‘Empire of Sports’ is the world’s first massively multi-player online role-playing game platform (MMORPG) built entirely around sports. It is designed to allow millions of players around the world to simultaneously exist in a persistent online universe, where their avatars socially interact, train, compete and attend events in various sports disciplines to build a virtual sporting existence.

In order to build the basis for its rapidly growing community, Empire of Sports, the amazing new sports-based MMORPG from Infront Sports & Media and French company F4, has decided to open its doors to an exclusive and select band of 15,000 players, otherwise known as the VIPs, or Very Important Players.

The recruitment of these VIPs starts today all over Europe, thanks to the exclusive support of leading community websites partners: Eurogamer.net for the UK, jeuxonline.info and mondespersistants.com for France, and onlinewelten.com and buffed.de for Germany. As the first ever virtual sporting world incorporating both MMO gameplay and social networking elements, Empire of Sports continues to innovate the MMO genre with this exciting and unique new way of progressively launching to the public.

VIPs receive a Gold Pass on arrival that provides them with unlimited access to the currently available sports, full avatar progression and a head start in front of other players as they get to keep all of their progression and equipment once the game goes into full launch later in the year.

As befits someone of genuine VIP status, the 15,000 new Empire of Sports’ players will receive the full attention of both Empire of Sports’ community and development teams: from fully organised and regular tournaments, to prompt feedback to tweaking requests, everything will be done to ensure VIPs receive the very best gaming experience. Better still, VIPs also have the chance to invite one of their friends to join them in the game, as every new Empire of Sports VIP automatically receives a second, full VIP access code.

VIPs start Empire of Sports with access to one city and four sports: training, skiing, bobsleigh and tennis. The other sports - basketball, athletics and football, currently still in beta – will be added progressively to the game content, with VIPs able to apply to join each of these sport’s beta tests individually.

Over the coming months additional VIP places will become available for aspiring virtual athletes. These new VIPs will help to reinforce and diversify Empire of Sports’ community, until all the VIP’s are happy with their Empire of Sports and ready to share it with the rest of the world!

Building on the unprecedented rise of persistent gaming worlds, Empire of Sports opens up a completely new realm for gamers and online users: the exciting and thrilling world of sports. At the centre of the gamers’ attention is their virtual representation in the sports world, the avatar or player character. The player assumes the role of a single player character throughout the entire game, which will result in an up to now unimagined gaming experience, especially in team sports.

Running from today until the game’s full launch early in 2008, the Empire of Sports closed beta will, for the very first time, offer members of the public a glimpse into the future of massively multiplayer online games, with unrestricted access to Empire of Sports’ staggering world.

Successful applicants to this beta version will be able to experience for themselves the game’s incredible fresh take on the genre, which sees a persistent world populated by virtual athletes who train, exercise and compete in single-player and team-based sports.

Available to play from the off are five sports, each of which will pit player versus player for the ultimate competition. Tennis, basketball, skiing, bobsleigh, track & field and some training games are all available immediately, with soccer – featuring 11 players on each team – launching shortly. In addition, players will be able to compete in in-game tournaments, customise their avatar and property with in-game items, travel to other sporting cities, meet virtual coaches, and even join virtual societies.

Features :

• The first true multi-sport MMORPG
• A journey that will take you from being an ambitious and talented rookie to the heights of sports stardom
• Create your own individual character and develop its skills and capabilities in various sports
• Participate in multi-player sports action in football, basketball, tennis, skiing, bobsleigh, athletics and gym games
• Interact with thousands of other players in virtual city centers
• Compete in matches and competitions for all levels and reach the top of your sports league

One last detail: One of the major differences between reality and Empire of Sports is the coexistence of men and women in Empire of Sports teams. Gender doesn’t have any impact on performance. We don’t care if you’re a boy or a girl, it’s the score when the buzzer goes that decides who is best.

Among the high quality multiplayer sports games available at the launch of Empire of Sports will be Basketball, Tennis, Skiing, and a series of fitness and training games. Other major sports will be announced as the platform develops.

Full details on the game will be unveiled just before the game is launched fully in early 2008, but a limited number of European gamers can gain access now by heading over to the game’s official website.

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