New virtual football game concept

Virtual sports software company VSoftCo has teamed up with the football comic Striker to create what it claims is the world’s first branded virtual soccer game.

The partnership, between VSoftCo and Striker creator Pete Nash, will be in the form of a joint venture called VStriker, the partners announced in a statement Thursday. They are to combine to produce 3D-animated versions of an online betting game and a social game based on a new concept called Striker World Soccer League.

Both game versions will integrate with the serialised Striker storylines in The Sun – Britain’s biggest-selling daily newspaper – and Striker’s Planet Striker YouTube channel, which shows daily motion comic video versions of the newspaper strip.

A weekly Striker comic is due to launch in the New Year.

Striker World Soccer League is designed to enhance the 31-year-old Striker comic, which is followed by 1.8 million readers in The Sun. The episodes will follow the creation of a world club football league, comprising fictitious teams from real cities around the world.

Although the story will kick off in the UK, it is envisaged that each country with a participating team will eventually run their own storylines, the statement from the partners advises.

The games will be powered by real-time rendered football animation technology created by VSoftCo. Brand new motion capture technology – sourced from professional footballers at Sheffield United – will make Striker World Soccer League one of the most lifelike virtual games on the market, the statement claims.

Simon Westbury, managing director at VSoftCo, said: “This joint venture is a hugely exciting opportunity to extend the audience and geographical reach of our gaming software products and to help develop Striker into a global brand.”

Pete Nash said: “Striker is already produced with 3D software but VSoftCo’s expertise in animation and gaming will help to make it even more realistic, while Striker in turn will inject drama and fun into virtual gaming. And fans will be able to interact and engage with the brand through a series of unique initiatives.”

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