Ponting Returns in Xbox 360 Cricket Sequel

Atari and Codemasters today announced the genre-leading cricket game series will return with Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007 and officially feature of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. Coming to the Xbox 360 and also the PS2 and Xbox, the title will launch to coincide with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in March 2007.

The new title follows last year’s smash hit Ricky Ponting International Cricket, the best-selling cricket game of 2005, and will carry the endorsement of Wisden’s 2006 World Cricketer of the Year. The first game won over an army of fans thanks to its authentic and hugely entertaining gameplay and remained in the Top 10 sales charts for months.

Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007 will expand the series’ trademark fluid, dynamic gameplay mechanics to deliver a thoroughly entertaining and competitive game that captures all the tension, skill and intensity of world-class international cricket. The Ricky Ponting game engine has been brought into Codemasters Studios to benefit from a full internal development programme.

Thanks to the official ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 content, Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007 will feature licensed players, including world cricket stars Andrew Flintoff, Brian Lara, Mahendra Dhoni, Muttiah Muralitharan and of course, Ricky Ponting himself.

In addition to players, the game will lead with a dedicated ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 mode featuring all the official teams, stadia, kits and equipment of the tournament. Further modes include a fully licensed ICC Champions’ Trophy competition and exhibition matches including One Day Games, Test Matches and exciting 20-over run fests. When you want to get competitive for real, Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007 will deliver with online competitive play on PC (LAN and online) and Xbox Live.

Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007 will add extra depth to the series’ complete batting, bowling and fielding experience whilst retaining its trademark accessible playability. The acclaimed batting play will see the introduction of subtle edges, sweepshots and the ability to use your feet to dance down wicket and smash the ball over the boundary for six.

Bowling will see a much improved set of delivery types, thanks to changes in the way the ball swings in the air and reacts off the pitch, showcasing Shane Warne’s huge variation of spinning deliveries and Steve Harmison’s raw pace and even reverse swing as the ball degrades. In Fielding, there’s a new reflex-testing slip catch system and players can now be run out at both ends and be stumped by alert wicket keepers.

A striking advancement is the photo-realistic visuals that are being created for the title. Hundreds of real player likenesses are being modelled in high detail, complete with animated facial expressions to capture the intensity and emotion of international cricket. Stadia, including all eight official World Cup venues, are also being created with a new level of textured detail and will make use of proprietary shader technology for realistic, subtle and changing lighting effects, such as time of day and weather.