| Blackout Rugby | |
|---|---|
A browser-based rugby union management game |
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| Developer(s) | Blackout Entertainment Ltd |
| Designer(s) | Jeremy Bell and Matthew Scoble |
| Platform(s) | Web browser |
| Release date(s) | 14 December 2007 |
| Genre(s) | MMOMG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media/distribution | Website |
| System requirements
Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, or Opera with JavaScript enabled |
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Blackout Rugby is a free web-based rugby union management game created by New Zealanders Jeremy Bell and Matthew Scoble of Blackout Entertainment Ltd. Having launched in December 2006 the game currently has almost nine thousand users worldwide.
Contents |
On a hung-over Sunday in the middle of 2005, Matt, a member of Hattrick and Battrick began to wonder about creating a rugby version of those games. As Matt lacked the development skills needed to create such a game, he brought the idea to a friend, Jeremy Bell, who had the skills necessary to turn Matt’s idea into fruition. His first step was to get Jeremy to play Hattrick, which he did. At the time though, Jeremy was busy with other endeavours in his own business and university. It wasn’t until January 2006, when Jeremy was looking for new business opportunities, that he decided to take on the (unknowingly at the time) massive task that became Blackout Rugby. Over a few drinks at Matt's modest Hamilton, New Zealand house, the game was transformed from idea to reality and the initial plans were put on paper. Since that day Matt has had a leading role in shaping the game and the final decisions always came down to him. Almost two years later, Jeremy saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and together with Matt, released the game to the world.
Following the site launch in 2006, the game went beta on 7 October 2007 with a second beta stage then commencing on 27 November 2007.
Finally, after many delays and over two years of development, Blackout Rugby went gold on 14 December 2007, attracting considerable attention from the New Zealand national press.[1][2]
A new user joining Blackout Rugby is given a new rugby club in their chosen country complete with:
They also have an initial bank balance to spend on improving training facilities, hire higher level staff, invest in their Youth Academy or spend on the transfer market.
Blackout Rugby currently includes thirty-four nations:
Within each nation teams compete in a league pyramid over seasons of sixteen weeks, the first 14 of them being round robin games with each team versing the other teams twice once at home and another away, each with a knock-out cup taking place on the intervening Wednesdays. Users also have the options of arranging friendlies with any team in the BR world. Matches are played in real time with flowing match commentary and real-time statistics.
Blackout Rugby uses a unique combination training systems with team training, individual training and match training all being utilised by the user to advance their squad. Users also have to manage the financial side of their club, hiring and firing new training staff, expanding their ground and buying and selling players.
Within the Blackout Rugby game world, international matches take place, at Under-20 level (U20) and full National Teams (NT). The first U20 BRWC took place at the end of Season 4 (Feb/Mar 2009). The first NT BRWC will take place at the end of Season 5.
| Season | Host | WC Type | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | South Africa | U20 | United States | New Zealand | England | Pacific Islands |
| 5 | New Zealand | NT | New Zealand | Italy | England | Australia |
| 6 | United States | U20 | New Zealand | England | Italy | Australia |
| 7 | Pacific Islands | NT | New Zealand | South Africa | Italy | United States |
| 8 | Wales | U20 | New Zealand | Ireland | Australia | France |
| 9 | Romania | NT | South Africa | New Zealand | Ireland | France |
| 10 | Argentina | U20 | New Zealand | Ireland | England | South Africa |
| 11 | Scotland | NT | New Zealand | Ireland | Argentina | Scotland |
| 12 | Australia | U20 | South Africa | Australia | Romania | Argentina |
| 13 | South Africa | NT | New Zealand | Argentina | Ireland | South Africa |
| 14 | Canada | U20 | ||||
| 15 | United States | NT | ||||
| 16 | England | U20 | ||||
| 17 | Wales | NT | ||||
| 18 | France | U20 | ||||
| 19 | Argentina | NT | ||||
| 20 | Ireland | U20 | ||||
| 21 | Australia | NT | ||||
| 22 | Italy | U20 | ||||
| 23 | Canada | NT | ||||
| 24 | Japan | U20 | ||||
| 25 | England | NT | ||||
| 26 | New Zealand | U20 | ||||
| 27 | France | NT | ||||
| 28 | Pacific Islands | U20 | ||||
| 29 | Ireland | NT | ||||
| 30 | Romania | U20 | ||||
| 31 | Italy | NT | ||||
| 32 | Scotland | U20 | ||||
| 33 | Japan | NT | ||||
| 34 | Belgium | U20 |
Below is a table of clubs that have won each country's National Cup competition in each season.
