Codemasters to capitalise on Ashes for Cricket 2009

Ashes Cricket 2009 will be the biggest sports game this summer, ahead of big-name rivals Virtua Tennis, Tiger Woods and Wii Sports Resort, says Codemasters.

This year’s Ashes event is the first time the series has taken place in the UK since the fabled 2005 tournament, when England reclaimed the Urn for the first time in 18 years. And Codemasters is optimistic that this year’s competition could be the most popular yet.

This year’s Ashes tournament is set to be one of the most exciting in its 127 year history,” says brand manager Richard Gittins.

If the phenomenal reception both the sport and the game received back in 2005, when the series was last played on UK soil, is anything to go by, then we’re looking at dominating the sports gaming market this summer and we’re backing the game with a perfectly targeted TV ad campaign.”

In addition to the official matches, the game features all the players including Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss and Ricky Pointing. Cricketing heroes Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne will also feature and will set players a series of technique challenges in a new Legends mode.

Added Gittins: The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC editions will feature full online multiplayer and support for local multiplayer games.

While on Wii, players will be able to use the Wii Remote to perform batting and bowling motions in single player or local multiplayer games.”

Ashes Cricket 2009 will be released on 360, PlayStation 3 and PC this summer, with the Wii edition set to arrive later in the year.