[Flick here for Subbuteo]

Don't know if you guys have ever seen this site but they put some good videos up from time to time.

http://www.wrp7.com

[Flick here for Subbuteo]

A good summation from Peter Upton:

 

The zombie is the rather insulting name given to Subbuteo's first attempt at a figure that could be assembled and painted by machine (although the one on the right here looks more like Frankenstein's monster). The nickname comes from the lifeless look of the player - there is no attempt at a pose and almost no detail. Worse still, the first zombies sold did not even have the Subbuteo logo around the base. These new bases were designed to clip together in the machine without the need for glue, but the early ones are often glued (messily) and are ill fitting. This can leave the player poorly balanced. A mid-1970s player given an unboxed team of this type may well have concluded that these were a cheap Far-Eastern rip-off of the beautiful game.

 

All these problems make the poor old zombie a deeply detested figure. Several Subbuteo fans of the 1970s have stated that the zombie was their reason for giving up the game (it was either that or discovering girls). Others would carefully go through the boxed teams at their local shop to make sure they only bought the heavyweight sides.

 

However, this figure isn't all bad (no really). Once the logos were added to the bases, the peg fitting seems sensible and attractive. The players are quite dainty (even if real footballers are not), and the symmetrical player does improve the balance and touch of the figure. Well, sometimes it does. In addition, a change in the glue on late 1970s heavyweights had led to deadly rattling bases as the weights came loose inside. The inside of the zombie base alleviates the problem as the weight is on a central pin, and the top of the base presses it down tightly into place. Also, there seemed to be an increase in tatty "Friday afternoon" painting in the late 1970s, possibly caused by the same increase in demand that had lead to the decision to machine paint in the first place.

 

Of course the coming of the lightweight in 1980 signalled the end for the zombie. Subbuteo Sports Games Ltd had listened to the (many) critics of the zombie, and made sure the new figure was much more detailed and attractive. 

[Flick here for Subbuteo]

I would probably categorise myself as an A League fan but that said definately not a Victory fan.

[Flick here for Subbuteo]

Hi all,

Just came across this site tonight.

I got my first subbuteo set when I was about 8(37 now) and rediscovered it as an adult and now have a small collection of about 50-60 teams plus all sorts of goodies that I have picked up over the last 10 years or so.

I haven't played the game in a few years as kids meant my subbuteo room (the good lady wife let me have a spare room devoted to subbuteo for about 2 years) was taken over. My youngest is now 7 and we pulled out an old astropitch last weekend had played for an hour or so. It was great having a flick and its probably helped me rediscover the passion.

I'm probably more collector than player but look forward to keeping up to date with the Melbourne scene through this forum.

Cheers

Pozza