Game deal puts NZ firm in a league of its own

By RICHARD WOOD

A New Zealand video game developer says its new rugby league game is a breakthrough for the industry.

Developer Sidhe (pronounced "She") Interactive is developing the game for Sydney game publisher Home Entertainment Suppliers.

HES says it will be sold under the NRL banner and licensing negotiations have also started with the English Super League.

The game has been under development for four months and will run on PC and Sony PlayStation II platforms. A Microsoft Xbox version is being considered.

It will be called Rugby League and a downloadable demo version will be available before Christmas.

Sidhe managing director Mario Wynands said the deal was the Wellington company's biggest, and the first written by a New Zealand company for the current generation of consoles.



"It's our chance to take everything to the next level, both for our company and for New Zealand."

HES business development manager David Robles said Sidhe showed it had the necessary passion for rugby league and the aim would be to make an annual version of the game.

HES has previously produced the PC games Dick Johnson V8 Challenge, Squatter, and Allan Border's Cricket, and is a major distributor of video game accessories.

Wynands said the full game was to have gone on sale before Christmas but feedback from league fans prompted HES to expand plans for it.

Many of the fans' ideas are being included, and the full version of the game will be available in August.



Wynands said he hoped it would be demonstrated at the E3 games conference in Los Angeles in May.

He said it was the first rugby league game for six years so demand was strong.



Since the announcement on Monday there had been a huge increase in visits to Sidhe's website.

The game will have two modes of play - arcade and simulation.

In the simulation mode players have injuries, suffer fatigue and incur penalties.

Players can compete against the computer, over a network, or over the internet.

Stadiums from Australia and New Zealand are to be represented in the game, and home ground will give a small advantage.

Sidhe has a staff of 35 and is the leading games development company in New Zealand. It has worked on games for Mattel and Adidas.

Sidhe