The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

LEAGUE CHALLENGE

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Strategy; Manage Football Team; Text Only

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1988: LEAGUE CHALLENGE, Atlantis, £3.99

                    1990: LEAGUE CHALLENGE, Atlantis, £2.99

Compilation Release(s) : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron/BBC Dual Version

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : ATLANTIS, 28 Station Road, LONDON SE25 5AG

Disc compatibility     : CDFS E00, DFS E00

Instructions

"Manage your favourite football team YOUR way. No more matches lost because the manager chose the wrong team or played a wrong combination. Now is YOUR chance to go for Division One. Maybe even win the league and cup double. Who knows, you may even find the manager's job is more difficult than you thought."

SELECT YOUR TEAM from one of the 64 teams listed. (You can if you wish change your team name.) Whichever team you select, you will begin the game at the bottom of Division 4.

There are 15 LEAGUE MATCHES to be played in each division together with 'knock out' CUP MATCHES.

TRAIN YOUR TEAM to combat the strengths of your opponents. Select your defenders (D), mid-field (M) and attackers (A) on the basis of their skill (S) and fitness (F). In your team, a player is either playing (P), injured (I) or available to play (-). Remember that players need to be rested occasionally to improve their fitness. Skill can not be increased. If a player is not good enough for your team, he can be

sold on the TRANSFER MARKET. You can have up to FIFTEEN PLAYERS in your squad at any time.

At the end of each match, you will be shown the results of other matches played that day, together with a league table showing your position, goals for and against, points earned and matches played.

Your FINANCIAL POSITION will show your total income and expenditure for the week together with a running total of your capital. You are allowed to go into debt to a maximum of £250,000. Over this, you are bankrupt and must start the game again at the bottom of division 4.

At the end of each season, the top three teams are promoted to the next division and the bottom three are relegated. You keep the same team for the start of the following season, but the player's skill and fitness levels will be changed.

Can you win the double? Can you take your team to the top of Division One? Will you be voted "Manager of the Year"? Or will the crowd jeer as your team is relegated yet again?

Good luck! You will need it.

Instructions' Source       : LEAGUE CHALLENGE (Atlantis) Back and Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Not Championship Material"

Have you got what it takes to mould a bottom of division four football team into a first division world beater? If you want to find you you'd best practice on LEAGUE CHALLENGE from Atlantis for starters.

First you must decide which of the 64 teams to manage. This decision is not too difficult once you realise that the squad you begin with is always the same, regardless of the team's name. The only variables are the individual players' skill and fitness factors. These are generated randomly each time the program is run.

Having selected your team the mid-week options are displayed. Option one lists players, their skill and fitness, whether they are selected for the team and their position, either defence, mid-field or attack. Option two allows you to sell your players - I sold every one and still managed to put two goals past Reading! Other mid-week options allow you to rename your team and save the game to tape.

It is now time to get down to some training, and the harder the schedule you select the more it costs. Training will only improve a player's fitness, it will never alter his skill level.

You first play either a league or cup match. Both your own and your opponents' skill and fitness levels are indicated. This provides an indication of your chance of success. If things are looking bad you can always select the change team option and make a few last minute replacements in the weaker areas.

Once you are satisfied with your selection you can play the match. This involves sitting back and watching what could loosely be described as goal mouth action. A few little cartoon characters flicker round the screen and the ball appears in the back of the net - hardly nail biting stuff!

The results of all other matches in the division are then displayed followed by the updated league table. The only opportunity available to improve your ailing team is when the transfer market information appears on the screen. You are offered a single player after each match. If he's no good then that's tough and you'll just have to struggle through another match.

LEAGUE CHALLENGE is being sold as a budget game but I would still think twice about paying £2.99 for it.

Sound ........................... 0

Graphics ........................ 3

Playability ..................... 6

Value for money ................. 4

Overall ......................... 4

Steve Brook, ELECTRON USER 4. 2