Soccer 3D is a brand by Astrobase… To understand why Soccer 3d came about firstly you need to know what proceeded it…
The Black Box Subbuteo Range, although a collaboration between Parodi and Hasbro, featured figures and bases designed by Enrico Techiatti, who operates Astrobase. When the Subbuteo Black Box range came to an end due to the licensing agreement between Parodi and Hasbro expiring, Enrico and Astrobase parted ways with Parodi. They went on to develop their own seperate own product. Parodi transitioned to Zeugo, initially retaining the base design (second edition range) with the disc swapping out to accommodate a bar fitting as they reverted back to there HW roots before eventually adopting Profibases from 2006 onwards ending any link of their product to the Subbuteo Black box Range. Enrico and Astrobase meanwhile proceeded to create Soccer 3D, retaining the same figure and base designs (after all, they were Enrico’s creations).

Early Soccer 3D teams may still bear Subbuteo branding, as they were produced using existing stock. However, this branding is no longer present on new purchases.

The early Soccer 3D range, up until 2010, can be seen as the successor or continuation of the Black Box range, almost like a hypothetical scenario of what might have happened if the Black Box range had continued. The range initially mirrored the Black Box catalogue and continued to expand thereafter (of course…) Eventually The figure and base design changed in 2010 bringing an end to the lineage of the Black Box Range if you will… The figure has remained in its current form ever since.

For more info on the Early Soccer 3d range Check out Peter Upton’s page http://www.peter-upton.co.uk/clones01.htm

All these team pics are from the Official Astrobase site (Some pics are small so if you have the team and can take a better one please do) also every team is still available to order https://www.astrobase.eu