Backyard Sports: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
2026 is the expected release date. It could be delayed to the next year for all we know. Likely not, but just in case, I think we should say "expected" instead of "set". |
Backyard Baseball '01 is confirmed to release before Football '99 as the former has been announced for a summer release, while the latter has been announced for an autumn release. |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
}} | }} | ||
|genre = [[Sports video game|Sports]] | |genre = [[Sports video game|Sports]] | ||
|platforms = [[Windows]], [[Mac (computer)|Mac]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[GameCube]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[Wii]], [[Xbox 360]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]] | |platforms = [[Windows]], [[Mac (computer)|Mac]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[GameCube]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[Wii]], [[Xbox 360]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Nintendo Switch]] | ||
|creator = | |creator = | ||
|first release version = ''[[Backyard Baseball (video game)|Backyard Baseball]]'' | |first release version = ''[[Backyard Baseball (video game)|Backyard Baseball]]'' | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===1997–2005: Under Humongous Entertainment=== | ===1997–2005: Under Humongous Entertainment=== | ||
The series began in late 1997 when [[Humongous Entertainment]], owned by [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|GT Interactive]], created the first game in the franchise: ''[[Backyard Baseball]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1996-07-11|title=COMPANY NEWS;GT INTERACTIVE ACQUIRES HUMONGOUS ENTERTAINMENT (Published 1996)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/11/business/company-news-gt-interactive-acquires-humongous-entertainment.html|access-date=2020-12-31|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Later, GT Interactive was purchased by [[Infogrames]] and was renamed as Infogrames, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Infogrames Entertainment S.A.|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/infogrames-entertainment-s-a-history/|access-date=2020-12-31|website=Fundinguniverse.com}}</ref> Infogrames allowed Humongous Entertainment to expand the series, and Humongous later developed more titles such as ''[[Backyard Soccer]]'', ''[[Backyard Football]]'', ''[[Backyard Basketball]]'', ''[[Backyard Hockey]]'', and ''Backyard Skateboarding''. Following the buyout by Infogrames, these titles from the ''Backyard'' series were released for game consoles, including the [[GameCube]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox 360]], and [[Wii]]. In 2003, Infogrames, Inc. was renamed as [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Atari, Inc.]] | The series began in late 1997 when [[Humongous Entertainment]], owned by [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|GT Interactive]], created the first game in the franchise: ''[[Backyard Baseball]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1996-07-11|title=COMPANY NEWS;GT INTERACTIVE ACQUIRES HUMONGOUS ENTERTAINMENT (Published 1996)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/11/business/company-news-gt-interactive-acquires-humongous-entertainment.html|access-date=2020-12-31|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925134248/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/11/business/company-news-gt-interactive-acquires-humongous-entertainment.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later, GT Interactive was purchased by [[Infogrames]] and was renamed as Infogrames, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Infogrames Entertainment S.A.|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/infogrames-entertainment-s-a-history/|access-date=2020-12-31|website=Fundinguniverse.com|archive-date=2019-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508042007/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/infogrames-entertainment-s-a-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> Infogrames allowed Humongous Entertainment to expand the series, and Humongous later developed more titles such as ''[[Backyard Soccer]]'', ''[[Backyard Football]]'', ''[[Backyard Basketball]]'', ''[[Backyard Hockey]]'', and ''Backyard Skateboarding''. Following the buyout by Infogrames, these titles from the ''Backyard'' series were released for game consoles, including the [[GameCube]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox 360]], and [[Wii]]. In 2003, Infogrames, Inc. was renamed as [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Atari, Inc.]] | ||
===2005–2010: Under Humongous, Inc.=== | ===2005–2010: Under Humongous, Inc.=== | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
In July 2013, private equity firm The Evergreen Group bought the ''Backyard Sports'' franchise during the Atari bankruptcy proceedings for its portfolio company, Epic Gear LLC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130724006402/en/Evergreen-Group-Agreed-Acquire-Backyard-Sports-Video/|title = The Evergreen Group Has Agreed to Acquire Backyard Sports Video Game Franchise|website=Businesswire.com|date = 24 July 2013}}</ref> | In July 2013, private equity firm The Evergreen Group bought the ''Backyard Sports'' franchise during the Atari bankruptcy proceedings for its portfolio company, Epic Gear LLC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130724006402/en/Evergreen-Group-Agreed-Acquire-Backyard-Sports-Video/|title = The Evergreen Group Has Agreed to Acquire Backyard Sports Video Game Franchise|website=Businesswire.com|date = 24 July 2013}}</ref> | ||
