Anstoss

Anstoss - the 1993 football management sim for Commodore 64 from Ascon.

Run a professional football club across league seasons, handling
contracts, tactics, and finances while chasing promotion and trophies.

Core loop
- set formations, line-ups, and tactics before each match
- negotiate player transfers and manage budgets
- review results, adjust training, and maintain morale
- progress through seasons aiming for championship success

Systems and items
- player stats - form, fitness, morale, and skill affect results
- finance screen - track income from tickets, sponsors, and bonuses
- training options - raise fitness or focus on technique
- commentary mode - view simplified match text summaries

Level design and feel
Menu-driven interface built around week-to-week management cycles. The
match reports and press feedback give a light satirical tone while
keeping focus on strategic choices rather than arcade action.

Why it is notable
- debut of Ascon’s long-running “Anstoss” series (known as “On the Ball” internationally)
- introduced humor and personality to football sims before Premier
Manager and Championship Manager rose in popularity

Tips
- keep a balanced squad - fatigue penalties hit hard after midseason
- renew key contracts early to avoid losing stars on free transfers
- upgrade weaker staff roles to improve long-term player growth

At a glance
Year - 1993
Developer - Ascon
Design and programming - Gerald Köhler - Hans Ippisch - Andreas Köhler
Graphics - Ascon team
Music - Chris Hülsbeck
Publisher - Ascon
Genre - Sports management
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2 - keyboard for input