Elite Systems - News Archive

ZX Spectrum Games ‘Match Day / International MatchDay / Match Day 2’

Announced For iOS Devices

Date: June 2012

Following the recent, successful launch of its �Speccy� apps on the iTunes App Store, Elite Systems, the long established UK based developer and electronic publisher of games for portable, mobile and other devices has confirmed that Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond�s seminal ZX Spectrum games, MATCH DAY / INTERNATIONAL MATCH DAY/ MATCH DAY 2 are to be released for iOS devices during the weekend of 8thth June, 2012. $\"Match$ Match Day, International Match Day and Match Day II for the ZX Spectrum (an 8-bit personal / home computers released in the UK in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd, which sold in excess of 5 million units worldwide) are THREE of THE defining games of the 1980s. The Match Day Collection: ZX Spectrum / HD apps will be offered as an in-app purchase from within the ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection / ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection HD apps. (The in-apps will be priced at �1.49/�1.59/US$1.99 and they may include one or more other 8-bit games). The Match Day Collection: ZX Spectrum / HD apps will also available in stand-alone form. They will not include any other ZX Spectrum games. The Match Day Collection: ZX Spectrum / HD app includes ALL THREE near-100% original ZX Spectrum games, as designed by Jon Ritman and published by Ocean Software between 1984 and 1987 and is brought to you - as an officially licenced product - utilizing our ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection technology. MATCH DAY COLLECTION: ZX SPECTRUM / HD features: - portrait and landscape play / display modes - iDaptive (user-definable, game-specific joystick, keypad & canvass) Controls - (Visit: Tiny URL 22qh8hl) for more info - �auto save�, on exiting the game - authentic \'ZX Spectrum\' sound - iCade controller support Complimentary copies of the Apps will be made available to press and media partners on Wednesday 6th June, 2012 (or earlier by agreement). A further announcement, including price and release date, will be made at that time and prior to the release of the Apps. For further information please contact: Steve Wilcox, Elite� Tel. + 44 (0) 154 326 8826 Mail paperboy@elite-systems.co.uk Web www.elite-systems.co.uk Twitter @elite_systems About The Match Day Series: Match Day is an association football video game franchise created by Jon Ritman in 1984 for the 1980s 8-bit home computer market. The following games are part of the Match Day series. All of the games were published by Ocean Software, with the exception of Super Match Soccer: * Match Day: the first game in the series. It was created in 1984 and released on most home computers of the era, but is most well known for its Sinclair Spectrum incarnation. It was designed and developed by Jon Ritman with the help of Chris Clarke. * International Match Day is an improved version of Match Day published in 1985 for ZX Spectrum 128KB. It takes advantage of the extra memory available to provide better sound and some full screen images. * Match Day II was released in 1987 for the Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX and Commodore 64 platforms. It was written by Jon Ritman, with graphics by Bernie Drummond and music and sound by Guy Stevens (Commodore version, programmed by John Darnel). The game was the first one to include complete control over ball direction, power and elevation (using a kickometer), and a brand new deflection system (Diamond Deflection System). * Final Whistle was the name of an arcade machine very similar to Match Day 2 (it was previously called Soccerama during development). Although it was finished it was never released. * Super Match Soccer, was released in 1998 by Acclaim. Although its working title was The Net, it was intended to be released as Match Day III (it was even presented as such in a PlayStation preview in Spain), but due to licensing problems the name was finally changed. It was developed in 1998 by Cranberry Source and published by Acclaim. The game is available for PC and PlayStation.. About Jon Ritman: Jon Ritman is a software developer, notable for his work on major 1980s video games, working primarily on games for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC home computers. His first experience with a computer was at the age of 13, and first computer was a Sinclair ZX81 that he bought in 1981. His first game, Namtir Raiders for the ZX81 gained its name from his surname reversed. He first gained notoriety with his games Bear Bovver and Match Day for the ZX Spectrum. As of March 2007, three of the top twenty games listed at World of Spectrum were written by Ritman, namely Head Over Heels, Batman and Match Day II. Ritman was voted Best Programmer Of The Year at the Golden Joystick Awards. About Elite�: Elite Systems Ltd was incorporated in England in 1984 and is one of Europe�s most long established developers and publishers of entertainment software.

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