View source for Software:SoccerProject

{{short description|2004 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title        = SoccerProject
| image        = SoccerProject Logo.png
| released     = 5 April 2004 (Beta)
| genre        = [[Massively multiplayer online game|MMOG]]
| modes        = Multi player
| platforms    = Any [[Computer|computer]] connected to the [[Internet|internet]]
}}

'''''SoccerProject''''' (alternatively known as '''SP''') is a browser-based [[Software:Online game|online]], football management [[Engineering:Video game|game]] ([[Massively multiplayer online game|MMOG]]) developed in Belgium and first released in 2004.

Comprising teams from 238 different [[Earth:Nation|nation]]s and available in 27 [[Social:Language|language]]s, the game is played by around 12,000 users.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldonlinegames.com/SoccerProject|title=SoccerProject|accessdate=23 April 2008|author=WorldOnlineGames|work=WorldOlineGames}}</ref>

The game itself is free of charge, but users may purchase a SoccerProject Football Association membership to gain access to extra features.

== Game overview ==
[[File:SoccerProject Screenshot.jpg|thumb|left|SoccerProject screenshot]]
As with any normal management game, users gain control over their team, both economically and tactically. Once a user registers for the game, s/he takes over a previously-vacated team (controlled by the AI), which then gets reset (a new set of players is generated, bearing the nationality the user chose to represent, budget and stadium size are reset to the basic default) and gets to name it, alongside the stadium. As the game progresses, and in order to achieve their goals, managers must learn to choose the ideal line-ups for matches, embark on the transfer market buying and selling players, improve their stadium and facilities, always keeping an eye on the finances and staff.<ref>{{cite news |author=''Passe-Partout'' |title=Virtuele voetbalhelden op echte grasmat |work=Passe-Partout |year=2006 |language=Dutch }}</ref>

