Superstar Soccer 98 (officially abbreviated as ISS 98 and known as Jikkyō World Soccer: World Cup France '98 (実況ワールドサッカー 〜WORLD CUP FRANCE'98 (ワールドカップ フランス'98)〜, Jikkyō Wārudo Sakkā 〜Wārudo Kappu Furansu '98〜) in Japan) is a soccer video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka which was released exclusively for the Nintendo 64. It was released at the same time as International Superstar Soccer Pro 98, developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (KCET) for the PlayStation.

Although it lacked a FIFPro licence, it featured Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli along with German goalkeeper Andreas Koepke (on German release) and Paul Ince (on British release) on the cover. The cover of the North American version featured Colombian player Carlos Valderrama, and the game featured licence from Reebok to use their logos in adboards and the Chile national football team kits.

Content

Due to the date of release, the game focuses on 1998 FIFA World Cup and includes each qualified team plus more. Every team which participated in tournament has home, away and goalkeeper World Cup official kits featuring manufacturer logos and national emblems (with the exception of the United States, whose main uniform is the red-and-white striped kit from the 1994 tournament) and the rest has those used in qualifications. In the European version, the squads are in accordance with official 1998 FIFA World Cup squads as well. Teams that did not qualify have line-ups from the qualifiers (in the North American version, all teams have lineups from the qualifiers). However the players' names are misspelled due to the lack of a FIFPro license, though they have their actual numbers, appearance, age, height, weight and abilities. In the European version, the game has more sponsors other than Reebok, such as Apple and Continental AG, which appear in adboards.

The Japanese version was an officially licensed World Cup product and also included unlicensed player names, save for the Japanese squad.

Game modes

International Superstar Soccer 98 featured 6 different game modes:

  • Open Game: a friendly match against the computer or another player with choices of stadium, weather and time of day, as well as match handicaps (player condition, goalkeeper strength and number of players on the field, from 7 to 11). It was also possible to spectate CPU vs. CPU matches.
  • International Cup: This mode is where the player selects a team from one region and attempts to get them to the International Cup 98, starting from the respective region's qualifiers.
  • World League: 48 international teams participate in a round-robin tournament with home and away matches.
  • Scenario: 16 situations wherein the player is placed in a match in progress. Depending on the difficulty, the player must either administer a victory (in easier matches), or win a match by breaking a tie or turning the result around (in higher difficulties).
  • Penalty Kick Mode: Two teams take a series of five penalty kicks to select the winner. In case of a draw, they undergo successive sudden death rounds.
  • Training: Practice of shooting free kicks, corner kicks and defensive play with a selected team. The player may also practice freely on the entire field without an opposite team.

Teams

52 national teams (48 in the Japanese version; Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Greece are absent from it) are featured in the game, in addition to six All-Star teams, only accessible through a cheat code or by winning the 'World League' on level 5.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic91/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[3]
Consoles +94%[4]
Edge9/10[5]
EGM9/10[6][lower-alpha 1]
Famitsu33/40[7]
Game Informer9/10[8]
GameFan94%[9][lower-alpha 2]
Hyper87%[10]
IGN9.1/10[11]
N64 Magazine(PAL) 92%[12]
(JP) 91%[13]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[14]
Nintendo Power8.5/10[15]

The game received "universal acclaim" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2] Cubed3 praised the game's "ridiculously addictive" gameplay, create-a-player, six various modes (which have an option of 64 teams, nine stadiums, four weather conditions and a choice of night or day) and the ability to play multiplayer with up to three players.[16] GamePro, however, said, "Soccer fans will find little reason to kick off with ISS '98."[17][lower-alpha 3] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 33 out of 40.[7]

Next Generation said in its August 1998 issue, "After a few hours of play, you'll forgive the apparent lack of improvement and realize that subtlety is everything in the most popular sport on Earth. The only thing that could really improve this series would be the inclusion of real players' names and correct uniforms. Until that happens, Superstar Soccer is just a shade short of perfect."[14] Six issues later, the magazine ranked it at #50 in its list of the Fifty Best Games of All Time, saying that the game "simply represents one of the finest examples of the genre. Although soccer in the U.S. enjoys nowhere near the popularity of other sports, the quality of this simulation should ensure its place on every serious gamer's shelf."[18]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 9.5/10, one gave it 8.5/10, and the other gave it 9/10.
  2. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, one critic gave it 93, and the other 95.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the game all 3.5/5 scores for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "KONAMI KICKS OFF HIT SOCCER GAME FOR N64, PLAYSTATION AND GAME BOY". August 21, 1998. http://www.konami.com/news/press/98/pr-980821.htm. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "International Superstar Soccer '98 for Nintendo 64 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/international-superstar-soccer-98/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64. 
  3. ↑ McCall, Scott. "International Superstar Soccer '98 - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=13739&tab=review. 
  4. ↑ Panda; Toxic (September 1998). "International Superstar Soccer Coupe de Monde 98" (in fr). Consoles + (80): 108–10. 
  5. ↑ Edge staff (August 1998). "Jikkyou World Soccer: World Cup France '98". Edge (Future Publishing) (61): 98. https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a1/Edge_UK_061.pdf. Retrieved September 13, 2023. 
  6. ↑ Davison, John; Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean; Ricciardi, John (September 1998). "IS Soccer '98 [sic"]. Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (110): 146. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-655-146.jpg. Retrieved September 13, 2023. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "実況ワールドサッカー 〜WORLD CUP FRANCE'98〜 [NINTENDO64"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=14531&redirect=no. Retrieved September 13, 2023. 
  8. ↑ "International Superstar Soccer '98". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (64). August 1998. 
  9. ↑ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Mowatt, Todd "Video Cowboy" (August 1998). "International Superstar Soccer '98". GameFan (Metropolis Media) 6 (8): 50. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_6_Issue_08/page/n51/mode/2up. Retrieved October 30, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Toose, Dan (October 1998). "International Superstar Soccer '98". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (60): 56–57. 
  11. ↑ Schneider, Peer (November 4, 1998). "International Superstar Soccer '98 Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/05/international-superstar-soccer-98. 
  12. ↑ Kitts, Martin (October 1998). "International Superstar Soccer '98". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (20): 54–59. 
  13. ↑ Weaver, Tim (August 1998). "Jikkyou World Soccer: World Cup France '98". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (18): 72–75. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "International Superstar Soccer 98". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (44): 87. August 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_44/page/n87/mode/2up. Retrieved October 30, 2020. 
  15. ↑ "International Superstar Soccer '98". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 111: 97. August 1998. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-353-97.jpg. Retrieved September 13, 2023. 
  16. ↑ Riley, Adam (March 21, 2006). "International Superstar Soccer 98 (Nintendo 64) Review". http://www.cubed3.com/review/330/1/international-superstar-soccer-98-nintendo-64.html. 
  17. ↑ Air Hendrix (October 1998). "International Superstar Soccer '98". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (121): 192. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_111_October_1998/page/n191/mode/2up. Retrieved October 30, 2020. 
  18. ↑ Next Generation staff (February 1999). "The Fifty Best Games of All Time (#50)". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (50): 73. https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration50Feb1999/page/n73/mode/2up. Retrieved October 30, 2020. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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