Graffiti Entertainment Inc. signed a license agreement with USA Racquetball, the national governing body for the sport of racquetball and for the U.S. Olympic Committee. Graffiti will publish a USA Racquetball videogame initially for the Wii system, and shortly thereafter will roll out games for other videogame console formats.
Graffiti’s USA Racquetball game is the first racquetball videogame to be developed for the WiiTM system. It is presently in development and will be available in the latter part of 2010 at retail stores where videogames are sold. This is the first partnership agreement to be launched under the USA Racquetball licensing program.
Jim Hiser, Executive Director for USA Racquetball stated, “Until now, the exciting sport of racquetball has only been able to be appreciated by those who actively participate in a game at a racquetball facility. Now through our partnership with Graffiti Entertainment, the sport of racquetball will become available to everyone who plays videogames and become much more widely accessible to all. By playing the USA Racquetball videogame, adults and kids will develop a love for this fast-paced sport which should further enhance the growing trend of more racquetball players joining the sport.”
Craig Kalter, President of Marathon Projects, the licensing agency that
negotiated the transaction, noted, “We always believed that USA
Racquetball would be a perfect match for videogames and there couldn’t
be a better place to start than on the Wii system. This is literally
a hands-on way of getting to know the USA Racquetball brand and the
“Fast Furious Fitness” sport of racquetball. We are now looking to
further grow the licensing program with a focus on a complementary
range of licensed entertainment and sports products including
non-console videogames (such as online, computer, handheld and
smartphone) athletic footwear, athletic socks, protective prescription
eyewear, athletic gloves, athletic gear bags, racquetball racquets,
racquetball courts, athletic apparel, toys, nutritional bar, bottled
water and energy drink.”
