'Flawed' official Ashes video game recalled by publishers following fans' complaints

The official Ashes Cricket 2013 video game has reportedly been recalled by its publishers after fans pointed out the game that took years in making was embarrassingly flawed.

According to News.com.au, European-based games developer 505 Games issued a statement saying that the game was cancelled less than a week after its release after fans highlighted a number of errors in it that had the players running around in bizarre abstract motions.

One of the fans, who has called the game 'not fit for sale', has posted videos showing fielders moving in an apparent state of confusion, diving on the ground randomly and either throwing the ball in the wrong direction or just standing and looking at the ball.

The report mentioned that other complaints by gamers included the stumps flying out of the ground while the bowler is still making his run up, while some gamers complained that it was sometimes impossible to hit the ball.

The company has issued an apology to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Cricket Australia (CA), fans and all cricket games worldwide, saying that the developer was unable to overcome the unexpected challenges that the game engine threw up, even with multiple extensions to the development schedule, despite years of experience.

The game was released only on last week on an online store and 505 Games has offered a refund to people who bought the game, the report added.