After several years of neglect at the end of the 1990s, the new century has seen renewed interest in Subbuteo. New rumours seem to be forever flying around regarding production of the game. 

There have been a couple of false starts already. Hasbro's new range of 2001 was small, exclusive to Toys-R-Us, and seemed to lack any support at all. In 2002-03 it was the turn of Subbuteo's old Italian importers Edilio Parodi. They produced an attractive box set, backed by a large range of teams and some interesting accessories. However, the production seemed relatively small-scale, perhaps inevitably based on the fact that the teams were hand-painted. My Italian friends tell me that the box sets sold out pretty quickly in Italian toy shops. Trouble was, they were not seen very often. 

This page is designed to list the new box sets, teams and accessories to be released by Edilio Parodi, Hasbro, or anyone else. 

Hasbro.

As mentioned in my Subbuteo history, large US games company Hasbro became the producers of Subbuteo when they acquired previous manufacturers Waddingtons in 1995. Sadly Subbuteo was already under pressure at this time and Hasbro's initial period in charge of the game saw a steady fall in the number of products and teams produced. 

Hasbro finally announced that it was pulling the plug on production in January 2000. This created a backlash that seemed to catch Hasbro by surprise, and also kick started Subbuteo as a collectable item. Hasbro reversed their decision, and eventually produced a new range of three box sets and ten teams. This range was sold exclusively through Toys-R-Us (and Hasbro's own website). This small scale distribution, coupled with bad timing (arriving in some Toys-R-Us on Xmas Eve 2000) and a lack of decent advertising, meant that the new range didn't set the world on fire and was quietly dropped. 

However, 2002-03 saw Hasbro become interested in Subbuteo as a brand. It is after all, a recognizable and well loved football related "name" especially among the high income thirty-something bracket. So far, they've been content to use the logo on a diverse range of products such as clothing from Next, mobile phone games, pub quiz games and suchlike. They even licensed the name to another football game - a very slight affair where the player dressed his or her hand up in a little football kit. They also allowed Budweiser to produce a five-a-side version for a World Cup promotion in 2002.

The 2005 "photo-real" Subbuteo Range by Hasbro.

Hasbro's new game has now reached the shops, and is very much a new spin on the old game. It has to be said that the view within the playing and collecting communities has been luke-warm at best, and mostly down-right dismissive, which I'll deal with elsewhere.

The main innovation is the "photo-real" players. Supplied on cards, the flat players feature the names and faces of modern football stars. These can be collected and swapped like football stickers, the idea being that you can assemble a dream team of top players. Perhaps in keeping with real life, Subbuteo has joined the cult of celebrity, where individual players are more important than the clubs they play for.

The range consists of a full box set called "the dream team stadium" priced at £29.99, plus extra skills academy packs at £4.99 each. The stadium edition features a random selection of players, with more being available in the skills sets. The eight teams involved are Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Valencia. There were rumours during the last year that Hasbro were having trouble getting a licence from Real Madrid, and they are a notable absense. The game is using the appeal of the Champions League. Partly because the Premiership licence was too expensive, but also because of European coverage on terrestrial TV (and the fact that the game can therefore also be sold in Italy and Spain). Liverpool winning the European Cup, and the appearance of Chelsea and the Milan sides in the semi-finals must have been a bonus for Hasbro. 

The 2005 production features on a "Focus On... Photo-Real Subbuteo page.

2006 Developments.

I'll start with the new box sets. It's immediately obviously that Hasbro/MB Games are trying something a little different here. It shows that they are not confident in Subbuteo selling itself as a simple football game. (unlike all the other manufacturers on this page then). The Urban Arena is an attempt to cash in on the whole Street Football thing. Whilst poor kids the world over have always played football in the street, or in small urban venues, the whole skate park look always seems a bit contrived when applied to football games (electronic or otherwise). There was a Street football event at the World Cup, but that didn't look convincing either. Perhaps it is all a bit too American, when football is really anything but American. Meanwhile, the "Trivia Shoot Out" has a bigger box, but a cheaper price tag. The game involves questions on cards, and a narrow skills course to work through.

