One of the more intriguing projects on Kickstarter right now is Pixel Soccer, which is intended to be a fun and unique way to play the worlds most popular sport. We recently got a chance to talk to the creators about their vision and where the game is heading.

Operation Sports: On the most basic level, what is Pixel Soccer and why should sports gamers be excited about it?

Pixel Soccer: Pixel Soccer is a fun, top down, 2D, pixel art soccer game. Sports gamers should care because in this world of hyper realism in sports games, here’s a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, focuses on fun and is easy to just pick up and play.

OS: You have had incredible publicity and success because of your 8-bit artwork, and merchandise, but what made you want to expand into gaming?

Pixel Soccer: Mostly the requests from people who follow 8bit-football. I was often asked 'When are you going to make a game with these illustrations'. To be honest, on the beginning I didn't have many plans in that direction, but when Ammaniel from SuperRockGames contact me I decided to take the challenge.

OS: What other football games, besides Sensible Soccer, inspired you when creating the game?

Pixel Soccer: Nearly all games from that golden era of 8bit football games, such as Kick Off. To be specific anything Dino Dini has made!

OS: While the detailed 8-bit graphics are a joy to see, can you tell us more about the gameplay?

Pixel Soccer: If you have played Sensible Soccer then you will have an idea of the type of gameplay Pixel Soccer will have. But we don’t want to stop there. Our unique art style allows us to show more detail to the player behaviors. We would like to add things like diving headers, overhead kicks, different goal celebrations, arguing with the ref as well as faking injury and diving. This is in addition to a full career mode with transfers.

OS: If you make the Kickstarter goal, what kind of release time are you hoping for?

Pixel Soccer: Our aim is January 2015.

OS: What platforms is Pixel Soccer Coming to?

Pixel Soccer: PC and Mac to start with. Then if we reach our stretch goals mobile and console. This is because we need to adjust the game to better fit these platforms without losing on the gameplay aspect.

OS: We know of the licensing issues regarding real player and team names, are you giving players the chance to edit them in any way?

Pixel Soccer: Yes, for that reason we are building an Editor within the game .People will be able to name players, teams and leagues whatever they choose using this games editor. They can even add their own school team, customising players and team kits.

OS: Can you tell us more about some of the scenarios you plan to implement?

Pixel Soccer: Our idea for the scenario mode is to revive famous matches of the football history and give it a different ending. A good example for the scenario mode wouild it be. You are Argentina, playing the World Cup Final against Germany. It is the 113th minute and Germany just scored. Are you able to turn that match around and take Argentina to glory?

OS: How do you think you'll compete with the more modern sports titles, more so than just nostalgia?

Pixel Soccer: Pixel Soccer will be a fun game to play irrespective of its art-style or any similarity to older games. I think that is what sports gamers look for in a title more than aesthetics.

OS: What game modes will players have to enjoy when the game releases?

Pixel Soccer: Friendly match, League, Cup and Career mode as well as custom career and cup mode.

OS: What does the future look like for Pixel Soccer?

Pixel Soccer: If Pixel Soccer is funded through Kickstarter, development will start immediately with our first beta scheduled for end of September early October. The full version will release in January 2015 with additional leagues and free game-play updates made available in the following months.

OS: We appreciate your time for this interview, is there anything else you would like to add?

Pixel Soccer: Perhaps it is important to say that we are not making PixelSoccer to get most money out of it. We are two guys that like video games and football so much that we decided to make something out of it, our contribution. We want to make the best game, a game that we would spend hours playing ourselves.