BIGS 2 Media Coverage

[2K Admin Ron]

With his habit of launching the long bombs, the Brewers' Prince Fielder is the perfect guy to grace the cover of 2K Sports' upcoming "The Bigs 2."

http://sports.espn.go.com/videogames/news/story?id=4047974

Check it out, discuss!

[2K Admin Ron]

Check out the newest interview with Prince on Gamespot. Bigs 2 is looking hot! Screens coming tomorrow!

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/thebigs2/news.html?sid=6207938&mode=news&page=1

[smokecg25]

Looks and sounds great!

[PreacherCG]

http://www.crispygamer.com/features/2009-04-22/the-bigs-2-travelogue-crispys-day-of-baseball.aspx

A day at the ballpark for The Bigs 2.

[2K Admin Ron]

Good find... also check out these three:
http://gamesblog.ugo.com/games/the-bigs-2-hands-on-preview-xbox-360
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8986625&publicUserId=5379953
http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3158196&ct=PODCASTS

[2K Admin Ron]

One more:
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3173873&p=4

[2K Admin Ron]

In case you've been sleeping on The BIGS 2 links, check these out!

• GameSpot (04.14) - The Bigs 2 First Look - http://www.gamespot.com/psp/sports/thebigs2/news.html?sid=6207938&mode=previews
• Loot Ninja (04.20) - Preview: The Bigs 2 Looks Impressive - http://loot-ninja.com/2009/04/20/preview-the-bigs-2-looks-impressive/
• Virtual Sports Network (04.14) - The BIGS 2 First Look - http://www.virtualsportsnetwork.com/the-bigs-2-first-look/
• Pasta Padre (04.15) - The BIGS 2: New Screenshots and First Info - http://www.pastapadre.com/7811/the-bigs-2-new-screenshots-and-first-info
• Destructoid (04.16) - The BIGS 2 screenshots, we have them - http://www.destructoid.com/the-bigs-2-screenshots-we-have-them-128930.phtml
• Shacknews (04.16) - Home Runs and High Leaps in The Bigs 2 Screenshots - http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58188
• Aeropause (04.14) - MLB 2K9 Swings On To The Nintendo Wii - http://www.aeropause.com/2009/04/mlb-2k9-swings-on-to-the-nintendo-wii/

[2K Admin Ron]

• Crispy Gamer: http://www.crispygamer.com/features/2009-04-22/the-bigs-2-travelogue-crispys-day-of-baseball.aspx/?utm_source=TeamCrispy&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=EV
• 1-UP: http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3173873
• UGO: http://gamesblog.ugo.com/games/the-bigs-2-hands-on-preview-xbox-360

[DMT03]

looks good...

[2K Admin Ron]

• Complex Magazine: http://www.complex.com/blogs/2009/04/28/video-game-preview-the-bigs-2/

[Otis Nixon]

More The Bigs 2 coverage, this time from Game Daily.

"Fielder is the perfect cover boy for a larger than life game where power, speed and strength are always on display."

http://www.gamedaily.com/games/the-bigs-2/xbox-360/game-features/the-bigs-2-shows-off-at-the-ny-mets-new-digs/

[beat you 4ever]

I agree, he is a natural phenom at the plate... great hitter, and a great poster boy for the BIGS 2. The more I hear about this, the more I want this game!!!

[2K Admin Ron]

Here is another:
IGN Hands-on Preview: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/978/978515p1.html

[kcxiv]

Here is another:
IGN Hands-on Preview: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/978/978515p1.html

lol, The video on there was great. I love it when they hit the pitcher and he looks like he got knocked out. lol

[DMT03]

when does the demo drop?

[b-Dub]

Here is another:
IGN Hands-on Preview: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/978/978515p1.html

I just watched the Power Mini game on here and I must say, hearing Pantera's Walk got me really excited to try out this game. :D:D

[2K Admin Ron]

• Operation Sports (05.08) - The BIGS 2 Preview (Xbox 360)
• TeamXbox (05.04) - The Bigs 2 Hands-on Preview (Xbox 360)
• PSX Extreme (05.04) - The Bigs 2 Preview
• Pasta Padre (05.10) - The BIGS 2 Online Co-Op
• Gaming Nexus (05.07) - And now for the Wii screenshots of The BIGS 2

[2K Admin Ron]

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/thebigs2/news.html?sid=6209623&mode=previews

The preview sounds amazing. Read and discuss!

[krunchybox]

This game is sounding better and better!

