On the Ball hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released in 1993 on the Super Nintendo, this retro classic from Ascaron is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
The player is managing a football club in the English League. On the Ball is a football management game series from the German developers Ascaron, former name Ascon.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| B (bottom) | X | Bottom face |
| A (right) | Z | Right face |
| Y (left) | S | Left face |
| X (top) | A | Top face |
| L | Q | Left shoulder |
| R | E | Right shoulder |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
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The Story Behind On the Ball
The game's Anstoss 2 Gold edition held in Media Control's charts through late 1998, and retained places 16th and 19th for January 1999. Kick-Off - Football Manager)) is a football management game series from the German developers Ascaron, former name Ascon. PC Players Udo Hoffman wrote that this was a new record for both Ascaron and publisher Infogrames.
In April, the VUD awarded Anstoss 3 "Gold" status for German-region sales of at least 100,000 units through the end of March. Dropping to eighth and 11th in November, it finished in 17th place for the final four weeks of the year. The title debuted at #1 on Media Control's computer game sales rankings for February 2000, and claimed second the following month.
How On the Ball Plays
The football games can be presented in different forms. It became a hit at launch in the German market, where retailer PC Fun reported "sensational sales in the first two days". The premiere title in the series is On the Ball.
The tactic of the own team could be changed and players could be switched. The player chooses a team in the main menu which has the look of an office. In November 1998, the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD) presented the game with a "Gold" award, indicating sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Why Players Still Load It Up
The game's Anstoss 2 Gold edition held in Media Control's charts through late 1998, and retained places 16th and 19th for January 1999. In November 1998, the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD) presented the game with a "Gold" award, indicating sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In April, the VUD awarded Anstoss 3 "Gold" status for German-region sales of at least 100,000 units through the end of March.
It became a hit at launch in the German market, where retailer PC Fun reported "sensational sales in the first two days". The English version has a minor fan base. Kick-Off - Football Manager)) is a football management game series from the German developers Ascaron, former name Ascon.
On the Ball — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play On the Ball online for free?
Absolutely. The full game loads in the player at the top of this page and runs right in your browser — no installs, no plugins, no waiting.
Do I need a controller to play On the Ball?
No. Keyboard controls work out of the box (see the controls panel), and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad is detected automatically.
Who developed On the Ball?
Development was handled by Ascaron, with Ascaron publishing the release.
Where can I buy the original On the Ball?
See the "Other Places You Can Get This Game" section below the article for legitimate places to buy real-world versions.