ACS Sports

ACS Sports is a publishing label created by ACS to market sports video games during most of the 1990s and the early 2000s. First appearing in 1995, ACS Sports has published games on various popular sports such as soccer/Association football, baseball, basketball, American football, ice hockey, tennis, golf and extreme sports, among others. Games under the ACS Sports label has been released for several platforms, including the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance.

History
Prior to creating the ACS Sports label, ACS released various sports titles for the Super Nintendo. These sports games were nothing more than ports of their arcade sports titles originally released for their Supra arcade systems, with the inclusion of licensed players, but the teams were only loosely based on then-current sports league teams, as they were only able to secure player's association licenses (or in the case of Shaq's Monster Dunk Basketball (1995), only one pro player's license).

Initially a launch title for the PlayStation, World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick was released in early 1995 as the inaugural game for the ACS Sports label. It was among the first soccer games on console to featured full 3D graphics. The Winning Kick series would receive several more installments in the coming years, with World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick Prime (2001) showcasing a shift to a more simulation-based style.

Around that same time, ACS would obtain the license to the “big four” major sports leagues in America: the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, to publish what would become known as the "Big 4" series. ACS would release the first game in this series, Major League Baseball: At Bat, later in 1996.

Maximum Smash Tennis and Super Shot Golf would later follow suit, releasing in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Unlike Winning Kick and the Big 4 series, both of which would move to simulation as time went by, these games were built from the ground up as fast-paced arcade sports games, and managed to retain this gameplay style well into their last few installments.

ACS Sports games were initially exclusive to the PlayStation. In 1998 and 1999, ACS released several of their Big 4 sports games on the Nintendo 64. However, these are all completely different games compared to their PlayStation originals, developed by a separate, undisclosed studio. Starting in 2000, ACS Sports would go multiplatform. However, both Maximum Smash Tennis and Super Shot Golf still remained as PlayStation exclusives.

From 1995 to 1999, most ACS Sports titles were developed by ACS Production Sudio Nagoya. Starting in 2000, development work for the annual "big four" ACS Sports titles: MLB At Bat, NBA Rebound, NFL Rush and NHL Full Strength would all be outsourced to various third-party developers. Meanwhile, ACS Production Studio Nagoya would continue development on the other, more sporadic titles for the brand.

2000 saw ACS expanding the ACS Sports brand by releasing games based on extreme sports: both the MX: Extreme Motocross and Total Extreme Sports series would receive frequent installments from 2000 to 2002. Both franchises were developed by third-party developers, with little involvement from ACS beyond publishing.

The last game to be released under the ACS Sports label is NHL Full Strength 2005, released in late 2004. Following the sales decline for ACS Sports games, as well as their subsequent loss of the big 4 major sports league licenses, ACS would fully retire the ACS Sports label shortly after and instead publish all of their further sports games under the mainline ACS umbrella.

World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick

 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick (1995; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick 2 (1996; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick 64 (1997; Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick 3 (1998; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick: The Arcade (1999; Arcade (ACS TGX2 Modeler)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Tokyo


 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick 2000 (2000; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick Prime (2001; PlayStation 2, Gamecube)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick Prime 2 (2003; PlayStation 2, Gamecube)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya

MLB At Bat

 * Major League Baseball: At Bat (1996; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1996 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat ‘98 (1997; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1997 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat ‘99 (1998; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1998 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat 2000 (1999; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1999 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat 2001 (2000; Dreamcast, PlayStation 2)
 * Developed by Stormfront Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2000 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat 2002 (2001; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Stormfront Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2001 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat 2003 (2002; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Stormfront Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2002 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat 2004 (2003; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Stormfront Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2003 MLB Season


 * MLB At Bat 2005 (2004; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Stormfront Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2004 MLB Season

NBA Rebound

 * NBA Basketball: Rebound (1996; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1996-97 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound ‘98 (1997; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1997-98 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound ‘99 (1998; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1998-99 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound 2000 (1999; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1999-2000 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound 2001 (2000; Dreamcast, PlayStation 2)
 * Developed by Black Ops Entertainment
 * Featuress rosters based on the 2000-01 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound 2002 (2001; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Black Ops Entertainment
 * Features rosters based on the 2001-02 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound 2003 (2002; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Black Ops Entertainment
 * Features rosters based on the 2002-03 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound 2004 (2003; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Black Ops Entertainment
 * Features rosters based on the 2003-04 NBA Season


 * NBA Rebound 2005 (2004; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Black Ops Entertainment
 * Features rosters based on the 2004-05 NBA Season

