Ballersunited Germany’s “Browser Game of the Year 2008”

Northworks’ online basketball manager named “Best Sports Game” by German online magazine GalaxyNews

Hamburg, 24 February 2009: It has been nothing short of a perfect start for Hamburg-based northworks Software GmbH’s second release. A mere three weeks after its market launch, the new basketball manager “Ballersunited” was already recognized as the “Best Sports Game” in the “Browser Game of the Year 2008” award competition held by the online magazine, GalaxyNews. The pre-market version alone convinced the expert judging panel that “the developers at northworks are demonstrating what a sports game should look like. The concept – easy access to a game with great depth – is right on the mark.” The company is about to make its presence known on the real playing field, as well: northworks is supporting the TOP 4 tournament scheduled for February 28 and March 1, 2009 at Hamburg’s Color Line Arena. The cup final of the German national basketball league is the basketball highlight of the year.

“Winning the award for ‘Best Sports Game 2008’ makes us very proud,” says northworks’ managing director, Sascha Kaddatz. “It is a fantastic appreciation of our hard work, and we are very happy that the follow-up to our first release, ‘Goalunited’, is such a strong contender.” Since its introduction in September 2006, Northworks Software GmbH’s football management simulation game has won several awards and has become a favorite for more than a million players in 15 languages. With an even higher level of quality and more suspense than its ‘big brother’, Ballersunited has so far attracted some 25,000 players.

In all, five browser-based games were nominated in the Sports category: Ballersunited from northworks, Football Arena from Axiss, Konterstark from Kontertaktik, Smashdown from mindvent and Top League from aitainment. Northworks scored with its combination of realistic basketball management and tactical trading card game. The judging panel, which also included experts from various gaming magazines, was impressed by the overall implementation and by how well the theme translates into the gaming experience.

But not just the judges were taken – even actual basketball pros are excited about the game. Former national league star and international player, Marvin Willoughby, recommends Ballersunited for trainees, since the online basketball manager can teach them certain things about real-life matches.

The closeness to reality will also be underscored by northworks’ appearance as one of the sponsors of the TOP 4 cup finals of the German national basketball league on February 28 and March 1. With four top teams fighting for the coveted basketball league trophy at Hamburg’s Color Line Arena, the game developers will be in the lobby presenting strategies and tactics for the virtual playing field. As Sascha Kaddatz puts it, “the BBL TOP Four cup final in Hamburg is one of the hottest basketball events in Germany. We are honored to be among those supporting it and can’t wait for the finals!”

Additional Information, Screenshots and Images
Please visit www.ballersunited.org for additional information about the game. Downloadable images (24MB) are available at http://quinke-networks.de/Ballersunited.rar. You can find out more about northworks Software GmbH at www.northworks.de.

About northworks
Established in Hamburg in 2006, northworks develops and operates browser-based computer games that match the quality of PC and console games. The three company founders, Sascha Kaddatz, Thomas Lehr und Axel Würthele, head a team that currently consists of 13 staff members and 67 freelance community supporters. Northworks Software GmbH’s first release, “Goalunited”, has already attracted more than 1,000,000 players around the world and is available in 15 languages. The online football manager game has garnered a number of awards, such as “Best Browser-Based Game 2007” (gdynamite), “Best Graphics 2007” (GalaxyNews), First Runner-Up “Hamburg@work Games Award 2005” and First Runner-Up “Best German Sports Game” (Deutscher Entwicklerpreis 2007). In February 2009, northworks launched “Ballersunited”, which was named “Browser Game of the Year 2008” in the sports category by German magazine, GalaxyNews. Prototype development for the browser-based basketball manager game was supported by Gamecity Hamburg. Seed financing for the company is provided by DuMont Venture Holding GmbH & Co. KG and High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH.

Company Contact
northworks Software GmbH
Sascha Kaddatz
Stahltwiete 23
22761 Hamburg
Phone: +49/40/78 10 70 75
Fax: +49/40/78 10 70 74
press@northworks.de
www.northworks.de

Press Contact
Quinke Networks
Achim Quinke
Bei den Mühren 70
20457 Hamburg
Phone: +49/40/43 09 39 49
Fax : +49/40/43 09 39 97
mail@quinke.com
www.quinke.com

This release was published on openPR.