Boston Red Sox Ace Jon Lester Launches FREE Pitching App for Red Sox Nation

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Jun 02, 2011, 01:00 ET

BOSTON, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Think you can hit Jon Lester? As of today, you can find out with the new, FREE mobile application "Jon Lester Hardball Ace." Available at the iTunes Store or Droid Marketplace, the game is a first true-to-life, 3D mobile video game, "Jon Lester Hardball Ace."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110602/NE13101 )

The game is the first to use detailed motion-capture simulation technology similar to what was used to create the movie Avatar. The result is a painstakingly detailed simulations of Lester's exact movements, demeanor, pitch selection – even ball trajectory, arm speed and shoulder angles – game players can feel what it's really like to stand 60-feet, six-inches away from a major league pitcher. And like big-league hitters, players can learn Lester's tendencies over time and rack up higher scores for merchandise and prizes in the HardBall Ace "locker room."

"We offer a new mobile 3D video game experience that not only recreates an athletes skills in action but also allows the game player to compete with the athlete on the virtual field," said Jeremy Bargiel, Chief Operating Officer, Face the Ace Games. "In Hardball Ace, we've created an immersive on-the field perspective, from the fans in the stand, to the locker room, to the batter's box. You can almost smell the fresh cut grass. It's as real as it gets," states Jim Langford, Chief Technology Officer.

Face the Ace Games has programmed algorithms into the game to simulate the finest details of Jon's unique pitching style. From his left-handed, three-quarters arm angle delivery, to his command of the outside of the strike zone and his proficiency at mixing speeds, to his growing tendency to throw his 96-mph, four-seam fastball in strike-out situations.

"Hardball Ace is about as close as you can come to facing me without digging into the batters' box," said Lester. "I worked closely with Face the Ace Games to make sure that we captured the real major league experience. In fact, we got so close to my style that I was worried about giving up secrets to the competition."

Features of Hardball Ace include:

Face the Live Speed, Movement, and Accuracy of all Five of Jon's Pitches
Choose from three difficulty levels: Rookie, Minor, and Major
Multi Camera Angles
Targeted Crowd Response
Game Stat Accumulation
Original Music
Choice of Right or Left handed Avatar
Visit the Locker Room to follow the Leaderboard, send and receive Jon Tweets, win Twitter Contest Prizes, and Post Scores to Facebook
Unlock Prizes and fill you your Locker with Digital Jon and HardBall Ace Swag
Hit the Batting Cage to Practice: Choose a Pitch and Change the Speed of any one of Jon's Pitches
Use Game Points to Redeem for In-Game Sponsored Prizes