Really looking forward to it's coming out.

[2K Admin Ron]

• Console Sports (05.11) - First look: The Bigs 2 http://new.consolesports.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=457:the-bigs-2&catid=81:2k-sports-mlb-the-bigs&Itemid=190
• GiantBomb (05.15) - The Bigs 2 Hands-On Video Preview http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-the-bigs-2/17-589/?linktags=home,home-videos
• Destructoid (05.15) - Watch this kick-*** minigames trailer for The Bigs 2 http://www.destructoid.com/watch-this-kick-***-minigames-trailer-for-the-bigs-2-132171.phtml
• Pasta Padre (05.15) - The BIGS 2 Mini-Games http://www.pastapadre.com/8476/the-bigs-2-mini-games#more-8476
• GamerCenterOnline (05.13) - The Bigs 2 “Mini-Games” Trailer http://www.gamercenteronline.net/2009/05/13/the-bigs-2-mini-games-trailer/
• Kotaku (05.13) - The Bigs 2 Is Chock Full Of Mini-Games http://kotaku.com/5252773/the-bigs-2-is-chock-full-of-mini+games

[2K Admin Ron]

The BIGS 2 G4TV Preview: http://g4tv.com/xplay/videos/38405/Hands-On-Preview-The-Bigs-2.html

[2K Admin Ron]

The BIGS 2 on Wii: Looking fantastic! http://wii.ign.com/articles/983/983266p1.html

[2K Admin Ron]

Gamespy checks in: http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/the-bigs-2/986682p1.html

[2K Admin Ron]

GameZone is next: http://xbox360.gamezone.com/gzreviews/p37638.htm.

[2K Admin Ron]

Worth Playing
June 12, 2009

PS3/X360 Preview - 'The Bigs 2'

Known for its over-the-top style of gameplay, The Bigs 2 focuses on the big fast-paced moments in Major League Baseball with new opportunities to go up against MLB legends, more mini-games like Home Run Pinball, and a variety of other new features.

One of the more popular sports titles in the early '90s was a little game called NBA Jam. Developed by Midway, it was best known for being a less serious take on the sports genre. You had all of the famous teams and a good number of the famous players, but the gameplay was more fast-paced and less serious than other official titles of the generation. It featured arcade-style gimmicks, such as an almost complete lack of rules and the ability to cause players to enter a sort of "super mode" when they performed well. As popular as NBA Jam was, the popularity quickly faded, and realistic sports games remained the norm. The Bigs is sort of a modern-day take on the ideas behind NBA Jam, featuring exaggerated arcade-style gameplay and real players, although with baseball instead of basketball. The Bigs was met with a fairly positive reception, although fans couldn't help but notice a few flaws and missing features. Fortunately, the developers listened, and The Bigs 2 is shaping up to fix all of the problems with the first game and add a few neat new features to boot.

The Bigs 2, like its predecessor, is a basic baseball game at heart. Almost all of the rules are functionally identical, and if you've ever seen baseball played, you're not going to have a hard time picking up the game. The Bigs varies greatly in the exaggerated style of its players. Everyone moves faster, hits harder, throws better and acts in ways that we wouldn't see from any real-world baseball player. It's arcade-style gameplay through and through, and you can expect to see ridiculous and over-the-top plays occur constantly. It's basically a baseball game for those who want all the excitement of insane plays without the quiet "normal" moments in between.

Much like NBA Jam, The Bigs 2 gives players a chance to earn special rewards by performing lots of high-quality plays. As you perform amazing plays, your team is rewarded with Turbo energy, which is sort of a group "super bar" that can be spent to perform special moves. The most valuable of these occur when the bar fills up and you can spend it to effectively assure yourself a free home run. You can also get a chance at a free Grand Slam if you fill it up. Using all of your energy allows four players to go in a row. If the first three hit, you get an automatic single for each, and the last is a chance for a home run. Get all four, and you've got a Grand Slam on your hands. It's a very interesting mechanic that rewards solid play, although I can't help but feel that it might make games a bit unfair if one player gets too much of an advantage. A good run of Turbo can give an insurmountable lead, so earning Turbo becomes the primary focus of many of the games.

Baseball is always a game of risk versus reward. Whether you're trying to steal a base or bunting to throw off the opposing team, it's all about deciding if what you're going to do next is worth the risk. The Bigs 2 emphasizes this with some interesting arcade-style mechanics that are new to the franchise. The biggest new mechanic is the wheelhouse, which represents a batter's "strength" when it comes to hitting the ball. When a pitcher throws the ball, he can see the batter's "sweet spots" indicated as a brightly colored area in the batting box. If the ball is thrown within those sweet spots, the batter will hit it much harder should he connect.

