"Jumpers for goalposts"

XnPlay have posted a review of the game, and despite not being a football game fan they've enjoyed the game... "A few minutes into the game pass and I’m having fun. Me? Fun? With a football game? What is this world coming to? I’ve long stopped worrying about what button does what and settled into a nice groove of passing back and forth, sliding tackling a random passer by purely because I’m a child at heart and still find kicking people over funny"

Fitba - the only footy game that allows you to please your inner child by slide tackling the oppositions star striker as they're lining up to kick off :)

Fitba made the News Of The World!

The News of the World picked up on Fitba for its Scottish edition in its "What we like on the web this week". I'm dead chuffed to make it into national press coverage, quite a coup for a game that's only out on Community Games. Here's a scan of the article:

Luv and more for Fitba

GameLuv's got luv for Fitba "For 400 Microsoft Points it could be one of the Community Games that really takes off in the mainstream. Well, in the European mainstream anyways." It's true there has been more interest in the game from over here, but I've had quite a few e-mails and comments from US players, so it's not like nobody in the US is playing it. The foreign reviews are great entertainment when you run them through babelfish to try and work out whether they like the game or not. Like the translation of this Spanish blog "Fitba... irremediably remembers classic the Sensible Soccer, something that always is a good signal." I think he likes it :)

Another Spanish blog, but this time written in English really likes the game. "Possibly, the best game of Community Games... Indeed, very good game."

Youtube Trailer

Some people have reported problems with Soapbox and Chrome, so here's the exact same vid on youtube.

Youtube review

SatanicBakedBeanz's James has posted a video review of Fitba, and a couple of other CG games too. He likes the game, prefers it to Sensi and picks up on the Kick Off influence that is definitely there.

For me it is really interesting to see other people playing the game. Nobody seems to get the hang of taking the kick offs which is my fault entirely - for a long while in order to take the kick off you had to run into the ball to kick it and the game would then start. I then added the option so that if you press A or pull the trigger the nearest computer controlled player would then run up and knock it forward thus starting the game. However what seems to happen is the people just run around all over the shop before the kick off, so the opposition are coming in and stealing the ball before the player reacts. I guess I should have just forced the players position to be right there for the kick off. There's not really much to be gained from giving the player the freedom to run around at that point of the game, but I am always loathe to take control away from the player.

The other thing that James seems to do is use the A button for passing a lot. He only seems to be using the kick stick for aftertouch, rather than for actually performing the pass. Pressing A as an option for the pass was a pretty late addition, primarily so my kids, who can't really handle twin stick controls, could play the game, and isn't really how the game is meant to be played. Perhaps I should have introduced it with some kind of tutorial... hmmm.

Still he likes the game which is good, even if he likes Zoomaroom more...

Feedback starting to come in.

So Fitba's been out there over the weekend and it's starting to get some reviews & feedback.

The XBLCG team blog liked it... "Fitba, the soccer game for people who love the beautiful game but can't be bothered with the ego of the superstars. This is just pure fun. My next CG purchase for sure."

411 Mania did a review, but didn't seem to find the option to change the camera. They still seemed to like the game, "This game does a lot of things right - including separating passing and kicking by using both analog sticks, which creates a new level of gameplay."

Also had an email from Pete Rankin of Leith FM who loves the game and is going to be giving it a spot today about 4pm. "A great little football game that gives fifa and pes a run for their money... easily the best community game so far."

Fitba also got a load of good and encouraging comments from those who peer reviewed the game. “Fantastic game … I am not a soccer/ football fan, but this is still a blast.”, “Excellent game”, “Game rocks”, “I don't watch or play soccer, but I thought this game was a lot of fun.”

More as I get them.