| Season | Argentina | Australia | Canada | England | France | Ireland | Italy | Japan | New Zealand | Pacific Islands | Romania | Scotland | South Africa | United States | Wales | Belgium | Brazil | Chile | Croatia | Czech Republic | Georgia | Germany | Hong Kong | Ivory Coast | Kenya | Korea | Namibia | Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Russia | Spain | Uruguay | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 11 Men in Flight | Ncc XV | Burnaby Blues | Olvar's Strays | Since1962 | St Mary's College RFC | Union 96 Rugby Milano | Buckland Gentlemen RFC | The Western Woah | Maramasike Nuggets | Polecats | Softies | Durban Wanderers | Enigma | Mighy Marauders | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 2 | Embalse | Saints XV | Jg Falcons | Purple Dinosaurs | Skeubs | Aramasu's Pirates | Reproscanrugbybergamo | The Hills | Riccarton Allstars | Pacific Sharks | Cehul Silvaniei Stags | Dalgety Bay Aztecs | Juskei Jackals | Mature Chedder | People's Front Of Judea | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 3 | Jaguars | Wafgash | Burnaby Chiefs | Purple Dinosaurs | OM Spirit | Catalonia | Targaryen | Madrid Rockets | Vandernators | Rotuma Tsunami | Black Wallaboks | Union Bears 07 | Claremont Warriors | Academicals RFC | Jeff's XV | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 4 | Badpeppermints | Gloucester XV | Brampton RFC | Bromborough | Skeubs | Darkside Cowboys | Reproscanrugbybergamo | Sleepy Goats | Vandernators | Pacific Sharks | RC Berceni | United | Eijkels | Cambridge Rugby Club | Dodgy Badgers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 5 | Woodward Chile | Emu Slopes | Burnaby Knights | Bromborough | OM Spirit | Sandtrail | Reproscanrugbybergamo | Sleepy Goats | The Dissident Aggressors | Moratai Marauders | Polecats | Fenwick Thistle | South African Youngsters | DC Barbarians | Va Va Voom | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 6 | Woodward Chile | Red Bull Rage | Huskies RFC | Bosh | Skeubs | Aramasu's Pirates | Vii Rugby Torino | Sleepy Goats | Hercufleas United | Pacific Sharks | Black Wallaboks | United | Black Sheep | Booyakasha | Jeff's XV | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 7 | Badpeppermints | Silver Foxes | Alaskan Assassins | Bromborough | Hoi An | Aramasu's Pirates | Clan Messina | My Bloody Valentine | Taita Hooligans | Pacific Sharks | Polecats | United | Mithril | DC Barbarians | Jeff's XV | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 8 | Woodward Chile | Doonas | Kitchener Warriors | Bromborough | Los Gringos | Aramasu's Pirates | Clan Messina | Sleepy Goats | Millerton Miners | Tau'uta Barbarians | Polecats | United | Avatars | PA Patriots | Va Va Voom | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 9 | Badpeppermints | Funky Squad | Kamikazè Injection | Bromborough | Skeubs | Los Verdeblancos | Clan Messina | My Bloody Valentine | Taita Hooligans | Pacific Sharks | Black Wallaboks | Chewbacaas Chomping Chewaawaas | Rooiwit Vredehoek 1971 | DC Barbarians | People's Front Of Judea | Zwarte Barbarians | Harpia Club | Woodward Chile | Split 1700 | Johny SCG Ball | Pride Of Georgia | Wills Wanderers | Kowloon RFC | Cobs De Bouffons | Snowstorm Gladiators | Seoul Raiders | Steroid Abusers | Darkside Cowboys | Dark Lightning | Taddiport | RFC Yaroslavl | Diogenes Club | Tala Rugby Club | Muffin Chuckers |