NFL Rush

 * NFL Football: Rush (1996; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1996 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush ‘98 (1997; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1997 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush ‘99 (1998; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1998 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush 2000 (1999; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1999 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush 2001 (2000; Dreamcast, PlayStation 2)
 * Developed by FarSight Technologies
 * Features rosters based on the 2000 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush 2002 (2001; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by FarSight Technologies
 * Features rosters based on the 2001 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush 2003 (2002; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by FarSight Technologies
 * Features rosters based on the 2002 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush 2004 (2003; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by FarSight Technologies
 * Features rosters based on the 2003 NFL Season


 * NFL Rush 2005 (2004; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by FarSight Technologies
 * Features rosters based on the 2004 NFL Season

NHL Full Strength

 * NHL Hockey: Full Strength (1996; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1996-97 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength ‘98 (1997; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1997-98 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength ‘99 (1998; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1998-99 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength 2000 (1999; PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya
 * Features rosters based on the 1999-2000 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength 2001 (2000; Dreamcast, PlayStation 2)
 * Developed by Page 44 Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2000-01 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength 2002 (2001; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Page 44 Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2001-02 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength 2003 (2002; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Page 44 Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2002-03 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength 2004 (2003; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Page 44 Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2003-04 NHL Season


 * NHL Full Strength 2005 (2004; PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube)
 * Developed by Page 44 Studios
 * Features rosters based on the 2004-05 NHL Season

Maximum Smash Tennis

 * Maximum Smash Tennis (1997; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * Maximum Smash Tennis 2 (1999; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * Maximum Smash Tennis 3 (2003; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya

Super Shot Golf

 * Super Shot Golf (1998; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * Super Shot Golf 2 (2000; PlayStation)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya


 * Super Shot Golf 3 (2002; PlayStation 2)
 * Developed by ACS Production Studio Nagoya

MX: Extreme Motocross
Main article: MX: Extreme Motocross


 * MX: Extreme Motocross feat. Travis Pastrana (2000; PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color)
 * Developed by Climax Studios


 * MX: Extreme Motocross 2 (2001; PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance)
 * Developed by Climax Studios


 * MX: Extreme Motocross 3 (2002; PlayStation 2, XBox, Gamecube, Game Boy Advance)
 * Developed by Climax Studios

Danny Way’s Total Skateboarding
Main article: Total Extreme Sports


 * Danny Way’s Total Skateboarding (2000; PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color)
 * Developed by Rage Software


 * Danny Way’s Total Skateboarding 2 (2001; PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance)
 * Developed by Rage Software


 * Danny Way’s Total Skateboarding 3 (2002; PlayStation 2, XBox, Gamecube, Game Boy Advance)
 * Deveoped by Rage Software

Jamie Bestwick’s Total BMX
Main article: Total Extreme Sports


 * Jamie Bestwick’s Total BMX (2000; PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color)
 * Developed by Blue Shift


 * Jamie Bestwick’s Total BMX 2 (2001; PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance)
 * Developed by Blue Shift


 * Jamie Bestwick's Total BMX 3 (2002; PlayStation 2, XBox, Gamecube, Game Boy Advance)
 * Developed by Blue Shift

Peter Line’s Total Snowboarding
Main article: Total Extreme Sports


 * Peter Line’s Total Snowboarding (2000; PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color)
 * Developed by Radical Entertainment


 * Peter Line’s Total Snowboarding 2 (2001; PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance)
 * Developed by Radical Entertainment


 * Peter Line’s Total Snowboarding 3 (2002; PlayStation 2, XBox, Gamecube, Game Boy Advance)
 * Developed by Radical Entertainment

Trivia

 * World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick 3 would receive an arcade port in the form of World Pro Soccer: Winning Kick: The Arcade, released in 1999, making it the only ACS Sports game to hold such distinction.
 * Notably, the Japanese releases of MLB At Bat 2004 and 2005 featured then-Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki on the cover.
 * Top NBA player Michael Jordan did not appear in most of the NBA Rebound titles throughout the '90s due to licensing issues. In his place was a generic roster player named "Bulls Guard" who possessed his stats, but not his appearance, profile and jersey number, instead repleaced by a generic #98 jersey.
 * Alongside ESPN NFL 2K5, NFL Rush 2005 was among the last official NFL video games released by a company other than Electronic Arts. Around late 2004, NFL signed an exclusive video game license with EA, effectively halting production of non-EA NFL games.
 * Notably, NHL Hockey: Full Strength did not feature fighting. It was eventually added in the game following its sequel, NHL Full Strength ‘98.
 * Select installments of Maximum Smash Tennis and Super Shot Golf feature several ACS characters as secret players, who are unlockable by entering a cheat code.