Feed Your Spring Fever With 2 Baseball Video Games

We've come down with fevers this week. Spring fever. Baseball fever.

With the sun shining these past two days and gimpses of blue sky, we're finding reasons to get outside - walking to school or the train yesterday. Egging our fevers on is the b-roll shown during the sports segments of the local news featuring the Yankee and Mets spring training camps down south. Sunshine? Baseball? We're wishing spring would get here already!

Which brings me to today's launch of Major League Baseball 2K10 (and a giveaway: scroll below).

Last week I stopped into the offices of Access Communications for an advance look at the video game. The graphics were impressive - the shots, zooms, and physical characteristics of the players in the game make you feel that you are actually watching a baseball game on TV. It was kind of crazy how much detail is in the game - it shows the musculature of the arms when throwing or batting, and even hands when pitching! The demoer was telling me how at an earlier event for gamers, they were playing the game on flat screen TVs and a man walked up to watch and asked what the score was, not realizing people there were playing the game. Seriously. It could fool you for a minute.

MLB 2K10 is available for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PlayStation 2 and PSP, Nintendo Wii, DS and Windows PC. The Wii version includes a Home Run Derby option, Franchise mode that lets you play multiple seasons as your favorite team and try to create a dynasty, and "total control pitching and hitting" allowing you to control your swings to hit for power or just make contact, and to feel each pitch and put the ball where you want it. Very very cool! One of the new things for the XBox 360 and PlayStation and PC versions is the addition of a My Player mode where you can create a player and choose a team to play your way into the Hall of Fame. 2K Sports is currently running the Pitch a Perfect Game contest that will award $1 million to the first online player to pitch a perfect game. (I'm so competitive that it's a good thing we don't have the Xbox 360 yet otherwise I'd be glued to the game, practicing and working on that perfect game!)

Another video game that I'm not giving away, but I recommend for families and younger kids is Baseball Blast, released last fall exclusive to the Nintendo Wii. It is Li'l Boo's go-to game of choice right now -over Beatles Rock Band and Wii Fit right now, if that tells you anything. Baseball Blast includes over 20 mini games, all with a baseball theme. Three of Li'l Boo's favorite mini-games are Cannonballs, where you bat at cannonballs to try to hit and sink three three pirate ships; Pennant Race where you direct a ball to collect pennants around the field; and Fielding Frenzy where you direct a player right or left to field fly balls. They're simple, fun games that are mostly easy to control. You can choose your player from any of the actual MLB teams, and the announcing voice is none other than Bob Uecker.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment below telling me your favorite baseball team to be entered to win one of FIVE copies of MLB 2K10 for the Wii. One entry per person, and you don't have to be a blogger to win - just be sure to enter your email address (kept private and not disclosed) so I can contact you if you are a winner. I'll draw the winners via Random.org on the morning of Tuesday, March 9th. Good luck!

Comments

[Holly Annen]

And to think we grew up on Atari with none other than "frogger" being the big hit!

[Becky]

GO CUBBIES! There is nothing like Wriggley Field/Chicago in the summer. Even walking around the field is sooooo cool

[kim/hormone-colored days]

This would be a hit with my boys, no pun intended.

[Nicole Pelton]

This looks like fun, my kids love baseball just second to soccer, and basketball :) Go Giants!

[morninglightmama]

Oh, I have two gigantic Yankees fans, 9 and 34 years old, who would LOVE to play this game together! Thanks for the giveaway!

[Melissa]

Cubs Fan here (there's always next year, right?)

[Stimey]

Having lived in Oakland for a lot of years, I know I'm supposed to love the A's, but I have a little thing for the Giants.

[Jesscio]

Yankee fans here - through and through - even skipped school to attend the World Series parade - looking for a repeat this season!

[megryansmom]

Cubs fan here too, I think THIS is next year!

[xiaolinmama]

The Giants are our home team, but having grown up in NYC, I will always be a Yankee fan! Thanks for the the great giveaway.

[jodifur]

My 8 year old nephew would love this. He is a METS fan. I'm not really a baseball fan, but am in between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals.

[Selfish Mom]

I guess I'd have to say the Yankees, because I've been to a few Yankee's games. But let's be honest: I couldn't care less, I just want to win it for my son. :-)

[Melissa S]

We love the Yankees. Hope I'm not too late!

[Paul]

Go Yanks!

[Ruthann]

I want to win this for my grandsons, who love the Yankees