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Backyard Baseball ’01 releasing on Steam & mobile devices July 8th

CHICAGO – June 30, 2025 – Following the chart-topping success of the relaunch of Backyard Baseball ’97, Playground Productions will launch Backyard Baseball ‘01 on July 8th on Steam and mobile devices. As part of the announcement, 28 of the original 31 MLB Pros are returning to the game including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Cal Ripken, Jr.  Mega Cat Studios, which developed the other Backyard games relaunched over the past year with Playground Productions, will develop ’01 as well.

Similar to the remastered ’97 game, the 2001 relaunch will include the classic gameplay for touch and modern PC controls. Backyard Baseball ‘01 will include official MLB marks, including usage of individual team logos, names and likeness.

“We’re honored to partner with MLB to bring this iconic game to modern gaming devices for the first time. Backyard Baseball ‘01 was a game-changer in many ways—introducing some of the sport’s biggest legends into the Backyard universe,” said Lindsay Barnett, CEO, Playground Productions. “We can’t wait for fans to relive the joy of building their dream team with both our beloved original characters and baseball’s greatest pros from that unforgettable era.”

“Backyard Baseball stands out with a special place in so many fans’ memories thanks to its endearing qualities and features that were especially rare for a video game of its time. We are really excited to play a small part in authenticating this revitalization with MLB marks and look forward to the full circle moment where those who played this beloved game as children can bring it to a new generation in their families and friends,” said Jamie Leece, MLB’s Senior Vice President, Gaming & Virtual Reality.

The news comes on the heels of Playground Productions’ announcement in mid-June that Backyard Baseball ’97 is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS5. In October, Playground relaunched Backyard Baseball ’97, which quickly became a global top selling sports game on Steam, and in November, the company re-launched “Backyard Soccer ’98 on Steam.”  In March, Baseball ’97 launched on mobile in iOS and Android as the #1 game in sports, family and kids games on the iOS app store for paid games.

Contact: 

For Playground Productions and Interview Requests:

Brandon Shaw 

Brandon@BShawCommunications.com

For Review Requests:

Frank DiPersio

PR Manager, Mega Cat Studios

Frank@megacatstudios.com

Backyard Baseball ’97 now available on Nintendo Switch and PS5

CHICAGO, June 12th, 2025 – Children’s and family entertainment company Playground Productions today announced the long-awaited console debut of “Backyard Baseball ’97.” The widely beloved game that teed up a generation of kid-powered sports entertainment will be available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 beginning June 12th. 

Following recent chart-topping success on Steam, Android, and iOS devices—where the game hit #1 across multiple categories and was named an Apple editorial pick—the console release continues Playground Productions’ mission to preserve and celebrate the nostalgic fun of the original Backyard Sports titles. The June launch marks a major milestone as Backyard Baseball ’97 is brought to console for the first time. 

“Whether you grew up playing on a family desktop or are just discovering the magic for the first time, this game’s pick-up-and-play charm, funny characters, and nostalgic art style remain unrivaled,” said Lindsay Barnett, CEO of Playground Productions, which owns Backyard Sports, in announcing the launch. “It’s an incredible retro game that celebrates the joy of play, and we’re proud to bring it to kids and families everywhere – in the living room or on the go.”
 

To celebrate Backyard Baseball 97’s console debut, publisher Playground Productions and Mega Cat Studios have released a new trailer, offering a front-row seat to the nostalgic action. Watch the Backyard Baseball ’97 console announcement trailer here for Switch and here for PlayStation


Remastering the original Backyard Baseball game to modern devices was no walk in the ballpark, as the team did not have the source code from the original game. Developer Mega Cat Studios, alongside a dedicated team of passionate fans, made the impossible possible earlier this year – unlocking the game through reverse engineering of the source code for modern console play. 

“For 28 years, this game has held a singular place in sports and game-lovers’ hearts,” said James Deighan, Founder and CEO, Mega Cat Studios. “To be able to bring this game back to life for the modern gamer, to expand the base of those who enjoy playing it, and to have those two audiences play together is a privilege and a pleasure for all of us. We’re excited to bring this to continually new audiences.”

