Live Fantasy Football Game Launched For New Premier Season

The Premiership season kicks off tomorrow and while many people’s attention may be taken the antics of the Big Four or one of the smallest clubs in Premier history, Blackpool, fans of fantasy football games have a new way to enjoy games. The PickLive website is a new fantasy football like game that enables players to choose 3 players for televised games and then play in short 7.5 minute matches against 10 other people in a game room.

As yet we can’t find any way of winning money but with 17 different ways to score or indeed lose points it’s pretty in depth and according to the game creators an average 90 minute match would have around 1,200 scoring events compared to 15 in more typical fantasy football games.

There’s a very good selection of games in which you can take part and once you’ve signed up you choose 3 players from a match rather than the usual 11. As the game progresses, scores are updated in real time and you can even make 3 live substitutions as the game progresses.

The game went through its final test phase during the World Cup and the team behind the game say that tests went better than they could have ever hoped for and this led to the release of the game just in time for the start of the Premiership campaign.

Lets face it, much as we love the game of football, some of the matches can be incredibly dull and make 90 minutes feel like a prison sentence. Putting money on the game can help to improve the situation a little but not everybody wants to gamble away their wages getting scores wrong. PickLive looks like it could prove to be a fun and entertaining way to supplement the enjoyment of any game and you can play against mates too.

Have you tried PickLive yet?

Have you got your fantasy 11 sorted?

NFL Shows Fifa How To Do It, Trials Microchip Ball Technology

Following the furore over that Frank Lampard “goal” against Germany, there has been renewed call for Fifa to introduce widescale goal line technology. Even though the ball quite clearly crossed the line, the referee and linesmen somehow failed to spot it and with the equialiser failing to count, England went on to get hammered by the Germans. The question of whether goal line technology should be used in football is a long running and contentious issue but despite Sepp Blatter’s announcement during the World Cup finals that the technology would be discussed at the next opportunity it wasn’t.

October is the expected date when the technology will hit the headlines again, although chances are reasonable that Blatter and Fifa will once again decide that it’s too expensive or dress it up and claim that it is to do with the flow of the game. While there have been sensible suggestions of digging out a slope behind the goal line until something is done, the debate will continue – maybe Fifa should take a leaf out of the NFL’s books.

The NFL is considering adding some serious tech to its game. Cairos Technologies develops magnetic field chips and believes that placing a small microchip inside the ball would mean no errors when it comes to deciding whether the ball really has crossed the line (or whatever happens in NFL).

Similar technology is unlikely to be introduced by Fifa, after all imagine the cost of that and imagine what Ronaldo would be able to do with his free kicks then. However, the fact that the NFL is even willing to consider such a move in order to cut down on possible errors and costly mistakes should be seen as a positive note and one that Fifa could well benefit from following.

Will Fifa introduce goal line technology?

Will the NFL use microchips in their balls?

World Cup Apps

The international cash-in on the 2010 World Cup has well and truly begun and this year there are even more mediums to harness. The traditional TV ads with footballing celebrities are already burned into our retinas, but the 2010 World Cup is the first to see the true dawn of the smartphone and along with it the app marketplace. The iPhone was only a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye back in 2006, but if you are a smartphone owner in time for this year’s World Cup in South Africa then there are plenty of apps to download and enjoy. The following are just a few of the best.

World cup apps

Essential World Cup Gadgets

The World Cup in South Africa is getting everyone talking about the beautiful game and this summer there are plenty of gadgets to help you make the most of all the action whether you are in your living room or out and about.

We have essential gadgets for in the house, garden or even on the move. 

World cup gadgets More

Commemorative World Cup Sky+HD boxes launched

Sky has engaged the help of three designers in order to come up with new cover designs for the Sky+HD set top box in time for the 2010 World Cup which kicks off in South Africa this summer.

Fashion designer Wayne Hemingway, actor Phil Daniels and artist Gerald Scarfe have all contributed a unique design to adorn the top of the Sky+HD boxes and the first customers will be able to pick up the colourful devices from May 26th.

Observers have pointed out that Sky is not going to be broadcasting any of the World Cup matches on its sports channels, as terrestrial broadcasters have the rights to the tournament. However, it does have both BBC HD and ITV HD integrated into its schedules, so every game will be available in high definition.

