Summary

Release Year: 2013
Genres: Sport
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360
Developers: Trickstar Games
Publishers: 505 Games

Ashes Cricket 2013: The Worst Cricket Game Ever Made?

Ashes Cricket 2013 is a cricket video game developed by Trickstar Games and published by 505 Games. It was released on November 22, 2013, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game is based on the 2013 Ashes series between England and Australia.

Ashes Cricket 2013 was a critical and commercial failure. It was universally panned by critics, cricket fans and the media, and there were several videos on YouTube featuring the game’s many bugs. Four days after its release, it was removed from sale. It was finally announced on November 28 that all production of the game had been cancelled, along with plans to release console versions of the game, and that all people who purchased the game would receive a full refund.

The publisher, 505 Games, apologized to the game’s users and turned its attention to “protecting the Ashes name and that of the ECB and Cricket Australia”.

Development

Ashes Cricket 2013 was developed by Trickstar Games, a relatively new and inexperienced video game developer. The game was announced in May 2013, and was originally scheduled to be released in September 2013. However, the release date was pushed back to November 2013.

The game was developed using the Unity game engine. This was a controversial decision, as the Unity game engine is not typically used to develop AAA video games. However, Trickstar Games claimed that the Unity game engine would allow them to create a more realistic and immersive cricket experience.

Gameplay

Ashes Cricket 2013 is a cricket simulation game. The player can control either the England or Australia cricket team, and can play in a variety of different game modes, including Test matches, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 matches.

The game features a number of different gameplay modes, including:

Career mode: In career mode, the player can create their own cricketer and take them through a career in international cricket. The player can choose to play for any of the major cricketing nations, and can compete in a variety of different tournaments.
Exhibition mode: In exhibition mode, the player can play a one-off match against another player or against the computer. The player can choose to play in a variety of different stadiums, and can set the match conditions.
Online multiplayer: In online multiplayer mode, the player can play against other players online. The player can choose to play in a variety of different game modes, including Test matches, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 matches.

Reception

Ashes Cricket 2013 was a critical and commercial failure. The game was universally panned by critics, cricket fans and the media. The game was criticized for its numerous bugs, its poor graphics, its lack of polish and its unrealistic gameplay.

Many critics compared Ashes Cricket 2013 to the previous Ashes cricket game, Ashes Cricket 2009. Ashes Cricket 2009 was also developed by Trickstar Games, and was also released to negative reviews. However, Ashes Cricket 2009 was not as buggy or as poorly received as Ashes Cricket 2013.

The game’s failure was a major embarrassment for 505 Games. The publisher had high hopes for the game, and had invested a significant amount of money in its development. However, the game’s poor reception damaged the Ashes brand and led to a loss of confidence in 505 Games.

Legacy

Ashes Cricket 2013 is widely considered to be one of the worst video games ever made. The game’s failure has become a cautionary tale for other video game developers. It is a reminder that even the most ambitious projects can fail if they are not properly executed.

The game’s failure also led to a number of changes at 505 Games. The publisher has since restructured its development team and has adopted a more cautious approach to game development. 505 Games has also been more selective in the projects that it chooses to invest in.

Ashes Cricket 2013 is a reminder that even the most promising video games can fail. The game’s failure is a cautionary tale for other video game developers, and it is a reminder that even the most ambitious projects can fail if they are not properly executed.