Posts Tagged ‘Sports’

Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. announces sponsorship program with Backyaard Sports: Rookie Rush

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Atari’s new Backyard Sports® Rookie Rush video game to be named official football video game of Pop Warner Football

Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., the nation’s largest and oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization, today announced a sponsorship program involving Backyard Sports® Rookie Rush, a football video game manufactured by Atari, Inc., global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for interactive game platforms.

As part of the program, Atari’s Backyard Sports® Rookie Rush, which launched on October 26th , will be exclusively named the official football video game of Pop Warner Football. Atari will also become an event sponsor of the 2010 and 2011 Pop Warner Super Bowls, held at the ESPN ™ World Wide Sports Complex at Walt Disney World ™ in Orlando, Florida on December 4-11, 2010 and December 3-10, 2011.

Additional elements of the sponsorship program include:

· Pop Warner will include Atari in sampling, exhibit space, public service announcements, and signage at all nationally and regionally controlled Pop Warner events,.

· Atari will donate two thousand dollars ($2,000) to the Pop Warner scholarship fund annually

· Atari will incorporate the Pop Warner logo on the Backyard Sports® Rookie Rush manual, packaging inserts for the 2010 season and in the game, on packaging and in the manual for the 2011 Product.

In conjunction with the Atari sponsorship program, Pop Warner today announced the launch of a video contest for Pop Warner football teams. The Rookie Rush – Pop Warner Video Contest will allow Pop Warner football teams across the country to submit video entries to become the official 2011 Backyard Sports® Rookie Rush sponsored team. Users can vote on their favorite videos from November 11th to November 30th,, 2010, and the winning team, announced at the 2010 Pop Warner Super Bowl, will receive uniforms, football equipment and recognition on both Pop Warner and Atari’s websites.

“In anticipation of the 2010 Pop Warner Super Bowl, we are excited to work with Atari to further increase engagement in youth football across the nation,” said Mary FitzGerald, COO of Pop Warner. “We hope that the Rookie Rush – Pop Warner Video Contest will inspire camaraderie amongst Pop Warner teams and facilitate engagement in both the sport and the video game.”

“The family-friendly Backyard Sports series of video games are dedicated to teaching kids sportsmanship, inclusion and encouraging kids to play outdoors as well as enjoy video games,” says Jim Wilson, President of Atari. ”We share Pop Warner’s ideals and supporting the 2010 and 2011 Pop Warner Super Bowls is a great fit for our brand.”

Exclusive access to FIFA 11 Ultimate Team begins now

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

EA SPORTS revealed today that FIFA 11 Ultimate Team will be available as a FREE download for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 3, 2010, and for the first time, includes the addition of players from Major League Soccer and Russian Premier League, increasing the number of available players to 8,000 from 30 leagues.

Beginning Oct. 27, all returning FIFA Ultimate Team players—individuals who previously played FIFA 09 Ultimate Team or FIFA 10 Ultimate Team—can start their FIFA 11 Ultimate Team campaign early by visiting www.easportsfootball.com/ultimateteam and logging on to the FIFA 11 Ultimate Team web tool. Returning players will be rewarded with two free gold packs to begin their team building experience ahead of launch on Nov 3. The web tool features full auction functionality—bidding, selling and the ability to post trades for the very first time—and links directly to the FIFA 11 Ultimate Team console experience. For every day between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 that gamers log-on to the FIFA 11 Ultimate Team web tool they’ll receive a daily gift.

Boooooom-shaka-laka! EA announces Tim Kitzrow as the voice of EA Sports NBA Jam

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Fans to Create the Next Generation of NBA JAM One-Liners

Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS) announced today that EA SPORTS™ is giving its fans an opportunity to create their own one-liners for the upcoming EA SPORTS NBA JAM videogame*. Fans can submit and vote for their favorite lines to be read by the original voice of NBA JAM, Tim Kitzrow, who reprises his role as the legendary announcer.

Fans can submit their one-liners at http://www.facebook.com/NBAJAM, and 64 finalists, as chosen by the EA SPORTS NBA JAM team, will go head-to-head in a single elimination bracket with fan votes determining the winners. The four finalists will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their one-liners included in the game and heard by millions of people around the world.

Contest Schedule:

May 13th – Contest Submissions Open at http://www.facebook.com/NBAJAM

May 19th – Contest Submissions Close

May 24th – 64 Finalists Announced

May 25th – Fan voting begins

June 23rd –Winners Announced

“NBA JAM is one of the most popular and culturally influential arcade basketball games ever made, and is widely known for its one-liners like Boom-Shaka-Laka and He’s on Fire,” says Kitzrow, the original voice of NBA JAM. “I am really excited to be a part of the remake and for fans to create the expressions that could become culturally iconic in the years to come.”

