Sports Business Digest » Video Games http://sportsbusinessdigest.com Wed, 23 May 2012 18:51:37 +0000 en hourly 1 Adrian Gonzalez named cover athlete of MLB ’12, The Show http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/11/adrian-gonzalez-named-cover-athlete-of-mlb-12-the-show/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adrian-gonzalez-named-cover-athlete-of-mlb-12-the-show http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/11/adrian-gonzalez-named-cover-athlete-of-mlb-12-the-show/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:40:31 +0000 Emmett Jones http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=4811 Fresh off the heels of 2kSports announcement of Justin Verlander as their 2012 cover athlete for MLB 2k12 baseball, Sony has announced that Adrian Gonzalez is the cover athlete for their perennial baseball game; MLB The Show.  As the cover athlete Gonzalez will participate in the game’s motion capture process, artificial intelligence consultation, and be integrated into all facets of the game’s marketing campaign.

MLB ’12, The Show will be available for both the Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita systems on March 6, 2012 just before the beginning of MLB Spring Training.  The 2012 iteration of the game will be the first video game cover for Gonzalez, who is a four time All-Star and a candidate for the 2011 AL MVP award.

“I feel very humbled to be chosen for the cover of MLB 12 The Show,” said Gonzalez, who recently won his third Gold Glove Award.  ”I think most sports fans would agree it’s a dream come true to be immortalized as the cover athlete for a video game so I jumped at the chance to work with a leading franchise like The Show—it’s truly a great honor.”

Gonzalez joins a growing list of elite athletes to grace the cover of Sony’s The Show, including Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard.  According to Sony, the decision to go with Gonzalez as the cover athlete was an easy one,

“With a standout 2011 season in his first year with the Boston Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez has cemented himself as one of the best all-around players in baseball,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA.  ”Similarly, The Showhas been the market leader and the highest rated, best-selling baseball video game franchise of all time.  Therefore, Adrian was an easy choice and a perfect fit to represent the next installment of our critically acclaimed series, MLB 12 The Show.”

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating for MLB 12 The Show is “RP” for “Rating Pending.”  For more information about the ESRB visit http://www.esrb.org.  For more information about the MLB 12 The Show, visithttp://theshownation.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/mlbtheshow.

]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/11/adrian-gonzalez-named-cover-athlete-of-mlb-12-the-show/feed/ 0 Justin Verlander: MLB 2K12 Cover Athlete http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/11/justin-verlander-mlb-2k12-cover-athlete/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=justin-verlander-mlb-2k12-cover-athlete http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/11/justin-verlander-mlb-2k12-cover-athlete/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:49:34 +0000 Emmett Jones http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=4753 Although the 2011 baseball season just ended, baseball news is all-year round.

2K Sports has chosen Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander as the cover athlete for Major League Baseball 2k12; the newest iteration in their long running ‘MLB 2k’ series.

It’s a dream come true to be on the cover of Major League Baseball 2k12 ,” said Verlander, who pitched the second no-hitter of his career this season. “I’ve worked closely with 2K Sports on the MLB 2K series since 2007, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue my relationship with such a great baseball game.” (via Press Release)

MLB 2k12, which is developed by 2K sports’ Visual Concepts studio, will be available for the XBox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, and other hand-held video game systems in March, prior to the start of the 2012 MLB season.

“Justin’s amazing performance this season speaks for itself,” added Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “Between his second career no-hitter and leading the league in virtually every pitching category, I can’t think of anyone else but Justin Verlander to serve as the face of Major League Baseball 2K12.”

For more information about 2K sports and all of their products, check out their website.

