World Cup Soccer

From Sega Retro

n/a

WCS Title.png

World Cup Soccer
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, ZX Spectrum
Publisher: Sega,
Amiga
Atari ST
Amstrad CPC
Commodore 64
ZX Spectrum
Elite Systems
Developer:
Genre: Sports

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU
5084
Sega Master System
CA
5084
Sega Master System
BR
023340
Amiga
UK
£24.9924.99
Atari ST
UK
Amstrad CPC
UK
(Cassette)
Commodore 64
UK
(Disk)
£14.9914.99
Commodore 64
UK
(Cassette)
£9.999.99
ZX Spectrum
UK
(Cassette)
IBM PC compatibles
UK

World Cup Soccer (ワールドカップサッカー), is a football game developed and published by Sega in 1989. It was subsequently brought to the Sega Master System by Sega and various home computers by Elite Systems in the following year.

World Cup Soccer has been marketed under many names. In Japan the Mega Drive version has always been known as 'World Cup Soccer and in United States, World Championship Soccer (although some earlier cartridges erroneously use the simplified development name, Soccer on the title screen). In Europe, however, the game was originally sold as a joint venture between Sega, Spanish firm Olivetti and Virgin Mastertronic, becoming World Cup Italia '90, holding the Italian 1990 FIFA World Cup license for a short period. Later variants in Europe are simply titled Sega Soccer.

Gameplay

World Cup Soccer is a top-down football game which adheres to most of the sport's rules. There are no free kicks.

Teams

There are 23 national teams in most versions of World Cup Soccer, with the exception of the Master System version which ups the count to 30. The home computer variants exchange Japan for the Republic of Ireland.

Mega Drive

  • Algeria
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Denmark
  • England
  • France
  • Holland
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Morocco
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Scotland
  • Rep Korea
  • Spain
  • Uruguay
  • USA
  • USSR
  • W. Germany
  • Yugoslavia

Master System

  • Argentina
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Cameroon
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • China
  • Denmark
  • Egypt
  • England
  • France
  • Holland
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Mexico
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Scotland
  • Rep Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • UAE
  • Uruguay
  • USA
  • USSR
  • W. Germany
  • Yugoslavia

No later releases addressed the issue of West Germany, the USSR and Yugoslavia, which had all ceased to exist by the beginning of 1993.

Despite its official Italia '90 license, neither of the games were adjusted to reflect the participants of the event. The Master System version has all 24 qualifying teams plus an extra six more, but the Mega Drive port makes no effort, continuing to include Algeria, China, Denmark, France, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, Poland and Peru despite neither of these countries qualifying. Mexico, included in both, did not even enter the world cup.

History

Legacy

The game was followed by World Championship Soccer II in 1994.

Production credits

Commodore 64 version

  • Programming and Music: Mike Lympany
  • Grafix: P Robinson and S Beal
  • Technical Assistant: D Wainwright
  • Managed: S Hosseini
  • Animated Pixels Production

Magazine articles

Main article: World Cup Soccer/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in GamePro (US) #11: "June 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Master System print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #111: "February 1991" (1991-01-16)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Home computers print advert in ACE (UK) #38: "November 1990" (1990-10-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
[[File:No resultsLogo-pdf.svg|120x120px|link=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:CVG_UK_109.pdf&page=168]]
Home computers print advert in Power Play (DE)
[[File:No resultsLogo-pdf.svg]]

Physical scans

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,
WorldChampionshipSoccer MT cover.jpg
Cover
WorldChampionshipSoccer MegaTech Cart Back.jpgWorldChampionshipSoccer MegaTech Cart.jpg
Cart

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 №29, p81/82[8]
83 №1, p39
64 №4, p39[9]
83 №95, p120[10]
83 №5, p21[11]
85 №10, p122[12]
55 №4, p79
40 №9, p23
35 №11, p21
64 №1, p81[13]
64 №20, p115[14]
82 №5, p44/45[15]
45 №16, p49
40 №23, p55
87 №6, p31[16]
80 №18, p68
62 №8, p26[17]
Sega Mega Drive
67
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[18]
ACE (UK) NTSC-J
91
[8]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[19]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
83
[20]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
64
[9]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
80
[21]
Console XS (UK) PAL
83
[22]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
83
[10]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
51
[23]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
83
[11]
Joystick (FR)
85
[12]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
55
[24]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
55
[25]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
69
[26]
Mega (UK) PAL
20
[27]
Mega (UK) PAL
40
[28]
Mega (UK) PAL
35
[29]
MegaTech (UK)
64
[13]
Mean Machines (UK)
64
[14]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
64
[30]
Power Play (DE)
76
[31]
Raze (UK) PAL
82
[15]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
45
[32]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[33]
Sega Pro (UK)
87
[16]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
80
[34]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
62
[17]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[35]
Tilt (FR)
75
[36]
Top Secret (PL) Mega Games I
75
[37]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
74
[38]
Sega Mega Drive
65
Based on
31 reviews

