Jun 19, 2009

Ashes Cricket 2009

The Ashes tour is due to start again this year and game developers are slowly realising that the game contains untapped potential. The cynics amongst us will likely draw conclusions on making a quick buck, but in truth cricket has remained relatively untouched in gaming. Sure, there has been Cricket games in the past, notably the Brian Lara series (also by Code Masters), but not in the same vein as a lot of other sports titles.

Outside a select few countries Cricket hasn’t really ignited the public’s interest in the sport, which probably explains the lack of interest by developers to spend money producing a game and then releasing it only in England and her (ex)colonies. Cricket is however becoming sexy again with the quicker and faster paced twenty20 Cricket proving popular with non Cricket fans and high profile games, like the Ashes. England successfully won the Ashes back 2005 which gave the sport a healthy boost in popularity for the following tour in 07, which we lost. I imagine so long as we perform this year like we belong on the international Cricket stage the numbers should continue to grow.

In a clever marketing move, Code Masters have commissioned two covers for the game, one for the English and one for the . Batsman Kevin Pietersen will do the cover responsibilities for the English and Australian captain Ricky Ponting will don the Australian box. Joining the pair will be Cricket legends Shane Warne and Sir Ian Botham, who will not only commentate for the game they will also participate in the legends mode.