GAA gears up for gaming generation
by Jon Myles PLAYSTATION enthusiasts could soon find
themselves trotting out for an All-Ireland final at Croke Park.
Japanese electronics giant Sony is planning a Gaelic football game for its Playstation 2 console to keep joystick junkies happy.
Players will get a chance to guide their favourite team through a season — and win a virtual Sam Maguire Cup.
The move comes on the heels of other lucrative Playstation sports games such as soccer, rugby, golf and even fishing.
But this is the first time a company has produced a Gaelic Athletic Association title for a video games console.
The GAA game is being developed by Australian software company IR Gurus.
It uses a game engine previously employed on the company’s popular AFL Rules titles.
And although Gaelic Football 2004 may not be a first-generation Irish product it has been officially licensed by the GAA.
GAA President Sean Kelly said: “I am delighted to launch this historic initiative.
“The official Gaelic Football PlayStation 2 game will have huge benefit for the GAA.
“This brings the GAA into a new technological and promotional era.”
And the game looks likely to be a hit in Ireland at least. Statistics show the country has more PlayStations per head of the population than anywhere else outside of Japan with an estimated 400,000 having been sold.
Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland’s Managing Director Niall O’Hanrahan said: “Over the past seven years we have enjoyed a good working relationship with the GAA through sponsorship of the Leinster summer camps.
“Launching this game represents an extension of that relationship.
“We are projecting to have sold 480,000 PS2s in Ireland by March 2004 and this represents a huge opportunity for this title.”
Sony says the game will incorporate Croke Park and a number of selected county grounds as well as all of the county teams from around the country.
It will also feature commentary from a popular sports broadcaster also no-one has yet been signed up.
So if all goes well GAA sports fans who may never had had the chance to turn out for their beloved county may still get the chance to live their dreams — albeit in the virtual world of computer entertainment.
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