EA SPORTS NBA JAM revives the classic franchise with vintage NBA JAM gameplay, and all-new features that deliver a fresh new take on the game. Featuring the sights and sounds that fans of the franchise will instantly recognize, EA SPORTS NBA JAM mixes the old school with the new, to deliver a one-of-a-kind sports presentation on the Wii™.

EA SPORTS NBA JAM is currently in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, BC and will be available Fall, 2010 for the Nintendo Wii videogame system. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

For more information and breaking news on EA SPORTS NBA JAM, visit: http://www.facebook.com/NBAJAM

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football and NCAA Basketball, Fight Night boxing and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, while EA SPORTS Active Personal Trainer for the Wii is the most critically acclaimed product available for interactive fitness.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums, fantasy leagues and game communities, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

Void where prohibited.

Eligibility restrictions apply.

Contest starts May 13, 2010 and ends June 23, 2010.

Complete Contest rules can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/NBAJAM

Fans select Drew Brees as Madden NFL 11 cover athlete

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Cover Selection Marks First in Series of Initiatives Enabling

Madden NFL Fans to Shape Franchise

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been chosen by fans to be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 11, set to hit retail shelves on Tuesday, August 10. The Madden NFL 11 cover announcement is the result of a first-ever online consumer vote, powered by the Doritos “Change the Game” program, which empowered fans to select the highly-debated cover athlete. The partnership between EA SPORTS™ and the Doritos brand represents the first in a series of initiatives this year which allow fans to help shape the future of the franchise.

Doritos “Change the Game” allowed fans to submit their vote online, with Drew Brees winning over Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

“The Madden NFL franchise holds a special place in popular culture and the cover is a coveted position for players all over the league,” said New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. “I’m honored to be the first cover athlete chosen by Madden NFL fans and it’s a great way to cap off an amazing year for the Saints and the city of New Orleans.”

From February 4 – March 15, fans logged on to www.doritoschangethegame.com to vote daily for one of the three nominees. Voters were also entered into a drawing for a chance to win a trip to the 2010 NFL Draft. During the voting period, former NFL all-stars and Madden NFL cover legends Eddie George, Marshall Faulk and Shaun Alexander were featured on limited-edition Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch Doritos bags to inspire fans to vote for the next Madden NFL cover athlete.

“Drew’s exceptional performance during the regular season and in Super Bowl XLIV resonated with voters and helped cement his position as the fans’ choice to grace the cover of Madden NFL 11,” said Todd Sitrin, Group Vice President, EA SPORTS Global Marketing. “Giving fans the power to select this year’s Madden NFL cover underscores our commitment to connecting with our fans and giving them opportunities to influence the game.”

“Doritos is always looking for unprecedented opportunities to provide our fans access to the things they are most passionate about, and we are thrilled we were able to partner with EA SPORTS to give consumers complete control over this highly anticipated gaming moment,” said Rudy Wilson, vice president, marketing, Frito Lay.

Drew Brees was named Super Bowl XLIV MVP after leading the New Orleans Saints to their first ever Super Bowl title. Following a career threatening injury during his last season with the San Diego Chargers, Brees joined the New Orleans Saints in 2005, less than a year after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Brees has helped rebuild the city and the football team, through his successes on the field and contributions to the community off the field.

Brees’s decorated NFL career has included four Pro Bowl selections, three All Pro selections, three NFC Offensive Player of the Year awards, the Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the Pro Football Weekly 2004 Comeback Player of the Year. Off the field, Brees has been a champion as well through his charity – the Brees Dream Foundation – and his work in the New Orleans, San Diego and West Lafayette/Purdue, Ind. communities, which have provided over $4,500,000 to charitable causes and academic institutions.

Beyond the cover athlete selection, the franchise has also recently introduced two new initiatives that further enable fans to influence Madden NFL 11. From March 31 – April 26, fans have had the ability to vote on three match-ups through the Madden NFL website and determine which teams would be featured in the Madden NFL 11 game demo: a Super Bowl rematch, or a replay of one of the Conference Championship games. During the 2010 NFL Draft, fans will have the opportunity to influence rookie player ratings in Madden NFL 11 via online votes on the Madden NFL website.

Madden NFL 11 will redefine videogame football for both veteran and rookie players by providing a Simpler, Quicker and Deeper experience:

· Simpler: Call plays like an NFL coach with ease using an all-new play-calling system, GameFlow, which executes an authentic, situational game plan for you.

· Quicker: The new play-calling system will enable players to spend more time on the field and less in the playbook – completing games in half of the time.

· Deeper: Madden NFL 11 is feature-rich, with improved animations and control options, enhanced online functionality, and new broadcast and audio presentation that delivers the NFL experience fans have come to expect.

