I Am Playr
Encyclopedia
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 football in a first person perspective taking in events both on and off the football pitch
featured full motion video cut scenes.
, 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.". In–match gameplay consists of scrolling text before switching to the first person perspective as the player character gets chances on goal. Between games there is a ten hour rest break before the next week's events.
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.
Revenue is generated by players purchasing equipment in game, and from brand sponsorship. Several professional footballers make a cameo appearance
in the game, including former Manchester United striker
Teddy Sheringham
, Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon
and Arsenal
's Theo Walcott
.
of Working Title Films
and Fru Hazlitt of ITV
. I Am Playr was revealed for the first time in November 2010, being billed as "the first–ever point–of–view football game". It is the company's first product.
We R Interactive worked together with the film company Big Balls Productions for the interactive video elements of the game, the beta version of which took nine months to design and build. 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". During closed beta, initial sponsors were found in the forms of Nike, Inc.
and Red Bull
, 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. 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.
In May 2011 a series of investors put a collective £3.1 ($5) million, including former England international
footballer Lee Dixon
. 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."
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 C.F.
play.
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
association football video game with social network
Social network game
A social network game is a type of online game that is played through social networks, and typically features multiplayer and asynchronous gameplay mechanics. Social network games are most often implemented as browser games, but can also be implemented on other platforms such as mobile devices...
elements. It is available on the social–networking website Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. Jointly developed by WeRInteractive and Big Balls Productions, the gamer plays as a professional football in a first person perspective taking in events both on and off the football pitch
Association football pitch
An association football pitch is the playing surface for the game of association football made of turf. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play".All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define...
featured full motion video cut scenes.
Gameplay
The main gameplay is in first personFirst person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
, 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.". In–match gameplay consists of scrolling text before switching to the first person perspective as the player character gets chances on goal. Between games there is a ten hour rest break before the next week's events.
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
Lee Dixon
Lee Michael Dixon is a former English professional footballer born in Manchester.He formed part of the Arsenal defence from the late 1980s, through till 2002. He was capped 22 times for England, scoring once....
and Andy Townsend
Andy Townsend
Andrew "Andy" David Townsend is a former professional footballer, who played in two World Cups for the Republic of Ireland and is now a television and radio pundit....
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.
Revenue is generated by players purchasing equipment in game, and from brand sponsorship. Several professional footballers make a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the game, including former Manchester United striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham
Edward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham MBE is a retired English footballer, and the father of footballer Charlie Sheringham. Sheringham played as a striker, and had a successful career at the club level, winning almost every domestic honour available with his clubs, most notably the Treble with Manchester...
, Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon
Aaron Lennon
Aaron Justin Lennon is an English footballer who plays as a right winger for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and the England national team.-Early life:...
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott
Theo James Walcott is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. Walcott is a product of the Southampton F.C. Academy. He is a striker who is usually deployed on the right wing as a wide forward to exploit his speed...
.
Development
We R Interactive was originally backed by film producer Eric FellnerEric Fellner
-Life and career:Fellner went to Cranleigh School in Surrey, England from 1972-77. He attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He is a good friend of Hugh Grant, who is the star of some of Working Title's biggest box office hits. Fellner and his long-time partner, model Laura...
of Working Title Films
Working Title Films
Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London, UK. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. It produces feature films and several television productions, including films starring comic actor Rowan Atkinson...
and Fru Hazlitt of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. I Am Playr was revealed for the first time in November 2010, being billed as "the first–ever point–of–view football game". It is the company's first product.
We R Interactive worked together with the film company Big Balls Productions for the interactive video elements of the game, the beta version of which took nine months to design and build. 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". During closed beta, initial sponsors were found in the forms of Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
and Red Bull
Red Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
, with Ginsters
Ginsters
Ginsters is a company based in Callington in Cornwall, in the south-west of England. The biggest selling pasty maker in the UK, it specialises in making mass produced pasties, sausage rolls, sandwiches, pasta bowls and other savoury snacks.-History:...
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. Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
were added as additional sponsor in May 2011, with their branding featuring on in game matches on sponsorship boards, and the Alfa Romeo MiTo
Alfa Romeo MiTo
The Alfa Romeo MiTo is a three door sporty supermini officially introduced on June 19, 2008, at Castello Sforzesco in Milan, with an international introduction at the British Motor Show in 2008. The car was available in all Alfa's major markets in stages from July...
being featured in a new gaming element.
In May 2011 a series of investors put a collective £3.1 ($5) million, including former England international
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
footballer Lee Dixon
Lee Dixon
Lee Michael Dixon is a former English professional footballer born in Manchester.He formed part of the Arsenal defence from the late 1980s, through till 2002. He was capped 22 times for England, scoring once....
. 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."
An affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate's own marketing efforts...
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 C.F.
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
play.