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Diabolical Pitch

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Diabolical Pitch
Developer(s)Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
Producer(s)Goichi Suda
EngineUnreal Engine 3
Platform(s)Xbox 360
ReleaseApril 4, 2012
Genre(s)Action, sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Diabolical Pitch[a] is a baseball action video game from Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda51 for the Xbox 360 Kinect.

Development and release[edit]

Diabolical Pitch was developed by Grasshopper Manufacture. The company's founder, Goichi Suda ("Suda51"), conceived the game and served as its executive producer, offering feedback to a dedicated team during its production.[1] With the announcement of Kinect by Microsoft, Grasshopper was initially unsure of how to utilize the technology to create a simple, intuitive, and enjoyable experience for consumers.[2] Voice input was briefly proposed before it was decided that body motion sensing was more appropriate.[3] Suda believed that pitching matched the body leverage mechanics required by the motion sensor and considered whether or not it would be fun for a player to mimic throwing an object using the device.[4] Grasshopper's chief creative officer Akira Yamaoka elaborated that they based the project on baseball, or more simply throwing and catching a ball, because it was recognizable to most people around the world.[2] Sports are a common element found in the developer's games as Suda recognized the physical abilities of high-profile athletes as "thematically and visually" significant.[5] Baseball had been especially important to the producer since he was child, though he idolized certain players like Sadaharu Oh and Choji Murata rather than entire teams.[5][6]

Suda claimed he formulated a game prototype involving a pitcher in a fantasy amusement park prior to the announcement of Kinect and that the device's debut was ample opportunity to implement it.[3] In addition to this concept was the "diabolical pitch", which is a term that stems from the familiar Japanese word makyū (魔球), meaning "magic ball".[4] Grasshopper would adds its own unique flavor to set it apart from simple baseball simulators, such as giving the player character a bionic arm to hurl balls at waves of bizarre enemies. These enemies were inspired by stuffed animals that could be won from certain carnival games.[2] The game's premise was influenced by baseball manga including Star of the Giants, Astro Kyudan, Samurai Giants, and Yakyū-kyō no Uta.[4][6] Yamaoka described the "bite-sized" gameplay, and the Kinect experience as a whole, as similar to the brief moments spent with an arcade or amusement park game.[2] Pinball and Extreme Baseball were also referenced for some of the game's mechanics.[4]

Suda had long desired to work with publisher Microsoft, who had asked Grasshopper to make a game for Kinect that would be suitable for both casual and hardcore gamers.[3][7] Yamaoka stated that the designers wished to "meet halfway" to appeal to both demographics and that adding a fantasy element to the baseball premise of Diabolical Pitch "would ease them into a Kinect experience."[2][8] The team wanted to maintain the same "punk ethos" present in all of their games whether aimed at casual or hardcore players.[9] Yamaoka believed the Grasshopper's penchant for creativity would be enough to successfully market the game in Japan, where the Xbox 360 was already struggling financially and a region in which the physical space required to use Kinect may be incompatible with the small size of many houses.[2]

The game was first showcased with a teaser trailer at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show (TGS) under the moniker "Codename D".[7] Grasshopper Manufacture registered the trademark for the title Diabolical Pitch in January 2011.[10] It was revealed at TGS 2011 that the two titles were one in the same.[11] Diabolical Pitch was released worldwide on Xbox LIVE Arcade on April 4, 2012 to coincide with the start of the Major League Baseball season.[6][12] The game sold poorly.[13] According to leaderboard data from Gamasutra, it had the least number of downloads among all Xbox Live Arcade releases in April 2012 with only new 573 players in its first week and 1,103 new players by the end of the month.[14]

Reception[edit]

Diabolical Pitch received mixed reviews from critics upon release. On Metacritic, the game holds a score of 56/100 based on 24 reviews.[15]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Japanese: ディアボリカル・ピッチ, Hepburn: Diaborikaru Pitchi

References[edit]

  1. ^ Leone, Matt (September 19, 2011). "TGS: How Goichi Suda Splits His Time at Grasshopper". 1Up.com. 1Up Network. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Screen Play staff (March 27, 2012). "Kinecting with the Japanese". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Famitsu staff (March 27, 2012). "『Diabolical Pitch』クリエイターインタビュー よりぬきファミ通Xbox 360【5月号】" [Diabolical Pitch Creator Interview: Famitsu Xbox 360 May Issue]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d GamesTM staff (March 17, 2012). "Suda 51 on Diabolical Pitch "game design has a lot to learn from sport"". GamesTM. Future plc. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Haske, Steve (October 17, 2016). "Suda51 on Sports, Serial Killers, and The Silver Case". Inverse. Bustle Digital Group. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Suda Goichi (April 12, 2012). "INSIDE51". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1217. Kadokawa Game Linkage. p. 260.
  7. ^ a b Purchese, Robert (September 16, 2010). "Microsoft TGS 2010 Conference". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Hill, Jason (March 6, 2012). "Selling Kinect to hardcore gamers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Wahlgren, Jon (April 10, 2012). "Interview: Goichi Suda - Grasshopper Manufacture". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  10. ^ Siliconera staff (January 12, 2011). "Is Diabolical Pitch The Name Of Grasshopper Manufacture's Kinect Game?". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Ramsay, Randolph (September 14, 2011). "Suda-51 winds up Diabolical Pitch". GameSpot. Fandom Inc. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  12. ^ McElroy, Griffin (March 5, 2012). "Diabolical Pitch dated, Forza 4, Raccoon City and Kinect Sports 2 DLC revealed". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Robson, Daniel (April 10, 2013). "Flying through life: Meet the man behind Panzer Dragoon". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  14. ^ Langley, Ryan (May 30, 2012). "In-Depth: Xbox Live Arcade Sales Analysis, April 2012". Gamasutra. Informa. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Diabolical Pitch for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  16. ^ Donlan, Christian (4 April 2012). "Diabolical Pitch Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  17. ^ Dyer, Mitch (5 April 2012). "Diabolical Pitch Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  18. ^ Gilbert, Henry (6 April 2012). "Diabolical Pitch review". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  19. ^ Suszek, Mike (6 April 2012). "Diabolical Pitch review: Field of nightmares". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  20. ^ McElroy, Griffin (3 April 2012). "Diabolical Pitch review: Striking out in style". Polygon. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  21. ^ VanOrd, Kevin (4 April 2012). "Diabolical Pitch Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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