New Play Hard Sports To Create Free Online Games

Former Turbine Inc. CEO Jeffrey Anderson is launching Play Hard Sports Inc., a Massachusetts-based company that “plans to create an online haven for sports game fans,” according to Hiawatha Bray of the BOSTON GLOBE. Bolstered by $5M in funding from venture capital firm New Enterprise Associations, Play Hard will offer “easy-to-play ‘casual’ sports games for desktop computers.” Play Hard “will run fantasy sports leagues and offer news feeds about events in the real world of sports.” But it’s main feature will be “online sports simulations that combine the simplicity of casual games with the deeper character development of online games like Turbine’s The Lord of the Rings Online.” Play Hard “plans to offer games free at a website that will launch in the fall.” The site will be supported by ads, but Anderson “plans to offer an ad-free version to users who pay an undetermined subscription fee.” The company will begin by “offering a football simulation game, with plans to eventually add baseball, basketball, and other sports.” Play Hard “plans to keep gamers coming back by letting them add customized characters to their teams.” The more the gamer plays, the better these “franchise players” will become (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/23).