Considering that The Bigs is built around some of the greatest baseball stars there ever were, this isn't something you want to happen. Why shouldn't a pitcher just toss the ball away from the sweet spot whenever possible? The game rewards you for tossing a solid pitch right through your opponent's strong area. Any pitches tossed through the wheelhouse section decrease the overall size of the area and earn the pitcher a substantial boost in Turbo. The risk doesn't end there, though. Every time your pitcher's throws are hit, he loses stamina. Lose too much stamina, and your pitcher can lose the ability to throw pitches! If you think you're in a bad situation when the opponent gets a solid hit, just imagine that solid hit giving them a ton of Turbo and taking away your best pitcher's signature throw. This makes every single pitch in the game rather nerve-racking, as you have to constantly balance how much of a risk you're willing to take in exchange for substantial rewards.

While the batter and the pitcher are the most important elements of The Bigs, that doesn't mean that the rest of the team doesn't have its uses. Each team member has his own strengths and weaknesses, but perhaps the most notable of those are players who have the legendary ability to perform special catches. If a ball flies toward one of these fielders, you can enter a special Quick Time Event to try and catch the ball. Complete it successfully, and you can stop a game-changing move in its tracks and earn an awesome boost of Turbo, but screw up, and you might be in an even worse situation than before. This is really essential, as the unrealistic speed and power of the game means that you have a lot less time to react to a solid hit. Unless you want the opponent constantly earning meter-filling doubles and triples, you're going to have to master catching.

While The Bigs 2 features the ability to have popular teams compete against one another, the real star of the show is going to be the Become a Legend mode, which lets you create a customized player. You can change everything, from his height and weight to tattoos and what sort of customized bat he uses. You don't begin as part of the Major Leagues in the Become a Legend mode; the story assumes that your player sustained a serious injury early in his career and had to take time out to recover and prove that the injury wasn't career-ending. Consequently, your player has to begin to the Mexican League, and as you might expect, you goal is to Become a Legend and earn your way into the Hall of Fame. It isn't quite as easy as just winning games, though. In addition to having to take your team to victory, your player is also given specific goals that he has to complete during a game. Some of these are as simple as hitting the ball once or twice, but as the plot progresses, they'll grow more and more complex.

Those looking for a more traditional game mode will want to check the Season mode, which allows you to take a team through an entire baseball season. Those looking for something more casual may enjoy Home Run Pinball, a returning feature from The Bigs, in which players are put into the middle of famous cities like Tokyo, Japan, and encouraged to slam baseballs into targets to earn the highest score they can.

The Bigs 2 looks to be a straightforward update of the original game. A number of the most requested features, such as a Season mode, have been implemented, and the game has been smoothed out and cleaned up without losing any of the silly arcade-style fun that fans enjoyed. The Become a Legend mode is sure to offer a lot of replay value, if just for the various challenges that test and improve a player's abilities, and the other gameplay modes seem great for something to just pick up and play. While it's probably not going to appeal to baseball fans who must have the strictest realism, those looking for a game built around arcade-style fun will want to check out The Bigs 2 when it hits stores early next month.
http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=63344

[2K Admin Ron]

Console Sports
June 8, 2009

First look: The Bigs 2

By Steven Hernandez

When it comes to baseball games I always look for the most realistic one in terms of graphics, game mechanics, and game stat maintenance. Well actually this can be said for every sports game I buy, but it’s more prevalent in baseball games for me. I mean I can play madden and NCAA football till I’m blue in the face because of the amount of realism from every facet of the title. I can also play NFL blitz which is an over the top football game with ridiculous amounts of exaggerated super powered animations and moves. But for me the idea of an arcade style baseball game never really caught my ear or eye. This is probably the biggest reason I skipped out of playing 2K’s The Bigs when it came out. But after reading up on The Bigs 2, my thoughts have changed. And I’m very excited they have.