]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/11/justin-verlander-mlb-2k12-cover-athlete/feed/ 0 NBA 2k12 cover to feature Jordan, Magic, and Bird http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/07/nba-2k12-cover-to-feature-jordan-magic-and-bird/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nba-2k12-cover-to-feature-jordan-magic-and-bird http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/07/nba-2k12-cover-to-feature-jordan-magic-and-bird/#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:54:25 +0000 Emmett Jones http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=4510

5 million units later, it seems as if 2K Sports was on to something. Last year, the company released its 2K11 basketball game to much press and fanfare, in part because it was not only a well reviewed game...it had a legend on its cover. A year later, that legend, Michael Jordan, is back for another cover, but he's bringing some friends.
2K Sports announced Thursday that the cover art of their upcoming NBA simulation game, "NBA 2K12," will feature not just the return of Michael Jordan but also covers featuring 1980s greats Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Each athlete will be shown separately on three distinct covers of the video game packaging. The artwork of each athlete was created for 2K Sports by artist Adam Larson. Larson's sports work has been highlighted in a cover of ESPN Magazine, featured in art galleries and won numerous awards. Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports, said after the huge success of Jordan on the cover for "NBA 2K11," the company signed His Airness to a multiyear partnership. But he said the company wanted to give fans more than just a repeat. (via CNN)
Jordan, Magic, and Bird. Three different covers but all for the same game. According to 2k Sports, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will feature an equal number of each cover at retail locations in the United States. Everyone else -- other platforms and non-U.S. locations -- will receive Michael Jordan for the second year in a row.
"We are constantly focused on breaking the mold, not falling into any sort of pattern," he said. "We wanted to make a big statement and a big departure and continue to evolve and grow this franchise, which has been such a great level of success for us."
Look for NBA 2k12, and your favorite cover, to hit stores this October.]]>

5 million units later, it seems as if 2K Sports was on to something. Last year, the company released its 2K11 basketball game to much press and fanfare, in part because it was not only a well reviewed game...it had a legend on its cover. A year later, that legend, Michael Jordan, is back for another cover, but he's bringing some friends.
2K Sports announced Thursday that the cover art of their upcoming NBA simulation game, "NBA 2K12," will feature not just the return of Michael Jordan but also covers featuring 1980s greats Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Each athlete will be shown separately on three distinct covers of the video game packaging. The artwork of each athlete was created for 2K Sports by artist Adam Larson. Larson's sports work has been highlighted in a cover of ESPN Magazine, featured in art galleries and won numerous awards. Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports, said after the huge success of Jordan on the cover for "NBA 2K11," the company signed His Airness to a multiyear partnership. But he said the company wanted to give fans more than just a repeat. (via CNN)
Jordan, Magic, and Bird. Three different covers but all for the same game. According to 2k Sports, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will feature an equal number of each cover at retail locations in the United States. Everyone else -- other platforms and non-U.S. locations -- will receive Michael Jordan for the second year in a row.
"We are constantly focused on breaking the mold, not falling into any sort of pattern," he said. "We wanted to make a big statement and a big departure and continue to evolve and grow this franchise, which has been such a great level of success for us."
Look for NBA 2k12, and your favorite cover, to hit stores this October.]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/07/nba-2k12-cover-to-feature-jordan-magic-and-bird/feed/ 2 EA’s Tiger Woods Golf: Now with 100% less Tiger Woods on the cover http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/01/eas-tiger-woods-golf-now-with-100-less-tiger-woods-on-the-cover/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eas-tiger-woods-golf-now-with-100-less-tiger-woods-on-the-cover http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/01/eas-tiger-woods-golf-now-with-100-less-tiger-woods-on-the-cover/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:30:11 +0000 Emmett Jones http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=3664

