AFL (video game series)

The AFL video game series is a series of Australian rules football video games based on the AFL. Released originally by Beam Software, it has since been developed by several other game developers.

AFL
Genre(s)Sports (Australian rules football)
Developer(s)Beam Software (1991)
Blue Tongue Entertainment (1996)
Creative Assembly (1997–1998)
IR Gurus (2001–2007)
Wicked Witch Software (2009–2023)
Big Ant Studios (2011–2012, 2023-)
Publisher(s)Mattel (1991)
Cadability (1996)
EA Sports (1997–1998)
Acclaim Entertainment (2001–2004)
THQ (2004–2005)
Sony Interactive Entertainment (2005–2009)
Tru Blu Entertainment (2009–2023)
Nacon (2023-)
Platform(s)Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
First releaseAussie Rules Footy
1991
Latest releaseAFL 23
4 May 2022

Games in the series
Release timeline
1991Aussie Rules Footy
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996AFL Finals Fever
1997AFL 98
1998AFL 99
1999
2000
2001Kevin Sheedy's: AFL Coach 2002
2002AFL Live 2003
2003AFL Live 2004
2004AFL Live: Premiership Edition
2005AFL Premiership 2005
2006AFL Premiership 2006
2007AFL Premiership 2007
2008
2009AFL Mascot Manor
AFL Challenge
2010
2011AFL Live
AFL
AFL: Gold Edition
2012AFL Live: Game of the Year Edition
2013AFL Live 2
2014AFL Live 2: Season Pack 2014
2015
2016
2017AFL Evolution
2018AFL Evolution: Season Pack 2018
2019
2020AFL Evolution 2
2021AFL Evolution 2: Season Pack 2021
2022
2023AFL 23

Aussie Rules Footy
Main article: Aussie Rules Footy

It was the first AFL video game. The game involves playing a game of Australian rules football from a third-person perspective, with the ability to perform the basic actions of a typical player of the sport. The game can be played by one person, or by two players against each other. There is also a kick to kick mode, and a season mode where one to six players can play multiple games in a season finishing with a grand final. It was developed by Beam Software, and was published by Mattel.

AFL Finals Fever

It was released for Windows PC only on 9 June 1996. You could play as one of the 16 clubs of the 1996 AFL season. It was also the last video game in the series to feature the Fitzroy Lions and the Brisbane Bears as playable teams before they were merged. The game was also the first game to be developed by Blue Tongue Entertainment and was published by Cadability.

AFL 98

It was released in 1997 for Microsoft Windows. It was based on the 1997 season. 16 teams were available in the game and it was the first in the series to feature Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide. It is also the first game in the series to have commentary, which was provided by Bruce McAvaney. The game was developed by Creative Assembly and published by EA Sports.

AFL 99

It was released in 1998 for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It was based on the 1998 season and you could play as any of the 16 teams. The commentary is provided by Bruce McAvaney and Leigh Matthews. The game was developed by Creative Assembly and published by EA Sports. The game's music was composed by Jeff van Dyck.

Kevin Sheedy AFL Coach 2002

It was the first AFL video game to be developed by IR Gurus. The game was released as a PC only game. In the game you assume the role of an AFL Coach, you tell your players commands such as the type of play you want them to play (attacking, defensive, Normal) and when to interchange. It sold well for a "then" IR Gurus game but not too well on the market.

AFL Live 2003

It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game is based on the 2002 AFL season with team rosters. It was first released on 5 September 2002 in Australia. It was developed by IR Gurus and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It is also the first game in the series to feature a live action intro of AFL games in the 2003 season. The game was only released in Australia.

AFL Live 2004

It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox on 28 August 2003. The game is based on the 2003 AFL season with team rosters based on that year. AFL Live 2004 includes all 16 official AFL teams and 8 stadiums which were, MCG, Telstra Dome, Optus Oval, Kardinia Park, AAMI Stadium, Subiaco Oval, Gabba, SCG. It also included all 22 home and away matches and the finals series. The game was published by Acclaim with the song Lost Control by Grinspoon as the intro song. It was developed by IR Gurus.

AFL Live: Premiership Edition

It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox on 29 April 2004. The game is based on the 2004 AFL season with team rosters based on that year. It was developed by IR Gurus and was the final AFL game to be published by Acclaim Entertainment, before their bankruptcy on 1 September 2004.

AFL Premiership 2005
Main article: AFL Premiership 2005

It is based on the 2005 AFL season and was released only for the PlayStation 2. This is the next edition after AFL Premiership Edition. When Acclaim shut down its operations in Australia, Sony Computer Entertainment got publishing and distributing rights to the game. Because Sony Computer Entertainment had an exclusive period with the title, initially it was only launched on PlayStation 2. However, THQ released a Microsoft Windows and Xbox version of the game. It was released on 22 September 2005 and is only available in Australia.