2K’s The Bigs 2 is an over-the-top baseball arcade game with tons of interesting features and nuances that take every exciting aspect of a major league baseball game and inject it with steroids. We’re talking big muscle-headed baseball players, fireball pitches that literally leave vapor trails, and ridiculous diving catches. And yes there are even more eye-grabbing animations and maneuvers in the game. What I love most about what 2K is trying to do here is take everything that we love about baseball and push it to the comic book level, meaning take it to super-human heights. 2K isn’t trying to replace your normal common MLB game that you have on your shelf. They’re trying to add another dimension to your baseball experience. That dimension rests comfortably within the realms of super-human baseball. Just seeing some of the screenshots makes me drool. After catching these glimpses, I went over to IGN and was able to catch some video of the game and became even more excited and obsessed. The video I watched was the Power Mini-game where my boy Manny Ramirez is batting right next to Justin Morneau and they’re both trying to hit homers off two pitchers who are throwing simultaneously. Rule wise, both batters are trying to hit different parts of the stadium with their dingers, accumulating different points in the process. For example hitting the scoreboard with a shot offers different points versus hitting the bleachers. It’s a jaw-dropping video and I suggest heading over there to see it when you can or if you’re interested in this type of game.

The Power Mini-game is just one of the many cool mini-games you participate in. There’s a Glove Mini-game in which your player is in charge of making ridiculous catches and dives. There’s a Speed Mini-game in which you race an opponent up and down stadiums avoiding different pitfalls in the process. There’s a Contact mini-game where players hit a number of balls that are being tossed in a continuous stream at you. Like Power and Glove, you again are standing right next to your opponent which is both unique and badass looking. The game is apparently color dependent, meaning you want to hit balls of a particular color and stay away from another color. There’s also this insane mode called Pinball mode where its basically Home Run Derby but set in cool backgrounds like on the streets of Vegas or New York. Picture you and a pitcher in Times Square and you’re banging hits off of buildings in bright lights. Unreal to say the least.

All these mini-games and modes sound very cool but The Bigs 2 is actually a little more than that and the team at 2K is trying to prove that this year. For the first time you’ll be able to partake in a full season with full on stat tracking which is something 1 was missing. There will also be a “Become a Legend” mode. In this, players try to attribute points throughout the season by accomplishing different task and eventually get the opportunity to battle bosses like Babe Ruth in games. Once these special legends are defeated you can play as them in other modes. In terms of other specials, different players on teams will have different special abilities that others won’t. These can also be referred to as Power Ups and these players always carry them with them. For example, Albert Pujols might always hit a homerun no matter what.

From what I’ve read and seen and heard, 2K is building a monster of a game and I’m geeked to see the final result! I’ll be writing another article and review once I get my hands on this game. I’m sure that article will go into further depth of the game and if I know 2K, even more surprises will arise. It’s supposed to land in July and I guarantee I’ll be one of the first to have it. *fingers crossed on a winner*

Thanks for reading!
http://consolesports.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=457:the-bigs-2&catid=81:2k-sports-mlb-the-bigs&Itemid=190

Operation Sports
June 10, 2009

The BIGS 2 Preview (Xbox 360)

By Richard Chavez

While hot dogs and hamburgers were being consumed to honor our troops a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to play The Bigs 2 in New York. I also got to check out the revamped career mode, the fresh season mode and the various multiplayer modes available in the game. The game will be released in July, but for now, here’s your chance to get your fill of The Bigs 2.

Season

This edition of The Bigs adds a mode that’s synonymous with its simulation cousin, MLB 2K9. While both games have season modes with complete schedules, stat tracking and full rosters, there are some distinct differences.

The schedule in The Bigs 2 is technically 162 games, but the way they’re played has changed. While some games will go the full five innings, others will insert you into specific spots in a game. For example, game one of a series may ask you to join the game when you’re down 6-5. The season will progress like that, instead of grinding you down with a game nearly every day.

You can also make roster moves like a general manager, but not with the ease of a simulation MLB game. There is a trade meter that builds up as you reach certain checkpoints and successes. But, trading Doug Mientkiewicz for Albert Pujols will not be possible unless you pull off some real magic in season mode. You can also fix your lineups and attempt to make your way to the playoffs.

Rosters will also be updated to include the latest deals and any dramatic career highs and lows (hello, David Ortiz).

Career

Gone is the Rookie Challenge mode, and in its place is the Become a Legend mode. It’s like MLB 09: The Show’s Road to the Show with a hint of TNA Impact's career mode. You suffer a near career-ending injury and end up playing in Mexico (the only comparison to the TNA game). As you progress, you’re drafted by a random Major League team and continue on your trek.

Instead of playing just your at-bats like in RttS, you will get to play as all your new teammates, just like in season mode. The goal, though, is singular: be good enough to play with the Babe Ruths, Jackie Robinsons and Roberto Clementes of the world in Cooperstown. And thankfully, a 700-foot home run will not include an automatic urine test.