Reviews of these products to follow shortly.

Whilst the new sets are definitely the headline act, there has been a few quiet changes to the original photo-real sets. Firstly, two new teams have been added to the range. These are Roma and Benfica. In addition to this, the whole range of cards has been updated with new players and kits. Admittedly, these are still running a bit behind the real thing (i.e. Arsenal are in their Highbury farewell strip) but it's a nice development nonetheless. Another welcome addition are the small packs of player cards. These feature twelve players (on  four cards) plus a ball and two special bases for £2.99. It's cheaper than having to keep buying the training packs.

The only place I've found that has the full range of  photo-real Subbuteo is www.footieshop.co.uk. They also have the classic Subbuteo crackers for sale. Oh, and lots of other mad football related stuff as well.

Other Table Soccer Developments.

The renewed interest in Subbuteo/table soccer in both playing and collecting circles has meant that although Hasbro have the official licence, they are not the only company making Subbuteo compatible equipment. With the new Subbuteo clearly aimed at kids rather than current players or collectors, it allows amble room for other companies to share the market. 

Edilio Parodi snc

Edilio Parodi snc, are an Italian toy and game company based in Genova. They were responsible for importing Subbuteo into Italy from the 1970s. Towards the end of the 1990s, Hasbro stopped supplying Parodi, who then continued to cater for the large Italian Table Soccer fan base by producing their own version of the game called Zëugo. This table soccer set used hand painted teams based on the classic heavyweight figure that had proved so popular in Italy in the 1970s. In 2002 Edilio Parodi received a licence to produce new Subbuteo items, once again for the Italian market. This resulted in a new box set,  accessory range, and a large number of teams. In December 2003 it was announced that Hasbro were not renewing the Parodi licence for 2004, but the licence was extended first to June , and then December 2004 as the launch date for Hasbro's new game was adjusted.

With the ending of their agreement with Hasbro, Parodi are shifting their Chinese workforce back to Zëugo production. A new range of teams was produced. When it was first announced, this range was to feature some previously unseen teams such as Arsenal 2nd (illustrated with the lovely, but dated two-tone blue kit from 2003), Valencia 2nd (orange with black trim), Vasco de Gama, and Werder Bremen (their odd orange and green strip), along with more familiar fare. However, as the Subbuteo licence survived into 2004, some of these teams were added to the Subbuteo range instead (with a more up-to-date Arsenal 2nd), and others dropped from the plans. 

The first wave of new Zeugo arrived in Spring 2005, and featured 44 teams taken from Parodi's old Subbuteo line-up. Furthermore, the team colours were not updated, and were mostly "big" clubs. i.e. team colours that Subbuteo collectors would already have in several other lines. The teams were available on "classic" Zeugo bases, or on the new outers used by the Parodi Subbuteo range.

2006 Developments.

2006 saw the range amended slightly. Firstly, the teams were rehoused in an attractive blue box, which was more compact than the original design, but allowing room for a spare outfield player. A couple of new kits were added including the Juventus away kit from their ill-fated 2005-06 campaign. The biggest change however was in the bases. With the Enrico Techiatti designed "Subbuteo" base moving to Soccer 3D production (see below), Zeugo has switched to Profibases.

October 2006: Surprisingly perhaps, the Zeugo box set features in the catalogue (and website) of my local toy shop - Gamleys.

thatsmagnificent.com

That's Magnificent has spent the last year becoming a very well regarded internet table soccer retailer. With no table soccer equipment on UK High Streets, they provide an essential service. Chris Stapleton, who runs the site is both collector and player and caters for both. The site has a mix of Parodi's new teams, and professional bases/equipment from various sources (Stefan Corda, Astrobase etc). 