In February 2014, Day6 Sports Group acquired the franchise from Epic Gear.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA, Day 6 to Reboot Backyard Sports {{!}} License Global |url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/sports/nba-day-6-reboot-backyard-sports |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=www.licenseglobal.com |language=en}}</ref> The company announced to relaunch the franchise in December with ''Backyard Sports NBA Basketball'' for smartphones and tablets, with Golden State Warriors point guard [[Stephen Curry]] as the cover athlete.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srisavasdi |first=Greg |date=2014-12-13 |title=Stephen Curry To Help Re-Launch Backyard Sports Franchise |url=https://deepestdream.com/stephen-curry-to-help-re-launch-backyard-sports-franchise/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Deepest Dream |language=en-US}}</ref> Two mobile games, ''Backyard Sports: Baseball 2015'' and ''Baseball Sports: NBA Basketball 2015'', were released in February 2015, but Day6 did not release any further titles afterward, as the company was acquired by a European investment group in 2016<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kram|first=Zach|date=2017-10-10|title=How 'Backyard Baseball' Became a Cult Classic|url=https://www.theringer.com/features/2017/10/10/16451300/backyard-baseball-20-year-anniversary|access-date=2020-12-31|website=The Ringer|language=en}}</ref> and later went out of business in 2020.<ref name="Time Extension Kelce"/> | In February 2014, Day6 Sports Group acquired the franchise from Epic Gear.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA, Day 6 to Reboot Backyard Sports {{!}} License Global |url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/sports/nba-day-6-reboot-backyard-sports |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=www.licenseglobal.com |language=en}}</ref> The company announced to relaunch the franchise in December with ''Backyard Sports NBA Basketball'' for smartphones and tablets, with Golden State Warriors point guard [[Stephen Curry]] as the cover athlete.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srisavasdi |first=Greg |date=2014-12-13 |title=Stephen Curry To Help Re-Launch Backyard Sports Franchise |url=https://deepestdream.com/stephen-curry-to-help-re-launch-backyard-sports-franchise/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Deepest Dream |language=en-US}}</ref> Two mobile games, ''Backyard Sports: Baseball 2015'' and ''Baseball Sports: NBA Basketball 2015'', were released in February 2015, but Day6 did not release any further titles afterward, as the company was acquired by a European investment group in 2016<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kram|first=Zach|date=2017-10-10|title=How 'Backyard Baseball' Became a Cult Classic|url=https://www.theringer.com/features/2017/10/10/16451300/backyard-baseball-20-year-anniversary|access-date=2020-12-31|website=The Ringer|language=en|archive-date=2024-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007132307/https://www.theringer.com/features/2017/10/10/16451300/backyard-baseball-20-year-anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref> and later went out of business in 2020.<ref name="Time Extension Kelce"/> | ||
In April 2019, Humongous's social media pages tweeted an image of the original ''Junior Sports'' logo, hinting at a possible re-release of the original games and/or the developer having re-secured the rights to the series proper,<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Humongous|author-link=Humongous Entertainment|user=HumongousEnt|number=1119371805787975681|date=April 19, 2019|title=[Image-only tweet; image shows a red exclamation point on a transparent background overlaid with the words "It's Junior Sports" in blue.]|access-date=May 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="barrelrolled-humongous">{{cite web|last=Schmidt|first=Eugene|title=Humongous Entertainment coming to consoles|url=https://barrelrolled.com/humongous-entertainment-coming-to-consoles|website=Barrelrolled|access-date=2019-05-17 |date=2019-04-24|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="dualshockers-humongous">{{cite web|last=Frech|first=Ricky|title=Humongous Entertainment is Bringing Their Collection of 90s Classics to Consoles|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/humongous-entertainment-is-bringing-their-collection-of-90s-classics-to-consoles/|website=DualShockers|access-date=2019-05-17|date=2019-04-24|df=mdy-all}}</ref> but a week prior, Humongous replied to a Twitter post saying that they didn't own the rights to the franchise. | In April 2019, Humongous's social media pages tweeted an image of the original ''Junior Sports'' logo, hinting at a possible re-release of the original games and/or the developer having re-secured the rights to the series proper,<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Humongous|author-link=Humongous Entertainment|user=HumongousEnt|number=1119371805787975681|date=April 19, 2019|title=[Image-only tweet; image shows a red exclamation point on a transparent background overlaid with the words "It's Junior Sports" in blue.]|access-date=May 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="barrelrolled-humongous">{{cite web|last=Schmidt|first=Eugene|title=Humongous Entertainment coming to consoles|url=https://barrelrolled.com/humongous-entertainment-coming-to-consoles|website=Barrelrolled|access-date=2019-05-17 |date=2019-04-24|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="dualshockers-humongous">{{cite web|last=Frech|first=Ricky|title=Humongous Entertainment is Bringing Their Collection of 90s Classics to Consoles|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/humongous-entertainment-is-bringing-their-collection-of-90s-classics-to-consoles/|website=DualShockers|access-date=2019-05-17|date=2019-04-24|df=mdy-all|archive-date=2021-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021225448/https://www.dualshockers.com/humongous-entertainment-is-bringing-their-collection-of-90s-classics-to-consoles/|url-status=live}}</ref> but a week prior, Humongous replied to a Twitter post saying that they didn't own the rights to the franchise. | ||
