CLIENT: STARZ MEDIA | RELEASED: SEP 2006
CHALLENGE
Starz Media (formerly IDT Entertainment) wanted to promote the release of their upcoming animated film Everyone’s Hero. They challenged Fuel Industries to build a web-based baseball game with characters from the movie to generate some pre-release buzz.
STRATEGY
Rather than hosting the game on a microsite, we leveraged our relationship with Wrigley’s Candystand, a major youth gaming portal that shares the same target demographic, to give BlastBall prominent placement on the gaming site. The co-branded experience would cross-promote the movie and Candystand.
CREATIVE & EXECUTION
Everyone's Hero Big League Chew BlastBall challenges players to bring their batting skills to the sandlot set in the movie. Borrowing the client’s movie assets, Fuel created a series of pre-rendered animations, achieving a 3D-like quality to the characters and environment that are similar in style and personality to the movie.
Players take on the character of Yankee Irving—the movie’s hero—and step up to the plate to hit fastballs, curveballs, and the occasional bonus apple thrown by his friend, Marti. Play controls were designed with simplicity in mind to accommodate the age of the intended user. Time your power meter and aim using a directional arrow to hit the ball in the “sweet spot,” scoring points by hitting targets in the playing field. If you’re feeling confident, try to max out the power meter and swing for the fence.
During each ‘inning’ you have to achieve a minimum score to continue to the next level; if you strike out or fail to get enough points, you will have to start again. The player who makes it through nine innings unlocks the secret Big League Grand Slam Bonus level – and gets to play the game in a major league baseball stadium!
RESULTS
Although specific results are confidential, the game generated significant exposure leading up to the movie release.
