Realsports Football
Encyclopedia
Realsports Football is a 1982 football
video game made by Atari
for the Atari 2600
, Atari 5200
and Atari 8-bit computer
platforms.
Realsports Football presents a greatly simplified version of football for play. Players in the game cannot go out of bounds or fumble the football, and there are no penalties in the game. Also, touchdown
s automatically score 7 points; there is no kicking for extra points.
, a flanker
, and three offensive linemen (a center
and two guards
); the user controls the one with the ball. The team on defense has two defensive linemen, two cornerback
s, and one linebacker
, which the user controls.
On offense, the user is given these choices for plays: pass left, pass right, run or kick. The game does not recognize a handoff (the usual method of a running play) and has no running back
, although the quarterback is allowed to scramble. After the play is selected, the user presses the joystick button to snap the ball and start play. Once the quarterback lets go of the ball on a passing play, user control immediately moves to the receiver. To pass or kick the ball, the user presses the joystick button, and to navigate the field, the user moves the joystick.
In kicking, the game does not differentiate a punt
from a field goal
kick. Also, there are no kick returns — where the ball lands on a punt is where the opponent starts play, unless it enters the end zone or counts as a field goal, in which case play starts on the 20-yard line.
On defense, there are more choices: full-out blitz
, left cornerback cover, right cornerback cover, and prevent (both cornerbacks deep). Interceptions are incorporated into the game, but play is called dead when one occurs, and possession is turned over to the interceptor.
Seven (7) points are scored for a touchdown, three (3) for a successful field goal, and two (2) for a safety. There are no kickoffs; after each score the opposing team gains possession at their own 20-yard line. Each team is limited to scoring 99 points. The game will continue after a team has scored that much, but any points scored afterward do not count on the scoreboard.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
video game made by Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
for the Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
, Atari 5200
Atari 5200
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, commonly known as the Atari 5200, is a video game console that was introduced in 1982 by Atari Inc. as a higher end complementary console for the popular Atari 2600...
and Atari 8-bit computer
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
platforms.
Realsports Football presents a greatly simplified version of football for play. Players in the game cannot go out of bounds or fumble the football, and there are no penalties in the game. Also, touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s automatically score 7 points; there is no kicking for extra points.
Gameplay
Each game is 15 minutes long and is played on a standard 100-yard football field. There are no kickoffs in the game, and each side is given five players. The team on the offensive side of the ball has a quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, a flanker
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, and three offensive linemen (a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
and two guards
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
); the user controls the one with the ball. The team on defense has two defensive linemen, two cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
s, and one linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, which the user controls.
On offense, the user is given these choices for plays: pass left, pass right, run or kick. The game does not recognize a handoff (the usual method of a running play) and has no running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, although the quarterback is allowed to scramble. After the play is selected, the user presses the joystick button to snap the ball and start play. Once the quarterback lets go of the ball on a passing play, user control immediately moves to the receiver. To pass or kick the ball, the user presses the joystick button, and to navigate the field, the user moves the joystick.
In kicking, the game does not differentiate a punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
from a field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
kick. Also, there are no kick returns — where the ball lands on a punt is where the opponent starts play, unless it enters the end zone or counts as a field goal, in which case play starts on the 20-yard line.
On defense, there are more choices: full-out blitz
Blitz (American football)
In American football or Canadian football, a blitz or red dog is when players on or behind the line of scrimmage during a play, are sent across the scrimmage line to the offensive side to try to tackle the quarterback or disrupt his pass attempt...
, left cornerback cover, right cornerback cover, and prevent (both cornerbacks deep). Interceptions are incorporated into the game, but play is called dead when one occurs, and possession is turned over to the interceptor.
Seven (7) points are scored for a touchdown, three (3) for a successful field goal, and two (2) for a safety. There are no kickoffs; after each score the opposing team gains possession at their own 20-yard line. Each team is limited to scoring 99 points. The game will continue after a team has scored that much, but any points scored afterward do not count on the scoreboard.
Gameplay notes
- The "novice" and "expert" switches affect the speed of the players on each side of the ball, as well as receivers' ability to catch a pass if the player is human.
- The linebacker is usually slightly faster than the player with the ball on offense for both the user and computer. Because of this advantage, the computer will often use the linebacker to stalk the player with the ball when the user is on offense.
- Due to the low video quality, sound effects are added to identify game events. A "ringing" sound (meant to simulate a whistle) indicates a tackle, incomplete pass, or unsuccessful kick; a high melody indicates a completion, a lower melody (in minor key, a variation of the theme from Dragnet) indicates an interception, and a "roar" indicates a score. A pass in motion is indicated by a sound that starts off high and then drops in pitch as it reaches the receiver.