AFL Premiership 2006

AFL Premiership 2006 is the tenth game in the series. a follow-up to AFL Premiership 2005, it is based on the 2006 AFL season and was released only for the PlayStation 2. The revamped kicking system requires the players to time the button presses to kick straight, because holding it down for too long results in the ball turning in the opposite side.[1] There are several modes: training mode (provides the basics), short match, Wizard Cup, Premiership and Finals.[2] A newly introduced multiseason allows the management of certain team aspects. That includes things like improving player skills, trading players at the end of the season, and putting the emphasis on draft.[3]

AFL Premiership 2007
Main article: AFL Premiership 2007

It is a simulation game for the PlayStation 2 based on the AFL. The game marks the final AFL game to be developed by Australian games company IR Gurus and was published by Sony Computer Entertainment, IR Gurus seventh collaboration in the series, and was released on 28 June 2007. The game includes all 16 teams, more than 600 AFL players with updated stats and all of the major stadium. Game modes in AFL Premiership 2007 are Single Match, Season Mode, Career Mode, Mission Mode and Training Mode. It was a follow-up to AFL Premiership 2006.

AFL Challenge
Main article: AFL Challenge

It was released for the PlayStation Portable. The game was developed by Wicked Witch Software and co-published by Tru Blu Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released on 10 September 2009.[4] The game is based on the 2009 AFL season and includes all 16 teams and players.[5]

AFL Live
Main article: AFL Live

It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 based on the 2011 AFL season. It was developed by Big Ant Studios and released on 21 April 2011. The Game of the Year Edition, an updated version of the game for the 2012 AFL season was released on 6 June 2012.

AFL (2011)
Main article: AFL (2011 video game)

It was released for Wii the same year as AFL Live, based on the 2011 AFL season. It features more management mechanics than Live, with a ten-year campaign, as well as multiplayer of up to 8 players. As with the other systems, a Game of the Year edition with 2012 players and locales was again released in June 2012.

AFL Live 2
Main article: AFL Live 2

It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on 12 September 2013. The 2014 Season Pack was released on 30 June 2014 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on 9 July 2014.[9] A mobile port was released on iOS on 28 May 2015 and Android on 26 September 2015.[7]

AFL Evolution
Main article: AFL Evolution

It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It was developed by Wicked Witch Software and was released on May 5, 2017, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with the Microsoft Windows version released on July 21, 2017, via Steam. The 2018 Season Pack was later released on May 3, 2018.[10]

AFL Evolution 2

It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

AFL 23
Main article: AFL 23

AFL 23 features 18 AFL and AFLW teams with over 1,200 players, with motion-captured animation, photo-realistic likenesses, in-depth skills and unique player traits powered by Champion Data.

The game was developed by Big Ant Studios, whose last AFL title was AFL Live in 2011. The game's release on Xbox has been delayed for unspecified reasons.[13]

Other titles
  • AFL Mascot Manor

It was released for the Nintendo DS on 2 July 2009. Focused more on the League's Mascots than on the sport itself, the central component of the game is the adventure the players Mascot will experience in the themed worlds.[14]

  • AFL: Gold Edition

Is an iOS AFL simulation video game based on the 2011 AFL season, released on 14 December 2011. The 2012 AFL season update was released on 4 June 2012. It was developed by Wicked Witch Software and had similar gameplay to AFL on the Wii.

References
  1. Hill, Jason (20 July 2006). "AFL Premiership 2006". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  2. Ramsay, Randolph (6 October 2006). "AFL Premiership 2006 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  3. Ramsay, Randolph (6 October 2006). "AFL Premiership 2006 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  4. "EB Games product page". Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  5. The ultimate footy playoff Archived 13 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, AFL.com.au
  6. "AFL Live 2". Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  7. "AFL Live 2 on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch". Facebook. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  8. "AFL Live 2 – Season Pack 2014". Facebook. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  9. "AFL LIVE 2 2014 FIXTURES". Facebook. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  10. "AFL Evolution". 15 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  11. Grixti, Shannon (25 March 2020). "AFL Evolution 2 Has A New Release Date". Press Start. Southern Cross Austereo. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  12. Grixti, Shannon (16 June 2023). "AFL 23 Has Been Delayed Again On Xbox (Updated)". Press Start. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  13. Wright, Steve (3 May 2023). "AFL 23 on Xbox delayed to June; no reason given". stevivor. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  14. Wildgoose, David (14 May 2009). "Another AFL Game Announced". Kotaku. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  1. Released under the Acclaim Sports label
  2. Released under the Acclaim Sports label
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