TCG announce development of online cricket manager simulation
by Alan Rowley, 10th May 2006

Online game developers TCG have announced the development of an online multiplayer cricket manager game called TheCricketGame. TheCricketGame allows users to run their own virtual cricket club in a single massive world league, competing against thousands of other users for fame and fortune.

The user will have the opportunity to buy and sell players, train players and then select his team for each virtual match which is played ‘live’, enabling the user to impact each match as it happens with vital decision-making. Batting and bowling strategies can be selected with extensive tactical options allowing the users team to play to their strengths. Factors such as weather, pitch, the toss, form, morale, and even the captain’s leadership can be crucial in determining success.

As the users cricket club grows in stature and reputation, there is the option to develop the stadium, or channel resources into the clubs youth academy. The user may choose to build his own skills in a role-playing style that will, in turn improve his managerial ability in certain specialist areas (like coaching, tactics, commercial or man-management).

According to TCG’s Director Dave Bird, the introduction of certain innovative features hand real control over to the user. “Our intention with TheCricketGame is to accurately represent the dilemmas faced by cricket captains and team selectors in the modern game. Our decision to develop an innovative ‘live’ match interface was crucial to this as it allows the user to completely control the actions of his teams players as each match unfolds,” said Bird.

TCG is an independent games development concern based in Derby, United Kingdom. The development team is lead by Technical Director James Brett who has worked on some of the countries leading blue chip projects including the Alliance and Leicester banking website, Volkswagen's dealer management system and the new Boots electronic prescription system. He brings over 12 years commercial, technical experience to TheCricketGame.com. Acting as the Technical Director James is responsible for architecting the game using the latest technologies such as AJAX, ASP.net 2.0 and SQL Server 2005.

Director Dave Bird has over ten years of experience in the games industry comprising of extensive work in marketing, public relations and business development, most recently with games retail company Gamejam.

The launch of TheCricketGame is scheduled for late 2006 although users can register now at www.thecricketgame.com to receive updates on the games developments and to be considered for the upcoming beta testing phases.