The (Game) Play's the Thing

Armchair Playmaker has featured a few posts about rugby union and league in the media, but until now hasn't mentioned the codes' place in the popular video game industry. Given that we're still on the back edge of the holiday gift-giving season, a quick glance at the sports' recent video game offerings is in order. No product reviews here, just a short listing and some game footage.

Union:
Electronic Arts' EA Sports brand has had a strong grip on the rugby union video game market for some time, releasing several games internationally in the last few years. Their most recent offering, Rugby 08 (though it was actually released in 2007), is available for the Playstation 2 and for personal computers. It was also released in both the NTSC (playable in the United States and Canada, among other places) and PAL (playable in the Unitd Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe, among other places) formats. Here's a quick video:

No word on when the next incarnation may be out, though a Rugby 10 game is plausible considering the previous incarnation was Rugby 06.

Ubisoft's Rugby Challenge 2006 is another recent rugby union release. Fans can play the game anywhere in the world on their personal computer, but the XBox and Playstation 2 versions appear to have been released only in PAL format. Here's a clip:


A different sort of rugby union game is Cyanide Studios' Pro Rugby Manager 2, released for personal computers in 2005. Unlike the other rugby union video games, the player doesn't actually control any match play here. Instead, the game is about what it sounds like: managing a side and watching their progress. Interested players don't need to wait for this game to arrive in the mail, as this game can be purchased and downloaded online from Cyanide Studios' online store for 29.99 Euros.

League:
Sidhe Interactive's Rugby League 2, released in 2005, is the main notable rugby league offering. It was released for personal computers, so it can be played worldwide, but the XBox and Playstation 2 versions are available in PAL format only. Here's a look:

A new World Cup Edition of the game, which features the same play but updated teams, players, etc., and a World Cup option, was released this year, but only on Playstation 2 in the PAL region. Rumors of a Rugby League 3 game have circulated, but nothing more yet. Meantime, there are some player-created updates that Rugby League 2 owners can download and install (at their own risk).

So there's the whirlwind tour of what's out there in video games for the rugby union and rugby league enthusiasts. Did I miss any? If so, drop a comment.