AFL Challenge

AFL Challenge is a simulation game for the PlayStation Portable based on the AFL. The game was developed by Australian games company Wicked Witch Software and was published by Tru Blu Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment. The games fixture is based on the 2009 AFL season and features all official 16 AFL teams and players.

Gameplay
AFL Challenge allows players to play through the entire season, through to the Grand Final. It features a team management system where players can be trained up in skills such as kicking, tackling and running. Sony states that this will allow strategic choices to be made as the player goes through the season by training up key players.

The game also features a quick match mode, available from the main menu as well as the season mode. Multiple camera angles are available to choose from both in the options menu and while playing the game. Camera angles range from close behind the player to wide zooms showing most of the stadium. Each player is fully animated, demonstrating if they are successful or not, kicking, sprinting, tackling, hand balling or marking.



Marketing
As part of the marketing campaign for AFL Challenge, Network Ten's program, Thursday Night Live, promoted the game and its sister title Rugby League Challenge, claiming it was the inspiration for an inter-league kicking competition. TV ad's promoting both Sony's new PSP model and AFL Challenge were run on Channel 10 during the first week of the finals season. Asides from TV, AFL Challenge has also been advertised on the official AFL website, with a competition to win a PSP game pack including the game. Elsewhere online, Sony's Australian PSP site is featuring a front page advertisement for this title.