The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Corporates cash in on IPL frenzy

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Monday, May 04, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Corporates cash in on IPL frenzy

S. Sandeep Kumar

Several companies design innovative online cricket games, luring users with attractive prizes

Emphasis on making games fun-oriented and attractive
‘Ideal for friends to come together and enjoy T20 season’

Hyderabad: Trying to cash on the Indian Premier League (IPL) frenzy, several corporate companies this summer have designed online cricket games with innovative features and are luring users with attractive prizes.

Inspired by IPL season, United Spirits Limited launched the ‘ www.happyhourswithfriends.com’ with some serious cricketing inputs, Virgin Mobiles designed its ‘ www.indianhatkeleague.com’ with a comic touch.

Moving a step above, city-based 7seas Technologies conceived Desi Cricket League on its ‘ www.onlinerealgames.com’, wherein the players wear dhotis and kanduwas. Though rules and regulations differ in each league, the emphasis is to make the games more fun-oriented and attractive.

Generally, users are made to register in singles but United Spirits Limited under its Fan Friendzy League registers users only in groups.

Each group has to pick a team with six batsmen, four bowlers and a wicket-keeper and also nominate their captain for the team. Each player has rating points from a total of 1,000 points per team.

As the virtual team plays online and score points, users win exciting prizes. The group of friends scoring the highest points at the end of the season will be sent to England to watch the T20 Finals.

United Spirits Limited, Business Head, Mathew Xavier, Business Head, said, Fan Friendzy League emerged as the ideal platform for friends to come together and enjoy the ongoing T20 season. Meanwhile, Virgin Mobiles website has teams like Delhi Dhinchaks, Rajasthan Muchhads, Kolkata Tram Riders, Mumbai Manoos to pick from. Mostly it is the prize factor that drags users to play games on these websites.

90,000 users

“Since last two months over 90,000 users have registered on our website to try their hand on winning prizes that range from pen to laptops,” claims Maruti Shanker, Managing Director of 7Seas Technologies.

He further adds that his company distributes a minimum 50 gifts every month to users across the country based on their performance.

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