| Season 10 | Badpeppermints | Balmain Tigers | The United Bank of Ouzo | Bromborough | Skeubs | Apoel Cormosia Rfc | Jolly Roger Crew | Kunming Tigers | The Freelancers | Pacific Sharks | Black Wallaboks | United | Champs | Academicals RFC | Super Heroes In Training | Zwarte Barbarians | Harpia Club | Woodward Chile | Split 1700 | Rosslyn Park | Nouvelle | The Stainless Steel Rats | Kowloon RFC | Cobs De Bouffons | Gilgil RFC | Seoul Raiders | Nemean Lions | Pandora's Pingu | Dark Lightning | New Zealand Warriors | RFC Yaroslavl | Diogenes Club | Tala Rugby Club | Thinus 15 |
| Season 11 | American Panthers | Funky Squad | Kanata Alliance | Pandora's Pingu | Los Gringos | Cream of the Crop | Union 96 Rugby Milano | My Bloody Valentine | Magratheans | Tau'uta Barbarians | Black Wallaboks | West Of Scotland | Rooiwit Vredehoek 1971 | DC Barbarians | Jeff's Xv | Zwarte Barbarians | Hot Milk Rugby Club | Woodward Chile | Split 1700 | Zbrojovka Brno 2007 | Sonoma County Alliance | St. Pauli Exiles | Kowloon RFC | Cobs De Bouffons | Tucker's Titans | Seoul Raiders | Nemean Lions | Aramasu's Pirates | Dark Lightning | Os Tripeiros | RFC Yaroslavl | Diogenes Club | Pachinko Never Die | Super Heroes In Training |
| Season 12 | Pu Plux Flan | Sleepy Goats | Zarma Monastery | Frodsham Koala Bears | Hoi An | V.D. Ruffians RFC | Fantaikuvium XV | Grampus | Magratheans | Pacific Sharks | Undeads RFC | United | Champs | Academicals RFC | Jeff's Xv | Zwarte Barbarians | Hot Milk Rugby Club | Woodward Chile | Nelson Bay | Zbrojovka Brno 2007 | Sonoma County Alliance | The Stainless Steel Rats | Tetrahedon | Union Sportive De Tyrosse | Arlequins Angevins | Seoul Raiders | Sony Lions | Aramasu's Pirates | Dark Lightning | Os Conquistadores | RFC Yaroslavl | Diogenes Club | Freakazoid | Rome Was Not Built In A Day |
| Season 13 | Die Steppenwolfe | Sleepy Goats | Guelph Assassins | Bromborough | White Walkers | Justified Ancients of Mumu | Jolly Roger Crew | Grampus | Magratheans | Tau'uta Barbarians | Undeads RFC | United | Silver Super Sharks | DC Barbarians | Deheubarth Kings | Zwarte Barbarians | Hot Milk Rugby Club | Woodward Chile | Split 1700 | Zbrojovka Brno 2007 | Mount Shkhara Lynxes | The Stainless Steel Rats | HK Pumas | Union Sportive De Tyrosse | Gilgil RFC | Seoul Raiders | Steroid Abusers | Southern Spears R.F.C. | Dark Lightning | Waikato Maouri Chiefs | RFC Yaroslavl | Genicera | Tala Rugby CLub | Rome Was Not Built In A Day |
Below is a table of clubs that have won each country's National League competition. Season 3 was the first season where human managers reached division 1.