The Sky+HD boxes that have had the World Cup makeover are the brand new 1TB models, which give users hundreds of gigabytes more space than the older versions of the device.

The simple red of Mr Hemingway’s design, which subtly includes the score line and date of England’s last World Cup win, is probably the most appealing of the three. However, the cheery cartoonish look of Mr Scarfe’s might also appeal to some.

When the special edition Sky+HD boxes launch, they will retail for about £250, so anyone looking to upgrade their storage space in time for the World Cup will be able to splash out. Hopefully the designs will act as a reminder of a successful tournament, as a poor performance could give them a lasting, bitter aftertaste.

3D TVs destined for pubs

It looks as though 3D sports games could be with the general public sooner than anticipated, after a deal between satellite TV firm Sky and electronics manufacturer LG was announced.

Sky has ordered 15,000 3D TVs with the intention of giving them to pubs, clubs and bars in order to get the 3D revolution going with live sporting events popping out of the screen at punters.

Sky 3D will be available for public display from April 2010 and it is the 47 inch versions of LG’s LD920 televisions that are under order at the moment. Over the next few weeks these could therefore be winging their way to one of your local drinking establishments.

The first 3D broadcast took place in February and the journalists and fans present were in two minds as to how well the technology worked in real life. However, Sky has obviously been given confidence by this test run and 3D TV is being geared up for a full launch next month.

LG will not be selling its first batch of 3D TVs to UK consumers until May, but with Sky supporting its technology it will soon become the brand most closely associated with 3D sport by football fans everywhere.

Anyone looking to get 3D television in their own homes could have to wait until 2011 if some pessimistic observers are to be believed, although Sky thinks that it can push through its first few 3D channels by the autumn. Anyone interested in 3D TV may want to start saving up now.

How Might Goal Line Technology Work

There has been a lot of talk of football foul paly this week, this includes goal line technology. A huge number of football mathces have been ruined by a freak goal or by a disallowed goal. However, it is not for us to debate whether this technolgy is needed but only to show that it can be done.  So we have decided to take a look at proposed methods and gadgets that could be used to make goal line referees a reality.

The most accurate and most probable method of implementing goal line technology involves three main components: 1. A ball,  2. a signalling unit for the referee and 3. a goal equipped to sense when the ball crosses the line. Here is how each part would work:

1. The ball

Obviously the ball would have to be modified and Adidas have already come up with the answer. They have inserted multiple micro chips and sensors into a ball that can accurately identify where it is on the pitch when used with magnetic sensors strategically placed on the by line or goal line. They say that this will not affect the weight of the ball or how it moves through the air, it would be as if the footballers were using a standard football.

2. Referee signal

Obviously this sort of technology would be pretty useless if the referee had no way of using it, duh! Radio and audio links to the referee have been ruled out in the past so the unit would probably have to be sensory. Suggestions have included a wrist band with either a visual, audio or even vibrating alert when the ball has crossed the goal line.

3. The goal

This is the most important part of the whole scenario, it has to be accurateand foolproof. Thankfully the gadgets needed are very simple, the goal would need to be wired all the way around the frame. This would provide a magnetic field that would work with sensors when the ball crosses the line. The information would be sent to a central computer which would then be relayed to the referee. It is said that this type of system would be resistant to any weather conditions and wireless interference.

It has been rumoured that this type of technology will be trialed in the near future but whose to know? It is possible but does open a whole can of worms.

Instances where goal line technolgy could have been used:

Fill Yer Boots With These RC Boots

Combining desktop radio controlled devices with football seems like a no brainer to me and yet its not something you see everyday. Miniature football boots zip around the pitch (or your desk, depending on the extent of your imagination) and the set includes two sets of goals, two boots, two controllers shaped like stadium, and a couple of clips to make sure you can dribble like Ronaldo (it’s like the ball’s glued to his feet).

Each controller requires a 9v battery and the little boots need 2 AAA batteries. The only other thing you need is somebody to play against and a clear area of desk. Of course, if your desk is against the wall then you can even play wallie too. Alternatively, get all of your work mates together and start a work tournament (although, obviously only during lunch and other allotted free time in the working day – after all, you need to save actual working hours for YouTube and pointless Googling right?)

Next season’s still some way off, so you’ve got to get your football fill from somewhere once Euro 08 is finished with. So, fill yer boots with these miniature radio controlled boots.

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