Footy fever to ignite rugby release
CLAIRE MCENTEE - BusinessDay.co.nz
GAME ON: Andrew Stairs, one of Sidhe's artists, working on the likenesses of rugby players which will be used in a rugby game released next year.
Wellington's Sidhe is developing a rugby game due for release around the time of the World Cup.
It believes the footy fever set to grip the country and hundreds of millions of overseas viewers could make the title its most successful yet.
Managing director Mario Wynands said Rugby Challenge would be available for PCs and most game consoles, and would feature players and teams from the All Blacks, ITM Cup and Super Rugby competition.
The game's players would be able to play each other online – including people in different countries – and create their own rugby players and competitions. Rugby Challenge would also have a multi-year franchise mode so players could develop a team over several years, and "real-time dynamic commentary" voiced by well-known commentators.
The title will be distributed by Sydney-based Home Entertainment Suppliers, for which Sidhe has previously developed rugby league games.
Under development since late last year, Rugby Challenge is one of the biggest projects in dollar terms the 120-person firm has worked on. Mr Wynands said it had been several years since the last rugby union game had been released and none had been developed for the latest generation of consoles. "Other publishers who have worked in that [sport] space such as Electronic Arts don't seem to be supporting smaller sports codes such as cricket and rugby which seems crazy when you consider how big those audiences are."
HES paid Sidhe an up-front development fee and Sidhe would receive royalties on sales. "There is potential there for us to see significant financial reward if the game takes off internationally.
"With the timing especially and the World Cup being here, everything is aligning to make it an amazing opportunity. We're hoping we can make it one of our best games ever, if not the best game that we have created."
The International Rugby Board's head of the Rugby World Cup, Kit McConnell, has said the tournament will bring 85,000 visitors to New Zealand in addition to vast numbers of international television viewers.
Mr Wynands said about 50 staff were working on the game, ensuring it was as polished as possible.
"We're certainly hoping the game is well-received creatively, lest we be kicked out of the country for messing up the national sport."
See rugbychallengegame.com.
CLAIRE MCENTEE - BusinessDay.co.nz
GAME ON: Andrew Stairs, one of Sidhe's artists, working on the likenesses of rugby players which will be used in a rugby game released next year.
Wellington's Sidhe is developing a rugby game due for release around the time of the World Cup.
It believes the footy fever set to grip the country and hundreds of millions of overseas viewers could make the title its most successful yet.
Managing director Mario Wynands said Rugby Challenge would be available for PCs and most game consoles, and would feature players and teams from the All Blacks, ITM Cup and Super Rugby competition.
The game's players would be able to play each other online – including people in different countries – and create their own rugby players and competitions. Rugby Challenge would also have a multi-year franchise mode so players could develop a team over several years, and "real-time dynamic commentary" voiced by well-known commentators.
The title will be distributed by Sydney-based Home Entertainment Suppliers, for which Sidhe has previously developed rugby league games.
Under development since late last year, Rugby Challenge is one of the biggest projects in dollar terms the 120-person firm has worked on. Mr Wynands said it had been several years since the last rugby union game had been released and none had been developed for the latest generation of consoles. "Other publishers who have worked in that [sport] space such as Electronic Arts don't seem to be supporting smaller sports codes such as cricket and rugby which seems crazy when you consider how big those audiences are."
HES paid Sidhe an up-front development fee and Sidhe would receive royalties on sales. "There is potential there for us to see significant financial reward if the game takes off internationally.
"With the timing especially and the World Cup being here, everything is aligning to make it an amazing opportunity. We're hoping we can make it one of our best games ever, if not the best game that we have created."
The International Rugby Board's head of the Rugby World Cup, Kit McConnell, has said the tournament will bring 85,000 visitors to New Zealand in addition to vast numbers of international television viewers.
Mr Wynands said about 50 staff were working on the game, ensuring it was as polished as possible.
"We're certainly hoping the game is well-received creatively, lest we be kicked out of the country for messing up the national sport."
See rugbychallengegame.com.
Although Sidhe's previous games haven't been the greatest, those player models look pretty decent and have me excited for this one.
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