For more information on the launch and Backyard Sports, visit Playground-Productions.com or follow @playground.productions. 


Contact: 

For Playground Productions and Interview Requests:


Brandon Shaw 

Brandon@BShawCommunications.com

For Review Requests:

Frank DiPersio

PR Manager, Mega Cat Studios

Frank@megacatstudios.com

Golf Club: Wasteland

This is no ordinary golfing game: it’s a surrealist post-apocalyptic golfing game.

You walk and jetpack your way around the remainders of life on earth as you play ball.

To be released on September 3 by the publisher Demagog Studio on Steam.

The story of Earth’s last hurrah is told from multiple points of view, building as the game progresses.

The Game has 3 different modes, from casual to expert.

The art style has a dream-like vibe, with the haziness and destruction of the background fitting perfectly with the depopulated planet that used to be our own

From the Steam Page

Blaseball’s Boom

Musicals and Music video, fan animations and artwork…. for a fantasy baseball browser game?

It’s indeed the case!

Blaseball is an absurdist online baseball game that was split into “seasons” (a la Apex Legends) with a rulebook with chunks that are redacted for the player. There’s a shop with in-game items purchased with in-game money won by backing teams, similar to various irl fantasy leagues.

The trick with this game is the unusual stats, the ability for you (as a player) to vote on actions of the teams or rules of the game, and “blessings” (random powerups) get randomly assigned to the blaseball players on the teams, like “performance enhancing demons” and “bloodlust”.

The trick is both in choice making, and knowing the players enough to decide which teams to bet on.

For fans, the joy is in the story telling, the characters, the competition, and the eagerness of waiting for your team to win.

Rocket League

Rocket league was originally released for Microsoft Windows and PS4 on July 7th of 2015 by the California-based game studio Psyonix. Over the years, the game has been released on various other platforms including Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Mac, and even Linux. Last September, Rocket League became free-to-play, opening access to the widest range of players as possible. There are tens of millions of people around the world that have played this game. As time progressed, there have been plenty of cosmetic additions and ways to personalize your vehicle. However, the core gameplay has remained unchanged. The game still remains as simple yet intensely competitive as ever.

There are tons of gamemodes in Rocket League. You can go head to head or play in teams. There are many other rules that can be changed as well.

The Soccer of the Future

What exactly is Rocket League? Ultimately, it’s a futuristic sports game where rocket-powered cars are trying to push a ball into a goal, similar to soccer. During gameplay, the player(s) control the vehicle and utilize a robust physics system to try to outmaneuver their opponent(s) and score on them. Rocket League’s advanced physics system simulates realistic  interactions between the cars and the ball. Momentum and mass are relevant factors during collisions and it can take a great deal of skill and experience to truly master the game. Let alone the tons of additions to the game through free updates and DLC, there was already a great deal of singleplayer and multiplayer content in the base game during its release. Season mode takes the player through a singleplayer campaign where they can unlock customizations for their vehicle and new playable maps. You can also play online in many different types of matches that uniquely fit with the playstyle of your choosing.

Some of the DLC add very well-made customization options, like this Batmobile.

GOOOOOOOOOAL

There are two major reasons that Rocket League has stood the test of time. Firstly, the long-standing interest that has been captured by the online gaming community has played a big role in the game’s continued focus from Psyonix. Several thousands of players have spent countless hours competing in the ranked mode to climb the very competitive ladder to the top. There is still a very dedicated fanbase for this game over five years after its release date. Secondly, the stream of updates and DLC for Rocket League has kept people checking in to see what’s new. The full list of free updates and DLC is very expansive and broad. Generally, they add a wide variety of customization options and new game modes. Through partnerships with other brands like DC Comics, How Wheels, and the NFL just to name a few, there are tons of ways for a player to personalize their vehicle. There are also a wide variety of maps and gamemodes that keep gameplay fresh and interesting. If you’ve never tried the game out, now is the perfect time. Considering it’s free-to-play and been refined for years, there’s plenty of fun content to be enjoyed.

