NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- OverDog, a new mobile sports app that connects professional athletes and their fans to play video games together on Xbox and PlayStation announced today its official launch on iOS and Android devices. Ushering in a new era of connectivity in the sports world, the head-to-head video gaming service co-founded by former Chicago Bears Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer features over 200 Official OverDog Athletes and is free to download and play against the athletes. Athletes levy Challenges online to take on their fans in a variety of games including Madden NFL, FIFA 14, Call of Duty and NBA2K, along with many other multi-player games.  

The Athlete Gauntlet Has Been Dropped: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDl20ea6xsM

"OverDog provides an experience to both fans and athletes that they can't find anywhere else," said Hillenmeyer "For fans, they get unprecedented access to their favorite athletes.  For athletes, it turns a favorite hobby into a way to interact with fans that is more engaging than an autograph line and a lot less invasive at the same time. We're really not sure whether our fans or athletes enjoy it more."

"I was pretty fired up to hear what Hunter and his guys had built.  I've played with a bunch of Bears fans, and it's been pretty fun so far," said NFL All-Pro Matt Forte. "I told Hunter to put some stats in the app, because people need to see how serious I am in Call of Duty and Madden."

"I like to compete, I think all athletes do, but so do our fans.  It's a really cool thing with OverDog for both sides to be able to game together, but that doesn't mean we don't both want to win," said NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl Champion Ray Rice. "I play Madden, NBA2K, and Call of Duty.  When I play Madden, I'm the Ravens and #27 gets the ball A LOT."

OverDog also features Athlete vs. Athlete gaming events, the first of which took place on Sept. 12 in advance of yesterday's battle between NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.  The Madden NFL 25 match-up pitted Seahawks running back Christine Michael against 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver; with Michael and the Seahawks prevailing 21-14.  Highlights from the game: http://youtu.be/eMSFgN0BIDg

With its official launch today on iOS and Android devices, OverDog's roster of Pro-Bowlers, Cy Young winners, Olympians and MLS All-Stars can now challenge their fans directly, and within three minutes one lucky OverDog fan will be gaming against professional athletes from the world of football, baseball, soccer, basketball and MMA (see accompanying list of participants). OverDog beta-tested on iOS systems in May with 75 athletes, including OverDog Board Members David Price (Tampa Bay Rays), Chris Kluwe (NFL Punter) and Hank Baskett (Retired NFL WR).

HOW IT WORKS:

• Athletes and fans download the OverDog App on their iPhone or Android device
• Both log-in via Facebook and Twitter, with fans providing info on when they game to help customize their Athlete Challenge notifications
• The Athlete then records a quick Challenge video, giving fans three minutes to accept the Challenge
• One lucky fan is then chosen and, using gamertag information, OverDog auto-friends the athlete and fan via their gaming console and auto-disconnects them post-game. Athletes traditionally play multiple games against their fans.

FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Customized Notifications: Fans get notifications only from the teams and athletes they are interested in playing against
• Social Share: Bragging rights are key – OverDog allows fans to share via their social media that they played a Pro-Bowler, a Cy Young Winner, an Olympian or any of their Pro Athletes, with automated Tweets and Facebook posts
• Fan vs. Fan Challenges: Fans can compete against each other to game with fellow fans or challenge their rivals while they wait for the next Athlete challenge

OverDog plans on expanding its roster into NBA and NHL by the start of their respective upcoming seasons.  Additionally the app will be launching in South America and the EU by the end of 2013, prior to the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

About OverDog OverDog was co-founded by eight-year NFL veteran Hunter Hillenmeyer, who serves as President, along with fellow co-founder and CEO Steve Berneman, who previously served as legal counsel for high-tech startups in Austin, Texas, and cut his teeth in sports working for a number of professional baseball teams. Hillenmeyer and Berneman were introduced by a mutual friend in Nashville in March 2012 and quickly formed a friendship and business relationship, incorporating OverDog in June 2012. OverDog looks to unite athletes and fans through their shared love of gaming in an efficient, exciting platform. Board Members include the Tampa Bay Rays' David Price, NFL punter Chris Kluwe, former NFL Wide Receiver Hank Baskett, and NHL Superstar Jeremy Roenick, among others. 

Notable OverDog Athletes Among its Over 200 Current Participants

NFL: Matt ForteRay RiceNaVorro BowmanJay CutlerDeSean JacksonRandy MossAhmad BradshawDevin HesterChris KluweLance BriggsJon BeasonCharles TillmanGolden TateKenny StillsTakeo SpikesKevin MawaeChris Culliver

Other Sports:David Price (MLB)Booker T (WWE)Al-Farouq Aminu (NBA)Austin Berry (MLS)Juan Agudelo (MLS)Kei Kamara (MLS)Heath Pearce (MLS)Conor Dwyer (Gold Medalist/Olympic Swimmer)Rudy Garcia-Tolson (Gold Medalist/Paralympic Swimmer)Steven Holcomb (Olympic Gold Medalist/Bobsledder)

SOURCE OverDog