The Field Hockey Game: OXCGN’s Exclusive Interview

The devs trying to bring that ‘other’ hockey into video gaming

by David Hilton

© 2013 David Hilton

Ice hockey is known as the fast, furious, and sometimes violent game that Canadians and Europeans are fond of.  EA has made a successful NHL game franchise out of its fame.

However, there is another hockey that is played by many more nations and also features in Olympic challenges, yet has never been brought to video gaming.

Sometimes called ‘field’ hockey, this hockey used to be a slow, plodding grass sport that was played largely in schools as an extra sport elective.  But the game has evolved dramatically, much to most people who take the time to find out’s surprise.

Now more often played on high quality artificial water or hybrid turf, the game is fast and skilful like ice hockey, but tactical and engrossing like soccer/football.  With changes to rules to get rid of offsides and most of the whistle calls, the ploddy grass game has become much more exciting to watch and play.

A group of hockey players and game developers have decided to get a video game version of the sport onto the market.  After all, if AFL football, a game exclusively played in only a small portion of Australia, can have a video game, a sport played by millions around the world should get one too.

I asked Simon Buckley, founding member of Urbanwarfare Studios and team lead for the FHG project, a few key questions to see how they planned to get this game made, considering most people in the big spending markets (eg. USA) still don’t know much about the ‘new’ field hockey.

Here’s what they had to say.

The Field Hockey Game interview

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