| Season | Argentina | Australia | Canada | England | France | Ireland | Italy | Japan | New Zealand | Pacific Islands | Romania | Scotland | South Africa | United States | Wales | Belgium | Brazil | Chile | Croatia | Czech Republic | Georgia | Germany | Hong Kong | Ivory Coast | Kenya | Korea | Namibia | Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Russia | Spain | Uruguay | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 3 | Ccba | The Undeads | Kitchener Warriors | Purple Dinosaurs | Les Fadas | Pandora's Pingu | Busto Arsizio | Grampus | Taita Hooligans | Moratai Maruaders | Black Wallaboks | Fenwick Thistle | Argentina Basel | Booyakasha | Bryncoch Ice Warriors | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 4 | Woodward Chile | Gloucester XV | Kitchener Warriors | Purple Dinosaurs | Les Fadas | Pandora's Pingu | Reproscanrugbybergamo | Sleepy Goats | Hercufleas United | Moratai Maruaders | Black Wallaboks | RFC Yaroslavl Russia | Champs | Booyakasha | Rhyl RFC | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 5 | Woodward Chile | Gloucester XV | Alaskan Assassins | Bromborough | Skeubs | Southern Spears Rfc | Reproscanrugbybergamo | Sleepy Goats | Carlton Corner | Tau'uta Barbarians | Polecats | Fenwick Thistle | Champs | Academicals RFC | Va Va Voom | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 6 | Diogenes Club | Gloucester XV | Alaskan Assassins | Caracas Danger | Skeubs | Pandora's Pingu | Fantaikuvium XV Campione | Sleepy Goats | Hautapu Hopefools | Tau'uta Barbarians | Polecats | Ghlomaich Gaels | Argentina Basel | Booyakasha | Va Va Voom | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 7 | Woodward Chile | Gloucester XV | Kitchener Warriors | Bromborough | Skeubs | Pandora's Pingu | Union 96 Rugby Milano | Sleepy Goats | The Freelancers | Tau'uta Barbarians | Black Wallaboks | United | Pulse | Booyakasha | Deheubarth Kings | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 8 | Deliverance Patriots | Gloucester XV | Kitchener Warriors | Bromborough | Skeubs | Southern Spears Rfc | Jolly Roger Crew | My Bloody Valentine | The Freelancers | Pacific Sharks | Polecats | United | Argentina Basel | DC Barbarians | The Cimla Cavalry | |||||||||||||||||||
| Season 9 | Badpeppermints | Red Bull Rage | Guelph Assassins | Frodsham Koala Bears | Skeubs | V.D. Ruffians RFC | Jolly Roger Crew | My Bloody Valentine | Magratheans | Pacific Sharks | Polecats | United | Silver Super Sharks | DC Barbarians | The Cimla Cavalry | Zwarte Barbarians | Hot Milk Rugby Club | Woodward Chile | Split 1700 | Johny SCG Ball | Georgia Peaches | The Stainless Steel Rats | Kowloon RFC | Poppys | Snowstorm Gladiators | Seoul Raiders | Nemean Lions | Pandora's Pingu | Dark Lightning | Eastwood | RFC Yaroslavl | Diogenes Club | Tala Rugby Club | Chivhu Lions |
| Season 10 | American Panthers | Gloucester XV | Guelph Assassins | Frodsham Koala Bears | Bluth Family | V.D. Ruffians RFC | Jolly Roger Crew | Grampus | Magratheans | Bakerstown Brawlers | Black Wallaboks | United | Silver Super Sharks | DC Barbarians | Deheubarth Kings | Zwarte Barbarians | Hot Milk Rugby Club | Woodward Chile | Split 1700 | Johny SCG Ball | Bagratoni Rugby Club | The Stainless Steel Rats | Kowloon RFC | Cobs De Bouffons | Gilgil RFC | Seoul Raiders | Nemean Lions | Southern Spears Rfc | Dark Lightning | Eastwood | RFC Yaroslavl | Diogenes Club | Tala Rugby Club | Muffin Chuckers |
| Season 11 | Die Steppenwölfe | Sleepy Goats | Qikiqtarjuaq Ntlakyapamuks | Bromborough | OM Spirit | V.D. Ruffians RFC | Bùgia Nen | Grampus | Magratheans | Pacific Sharks | Undeads RFC | United | Silver Super Sharks | DC Barbarians | The Cimla Cavalry | Zwarte Barbarians | Johny SCG Ball | |||||||||||||||||
| Season 12 | Badpeppermints | Sleepy Goats | Kitchener Warriors | Bromborough | Bluth Family | V.D. Ruffians RFC | Bugia Nen | Grampus | Magratheans | Tau'uta Barbarians | Undeads RFC | United | Argentina Basel | Grunt and Glide | Deheubarth Kings | Zwarte Barbarians | Hot Milk Rugby Club | Woodward Chile | Split 1700 | Rosslyn Park | Super Pecores | St. Pauli Exiles | Kowloon RFC | Cobs De Bouffons | Giggil RFC | Seoul Raiders | Province | Aramasu's Pirates | Dark Lightning | The Sea Eagles | RFC Yaroslavl | Genicera | Tala Rugby Club | Rome Was Not Built In A Day |
The game is free to play under its free basic membership with in-window Google advertising. The free basic membership also includes a free trial of the premium membership package. The premium membership includes a wide range of additional benefits including: