Tale of Two Halves: The History of Football Video Games
Language: English
Published by Bitmap Books Ltd, 2025
- Hardcover
- New

Seller: Magers and Quinn Booksellers, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.Magers and Quinn Booksellers
AbeBooks seller since February 22, 2001
Condition: New
£ 42.14
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Brand New.
Seller Inventory # 1515976
- Title
- Tale of Two Halves: The History of Football Video Games
- Author
- Bitmap Books
- Publisher
- Bitmap Books Ltd
- Publication year
- 2025
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1738401529
- ISBN 13
- 9781738401529
Painstakingly researched and written by football-obsessed writer and experienced game journalist, historian, and documentarian Richard Moss – author of Bitmap's own The Secret History of Mac Gaming – A Tale of Two Halves: The History Of Football Video Games stays keenly on the ball as it shares the rich and influential history of video game football – or 'soccer', for our American readers – striving to understand the very best the genre has to offer; and those releases that go a little wide of their target.
A Tale of Two Halves takes you on a fascinating journey from the very first examples of the form all the way through to the genre's 2000s' heyday. It hits the back of the net with expert analysis of over 400 football games, including Sensible Soccer, Kick Off, Match Day, FIFA, Pro Evolution Soccer, This Is Football, Championship Manager, Premier Manager, and both old-school and new-school Football Manager. Gathered together in a single volume, that remarkable spread of releases presents a surprising variety of interpretations of the beautiful game, showcasing one of the medium's most creative, beguiling realms.
A Tale of Two Halves primarily focuses on footy gaming's formative years – meaning from around 1980 to 2010 – and carefully divides the genre into two distinct halves, taking a considered look at each. As such, the first half is dominated by the fast and simple 2D action of icons like Kick Off, International Soccer, and Nintendo’s Soccer. Then, following the half-time whistle, it turns its attention to the increasingly realistic 3D outings defined by icons like FIFA, Pro Evo, and Virtua Striker.
Across its 628 pages, A Tale of Two Halves also features a foreword by legendary commentator Clive Tyldesley, hundreds of meticulously realised screenshots, and 13 interviews with pioneering football game developers. Inside you'll also find a series of illustrations from James Reynolds' 'Unlicensed FC' project – which celebrates Pro Evo's unusual takes on players' real names – as well as perfectly pitched pixel art from the team at 8-Bit Football. Numerous gaming platforms are covered, from the Atari 2600 and C64 to the Collecovison, via the Amiga line, PlayStation 1, Xbox 360, Arcades, and many more.
Still not enough for your footballing appetite? Fear not. There's also a captivating spread of themed deep-dive features, nostalgic Easter eggs to uncover, and numerous quick-read mini-essays. And it's all contained within an eye-catching gold foil blocked cover, and features boot laces that function as bookmark ribbons.
About the publisher:
Bitmap Books work with the world's most experienced writers, designers and gaming experts to create meticulously researched, visually ambitious retro gaming books. As a design-led publisher, visual quality matters to us. We don't just obsessively pursue the best printing quality currently available. We want to constantly push the envelope when it comes to expectations about printing techniques.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Magers and Quinn Booksellers
Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since February 22, 2001
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 2.98 | £ 9.72 |
Payment methods
Store description
Established in 1994, we are a large new and used general interest bookstore located in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Visit our online bookstore, www.magersandquinn.com, where we have over 500,000 new, used, and rare titles.
Specialty
New, Used, Rare, Antiquarian, Maps, Prints, Book-Related GiftsSeller's business information
Magers and Quinn Booksellers
3038 Hennepin Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN U.S.A. 55408
Terms of sale
Purchase will be shipped upon receipt of payment including any additional shipping costs. MN residents add appropriate sales tax. We guarantee the condition of every book as it¿s described on the Abebooks web sites. If you¿re dissatisfied (Incorrect Item/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn¿t arrived by the latest estimated delivery date, you¿re eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. Please contact us for any other return inquiries, and we¿ll respond within 2 business days.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Magers and Quinn Booksellers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 lbs or less, or 1 kg. Heavy or oversized books may require additional shipping charges.
Domestic shipping: Under 2.2 lbs
Media Mail $4.00
Priority Mail $7.00
International shipping: Rates depend on weight and destination of package.