(The exclamation point, as you can see, is actually in the title. Believe me, I’m no more excited than you are about this.)

Wii owners like minigame collections, right? I mean, Carnival Games has somehow sold over 3 million copies worldwide. 2K Sports actually tried to capitalize on the minigame market on the Wii last fall with MLB Superstars, but that game failed miserably reviews- and sales-wise. So they’re taking a mulligan with an all-new group of baseball-themed minigames, Baseball Blast!.

The game will use MLB-licensed players and teams, and 2K is trying to position it as “the ultimate sports party game.” Alongside the 20-plus minigames on the disc, Baseball Blast! will offer a sports trivia mode with “over 100” questions. Sorry, 2K, but if you want a trivia mode to have any kind of longevity, it’s going to need far more than a hundred questions.

In any case, I’m skeptical, but I’m still holding out the slightest sliver of hope that this game will be decent. After all, I had a lot of fun with the “Disc Golf” minigame in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 on the Wii when I played it at Dtoider keener’s house a few weekends ago. And hey, baseball icon Bob Uecker -- who you may recognize from Major League -- is doing the commentary for this game, so at the very least, that’ll be worth checking out. Baseball Blast! will be out this fall.

2K Sports Gets Zany with Baseball Blast!^® Exclusively for Wii™

Thrilling big league baseball action in a variety of fun and exciting mini-games for fans of all ages

New York, NY – July 21, 2009 – 2K Sports announced today that Baseball Blast!^®, the only officially licensed Major League Baseball® mini-game experience, will be available this fall exclusively for the Wii™ system from Nintendo. Offering a fun and unique new baseball experience, Baseball Blast! gives fans the opportunity to test their abilities in a variety of unique game modes, including skill challenges, puzzles, and trivia matches. Featuring every MLB team and today’s top baseball stars, Baseball Blast! will also include entertaining play-by-play commentary by popular baseball personalities Rob Dibble and “Mr. Baseball” himself, Bob Uecker.

“Baseball Blast! is the ultimate sports party game that will provide endless amounts of fun and entertainment for fans of all ages,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development for 2K. “While playing with family or competing against friends, everyone will enjoy the wacky themed mini-games that deliver an exciting new baseball experience.”

With over 20 different baseball-themed mini-games, such as Fly Ball Fury, Carni-ball, Power Pitcher, Bumper Base, Pennant Race, Galaxy Ball, and many more, Baseball Blast! allows fans to fulfill their virtual diamond fantasies by smashing home runs that soar past planets, hitting cannonballs back at pirate ships, and even stealing bases on a baseball diamond inside the Rock prison. Players can also rack up points to unlock trophies and new puzzles, and earn strategy cards to compete against their friends in a fun bonus game. A challenging trivia mode will also be available for fans to test their baseball knowledge, including over 100 questions that range from casual baseball knowledge to stumping even the hardcore baseball fanatics.

Baseball Blast!, published by 2K Sports, is planned for release this fall for Wii. The title is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about Baseball Blast!, please visit http://www.2ksports.com/.