== Game structure ==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 1em 0 0;" |
| style="background-color:#e5e5e5; text-align:center" colspan="7" | '''<big>Historical Division A and SP Cup Winners</big>'''<ref>Flags refer to the nations to which users have registered their teams. These may or may not correspond to the actual nationality/place of residence of such users.</ref>
|-
! Season !! Division A Winner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccerproject.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/20-seasons-division-a|title=20 seasons Division A|accessdate=23 April 2008|last=Huypens|first=Steven|date=6 December 2007|work=SoccerProject Behind the scenes}}</ref> !! Sp Cup Winner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccerproject.wordpress.com/2007/10/11/soccerproject-cup-s19|title=SoccerProject Cup S19|accessdate=23 April 2008|last=Huypens|first=Steven|date=11 October 2007|work=SoccerProject Behind the scenes}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 1 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Ketoak || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} sparta kolmont
|-
|align=center| 2 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Heidebloem || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} La Gantoise
|-
|align=center| 3 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Racing Brugge || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} RacingFC
|-
|align=center| 4 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} ReesingGenk || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} fc Italia
|-
|align=center| 5 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} fb2004 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} maluyaca
|-
|align=center| 6 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} fb2004 || {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} FC CRISIS
|-
|align=center| 7 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} maluyaca || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} maluyaca
|-
|align=center| 8 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} fb2004 || {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} Beringen United
|-
|align=center| 9 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} The Naked Chef || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Mado
|-
|align=center| 10 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Teefjes Vrolijke 11 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} FC Bruggenhof
|-
|align=center| 11 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Mado || {{flagicon|Belgium}} team#SoaD
|-
|align=center| 12 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Teefjes Vrolijke 11 || {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Westel
|-
|align=center| 13 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} FC Bruggenhof || {{flagicon|Belgium}} Westel
|-
|align=center| 14 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Nop's Heroes || {{flagicon|Portugal}} SLB Carcavelos
|-
|align=center| 15 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} kfc de pomp || {{flagicon|Belgium}} Verbroedering Robbeke
|-
|align=center| 16 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} AS Vlalex || {{flagicon|Portugal}} Nespereira
|-
|align=center| 17 || {{flagicon|Israel}} Maccbi Natanya || {{flagicon|Israel}} Maccbi Natanya
|-
|align=center| 18 || {{flagicon|Israel}} Maccbi Natanya || {{flagicon|Belgium}} Verbroedering Robbeke
|-
|align=center| 19 || {{flagicon|Israel}} The Skunks || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Nop's Heroes
|-
|align=center| 20 || {{flagicon|Israel}} The Skunks || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Nop's Heroes
|-
|align=center| 21 || {{flagicon|Israel}} The Skunks || {{flagicon|Belgium}} S.A.T
|-
|align=center| 22 || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} Frrfrrr || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} AS Bosman
|-
|align=center| 23 || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} Frrfrrr || {{flagicon|Belgium}} S.A.T
|-
|align=center| 24 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano || {{flagicon|Romania}} cartus
|-
|align=center| 25 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} S.A.T || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano
|-
|align=center| 26 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} S.A.T || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} .The Simpsons.
|-
|align=center| 27 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} S.A.T || {{flagicon|Belgium}} De Zoeloe's
|-
|align=center| 28 || {{flagicon|Romania}} Juvenardus FC || {{flagicon|Romania}} Bunicii
|-
|align=center| 29 || {{flagicon|Romania}} Bunicii || {{flagicon|Burundi}} Lion Team
|-
|align=center| 30 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} De Zoeloe's || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} FC Widlaks
|-
|align=center| 31 || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} FC Widlaks || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} TJ Spartak Medzilaborce
|-
|align=center| 32 || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} FC Widlaks || {{flagicon|Romania}} u utd
|-
|align=center| 33 || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} FC Widlaks || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Sokol Čejč
|-
|align=center| 34 || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} FC Widlaks || {{flagicon|Belgium}} fc bruges
|-
|align=center| 35 || {{flagicon|Slovakia}} FC Widlaks || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Fresh
|-
|align=center| 36 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Strakapůd || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano
|-
|align=center| 37 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC JEREMY || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano
|-
|align=center| 38 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC JEREMY || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano
|-
|align=center| 39 || {{flagicon|Romania}} fc mac || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano
|-
|align=center| 40 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano || {{flagicon|Romania}} Bombalaii Zalau
|-
|align=center| 41 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano
|-
|align=center| 42 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano || {{flagicon|Romania}} AB Craiova
|-
|align=center| 43 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Inter Milano || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy
|-
|align=center| 44 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy || {{flagicon|Romania}} Fc Adjud
|-
|align=center| 45 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy || {{flagicon|Belgium}} FC Raffin
|-
|align=center| 46 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} FC Raffin || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Viastore
|-
|align=center| 47 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} FC Raffin || {{flagicon|Belgium}} FC Raffin
|-
|align=center| 48 || {{flagicon|Belgium}} FC Raffin || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen
|-
|align=center| 49 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen || {{flagicon|Romania}} FC Foresta
|-
|align=center| 50 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen || {{flagicon|Romania}} me_dinamo
|-
|align=center| 51 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Mccgrady City Football team || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen
|-
|align=center| 52 || {{flagicon|Romania}} Damned United || {{flagicon|Romania}} Damned United
|-
|align=center| 53 || {{flagicon|Romania}} Damned United || {{flagicon|Romania}} Damned United
|-
|align=center| 54 || {{flagicon|Romania}} Damned United || {{flagicon|Poland}} Armia
|-
|align=center| 55 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor
|-
|align=center| 56 || {{flagicon|Romania}} Damned United || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy
|-
|align=center| 57 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor || {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Chelsea champion
|-
|align=center| 58 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor
|-
|align=center| 59 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy
|-
|align=center| 60 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor
|-
|align=center| 61 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Chelsea champion<ref>Team Chelsea champion has changed his flag (nationality) from Ukrainian to Bulgarian</ref>
|-
|align=center| 62 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen
|-
|align=center| 63 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen
|-
|align=center| 64 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Viastore || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor
|-
|align=center| 65 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Viastore || {{flagicon|Australia}} S.A.T<ref>Team S.A.T has changed his flag (nationality) from Belgian to Australian</ref>
|-
|align=center| 66 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Viastore || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Totemo Baka
|-
|align=center| 67 || {{flagicon|Slovak Republic}} The Last Mohycan || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid
|-
|align=center| 68 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Slovak Republic}} The Last Mohycan
|-
|align=center| 69 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Chelsea champion
|-
|align=center| 70 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FK Raduzza
|-
|align=center| 71 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Romania}} me_dinamo
|-
|align=center| 72 || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Chelsea champion || {{flagicon|Romania}} FC_TRANSILVANIA
|-
|align=center| 73 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Romania}} me_dinamo
|-
|align=center| 74 || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Chelsea champion || {{flagicon|Romania}} FC Iasi
|-
|align=center| 75 || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Chelsea champion || {{flagicon|Poland}} FC Miechowice
|-
|align=center| 76 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} U.C.SAMPDORIA
|-
|align=center| 77 || {{flagicon|Romania}} FC_TRANSILVANIA || {{flagicon|Romania}} ars3nal
|-
|align=center| 78 || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} U.C.SAMPDORIA || {{flagicon|Poland}} ..DEPORTIVO..
|-
|align=center| 79 || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} U.C.SAMPDORIA ||  {{flagicon|Poland}} ..DEPORTIVO..
|-
|align=center| 80 || {{flagicon|Poland}} ..DEPORTIVO.. ||  {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Chelsea champion
|- 
|align=center| 81 || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} U.C.SAMPDORIA || {{flagicon|Belgium}} vc el bourgemestro
|-
|align=center| 82 || {{flagicon|Poland}} ..DEPORTIVO.. ||  {{flagicon|Poland}} Inter Bytom
|-
|align=center| 83 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor ||  {{flagicon|Poland}} ..DEPORTIVO.. 
|-
|align=center| 84 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor ||  {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor
|-
|align=center| 85 || {{flagicon|Sweden}} Noldor ||  {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid
|-
|align=center| 86 || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} ruda masina || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} berusky
|-
|align=center| 87 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen
|-
|align=center| 88 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Meangreen || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} FC Letenská šlechta
|-
|align=center| 89 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy
|-
|align=center| 90 || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} FC Remedy
|-
|align=center| 91 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Belgium}} Team Eendracht Aalst
|-
|align=center| 92 || {{flagicon|Poland}} Hala Madrid || {{flagicon|Poland}} Inter Twardogora
|-
|align=center| 93 || ??? ||  ???
|}


