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Cal Ripken's Real Baseball: you mean, it's not an NES game?

10:50 AM on 03.06.2008, Samit Sarkar 33 comments

Cal Ripken's Real Baseball: you mean, it's not an NES game? photo
     WHAAAAAAT?

Some of you might be wondering what Cal Ripken, Jr. is doing with his life. Well, after retiring in 2001 and becoming a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee last January, the charismatic class act has taken the next logical step for a famous athlete: he’s lent his name to a baseball videogame. But Cal Ripken’s Real Baseball — or, as I like to call it, “bland, generic videogame title #143” — is not your typical annual-installment sports title.

I didn’t even know that such a thing existed, but CRRB is an MMOSG — as in, a Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Game. In fact, according to the press release (available after the jump), it’s the first one ever created. If you’re scratching your head right now, don’t worry; I did the same exact thing when I started reading up on the game. Up until a few weeks ago, CRRB had been known as Ultimate Baseball Online, a game that was first launched nearly four years ago by publisher Netamin (along with ESPN).

Apparently, you can play as a member of a full nine-player team, and it’s not a strategy game or anything — you actually hit, pitch, field, and run in real time. Ripken’s involvement with the game entails the duties of “official spokesperson”, and you can see him doing his thing in this promotional video for the game. CRRB is free, and it’s only available on the PC.

Perhaps Ripken’s name will lend some legitimacy to the upstart MMOSG, but personally, I doubt it (to me, this seems destined to fail). Then again, I don’t do MMOs — though if you’re interested, more information is available at the game’s official Web site and at its Wikipedia page. Check them out!

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Signs Deal with Netamin Communication Corporation For CAL RIPKEN'S REAL BASEBALL
Completely Free Online Game is a Unique Sports Experience and Online Community For Baseball Fans Around the World

DIAMOND BAR, CALIF. - Mar 05, 2008 Netamin Corporation announced today that baseball's all-time "Iron Man" and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cal Ripken, Jr. is the official spokesperson for Real Baseball, a free online computer game and community for sports enthusiasts around the world. Cal Ripken's Real Baseball is a brand new version of the community/computer game previously known as Ultimate Baseball Online or UBO. The new URL is PlayRealBaseball.com.

Cal Ripken's Real Baseball enables gamers to compete in a Massively Multiplayer Online Sport Game (MMOSG), meaning each position on the field is manned by a human player in a 3-D virtual stadium. Players can create their own characters and build their skill level (player stats) through successful play on the field against other real human players. Unlike current online games that aim to simulate professional sports, Real Baseball (RB) delivers a first-person perspective of a character, created and developed by the player, interacting online in real-time with teammates and opponents playing from numerous locations.

"Real Baseball is a fun game that provides the players with a unique perspective and delivers a one of a kind lifelike baseball experience," said Ripken. "The online baseball community reinforces baseball fundamentals and provides baseball fans and gamers with a challenging experience. It is a great destination for baseball fans of all ages."

Real Baseball was created by Andy Wang, founder and CEO of Netamin Communication Corporation, the first company in the world to develop the technology to build a Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Game (MMSOG). Netamin is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California with additional operations in Korea.

"We are very excited to partner with Cal in an effort to make our website and video game even better for baseball lovers across the globe," said Andy Wang, founder and CEO of Netamin. "We strive to make Real Baseball the most authentic baseball video game it can be, and adding Cal to our team not only strengthens our brand, but connects us with a baseball legend that will take our video game and community to the next level."

Real Baseball has been in existence for three years in a beta mode under the name Ultimate Baseball Online. Over the past three years Ultimate Baseball Online has seen strong participation in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, England, Italy, South Africa, Brazil and Australia.

About Cal Ripken's Real Baseball (www.PlayRealBaseball.com):

In Cal Ripken's Real Baseball, baseball enthusiasts and gamers compete in 3D virtual stadiums. With stunning graphics and surround-sound audio reactions from the crowd, participants control customized characters for each position and compete together against other Real Baseball gamers. Players use an avatar to bat, pitch, field, run, steal and perform any baseball action. Participants can practice, play pick-up games, join or found their own teams, compete against rival teams, play in specialized tournaments, and win league championships in post-season play. Gamers create their own characters and build their skill level (player stats) through successful play on the field against other real human players. Unlike current video games that aim to simulate professional sports, Real Baseball delivers a first-person perspective of a character, created and developed by the player, interacting online in real-time with teammates and opponents.

Website: http://www.playrealbaseball.com

About Netamin (www.Netamin.com):

Netamin Communication Corporation, a pioneer in Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Games (MMOSG), is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California with additional operations in Korea. The company launched its first MMOSG title, Ultimate Baseball Online, in 2004, with subsequent titles planned in the team sports genre. Founded in 1998, Netamin is a privately held corporation aiming to provide an online virtual playing field for all major sports. For more information, please visit www.Netamin.com.

Website: http://www.netamin.com


Next page: More Sports stories




Video Cognito's Avatar
Video Cognito at 03/06/2008 10:57
@MrSadistic:

I've been playing FSSB for almost a whole year now. :/ It's catchy.

@AgentMOO:

As far as I can remember, Cal's never been linked to steroids.

@Internets:

I'm mildly interested in this game.
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 03/06/2008 10:59
@video

I tried it for a while. The whole "urban theme thought up by Koreans" turned me off. That, and I was always on a team that was completely horrible.
Video Cognito's Avatar
Video Cognito at 03/06/2008 11:05
@MrSadistic:

I know exactly what you mean. Still, it always feels so awarding to play extremely good, too. Big secret: I've logged in more hours towards FSSB than I did towards Pokemon Diamond. :/ I fail.
MaxVest's Avatar
MaxVest at 03/06/2008 11:11
A Billy Ripken MMOSG might be a little more colorful.

Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 03/06/2008 11:13
@MaxVest: ‘FOCK FACE’? lol
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 03/06/2008 11:16
I remember that card. Such a classic.
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 03/06/2008 11:23
@Video_Cognito

I know he's clean, I was implying the FULL-LIFE consequences in MLB in general.
Evil Cheese's Avatar
Evil Cheese at 03/06/2008 11:29
It's almost sad how much this man whores out his name. Of course if I could make tons of money simply by putting my name on some product, I'd probably do it too. I'm still a big fan, but come on Cal, at least let's not endorse shit.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 03/06/2008 11:45
Sports are too unappealing to care about.
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 03/06/2008 11:51
Gotta keep the $$$ rolling in. I'm not sure if this was the route I'd take if I was Cal. I'd think he could be an MLB broadcaster or something along those lines. Get Joe "boring" Buck brushed to the side and a player with tons of experience in there. I've never heard Ripken talk much so I'm not sure how he would do but from what I remember of him talking it wasn't bad.

Side note: I was at Ripken's last game at Comiskey in Chicago. Fuck calling it US Cellular Field. They gave him a vile of dirt from old Comiskey, and I think 3rd base as well. It was a cool baseball moment, the stadium was PACKED, everyone standing and cheering, I'll never forget it.
leiden's Avatar
leiden at 03/06/2008 12:05
Cal actually hosts a radio show on XM radio. Oh, and he made fucking millions playing ball. I don't think he needs anymore money.
Cowzilla3's Avatar
Cowzilla3 at 03/06/2008 12:27
Yea I don't think he needs anymore money but man he is getting old.
Video Cognito's Avatar
Video Cognito at 03/06/2008 12:49
@Corak:

I work at "The Cell". I'm sorry you're a Sox fan.
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 03/06/2008 12:49
Rule #1 for being rich

"I'd trade it all for a little more."
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 03/06/2008 12:52
@video_cognito

Better than being a Cubs fan. 2005 was great. I was brought up on the south side so yea I guess being a Sox fan comes with the territory, its not so bad, although I'm not as much into baseball as I once was.
FunGame's Avatar
FunGame at 03/06/2008 13:35
Why don't you guys try downloading it before you make a judgement call on whether it sucks or not.

I really like it... the graphics are awesome and you can join any league, the better you get the better your league gets.

Besides, its free so why not?
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 03/06/2008 13:36
@Corak: I can’t decide which of your avatars I like better, the old one or the new one.
Axion22's Avatar
Axion22 at 03/06/2008 13:40
I'm checkin' this thing out. I love the concept, I really hope they've executed it well.
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 03/06/2008 14:08
@samit

I rocked Keely for a while, she might be still available but I decided to switch to Homer for the time being. Maybe my avatar will be like Yojimbo's blog banner, changed weekly.

You gonna review MLB The Show? My boss bought it and likes it a lot so far.
Madden4Life's Avatar
Madden4Life at 03/06/2008 15:02
Only done batting practice so far but the graphics are pretty sick! Love the concept... especially the free part!

Waiting on MLB the Show review as well...
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 03/06/2008 15:21
@Corak, Madden4Life: Actually, I will be reviewing MLB 2K8 — I don’t have MLB 08: The Show (even though I really want it), and I don’t have the funds to pick it up myself. We’re working on getting Sony to send me a copy...but I don’t know how successful we’re going to be in that regard.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 03/06/2008 17:02
I'm sorry, baseball games are slow enough when you play all of the positions... I don't know if this was really the right choice. besides, GRIFBALL is the only sport left!
Dorin's Avatar
Dorin at 03/06/2008 17:56
who the hell is Samit Sarkar?
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 03/06/2008 19:11
Wait, Netamin? This isn't even a new game, it's a rebranding of a game they released YEARS ago. And god I wanted to like it, but the actual game was a Korean outsourced fucking mess.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 03/06/2008 21:25
Wow, he looks really...enthusiastic.
BlackSunEmpire's Avatar
BlackSunEmpire at 03/07/2008 02:45
Aren't 'clean' baseball players the ones that can afford (or play for teams that can afford) to buy the less detectable steroids/growth inducers. You don't get into the hall of fame without performance enhancers.

Lets put it this way, you would be an idiot not to use them if every one else is and they don't test for them. Even if you do have a heart attack aged 40.
Orionsaint's Avatar
Orionsaint at 03/07/2008 03:42
Do we really need a sports game with the title REAL in front of it in 2008? The whole titling sports games - real sports, real football, real baseball, real soccer craze went out with the 80's
AsphaltCowboy816's Avatar
AsphaltCowboy816 at 03/10/2008 19:05
It really is pretty cool. I spent the whole weekend playing it and I'm one level from making it to the minors. Sure there are a few bugs and it's a little glitchy at times, but it's fun, it's FREE, and it's baseball. What more could you ask for?
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 03/18/2008 21:00
[i]
Sure there are a few bugs and it's a little glitchy at times, but it's fun, it's FREE, and it's baseball. What more could you ask for?[/i]

well in my case that would be no bugs, not glitchy and especially NOT baseball :-)

sorry guys, don't see the fun in that sport :-) (except the 'hitting homeruns' on WiiSports )
blacklaw's Avatar
blacklaw at 04/04/2008 18:33
Actually, I agree that the game does have a few flaws, but it does have its good side. They have tournaments, leagues, prizes, virtual trophies, HR-derby, and skills mode. You can create your own character and join teams and go head to head against other teams in team-structured environments. They feature a complete stat-tracking engine that depicts your personal character progression giving you the opportunity to earn a spot on their virtual leader-board. If you only have a half hour of time you can jump right into live competition featuring the quick play mode and get in a few innings of game time
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