Backyard Baseball 2005
Updated Windows port of the 2003 GameCube baseball game, and the fifth main entry in the series.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Backyard Baseball 2005 is a baseball video game developed by Humongous Entertainment and published by Infogrames (later Atari). It is an updated port of the 2003 GameCube game Backyard Baseball, released for Windows on June 21, 2004, and is collectively the fifth main entry in the Backyard Baseball sub-series of the Backyard Sports franchise. The game features a total of 46 characters: 30 child players known as the 'Backyard Kids' and 16 real-life Major League Baseball players depicted as children.
- Series
- Backyard Baseball (fifth main entry)
Lore & Background
Backyard Baseball 2005 is the Windows version of the GameCube game Backyard Baseball, originally released on March 24, 2003. It was developed by Humongous Entertainment and published by Infogrames. The Windows port was released on June 21, 2004, and is part of the Backyard Baseball sub-series, which began with earlier 2D games using the SCUMM engine. The GameCube version (2003) was the first in the series to use a 3D graphics engine, and this Windows port carries that engine forward. This version, along with the PlayStation 2 port released March 22, 2004, introduced several new features not present in the GameCube original, including a fielding tutorial called 'Clanky's Coaching Box' and two new minigames: Fielder's Challenge and Baseball Darts. Players could also play at night on most fields for the first time.
Reader's Guide
Backyard Baseball 2005 is significant as the Windows release of the first Backyard Baseball game to use a 3D graphics engine and the first to be released for a home console (the GameCube). The game retains the core arcade baseball gameplay of the series, including single games and a season mode leading to the 'Backyard World Series.' New mechanics introduced with the 3D engine allowed runners to lead off and pitchers to pick off runners, replacing the simpler stealing system of earlier SCUMM games. The Windows version added a Home Run Derby mode, replacing the previous batting practice mode, and introduced power-ups for pitching a hitless inning or making a diving catch. Custom players, a feature from earlier Backyard Sports titles, could earn additional skill points through in-game achievements. The game received mixed or average reviews, with critics praising its accessibility for younger players but criticizing the lack of a tutorial in the GameCube version—a feature added to the Windows and PS2 versions. Its legacy lies in bridging the series to 3D and expanding the franchise's reach to home consoles.
Did You Know?
- Backyard Baseball 2005 is the Windows port of the GameCube game Backyard Baseball, released on June 21, 2004.
- The GameCube Backyard Baseball (2003) was the first in the series to use a 3D graphics engine; this Windows port uses the same engine.
- The Windows version added a fielding tutorial called 'Clanky's Coaching Box' and two new minigames: Fielder's Challenge and Baseball Darts.
- Players could play at night on most fields for the first time in the Windows and PlayStation 2 versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Backyard Baseball 2005?
Backyard Baseball 2005 is a baseball video game produced by Humongous Entertainment that serves as an updated Windows port of the original 2003 GameCube title. It was released on June 21, 2004, and is considered the fifth main entry in the Backyard Baseball sub-series.
Who published Backyard Baseball 2005?
Infogrames handled publishing for the game, a company that later rebranded as Atari. Humongous Entertainment retained the role of developer.
How many playable characters does Backyard Baseball 2005 include?
The roster totals 46 characters, split between 30 child players called the Backyard Kids and 16 real-life Major League Baseball athletes rendered in kid form.
What platform was Backyard Baseball 2005 released on?
It shipped exclusively for Windows PCs, making it a desktop port rather than a console release. The earlier 2003 version had been a GameCube title, so this brought the gameplay to PC players for the first time.
Where does Backyard Baseball 2005 sit in the Backyard Sports franchise?
It is the fifth main entry under the Backyard Baseball sub-series, following the original 2003 GameCube game and its subsequent sequels. As a port rather than a brand-new title, it updated the existing gameplay for the PC audience.
More in Humongous Entertainment games 1-24
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