Backyard Baseball 2003

by Atari

Product Features

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Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000645ZF
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: June 5, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,814 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #2 in Video Games > Mac Games > Sports
  • #25 in Video Games > PC Games > Sports
  • #36 in Software > Children's Software > Games
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Infogrames has improved upon an already excellent franchise with Backyard Baseball 2003. We hope this software doesn't become a victim of its own success: the Backyard Kids are getting so good, it's only a matter of time before they start demanding astronomical salaries and brand-new stadiums.

The pace, strategy, and statistics involved in baseball make it a sport that translates easily to the computer screen. In Backyard Baseball, players can play pickup games, launch a tournament, have batting practice, or just watch the computer play its own game. Options are initially overwhelming, but add longevity to the game as well. Twelve different game fields each exert their own unique influence over play--balls bounce crazily on the gravel lot, while homers are rare in the fenceless field. Games can be tweaked to add errors or include a visible strike zone; even field chatter can be added or eliminated. A wide selection of hits, pitches, and stance possibilities at the plate keep players strategizing, while the occasional power-up or wild pitch serves as a reminder of baseball's unpredictability.

The creative team outdid themselves with character development in this software. The Backyard Kids are quirky and three-dimensional--the research done on the real players was exemplary as well. For example, did you know Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks listens to Rush in his spare time? Go figure.

Backyard Baseball 2003 will keep both young and old baseball fans engaged for a good long time. Consider it a way to fill that long wintry gap between baseball seasons. (Ages 7 and older) --Anne Erickson

Product Description

Think you have what it takes to create a winning team? Here's your chance to find out! Build the championship baseball team of your dreams. Includes kid versions of hard-hitting, base-stealing, tough-fielding players including Troy Glaus, Jeff Conine, Jim Thome, Todd Helton, Bobby Higginson, Cliff Floyd, Richie Sexson, Brad Radke, Jimmy Rollins, Phil Nevin, Ichiro, Greg Vaughn and Carlos Delgado.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Baseball Game, June 26, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Backyard Baseball 2003 (CD-ROM)

Backyard Baseball 2003 is the best game I've ever played. While playing you can pick players that have returned such as K.Griffey Jr., S.Sosa, D.Jeter and many many more! You can also pick newcomers such as I.Suzuki, G.Vaghn, R.Sexson, J.Rollins etc. Backyard Baseball 2003 has came up with 4 new ballparks to hit some dingers, rbi's, singles, doubles, triples and more! You can also pick 30 mlb teams and 31 mlb players because Ja. Giambi and D. Jeter are the 2 Yankees. Take it from me. Backyard baseball 2003 is the #1 game Humongus Entertainment has made. Also the best anyone has made. So go buy Backyard Baseball 2003!

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BYB'03, June 5, 2002

By 

Brandon (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backyard Baseball 2003 (CD-ROM)

I am looking forward to the release of this game tremendously. The first BYB was the debut by Humongous Entertainment for the Backyard Sports series. The second was much improved, offering Major League Teams and players, along with online play. The last three releases from Humongous (owned by Infogrames) have been fabulous games with computer animation as well as hand drawn. It's hard to imagine that Backyard Baseball 2003 will be able to beat the success of BYB'01, but with the return of players like Sammy Sosa, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez coupled with new players such as Ichiro, Tim Hudson and Carlos Delgado, this looks to be one of the better Backyard Games. I was mildly disapointed with the performance of Backyard Basketball, not because of bad graphics or gameplay flaws, but because of having only two professional players (Kevin Garnett and Lisa Leslie) and no official NBA teams! One minor gameplay glitch miffed me about BYF'02, but it was a small price to pay for excellent graphics and 10 pros such as Brett Farve. BYB'03 wields 4 brand new fields. Go to the Infogrames web site and go to Children's games and click on Backyard Baseball 2003 for screen shot. Ichiro up to bat against the Twin's Brad Radke now encompasses my computer screen. I am saddened by the loss of favorites Mark McGwire, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, especially Ripken. Regardles of popular belief, Cal IS the best infielder in that game (Sorry, Derek, buddy). Hopefully with the rise of BYB'03, will come more cheats. I think the employment of cheat codes could do no harm to the game. ...!! Well, the dawn of a new Backyard game is coming, and while I can't make the Yankees lose the World Series in the real world, perhaps my Mariners can pull of a few '03 miricales in the Backyard Realm. Until then, Jah Backyard Peeps, RIDE ON! go M's, make them yanks cringe. Out.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little disapointing, but still good, July 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Backyard Baseball 2003 (CD-ROM)

I was really excited about this game. The last 2 installments of the Backyard Sports series where good. This one is also. It has new players like Seattle's Iciro and Colorado's Todd Helton. My beloved Twins finally have a good representative in Brad Radke. There's alos Backyard "veterans" (as I call them) like Sammy Sosa of the Cubs, Nomar Garciapara of Boston, and Chipper Jones of Atlanta. Chipper FINALLY goes Lefty when he bats against a right-handed pitcher, unlike 2001. A-Rod and Giambi represnt they're new teams. In the other reviews, people say they are disapointed in the lack of Cal Ripken, Mark McGuire, and Tony Gywen. Maybe it's because their RETIRED. I, on the other hand, miss Kurt Schilling and Pudge. I was very surprised they were left out. Well, at least Schilling should have been in this game. And why is Carlos Beltran the only Royal instead of Mike Sweeney. I still don't get that.
There are big changes between the 2 games. The format is unchanged, but there are new voices for all the players, I think. Some sound a lot like the older versions, but some are really different. Like Sunny Day. I can't tell her voice apart from Vinnie the Gooch. They took out the online play, too. I think Humongus or Infogrames trashed that feature. It's also a little slow on my PC. It still good though. For being a good game at a [good] price, I give it 5 stars.