It’s been a long while since we’ve had a good cricket game, Ashes Cricket 2013 does nothing to change that. It was released quietly on steam about a week ago to a slew of complaints concerning game breaking bugs and just being a generally awful game. As of today the game was pulled from steam, which is no surprise given the abysmal quality. This gameplay video says it all. I doubt they even playtested the damn thing.
The video is from a user review of Ashes Cricket 2013 from www.planetcricket.net which complains of dodgy animations and physics, broken sound, repetitive commentary and over simplified and buggy gameplay. It’s proof that official licensing does not a good game make. Even at its $20 dollar USD price point, it’s an absolute waste of what could’ve been at least a decent game.
In light of this recently tragedy, the upcoming Don Bradman Cricket ‘14, which we’ve covered before on Lazygamer, is shaping up to be much better, despite the lack of official licensing. If the pre-release gameplay videos floating around the net are anything to go by, it seems way more polished and actually given the time of day by Big Ant Studios.
Ashes 2013 is a crushing disappointment. To be pulled from Steam after only four days should be a reminder to everyone that official licencing may only bring you a lazily put together pile of trash wrapped in Unity engine. We can only hope that Bradman Cricket ‘14 is all it’s cracked up to be. Unofficial reports say that the release date will be announced at the end of November.
Last Updated: November 27, 2013
TiMsTeR1033
November 27, 2013 at 14:34
oh spare me…rather watch grass grow
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 27, 2013 at 14:37
while having a beer
TiMsTeR1033
November 27, 2013 at 14:38
and sitting in the sun, to get drunk faster.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 27, 2013 at 14:39
on the outskirts of the cricket field….
Sageville
November 27, 2013 at 14:45
….spot the old skool 5 day cricket supporter….
Hammersteyn
November 27, 2013 at 14:38
All the names are fake so even if you rename the players the stats and averages are wrong……FUCK!
RyseandRepeat
November 27, 2013 at 14:40
What’s the damn point I ask?
TiMsTeR1033
November 27, 2013 at 14:41
I don’t know either, I don’t watch cricket
RyseandRepeat
November 27, 2013 at 14:46
I actually do watch cricket though. But why bother making a game of it?
Hammersteyn
November 27, 2013 at 14:50
It’s the same bullshit with Rugby games. Well the Jonah Lomu one anyways.
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
November 27, 2013 at 14:53
And soccer games
Hammersteyn
November 27, 2013 at 14:53
FIFA as well?
Lardus-Resident Perve
November 27, 2013 at 14:54
I just don’t see the point of soccer, whether on the pitch or in a game 🙂
TiMsTeR1033
November 27, 2013 at 14:54
Fifa games are awesome with friends
Lardus-Resident Perve
November 27, 2013 at 14:55
Might be, but my friends don’t like sports games. Fighting games however…
Sageville
November 27, 2013 at 15:00
I might have to get the new UFC on PS4….. mind you those games are also starting to look alot like the copy-n-paste FIFA franchise….
TiMsTeR1033
November 27, 2013 at 15:00
Have yet to get UFC game.
Sageville
November 27, 2013 at 15:04
The old ones were real controller/thumb destroyers (submissions) you had to “Shine” the joystick which I was very fail at.
I haven’t looked at the latest versions though.
Lardus-Resident Perve
November 27, 2013 at 21:25
After a while, all the sports games will start to look like that. There is only so much that can be done. The question is, what enhancement and new features they can add while tweaking the existing package. I love playing NBA2K14, but the only way I will get 2k15 or 2k16 is if I go to next gen, because I expect “copy-n-paste” for the next 2 years!
Sageville
November 27, 2013 at 14:55
Yeah, what with all that “My legs buckle and don’t work proper as soon as I’m in the opposition area near that box thing with all the netting”
Lardus-Resident Perve
November 27, 2013 at 14:53
Unfortunately, the budget for Rugby and Cricket games just cannot compete with FIFA, Madden, NHL and NBA. I will say though, that if a GOOD rugby game comes out with the myCareer features from NBA (it is like a sport-RPG), I will be the first in line to buy it. Until then, no thanks to the current rubbish.
