• The Ashes

Shoddy Ashes 2013 videogame scrapped after complaints

The official videogame of the Ashes 2013-14 series has been pulled just a week after going on sale with the developers issuing a grovelling apology to furious customers and admitting they "failed to deliver".

The game's release had originally been scheduled to coincide with the start of the Ashes series in England this summer but was delayed after severe development setbacks.

Officially licensed by the ECB and Cricket Australia, the game was quickly yanked by publishers 505 Games after going on sale last week, with refunds offered to everyone who bought it.

The game was beset by numerous bugs, shoddy graphics and animations, and broken mechanics. One particular bug sees the stumps go flying while the bowler is still at the top of their run-up, while gamers were often unable to actually hit the ball.

"The development of Ashes Cricket 2013 has been fraught with challenges almost from the outset," a 505 Games statement read.

"The chosen developer, even with their many years of cricket game development experience, was unable to overcome the unexpected challenges that the chosen game engine threw up, even with multiple extensions to the development schedule.

"As the licensee and publisher of name for Ashes Cricket 2013, 505 Games would like to apologise publicly and sincerely to our licensors, the ECB and Cricket Australia, and their respective partners/sponsors, who have been nothing but patient and supportive of us throughout the challenges this project has presented, and who, ultimately, we have let down.

"Our deepest apologies, however, are reserved for the fans of cricket and cricket games worldwide."

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