Retro Tech: Mattel Classic Football

'77 throwback

(Credit: Matthew Fitzgerald)

For all you PSP and Nintendo DS addicts, we're taking you back, way back in time. It's the year 1977, where disco rules and the interwebs is just a twinkle in Al Gore's eye--it may seem like a long time ago to some, and for others it may even supersede your existence. That year though, I can remember emptying my piggy bank and running down to Woolworths to make my first handheld game purchase: Mattel Football. A very simple game, and quite prehistoric when compared to the handheld games of today. It didn't have Wi-Fi, and you couldn't buy different game discs or cartridges. For this handheld game in particular it was football and football only. As for sound, it was just bleeps and blips and it ran on a single 9V battery--not a rechargeable one like the PSP and the DS--but I spent hours playing it. Like I said the game was simple; it was all about offense, all you could do is score and since the 70's was about scoring--although of a different type--this game fit in to that era nicely? Even better, it had two levels of game play: Pro 1 and Pro 2. As for graphics, if you wanted to call them that, they were all red lit dots and you were the brightest of the six. The object: Get across the screen without getting tackled by the five remaining dots--a simple concept, but not easily accomplished. It wasn't much to look at, but back then it was all we had and it more than fit the bill.

Stay tuned, for our next stroll down memory lane we'll look at the Mego Corp. 2-XL.

[GD-Darkman]

Classic! I had the green version a couple of years later, but after a few weeks, it was non-stop blip blurring action. You could just move fast enough that they never takled you, ever.

[jeffsparkman]

I still love this game. There's a unique charm to these relatively low-tech electronic games. Classic Football, Digital Derby, Digital Diamond, and Blip killed a number of hours during my childhood.

[bdebois]

I freaking loved this game. We would play it for hours. Nothing like mindless bleeps and blinks to keep you entertained.

[sugarhillgang]

I remember this game when I was younger. I thought that was cool. Just make sure you talk about the Electric football and I am in heaven.

[bob.mcclenahan]

I could kick anyone's hind quarters at this game.

[glandgraf]

My thumbs are stil sore!!!

I bought my brother a re-make of this a few years back. We played the original all the time - especially on long road trips. Kind of reminds me of Arena football now - the team w/ the ball last would win. Seems we always scored at will. very few double-whistles

[make_or_break]

Gawd, I completely forgotten about this game! . Perfect on family road trips when Dad insisted on us piling in to the station wagon. All of those electronic handheld games were as cool as it gets back in its day. Thanks for the memories, Crave!

[Faztang]

can't wait for the 2X-L post. I used to rock one of those back on the day.
Robot with an 8-Track player...Yeah boyeeee!

[dribnif]

2X-L! "You are corr-ECT". I loved that little guy. I've seen him since on ebay. Shoulda bought him when I had the chance.

[jture]

I still have one - and it still works! :-D

[hutch_85]

I still have a working one too - along with the "head to head baseball". Simple LED's and sounds compared to handheld games of today :-)

[kscottdunn]

I had a Tandy Football game you could play against another person. This makes me want to go dig through my parents' attic and see if it is still there.

[theuncommon]

Yes! Oh, the memories.. whenever I move or something, digging through old boxes, I always find this thing.. still works great and still addictive as it was back in the day! Gonna have to go dig it up again.. I can honestly say that this is the only video game that I've ever had that I've been playing for 30 years!

[johnbolts]

STALL HAVE ME GREEN FOOTBALL AND THE BASEBALL ONE TOO!!! AND BOTH STILL WORK TO THIS DAY!!!!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THERE WORTH THESE DAY'S?

[JJKaminski]

when I checked Ebay, they were going for like 5-20 dollars

[Thrashatl]

Let's go back even farther into Mattel football. How about 1971 and Talking Football? A mini disk player to audibly hear the "results" of your play and a huge cardboard football field to chart your progress. Mattel Classic Football..... PISHPOSH... You kids and your fancy games!