Multiplayer

New to The Bigs 2 is the Pick-Up Game mode. After you have recycled every rivalry with your friends, this mode can bring the excitement back. It’s similar to picking a team on the playground. Strategy comes into play here because the players available are completely random. You can go ahead and grab Johan Santana to man the mound, but your opponent might pick up Matt Kemp to play center field while you’re stuck with Lastings Milledge.

Home Run Pinball returns to The Bigs 2 as well. This mode has you terrorizing Times Square, Tokyo and Las Vegas. For the unfamiliar, this is a home run derby mini-game where you’re rewarded for destroying the environment with long balls. You are able to choose any player in the game, with power guys obviously having an advantage.

This is where Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui can earn his nickname. It’s a great one-on-one mode, and if you’ve ever played a baseball game, you can figure out the timing quickly. It’s a heck of a good time and simple to play. Home Run Pinball is the perfect game mode to go with pizza, beer or both.


In New York, there was a Home Run Pinball tournament where members of the PR staff for The Bigs 2 competed against the media members in attendance. I took down DJ Rhude (formerly of XXL magazine, now with vetzballin.com) in the semi-finals and executive Brian Roundy in the finals. In the end, OperationSports.com came out a winner.

The Bigs 2 will be released on July 7.
http://www.operationsports.com/preview.php?id=73

[2K Admin Ron]

Games of Summer 2009 - The BIGS 2

Release Date: July 7

What It Is: The BIGS is baseball taken to the extreme. Then pushed a little farther. Massive home runs, Flash-like sprints around the base paths and hands-down the coolest take on a home run derby in video games.

Why It's Hot: Five words: Home Run Pinball is back. If you played the first one, you stopped reading this and rushed off to pre-order the game. If you didn't, you probably should. You'll thank us later. Seriously.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/996/996143p1.html
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/996/996133p1.html
http://psp.ign.com/articles/995/995863p1.html

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Pasta Padre
June 19, 2009

The BIGS 2 Demo Impressions

The demo for The BIGS 2 was released yesterday for the 360. No word on when it will be reaching the PS3 but within the next couple Thursdays would be likely. The demo features a three inning game between the AL and NL All-Stars as well as Home Run Pinball in the Vegas venue.

Coming off The BIGS, one of my favorite sports games of this generation, hopes are high for the sequel. Just some initial impressions from the short time playing it so far the first being the ingenious strategical elements are still prevalent. I really appreciate how you can go at the games, and each individual pitch, so many different ways and nothing about it is frustrating unlike other arcade style games. The “Legendary” tag is a nice addition giving those fielders special abilities which I saw right away when the NL catcher jumped high into the air and onto the dugout to attempt to catch a foul ball. What I liked is they don’t always make those catches but they have a shot at them. The one thing I’m not really a fan of is the zoomed in camera which is just too tight in on the action. Since it follows the ball, which is thrown at laser speed, it is difficult to track what is happening and you miss some of the impact of all the action that is taking place.

Continue on to view the two videos I’ve captured thus far showing off the HR Pinball and a three inning game. Leave your impressions of the demo or videos in the comments!

http://www.pastapadre.com/8986/the-bigs-2-demo-impressions

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Joystiq
Jun 18th 2009

The Bigs 2 steps up to bat

by Randy Nelson

Looking to vent some of that steam generated by yesterday's Xbox Live issues? Might we suggest you hit some balls, hard. 2K Sports has released a demo of The Bigs 2 -- the publisher's arcade-style baseball game -- on the Xbox Live Marketplace, which is thankfully now back up and working. The demo weighs in at 613 megabytes and allows offline head-to-head for two players. Street baseball? What'll they think of next, ghetto golf?

http://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/the-bigs-2-steps-up-to-bat/

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1UP
06/18/2009

Demos for NCAA Football 10 and The Bigs 2 Available Now
Try out these summer sports releases right now on Xbox 360.

By Dustin Quillen

NCAA Football 10 Fans of professional athletics take note: A duo of high profile sports game demos arrived on the Xbox Live Marketplace this morning. Assuming all the kinks have been worked out from yesterday's maintenance snafu, Xbox Live members can check out demos for 2K's over-the-top MLB game The Bigs 2 and EA Sports' NCAA Football 10 right now.