Madden NFL 11 will be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 , Wii, and PSP (PlayStation Portable). Madden NFL 11 will also be available for download globally on mobile platforms including iPod touch and iPhone and feature phones.

Madden NFL 11 is developed in Orlando, Florida by the EA Tiburon studio, which also produces NCAA Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, and EA SPORTS MMA.

For more information about Madden NFL 11 please visit maddenNFL.easports.com.

Consumers should also check in regularly at www.doritoschangethegame.com for details on what’s to come from Doritos and Madden NFL 11.

O-Games Announces ProStroke Golf: World Tour Coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 & PC in Fall 2010!

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

O-Games, Inc., a publisher of family, social and sports videogames and part of OG International Ltd., announced today that ProStroke Golf: World Tour is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC in Fall 2010. Building on the success of the critically acclaimed ProStroke Golf: World Tour 2007, O-Games and developer Gusto Games have been developing ProStroke for its debut on the current generation consoles. With enhanced gameplay physics, ProStroke Golf: World Tour provides gamers with a truly realistic golfing experience without ever leaving the house!

ProStroke Golf: World Tour is an interactive game with a number of fully licensed courses and five different play modes. Put the ball in play with the revolutionary design and realistic physics of ProStroke View and Prostroke Swing!

ProStroke Golf: World Tour game features include:

* Five different play modes including Challenge Mode, allowing you to go up against a real pro

* Craft your own swing with the unique control system

* Listen to commentary from the world renowned voices of golf

* Fully licensed courses put players to the ultimate test

“ProStroke Golf: World Tour promises to be a fresh new approach to delivering the most realistic and competitive golf experience on PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles.” saysGreg Lanz, General Manager of O-Games, “We are excited to expand on quality and success of the ProStroke franchise.”

ProStroke Golf: World Tour is a family-friendly videogame that will bring competition and excitement to every home. For more information about O-Games and ProStroke Golf: World Tour,please visit: ProStroke Golf: World Tour.

New Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 DLC now available on PS3, 360, PC

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Fans Come Another Step Closer to the Goal Line With Free DLC for Hit Soccer Game

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced the latest downloadable content for Pro Evolution Soccer 2010. The free download is available starting today on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC-DVD, providing additional updates to team rosters and ensuring that all recent moves by top players are fully implemented. The new content will also introduce the official match ball of this year’s UEFA Champions League Final, which will be held in Madrid in May 2010. Putting fans right into the shoes of the pros, the Adidas F50i TUNiT boots worn by the game’s cover star, Lionel Messi, will also be available.

The most realistic soccer game on the planet, Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 lives up to its name by delivering dramatic improvements in the amount of licensed content as well as in-stadium atmospheres and player likenesses. True soccer fans will recognize that the specific moves of real-life players that have been incorporated into this year’s version, including cover athlete Lionel Messi. Further building upon the games’ realism, PES takes place on the largest stage in soccer – The UEFA Champions League.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 is currently available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation Portable. News of further DLC for PES 2010 will be announced shortly. For more information, please visit: www.konami.com/downloads.

NBA announces Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII as presenting partner of 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Partnership with World-Renowned Fantasy Videogame Includes Visibility Throughout the Game and at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2010 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Square Enix Inc. (Square Enix) today announced a promotional partnership that will make FINAL FANTASY® XIII – the latest in the world-renowned action-packed role-playing videogame series that has shipped more than 92 million units – the presenting partner of the 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

As the presenting partner of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, FINAL FANTASY XIII will have prominent exposure throughout Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, where the game will be played. The role-playing videogame, which features futuristic characters and gameplay, will receive significant presence during the broadcast on ESPN, which will televise the NBA All-Star event for the sixth consecutive year. There will also be a dedicated FINAL FANTASY XIII area at NBA All-Star Jam Session where fans will be able to preview the videogame, which will be available for both PlayStation®3 and the Xbox 360® on March 9, 2010.

“FINAL FANTASY XIII ,the next evolution in videogame entertainment, will appeal to first time players and series fans alike,” said John Yamamoto, President and CEO of Square Enix, Inc., “We are delighted to be the presenting partner at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and give fans a chance to experience the most highly anticipated game of the year before it launches on March 9.”

“FINAL FANTASY is a storied brand in the videogame category and this partnership will bring an exciting new element to this year’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Executive Vice President of Marketing Partnerships. “A good portion of our fanbase overlaps with the young, videogame-playing audience, so it is a natural fit for us to partner with a leading franchise like FINAL FANTASY around one of our marquee All-Star events.”

