2K Sports makes The BIGS

Toward the end of 2004, big-time game publishers went on a spending spree of sorts, attempting to gobble up exclusive rights to professional sports leagues. The big winner was Electronic Arts, which partnered with the NFL, NCAA Football, and the Arena Football League within months, effectively locking up licensed football. 2K Sports wasn't far behind, buying the rights to third-party MLB-licensed baseball games.

By shutting out competitors, the two publishers are free to control their respective markets and expand into new brands. EA used the opportunity to create the NFL Head Coach franchise, a strategic take on the NFL. Now, 2K Sports is branching out into its own new MLB-branded property but is going with brawn over brains.

The Take-Two Interactive subbrand today announced The BIGS, an over-the-top baseball game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. The game is being developed by Vancouver-based Blue Castle Games and will be under the close watch of Dan Brady and Jason Leigh--two game vets who helped launch EA's MVP Baseball series. The BIGS takes the field in summer 2007.

In contrast to 2K Sports' MLB 2K baseball simulation series, The BIGS will feature more arcade-style play, including power-ups and "outrageous special effects." Online play, which wasn't detailed, will support up to four gamers.

For more information, read GameSpot's Q&A with producer Dan Brady.