The new online game www.CrystalBallSports.com is officially launching today !

    
     Representing a radical evolution from traditional hockey pools, this
       first online prediction game focused on hockey in Canada is now
       accessible to all the fans who wish to prove the depth of their
     knowledge to their friends while enjoying a fun competition, and win
                                   prizes
    

MONTREAL, Dec. 7 /CNW Telbec/ - So you think you can predict who will be tending the goals tonight and which team will win the game tomorrow night? Then welcome to www.CrystalBallSports.com, an online prediction game that allows players to buy and sell "prediction stocks" representing events and game results related to the current professionnal hockey season.

Based on the mechanics of predictive markets, and similar to stock markets, but adapted to sports, www.CrystalBallSports.com offers players who register a free $100 000 virtual dollars portfolio to trade predictive stocks. The price of each stock is the equivalent their probability of coming true. As an example, if Toronto stands a 60% chance of beating Montreal in their next game, then the related stock will be priced at $60. If Toronto wins, then the stock's value rises to $100 and players make a (virtual) profit ! But if Toronto looses, the stock's value drops to $0. And the players who bought that stock will loose their investment (virtually, of course).

Glory and weekly prizes

The goal fo the game is for each registered player to increase the value of his or her portfolio, by investing in a maximum of accurate predictive stocks. Each week, the player with the highest portfolio growth will win a prize ! But, more importantly, the winning player can assert bragging rights to all his or her friends ! Any hockey fan who has a competitive streak knows instinctively that the true motivation for winning is the glory that follows it.

The game, accessible via the web site www.CrystalBallSports.com, has already been operationnal in its beta version since the beginning of the 2009-2010 hockey season. The game will be up for the entire season, including the playoffs. Further, a special version will be adapted and launched in time for the 2010 Olympics, and will put in play the participating countries' teams.

The creators

The game was created by two internet professionnals who share a passion for hockey. Louis Tremblay Malafarina, who made his name running interactive marketing campaigns in the US market before coming back to Montreal, and Daniel Lepage, an information technology and web applications specialist whose career spanned Europe and Canada.

For further information: Louis Tremblay Malafarina, [phone], [email protected]