===2020–present: New ownership and full brand relaunch=== | ===2020–present: New ownership and full brand relaunch=== | ||
After Day6's closure in 2020, the franchise was purchased by Ari Pinchot and Stuart Avi Savitsky via Backyard Sports LLC in 2021. While Backyard Sports LLC owns the trademarks associated with the brand, in 2024, Playground Productions LLC began to work with Pinchot and Savitsky in relaunching the IP across gaming and other verticals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=2024-08-20 |title=Backyard Sports Revival Officially Announced by Playground Productions |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/backyard-sports-revival-officially-announced-by-playground-productions |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=IGN |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="PCMag new ownership">{{Cite web |title=Backyard SportsTrademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=86086425&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Playground to revive '90s gaming franchise Backyard Sports |url=https://kidscreen.com/2024/08/21/playground-to-revive-90s-gaming-franchise-backyard-sports/ |access-date=2025-02-23}}</ref> This collaboration was accompanied by an animated trailer featuring several of the Backyard Kids preparing to start a game of baseball.<ref name="Variety Backyard Sports">{{cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=August 20, 2024 |title='Backyard Sports' Relaunching With New Video Games, TV Series, Films (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/backyard-sports-relaunch-video-games-films-pablo-sanchez-1236111148/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="Kidscreen Backyard Sports">{{cite web |last=Whyte |first=Alexandra |date=August 21, 2024 |title=Playground to revive '90s gaming franchise Backyard Sports |url=https://kidscreen.com/2024/08/21/playground-to-revive-90s-gaming-franchise-backyard-sports/ |access-date=August 22, 2024 |website=Kidscreen}}</ref> | After Day6's closure in 2020, the franchise was purchased by Ari Pinchot and Stuart Avi Savitsky via Backyard Sports LLC in 2021. While Backyard Sports LLC owns the trademarks associated with the brand, in 2024, Playground Productions LLC began to work with Pinchot and Savitsky in relaunching the IP across gaming and other verticals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=2024-08-20 |title=Backyard Sports Revival Officially Announced by Playground Productions |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/backyard-sports-revival-officially-announced-by-playground-productions |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=IGN |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="PCMag new ownership">{{Cite web |title=Backyard SportsTrademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=86086425&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=2020-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=86086425&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Playground to revive '90s gaming franchise Backyard Sports |url=https://kidscreen.com/2024/08/21/playground-to-revive-90s-gaming-franchise-backyard-sports/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |archive-date=2024-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212031718/https://kidscreen.com/2024/08/21/playground-to-revive-90s-gaming-franchise-backyard-sports/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This collaboration was accompanied by an animated trailer featuring several of the Backyard Kids preparing to start a game of baseball.<ref name="Variety Backyard Sports">{{cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=August 20, 2024 |title='Backyard Sports' Relaunching With New Video Games, TV Series, Films (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/backyard-sports-relaunch-video-games-films-pablo-sanchez-1236111148/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="Kidscreen Backyard Sports">{{cite web |last=Whyte |first=Alexandra |date=August 21, 2024 |title=Playground to revive '90s gaming franchise Backyard Sports |url=https://kidscreen.com/2024/08/21/playground-to-revive-90s-gaming-franchise-backyard-sports/ |access-date=August 22, 2024 |website=Kidscreen |archive-date=December 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212031718/https://kidscreen.com/2024/08/21/playground-to-revive-90s-gaming-franchise-backyard-sports/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
