2008-11-24
KERB DEVELOPS TEXT-TO-WIN SUPER SOCCER STAR GAME WITH CHELSEA FC TIE-IN
Digital engagement agency Kerb has been commissioned to develop a soccer viral game to promote a multi-platform family show that has UK Premier League club Chelsea FC as a global sports partner.
Super Soccer Star is a multi-platform reality talent show to find the next teen football star. The show winner is granted a place to train at Chelsea's Football Academy. The show is produced by AIM-listed entertainment media company Galleon Holdings Plc.
Kerbs Flash-based creation is based on the classic football penalty-kick game and it features the distinctive, Japanese-influenced Manga cartoon illustrations and animations.
The games premise is simply to score as many goals as possible from the penalty spot, with an increasing number of difficult obstacles to avoid. Players need to select different levels of power, curl and pitch to defeat both the obstacles and the keeper. The game crowd either falls deathly silent if players fail or bursts into raucous applause if they succeed.
An innovation in the game is that after a certain number of goals have been scored at different levels, players are presented with a call to action to text in a mobile code to win Chelsea FC memorabilia. The competition is being targeted to Malaysia, where Super Soccer Star will air in January 2009, by a strategic seeding campaign.
Galleon approached Kerb directly to build the game, based on the companys strategic reputation for developing innovative viral campaigns and its experience with other broadcast clients, including Channel 4, E4 and the BBC.
The Kerb game will help to promote the 13-episode series, which will begin its broadcast run on national TV through Radio Television Malaysia in January. The Malaysia Football Association is co-sponsor for the series, which generates revenues from mobile and online voting, sponsorship, advertising and branded merchandise.
Mahesh Ramachandra, Global Director of Entertainment at Galleon Holdings, comments: We are gaining momentum with our programmes in our target markets and are very excited to be working with Kerb on the Super Soccer Star game that we are sure will create a new buzz around the show and bring in potential contestants and winners. Galleon is at the forefront of multi-platform entertainment, and this innovative combination of online and mobile entertainment will take us to another level.
Jim McNiven, managing director of Kerb adds: Super Soccer Star is a great twist on a classic game, and the innovative element of including text-to-win calls adds great entertainment value that we believe is certain to increase the viral effect as well as provide new revenue streams for Galleon.
http://www.supersoccerstar.com.my/news.php?id=23
and the game:
http://www.supersoccerstar.com.my/game.php