MLB Inside Pitch 2003

• Release Date: May 20, 2003
• Genre: Sports
• Style: Baseball
• Similar Games: World Series Baseball 2K3 (Xbox), All-Star Baseball 2004 (Xbox), MVP Baseball 2003 (Xbox), High Heat Major League Baseball 2004 (Xbox)

Game Description

The first online baseball game released for home consoles, Inside Pitch 2003 is the start of a new sports franchise by Microsoft Game Studios. The most noteworthy difference between Inside Pitch and its peers is the full support of Xbox Live for one-on-one competition, tracked won-loss records, viewable batting and pitching stats, and voice communication. Online functionality also enables players to download the latest roster updates or even completely new stadiums and save them to the hard drive for future games.

In addition to such traditional options as Practice, Single Game, Season, Playoffs, and the Home Run Derby, Inside Pitch features a mode called Championship Challenges, where players try their hand at re-creating or changing actual events culled from the 2002 season. Challenges include Barry Bonds' pursuit of 600 home runs, Derek Lowe's no-hitter, Craig Biggio hitting for the cycle, breaking the tie at the 2002 All-Star Game, and more. Completing these challenges earns players points for use on created athletes.

These created superstars can also develop their skills by participating in the Training Tracks, a competition offering a series of seven fielding drills, five pitching drills, and six hitting drills in a choice of stadiums. Other features designed to set Inside Pitch apart from similar titles include real-time scoreboard animations and on-field memorials dedicated to milestones achieved during the season. More than 300 player faces were scanned to create an air of authenticity to the visual presentation, and an assortment of signature stances and pitching deliveries were re-created in motion-capture sessions headed by cover star Nomar Garciaparra.

World Series broadcasters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver handle the play-by-play and color commentary, respectively, with over 25,000 lines of dialogue recorded specifically for the game. Inside Pitch 2003 also supports the Xbox's custom soundtrack feature for the music that plays in the stadium. Now players can select any of the songs stored on the Xbox hard drive, determine a starting and ending point, and have them echo through the stadium's PA System whenever their favorite hitters stroll out to the plate.

Review: Overall

Despite being the only Xbox baseball game to feature online play, Inside Pitch is the worst offering released in 2003, which is more a statement about the class of competition rather than a criticism of Microsoft's first baseball title. Put simply, it's minor league quality in a genre brimming with major league talent. The hitting, pitching, and fielding are merely passable in this game, getting the job done with little flash or style. Online competition is a plus, but should players accept the lack of a franchise mode or any other compelling feature?

The visuals do not make a strong impression, with grainy, washed out stadiums with little to no animation other than a flickering Jumbotron. Faces lack detail and are difficult to recognize even if you know the athletes they are supposed to be representing. Batting stances are somewhat close for certain players, and completely off the mark with others. Moreover, each player seems to have the same uppercut swing animation whenever they let the lumber fly. Also missing is the pizzazz of a television broadcast; there are no pop-up graphics, player cards, or the slick menus you'd expect to see during a sports game.

The fielding camera is typical of a rookie baseball title -- instead of showing the entire throw from third to first base, for example, the game uses cut-scenes to create a false sense of excitement. Thus, a throw from the left side of the diamond will instantly switch to a view behind the first baseman as he waits to catch it. The problem with this system is you never see how fast or how hard a player can throw in relation to a runner's speed. As a result, the fielding seems disjointed, like you aren't actually on the field. It's an unnecessary shortcut.

The batter-pitcher interface relies on timing instead of manipulating cursors. Unfortunately, pitches don't feel like they have any weight behind them, and there's not much freedom in positioning the ball over the plate. Instead of aiming a cursor anywhere you want, players must instead point to one of nine areas in the strike zone and the pitcher will throw to that zone. You have to choose whether the pitch is going to be a strike or ball beforehand, but computer batters rarely, if ever, swing at anything off the plate. There's also no way to influence velocity or break on pitches, so what you see is what you get.

Other problems emerge once the ball is put into play. Throws are sluggish, which dramatically affects the number of double plays you'll see, with most ground balls turning into fielder's choices. There are hiccups in the frame rate during dives, which are overdone in the realism department -- players will cover huge amounts of field faster than they would by running. There's no option for power throws, slide catches, or anything else to make Inside Pitch more interesting. Physics are also suspect, with the ball behaving in strange and mysterious ways once it leaves the bat. Don't expect to see a variety of different hits or expect batters to foul off pitches even if you jam them in at the hands -- the location of the ball on the bat doesn't seem to matter.

The one bright spot in an otherwise dull game is the sound. Tim McCarver and Joe Buck do a fine job in announcing (although there are some noticeable pauses before player names are mentioned), but they aren't the highlight. The true standout is the atmosphere in each stadium, with vendors hawking their wares, individual fans yelling out things like "You can do it Red Sawx" or "Take 'em deep, Nomie G" that are specific to where you happen to be playing. The constant activity in the sound mix is so well done that it helps draw you into the game even when the visuals or on-field action fail to excite.

Modes of play are lacking. There's no minor league system, ability to perform uneven trades, or the chance to create custom teams, but there is a fantasy draft option and an interesting create player system that involves boosting stats by going through some drills. The Championship Challenges are fun but extremely short and there are no meaningful rewards for completing them. Some are extremely difficult -- such as hitting four home runs in a limited number of at bats -- while others are easy -- just hitting one home run as Barry Bonds. Rather than play out a full game, players are given one at-bat after another without hesitation. It would have been more interesting if the scenario mode consisted of 30 consecutive games instead of 30 brief achievements.

Inside Pitch has the basic elements of baseball covered, but that's about it. Had the game been released during the system's launch date, more leeway could have been given for its shortcomings. As it stands, there's nothing here that hasn't already been done by any of the other baseball games released in 2003, with the lone exception of online play. Players are recommended to skip this initial outing from Microsoft, whose first pitch ends up sailing low and away instead of catching the inside corner for a strike.

Review: Enjoyment

Inside Pitch suffers from an engine that doesn't do anything new and different to distinguish itself from other baseball games.

Review: Graphics

Player models lack the clarity and definition one expects from an Xbox game, and stadiums look faded.

Review: Sound

Buck will say things like "He demolished that like a disco record in Old Comiskey" and McCarver is his usual hyperactive self. The stadium activity with vendors, hecklers, and fans is excellent.

Review: Replay Value

While online play is smooth and supports voice, the action is dull. The scenarios are short and can be completed within a few hours, and the lack of franchise play is disappointing.

Review: Documentation

The color manual is well organized and clearly spells out each phase of the game, including hitting, pitching, and fielding. Numerous tips help make things easier for those new to the sport.

Production Credits

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