The franchise regained media attention in January 2024, when NFL player [[Jason Kelce]], in an episode of his and his brother [[Travis Kelce|Travis]]'s podcast ''[[New Heights]]'', reminisced about playing ''Backyard Football'' and ''Backyard Baseball'', and stated his desire to purchase the rights to the brand to develop a new game in the series.<ref name="IGN Kelce">{{cite web|last=Lyles|first=Taylor|title=NFL Star Jason Kelce Wants to Bring Back Backyard Football and Baseball|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nfl-star-jason-kelce-wants-to-bring-back-backyard-football-and-baseball|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=February 2, 2024|date=February 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Kotaku Kelce">{{cite web |last1=Mercante |first1=Alyssa |title=NFL's Kelce Brothers Want To Bring Back Your Fave Childhood Game |url=https://kotaku.com/backyard-football-baseball-game-travis-jason-kelce-nfl-1851218390 |website=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=February 2, 2024 |date=February 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Time Extension Kelce">{{cite web|last=Yarwood|first=Jack|title=The NFL's Jason Kelce Is Interested In Reviving Backyard Sports|url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/02/the-nfls-jason-kelce-is-interested-in-reviving-backyard-sports|website=Time Extension|access-date=February 2, 2024|date=February 2, 2024}}</ref> It received further attention that August when [[Bobby Witt Jr.]] of the [[Kansas City Royals]] used a baseball bat themed after Pablo Sanchez, a popular character in the series, to hit a home run against the [[Cincinnati Reds]] during Major League Baseball's Players' Weekend.<ref name="MLB Bobby Witt Jr.">{{cite web |last=Trezza |first=Joe |title=Witt brings Backyard Baseball to life with 2nd 25-HR, 25-SB season |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/bobby-witt-jr-logs-second-25-home-run-25-stolen-base-season?msockid=03f557a32403666017ed438225db677a |website=[[MLB.com]] |access-date=2025-01-31 |date=2016-08-16 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | The franchise regained media attention in January 2024, when NFL player [[Jason Kelce]], in an episode of his and his brother [[Travis Kelce|Travis]]'s podcast ''[[New Heights]]'', reminisced about playing ''Backyard Football'' and ''Backyard Baseball'', and stated his desire to purchase the rights to the brand to develop a new game in the series.<ref name="IGN Kelce">{{cite web|last=Lyles|first=Taylor|title=NFL Star Jason Kelce Wants to Bring Back Backyard Football and Baseball|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nfl-star-jason-kelce-wants-to-bring-back-backyard-football-and-baseball|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=February 2, 2024|date=February 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Kotaku Kelce">{{cite web |last1=Mercante |first1=Alyssa |title=NFL's Kelce Brothers Want To Bring Back Your Fave Childhood Game |url=https://kotaku.com/backyard-football-baseball-game-travis-jason-kelce-nfl-1851218390 |website=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=February 2, 2024 |date=February 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Time Extension Kelce">{{cite web|last=Yarwood|first=Jack|title=The NFL's Jason Kelce Is Interested In Reviving Backyard Sports|url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/02/the-nfls-jason-kelce-is-interested-in-reviving-backyard-sports|website=Time Extension|access-date=February 2, 2024|date=February 2, 2024}}</ref> It received further attention that August when [[Bobby Witt Jr.]] of the [[Kansas City Royals]] used a baseball bat themed after Pablo Sanchez, a popular character in the series, to hit a home run against the [[Cincinnati Reds]] during Major League Baseball's Players' Weekend.<ref name="MLB Bobby Witt Jr.">{{cite web |last=Trezza |first=Joe |title=Witt brings Backyard Baseball to life with 2nd 25-HR, 25-SB season |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/bobby-witt-jr-logs-second-25-home-run-25-stolen-base-season?msockid=03f557a32403666017ed438225db677a |website=[[MLB.com]] |access-date=2025-01-31 |date=2016-08-16 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
Playground Productions and developer [[Mega Cat Studios]] began the revival of ''Backyard Sports'' with a series of remastered classic titles, starting with ''[[Backyard Baseball '97]]'', which was released on October 10, 2024, exactly 27 years after the original ''Backyard Baseball''<nowiki/>'s release.<ref name="Gematsu BB'97 announcement">{{cite web | last=Romano | first=Sal | title=Backyard Baseball '97 announced for PC | website=Gematsu | date=September 25, 2024 | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/09/backyard-baseball-97-announced-for-pc | access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref><ref name="TechCrunch BB'97 announcement">{{cite web |last=Silberling |first=Amanda |title=Backyard Baseball '97 is back, with a re-release coming soon on Steam |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/25/backyard-baseball-97-is-back-with-a-re-release-coming-soon-on-steam/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=2024-10-10 |date=2024-09-25|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Logan |date=2024-10-10 |title=Backyard Football, Basketball, and Soccer Remasters "Coming Soon" to PC |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/backyard-sports-baseball-football-basketball-soccer-pc-steam/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Playground Productions plans to bring the remasters to [[Mobile game|mobile devices]] while developing a new original ''Backyard Sports'' title, which is expected to release in 2026.<ref name="Variety November 2024">{{cite web |date=2024-11-19 |title=Next-Gen 'Backyard Sports' Game in the Works |url=https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/backyard-sports-new-video-game-tv-film-adaptations-1236213649/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="SI November 2024">{{cite magazine |last1=Dierberger |first1=Tom |date=2024-11-19 |title='Backyard Sports' Franchise Currently Developing First Next-Generation Video Game |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/backyard-sports-franchise-first-next-generation-video-game |access-date=2024-11-19 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Deschamps |first=Marc |date=2025-03-16 |title=Backyard Sports Games Get Mobile Release Date, Tease Console Versions |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/backyard-sports-games-mobile-release-date-console-tease-nintendo-switch/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite | Playground Productions and developer [[Mega Cat Studios]] began the revival of ''Backyard Sports'' with a series of remastered classic titles, starting with ''[[Backyard Baseball '97]]'', which was released on October 10, 2024, exactly 27 years after the original ''Backyard Baseball''<nowiki/>'s release.