=== Divisional organization ===
Unlike other games of its genre, in SoccerProject teams are not assigned to leagues only with teams from their own nation. Rather, to accommodate nations with a small number of managers, and to avoid having the problem of having to refuse managers from one determinate nation due to lack of space, the leagues in SoccerProject are global. That is, teams from all nations compete directly with one another.
As such, the game is based on one sole league pyramid, compressing divisions labelled by letters, from A to H, with A being the highest. With every step in the ladder, the number of leagues triples - i.e. there is one league in Division A, three in Division B, nine in Division C, and so forth. The winner of Division A is considered the 'winner' of that SoccerProject season.
Leagues in SoccerProject are contested by 16 teams. After league play is concluded, the top two teams are promoted to the higher division and the six bottom teams are relegated to the lower division (except, of course, the ones in, respectively, Divisions A and H).

Even with this organization model, some large enough communities will hold their own 'national championships'. A significant number of users will arrange friendly matches between their teams and the results, after being tallied, will return the unofficial 'national champion'.

=== The season ===
SoccerProject presents itself as a heavy-paced game, when compared to others. A full season (or, within the game, a year) lasts only nine weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.v-bal.nl/nieuws/29225/v-bal-special-soccerproject.html|title=V-Bal Special: Soccerproject|last=Gones|first=Les|date=3 October 2007|accessdate=23 April 2008|language=Dutch}}</ref> All leagues within the game consist of sixteen teams, all playing each other twice during the course of the season, rendering a total of 30 league games per season for every team. League games are played on every weekday, except Wednesdays, which means a league season is finished after eight weeks. Additionally, a SoccerProject Cup is played. In it, all human-controlled teams take part, and works as a single-elimination tournament. Cup rounds take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, until the final week of every season, where the last five rounds take place.

As the game was originally started by Belgian users, it is not unnatural that, at the beginning, most of the top teams have come from there. In fact, Belgian teams dominated the Division A and the SP Cup during its early years. However, with the surge of new managers from a wider array of nations, this has become less and less so.

