Premiership plans video game launch

Football’s Premier League is planning to enter the 600m UK video games market with the launch of the first computer-action soccer game to feature club sides.

The league is talking to three software companies about the plans – Sheffield-based Gremlin, US-owned Eidos, and Electronic Arts.

The game is expected to be called Premier League Football, and it is scheduled for launch in early August.

It will be the first game in the UK to feature club sides instead of international teams. The figures on the screen will also carry the names of top soccer stars, like Alan Shearer or Ian Wright, on their backs.

Premier League sponsorship and licensing manager Steve Curnow says: “We are in discussions with a number of companies and expect to have decided on a partner in a matter of weeks.”

Curnow adds that he hopes the game will be available across all the major formats, including Sony, Sega, PCs, and the new Nintendo 64.

Eidos will promote its Championship Manager II computer game featuring Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in a 1m TV and press campaign breaking at the end of this month.