NFL Challenge
Published: February 1, 2009 - Last update: December 27, 2011 - 1367 downloads
- Year
- 1985
- Genre
- Sports
- Theme
- Football (American)
- Publisher
- XOR Corporation
- Developer
- XOR Corporation
- Perspective
- Top-Down
6 votes
486 KiB
Description of NFL Challenge
Developed by XOR Corporation and published by XOR Corporation, NFL Challenge is a sports game revolving around football (american). It was published in 1985, feel free to download and play it now!
One of the oldest football games ever made, XOR's NFL Challenge remain to this day one of the most ambitious simulations of its kind, containing over 30,000 lines of C and Assembly source codes after over 10 man-years in the making. The result is a very thorough and realistic simulation of football that was impressive enough to win endorsement from the NFL. The game comprises of 2 modules: macro and micro. The macro model computes and records various statistical averages to model the entire NFL season, while the micro model calculates the outcome of a single match. The game boasts of having several NFL experts help create in-game offensive and defensive playbooks, and it shows: there are dozens of plays you can choose from, and penalties and injuries are handled realistically. Graphics is not much to speak off-- it's either all text (you see a red triangle, representing a ball, moving back on forth on the screen), or some graphics where X's and O's represent players. Still, for a game that focuses on the simulation aspect of a sport as opposed to the action, it's more than enough. There are many coaching options available, many of which became standard in later football games: in addition to calling plays, you can call a time out, and even use a neat "two-minute" mode, which is modelled after the "hurry up" offense often seen in real football games. In this mode, all ball carriers on that team will make an extra effort to get out of bounds and stop the clock. The quarterback will make more and longer passes, resulting in longer completions but much higher risk of interception. The computer AI is quite good, as it will take advantage of this "two-minute" mode, as well as constantly change playbooks. Each player is rated in different skill categories, which affect the outcome of the game. You can play against a friend, the computer, or even watch the computer play itself. Overall, NFL Challenge is a great simulation that definitely sets a high standard for other games to follow. It's the granddaddy of games such as Tom Landry Strategy Football, and the level of thoroughness, fun, and realistic outcome is excellent even by today's standard. Two thumbs up! Note: This download includes program disk (with the default 1992 rosters - last version released before XOR went defunct), plus the following add-ons: 1984 season, 1989 season, Greats, and Roster Editor. The "add-on disks" download includes team disks for 1985, 1988, 1990, and 1991, plus the Game Situation Development System. We are still looking for 1986 and 1987 team disks, so please let us know if you have these :)
Review by HOTUD
Captures and Snapshots
Comments and reviews Write a comment
kidagain added this comment :
Copy the team files to the main directory and it works fine. You can only have one set of team files loaded at a team since they are identically named.
kenzo added this comment :
Having same issue, but I get no responses after coin toss, system just crashes, any ideas? This sim looks great! I was 15 in 85, can't believe I never heard of this...(I was a Avalon Hill "Paydirt: guy off my c64, and a Microleague2 guy on it! Thanks!
admin added this comment :
Ferno, you need to add a disk drive in Boxer, launch the game then add a drive (A: for example) in the game configuration (button on the left bottom corner). Then add the 84, 89 or Great folder to use an existing team.
Same thing to do with DFend or other DosBox front ends.
Ferno added this comment :
Had the original XOR game back in the PC days. Downloaded but after the coin toss crashes with "Can't Open c:pbp.nfl" error on Mac OS 10.5 using Boxer v1.0RC2
DON added this comment :
My game c;loses after you choose teams, coin flip, kick or receive...then it says DATA DISK...but how do I make a data disk???
Helms added this comment :
One of the best sports simulation games and THE BEST football (NFL) simulation game Ever PERIOD!!!
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tom added this comment :
What is the "main directory"? Please help.