Both of these demos are currently unavailable on the PlayStation 3, but you can most likely expect them to turn up along with this afternoon's PlayStation Store update. Until then, may we suggest playing actual sports for a while? It's (almost) summer, people!
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174843

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SI Kids [Blog]
June 12, 2009

Bigs 2 Tournament Recap

by Gary Gramling

You might remember a few weeks back when we announced the start of The Bigs 2 Tournament, where four of your favorite SI Kids bloggers (The Brain, Professor Ulane, Duane from New Jersey, and -- yours truly -- The Wiz) went head-to-head for the title in The Bigs 2 Home Run Pinball.

Well, we have a winner. Read on to see who came out on top...

ROUND 1: The Wiz (Nick Markakis) vs. Professor Ulane (Willie Bloomquist)
Game 1: Two frenemies doing battle in the first game of the night. We chose good ol' Time Square in New York City (just blocks from the SIKIDS.com Village) as our battlefield. I put on my finest Jay Gibbons jersey, and battle we did.

Well, okay, we didn't battle so much in the first game. While the Professor seemed to be a natural, I managed to ground two pitches off a taxi before striking out, ending Game 1.

Game 2: The Professor and Bloomquist racked up points by rifling hit after hit off the HOTEL sign on the right of the screen. Markakis and I started to get the hang of it. But then my hand cramped. And I had something in my eye. And Duane from New Jersey was distracting me. And the TV was too loud.

Alright alright, I just stink at video games. Bloomquist and The Professor eliminated me with ease and moved on to the championship round.

ROUND 1: Duane from New Jersey (Josh Hamilton) vs. The Brain (Magglio Ordonez)
Game 1: This was the match-up everyone wanted to see. DNJ is a pretty fierce gamer. But back in the day, The Brain shocked the world by winning a Wii Ski Ball tournament. It was like watching the Arizona Cardinals make the Super Bowl.

So with plenty of hype, these two went at it in Japan.

The Brain and Ordonez was making contact, but not good contact. Meanwhile, DNJ and Hamilton were busy drilling pitches all over Tokyo, knocking down billboards (to reveal a giant Godzilla... well, I guess a regular-sized Godzillas since all Godzillas are giant). It was too much for The Brain to handle, and Duane took Game 1.

Game 2: They moved the location to Las Vegas, but it was more of the same from Duane and Hamilton. Game, set, match to DNJ, who looked unbeatable. But was he celebrating a title a little too early?

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: Professor Ulane (Willie Bloomquist) vs. Duane from New Jersey (Josh Hamilton)
Game 1: A battle of the titans. The Professor jumped out to an early lead, but was soon distracted by a half-eaten slice of pizza. While taking a breather because he was so far ahead of Duane, The Professor quickly gobbled down the leftovers. Everything would have been fine, but with no napkins, Paul swung and missed at two straight fastballs because of pizza grease on his fingertips. Duane took advantage, building up his power meter and eventually hitting two consecutive "Big Blasts" to clinch a Game 1 victory (oh yes, one of the cooler things about Home Run Pinball is that you can get those Big Blasts and make up a lot of points very quickly).

Professor Ulane vowed to never eat pizza again (a vow that lasted approximately seven minutes).

Game 2: This one was a no-brainer (or, as The Professor later claimed, a "no Duane-er"). The Professor smoked seven consecutive homers while DNJ/Hamilton, intimidated by the Professor/Bloomquist fast start, whiffed on two of the first three pitches he saw. Before you could say, "Professor, stop eating all my pizza!" Game 2 was settled, setting up a do-or-die Game 3 for the championship.

Game 3: And what a championship game it was... if you're a fan of The Professor (or Willie Bloomquist). Using his high-powered green glasses to get a better look at each pitch, The Professor locked in and sprayed line drives throughout Tokyo. Clearly mystified by the damage The Professor was wreaking upon the foreign landscape (billboards falling, neon signs bursting everywhere!), Duane from New Jersey couldn't handle it. Some spectators swear they saw tears in his eyes. It just once again proved: nobody beats Willie Bloomquist!

In some ways, all four competitors were winners. We got to play a sweet new baseball game that won't be out for weeks, and had a ton of fun playing Home Run Pinball.

But in another, more accurate way, Professor Ulane was the winner. So congratulations to the best the SIKIDS.com Village has to offer in The Bigs 2.

Click HERE to tell Professor Ulane congratulations, or to tell Duane from New Jersey, The Wiz, or The Brain that we stink!
http://www.sikids.com/splogs/2009/06/12/bigs-2-tournament-recap