Ashes Cricket 2009 - Media Releases
6th August
The time has come to don your whites, head out to the middle and see if you have what it takes to lead your country to glory as Ashes Cricket 2009 hits retail stores on Friday 7th August. Arriving in time for the start of the fourth Test in this thrilling npower Ashes Series.
The new ‘World of Cricket’ video showcases the game’s extensive modes beyond this year’s npower Ashes series, where gamers can play as the world’s leading international cricket nations, including India, Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies, in a range of competitions from full a Test series to One Day Internationals and quick fire Twenty Over games.
Launching into stores tomorrow for the Wii, PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC, Ashes Cricket 2009 is fully licensed by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club, the world’s most famous cricket club and owner of the Ashes urn) and Cricket Australia. Ashes Cricket 2009 delivers the ultimate Ashes experience, featuring star performers like Andrew Strauss, Ricky Ponting and Andrew ‘Freddy’ Flintoff, officially licensed kit, equipment and stadia including Lords, The Brit Oval and the venue of Friday’s fourth Test, Headingly.
Ashes Cricket 2009 delivers all the exciting, athletic, skilful and technical elements that gamers expect from Codemasters, the home of video game cricket. Building on the heritage that Codemasters has enjoyed with its best-selling Brian Lara series, Ashes Cricket 2009 will continue to lead the field with great batting, bowling and fielding gameplay and authenticity that made the series a huge hit with cricket fans the world over. Bringing the game to the Nintendo Wii for the first time, players can perform the same bowling and batting motions of their heroes using the Wii Remote.
Prepare to create, re-enact and rewrite history at the crease and help England win back the trophy in Ashes Cricket 2009, coming tomorrow for the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360? video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PC and Nintendo Wii.
31st July
Codemasters’ Ashes Cricket 2009 got a promising innings underway on Tuesday as Aussie leg-spin legend Shane Warne wowed the Oxford Street crowds at HMV’s flagship store. The signing event drew massive crowds and witnessed a consummate display of bowling from Warne with the Wii remote, as lucky punters took ‘Warnie’ on at his own game!
Competition winners at the HMV event took England into bat against a Warne-led Australia side, but resistance was futile. Despite some brave shots, including a few spectacular boundaries which Shane sportingly greeted with high-fives, Warne applied the kind of pressure we’ve grown used to over the years and the England dismissals came thick and fast. How the Australians must wish the legendary bowler was lining up to take on Andrew Strauss , ‘Freddy’ Flintoff and co this summer as the series hangs in the balance.
‘We were delighted to host the launch of Ashes 2009 and were genuinely ‘bowled over’ by the size of the crowds. Shane was a real star and was more than happy to spend a couple of hours meeting and chatting to fans of the game.’ commented Tim Ellis, Head of Games, HMV. ‘Whilst he got a big cheer when he stepped up on stage, there was an even bigger one when he demoed the game and got smashed for four on his first ball. A great bloke and a great game.’
Shane Warne lends expert analysis and enjoys banter with England Ashes legend Sir Ian Botham from the commentary box in Ashes Cricket 2009, the game which lets players use the Wii Remote to perform batting and bowling motion like their heroes and decide the fate of this year’s Ashes themselves.
The most comprehensive cricket videogame ever, Ashes Cricket 2009 will also be released on PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC when it launches on the 7th August.
3rd July
Gamers will be able to use their Wii Remote to bat and bowl their country to success when Ashes Cricket 2009 is released for Wii this August; the integration of the Wii controls is set to take players closer to the action than ever before. To be published by Codemasters, the home of video game cricket, Ashes Cricket 2009 will feature fully licensed players, kit and stadia from the upcoming npower Ashes Series between England and Australia offering a completely authentic experience.
The Wii edition of Ashes Cricket 2009 will enable up to four players to take to the field in a variety of game modes including the iconic Ashes Series, Test Matches and limited over games including 20 overs. Batsmen will use the Wii Remote to drive, cut, slog and nurdle their way through an innings. When fielding, players will use the Wii Remote to polish the ball, set their field and bowl accurately applying swing/turn to their deliveries in order to take those all important wickets.
Ashes Cricket 2009 will also feature a Scenario mode that will pit players against more than 50 match defining moments, such as scoring vital match-winning runs, taking dramatic last-gasp wickets and seeing off the oppositions’ danger men to succeed.
As well as featuring the fully licensed teams from England and Australia, Ashes Cricket 2009 will feature six other Test playing nations as well as ten of the world’s most recognisable stadia, including the five featuring in this summer’s npower Ashes Series. The authenticity of the experience extends to the game’s commentary, which is provided by cricketing favourites Jonathan Agnew, Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Ian Bishop and Tony Greig.
