Sports Video Games

So, what kinds of sports games are available? Nearly any sport you can play or watch in real life has a video game version available. From hockey and golf to darts and bowling, there is a virtual sport available for everyone. Of course just like the real life sports, the video game versions of baseball, basketball, and football are tremendously popular.

Why are sports games so popular?

The beauty for many sports video game players is that the same traits that make someone a great baseball player are not required to be a champion at the video game. A game allows players to have control not only of the plays and game situations, but in some cases by making management and behind-the-scenes decisions. Many of the best-selling sports games allow players to make trades, train players and make other strategic choices. Of course, for any fan the thrill of being immersed in an interactive experience of the game only amplifies the enjoyment.

Sports licenses in video games

Some of the hottest competition in the video game industry is for sports licenses. For example, in order to use real National Football League team and player names in a football game, the video game publisher must hold a license from the NFL. Starting in August of 2005, publisher Electronic Arts (EA) will hold exclusive rights to the NFL and NFL Players Association for video games for five years. EA publishes the best-selling Madden Football video game franchise. While some sports video games focus on a single athlete or player, the success of most team sports games is heavily dependent on whether familiar teams and players are included.

Best-selling sports video games

Following are some of the best selling video games:

Baseball video games:

As American as apple pie, the baseball video game is a perennial. While several publishers currently market baseball games, the front-runners in 2005 are ESPN Major League Baseball and All Star Baseball 2005. Both games include the official major league teams.

Basketball video games:

There are at least seven NBA licensed basketball video games on the market right now and several of them are excellent. Whether you want to play a season of pro basketball or shoot some backyard style hoops, the video game publishers have got you covered.

Football video games:

EA's Madden Football has dominated the football video game market for several years and has consistently topped the charts in sales. Their new lock-up of the NFL and NFL Players Association licenses, combined with an exclusive license to use the ESPN Football personalities will only cement their position as the leader in publishing football video games.

Other sports video games

Sports games certainly are not limited to the major league sports. Some of the most popular games in recent years have been based on newer extreme sports like skateboarding, snowboarding and extreme skiing.