Triple Play Baseball

Summary

Triple Play Baseball is a baseball sports game released for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows in 2001. It would be the last game in the Triple Play series released for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows, but was the first game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 2. The game features Oakland Athletics first baseman Jason Giambi on the cover.

Triple Play Baseball
Developer(s)Treyarch
Publisher(s)EA Sports
Platform(s)PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseWindows
  • NA: March 4, 2001
PlayStation, PlayStation 2
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Triple Play Baseball was the first and only game in the triple play baseball series not to feature a year on the title. The new game featured a robust "create a player" option and Big League Challenge Mode. The players can play a single player game, a full season, playoffs, or Home Run Derby. Team selection and transfers come under player control. On the PS1 version, Jim Hughson and Buck Martinez provide the commentary, while on PS2 version it is Sean McDonough.

Singer Vitamin C provided motion capture for the video game, which featured her cover of The Waitresses' song "I Know What Boys Like".[2]

Reception edit

The PlayStation version received "generally favorable reviews", while the PC and PS2 versions received "mixed or average reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4][5] Rob Smolka of NextGen said of the former console version in its June 2001 issue: "EA Sports dropped the year from the title, but little else has changed for this final version for the original PlayStation."[28] Daniel Erickson later said in the magazine's July 2001 issue that the latter console version was "drop-dead gorgeous and fun at parties, but it'll disappoint sim fans to no end."[29] Glenn Rubestein of Extended Play gave the same console version all five stars and said it was "the game to own this season. Its graphical prowess and full range of features make it the most complete title on the market. EA Sports' commitment to quality really shines through, offering one of the best baseball games ever seen on any home console system."[35]

Air Hendrix of GamePro said of the PlayStation version, "If you've already played Triple Play 2001 to death, that means there's no reason to upgrade unless you're a consummate fan. But if you haven't bought a new PlayStation baseball game in a while, this is the real deal, delivering the fast-paced, action-filled baseball that is Triple Play's trademark."[36][c] However, he also said, "The PS2 pennant race is still on, but Triple Play sure isn't one of the contenders."[37][d]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 7.5/10, 7/10, and 5/10.
  2. ^ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the PlayStation 2 version, one critic gave it 6/10, and the rest gave it each a score of 7.5/10.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.
  4. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version 4/5 for graphics, 4.5/5 for sound, and two 3/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References edit

  1. ^ Zdyrko, David (January 26, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b MacDonald, Ryan (March 21, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball Review (PS2) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 5, 2001. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Triple Play Baseball critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Triple Play Baseball critic reviews (PS)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Triple Play Baseball critic reviews (PS2)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Nicholls, Shawn. "Triple Play Baseball (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  7. ^ Carroll, Tom. "Triple Play Baseball (PS2) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Brakke, Todd (March 22, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 25, 2003. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Jones, George (June 2001). "Triple Play Baseball" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 203. Ziff Davis. p. 98. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean; Leahy, Dan (May 2001). "Triple Play 2001 [sic] (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 142. Ziff Davis. p. 107. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Leahy, Dan; Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (June 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 143. Ziff Davis. p. 109. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Zimmerman, Chris (April 26, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PC)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on January 15, 2003. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Zimmerman, Chris (April 23, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PSX)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on January 15, 2003. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Zimmerman, Chris (May 3, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on January 9, 2003. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Triple Play Baseball (PS)". Game Informer. No. 96. FuncoLand. April 2001.
  16. ^ "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 97. FuncoLand. May 2001.
  17. ^ Joe (March 2001). "Triple Play Baseball Review (PS)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  18. ^ Todd, Brett (March 8, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 31, 2001. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  19. ^ MacDonald, Ryan (March 7, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 12, 2001. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  20. ^ Quigley, Shawn (March 16, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PC)". SportPlanet. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 26, 2002. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  21. ^ Quigley, Shawn (March 26, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball". PlanetPS2. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 5, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  22. ^ Lafferty, Michael (April 19, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PC)". GameZone. Archived from the original on July 19, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  23. ^ Lafferty, Michael (March 23, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PSX)". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 17, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  24. ^ Krause, Kevin (March 27, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball Review - PlayStation 2". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  25. ^ Morrissey, Mike (March 16, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  26. ^ Zdyrko, David (March 6, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  27. ^ Zdyrko, David (March 13, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Smolka, Rob (June 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS)". NextGen. No. 78. Imagine Media. p. 87. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  29. ^ a b Erickson, Daniel (July 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)". NextGen. No. 79. Imagine Media. p. 82. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  30. ^ Zuniga, Todd (May 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 44. Ziff Davis. p. 103. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  31. ^ Zuniga, Todd (June 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 45. Ziff Davis. p. 99. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  32. ^ Smolka, Rob (June 2001). "Triple Play Baseball". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 6. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  33. ^ Boyce, Ryan (March 13, 2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)". Maxim. Biglari Holdings. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  34. ^ Kujawa, Kraig (2001). "Triple Play Baseball (PS2)". Playboy. Playboy Enterprises. Archived from the original on May 10, 2002. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  35. ^ Rubenstein, Glenn (April 27, 2001). "PS2 Baseball Roundup". Extended Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on February 10, 2002. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  36. ^ Air Hendrix (May 2001). "Triple Play Cranks Out a Strong PlayStation Finale" (PDF). GamePro. No. 152. IDG. p. 82. Archived from the original on November 19, 2004. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  37. ^ Air Hendrix (May 2001). "Triple Play Stumbles Toward PS2's First Base". GamePro. No. 152. IDG. p. 81. Archived from the original on December 8, 2004. Retrieved July 3, 2020.

External links edit