GAA game: “disrespectful” - players group

An in-game action still of from a TV advertisement for Gaelic Games: Football.

- Advert video back online, still no screen shots

The Gaelic Players Association, who have 1,400 members, have called the GAA-backed ‘Gaelic Football 2005’ PlayStation 2 game “disrespectful” and “deceitful”, because of the way the makers have not included the images of GPA members.

"They told us they haven’t violated image rights with the game”, Dessie Farrell, GPA chief executive, told the GAA news website hoganstand.com, “But to go ahead and skirt round them in another way by using players’ names is grossly deceitful”. Adding “players won’t take kindly to it".

In 2003, when the game was officially announced by Sony and GAA, the GPA were working on their own title with a Longford-based software company, Multi Media Instructional Designs Ltd (MMID). That game was understood not to have taken shape like a so-called ‘AAA’ soccer title, unlike the Sony game that will take form similar to popular soccer games such as EA’s FIFA, and Konami’s critically acclaimed Pro Evolution Soccer.

At the time, there was a large focus from the GPA, and some others, that foreign companies were making the game when MMID led by former Longford player, Frank McNamee, were also trying to make a game. However, the GAA licence was from 1998 to 2003 in the hands of the Irish start-up developer Pooka Games, who failed to get the project out of the funding stages. The Australia developer Irgurus were then brought in presumably because their experience with Australia football games, and their game engine which could be adapted for Gaelic football.

Meanwhile, the TV advertisement for Gaelic Football 2005 is once again online, it is available on this GAA club’s site, or directly by clicking here. We have received no update on when screen shots will be released, if ever, for the game which Sony says will be in shops in under four weeks time, on Friday, November 11.

Related news

• ‘Gaelic Games: Football’ details, release date (Sep 29, 2005)
• GAA computer game out November 11 (Sep 29, 2005)
• GAA PS2 game: retailer - ‘Sept-2005’ (Aug 22, 2005)
• GAA game in August - retailers... (July 12, 2005)
• GAA game delay, normal for games industry (Jan 28, 2005)
• GAA Football Computer Game for 2004 (Oct 28, 2003)

Comments

[sean t. guinan]

bring out a hurling game. are sony not able to produce one?

[sean t. guinan]

bring out a hurling game. are sony not able to produce one? by the way offaly rule!!!!!!!!!

[Timmy MCCOOLE]

Disrespectful? The players were looking for money off a low budget company! What did they have to lose by allowing their names to be used on (if the sceenshots and the AFL game are to go by) a smashing game. Offaly don't rule Dublin do!

[Jimmy McDermott (aka Timmy MCCOOLE)]

Conor Hayes (not the Galway Manager) is one of the typical GAA sceptics balming the organisation on the GPAs hungry attitude

[ishca12]

this is a rubbish game,the game plays like the notorious DAVID BECKHAM SOCCER !!!! This would be a good game ten years ago it looks like a playstation 1 game and a bad one at that. Just got a copy from the video shop and iam warning you NOT to buy this heap!!! BRUTAL. The GPA were lucky not to be involved in this disaster!!!! It will do more harm than good for the game

[chigleaf]

this is a very poor game a huge let down. The game itself was first mooted is it almost 10 years ago and the graphics certainly look like they come from there. the lack of a shot button that will target the posts is very annoying with just a "kick" function which could go anywhere. and the lack of naming positions for the subs is very annoying,only thing going for it is the novelty of it all