The video game, Tiger Woods Golf, is back for another year.  The thing that will not make a return in 2011? Tiger Woods himself. EA Sports and Tiger Woods have worked together since 1999, creating Tiger Woods Golf (and its many other named iterations).  The game, which was a perennial best seller, struggled last year amidst Tiger's marriage woes, and less than stellar play.  EA Sports, almost sensing a Tiger backlash, added golfer Rory McIlroy to the cover, in what was probably an effort to mitigate the damage of "Tiger-gate".  Apparently, even EA's attempt to mitigate couldn't save the game from disastrous sales,
According to videogame analyst David Cole of DFC Intelligence, sales of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 were down 50% to 60% on a worldwide basis from 2009. While EA stood by their cover athlete, they did not work with him to promote the game last year. Traditionally, Woods does media interviews and appearances to launch each new game. (via THR)
This year? Forget sharing the cover, Tiger didn't even make the cover...of his own video game.  His replacement? The yellow flag of Augusta National. Seriously. Choosing a flag over the person for whom the game is named may have given the impression that EA was looking to dump Tiger -- its become a familiar theme -- but this apparently is not the case,
"If the insinuation is it's a reflection of EA Sports backing away from its relationship that goes back literally 13 years with Tiger, that's not the case whatsoever," said (EA Sports President, Peter) Moore. "You shouldn't read anything into the fact that Tiger's not featured on the box art of that particular edition...Tiger is right there on the PS3 version of the game with Move support, which was very good for us and Sony last year. We'll continue that." "Obviously, it was a difficult year last year, but you saw towards the end of the season Tiger starting to get back to his old ways," said Moore. "We all, as both a sports industry and sports fans, are hopeful he comes back in full force in 2011." (Woods is on the cover of the Collectors Edition of the game for Playstation 3 --Ed.)
The fact that Woods and EA saw shrinking sales on last year's video game is really a microcosm of the problem with golf generally; all of its eggs are in one basket.  Tiger Woods is the only reason the casual fan watches golf.  As much as the PGA may want you to believe otherwise, Tiger is golf.  After him, there is so little marketability that golf returns to the pre-Tiger market of wealthy white males with country club memberships.  This is fine if you're looking to keep your sport exclusive, but not so enticing if you're actually looking to maximize revenue.  Face it, for better or for worse, Woods is so intricately woven into the fabric of golf and the revenue of golf that any chink in his armor can spell disaster for the entire sport and all revenue streams associated with the sport. Sadly, even a tarnished Tiger is still apparently more marketable than the rest of the PGA field.  Don't believe me?  Just ask the company that would rather put a flag on the front of its game and hope for Tiger's return, than to back away from Tiger and go without an endorser, or sign another player on the tour. Its that kind of logic that should keep PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem up at night.]]>

The video game, Tiger Woods Golf, is back for another year.  The thing that will not make a return in 2011? Tiger Woods himself. EA Sports and Tiger Woods have worked together since 1999, creating Tiger Woods Golf (and its many other named iterations).  The game, which was a perennial best seller, struggled last year amidst Tiger's marriage woes, and less than stellar play.  EA Sports, almost sensing a Tiger backlash, added golfer Rory McIlroy to the cover, in what was probably an effort to mitigate the damage of "Tiger-gate".  Apparently, even EA's attempt to mitigate couldn't save the game from disastrous sales,
According to videogame analyst David Cole of DFC Intelligence, sales of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 were down 50% to 60% on a worldwide basis from 2009. While EA stood by their cover athlete, they did not work with him to promote the game last year. Traditionally, Woods does media interviews and appearances to launch each new game. (via THR)
This year? Forget sharing the cover, Tiger didn't even make the cover...of his own video game.  His replacement? The yellow flag of Augusta National. Seriously. Choosing a flag over the person for whom the game is named may have given the impression that EA was looking to dump Tiger -- its become a familiar theme -- but this apparently is not the case,
"If the insinuation is it's a reflection of EA Sports backing away from its relationship that goes back literally 13 years with Tiger, that's not the case whatsoever," said (EA Sports President, Peter) Moore. "You shouldn't read anything into the fact that Tiger's not featured on the box art of that particular edition...Tiger is right there on the PS3 version of the game with Move support, which was very good for us and Sony last year. We'll continue that." "Obviously, it was a difficult year last year, but you saw towards the end of the season Tiger starting to get back to his old ways," said Moore. "We all, as both a sports industry and sports fans, are hopeful he comes back in full force in 2011." (Woods is on the cover of the Collectors Edition of the game for Playstation 3 --Ed.)
The fact that Woods and EA saw shrinking sales on last year's video game is really a microcosm of the problem with golf generally; all of its eggs are in one basket.  Tiger Woods is the only reason the casual fan watches golf.  As much as the PGA may want you to believe otherwise, Tiger is golf.  After him, there is so little marketability that golf returns to the pre-Tiger market of wealthy white males with country club memberships.  This is fine if you're looking to keep your sport exclusive, but not so enticing if you're actually looking to maximize revenue.  Face it, for better or for worse, Woods is so intricately woven into the fabric of golf and the revenue of golf that any chink in his armor can spell disaster for the entire sport and all revenue streams associated with the sport. Sadly, even a tarnished Tiger is still apparently more marketable than the rest of the PGA field.  Don't believe me?  Just ask the company that would rather put a flag on the front of its game and hope for Tiger's return, than to back away from Tiger and go without an endorser, or sign another player on the tour. Its that kind of logic that should keep PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem up at night.]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2011/01/eas-tiger-woods-golf-now-with-100-less-tiger-woods-on-the-cover/feed/ 0 President Obama…now in NBA 2k11. http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/09/president-obama-now-in-nba-2k11/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=president-obama-now-in-nba-2k11 http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/09/president-obama-now-in-nba-2k11/#comments Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:30:07 +0000 admin http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=3188

