Triple Play Baseball
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Triple Play Baseball
| image = Triple Play 2001 cover art.jpg
| developer = Treyarch
| publisher = EA Sports
| platforms = PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows
| released = Windows{{vgrelease|NA|March 6, 2001}}PlayStation, PlayStation 2{{vgrelease|NA|March 13, 2001{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/27/triple-play-baseball-6|title=Triple Play Baseball (Preview)|first=David|last=Zdyrko|date=January 26, 2001|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926053950/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/27/triple-play-baseball-6|archive-date=September 26, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=December 22, 2023}}}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single player, multiplayer
}}
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 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/triple-play-baseball-review/1900-2699768/|title=Triple Play Baseball Review (PS2) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]|last=MacDonald|first=Ryan|date=March 21, 2001|website=GameSpot|publisher=Fandom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010405160958/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2699768,00.html|archive-date=April 5, 2001|url-status=live|access-date=July 2, 2020}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| PC = true
| PS = true
| PS2 = true
| na = true
| MC_PC = 58/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/triple-play-baseball/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Triple Play Baseball critic reviews (PC)|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015172952/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/triple-play-baseball|archive-date=October 15, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=December 22, 2023}}
| Allgame_PC = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=33338&tab=review|title=Triple Play Baseball (PC) - Review|first=Shawn|last=Nicholls|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115004332/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=33338&tab=review|archive-date=November 15, 2014|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
| CGSP_PC = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/046/tripplaybb-01.html|title=Triple Play Baseball|first=Todd|last=Brakke|date=March 22, 2001|website=Computer Games Strategy Plus|publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030525190216/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/046/tripplaybb-01.html|archive-date=May 25, 2003|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
| CGW_PC = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_203.pdf|title=Triple Play Baseball|first=George|last=Jones|magazine=Computer Gaming World|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=203|date=June 2001|page=98|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530175613/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_203.pdf|archive-date=May 30, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2023}}
| EGM_PS = 6.5/10{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0d/EGM_US_142.pdf|title=Triple Play 2001 [sic] (PS)|first1=Kraig|last1=Kujawa|first2=Dean|last2=Hager|first3=Dan|last3=Leahy|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=142|date=May 2001|page=107|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008152015/https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0d/EGM_US_142.pdf|archive-date=October 8, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2023}}{{efn|Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 7.5/10, 7/10, and 5/10.}}
| EGM_PS2 = 7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/01/EGM_US_143.pdf|title=Triple Play Baseball (PS2)|first1=Dan|last1=Leahy|first2=Kraig|last2=Kujawa|first3=Dean|last3=Hager|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=143|date=June 2001|page=109|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415012653/https://retrocdn.net/images/0/01/EGM_US_143.pdf|archive-date=April 15, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2023}}{{efn|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.}}
| EPD_PC = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5647&full=1|title=Triple Play Baseball (PC)|first=Chris|last=Zimmerman|date=April 26, 2001|website=The Electric Playground|publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030115220022/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5647&full=1|archive-date=January 15, 2003|access-date=December 23, 2023}}
| GI_PS = 7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-96-april-2001/page/74/mode/2up|title=Triple Play Baseball (PS)|first=Andrew|last=Reiner|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=FuncoLand|issue=96|date=April 2001|page=74|access-date=February 13, 2025}}
| GameRev_PS = C+{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34220-triple-play-baseball-review|title=Triple Play Baseball Review (PS)|author=Joe|date=March 2001|website=GameRevolution|publisher=CraveOnline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928230342/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/triple-play-baseball|archive-date=September 28, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
| GSpy_PC = 70%{{cite web|url=http://www.sportplanet.com/features/reviews/tpbb/pc/|title=Triple Play Baseball (PC)|first=Shawn|last=Quigley|date=March 16, 2001|website=SportPlanet|publisher=IGN Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021226153034/http://www.sportplanet.com/features/reviews/tpbb/pc/|archive-date=December 26, 2002|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
| GSpy_PS2 = 87%{{cite web|url=http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/tripleplaybb/|title=Triple Play Baseball|first=Shawn|last=Quigley|date=March 26, 2001|website=PlanetPS2|publisher=IGN Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010605075756/http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/tripleplaybb/|archive-date=June 5, 2001|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
| NGen_PS = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen78Jun2001/page/n87/mode/2up|title=Triple Play Baseball (PS)|first=Rob|last=Smolka|magazine=NextGen|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=78|date=June 2001|page=87|access-date=July 2, 2020}}
| NGen_PS2 = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen79Jul2001/page/n83/mode/2up|title=Triple Play Baseball (PS2)|first=Daniel|last=Erickson|magazine=NextGen|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=79|date=July 2001|page=82|access-date=July 2, 2020}}
| OPM_PS = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-44-may-2001/page/102/mode/2up|title=Triple Play Baseball (PS)|first=Todd|last=Zuniga|magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=44|date=May 2001|page=103|access-date=December 23, 2023}}
| PCGUS_PC = 40%{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/triple_play_bas.html|title=Triple Play Baseball|first=Rob|last=Smolka|magazine=PC Gamer|publisher=Imagine Media|volume=8|issue=6|date=June 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315132624/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/triple_play_bas.html|archive-date=March 15, 2006|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
| rev1 = Maxim
| rev1_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=901|title=Triple Play Baseball (PS2)|first=Ryan|last=Boyce|date=March 13, 2001|magazine=Maxim|publisher=MaximNet, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417085749/http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=901|archive-date=April 17, 2001|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
| rev2 = Playboy
| rev2_PS2 = 80%{{cite magazine|url=http://www.playboy.com/sports/games/tripleplay/index.html|title=Triple Play Baseball (PS2)|first=Kraig|last=Kujawa|year=2001|magazine=Playboy|publisher=Playboy Enterprises|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020510040403/http://www.playboy.com/sports/games/tripleplay/index.html|archive-date=May 10, 2002|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
}}
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. 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." 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." 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3323980,00.html|title=PS2 Baseball Roundup|first=Glenn|last=Rubenstein|date=April 27, 2001|website=Extended Play|publisher=TechTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020210220239/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3323980,00.html|archive-date=February 10, 2002|access-date=July 2, 2020}}
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."{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cc/GamePro_US_152.pdf|title=Triple Play Cranks Out a Strong PlayStation Finale|author=Air Hendrix|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|issue=152|date=May 2001|page=82|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041119044211/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/11996.shtml|archive-date=November 19, 2004|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2023}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.}} However, he also said, "The PS2 pennant race is still on, but Triple Play sure isn't one of the contenders."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/12584.shtml|title=Triple Play Stumbles Toward PS2's First Base|author=Air Hendrix|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|issue=152|date=May 2001|page=81|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041208234813/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/12584.shtml|archive-date=December 8, 2004|access-date=July 3, 2020}}{{efn|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.}}
{{clear}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/4353/triple-play-baseball/}}
{{Baseball video games by Electronic Arts}}
{{Treyarch}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:North America-exclusive video games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:Triple Play video games