<ref name="Gematsu BB'97 announcement">{{cite web | last=Romano | first=Sal | title=Backyard Baseball '97 announced for PC | website=Gematsu | date=September 25, 2024 | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/09/backyard-baseball-97-announced-for-pc | access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref><ref name="TechCrunch BB'97 announcement">{{cite web |last=Silberling |first=Amanda |title=Backyard Baseball '97 is back, with a re-release coming soon on Steam |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/25/backyard-baseball-97-is-back-with-a-re-release-coming-soon-on-steam/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=2024-10-10 |date=2024-09-25|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Logan |date=2024-10-10 |title=Backyard Football, Basketball, and Soccer Remasters "Coming Soon" to PC |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/backyard-sports-baseball-football-basketball-soccer-pc-steam/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219083404/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/backyard-sports-baseball-football-basketball-soccer-pc-steam/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Playground Productions plans to bring the remasters to [[Mobile game|mobile devices]] while developing a new original ''Backyard Sports'' title, which is expected to release in 2026.<ref name="Variety November 2024">{{cite web |date=2024-11-19 |title=Next-Gen 'Backyard Sports' Game in the Works |url=https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/backyard-sports-new-video-game-tv-film-adaptations-1236213649/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="SI November 2024">{{cite magazine |last1=Dierberger |first1=Tom |date=2024-11-19 |title='Backyard Sports' Franchise Currently Developing First Next-Generation Video Game |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/backyard-sports-franchise-first-next-generation-video-game |access-date=2024-11-19 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Deschamps |first=Marc |date=2025-03-16 |title=Backyard Sports Games Get Mobile Release Date, Tease Console Versions |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/backyard-sports-games-mobile-release-date-console-tease-nintendo-switch/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dierberger|first=Tom|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/backyard-sports-franchise-first-next-generation-video-game|title='Backyard Sports' Franchise Currently Developing First Next-Generation Video Game|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=November 19, 2024|access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|author=Backyard Sports|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJEJyPm18sY|title=Interview with CEO Lindsay Barnett!|time=19:56–20:03|work=[[YouTube]]|date=May 30, 2025|access-date=May 31, 2025|quote=There's a Backyard Sports title that is deep in production and will be coming out next year.}}</ref> | ||
In early 2025, Playground Productions confirmed to ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' that they had signed over 60 athletes to rejoin or debut in the franchise, including [[Barry Sanders]], [[Lisa Leslie]], [[Dan Marino]], and [[Mark McGwire]].<ref name="Rolling Stone Feb 2025">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Jake |title=Kid-Friendly Gaming Franchise 'Backyard Sports' Is Back And Ready to Modernize |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/backyard-sports-revival-barry-sanders-dan-marino-1235258969/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=2024-02-13 |date=2025-02-07 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | In early 2025, Playground Productions confirmed to ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' that they had signed over 60 athletes to rejoin or debut in the franchise, including [[Barry Sanders]], [[Lisa Leslie]], [[Dan Marino]], and [[Mark McGwire]].<ref name="Rolling Stone Feb 2025">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Jake |title=Kid-Friendly Gaming Franchise 'Backyard Sports' Is Back And Ready to Modernize |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/backyard-sports-revival-barry-sanders-dan-marino-1235258969/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=2024-02-13 |date=2025-02-07 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
| Line 136: | Line 136: | ||
|''[[Backyard Baseball '97]]''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || October 10, 2024 (PC) | |''[[Backyard Baseball '97]]''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || October 10, 2024 (PC) | ||
March 27, 2025 (iOS, Android) | March 27, 2025 (iOS, Android) | ||
| Baseball || rowspan="6" | [[Mega Cat Studios]] || rowspan="6" | Playground Productions || Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android | |||
June 12, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frech |first=Ricky |date=2025-06-12 |title=Backyard Baseball '97 Reveals Console Launch Date |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/backyard-baseball-console-release/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| Baseball || rowspan="6" | [[Mega Cat Studios]] || rowspan="6" | Playground Productions || Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, [[PlayStation 5]], [[Nintendo Switch]] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|''Backyard Soccer '98''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || November 27, 2024 || Association football | |''Backyard Soccer '98''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || November 27, 2024 || Association football | ||