President Obama sure is busy.  Fresh off his appearance in Madden 2011 (win the Super Bowl, see the president), the president has somehow found the time to appear in 2K sports new basketball video game, NBA 2K11.
President Obama will make an appearance in NBA 2K11, hosting a White House reception for the NBA champs in a special cinematic included in the game's Association mode. Association mode is the persistent franchise simulation where you run a team over the course of several years - longer than two presidential terms, actually. So if you win 12 titles in a row, Obama will greet you for every one of them, like a latter-day FDR. The only thing more unbelivable than that is the Clippers winning it all. (via Kotaku)
Funny, I remember when video games were just that, video games.  Now they have appearances with the actual president, in game advertisements for Gatorade or Snickers or whatever...calling the games realistic is almost an understatement at this point. NBA 2K11 is available nationwide on October 5th. images via Kotaku]]>

President Obama sure is busy.  Fresh off his appearance in Madden 2011 (win the Super Bowl, see the president), the president has somehow found the time to appear in 2K sports new basketball video game, NBA 2K11.
President Obama will make an appearance in NBA 2K11, hosting a White House reception for the NBA champs in a special cinematic included in the game's Association mode. Association mode is the persistent franchise simulation where you run a team over the course of several years - longer than two presidential terms, actually. So if you win 12 titles in a row, Obama will greet you for every one of them, like a latter-day FDR. The only thing more unbelivable than that is the Clippers winning it all. (via Kotaku)
Funny, I remember when video games were just that, video games.  Now they have appearances with the actual president, in game advertisements for Gatorade or Snickers or whatever...calling the games realistic is almost an understatement at this point. NBA 2K11 is available nationwide on October 5th. images via Kotaku]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/09/president-obama-now-in-nba-2k11/feed/ 0 The 2011 Madden Cover belongs to Drew Brees http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/04/the-2011-madden-cover-belongs-to-drew-brees/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-2011-madden-cover-belongs-to-drew-brees http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/04/the-2011-madden-cover-belongs-to-drew-brees/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:13:22 +0000 admin http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=2154 Read More]]>

So…what do you give to a guy that wins a Super Bowl, a Super Bowl MVP trophy, and gets to go to Disney World?

His image on the cover of one of the most popular video games ever.

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees will be the cover athlete of the immensely popular 2011 iteration of the Madden video game.  What makes this cover so special is that its the first that was actually picked by the fans.

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.” (via EA Sports)

Its hard to find a more upstanding NFL citizen than Drew Brees, and the fact that the fans chose him to be on the cover seems to further reflect that ideal.  Kudos to him and obviously good luck with the upcoming season (Madden Curse!)

Remember, Madden 2011 will hit stores on August 10th.  Hopefully, for EA’s sake, it will start faster than last year’s Madden, which EA was initially disappointed in, sales wise, even though more than 4 million copies of the game were shipped before the end of 2009.

