{{Short description|2004 video game}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox video game | image = Crushed Baseball Cover.jpg | title = Crushed Baseball | platforms = Game Boy Advance | released = August 31, 2004 | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | publisher = Summitsoft Entertainment | developer = Griptonite Games }} '''''Crushed Baseball''''' is a 2004 sports video game developed by Griptonite Games and published by Summitsoft Entertainment for the Game Boy Advance. The game is a non-licensed baseball title in which players accumulate "mojo" to perform supernatural and comic abilities on the pitch. Console versions for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube were unreleased following the collapse of the game's original publisher BAM! Entertainment prior to release. Upon release, ''Crushed Baseball'' received mixed reviews.
==Gameplay== thumb|left|An example of gameplay from ''Crushed Baseball'' The game features three modes: Exhibition Mode, a single-player game featuring a single match against the computer, League Mode, a series of matches playing a team through a baseball season, and Practice mode, which allows players to practice batting and pitching.<ref name=Manual/> During gameplay, batters accumulate mojo, a resource that allows players to perform superhuman abilities,<ref name=Manual>{{cite book|title=Crushed Baseball: Instruction Booklet|author=Summitsoft|date=2004|url=https://archive.org/details/kirklands-manual-labor-nintendo-game-boy-advance-usa-4k-version/Crushed%20Baseball%20%28USA%29/mode/2up?q=%22crushed+baseball%22}}</ref> which fills up in a meter over time when players strike out an opponent or reach a base.<ref name=GSpot/> Mojo abilities, when activated, allow the player to use special moves, such as throwing balls that saw through the batter's bat, or hitting balls that plant themselves in the field.<ref name=Allgame/> Players can earn extra mojo by hitting targeted objects in the background of the pitch.<ref name=Allgame/> The game features two-player gameplay using the Game Link Cable.<ref name=Manual/>
== Development == ''Crushed Baseball'' was announced by original publisher BAM! Entertainment for release on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance in October 2002 for intended release in March 2003.<ref name=NWR>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7945/bam-announces-crushed-baseball-2004 |title=BAM Announces Crushed Baseball 2004 |last=Metts |first=Jonathan |date=25 October 2002 |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> Early previous of the console games, originally titled ''Crushed Baseball 2004'' promised a cartoonlike 3D visual presentation, with superpowers, playable mascots, and fully interactive ballparks.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Game Informer|issue=119|date=March 2003|title=Crushed Baseball 2004|pages=53|url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-119-march-2003/mode/2up?q=%22crushed+baseball%22}}</ref><ref name=NWR/><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Nintendo Power|issue=163|date=December 2002|title=BAM! Entertainment Crushes the Ball|pages=24|url=https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-163-december-2002/mode/2up?q=%22crushed+baseball%22}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=G-Force|date=February 2003|issue=10|title=Manic Baseball Offering Planned|pages=82|url=https://archive.org/details/g-force-10-february-2003/page/82/mode/2up?q=%22crushed+baseball%22}}</ref> The publisher experienced financial issues in 2003, leading them to narrow their product strategy and cut costs, including cancelling the development of the ''Crushed Baseball'' console titles,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bam-plans-new-share-offer-as-q4-results-decline |title=Bam! plans new share offer as Q4 results decline |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=1 October 2003 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> and eventually closed and delisted in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bam%21%2BEntertainment%2C%2BInc.%2BAnnounces%2BNasdaq%2BDelisting%2BNotice%2Band%2BPlans...-a0131539703 |title=Bam! Entertainment, Inc. Announces Nasdaq Delisting Notice and Plans Appeal |website=PR Newswire |date=11 February 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504225824/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bam!+Entertainment,+Inc.+Announces+Nasdaq+Delisting+Notice+and+Plans...-a0131539703 |archive-date=4 May 2014 |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> The Game Boy Advance version of ''Crushed Baseball'' was developed by Griptonite Games, the handheld department of parent company Amaze Entertainment.<ref name=IGN>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/24/crushed-baseball |title=Crushed Baseball |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=24 October 2002 |website=IGN |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> The developers intended to create a "unique" and fun-focused baseball title, attempting to find a middle ground between young audiences and players expecting a realistic simulation.<ref name=NWR/>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | Allgame = 3.5/5<ref name=Allgame>{{cite web|website=Allgame|title=Crushed Baseball|last=Marriott|first=Scott Alan|accessdate=20 August 2025|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=42106|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114194838/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=42106|archivedate=14 November 2014}}</ref> | GSpot = 7.3/10<ref name=GSpot>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/crushed-baseball-review/1900-6107504/ |title=Crushed Baseball Review |last=Provo |first=Frank |date=15 September 2004 |website=GameSpot |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> | NP = 1.9/5<ref name=NP>{{cite magazine|magazine=Nintendo Power|title=Crushed Baseball|pages=150|issue=186|date=December 2004|url=https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-186-december-2004/page/150/mode/2up?q=crushed+baseball}}</ref> }} Despite an initially positive reaction to the game's announcement,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Official US PlayStation Magazine|issue=64|date=January 2003|title=Crushed Baseball: First Look|pages=96|url=https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-64-january-2003_202201/page/96/mode/2up?q=%22crushed+baseball%22}}</ref> ''Official US PlayStation Magazine'' sustained a negative pre-release reception of ''Crushed Baseball'', considering it to be "pointless" and likely to be "baseball's worst on PS2" due to the lack of MLB-licensed content and being slated for release after the season started.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Official US PlayStation Magazine|title=Crushing Blow: A look a baseball's worst on PS2|issue=67|date=April 2003|pages=96|url=https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-67-april-2003/mode/2up?q=%22crushed+baseball%22}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Official US PlayStation Magazine|title=The Play List: Your primer to the best, worst and weirdest of PlayStation|pages=116|issue=83|date=August 2004|url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-play-station-magazine-issue-83-august-2004/mode/2up?q=%22crushed+baseball%22}}</ref> Describing ''Crushed Baseball'' as a "solid arcade-style baseball video game that ought to appeal to anyone", Frank Provo of ''GameSpot'' praised the game's simplicity, "smooth" animations and detailed graphics, although similarly wished the game had licensed players, teams or logos.<ref name=GSpot/> ''Nintendo Power'' considered the graphics to be "sparse" but "crisp", and the gameplay "slow-paced" and "lacking", critiquing the interface for making it "too easy to put the ball into play".<ref name=NP/> {{clear}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Video games|2000s}} * {{MobyGames|/9874/crushed-baseball/}}
Category:2004 video games Category:Game Boy Advance games Category:Game Boy Advance-only games Category:Griptonite Games