| rowspan="5" |Microsoft Windows | | rowspan="5" |Microsoft Windows | ||
|- | |||
|''Backyard Baseball '01''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || TBA || Baseball | |||
|- | |- | ||
|''Backyard Football '99''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || TBA || American football | |''Backyard Football '99''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || TBA || American football | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''Backyard Basketball '01''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || TBA || Basketball | |''Backyard Basketball '01''{{efn|name=Remaster}} || TBA || Basketball | ||
Revision as of 17:10, 13 June 2025
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox video game series
Backyard Sports (originally branded as Junior Sports[1][2] and then Humongous Sports) is a video game series released for consoles, computers, and mobile devices created by Humongous Entertainment. The series is best known for starring a diverse cast of fictional children as well as child versions of famous professional sports athletes, such as Albert Pujols, Paul Pierce, Barry Bonds, Tim Duncan, Clint Mathis, Kevin Garnett, Tom Brady, David Ortiz, Joe Thornton, and Andy Macdonald. The Backyard Sports series was previously licensed by the five major professional American sports leagues: Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL), as well as their affiliated players associations. The series has changed ownership and developers several times since Humongous's closure in 2005 and has endured a years-long hiatus from 2010 to 2024 (excluding a brief mobile game revival in 2015), when the franchise was revived by its current publisher Playground Productions.
The series includes five sub-series based on different team sports—Backyard Baseball, Backyard Soccer (association football), Backyard Football (American football), Backyard Basketball, and Backyard Hockey (ice hockey)—as well as the single game non-team sport-based Backyard Skateboarding. In the games, players form a team consisting of Backyard Kids and (in most entries) professional athletes as children, which players take through a "Backyard League" season, attempting to become the champions of their chosen sport. Players can create their own custom characters, starting in Backyard Football (1999). An additional aspect of the games is the use of Power-Ups, allowing players to gain "Super-abilities". For instance, "Super-Dunk" allows a basketball player to make a dunk from nearly anywhere on the court, "Leap Frog" allows a football player to jump over the entire defensive line, and "Ice Cream Truck" causes the other team to be distracted for a brief period.
History
1997–2005: Under Humongous Entertainment
The series began in late 1997 when Humongous Entertainment, owned by GT Interactive, created the first game in the franchise: Backyard Baseball.[3] Later, GT Interactive was purchased by Infogrames and was renamed as Infogrames, Inc.[4] Infogrames allowed Humongous Entertainment to expand the series, and Humongous later developed more titles such as Backyard Soccer, Backyard Football, Backyard Basketball, Backyard Hockey, and Backyard Skateboarding. Following the buyout by Infogrames, these titles from the Backyard series were released for game consoles, including the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and Wii. In 2003, Infogrames, Inc. was renamed as Atari, Inc.
2005–2010: Under Humongous, Inc.
In August 2005, Atari, Inc. sold Humongous Entertainment to their majority parent Infogrames Entertainment SA for shares worth Template:US$. After the sale, Infogrames shuttered Humongous Entertainment and secured the studio's assets to Humongous, Inc., a holding company formed solely for this purpose.[5] With this point, newer Backyard Sports titles were developed by other studios for consoles and computers, with Atari, Inc. continuing to hold publishing rights to the series under license from Humongous, Inc. In March 2008, Infogrames purchased the remaining shares of Atari, Inc. that they didn't own and renamed itself to Atari SA the following year.[6][7] The two Atari businesses continued to release entries in the series within this time.[8]
2013–2020: Post-sale and attempted relaunch
In July 2013, private equity firm The Evergreen Group bought the Backyard Sports franchise during the Atari bankruptcy proceedings for its portfolio company, Epic Gear LLC.[9]
In February 2014, Day6 Sports Group acquired the franchise from Epic Gear.[10] The company announced to relaunch the franchise in December with Backyard Sports NBA Basketball for smartphones and tablets, with Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry as the cover athlete.[11] Two mobile games, Backyard Sports: Baseball 2015 and Baseball Sports: NBA Basketball 2015, were released in February 2015, but Day6 did not release any further titles afterward, as the company was acquired by a European investment group in 2016[12] and later went out of business in 2020.[13]
In April 2019, Humongous's social media pages tweeted an image of the original Junior Sports logo, hinting at a possible re-release of the original games and/or the developer having re-secured the rights to the series proper,[14][1][2] but a week prior, Humongous replied to a Twitter post saying that they didn't own the rights to the franchise.
