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Kameron, left, and Alex Lewis own IMV Gaming and aim to have a college football video game on the market by 2019. (Special to the AL.com)

"EA Sports, it's in the game."

Oh, how college football gamers long to hear the oh-so-common phrase as their "NCAA Football" game is loading for another round of traditional powers duking it out in the most unlikely stadium in the most ridiculous weather conditions imaginable.

But, alas, not since 2014 has the gaming industry been introduced to a new version of the game.

Two men from Mobile, Alabama, are hoping to change that.

Alex and Kameron Lewis are cousins, who are as close as brothers, and they attribute their time playing NCAA Football for that close bond.

They want the game back.

Now, they are working together - with their company, IMV Gaming - to create one.

"For starters, like all kids getting excited, me and my cousin grew up playing the game," Alex Lewis told AL.com. "Before it was discontinued, it grew us closer. We weren't very close, but it made us like brothers."

"When I was younger, I always wanted to make a video game," Kameron, 24, said. "That was always the dream. I stopped playing because it was too much of the same. Stopped playing it, so when Alex presented it to me, I was like why not us?"

Alex was watching the College Football Playoff National Championship between Alabama and Clemson when he decided it was time to get something started.

"We always talked about why someone else can't bring the game back," Alex explained. "There were no actions in those words.

"I came home and watched the national championship. EA Sports sent out a tweet with a heart. That was the moment that I decided I wanted to stop talking about it and start acting on it."

Today’s #NationalChampionship game reminds us more than ever that the hearts in our community still beat for college football. — EA NCAA Football (@EANCAAFootball) January 11, 2016

Alex, 23, said since that time he and his cousin have being researching the financial investment and the legalities of it all.

The financial investment is a steep one when it comes to licensing. To that extent, they have met with the Collegiate Licensing Committee.

"Some of the bigger schools have more rules to approve licenses," Alex said. "Each school you apply to has to approve. They have control of their brand."

Because of the money involved, the Lewis cousins have a kickstarter campaign set for Sept. 2 with a funding goal of $850,000.

The ultimate goal, Alex said, is $2.5 million.

He believes 2019 is a "viable option" for a drop date on their game, which already has a working title, according to the cousins.

Enter IMV Gaming, which is a division of iMackulate Vision, a marketing company which offers graphics, videos and photography, and owned by the cousins.

The company is based in Mobile, but was started in Troy, where Alex was in school.

"Right now, the team is small," Alex said. "Currently, we have a stadium designer, a guy that works on uniforms and helmets, and we're looking for a guy for 3D modeling, AI and movements."

With the right type of backing, Alex is confident the game will become a reality.

"We can pull it off," he said. "It is a calculated risk. We have been contacted by a lot of people who want to help."

One of the biggest issues with any game, however, is the likeness of current student-athletes, which was the cornerstone of the Ed O'Bannon case.

The lawsuit filed against Electronic Arts and the NCAA resulted in the discontinuation of the college video game franchise.

O'Bannon is the lead plaintiff in O'Bannon v. NCAA, an antitrust class action lawsuit filed against the NCAA on behalf of football and men's basketball players over the organization's use for commercial purposes of the images of its former student athletes.

More than 24,000 former college football and basketball players will share in a $60 million settlement of the EA Sports lawsuit this year.

"We don't want to use anyone's likeness without their consent," Alex said.

But isn't that why people buy the game?

He explained it was a big reason why, but he said gamers have reached out to IMV Gaming and asked it simply makes sure there is a custom feature available, so gamers can create their own rosters.

"There are a lot of people that just don't care," Alex said about the likeness. "There are dedicated people out there editing and customizing the 2014 roster.

"Me, as just as a consumer, just give me the logos, uniforms and stadium. I'll edit the roster myself."

The NCAA is willing to listen, Alex said.

He points out that the NBA 2K series secured a few licenses from schools, as well.

Kameron said through some online research they believe the cost of acquiring a license from a school like Alabama could run in the neighborhood of $200,000.

The meeting with the Collegiate License Commission, according to Alex, answered some questions for both Alex and Kameron.

Basically, those who try to acquire a license - like IMV Gaming - would have to present the CLC with a proposal and the CLC would then present that to the offered school.

"As far as a blanket license, there isn't one," Alex said. "More so, from my understanding, you pay each school royalties. They want to see your proven sales. They want to see a proven retailer. You have to create the game first and show them a product. They want to see business and distribution plans.

"Bigger school like Alabama and Ohio State are going to ask for a lot of money. For them, to want to work with us, we are going to show they can make money, too."

The plan for IMV Gaming comes in three layers: raise funds, develop game, and then worry about licenses.

Both Alex and Kameron both said there is a chance the game starts with smaller schools.

While the cousins seem to be on the same page as far as their plan moving forward, there is only one thing they seem to disagree about.

"To be honest with you, I'm better at all the games that we play," Kameron said. "We hadn't played in a while. It was some good battles, but mostly I won."

"I don't think that is accurate at all," Alex responded. "I think he was better in Madden. I was better at college football, but we will talk after this phone call."