I Am Playr

I Am Playr Official logo
Developer(s) We R Interactive / Big Balls Productions
Platform(s) Web / Unity / Adobe Flash
Release date(s) March 21, 2011[1][2]
Genre(s) Sports game / Full motion video based game
Mode(s) Single-player

I Am Playr is a first person association football video game with social network elements. It is available on the social–networking website Facebook. Jointly developed by WeRInteractive and Big Balls Productions, the gamer plays as a professional footballer in a first person perspective taking in events both on and off the football pitch featured full motion video cut scenes.

Gameplay

The main gameplay is in first person, with the player deciding the actions of the character on and off the football pitch who plays for the fictional football team "River Park F.C.".[3][4] In–match gameplay consists of scrolling text before switching to the first person perspective as the player character gets chances on goal.[5] Between games there is the opportunity to gain match fitness points by completing training exercises.[6]

The season starts with the player character signing for River Park F.C., before moving on to the training ground to practise shooting skills. The in–game football show "Goal Mouth" also appears from time to time with Lee Dixon and Andy Townsend appearing as pundits. Virtual in–game items can improve the performance of the main character, in particular the three main statistics of accuracy, power and curl.[7]

Revenue is generated by players purchasing equipment in game, and from brand sponsorship.[3] Several professional footballers make a cameo appearance in the game, including former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham,[8] Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon and Arsenal's Theo Walcott.[6] In December new features were added including free kick practice with Gary McAllister and appearances from Mark Noble.

Development

We R Interactive was originally backed by film producer Eric Fellner of Working Title Films and Fru Hazlitt of ITV.[4] I Am Playr was revealed for the first time in November 2010, being billed as "the first–ever point–of–view football game".[4] It is the company's first product.[9]

We R Interactive worked together with the film company Big Balls Productions And Boss Reece for the interactive video elements of the game,[10] the beta version of which took nine months to design and build.[5] Co-founder of WeRInteractive, Dave Rose said of the video elements, "Film gives us the ability to build characters and bring a more visceral feel to the interactive experience".[10] During closed beta, initial sponsors were found in the forms of Nike, Inc. and Red Bull,[11] with Ginsters also being in game sponsors as the sponsors on the fictional football team's kit, even though they sponsor Plymouth Argyle's shirts in real life.[12][13] Alfa Romeo were added as additional sponsor in May 2011, with their branding featuring on in game matches on sponsorship boards, and the Alfa Romeo MiTo being featured in a new gaming element.[14] Bookies Betfred are also involved allowing players to bet on Premier League matches, money won from bets is added on to the player's cash.

In May 2011 a series of investors put a collective £3.1 ($5) million, including former England international footballer Lee Dixon.[14] Dixon will also be adding to the game's storylines, he said of his role, "I’m excited to be adding my own real-life football experience – both on and off the pitch – to the game’s storylines."[13]

An affiliate marketing scheme has been created called "I Am Scout", where football bloggers and sites can sign up to access promotional items and content. A logging system of recording the goals scored by players signed up through those sites will enter the "scouts" in a leaderboard with the winner going on a trip to watch Real Madrid play.[15]

Reception

Reviewing the beta version in April 2011, Chris Derrer of PopFodder.com described I Am Playr as "horrendously addictive" and closed the review by recommending players to "Play it, love it, obsess over it. We have."[6] However Alexander Bevier of Joystick Division had concerns about the novelty of the full motion video "wear[ing] thin".[16]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4584536/
  2. ↑ https://m.facebook.com/iamplayr?v=info&expand=1
  3. 1 2 Garside, Juliette (13 May 2011). "British rival to FarmVille maker gains more high-profile investors". The Guardian (London).
  4. 1 2 3 Kumar, Nikhil (22 November 2010). "Small Talk: Madagascar Oilgets set to bring its island story to AIM". The Independent (London).
  5. 1 2 Chula, Jesse (11 April 2011). "I AM PLAYR: A New Chapter In Interactive Soccer Games". EPL Talk.
  6. 1 2 3 Derrer, Chris (25 April 2011). "Review: I AM PLAYR". PopFodder.com.
  7. ↑ "I Am Playr: Football from a new Perspective". Sunday Sidelines. 17 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "I AM PLAYR kicks off in January". Gamergeddon. 9 December 2010.
  9. ↑ "David Rose". The Guardian (London). 11 February 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  10. 1 2 "I Am Playr / Immersive Football Game". Contagious. 23 November 2010.
  11. ↑ Restarick, Michael (14 March 2011). "Preview: I AM PLAYR". Soccer Gaming.
  12. ↑ "Ginsters takes up shirt sponsorship opportunity for I Am Playr game". The Drum. 10 January 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Lee Dixon snapped up for I AM PLAYR game". The Drum. 23 May 2011.
  14. 1 2 Farey-Jones, Danieletitle=Alfa Romeo to be I Am Playr's car of choice (27 May 2011). MediaWeek http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/bulletin/mediapm/article/1072194/?DCMP=EMC-MediaPMBulletin. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ "We R Interactive launches affiliate campaign for I Am Playr". UTalk Marketing. 9 May 2011.
  16. ↑ Bevier, Alexander (2 December 2010). "I Am Playr Offers First-Person Soccer". Joystick Division.

External links

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