Rugby World Cup 2011 previews

I really liked playing Rugby 08 on the PC so it is going to be interesting to see how Rugby World Cup 2011 is going to compare to Rugby Challenge. Obviously with Rugby Challenge having the New Zealand and Australian licences and by the look of it Rugby World Cup having the other big team licences it will come down to gameplay. Fingers crossed they are both good.

Demo came out today on xbox live,Was not the best to be honest.
Graphics are pretty bad and the gameplay has not improved since Rugby 08, I think I will be investing in the All Black challenge game it looks alot better at this stage

From what I've seen the gameplay is exactly the same as the last title by EA Sports, Rugby 08. A bit disappointing to see that some of the playing kits haven't been updated, especially the English one. Since Rugby Challenge has exclusive rights to the All Blacks and Wallabies those two teams will feature in this game with different names. Apparently there is a feature in the game that allows you to edit player ratings and names, so if you have the time and patience you could change all the names to their accurate real life versions.

I have played the demo and its just a re-vamped rugby 08. The graphics are average and the replays are kinda silly. It is fun but it didn't meet my expectations.

the graphics, the team play and the limited game options look like they just threw this game together. All Blacks Rugby Challenge is a huge step forward while this game is set to be a huge step backwards!!!

This will be the first rugby game for the 360 and ps3, i hope they can use the machines power to there advantage and really give this game a good crack at making it realistic, even down to the point where Ma a Nonus make up is visible lol

Cant wait game sounds awesome

I just played the demo (which you can download from the Xbox Live Marketplace) and overall I thought it was a pretty good experience. You play as either South Africa or England and you only play the first half which is five minutes in length. It does play very similar to Rugby 08 but it's overall a fun experience and the graphics have improved more than the screenshots let on.. As well as the RWC itself, it looks like you can also play warm-up tours. All Blacks Rugby Challenge still looks to be the better game but this was still good and will probably purchase both games.

I can't wait 4 thr rugby world cup game to come out as well as all blacks rugby challenge.really can't wait at all!!!=)

Trailer was released yesterday, and it confirms what was feared by many, that HB have just run an HD skin over Rugby 08. We saw the same animations, same AI as back then. Sidhe's Rugby Challenge looks like it will be far far better, with it's deeper modes, better graphics, and more realistic AI. Plus it's a kiwi developer!

Looking at Image 4→ looks like all the players will have the same stance, same old running style too I bet – It wont feel real. Compared to the standard of sports game set by EA Sports Fifa 11, this won't feel or look as good. If they have been this lazy with the basics, how can I expect the game to be any good- Hope I'm wrong… But I wouldn't bet on this being better than a 4 or 5 out of 10.

I have played every Rugby game dating back to Jonah Lomu Rugby and World Cup 1995 on MegaDrive/Amiga 500. If the demo is anything to go by along with the screen shots and the limited information/access to game features and rights, this will go down as the worst game produced so far and a clear attempt to 1.cash in on the world cup 2. Release prior to Rugby Challenge to try gain a quicker consumer market share. I have reviewed and played the game so far and have huge concerns around:

1. All Blacks rights and player names. I think you will find the All Blacks which will be ref to as New Zealand will not look like the real players or will have real player names this is because this game does not have the rights to them as All Black Rugby Challenge hasthe rights. There is also a dead set give away in the screen shots above, when did the AB's last have a half back which wore headgear!!!!!
2. The game has all the world cup venues I imagine as they are part of the IRB rights, but, from playing the demo, Eden park does not look anything like Eden park besides the name!!!
3. For such a long wait between titles, this one has gone a decade back, it does not have the Super 15 rights or Euro club rights,game play has not changed by any huge standard, players look nothing like the real thing.

The only thing this has going for it is the release date as All Black Rugby Challenge has been delayed,I have a feeling this may be to do with updating the AB jersey , who knows.

Buyer beware, this game is not going to blow you away at all. But at the end of the day, its a rugby game and they come out not very often, so beggars cant be choosers!

Played the teaser match of England vs SA and OMG they kept the same style as Rugby 08! I was a huge fan of the rugby games on the PS2 and its awesome they kept that old school feel of the game, I cant wait till its oyt

You would think with it being rwc 2011 that standards would rise to the occasion, but it seems its a copy and paste situation for 505 games(not ea sports). I was with some friends at home and we were talking rugby challenge and noticed the demo version on xbox live so I decided to download it. And with no suprise it was rugby 08 with slightly better graphics with a few very few teaks to the gameplay and it was enjoyable, the rucks were more challenging so you had to be more stratigical about were you actually ran with the ball, you'll see more penalties at the ruck, even if you dont mean to comit any offence intentionally, there are bars that appear above the ruck that represents how far you can go before you cause a penalty i.e hands in the ruck, playing the ball on the ground etc. This makes for a faster game being it is more easy to make turnovers and this seems more realistic at times so you'd want to keep the ball moving forward with more pick and goes with the forwards witch is the same as last time you used the halfback, the've changed it to a forward from the back of the ruck who picks the ball up and goes forward or were ever you want to go.. And thats about all thats new to this game, animations are borrowed again, scrums and lineouts are no improvement, the players have very long necks and kicking is no change either. The only thing that looks like they put most of there efforts in (besides stealing most of the country licenses from rugby challenge, joking!) is the commentary presentation, you'll be hearing 6 commentators of your choice from phillip sella to sean fitzpatrick and goerge clark. All in all Its a good game and besides being nothing new, I will probably buy this game, but not before I purchase allblacks rugby challenge. Cheers

How can you make a game that essentially has the same graphics as rugby 08 whilst removing half the content as it and not even being able to play as the ALL BLACKS or the Wallabies!- Well I guess 505 games has managed to.

Played the demo the games GFX suck, games not up to a standard that should be on Next Gen I'd be buying Rugby Challenge over this anyday.

Played the demo and the game lacks depth, Not much in the way of gameplay and the graphics were average.

With having downloaded the demo and played it a couple of times, this game is a constant reminder how gaming companies are short sited when they are on too a certain money maker. This latest installment has the gamer thinking they purchased Rugby 08 with the same tackle and side step movements but there is hope. Gameplay has been sped up as if someone had the fast forward button, kicking, mauls, rucks, set plays have all been improved, its a pity graphics were not one of them.
My personal vote is that this game has got more to offer even though the demo doesn't suggest that, gameplay is familiar to those who have played Rugby 06/08 and ONLY the dedicated fans will surely love this newest addition......GAME ON I SAY.

i played the demo and it seems to me its just rugby 08 with updated players. no set move the i saw and would get boring very very quickly rugby challenge looks alot better cant wait for the demo for that