''BattleSport'' is a 1996 futuristic

sports video game A sports video game is a video game that simulates the practice of sports. Most sports have been recreated with video games, including team sports, track and field, extreme sports, and combat sports. Some games emphasize playing the sport (such ...

developed by

Cyclone Studios Cyclone Studios was an American video game developer and publisher based in San Mateo, California. It developed several titles for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and later Microsoft Windows. Early works Cyclone Studios was founded in December 1 ...

. It was originally published by Studio 3DO (the software division of

The 3DO Company The 3DO Company was an American video game company based in Redwood City, California. It was founded in 1991 by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins in a partnership with seven other companies to develop the 3DO standard of video gaming hardware ...

) for the

3DO Interactive Multiplayer 3DO is a video gaming hardware format developed by The 3DO Company and conceived by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins. The specifications were originally designed by Dave Needle and RJ Mical of New Technology Group, and were licensed by third ...

in 1996. After the 3DO was discontinued ''BattleSport'' was published for other systems by

Acclaim Entertainment Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. was an American video game publisher based in Glen Cove, New York. Originally founded by Greg Fischbach, Robert Holmes, and Jim Scoroposki from a storefront in Oyster Bay in 1987, the company built a global develop ...

. It was released for

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

and

PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...

Sega Saturn The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it is the successor to the succes ...

, and

in North America in July 1997, and in Europe on August 1, 1997.BattleSport for PlayStation

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

. Retrieved on July 1, 2009.

Development

Director Evan Margolin summarized the making of the game: Near the end of 1996, Studio 3DO stated that a version of ''BattleSport'' for the

Panasonic M2 Panasonic M2, earlier known as 3DO M2, is a multimedia terminal and cancelled video game console. It was initially developed by The 3DO Company as a peripheral chip for the 3DO hardware before turning into a standalone successor system. In Janu ...

was in development.

Reception

GamePro ''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...

'' gave the 3DO version a recommendation. While they said the game is harder than it should be due to slippery controls and an overabundance of powerups to flip through, they felt the strong graphics, audio, and fast-paced gameplay "make this a game worth playing." A reviewer for ''

Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...

'' gave the game an even stronger recommendation, praising the unique gameplay concept, exceptionally good polygon graphics by 3DO standards, huge variety of power-up items, and consistently smooth frame rate even in the multiplayer mode, which he was especially enthusiastic about: "As with any split-screen, having your view so vertically limited is distracting, but the sheer fun and excitement of competing in this game against another human player is incredible." Though the 3DO version failed to reach a mass audience, it sold well enough to turn a profit. The game was less well-received when it appeared on the PlayStation, with critics praising the huge number of arenas and options but railing against the unnecessarily frustrating handling of the vehicles. Dan Hsu elaborated in ''

Electronic Gaming Monthly ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews. History The magazine was fou ...

'', "It's difficult to catch the ball at any time, unless it's sitting still, or you and it are heading toward each other in a straight line." Commenting on the game's arcade-style simplicity, having little variety or long-term objectives to keep the player engaged, Jeff Kitts stated in ''

'', "the fact is that there's just no need for a game like this on the PlayStation in 1997."Kitts, Jeff (July 29, 1997)
BattleSport Review for PlayStation

. Retrieved on July 1, 2009.

Sequel

A sequel, ''BattleSport II'', was planned for the

Nintendo 64 The (N64) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997. As the successor to the Super Nintendo E ...

and PlayStation, but never released.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battlesport 1996 video games 3DO games Cancelled Panasonic M2 games Cyclone Studios games Multiplayer and single-player video games PlayStation (console) games Sega Saturn games Video games developed in the United States Windows games