]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/04/the-2011-madden-cover-belongs-to-drew-brees/feed/ 0 NCAA Basketball video game in 2010? Not at EA Sports http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/02/ncaa-basketball-video-game-in-2010-not-at-ea-sports/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ncaa-basketball-video-game-in-2010-not-at-ea-sports http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/02/ncaa-basketball-video-game-in-2010-not-at-ea-sports/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:25:11 +0000 admin http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=2052 Read More]]>

Sure, it would be easy to say that EA Sports NCAA Basketball franchise got “O’Bannon’ed”, but truth be told, there was a strong likelihood that we would have seen the death (read as: extended sabbatical probably meaning death) of the franchise anyway.  Apparently another NCAA game just didn’t fit into EA Sports plans financially, although the Ed O’Bannon lawsuit certainly didn’t help matters.

Earlier today Electronic Arts released their third quarter fiscal 2010 report which also included a list of titles planned for release in the coming fiscal year. All the usual suspects were listed with the exception of one. In addition to to that the rumored release date frame for a couple new franchises can be confirmed as well as the addition of a new fighting title in the works.

As I’ve been discussing the likelihood of for months it now appears a foregone conclusion that the NCAA Basketball series has been canned. It was not included on the fiscal 2011 list which had every other yearly title on it. The signs have been there for a while and included poor sales, complete lack of any post-release support, development team movement, and continued talk of trimming unprofitable titles. (via PastaPadre)

Well…at least Ed O’Bannon can sleep well at night knowing that his likeness won’t continue to be misused by the NCAA.

Although I think he may be aiming his sites a little higher.

]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/02/ncaa-basketball-video-game-in-2010-not-at-ea-sports/feed/ 0 2k10 Perfect Game’s are worth a million dollars http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/02/2k10-perfect-games-are-worth-a-million-dollars/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2k10-perfect-games-are-worth-a-million-dollars http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/02/2k10-perfect-games-are-worth-a-million-dollars/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000 admin http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=2002 Read More]]>

(via Press Release)

2K Sports announced today that they will give away an unprecedented cash prize in the amount of $1,000,000 to the first person who throws a verified perfect game in Major League Baseball® 2K10, the next iteration of the popular Major League Baseball® 2K series, prior to May 2, 2010. The special contest, available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft through the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system through the PlayStation®Network*, illustrates 2K Sports’ dedication to delivering vastly improved gameplay and pitching mechanics this season in Major League Baseball 2K10.

Fans will be able to participate in the $1,000,000 Major League Baseball 2K10 contest beginning on March 2, 2010 at 12:01 AM PST, and ending on May 1, 2010 at 11:59 PM PDT.  To compete, gamers must play in MLB Today mode, select from any of the available matchups, and then choose the option to participate in the ‘Major League Baseball 2K10 contest’ that will automatically default to the proper gameplay settings according to the official gameplay rules.  Entries must be recorded via camera or digital video recorder in compliance with guidelines provided by 2K in the Official Rules, and all eligible entrants must submit a copy of their recording in its entirety for verification.  Submissions will only be accepted on DVD.  To ensure accuracy in the verification and submission process, 2K Sports has partnered with Twin Galaxies International, the worldwide authority on video game world records, and provider of scores to Guinness World Records that are published in the Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition.  For more information about the $1,000,000.00 Major League Baseball 2K10 contest, please visit:www.2ksports.com/perfectgame.

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, Major League Baseball 2K10 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and will be available on March 2, 2010 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Wii™ system, Nintendo DS™ and Windows PC. For more information about Major League Baseball 2K10, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/mlb2k10.

]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2010/02/2k10-perfect-games-are-worth-a-million-dollars/feed/ 0 Kobe vs. Melo…in NBA 2k10 http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2009/08/kobe-vs-melo-in-nba-2k10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kobe-vs-melo-in-nba-2k10 http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2009/08/kobe-vs-melo-in-nba-2k10/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:51:47 +0000 admin http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=1660 Carmelo v. Kobe

Lets get ready to rumble…on your controllers.

(via PRNewswire)

VersusSport previews its interactive online community today. The first of its kind, this social networking forum provides fans with the opportunity to support their favorite athletes and entertainers through a unique, interactive, virtual community.

