ABOUT
Rusty League: a league that is still trying to find its rightful place and meaning
Rusty League is a "fantasy simulation soccer league". Technically it is a text-based simulation, a computer gaming genre that looked out of place even back in 2003 when the league first started. In 2021, it almost looks anachronistic. But at its core is recognizable gameplay with a repetitive hook, and that should qualify it as a game for the foreseeable future.
The league started way back in 2003 in a computer class lab with locally networked computers. After a season, the class graduated and the league stopped. The league then made a comeback in 2007 with a web-based version and went pretty strong for a while expanding to 18 active teams at one time. Big aspirations and pompous ideas started to take hold, and there was strife to attain meaning and balance in all aspects of the league. But the text-based simulations were too mundane for those lofty aspirations, and disappointment was inevitable. The league stuttered for nine seasons before disbanding again in 2012.
In the meantime, life happened: successes, failures, careers, sacrifices, gains, losses, love, heartbreaks, weddings, and children. PlayStation 3 gave way to PlayStation 4, and then to PlayStation 5. The earth quaked violently, and repeatedly. The world masked up and locked down.
Rusty League, the idea, and its online presence persisted. But the game still felt too non-significant to be a meaningful presence in the complex lives we led. I kept on coming back and making changes under the hood - in the core engine and the layout. I was looking to make significant changes, but the change started happening elsewhere. And here I am re-writing the About section of the game in 2021!
Rusty League has been sort of an experiment, and an expression of the pompous and the mundane at varying times. However through it all, it has been my sanctuary from everyday complexities and my rare creative outlet. Somewhere deep, it has also been my yearning for a simpler past with aspirations for a limitless future in that past.
CREDITS
Rusty League is based on the concept of play-by-mail (PBM) first invented by Alan Parr in England around 197 in the form of postal soccer. This concept was later expanded as play-by-email (PBEM) by various leagues. Rusty League borrows direct concepts, ideas, inspirations, and support from leagues such as MSWL, SESL, FLATNZ, The Manager, and few ESMS-based leagues. Rusty League used OLMEC simulation software created by Mr. Alan Sellers for nine out of its first ten seasons and then have switched to a modified version of ESMS+ software. ESMS+ software was originally created by Mr. Eli Bendersky and Mr. Igor Oks which was later modified by a host of other people including significant contributions by Mr. Chris Knight. I have been lucky to have received direct communication and support from Mr. Sellers and Mr. Knight themselves as well as from a lot of good folks out in the "simulation soccer" community including Mr. Tim Given (previously, FLATNZ) and Mr. Adam Meney (previously, The Manager).
DISCLAIMER
1. You are playing a FREE league. Things WILL go wrong occasionally. If they do, GET OVER IT, move on...
2. The software MAY occasionally cause you to lose a game or two due to a new bug/problem. If it does..GET OVER IT. In real life referees make bad calls, teams lose games they should not..it happens.
3. Have FUN, but BE RESPECTFUL of others and of the time people put into the game to run it.
4. At times, common sense may be allowed to prevail over the software and the game rules.