<
>

Cam Newton and his signature dab will be featured in a new video game

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It’s no secret that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton loves to play video games and loves to dab.

Soon, he’ll have a video game in which he can perform his signature move.

Hugo Games based out of Copenhagen announced it will feature the NFL MVP in an Android app that will be released later this year.

Yes, the game includes the Atlanta-based dance that Newton popularized last season when he dabbed for the first time after scoring a touchdown against Tennessee.

“That will definitely be a part of the game,’’ said Henrik Kolle, the CEO of Hugo Games. “That’s part of his DNA. If you do something great in the game, then you will see the animation with Cam doing some of his fun stuff.’’

Kolle’s company approached Newton about three months ago, soon after the sixth-year quarterback led Carolina to the Super Bowl. The goal was to capitalize on Newton’s popularity.

“Cam Newton is to us what Ronaldo is to Europe,’’ Kolle said of the soccer star. “He is a great, great sports star.’’

The video game is the latest in what has been a busy offseason for Newton, who spent much of the past three months taping the Nickelodeon show “All In With Cam Newton,’’ which premieres June 3.

“I love video games, so to have the opportunity to star in my own game is truly a dream come true,’’ Newton said in a statement. “Players can expect the game to be fast-paced, exciting, action-packed and intense -- just like [I] play professional football.’’

The game hasn’t been named, and it’s not likely to be a football game in the traditional EA NFL Madden sense. According to a Hugo Games representative, it will be a “casual game with a football flair.’’

Other NFL players have been featured in their own video games in the past. Carolina wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. had an Android app called “Kick Return Football.’’

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles starred in “Football Unleashed.’’ New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was in “Tap Sports Football.’’

What these games lacked to hit it big the way that Madden did was a licensing agreement with the NFL.

So what makes Kolle believe Hugo Sports will succeed with this game?

“The difference is actually Cam Newton,’’ he said.

Prior to the Super Bowl, Newton already had the strongest national portfolio of clients outside of Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, who retired after the 24-10 victory over the Panthers.

According to Repucom, a global sports and entertainment research and consulting company, Newton had better influential scores prior to the Super Bowl than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

“He’s an entertainer,’’ Kolle said. “There are many good reasons for this. We think he’ll give us a good in for the American market that we all are wanting.’’