Produced by Codemasters and developed by Gusto Games, Ashes Cricket 2009 will be released this August for Wii. Ashes Cricket 2009 will also be published for the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC during the npower Ashes Series.
19th June 2009
Kevin Pietersen, the explosive England batsman, will be the face of Ashes Cricket 2009, the official video game of this summer’s tournament, Codemasters® announced today. Pietersen will be the game’s cover star and joins Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Sir Ian Botham in playing a prominent role in the game.
Pietersen’s powerful, attacking style has helped make him one of the most prominent athletes in the sport, especially following his and England’s success in the 2005 Ashes series. Now gamers will have the opportunity to emulate that success, playing as him or against him in Ashes Cricket 2009, which will feature fully licensed players, kit, stadia and equipment to give a truly authentic experience.
‘I am delighted to be involved with the official game of the Ashes,’ commented KP. ‘The game looks fantastic and I’m sure both England and Australia fans are going to relish the opportunity to take part in a virtual Ashes series. Representing your country in the Ashes is a huge honour and I can’t wait for it to start.’
Joining Pietersen as a headline star in the game will be Australian captain Ricky Ponting whose image will adorn the game’s pack art in his home country. Speaking about the prospect of gamers recreating the Ashes at home Ricky said: ‘I think it’s going to be massive. There are guys all over the world playing against each other trying to recreate us playing against England at grounds like Lords. We have some bad memories from our last trip to England to play in the Ashes so we are desperate to put it right.’
Ashes stars of the past are also included in Ashes Cricket 2009 with Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne taking on commentary duties and hosting the game’s comprehensive ‘Legends Mode’. Beefy and Warney will talk players through the basics of every aspect of the sport, progressing to more advanced techniques before setting player challenges based on classic moments from the history of cricket.
‘Recording commentary for the game was a lot of fun and I am really pleased with the result. It’s always good to have some banter with Beefy,’ commented Warne. ‘I played in eight Ashes Series and it’s an amazing feeling to represent your country on the biggest stage. Hopefully Ashes Cricket 2009 will allow cricket fans a taste of what that feels like.’
Botham added: ‘I’m sure cricket fans in England, Australia and all around the world will have a lot of fun playing against each other on Ashes Cricket 2009. I’m very pleased to be involved in the game and hope that the people who play it enjoy the Legends Mode. In 2005 we all saw what kind of positive effect a successful Ashes series can have on the country and hopefully the boys can emulate that this year.’
Coming from the home of video game cricket, Ashes Cricket 2009 will build on the heritage that Codemasters has enjoyed with its best-selling Brian Lara series of games and will continue to lead the field with great batting, bowling and fielding gameplay and authenticity that made the series a huge hit with cricket fans the world over. Produced by Codemasters, the game is currently being developed by Transmission Games and will be released for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and the PC. A Nintendo Wii’ version, developed by Gusto Games, will be released in August.
11th May 2009
The Ashes, the most exciting and thrilling confrontation in international cricket, will be brought to game screens this July as Codemasters today announced it will publish Ashes Cricket 2009 as the official game of this year’s tournament for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PC; a Nintendo Wii version will be released later in the year.
Providing gamers with the most authentic Ashes experience possible without having to don their whites, Ashes Cricket 2009 is fully licensed by Cricket Australia, the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club, the world’s most famous cricket club and owner of the Ashes urn), providing the game with all the official players, kit, stadia – including Lords and The Brit Oval – and equipment from this year’s Ashes Series.
Coming from the home of video game cricket, Ashes Cricket 2009 is set to build on the heritage that Codemasters has enjoyed with its best-selling Ricky Ponting series and will continue to lead the field with great batting, bowling and fielding gameplay and authenticity that made the series a huge hit with cricket fans the world over. The title is being produced by Codemasters and in development at Transmission Games (Ricky Ponting 2007 Pressure Play (PSP)).
Delivering all the exciting, athletic, skilful and technical elements of the sport, the game’s comprehensive ‘Ashes’ mode will feature all five Tests played out at carefully detailed recreations of each authentic venue. In addition, gamers will also be able to play Test matches, One Day Internationals, 20 over games and a series of challenge modes. The high definition current generation versions will feature full online multiplayer as well as support for local multiplayer games.
‘The Ashes is set to be the sporting event of the summer and it’s great to be producing the official game of the series,’ commented Jamie Firth, Producer, Codemasters. ‘In partnering with the development team at Transmission Games, Ashes Cricket 2009 is a cricket title with an unprecedented heritage that comes from two companies that know and love the sport. Codemasters’ cricket titles became the number one cricket gaming brand for over ten years and it’s a reputation that we fully intend to continue with Ashes Cricket 2009.’
Prepare to step up to the crease and help Australia retain the trophy in Ashes Cricket 2009, coming soon for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION®3 and PC.