2020–present: New ownership and full brand relaunch
After Day6's closure in 2020, the franchise was purchased by Ari Pinchot and Stuart Avi Savitsky via Backyard Sports LLC in 2021. While Backyard Sports LLC owns the trademarks associated with the brand, in 2024, Playground Productions LLC began to work with Pinchot and Savitsky in relaunching the IP across gaming and other verticals.[15][16][17] This collaboration was accompanied by an animated trailer featuring several of the Backyard Kids preparing to start a game of baseball.[18][19]
The franchise regained media attention in January 2024, when NFL player Jason Kelce, in an episode of his and his brother Travis's podcast New Heights, reminisced about playing Backyard Football and Backyard Baseball, and stated his desire to purchase the rights to the brand to develop a new game in the series.[20][21][13] It received further attention that August when Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals used a baseball bat themed after Pablo Sanchez, a popular character in the series, to hit a home run against the Cincinnati Reds during Major League Baseball's Players' Weekend.[22]
Playground Productions and developer Mega Cat Studios began the revival of Backyard Sports with a series of remastered classic titles, starting with Backyard Baseball '97, which was released on October 10, 2024, exactly 27 years after the original Backyard Baseball's release.[23][24][25] Playground Productions plans to bring the remasters to mobile devices while developing a new original Backyard Sports title, which is expected to release in 2026.[26][27][28][29][30]
In early 2025, Playground Productions confirmed to Rolling Stone that they had signed over 60 athletes to rejoin or debut in the franchise, including Barry Sanders, Lisa Leslie, Dan Marino, and Mark McGwire.[31]
Games in the series
| Title | Released | Sport | Developer | Publisher | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard Baseball | October 10, 1997 | Baseball | Humongous Entertainment | Humongous Entertainment | Microsoft Windows, Macintosh |
| Backyard Soccer (Backyard Football in UK) |
September 24, 1998 1999 (UK) |
Association football | |||
| Backyard Football | October 28, 1999 | American football | |||
| Backyard Baseball 2001 | June 6, 2000 | Baseball | |||
| Backyard Soccer MLS Edition | October 3, 2000 | Association football | Infogrames | ||
| Backyard Football 2002 | September 19, 2001 | American football | |||
| Backyard Soccer (Junior Sports Football for PAL) |
September 28, 2001 (US) November 3, 2001 (PAL) |
Association football | Runecraft | PlayStation | |
| Backyard Basketball | October 30, 2001 | Basketball | Humongous Entertainment | Microsoft Windows, Macintosh | |
| Backyard Baseball (GBA) Backyard Baseball 2003 (PC, Mac) |
May 30, 2002 (GBA) June 7, 2002 (PC) |
Baseball | Game Brains (GBA) Humongous Entertainment (PC, Mac) |
Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh | |
| Backyard Football | September 25, 2002 (GBA) October 10, 2002 (GC) |
American football | Torus Games (GBA) Left Field Productions / Humongous Entertainment (GC) |
Game Boy Advance, GameCube | |
| Backyard Hockey | October 18, 2002 | Ice hockey | Humongous Entertainment | Microsoft Windows | |
| Backyard Soccer 2004 | March 11, 2003[32] | Association football | Microsoft Windows, Macintosh | ||
| Backyard Baseball | April 15, 2003[33] | Baseball | GameCube | ||
| Backyard Football 2004 | September 4, 2003 | American football | Atari | Microsoft Windows | |
| Backyard Basketball 2004 | September 4, 2003 | Basketball | |||
| Backyard Hockey | October 9, 2003 | Ice hockey | Mistic Software | Game Boy Advance | |
| Backyard Basketball NBA (Junior Sports Basketball for PAL) |
October 21, 2003 (US) November 19, 2004 (PAL) |
Basketball | Humongous Entertainment | PlayStation 2 | |
| Backyard Baseball (PS2) Backyard Baseball 2005 (PC) |
March 23, 2004 (PS2) June 22, 2004 (PC) |
Baseball | PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows | ||
| Backyard Hockey 2005 | September 21, 2004 | Ice hockey | Microsoft Windows | ||
| Backyard Basketball | September 22, 2004 | Basketball | Mistic Software | Game Boy Advance | |
| Backyard Skateboarding | September 27, 2004 | Skateboarding | Humongous Entertainment | Microsoft Windows | |