The 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by FINAL FANTASY XIII will tip off on Friday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. EST/ 6:00 p.m. CST from NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas inside the Dallas Convention Center. This year’s celebrity participants will include a cast of players from film, TV, and music who will be outfitted in retro 1986 NBA All-Star uniforms paying tribute to NBA All-Star 1986 in Dallas. The game will also feature former NBA players and current WNBA players.

FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated franchise, bringing the series to multiple high-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history. The series is defined by a constant evolution, offering nothing less than the finest creative vision, graphical quality and gameplay system of its generation with every installment, and FINAL FANTASY XIII will be no exception to its legacy.

BOOOOOOM-SHAKA-LAKA! EA ANNOUNCES NBA JAM

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

New Take on Classic Game to Appear on the Wii in 2010

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that EA SPORTS is developing one of the most popular and culturally influential arcade basketball games ever made — NBA JAM — for the Nintendo Wii. EA SPORTS NBA JAM revives the classic franchise with vintage NBA JAM gameplay, and all-new features that deliver a fresh new take on the game. Featuring the sights and sounds that fans of the franchise will instantly recognize, EA SPORTS NBA JAM mixes the old school with the new, to deliver a one-of-a-kind sports presentation on the Wii.

“NBA JAM is one of the most recognizable franchises in videogame history,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “Diehard fans of the original game have been asking for a remake for more than a decade. We’re very excited to give them their wish this year with the return of this iconic franchise.”

Featuring gameplay that is true to the original, NBA JAM will have players spinning with ankle breaking moves to the basket and on the way to high-flying, backboard-smashing dunks. In addition to the classic experience, EA SPORTS NBA JAM will also introduce new game modes, characters and gameplay depth.

NBA JAM brought an all-new visual style to the sports videogame genre when it debuted in 1993. Now, the new EA SPORTS NBA JAM re-defines the visuals for a sports game yet again by bringing true-to-life body types, updated physics and visible player emotion to the over- the – top experience.

EA SPORTS NBA JAM is currently in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, BC and will be available for the Nintendo Wii videogame system in 2010. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

For more information, visit www.nba-jam.easports.com.

Backbreaker trailer released

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

505 Games today released new in-game footage for Backbreaker, the next generation football video game for a new generation of football fans. Boasting fierce, competitive action and an endless variety of unique football moments, Backbreaker is how football was meant to be played on next-gen consoles. Redefining the football video game genre with stunning on-field camera views, realistic animations and an unrelenting rush of explosive tackles, Backbreaker hits Xbox 360™ and PlayStation 3 in Spring 2010.

About Backbreaker

Backbreaker breaks the mold of traditional football video games with realistic, physics-based motion AI, crisp high-definition graphics and a camera angle that follows the perspective of the player. Backbreaker is the first sports video game to feature NaturalMotion’s acclaimed euphoria motion synthesis engine, offering intense gameplay, dazzling graphics and an endless variety of unique sacks and tackles.

Backbreaker includes online multiplayer and split-screen multiplayer modes. The game welcomes newcomers to the genre with its intuitive pick-up-and-play Arcade Mode control scheme, while seasoned players can go head-to-head in the game’s more challenging Pro Mode that turns off AI and visual assists. In addition, the game features total team customization including a fully featured logo editor.

Backbreaker will be available for Xbox 360™ and PlayStation®3 in Spring 2010. For more information, please visit the official Web site at: http://www.backbreakergame.com.

Deca Sports DS goes gold

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Third Game in the Popular Sports Compilation Series Can Be Played On-The-Go

Zipping in hot on the heels of the best-selling DECA SPORTS and the sequel DECA SPORTS 2 for Wii, DECA SPORTS DS for Nintendo DS has just gone gold. Featuring 10 all-new, innovative sports for portable gaming, DECA SPORTS DS is set for release March 2, 2010 and will be published by Hudson Entertainment, the North and South American subsidiary of HUDSON SOFT.

“DECA SPORTS DS represents the latest iteration of the social, full-fledged compilation sports experience unique to the DECA SPORTS brand,” said Dai Kudo, Director of Consumer Products at Hudson Entertainment. “Both young gamers and gamers young at heart will have a fun time playing new sports such as cheerleading and rugby alongside classics such as golf and ping pong.”

DECA SPORTS DS will feature an all-new diverse selection of sports including golf, ping pong, wall climbing, bobsled, rugby, arm wrestling, clay shooting, cheerleading, sky diving and sepak takraw. The new game will continue the original game’s credo of “the Everybody Sports Game” and for added competitive fun, up to six players can join through DS Download Play. In addition to the new sports and multiplayer functionality, gamers will also be able to design their own teams by customizing uniforms, changing athlete abilities and even altering the physical characteristics of the athletes themselves.

For more information on DECA SPORTS DS please visit www.decasportsds.com