Interview with the Team

MMORPG.com:

There are those who question whether a soccer (or Football) themed game can make it in the North American market with the sport isn't as popular as it is in the rest of the world. can you speak to that point?

Football Superstars:

Sure, Of course, Football Superstars is all about "the beautiful game" but it is also about online competitive play with friends. This type of game play appeals to anyone who enjoys taking on line competition to the next level and in many cases the story and even the genre of the game plays second fiddle to the competitive experience it provides. Additionally "soccer" is certainly not nearly as popular as American Football is the US but it is seen as a great sport for younger players building team play in individuals before they develop into American Football. Lastly, soccer has been embraced as one of the primary sports for women and has a significant following in the US, with the growth of female gamers we believe Football Superstars will have significant appeal to a wide audience with its unique offering in the online sports gaming space. The fact that a game is simply great fun to play with friends suggests that the genre isn't necessarily the most important factor.

MMORPG.com:

Some of our readers would like clarification on what there will be for players to do in the game beyond just engaging in soccer matches?

Football Superstars:

Initially players will be able to explore two full towns each taking about 20 minutes to walk around, complete with clothing stores, gyms, bars and clubs and will be the home to the 14 fictitious FS clubs. We also have 3 key media types scattered around the world as well as hundreds of "skill trainers" offering unique talents to take with you on the pitch such as the overhead kick or rainbow flick.

By playing competitive football players will earn "fame" which in turn can be spent with the media (TV, Radio and newspaper) by buying interview minutes, these minutes further increase a players celebrity rating allowing them to earn more money when playing for their team. The bars and nightclubs provide social areas for players to talk to others using our in game 3D voice system, share tactics and further improve their celebrity rating by purchasing drinks whilst waiting for their next big club match.

This initial offering gives the player a simple connection between lifestyle and on pitch play but we have hundreds of fun and engaging plans for features in the future such as player owned housing, status symbols such as cars and yachts and much much more.

MMORPG.com:

What kind of business model are you planning to use? Free to play (with item shop), in game Advertising, pay to play?

Football Superstars:

We looked carefully at the various MMO business models when designing Football Superstars, it was important to me that we got the game in the hands of as many players as possible and providing the game free has to be the best way of doing that ? We leverage the fact that advertising is an integral part of football, what stadium would be complete without hoarding ? actually enhancing the experience rather than detracting from it. We also have 2 key currency types in the game, FS Dollars are earned through playing competitive football, FS Bonds can be purchased through our web site allowing players to get additional in game cash they can spend on enhancing their avatar. However it was vitally important to me that players purchasing currency allowed them to enhance their character without dictating the results so we carefully balance the statistics used in the game to ensure that players that spend real money feel rewarded without removing the competition from the game and this has been well received so far ? Lastly we do have a subscription offering that affords players a number of "convenience" options as well as allowing them to create their own football club and recruit friends challenging other "Player Managed Clubs" in their own or CyberSports PMC leagues.

MMORPG.com:

What kinds of items will players be buying in the item shop? Will these items give boots to characters or will they be aesthetic?

Football Superstars:

We have both, there are 5 fictitious brands in the game as well as two real world brands, Puma and Reebok. Players can choose from thousands of aesthetic options and also buy boots with various benefits such as the Puma V1.08 that increases your speed on the pitch or the Reebok Valde that increases shot power. We have plans to add many more statistic enhancing products over time such as shin guards.

MMORPG.com:

Asheron86 from our forums asks: What happens if you're playing a match and someone has to leave or their computer crashes? How does the game go on? Is the team down a player?

Football Superstars:

There are 3 key game types within Football Superstars, "kickabouts" allow you to play non competitively and practice your skills using a traditional hop in/out lobby system, with these players leaving present no real issue as the results don't really matter. We have a "substitution system" for FS club matches and PMC matches that allows another player waiting for a match to take the place of a disconnected player who then receives the same rewards as if they had been in the match for the full duration. Our matching system allows for dynamic matches to be played 24/7 and players fill these holes quickly when they appear. PMC managers will be able to select another player from their team to fill a place should one of their team be disconnected.

MMORPG.com:

Are people able to make multiple characters (alts), or is it one character per account?

Football Superstars:

Players are able to create 4 avatars per account per world, but as the game is free to play an individual can arguably create as many accounts as they wish to by making a new account and therefore getting access to another four slots for each world.