World Cup Soccer

Mega Drive, US
WCS MD US Box.jpg
Cover
WCS MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
World Championship Soccer MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic)
WCS MD US Box SegaClassic.jpg
Cover
WCS MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU (Italia '90)
WCS MD Italia90 EU Box.jpg
Cover
WCS MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
WCS MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
WorldCupSoccer MD JP CartTop.jpg
WorldCupSoccer MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU
WCS MD Italia90 AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
SuperFutebol MD BR cover.jpg
Cover
SuperFutebol MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
48 №4, p110[39]
44 №112, p78[40]
72 №5, p26[41]
80 №12, p126[42]
51 №3, p34/35[43]
48 №20, p114[44]
70 №2/34
50 №5, p51[45]
84 №5, p44/45[15]
44 №15, p10/11
40 №23, p60
72 №6, p31[16]
Sega Master System
59
Based on
12 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Sega Master System
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

World Cup Soccer

Master System, EU
WCS SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU (8 languages)
WorldCupItalia90 SMS EU 8lang cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU

WorldCupItalia90 SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
SuperFutebolII SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
SuperFutebolII SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR (newer)
SuperFutebolII SMS BR altcover.jpg
Cover
SuperFutebolII SMS BR AltCart.jpg
Cart
SuperFutebolII SMS BR Manual Alt.pdf
Manual
Master System, CA
WorldCupItalia90 SMS CA cover.jpg
Cover

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
44 №63
Amiga
44
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CU Amiga (UK)
41
[46]
Amiga
41
Based on
1 review

World Cup Soccer

Amiga, UK
WCS Amiga EU Box Front.jpg
Cover

Amstrad CPC version

Amstrad CPC, UK

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
72 №14, p176[47]
Atari ST
72
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Joystick (FR) PAL
72
[47]
Atari ST
72
Based on
1 review

World Cup Soccer

Atari ST, UK

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
42 №63
Commodore 64
42
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Zzap!64 (UK)
42
[48]
Zzap! (IT)
57
[49]
Commodore 64
50
Based on
2 reviews

World Cup Soccer

Commodore 64, UK (cassette)

Commodore 64, UK (disk)

DOS version

DOS, US
WCS DOS UK Box Back.jpgNospine.pngWCS DOS UK Box Front.jpg
Cover
WCS DOS UK Disk2.jpg
Disk 2

ZX Spectrum version

ZX Spectrum, UK
WCS Spectrum EU Box.jpg
Cover

References

  1. File:ACE UK 40.pdf, page 165
  2. File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 45
  3. File:CVG UK 111.pdf, page 80
  4. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 9
  5. Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 11
  6. ACE, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 15
  7. Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 11
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:ACE UK 29.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 29.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 39 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p39" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:CVG UK 095.pdf, page 120 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 095.pdf_p120" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 005.pdf, page 21 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 005.pdf_p21" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:Joystick FR 010.pdf, page 122 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 010.pdf_p122" defined multiple times with different content
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:MeanMachines UK 20.pdf, page 115 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 20.pdf_p115" defined multiple times with different content
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 44 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 05.pdf_p44" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 05.pdf_p44" defined multiple times with different content
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 31 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p31" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p31" defined multiple times with different content
  17. 17.0 17.1 File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  18. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 341
  19. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 72
  20. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 39
  21. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 51
  22. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 136
  23. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 115
  24. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79
  25. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  26. Mega Drive Fan, "January 1990" (JP; 1989-12-08), page 73
  27. Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 60
  28. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  29. Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 21
  30. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
  31. Power Play, "12/89" (DE; 1989-11-13), page 74
  32. Sega Power, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 49
  33. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
  34. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  35. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  36. Tilt, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 87
  37. Top Secret, "Kwiecień 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 57
  38. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 226
  39. File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 110
  40. File:CVG UK 112.pdf, page 78
  41. File:HobbyConsolas ES 005.pdf, page 26
  42. File:Joystick FR 012.pdf, page 126
  43. File:MeanMachines UK 03.pdf, page 34
  44. File:MeanMachines UK 20.pdf, page 114
  45. File:PlayerOne FR 005.pdf, page 51
  46. CU Amiga, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-xx), page 72
  47. 47.0 47.1 File:Joystick FR 014.pdf, page 176 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 014.pdf_p176" defined multiple times with different content
  48. Zzap!64, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-13), page 69
  49. Zzap!, "Luglio 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 18