HE may be better known for his docile tones behind the microphone but legendary sports broadcaster Jackie Fullerton has taken on the unusual role of a “crafty fox” in a new video game.
The veteran commentator provides the voice-over for the locally-produced cartoon game, Outfoxed – which is now available to a worldwide audience.
The man behind the project is William Barr from Ballymena and, following its formal launch in Belfast last night, the game can be downloaded to multimedia-enabled smartphones.
In the production, players portray a fox tasked with raiding the local chicken farm for lunch. However, the bushy-tailed animal – with the familiar sound of Jackie Fullerton – has a fight on his hands as he is chased by the farmer’s wife wielding a carving knife and a farmer armed with a shotgun.
Not to be outdone, the fox defends himself by firing a barrage of eggs, incubated inside each chicken.
Jackie admits his cartoon role is “strange” in comparison to his normal day job, but said he is “impressed” with the final product.
“It is very exciting at this time in my career to branch out and do different things apart from the television world,” he told the News Letter.
“It was very flattering to be asked because I would be one of thousands of television performers who don’t really like their voice. So if some people think I have a distinctive voice, that’s very nice.”
The experienced BBC broadcaster, 68, said he enjoyed his transformation into an animated character, claiming others in real life might refer to him as a “sly fox”.
On the finished product, he said: “I’m already critical of myself having viewed it but I did smile at times because I am impressed with how it turned out in terms of the animation and the game itself. I think it could be very popular.”
Jackie believes some of the younger members of the Fullerton family will be impressed by his gaming handiwork.
“I will be the coolest grandfather on the planet for my youngest grandchildren, John and Hannah. I can’t wait to watch it with them when they hear grandad’s voice. That will be interesting.”
However, he added: “My eldest grandchildren, Jack and Erin, will probably be slightly embarrassed.”
Mr Barr, 24, director with Belfast-based Billy Goat Entertainment Ltd, said the innovative project was six months in the making.
“Getting Jackie on board was a blessing, his voice was perfectly suited to our lead character.”
He added that he hopes the game – aided by funding from the Arts Council – will eventually be rolled out to the Android market as well as its current App version, before being made available on Mac and PC.
Paying tribute to the creative force behind the game, Jackie said: “I hope it is successful for William because small companies such as his, in these hard times, deserve to find success.”
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