Watching Hockey Will Never Be the Same: InGamer Sports Launches Real-Time,
Social Gaming Platform for Hockey Fans
TORONTO, May 27 /CNW/ - InGamer Sports, a leading technology provider of real-time, interactive sports and entertainment games for the web and mobile devices, to launch the InGamer platform for Game One of the Hockey Finals in partnership with The Hockey News and National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA).
InGamer Sports enhances the TV viewing experience by engaging and connecting sports fans from around the world with live sporting events in a fun, social and interactive way. Its innovative platform combines traditional fantasy sports experiences with social media and real-time game design.
During live events, gamers can: - Pick any 5 players - Make substitutions for each period - Earn (and lose points) based on player performance - Taunt opposing gamers - Compete with friend - React to actual in-game scenarios
"We know viewers today consume TV differently - they are socially connected on multiple devices while they watch TV," said Nic Sulsky, CEO of InGamer Sports. "Social gaming is a huge and rapidly growing global industry. By fusing all three screens and various social media outlets together, InGamer unifies and amplifies the live game experience for consumers. In addition, it allows advertisers and broadcasters to engage with and monetize audiences they were never able to reach before."
As part of the launch, The Hockey News will be the first media property to integrate InGamer's platform into its website http://playerscup.thehockeynews.com 3/4 showcasing the platforms unique capabilities during the Finals.
"What impressed us most about the InGamer Sports platform is the level of user engagement. Instead of traditional fantasy pools where fans set it and forget it, InGamer Sports has developed a highly interactive and social online game that commands as much attention as the actual hockey game the fan is watching on television. It adds a whole new dimension of excitement to the game-viewing experience and The Hockey News is thrilled to be a part of it," says Angus Robinson, Online Product Manager, TheHockeyNews.com.
InGamer has also formed a marketing partnership with the NHLPA to help support the launch. As part of the launch, NHLPA will be providing prizing to consumers who sign up and play along during the Finals. There's game by game prizing (including copies of EA NHL 2010 and NHLPA merchandise packs) while the Grand Prize is a signed Alexander Ovechkin jersey.
"What struck us was that the InGamer scoring system will shine light on the all-around hockey player. The game-by-game nature and ability to change players for each period gives fans a more interactive experience than traditional fantasy sports," Casey Rovinelli, Director, Digital Marketing at the NHLPA.
"We are proud to be introducing the next step in sports gaming alongside the NHLPA and The Hockey News," said Sulsky. "Our platform delivers a real impact to brands, broadcasters, and consumers and we're excited to be launching with such incredible partners."
The InGamer service is currently offered for free to consumers during this trial period at the www.ingamersports.com website.
About InGamer Sports
InGamer Sports is a leading technology provider of real-time, interactive sports and entertainment games for the web and mobile devices. InGamer's innovative combination of live event statistics with a real time game design provides a common interactive and competitive experience for spectators of live sporting events.
About TheHockeyNews
The Hockey News is published by Transcontinental Media, the fourth-largest print media group in Canada with annual revenues of $607 million in 2009.
Transcontinental Media is the country's leading publisher of consumer magazines and of French-language educational resources, in addition to being the largest publisher of community newspapers in Eastern Canada. Transcontinental Media publishes the daily Métro in Montreal and is the leading distributor of door-to-door advertising material in Quebec. Transcontinental Media is distinguished by its custom publishing, mailing and email customized database, which allows users to maintain close relations with more than 6 million consumers. It also has more than 120 web sites, attracting more than 4.2 million Canadian unique visitors per month.
Transcontinental Media is a subsidiary of Transcontinental (TSX: TCL.A, TCL.B), with operations in Canada, the United States and Mexico, with revenues of $2.3 billion in 2009.
For more information about the corporation, please visit www.transcontinental.com
About National Hockey League Players' Association
The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), established in 1967, is a labour organization whose members are the players in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in varied disciplines such as labour relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations, all in furtherance of its efforts to promote its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, the NHLPA launched the Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 10 years, more than 40,000 deserving children in 22 countries have benefited from the players' donations of hockey equipment. Goals & Dreams has donated more than $18-million to grassroots hockey programs, making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com.
For further information: Nic Sulsky, CEO, InGamer Sports, (416) 834-0413, [email protected]
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