Baseball (1983 video game)

Baseball
North American NES boxart
Developer(s) Nintendo Research & Development 1
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Designer(s) Shigeru Miyamoto[1]
Platform(s) Nintendo Entertainment System, Family Computer Disk System, Game Boy
Release NES
  • JP: December 7, 1983
  • NA: October 18, 1985
  • EU: September 1, 1986
Famicom Disk System
  • JP: February 21, 1986
Game Boy
  • JP: April 21, 1989
  • NA: August 31, 1989[2]
  • EU: 1990
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 early titles for the 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.[3]

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,[3] 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.[4]

Other releases

Name Date Platform Notes
vs. Baseball 1985 Arcade Nintendo Vs. Series. Unlike the original, the game features additional graphics and speech.
Baseball 1986 PlayChoice-10
Baseball 1989 Game Boy
Baseball 2002 e-Reader Barcoded cards, readable with e-Reader and Game Boy Advance.
Baseball 2002 GameCube Baseball is a bonus NES game in the GameCube game, Animal Crossing.
Baseball 2004 Game Boy Advance Classic NES Series
Baseball 2007 Wii Virtual Console
Baseball 2011 3DS Virtual Console
Baseball 2013 Wii U Virtual Console
Baseball 2018 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Online. The emulator allows the game to be played online.

Reception

In 2007, IGN gave Baseball a 5.5 out of 10, 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".[3]

In 2006, GameSpot gave Baseball a 4.2 out of 10, stating that while it was easy to play, the "bare-bones" replica of the sport "hasn't withstood the test of time."[4]

References

  1. ↑ Kohler, Chris. "Miyamoto Spills Donkey Kong's Darkest Secrets, 35 Years Later". Wired. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  2. ↑ White, Dave (July 1989). "Electronic Gaming Monthly". Electronic Gaming Monthly (3): 68.
  3. 1 2 3 Thomas, Lucas M. (January 16, 2007). "Baseball VC Review". IGN. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Thomas, Aaron (January 4, 2007). "Baseball Review". GameSpot. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
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