League and cup games are played at 04:00 ([[Central European Time|CET]] and server time). It is not possible for users to log in while the games are being played. During the course of the day, there are four other time slots, during which teams may, if they choose so, play friendly matches or tournaments.

Alongside these competitions, the community organizes other, unofficial, tournaments. The two best-known and most sought-after are the SoccerProject Champions League (SPCL) and the SoccerProject UEFA Cup (SPUC) (despite the name, teams from nations not affiliated with UEFA are also permitted to take part). The national coordinators of every interested nation nominate a number of teams (which varies depending on past results) to represent their nation in the competition. Teams in Divisions A, B and C take part in the SPCL; teams from other divisions take part in the SPUC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.fulladsl.be/~spb4985/spfifa/CL/Rules%20CL.html|title=Sp Champions League - Rules|accessdate=23 April 2008|last=Van Der Maele|first=Stijn|work=SoccerProject FIFA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.fulladsl.be/spb4985/spfifa/Uefa/Rules%20Uefa.html|title=Sp Uefa - Rules|accessdate=23 April 2008|last=Van Der Maele|first=Stijn|work=SoccerProject FIFA}}</ref> These competitions are sponsored by the Lithuanian SoccerProject community, which pays for a [[Software:SoccerProject#SoccerProject Football Association|SPFA]] subscription for the winning managers.

=== Roles within the game ===
It is possible to encounter several roles within the game, on various levels. Users in these positions are, like other users, in control of their own team.

* '''Sheriffs''' – these deal with cheating accusations, and will decide on which punishments to give to users who violate the game rules.
* '''Beta Testers'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccerproject.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/beta-tester-job-description|title=Beta-tester: Job Description|accessdate=13 June 2008|last=Huypens|first=Steven|date=15 October 2007|work=SoccerProject Behind the scenes}}</ref> – these assist the programmers, providing feedback on possible new features before they are implemented in the proper game
* '''Translators''' – vowing to attract people from a greater number of nations, users may voluntary as translators, translating the game into their own language. Currently it is available in 24 different languages, with almost as many others in phase of translating.
* '''Moderators''' – who are in control of their national forums, and make sure all communications within them adhere to the forum rules.
* '''National Coordinators'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.fulladsl.be/spb4985/spfifa/Uefa/Contact%20Uefa.html|title=Soccerproject Uefa|accessdate=24 August 2008|last=Van Der Maele|first=Stijn|work=SoccerProject FIFA}}</ref> – are in charge of selecting which teams from their nations enter the SoccerProject Champions League and the SoccerProject UEFA Cup

== SoccerProject Football Association ==
In order to counter [[Server (computing)|server]] costs and other expenses, SoccerProject allows its users to support the game financially, and become virtual members of the SoccerProject Football Association. Such will not improve the quality of the team or make it perform better, but it will make the gaming experience more enjoyable. Those features include getting rid of [[Finance:Online advertising|publicitary ads]], assigning nicknames and choosing squad numbers for players, issuing press announcements, getting a trophy cabinet, and more.

== The community ==
Being first released in Belgium, the game's initial user base came from there. For a long time, this had been the largest nation in terms of registered managers, until being surpassed by the [[Place:Czech Republic|Czech Republic]], which now boasts 11000+ users.<ref>{{cite news|first=Frederik|last=Velghe|title=Online voetballers komen samen in Gent|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=971FE8FI|work=Nieuwsblad|date=30 July 2007|accessdate=23 April 2008|language=Dutch}}</ref> Other nations with a considerable number of users within the game, and with a heavy presence within the SP community, include Romania, Slovakia, {{wipe|Poland}}, Lithuania<ref>{{cite journal|last=Giedrius|first=Aivaronis|date=September 2007|title=Kur Ieškoti Internete|journal=Computer Bild Lietuva|pages=36|language=Lithuanian}}</ref> and The Netherlands. Occasionally (often once every year) users from those nations will organize national meetings and reunite.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sarah|last=Van Der Elsken|title=Voetbalspel verovert Oost-Europa|work=Gazet van Antwerpen|date=13 August 2007|language=Dutch}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://revver.com/video/418593/soccerproject-intro/ Introductory video]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soccerproject}}
[[Category:Browser-based multiplayer online games]]

{{Sourceattribution|SoccerProject|1}}