Home Gaming Are we finally getting a great cricket game?

Are we finally getting a great cricket game?

3 min read
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My love of Liverpool and the beautiful game is quite well known but what isn’t as well known is my love of the slower, more refined, sport of cricket. Now I’m a bit of a heretic as the 5 day game isn’t my favourite but then again I find the 20/20 just a little bit too quick.

But one thing that has always killed me is that there are simply no good cricket games in the market. Yes the Brian Lara cricket was good but come on that was released way back in 2007. That’s six years ago and the game has moved on quite a bit, as has our technology.

So when I heard that there is a new cricket game being released I was excited but heavily sceptical as other options in the past few years have been poor to say the least. Then I heard it was being developed by the relatively unheard of Big Ant studios and my heart dropped.

But then something magical happened, I saw some screenshots and a list of features in the game and I can honestly say right now that I’m excited.

First up let’s look at the screenshots, now sports games aren’t anywhere near as reliant on graphics as other titles so I was expecting some pretty simplistic graphics but these are actually damn fine looking.

Bradman_Action_S 

There’s your giveaway, the game is called Don Bradman Cricket 14 and no don’t worry the entire game isn’t set in the old mans heyday of cricket.

Check out these others:
Bradman_Bat

Bradman_Catch

So looking good but cricket is all about the gameplay and according to the press release we are going to get spoilt here.

Here are the listed features

  • Career Mode, allowing you to take control of an aspiring young cricketer and take him
    through the ranks to International glory.
  • Unique Batting and Bowling Controls, giving full 360 Shot control and Line and Length
    delivery without pitch markers.
  • A fully featured fielding system that allows you to run down the ball and slide to prevent a
    Four, catch a high ball on the boundary rope, or knock down the stumps to take a vital run
    out. You are always involved in the play at every stage of the game!
  • Ball Physics giving realistic Edges, bat pad catches and movement off the pitch.
  • A complete player physics system with individual attributes including weight and height –
    imagine running in a 2 metre bowler to delivery that perfect bouncer!
  • Appeal and Electronic Review system allowing for the first time challenges of the umpires
    decision.
  • Practice Nets, Hone your skills to perfection before taking to the field.
  • Dynamic time of day, Weather System and Pitch Degradation that are based on real world
    data with effects occurring in real-time throughout a days’ play.
  • The Cricket Academy, allowing for unparalleled customisation of your Cricket experience,
    creating Teams, players, Tours, Competitions, Match Types and even Umpires.
  • More than 4000 Community created Players and teams ready to download and use in game.
  • An online Save system that lets you continue your match whenever you want with online
    opponents.

And to showcase these features take a look at this hotspot screenshot

hotspot

Yup you nicked it sunshine.. it’s time for the walk of shame.

Don Bradman Cricket 14 will be released locally this year and is arriving on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The local distribution has been secured and Megarom will be bringing the game in.

I’m trying to find out if the game will include any provincial sides, player likenesses or dodgy Indian bookmakers.

It’s still early days and we will now have to wait until the game is closer to release to check out some real gameplay but I’m already on the hype train and am leaving the station.

Last Updated: August 6, 2013

33 Comments

  1. The Green Min-tern

    August 6, 2013 at 12:05

    The last cricket game I played was waaaaay back in ’95 (or around there) – good old Brian Lara Cricket. I’ll probably end up giving this a skip because sports games never seem to hold my interest. Initial pics look pretty good though.

    Reply

    • Spathi

      August 6, 2013 at 12:14

      Jonty Rhodes and Allan Border cricket were the best!

      The game does look good. I’ve been waiting for a good cricket game to play co-op with friends.

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      August 6, 2013 at 12:32

      Brian Lara Cricket was the boss!

      Reply

      • Johan du Preez

        December 3, 2013 at 19:03

        Yeh no other cricket game comes close to it, all they need to do is remake it with better animation and graphics. Me and my buddy use to play 5 day matches and it was awesome.

        Reply

  2. Kenn

    August 6, 2013 at 12:06

    bought

    Reply

  3. Alex Hicks

    August 6, 2013 at 12:09

    I’m concerned over 2 things: Firstly, the gameplay sounds good; but will it actually translate into something worthwhile; and secondly, your lack of appreciation for the purest form of the game. Tests are the only thing that holds my interest now – anything played in bright colours with white balls and floodlights makes me cringe. But I could watch 5 full days end to end if my work actually allowed that …

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      August 6, 2013 at 12:18

      I blame ADHD… Now don’t get me wrong I love going to Wanderers for a day at the test match but it doesn’t build the excitement of a solid one day match between us and the Ozzies or Poms

      Reply

      • Hermann Schwindt

        August 6, 2013 at 12:53

        Gavin, you have to appreciate the finer details in test cricket. The off pitch commentary by the players, the strategies, even weather forecasts. All small things that makes test cricket interesting.

        Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          August 6, 2013 at 13:26

          I appreciate the cold beers and finger snacks that they serve in the box… does that count?

          Reply

    • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

      August 6, 2013 at 12:31

      Day and night tests are coming 😉

      Reply

    • Scruff304

      August 6, 2013 at 13:09

      You sir, deserve a Castle. I could easily sit all day and just watch a day of test cricket. The mind games and drama you get from it is unequal!

      Reply

  4. Admiral Chief Minion 47

    August 6, 2013 at 12:17

    It had to be pretty effing amazing for me to even consider it.

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

      August 6, 2013 at 12:32

      skeptical minion is skeptical…

      Reply

  5. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    August 6, 2013 at 12:36

    How can you not like cricket? Cricket is the purest of the gentleman’s games. In fact, a nation’s culture level is determined by whether or not they play cricket. That’s why the Americans actually score lower than Zimbabwe on the Cultural Index. Cricket… my good man! CRICKET!
    By the way, esteemed moustached members of the Sony Gentleman’s Club for Gentlemen play it every weekend – dressed in tweed.

    Reply

  6. Deano

    August 6, 2013 at 12:37

    Jonty Rhodes cricket on 4 floppy disks was the shizzz me and my cousin use to get pretty competetive at it and it would decide who was paying for lunch that day.

    Reply

  7. Concerned

    August 6, 2013 at 12:56

    Will it possibly be coming to Xbox One later? Will be a must have if it does! I still play Brian Lara on my Xbox 360! ????

    Reply

  8. Scruff304

    August 6, 2013 at 13:07

    Please be good, please be good, please be good! Cricket to this day is still my number one sport, and I would love to finally play a worthwhile game.

    Reply

  9. matthurstrsa

    August 6, 2013 at 13:12

    What worries me is there are no gameplay screenshots.

    Reply

    • Deano

      August 6, 2013 at 13:15

      Those are gameplay screenshots as far as I can tell.

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      August 6, 2013 at 13:28

      Those are classed as gameplay screenshots… but yes they’d be replay screenshots

      I’ve asked for more but have been abruptly told.. NO

      I will keep hassling though

      Reply

      • matthurstrsa

        August 6, 2013 at 13:31

        I know you’ll keep hassling, but they fact that they won’t even release one makes me nervous. But maybe its not polished and they are worried people will judge it based on early builds. Will wait and see. Cricket and rugby are two sports that are notorious for poor or average games, so hopefully they can change that next gen.

        Reply

  10. Draco Lusus

    August 6, 2013 at 13:13

    I’ll give it a shot! Man, I’ve been craving one forever. Will need to get a controller to play it properly.

    Reply

  11. Anon A Mouse

    August 6, 2013 at 13:16

    Please for the love of Bradman’s ghost be good….. neigh be GREAT. I need a good cricket game, I had International Cricket but that just did not cut it.

    I love watching the final few days of test cricket. I think my ADHD has been getting hold of me as of late as I struggle to watch all 5 days the older I get. But I just can’t get excited about T20 or IPL or what ever they call it.

    Reply

  12. CaptainNemo42

    August 6, 2013 at 13:39

    Wait, a DRS system that works? Then this game is seriously flawed. Also, can you disable that hotspot when the Indians play, because they’re full of shit and doesn’t use it…

    Reply

  13. brad coetzee

    August 6, 2013 at 13:39

    I hate cricket. Its on par with Golf.

    flame on.

    Reply

  14. david

    August 6, 2013 at 13:44

    Yhee!! Can’t wait. I will certainly get this!! See the trailer..with gameplay!

    http://www.planetcricket.net/gaming/don-bradman-cricket-14/videos/

    Reply

  15. Lardus-Wolverine

    August 6, 2013 at 14:09

    Career mode sound good. Hope your young player will also gain experience and gain stats as time goes on and not just start as “Super Shane” bowling, “King Kallis” batting and Jonty Rhodes fielding! Like they did with NHL – the more you play and score the more points to make the player better!

    Reply

  16. Wyzak

    August 6, 2013 at 15:09

    Would be nice if this came out on the Wii-U, since ashes cricket screwed up so royally.

    Reply

  17. ElimiNathan

    August 6, 2013 at 20:00

    WOW

    Reply

  18. Tidycpc

    August 7, 2013 at 09:05

    Hope you guys get a copy to review.

    Reply

  19. paktvchannel

    August 8, 2013 at 09:11

    nice this cricket game.

    http://www.cricketgames4u.com/

    Reply

  20. MHaseebAhmed

    August 10, 2013 at 09:55

    i for one m xcited..

    Reply

  21. Gareth

    December 3, 2013 at 16:52

    Let’s hope this will actually be good! The screenshots look great, now fingers crossed for the gameplay itself.

    Reply

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