WIN STARS. COLLECT TROPHIES. BECOME A SPORTING LEGEND.
Not an overnight success story …
S.I. was first conceived back in 1992, trying TO make games to play with my best mate, Sven.
“YOU’RE MY BOIII, BLUE!”
(THE LOVE OF GAMING WAS FORGED LONG BEFORE S.I.)
ThE summer OF ’92 I worked on a few ideas, including ‘Footopoly’ and ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ – which would eventually become Sports Icon.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN…
In the early 2000’s SPORTS ICON briefly flirted with getting made by an established company … had a few meetings … tested a few prototypes … but it came to nothing.
Nevertheless the game went ‘transatlantic’ for several years WITH ME IN CALIFORNIA, BEFORE S.I. ‘1.0’ met its demise at the hands of an ex-GF, who binned it Some where in HOLLYWOOD. Ah, the American dream!
S.I. LAY DORMANT
You know how it goes, life got in the way. Then in 2017, Sven got diagnosed with stage-4 cancer.
THE INFAMOUS ‘DYING PARTY’, OF 2017!
I attended some of SVEN’S early chemo sessions and vowed to recreate S.I. for him to play (alongside some fanciful dreams of publishing it).
The first prototype of ‘2.0’, awaiting it’s first run-out with Sven and Bex!
COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA…
In fairness to the ‘big kat’: Sven gave me ample opportunity to get S.I. done, long outliving his prognosis until the summer of 2025.
So despite a lot of work and testing throughout these years: “excuses, excuses, blah, blah, blah”…and in the end – bigger priorities. It didn’t get done = regret.
By 2020 it was beginning to look more like it’s final state…but there was still a long way to go…
THE LOSS OF LEGENDS
Sven was an unbelievable character and his death was a cruel loss to the world.
His personality embodies everything I hope Sports Icon is about: silliness, competitiveness, pettiness(!), showboating, laughter – and most of all – fun!
In 2025 two other legends from my childhood: Rob Howells (Pups) and Sam Gilbert, also died from cancer. Fuck cancer.
The final(ish) hurrah… CC, Pups & Sven (at Pups’ wedding in 2024)
THEY THINK IT’S ALL OVER
Life is fleeting eh – so in that spirit I came to accept that 30+ years was probably sufficient R&D time to finally release Sports Icon.
I reckon the lads would be pleased that I finally got it done – and hope they get a cosmic chuckle from their tribute cards!
SPECIAL THANKS
Lots of other people have supported S.I.’s development over the years, with special thanks to a remarkably tolerant family, the original ‘Supporters Club’ members (Becci, Conman, J.W., Ste Dids, Joey B) and Catalina FC – for whom I’ve missed far too many Pro Clubs sessions, in pursuit of S.I.
Also to my amazing wife, Joanna, and our magical little creation, O.G. I’ve spent an unhealthy proportion of our marriage (and finances) messing around with S.I., but you’ve always supported the dream, no matter the outcome!
FINALLY – to anyone who plays S.I. – I really hope you share some laughs with your own mates and loved ones. Ultimately, that’s what it’s REALLY all about!
LET THE GOOD TIMES…ROLL
SPORTS ICON HAS SIGNED-UP TO ‘THE PLEDGE’.
WE DONATE 1% OF OUR NET PROFITS TO MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT, IN MEMORY OF SVEN, ROB, SAM, AND everyone LIKE THEM.
