Blackout Rugby

Infobox VG
title = Blackout Rugby


caption = A browser-based rugby union management game
developer = [http://www.blackoutentertainment.biz/ Blackout Entertainment Ltd]
designer = Jeremy Bell and Matthew Scoble
released = 14 December 2007
genre = MMOMG
platforms = Internet browser
modes = Single player
media = Website
requirements = JavaScript enabled web browser

Blackout Rugby is a free Internet browser-based rugby union management game created by New Zealanders Jeremy Bell and Matthew Scoble of Blackout Entertainment Ltd. Having launched in December 2006 the game currently has over four thousand three hundred users.

Development

Scoble began developing the concept of a browser-based rugby union management game in mid-2005 having been inspired by Hattrick (a Swedish football sim) and Battrick (a related British cricket game). Wishing to bring the idea to fruition Scoble brought his plan to the attention of his web developer friend Jeremy Bell.

Bell was initially not swayed by the project, resulting in it being put on hold. However once Bell completed his remaining University commitments he returned to the idea and the two gradually collaborated on the project with the support of funding from family members.

Following the site launch in 2006, the game went beta on 7 October 2007 with a second beta stage then commencing on 27 November 2007.

Finally, after many delays and over two years of development, Blackout Rugby went gold on 14 December 2007, attracting considerable attention from the New Zealand national press [cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10483787|title=Game lets couch critics run rugby|accessdate=2008-01-17|date=2007-12-22|publisher=New Zealand Herald] [cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4330101a28.html|title=High hopes for Waikato's virtual rugby|accessdate=2008-01-17|date=2007-12-20|publisher=Waikato Times (stuff.co.nz)] .

While developers initially labelled the launch a success [cite news|url=http://smgnews.com/index.php/Headlines/41-Top_Stories/114-full-lanch-Blackout-Rugby|title=Full Launch of Blackout Rugby A Success|accessdate=2008-01-17|date=2007-12-21|publisher=SMG News] on 8 January 2008 the game experienced a database failure which resulted in the unrecoverable loss of around half of the userbases' details.

Features

A new user joining Blackout Rugby is given a new rugby club in their chosen country complete with:
*A first team squad of 30 players
*A youth team squad of 22 players
*A ground with a capacity of 5,000.

They also have an initial bank balance to spend on improving training facilities, hire higher level staff, invest in their Youth Academy or spend on the transfer market.

Blackout Rugby currently includes fifteen nations: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands (including Fiji, Samoa and Tonga), Romania, Scotland, South Africa, United States and Wales.

Within each nation teams compete in a league pyramid over seasons of fourteen Saturday games each with a knock-out cup taking place on the intervening Wednesdays. Users also have the options of arranging friendlies with any team in the BR world. Matches are played in real time with flowing match commentary and real-time statistics.

Blackout Rugby uses a unique combination training systems with team training, individual training and match training all being utilised by the user to advance their squad. Users also have to manage the financial side of their club, hiring and firing required stadium staff, expanding their ground and recruiting a financial advisor.

While the game is free to play with in-window Google advertising, users have the option to sign up for premium membership, a package which provides a wide range of additional benefits including a two-dimensional match view and training reports.

erver problems

Blackout rugby is also prone to having server problems, but these tend to be in the night in New Zealand time so it tends to be a long time for them to get sorted, so it makes it a hassle if you're a European or North American manager.

External links

* [http://www.blackoutrugby.com Blackout Rugby]
* [http://www.blackoutentertainment.biz Blackout Entertainment Ltd]
* [http://www.blackoutvirtualrugby.com Blackout Virtual Rugby] - A real life prediction game for the Super 14 and Six Nations tournaments
* [http://www.blackoutcricket.com Blackout Cricket] - A proposed sister game

References