#RocketLeague

Chris Jones Gaming

Best Selling Games

Best Selling Games – All Platforms – 28 Nov 2020

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2020 UKIE Ltd

Chris Jones Gaming
Chris Jones Gaming
Chris Jones Gaming
NHL 19

NHL 19

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

14th September 2018 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) has released EA SPORTS™ NHL® 19, introducing players to the World of CHEL where you compete in the great outdoors and journey from the pond to the pros. Powered by the revolutionary RPM Tech gameplay technology, NHL ® 19 delivers all-new skating and collision physics systems that make gameplay look, feel and play much better. Over 200 playable hockey Legends gives you a chance to compete with and against the greatest players to ever lace up the skates.

“NHL ® 19 is the first time we’ve been able to build and deliver an experience that spans beyond the pros and lets fans enjoy all forms of hockey

– from frozen parking lot ponds, to big outdoor festivals, all the way up to the arenas of the pros,” said Sean Ramjagsingh, Senior Producer, NHL ® 19. “We’re also incredibly excited about the level of innovation that RPM Tech adds to gameplay, which we were able to gather incredible feedback around during our Open Beta to ensure that NHL ® 19 is the best-playing EA SPORTS NHL game we’ve ever built.”

In NHL ® 19, you compete on outdoor ponds under a unified progression hub called World of CHEL that unites EA SPORTS Hockey League, NHL® THREES Drop-In and two new game modes, NHL® ONES and Pro-Am. NHL® ONES pits three players against each other in a festival-like king of the hill tournament featuring fast-paced, 1v1v1, free-for-all fun, with no rules and no stoppages. Players win games to rank up to new outdoor locations and defend their position on daily leaderboards. Progression and rewards earned in World of CHEL can be applied to each player’s Create-A-Character, allowing them to personalise their gameplay with new player traits and abilities, as well as express their individuality with over 900 new customisation items.

The Technology

At the core of NHL 19 is cutting-edge Real Player Motion (RPM) Technology in gameplay, which redefines the way movement and animations are showcased. Influenced by speed and creativity in today’s game, RPM Tech enables explosive-edge skating, giving players more control, faster acceleration and more responsiveness as they move up and down the ice, creating the most responsive gameplay in franchise history. RPM Tech is paired with a new collision physics system that introduces more contextual body-checking, bringing bigger, badder, jaw-dropping hits that are dynamic based on speed, size and point of impact.

Legends

In NHL 19, You can pay homage to the hockey’s stars of the past with the inclusion of Legends, featuring over 200 of the greatest players from all eras, including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Patrick Roy, Teemu Selanne, Peter Forsberg, Jean Beliveau and more. Players can compete as Hero Teams that combine squads of superstars from the past and present for an ultimate fantasy matchup. Play with the best of the best from all eras in both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Hockey culture shines in NHL 19 as players can create unique looks with lifestyle gear and apparel for the first time. Hoodies, jackets, parkas, winter knits, and more are available to wear on the ponds, including authentic apparel from brands like Adidas.

EA SPORTS, Battlefield, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

Collegiate Esports

Collegiate Esports

Collegiate Starleague

Collegiate Esports Players Competing for Over $100,000 in Scholarships at 2018 Grand Finals

Los Angeles CA: April 19, 2018 – The Collegiate StarLeague (CSL) is excited to announce the top teams competing at the 2018 North American Grand Finals on April 28-29. The two day tournament will take place at Ultimate Media Ventures in Huntington Beach, California and will feature top collegiate esports players from across North America competing for more than $100,000 in scholarships.

The finalists include teams from:

  • Dota 2 : McMaster University, Rochester Institute of Technology, UC Davis and Stony Brook University
  • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive : Virginia Commonwealth University, Robert Morris University, CUNY Baruch and UCLA
  • League of Legends: Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, Robert Morris University and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

The event features a first-of-its-kind collegiate Fortnite tournament, an Overwatch invitational, Vainglory invitation, open beta access to Quake Champions and Super Smash Bros for Wii U and Melee West Divisionals. Guests can also experience a speaker series, meet and greet and a collegiate gaming festival with music, food and entertainment.

