Sometimes it’s from the most chance of occurrences that great work is sprung.  That’s  certainly the case with a recent project that many of you may not have heard about yet with a company called VTree.

As it is so often with chance occurrences, this was all about good timing.  Our EA SPORTS CTO Rob Moore and his technology licensing team are always looking at ways that we can use our core technologies in new and unique ways, such as the Sports Emmy Award-winning EA SPORTS Virtual Playbook.  A common theme we’ve explored has been the idea of “games for good”.  That’s where VTree comes in.

VTree is a developer of software in the disabled community.  At a trade show several years ago, Rob met Chuck Bergen, VTree’s president.   Mr. Bergen’s experience building software designs for gamers with developmental and physical disabilities had showed him the need for authentic video games that could be used for both entertainment and rehabilitation.  That seems a tall order, but what intrigued us all was the connection to sport that many disabled individuals maintained.   From there, a great idea was born: EA SPORTS and VTree decided to collaborate to take one of our core gaming engines and adapt it to create a game that would have the opportunity to help some 53 million Americans living with a disability.

Using the same gaming engines that power Madden NFL and NCAA Football, we were able to partner with VTree to create My Football Game, a CD-based game for the PC that brings the excitement and authenticity of real-life football to players with a different set of needs than those playing our traditional titles.

I’m pleased to say that early reaction to My Football Game has been even more positive than expected.  One of the audiences VTree works with most often is disabled veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, many of whom grew up playing EA SPORTS games, who now have access to the game at VA facilities and hospitals throughout the country.  We also went to this community for early testing of the product, and were able to incorporate some of their feedback - such as creating teams with authentic uniforms and logos for each branch of the military service and special units such as Seals, Rangers and Special Forces - into the final game.

I would definitely invite you to learn more about the game and the impressive results of our collaboration with VTree by checking out the article on EASPORTS.com here http://www.easports.com/news/item/file/MyFootballGame, and by checking out this article on AbleGamers.com.

Thanks to Rob and his team for some truly inspiring work, and thanks to Chuck Bergen and VTree for a chance encounter turned great. As I have stated on numerous occasions, our industry is often the subject of ill-informed criticism about it’s perceived negative impact on society and modern culture. Interactive fitness has recently started to correct many of those misconceptions about gaming, and titles such as My Football Game will help us win over the many critics of our industry who chose only to cast a negative light.