Kick Off

Kick Off is a football computer game released in 1989 by Anco for Amiga and Atari ST. It is considered a pioneer game because, contrary to all its predecessors, the ball didn't stick to the player's feet but was realistically kicked ahead from the players. This added an important degree of difficulty and skill requirement at the same time. This, along with other original features (like aftertouch, action replays, players with different characteristics, tactics, different pitch types, etc) made Kick Off and especially its successor, Kick Off 2, one of the most successful football game series ever. Kick Off enthusiasts argue that no other game gives you so much amount of control over the action.

Even though versions for other computers followed, the Atari ST and especially the Amiga versions were by far the best. Kick Off was first developed for the Atari ST and then ported to the Amiga.

Kick Off was developed by Dino Dini (programming, design) and Steve Screech (graphics, design, testing).

Games in the series

• Kick Off (1989)
• Kick Off : Extra Time (1989)
• Franco Baresi World Cup Kick Off (1990)
• Player Manager (1990)
• Kick Off 2 World Cup 90 (1990)
• Kick Off 2 (1990)
• Kick Off 2 1MB (1990)
• Kick Off 2: Giants of Europe (DATA DISK) (1990)
• Kick Off 2: The Final Whistle (DATA DISK) (1991)
• Kick Off 2: Return To Europe (DATA DISK) (1991)
• Kick Off 2: Winning Tactics (DATA DISK) (1991)
• Kick Off '96.

Trivia

Amiga Power gave Kick Off '96 their lowest score ever: 1%. The reviewer, Stuart Campbell, had a long and rocky relationship with the series.

External Links

• KOA Kick Off Gathering – KOA (Kick Off Association) Official International Kick Off Fan Site (organising Kick Off World Cup tournaments since 2001)
• WIKICKOFF – The Free Kick Off Encyclopedia
• Abundant Software – Game Developer Dino Dini's current development company
• Kick Off World – Fan Site located in Italy (organising local tournaments)
• Kick Off 2 Weltmeisterschaft  – Fan Site located in Germany (organising local tournaments)
• Kick Off 2 CUP – Home of Kick Off 2 players in and around Osnabrück / Germany
• Alkis  – Greek Fan Site owned by the 2001 Kick Off 2 World Champion
• koa:.:net on line league  – Kick Off 2 online league
• Kick Off 2 online  – French Kick Off 2 online
• Kick Off – Kick Off page on Moby Games
• Kick Off – Kick Off page on Hall of Light