Twitch, through the Twitch Student program, will be the exclusive streaming and distribution partner for the Grand Finals.

For more information, or to follow the live action, see www.cstarleague.com .

About The Collegiate StarLeague 
Collegiate StarLeague, a division of WorldGaming, is the world’s largest collegiate gaming league.  Since 2009, it has awarded over $400,000 in scholarship money to student gamers from around the world.  It has over 38,000 registered players across 1,500 registered schools.  For more information, visit www.cstarleague.com

GaryVee

GaryVee wants to buy the NY Jets

GaryVee Buy The Jets?

This is old news – but relevant nonetheless. You may know that Entrepreneur Investor GaryVee, or, Gary Vaynerchuk, has an ambition to own the NY Jets. He says he does not care whether or not he actually buys them, he just loves the climb. This guy is cool.

Here are his words.

 

gamesweekberlin

GamesWeekBerlin

Play The Game! #gamesweekberlin 2018 from 23 – 29 April is expecting around 15,000 visitors..

GAMESWEEKBERLIN, 17 April, 2018.

Berlin is poised to become the capital of the games world: around 15,000 visitors are expected to attend #gamesweekberlin 2018 which will kick off Monday (23 April) with the Opening Gala and the presentation of the newly created Medienpreis Games at Säälchen (Holzmarktstr. 25) in Berlin. Twelve individual events for both gaming enthusiasts and representatives of the games industry are gathered under the umbrella brand which combines different aspects, subjects and target groups of the sector.

gamesweekberlin

Berlin as the city with the highest concentration of games companies in Germany is the ideal venue for #gamesweekberlin. An indication of the popularity of games in Germany is shown by the most recent figures from game, the association of the German games industry. In 2017, the German games market posted growth of 15% to more than 3.3 billion Euros turnover and thus surpassed the 3 billion Euros mark for the first time.

#gamesweekberlin is SEVEN DAYS PACKED WITH EVENTS DEDICATED TO GAMING, BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT.

At a press conference on 16 April, 2018, the organisers and partners of #gamesweekberlin introduced the extensive and wide-ranging programme of the twelve events, presented the latest figures for the sector, and also launched the new English-language platform „Games Capital Berlin“ (www.gamescapitalberlin ) which serves as an important information tool for the German and international games industry to provide information about Berlin in its role as a games hub.

eSports and More

Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin: “I hope the participants of the #gamesweekberlin will have exciting events and a good time in Berlin. The field of games is part of our city’s great innovative potential and has significantly gained in importance in recent years. This has also resulted in Berlin developing, among other things, into an important hub for eSports. But the games industry is not just about entertainment. It is also an important economic factor: according to a study commissioned by the Senate, Berlin is currently home to 140 companies in the games sector with more than 2,000 employees and 250 million Euros turnover. Berlin offers good conditions for games companies.“

Michael Liebe, CEO Booster Space & Head of #gamesweekberlin: „Ever since #gamesweekberlin was founded, we have been pursuing the goal of connecting business, technology and culture through the umbrella brand. As the organiser, we would like to see the various players meeting one another during this week and forging new contacts. The participants of the individual events may have different goals and backgrounds, but the subject of games provides a common ground for creating networks and enabling partnerships to grow. The  #gamesweekberlin brings people together!“

The Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg supports #gamesweekberlin and several of its individual events. More information and tickets at www.gamesweekberlin.com .

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gamesweekberlin
Twitter: @gamesweekberlin, #gamesweekberlin

Sponsoring Partner: Kickstarter, King, game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche, Ubisoft Berlin / Ubisoft Blue Byte, Unreal Engine

So much more information and event details HERE!

Among Other Things..

 

GamesWeekBerlin
GamesWeekBerlin

Gaming News and the Ultimate Universe