Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 24, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
CyberSports commissioned Monumental Games to develop Football Superstars, an MMO in which users guide an individual footballer’s career from training camp to top club, experiencing a virtual football lifestyle rather than controlling an entire team.
The free game let players control three-, five-, seven- or eleven-player sides apart from goalkeepers, communicate via headset or in-game chat, found clubs, organise private competitions and play friendly matches. Its agreement with IGA Worldwide covered in-game advertising and sponsorship elements including video screens, balls and jerseys.
Sponsors could extend activity beyond the pitch to clothing, accessories, shops, gadgets, vehicles and electronics, as well as game-wide opportunities such as the in-game phone interface or currency. IGA CEO Justin Townsend cited dynamic stadium advertising, tournament sponsorship, interactive shops and avatar clothing; CyberSports CEO Malcolm Clark said the company needed an experienced partner for the game’s broad advertising options.
