Baseball (1983 video game)
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| You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Japanese. (September 2015) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2007) |
| Baseball | |
|---|---|
 North American NES boxart | |
| Developer(s) | Nintendo Research & Development 1 |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Composer(s) | Hirokazu Tanaka (GB version) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo Entertainment System, Family Computer Disk System, PlayChoice-10, Game Boy, Nintendo e-Reader, GameCube, Virtual Console (Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U) |
| Release | NES/Famicom Famicom Disk System Game Boy Game Boy Advance (e-Reader) Virtual Console Wii (NES) Nintendo 3DS (Game Boy) Wii U (NES) |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, two-player |
Baseball (Japanese: ベースボール, Hepburn: Bēsubōru) is a 1983 video game from Nintendo, one of the first launch titles for the Nintendo Family Computer. In 1985, the game was featured prominently amongst the 18 titles at the Manhattan test market launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System, being demonstrated on a large projector screen by real Major League Baseball players. The game's launch position and the universal appeal of its namesake sport are said to have made Baseball a key to the NES's overall success, and an important piece of Nintendo history.[2]
Gameplay
As in real baseball, the object of the game is to score the most runs. The game supports one player versus a computer opponent, or two players. Each player can select from one of six teams.
Though lacking a license to give official team names,[2] their initials in the game are meant to represent the names of real teams from the Japanese Central League or the American Major League Baseball in their respective regions. In gameplay, the only practical difference between the teams is the uniform colors.[3]
A: Oakland Athletics
C: St. Louis Cardinals
D: Los Angeles Dodgers
P: Philadelphia Phillies
R: Kansas City Royals
Y: New York Yankees
The title screen music of this NES title also appears as the title screen music of some of Nintendo's other NES Sports series titles such as Pro Wrestling. A slightly altered version of it appears at the title screen of the Nintendo's NES title, Volleyball. The home run music appears as the victory tune in both Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! arcade games.
Other releases
- Arcade - vs. Baseball was slightly different from its NES counterpart. The game featured additional graphics as well as some speech.
- PlayChoice-10 - Baseball was one of the games available for play in PlayChoice-10 arcade machines, released in 1986.
- Game Boy - Baseball was one of the first games to launch with the Game Boy, along with Super Mario Land and Tetris. The background music is different compared to the ones in the NES version.
- e-Reader - Baseball was one of the NES games ported to the Game Boy Advance e-Reader in 2002.
- Baseball is also a bonus NES game in the GameCube game, Animal Crossing.
- Wii - The NES version was released for the Wii's Virtual Console on January 1, Template:Vgy
- Nintendo 3DS - The Game Boy version was released for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in North America on July 14, 2011 and in the PAL region on July 28, Template:Vgy
Reception
IGN gave Baseball a 5.5 out of 10 in 2007, noting its depth of pitching, its two-player support, "its still-intact sense of fun", and its important place in Nintendo's history. The review said that the 1985 test market launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System had "heavily relied upon" Baseball, due to the globally recognizable status of the sport. The review summarized that "the NES came out a winner—thanks, in part, to Baseball".[2]
GameSpot gave Baseball a 4.2 out of 10 in 2006, stating that while it was easy to play, the "bare-bones" replica of the sport "hasn't withstood the test of time."[3]
See also
References
- ^ White, Dave (July 1989). "Electronic Gaming Monthly". Electronic Gaming Monthly (3): 68.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Lucas M. (January 16, 2007). "Baseball VC Review". IGN. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
- ^ a b Thomas, Aaron (January 4, 2007). "Baseball Review". GameSpot. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
External links
- Video game articles needing translation from Japanese Wikipedia
- 1983 video games
- Nintendo Research & Development 1 games
- Nintendo Entertainment System games
- Famicom Disk System games
- Game Boy games
- Nintendo e-Reader games
- Major League Baseball video games
- Baseball video games
- PlayChoice-10 games
- Virtual Console games
- Virtual Console games for Wii U
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Video games composed by Hirokazu Tanaka