| Backyard Baseball 2006 | March 16, 2005 | Baseball | Game Brains | Game Boy Advance | |
| Backyard Football 2006 | September 20, 2005 (PC) October 4, 2005 (PS2) October 18, 2005 (GBA) |
American football | Humongous Entertainment (PC, PS2) Torus Games (GBA) |
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance | |
| Backyard Skateboarding: Game of the Year Edition (PC) Backyard Skateboarding (GBA) |
October 4, 2005 | Skateboarding | Humongous Entertainment (PC) Full Fat (GBA) |
Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance | |
| Backyard Sports: Baseball 2007 | June 12, 2006 (GBA) September 5, 2006 (PS2) September 11, 2006 (PC) April 3, 2007 (GC) |
Baseball | Game Brains | Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, GameCube | |
| Backyard Sports: Football 2007 | September 26, 2006 | American football | Torus Games | Game Boy Advance | |
| Backyard Sports: NBA Basketball 2007 | November 14, 2006 (GBA) February 13, 2007 (PS2) February 20, 2007 (PC) |
Basketball | Mistic Software (GBA) Game Brains (PS2, PC) |
Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows | |
| Backyard Basketball | September 25, 2007 | Basketball | Mistic Software | Nintendo DS | |
| Backyard Hockey | October 9, 2007 | Ice hockey | |||
| Backyard Football '08 (PS2, PC) Backyard Football (Wii, NDS) |
October 16, 2007 (PS2, Wii) October 23, 2007 (PC, NDS) |
American football | FarSight Studios (PS2, PC, Wii) Torus Games (NDS) |
PlayStation 2, Wii, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS | |
| Backyard Baseball '09 | March 25, 2008 (PC, NDS) June 10, 2008 (PS2, Wii) |
Baseball | FarSight Studios (PC, PS2, Wii) Mistic Software (NDS) |
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Wii | |
| Backyard Football '09 | October 21, 2008 (PS2, NDS, Wii) October 29, 2008 (PC) |
American football | FarSight Studios (PS2, Wii, PC) Torus Games (NDS) |
PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, Wii, Microsoft Windows | |
| Backyard Baseball '10 | March 26, 2009 (NDS) March 27, 2009 (Wii) April 28, 2009 (PS2) |
Baseball | Mistic Software (NDS) FarSight Studios (Wii, PS2) |
Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 2 | |
| Backyard Football '10 | October 20, 2009 | American football | FarSight Studios | Wii, PlayStation 2 | |
| Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers | May 25, 2010 | Baseball | HB Studios (Wii, 360) Powerhead Games (NDS) |
Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, Wii | |
| Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush | October 20, 2010 | American football | |||
| Backyard Sports: Baseball 2015 | February 6, 2015 | Baseball | Day 6 Sports Group | Fingerprint Network | iOS, Android |
| Backyard Sports: NBA Basketball 2015 | Basketball | ||||
| Backyard Baseball '97Template:Efn | October 10, 2024 (PC)
March 27, 2025 (iOS, Android) June 12, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch)[34] |
Baseball | Mega Cat Studios | Playground Productions | Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch |
| Backyard Soccer '98Template:Efn | November 27, 2024 | Association football | Microsoft Windows | ||
| Backyard Baseball '01Template:Efn | TBA | Baseball | |||
| Backyard Football '99Template:Efn | TBA | American football | |||
| Backyard Basketball '01Template:Efn | TBA | Basketball | |||
| Backyard Hockey '02Template:Efn | TBA | Ice hockey |
Other media
In 2002, a live-action animated hour-long special based on the Backyard Football games entitled Backyard Basics aired on CBS on November 16, featuring the then quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Donovan McNabb.[35]
In 2016, Cross Creek Pictures and Crystal City Entertainment were reportedly in development of a film based on Backyard Sports with producers Brian Oliver and Ari Daniel Pinchot.[36] No news about the film has been revealed since.
Playground Productions announced in 2024, along with the announcement of a new Backyard Sports title, that they have plans to expand the franchise into film.[37][27]
Notes
References
External links
Template:Backyard Sports Template:Humongous
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and Atari, Inc. Announce Agreement to Merge: Financial News Yahoo! Finance Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Template:Cite tweet
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".