Cricket Games Are Just as Addictive as the Real Thing
Cricket games are just as addictive as the real thing. It takes great skill to be an expert in the world of virtual cricket, and that's after you’ve worked out which are the best games and game platforms. So, here’s a quick run-down of the most enjoyable options.
Keeping it Real
The first caveat is that cricket is such a complex sport, its a real challenge for games developers to convert into a real video game. Although the top games do have lots of fine detail, they may not look as realistic as, say, football or basketball games.
The best games have enough levels of difficulty to be challenging and lasting. The best titles let you control batsmen, bowlers, and fielders.
Also, watch out for a choice of international, one-day matches, test matches, and friendlies. And, look for titles that are licensed to use real player’s names.
There’s also a choice of games platform, between your PC, various consoles like X-Box or PS2, or the web. As ever, the power of your PC or speed of your internet connection affects game performance, so console games are a good bet for realism and speed.
Arcade, Simulations, Online or Fantasy
Cricket games fall into four categories, arcade games, cricket simulations, online games, and fantasy cricket.
Arcade games like Brian Lara Cricket let you interact directly with the players. The best platforms for detailed, fast graphics are your games console or PC — the more up-to-date the better. And if you’re using a Mac, why not try the brilliant Cricket 3D, the latest interactive addition to this games stable.
Cricket simulations like International Cricket Captain (ICC) demand real management skills. You can work to a budget and over several seasons if you wish, and manage your team's tactics on the field. ICC is available for PC only.
Online cricket games like Stick Cricket are great fun but don’t expect detailed graphics and fast response times. Value for money is also important. Stick Cricket is probably the most popular free online cricket game and some simple games are free downloads, eg Sticky Wicket. Others have free online demos, but charge to download a full version, eg Allan Border Cricket. Shareware games let you try a brief trial download before you buy.
A final option is to try your hand at fantasy cricket. This demands totally different skills from computer-related games. If you think that you can manage an international cricket team better than the professionals, then why not give this a try?
There are also some gaming wizards out there who can guide you through the jungle of the game.
Computer games have improved dramatically over the last 10 years but the new Nintendo Wii system opens up a whole new range of possibilities. The interactive Ashes 2009 for the Wii is out there already, but what I’m waiting for is the Wii game that uses the motion-sensing Wii-mote as a coaching tool for batting. Codemasters, are you reading this?
