FEI PRESS RELEASE
Lausanne (SUI), 22 June 2021
Equestrian eGame repertoire expands with Longines eJumping World Tour 2021
The Longines eJumping World Tour 2021, equestrian’s latest game development is set to transform the global online Jumping community. Fans can now connect with each other in a virtual competition arena as they play for the top spot on the leaderboard.
Created by GoGallop Studios, a leading publisher in the mobile game world, the eJumping virtual series follows the Eventing version, the FEI Equestriad™ World Tour where horse and athlete combinations compete across the three tests of Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping.
With FEI Top Partner Longines lending its name to this newest eSeries addition, GoGallop has released the Shanghai leg in the first of four virtual events that will form the Longines eJumping World Tour 2021.
“The partnership between Longines and the FEI, has been based on our mutual values of elegance, tradition and performance with the disciplines we support,” Longines Vice President Marketing Matthieu Baumgartner said.
“Our relationship with the FEI has evolved greatly since 2013 and our support for this eGame initiative is just a natural progression in our brand awareness and digital growth strategy. We are excited to have the Longines eJumping World Tour as part of our sponsorship portfolio and are proud to play a part in the development of this new chapter in the FEI’s digital activities.”
The Jumping events in the fantasy venues of Sydney, New York and Paris will round off the Longines eSeries World Tour, with gamers able to compete against each other for their place on the virtual Longines eJumping World Tour Rankings. As players move up on the global game leaderboard they unlock challenges and rewards in the game, adding ribbons and trophies to their in-game display cabinet.
“These eGames are an excellent example of the way in which technology and brands can come together to enhance the development of equestrian,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said.
“With the support of our Top Partner Longines and GoGallop’s gaming expertise, we are able to take equestrian sport to a truly global audience and offer a level of engagement and immersion that traditional outreach methods have been unable to provide so far. Gaming is an agile market with tremendous potential for broadening equestrian’s reach and attractiveness and we look forward to seeing where this journey takes us.”
Since the FEI entered into a five-year licensing agreement with GoGallop in April 2021, the Australian-based company has been hard at work developing a series of FEI branded and FEI Nations Cup™ virtual events in the three Olympic disciplines. The eGames target horse lovers of all ages, from beginner pony club to more experienced riders. The company’s motto of “Made for horse lovers, by horse lovers” plays a key role in their approach to their eGame development.
“On the sport side, our aim is to create an online competition experience which allows gamers to increase their knowledge and understanding of the sport,” CEO of GoGallop Craig Laughton said.
“To compete, gamers have to learn the rules of each discipline, with feedback and positive reinforcement provided to them along the way through real-time commentary. By working with the FEI and their partners, we have been able to add a greater sense of realism and to enhance the whole gaming experience for fans.
“But equestrian is not just a sport, it is also a lifestyle choice and first time players receive a brief tutorial on the fundamentals of horsemanship and horse care. All these elements must come together for players to earn the necessary points that take them to the next level.”
The Sydney, New York and Paris legs of the Longines eJumping World Tour 2021 will be rolled out over the coming months, and plans are also underway for the release of an eDressage Series.
The Longines eJumping World Tour is now available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play.
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm. The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining. The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
About GoGallop Studios http://www.gogallop.com/
GoGallop Studios is a leading Australian based interactive entertainment company for the mobile game world. The company produces equestrian games that are perfect for horse-lovers everywhere and also offers plenty for those who enjoy challenging sports simulation games that are family-friendly and above all, fun to play.
About Longines
Based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland since 1832, Longines watchmakers enjoy an expertise steeped in tradition, elegance and performance. With generations of experience as the official timekeeper for World Championships, and as a partner of International Sports Federations, Longines has created strong and long-lasting relationships in the world of sports, over the years. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd., the world’s leading watchmaker. The Longines brand, with its winged hourglass emblem, is established in over 150 countries.
FEI Media contact:
Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications
vanessa.randin@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 73
GoGallop Media contact:
Mike Fegan
Vice President, Business Development
mfegan@gogallopstudios.com
+61 411 550 595
Longines Media contact
Longines International Public Relations
publicrelations@longines.com