Ben Coles over at The Rugby Blog had some one-on-one time with Rugby World Cup 2011, the new next-gen rugby video game from 505 Games and HB Studios.
"I got to play a half on Monday, and the new features really stood out. Along with a more intense battle at the ruck, another new feature is the ability to chip kick in attack. The passing and running lines are sharper, and I even made a break with Mike Tindall, proof that I really was playing a computer game. For any rugby fan with a PlayStation or an Xbox, this game will be essential. "
The comments on the article say alot and the community has spoken and shared their thoughts on this release and on the rugby games in production currently, here is one such comment that has great weight for me...
"Whats really annoying is that we’ve gona years wihtout a decent rugby game and then suddenly we have 2 versions being released at the same time and that the licenses are split because of this. Sidhe Iiteractives got the Wallaby and AB licenses but sounds like they HB doesnt and vice versa on the other teams. Also the Sidhe game will feature most club sides from Top 14, Super 15 and Heineken Cup so slightly annoying if they dont have the license to national sides. Equally although Id liek to play HB’s version for the world cup the reality is missing all these club competitions and only having world cup sides liek Romania is not going to appeal. Less Oz / NZ thats significant given the cup is being played in NZ and NZ and Oz are probably 2 of the 4 sides that have a real shot." - MattC
I have issue with one part of the article and here is that paragraph...
"The game also features many other firsts, becoming the first rugby game to be played in HD, and more importantly the ability to play online on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network against friends. This is the seen by the developers as key to the game’s longevity, and users will be able to keep their teams up to date by using the new Player Editor feature."
My issue with this is that it may not be the first to have these features if Sidhe Interactive's game is released first. It really would be up to who is able to get their game in the hands of gamers first to say they have created the first HD, XBox Live and PlayStation Network able game.
Furthermore; HB Studios and 505 Games announced on Tuesday that they had secured an exclusive RFU license for rights to the “Rugby World Cup 2011 England team strip, emblem, players’ likenesses and the Home of England Rugby, Twickenham Stadium, within the game. This would go hand in hand with the SARU exclusive rights.
Rugby World Cup 2011 is being released on August 26th, 2011.
