OneUp Games' Basketball Connect is a Hit in China

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Basketball Connect, the latest release from OneUp Games, is proving to be very popular in NBA-crazy China. Chinese basketball fans are downloading the game 60% faster than their Western counterparts. The NBA is the most popular sports league in China, with China being the largest market for the NBA outside the United States. Due to the demand, OneUp Games is translating the app into Chinese and other languages.

Basketball Connect is the third app from OneUp Games. Over a half a million fans worldwide have downloaded Football Connect and Baseball Connect since the apps were launched in 2011. Football Connect reached #1 in sports in the App store, and Basketball Connect is expected to take the top spot as well.

"I'm super excited at the level of engagement our Chinese fans have for Basketball Connect," said Daren Trousdell, CEO of OneUp Games. "The instant success of Basketball Connect proves fans want to do more than just watch a game. They want to engage with other fans and be a part of the action. Given the speed of a NBA game and how the game can change in an instant, we're able to take the fan's interactive experience to a whole new level, just as we did with Football Connect and Baseball Connect."

Basketball Connect allows fans to watch games in real time while interacting and competing with friends for prizes on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Featuring all 30 NBA teams and active rosters, players start with a randomly generated gameboard, containing 16 game squares - eight NBA players and eight different plays that happen during a game, such as assists, rebounds, steals and time outs. Each square has a different point value and players compete for points which can be turn in for real prizes. Players can rearrange or make changes on their board during the game by using swaps or power ups, or have moves made against them by competitors. A connect is made, either four in a row, column or diagonally, when a player's game squares match a play made during the NBA game. The points value on each square is tripled when a 'Connect' is made. The player with the most points at the end of the NBA game wins. Fans collect their points to win fabulous prizes, such as game tickets and cash.

LIST OF FEATURES:

Gameboard: Each player is give a custom gameboard with 16 squares randomly generated; eight NBA players and eight basketball events.

Player Swaps: Feeling lucky? Swap one NBA Player for another, with a specific event, such as a LeBron James dunk.

Event Swaps: Or do you have a strategy in mind? Swap in an event from the game such as a traveling violation, blocked shot or rebound.

Power Ups: Change up your game with three power ups: add a wildcard on your board; triple your points on a tile, or place a shield to prevent competitor from attacking your board.

Weapons See your competitor's board and make strategic moves against him or her, such as delay of game, block a tile or shuffling his or her board.

Gamecast: Hands down, best live gamecast out there - no other app is this interactive and exciting. Check out team and player statistics, play by play by quarter, shot charts, current quarter and time remaining and score of game - overall and broken down by quarter.

Gamechatr: Want to psyche out your competitor? Gamechatr lets you talk trash while playing.

Basketball Connect is available for free download on iTunes for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Twenty-five swaps are given free the initial download, with additional swaps available for purchase on iTunes. Players can also win additional swaps during the game.

Images for Basketball Connect can be found here: http://1up.fm/media/

About OneUp Games

Established in 2011, OneUp Games is the next generation of social sports entertainment, using the power of mobile and social platforms to bring teams, fans and friends together. OneUp Games is dedicated to bringing rich, interactive, real-time games to the next level. Current apps include Football Connect,  Baseball Connect and Basketball Connect. OneUp Games apps are available, or are in development, on a number of global platforms, including iTunes, Facebook and Android. OneUp Games is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. For more information, visit www.1up.fm.

Media Contact: Joely Pique, OneUp Games, [email protected], 407-473-4278

SOURCE OneUp Games