Hammersteyn
November 27, 2013 at 14:56
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a44191Z_460sa.gif
Roy
December 10, 2013 at 05:11
hahaha 🙂
Lourens Jordaan
November 27, 2013 at 14:46
The real question is whether each player has stats for how easily they can be bribed to throw the game…. maybe that’ll be added as a “pay to win” mini transaction.
roy
December 10, 2013 at 05:13
your right
AdrianKuiper
November 27, 2013 at 14:49
Go read up more about the game. There is something called cricket academy, which has been released to public months ago. This allows you to create players and add their stats. So when you get the full game you download the created players.
Hammersteyn
November 27, 2013 at 14:51
That’s not the point. Why can I buy any EA game and not be stuck with this shit. Money that’s why. Greedy assholes wants cash to use real players.
Bill
December 2, 2013 at 23:59
All the major teams have already been created on Cricket Acadamy.
When you first start up Don Bradman 14, the first thing it does is ask you if you’d like to delete the (fake) players that come with it, and instead download the most popular online teams, which contain all the real players and stats!
Get your facts straight
November 27, 2013 at 14:56
That’s for Don Bradman Cricket 14.
Sageville
November 27, 2013 at 14:57
rofl
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 27, 2013 at 14:41
those animations are teribad!!!!
TiMsTeR1033
November 27, 2013 at 14:43
welcome to the 90’s with this game!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 27, 2013 at 14:47
huehuehue
Stephen Snook
November 27, 2013 at 14:45
They really are shockingly bad.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 27, 2013 at 14:47
I am just shocked. I haven’t seen animations like that since… well as @timster1033:disqus said… the 90’s?
Stephen Snook
November 27, 2013 at 15:08
Like really early 3D.
That Tall Twit
November 27, 2013 at 14:55
Does one even call them animations? 😛
iAmWeasel
November 27, 2013 at 18:32
Cricket 99 comes to mind.. actually no, even that had better animations.
Skoobaz
November 28, 2013 at 09:50
This is better:
http://www.cricketgames.me/stick-cricket/
Sageville
November 27, 2013 at 14:44
That Ashes game was set to fail from concept stage.
I mean “Ashes” equates to Auz vs Eng, Only, no other teams, so off the bat you have to play with a limited line-up of mediocre twats. If the gameplay was awesome and everything was bug-free I still wouldn’t buy this because who wants to see Kevin Peterson in every game….
Lardus-Resident Perve
November 27, 2013 at 14:51
HEY! Stuart Broad is not a mediocre twat! He is the ultimate twat with a dash of entitlement syndrome! 😛
Sageville
November 27, 2013 at 14:53
Naturally, I will defer to the bearded one…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 27, 2013 at 15:16
Hahahahahah! Here have an upvote!
Jaded_Reprobate
November 27, 2013 at 15:11
that’s just not cricket…..
Just saying what every1 esle was thinking o_O
Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith
November 27, 2013 at 15:12
I’m interested in seeing what Don Bradman 14 comes up with… there haven’t been many awesome cricket games around. Cricket Heroes is a fun one though…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 27, 2013 at 15:16
Cor Blimey gov!
oVg
November 27, 2013 at 16:08
sweet. The Americans can keep that 2KNBA game that was designed for micro transaction or you just sit on the bench for the first 4 years in your SP game for being an underpowered noob.
Now where is that kick ass rugby game that was on the PC 5 years ago?
davidmohammed1 .
November 27, 2013 at 20:32
The best cricket game made is brian lara 2007
RahulNS
November 28, 2013 at 08:01
The most enjoyable was Cricket 97 with Richie Benaud’s Commentary…..Even Sega’s 16 bit cricket games were good….
HelterSkelter
November 28, 2013 at 08:54
Is Don Bradman Cricket coming to PC?
Stephen Snook
November 29, 2013 at 03:06
Yes
R3tr!buti0n
December 2, 2013 at 13:41
That game is a classic…
Gareth
December 3, 2013 at 17:12
Pity about the name/team licensing issue…
Dizzbanga
December 10, 2013 at 03:57
Hopefully after seeing the awesome job done by Big Ant on Don Bradman 14, they give them the licencing for their next game. All international teams, IPL, county and Australian domestic would be amazeballs