However, That's Magnificent also have their own rather wonderful range called Santiago. The initial team range is on a brand new playing figure closely resembling the 1960s short sleeved heavyweight, with bases to match. To add to the retro feel, many of the teams are hand-painted in classic kits of the 1950s-60s vintage (although a recent range of teams from the 1982 World Cup are also worth a look). The boxes have a nice modern look, but are the same size as the 1960s team box, so fit very well into a collection. The team shown above is Newport County.

If you prefer to paint your own teams, then all the components can be bought separately. The players have the old bar fitting, and will also fit into old heavyweight Subbuteo bases. That's Magnificent also stock unpainted teams in a figure based on the 1970s classic heavyweight, and there are thirteen different colour bases to choose from. Santiago pitches are also available.

2006 Developments.

New additions for the That's Magnificent range for Christmas 2006 include a retro rugby base, and matching series of rugby teams using their version of the classic 1970s heavyweight. There is also a Santiago base for pegged players available.

The Stefan Corda Company.

Another small innovative UK company, Stefan Corda first came to attention for painting really high quality team colours on request (including advertising logos, badges, and even player names). In 2003-04 they gained a reputation for producing quality bases for league and tournament players with the Veloche and Raptor. The LXPG Leukemia Research Charity Table Football event in Knutsford in October 2004 saw the debut of both a new playing figure, and another new base - The Image. This is a "retro" base designed to be able to curl like an old heavyweight, but also to be able to glide the way modern players expect. 

The Stefan Corda figure is called the 2K4 and is available unpainted from most of the online table soccer stores. It has a peg fitting, and so is compatible with most "professional" table soccer bases, as well as Subbuteo lightweights of course. The figure was designed using the latest CAD techniques, and is a completely different look to any other figure. They are quite small and thin, and seem well balanced in play. There also come with a choice of two different shaped heads, for black or white players. The scan (above left) shows the black player painted (by me!) as Zimbabwe away (African Nations Cup 2004) on Sureshot bases. This team has the misfortune of being used by me at Worthing Five-Star Table Soccer nights....

Stefan Corda have also modified the figure for their lovely "Beyond Retro" range. This features kits used from the earliest days of football until the 1930s, and the figure has been adjusted accordingly with long shorts, high waist bands, and an appropriate hair style. The Yorkshire teams from this range are also shown above.

2006 Developments.

The "Beyond Retro" range continues to grow, with ex-league teams such as Darwen and South Shields now becoming available. The well-regarded Raptor base now comes in a reasonably priced "budget" version (7.50 per set).

Soccer 3-D by Subbuteoworld and Astrobase.

Subbuteoworld are the biggest UK retailer of Subbuteo items. Astrobase are the leading Italian supplier of table soccer items, and are run by Enrico Techiatti. Techiatti's astrobases are regarded as the best quality pro bases, and come in a bewildering choice of sizes. Techiatti also designed Parodi's Subbuteo base and also his Subbuteo accessories such as the goals and fence.

Agreements between Subbuteoworld and Astrobase had already resulted in a controversial monopoly of Parodi teams in the UK. With the ending of the Parodi/Hasbro agreement, Subbuteoworld and Astrobase have launched their own range of teams using the base and playing figure designed for Parodi, but obviously without the Subbuteo logos.

2006 Developments.

The Soccer 3D range has grown continually over the year, and the number of different teams available is staggering (maybe even overwhelming!). The new Soccer 3D version of the Astropitch has been very well received by the table soccer community.

Soccer 3-D also have a range of accessories which match the teams for sheer choice of finish. You can have fences, referees and balls in just about any colour you fancy.

Super Footy - by World Table Soccer.

Another of this site's old friends, World Table Soccer have now launched their own version of the beautiful game called SuperFooty. This looks like another beautifully presented set, and will be backed up with a range of teams. As you can probably see, the figure is similar to the old heavyweight, but with the modern round base fitting.

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