On September 18, 2009, VersusSport will present its inaugural event, featuring NBA(R) superstars Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony competing head-to-head in the soon-to-be-released NBA(R) 2K10. Members of the VersusSport community will receive exclusive online access to attend the live webcast of this much anticipated faceoff, and have the exciting opportunity to see NBA(R) 2K10 in action before it hits retail stores in October. VersusSport provides the ultimate spectator experience. Fans can not only watch their favorite superstars compete live, but also interact with celebrities and fellow fans before, during and after the event. Two lucky fans will be selected to attend the Kobe vs. Carmelo premier event through contests hosted by VersusSport.

Microsoft Tag and VersusSport have joined forces for this exclusive, star-studded occasion. Invitations are enhanced with Microsoft’s Tag technology, which links guests to exclusive pre-event content on their mobile devices. Microsoft Tag can also be found on VersusSport.com, offering fans access to behind-the-scenes event content. The free application for Microsoft’s Tag technology can be downloaded at http://gettag.mobi.

Through blogs, forums, and shared video content, VersusSport bridges the gap between athlete and fan. The advanced internet portal creates an unparalleled, intimate online experience which allows athletes and entertainers to connect more effectively with online members. “VersusSport has developed a really innovative way for me to connect with my fans,” says Carmelo Anthony. “They are not going to want to miss this competition.” VersusSport.com offers unprecedented live access to the life and celebrity style of athletes and entertainers. “I’m really looking forward to working with VersusSport,” says Kobe Bryant. “They combine my passion for competition while providing the fans with a great online experience.”

“Interactive online community that allows fans the opportunity to interact with athletes.”  Sounds a lot like Twitter, a service which VersusSport integrated into their own API.  The difference appears to be that the athletes are in sponsored events that are placed online (think uStream).  In any case, I do think this is a pretty interesting marketing idea.  Getting to see two of the largest stars in the NBA preview a video game by playing each other can only increase the buzz about the game.  More importantly, its a fan interest story.  Fans want to see games between celebrities (i.e. Madden Challenge), and I assume they’ll want to talk about them as well.  As for VersusSports?  well, there’s no better way to convince people to join your pay forum than to live stream a Melo/Kobe matchup, right?

See VersusSport for more details.

]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2009/08/kobe-vs-melo-in-nba-2k10/feed/ 0 Run-DMC? Meet the cover of NCAA http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2008/03/run-dmc-meet-the-cover-of-ncaa/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=run-dmc-meet-the-cover-of-ncaa http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2008/03/run-dmc-meet-the-cover-of-ncaa/#comments Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:26:42 +0000 admin http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/?p=250 Read More]]> Darren McFadden…in a video game (via Gamespot.com)On Friday, Electronic Arts (EA Sports) announced that former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden will be named as 1 of 4 cover athletes for NCAA Football 2009 (McFadden will be on the cover of the X-Box 360 game). The game, featuring McFadden and other athletes of the 2007-2008 college season will be released on July 15, 2008. Some details about the game from EA Sports,

NCAA Football 09 will unveil the all-new Break Away Animation Engine which allows gamers to break in and out of moves giving the user more direct control as well as instant influence and responsiveness on the field . At its core, NCAA Football 09 will focus on wide-open collegiate style gameplay featuring unique animations that you will only find on college football Saturdays. This style of gameplay will allow agile backs like McFadden to show off their break out speed and maneuverability in-game.

“These four athletes represent the best and brightest of college football, but our selections aren’t just about Heisman candidates and All Americans,” says Sr. director of marketing Tom Goedde. “They represent the spirit and passion of the sport in the same way EA SPORTS video games do.”

Since EA pretty much has a lock on anything concerning sports and video games, its obviously a pretty big honor to be named a cover athlete for one of their games. Of course, McFadden is probably more interested in getting into the NFL, getting some endorsement deals, and being recognized as a Madden cover athlete, NCAA Football seems like a pretty good “jumping off” point.

EA Sports: EA selects McFadden as first cover athlete for NCAA Football ’09

Sports Business Digest: Patiently awaiting the “Run-DMC” & Nike endorsement deal

]]> http://sportsbusinessdigest.com/2008/03/run-dmc-meet-the-cover-of-ncaa/feed/ 2