T-Bones Make Baseball History06/22/2005 6:51 AM - 
For the first time in sports history, electronic gaming and professional baseball will come together in a way never seen before by fans, players or the media. Today, CompUSA and the Kansas City T-Bones unveiled the Ultimate Baseball Challenge - a first-ever blend of interactive gaming and professional baseball where gaming enthusiasts of all ages and skills can determine the outcome of a real professional game, with real professional players. “There’s never been anything like it in baseball,” says Bryan Stoffel, sales manager at CompUSA in Overland Park. “We’re holding the end-all-be-all baseball game right here in Kansas City. It will be an absolutely unparalleled experience for fans.” The CompUSA Ultimate Baseball Challenge begins this weekend with 2-1/2 weeks of in-store tournament play, and culminates with two electronic gamers playing the first two official innings of an upcoming baseball game between the T-Bones and the Schaumburg (Ill.) Flyers - using a Microsoft XBox and the CommunityAmerica Ballpark video board. The two teams met in the Northern League playoffs in 2004, a hard-fought series that went the maximum five games. Whatever the score after two innings of electronic gaming, the two teams will then take the field and continue playing. To determine the winning gamers, an Xbox tournament will kick off this Saturday, June 18, at CompUSA stores located in Independence and Overland Park. Participants may pick any baseball team to captain, but they must play against the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox for three innings. There is no fee to enter and children under 18 must have parental approval. Gamers may play as many times as they like per day, but only the first game of each day will count. CompUSA stores will be open for gaming from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The top 16 scorers will take part in a playoff July 9 at CompUSA in Overland Park. On Saturday, July 16, the two highest-scoring gamers will “take the field” for the T-Bones and the Flyers for two full innings, starting at 7:05 pm, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, 1800 Village West Parkway, in Kansas City, Kan. The Schaumburg Flyers will pick which gamer of the two plays for them. T-Bone fans may watch the game on the video board at CommunityAmerica Ballpark or www.tbonesbaseball.com, as all home T-Bones games are broadcast on a pay-per-view basis live on the Internet with the help of B2 Networks and Dimension X Design. The July 16th game is endorsed by the Northern League and its commissioner Mike Stone. “The Northern League is known for its unique promotions and Kansas City is setting a new standard,” says Stone. “The Ultimate Baseball Challenge brings new meaning to the term ‘fan involvement’.” For more information, please contact Bryan Williams at (913)328-5641 or e-mail [email protected]. |