DARTS fans in Ipswich can today catch a glimpse of one of their heroes who has been captured on a popular computer game.

DARTS fans in Ipswich can today catch a glimpse of one of their heroes who has been captured on a popular computer game.

Ipswich Town season ticket holder Kevin 'The Artist' Painter features on the new Wii, Playstation 2 and PC game PDC World Championship 2008.

The World Championship semi-finalist was approached by the game-makers when he appeared at a tournament at Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium.

Mr Painter, who is currently ranked 15th in darts' international order of merit, was filmed by a special slow-motion camera before the footage was incorporated into the second instalment of the game.

The Tiptree-born player said: “It only took ten minutes and they filmed me from different angles.

“They took footage of me but it wasn't as technical as you would have thought.

“They did action shots and then filmed me walking back and turning round and celebrating - they have got the images to a T.”

Mr Painter, 40, who now lives in Daventry, Northamptonshire, has been playing darts for 25 years.

He added: “It's great to be on the game. It's good fun and was nice to be asked.

“Now there is talk of another one coming out.”

After his excellent run at the World Championship Mr Painter has a string of foreign tournaments lined up for this year.

He will play in Germany in March, Holland in April, New York in May and Las Vegas in June.

The computer game, released last month, boasts enhanced player AI (artificial intelligence), which is calculated using real life averages from major tournaments and is based on stars' playing characteristics, such as stamina, belief, pressure, complacency and accuracy.

Made by Oxygen Games, it also features new world champion John Part, Phil Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld.

Mr Taylor, 13 times world champion, said: “Using the Wii remote to throw the dart is the closest thing yet to real darts.”

View the game teaser at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLDcSbd6XiY

Do you like the new game? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

At the oche - Kevin The Artist Painter:

Born on July 12, 1967

The Artist hit the headlines in 2004 when he finished runner-up to Phil Taylor in the epic World Championship final

Knocked out legendary Dutchman Raymond Van Barneveld in the 2008 World Championship

He has a daughter - Madison Elise