Football

About

Football, from Mattel Electronics, is a simple but functional sports game for handheld LCD systems. Played with a basic directional pad, you control a two-player match using a 3x5 grid to move players and execute plays. The system’s limited screen space keeps action tight, with turn-based offense and defense decisions. It launched in 1977 as Mattel’s second title, following Auto Race, and focused on straightforward gridiron mechanics over advanced features. Despite an uncertain start, Sears initially halted production after just 100,000 units due to low sales projections, demand spiked rapidly. By February 1978, production hit 500,000 units weekly, proving early doubts wrong. Early versions included an AC adapter, but later models relied solely on batteries, aligning with the era’s portable gaming trend. Its success laid groundwork for future handheld titles, even if its gameplay remains rudimentary by modern standards.