What may have seemed like a great idea might be actually bogged down because of the scope of the undertaking.

There are bugs and incongruities, a player base that can range from those who enjoy the game, to those out to wreck it. When a player’s experience points (and leveling) rely on players doing a good job and playing well, one rogue player can ruin the experience and hamper any attempts at leveling.

Ultimate Baseball Online started out as a fine idea from Netamin. The game has seen several iterations, including one with the ESPN tag, has been in beta for quite a number of years and has finally launched. As the game has no subscription fee (currently), the levels of existing players were allowed to remain though stats were wiped. Still the game enjoys a decent player base, of varying levels. But still there are those problems that can throw a rain delay into what might have been a truly remarkable game.

Bugs? Incongruities. Well, how about AI that takes the term Artificial Intelligence more toward Animated Idiots at times. Or calls that are so silly as to be funny – if you have the proper sense of humor. Cases in point … Case 1: The ball is hit several feet inside the first base line, on the infield side of the bag; the AI first baseman fails to field it because it is running to who-knows-where; the ball rolls into right field; the call is foul ball. Case 2: Runner on first, ball grounded to short; second baseman starts to charge, sees the shortstop has the angle of approach and will get there first, so runs back to cover second to get the lead runner; shortstop fields the ball, throws it to second; second baseman is standing on the bag; runner continues to run for second as there is no AI call of “OUT;” arrives on second, batter makes first; both are safe.

Hey, Sparky Anderson! you are going too fast, back up and explain the nuances of the game … err, Ok ...

The game begins by downloading the client, which is free (and no monthly subscription is charged either), and then launching the game through the www.ultimatebaseballonline.com Web site. To get an account, all you need is a valid e-mail account.

You then create a player, three slots per e-mail account. All nine positions are represented, each with different stats, but be forewarned, most players do not like to have players take on the role of catcher in games. The attributes are stamina (pitchers will tire and lose speed on pitches), arm strength (determines how hard you can throw), body strength (how far you can hit the ball with minimal effort), quickness (has to do with moving on the base paths), throwing accuracy, and catching range (if you put points in this, you will dive and leap to catch the ball). Each time you level, you are given points (3) to allocate to stats. The higher your arm strength or accuracy, the more pitches you can unlock. You are also given skill points, which can be allocated to either pitches (to make them nastier), or to one of nine strike zones to create hot zones for hitting.

Then you log into the lobby for either the rookies (below level 10) or the minors/majors/all-stars/MVPs – which goes up to level 99 (cap for attributes is also 99).

It takes a minimum of three players to start a game, with one of those players a pitcher. No 1-versus games are allowed. You may start with three or more and end up with two due to lag and drops. NPCs take over the positions not played by real gamers. In-game performance earns experience points. The keyboard and mouse work in concert for fielding, pitching and hitting. The control scheme is easy enough to get used to, it is just that the mechanics of the game create more than their share of problems. Video lag may show you one thing while the game servers are seeing something else.

The control scheme goes from working well, to inexplicable moments where the controls seem to take on a life of their own. Hitting the keyboard command to run backwards, only to start moving forward is one example. Another is: as a pitcher, you deliver to the plate and the batter hits a grounder between the second and first baseman. You run to cover first, as the first baseman moves to field the ball. You get near the bag and the fielded ball is thrown to you. Now you are pressing the controls to run toward the bag, but suddenly the game takes over and turns you to run toward the thrown ball, effectively pulling you well away from the bag.

Before actually jumping into a game, you can also go to UBO camp and train, or learn the game’s mechanics. But training presents its own incongruities. Working through the UBO camp and taking pitching practice, the toon throws an off-speed pitch to the outside, which the batter gets a piece of and dribbles down the first-base line. The game pronounces it a triple. In what world? And then there is the batting practice when suddenly the pitcher throws everything in excess of 1600 miles per hour, including fastballs that zip across the plate at 1965 mph. Unhittable? Only slightly (an understatement).

The game has other failings as well.

There are connection failures that can have players booted from the game. Prior to a game starting, if one player’s connection to the server is severed, the game may drop and all players are sent back to the lockers. Also, some connections will lag for no apparent reasons, and the in-game report may show another player lagging when everyone sees that you are the culprit. The lag must be on the connection between the gamer’s machine and the servers simply because you can be dropped, immediately do a connection speed check and show your 5 meg connection is performing where it should be.

Another persistent bug has to do with the programming and poor sportsmanship (or lag-outs) on the part of some players. A batter hits the ball to the infield and for whatever reason (to protect their batting average, or frustration), as the ball is fielded, instead of running to first, trying to beat the throw or hoping for a wild throw/error, he or she stops, hits escape and exits the game. This can trigger a bug in which the pitcher is locked up when the next batter steps to the plate, and the only way to remove the bug is to vote the next batter out of the game. If it was 3 versus 3, that means the game is over.

The AI is also suspect. At the Major level, game with All-stars, MVPs and Majors – runner on second, no outs, ball grounded toward first base. The runner on second takes off for third. The AI first baseman scoops up the ball and throws it to second base, which no one is covering. The ball sails into left field.

Singles to the outfield can turn into outs at first if the ball is hit straight to the outfielder, and the runner does not have a lot of points invested in run speed. Conversely, a hit to the infield, and slow reaction may yield a base hit if the runner has invested heavily in run speed. Fielders’ choices are recorded as singles, with errors a rarity. Likely Netamin streamlined the process because while baseball is a relatively easy concept – pitch, hit, run, catch, throw – the scoring process can be a little complex.

The controls are fairly straightforward … until they start to take on a mind of their own and negate inputs to move toward the bag and instead turn the player to pull him or her off the bag. You may also run to a point where you will intersect a hit ball and fail to field it, when you were further away on the last chance and managed – somehow – to wind up with the ball in your glove. Some of this has to do, doubtless, with video lag on the serve side and seeing something that the server is not seeing.

The audio is looped and can be turned down. The graphics/animations are, for the most part, well done. The player community is a mixed bag. There are those who will blame everyone around them when the game is not going the way they wished. There are those who like to trash talk, or lament ‘pixel’ pitching (delivering the ball near enough to the strike zone so the umpire will call it a strike for barely hitting zone pixels; the problem here is that if a pitch cuts the zone, it may also be called a strike, though if timed right every pitch can be hit safely, or crushed), or just do whatever they can to spoil the game. Some don’t get the “team” concept of the game. But there are those that do, and they make the experience truly fun. The game does allow for teams, and does have frequent tourneys, which is a boon.

Ok, for a moment, ignore the scoring below. Those reflect the state of the current build of the game in as honest a manner as possible. UBO is fun, and a great concept that just has too many problems to warrant a better set of numbers in the review scoring table. But that said, it should also be noted that it is addictive, can be frustrating, but generally provides fun when you fall into a game with a good mix of players who understand the game, are willing to accept the bugs, and do not act like every pitch is life or death.

This is the core of a good game, and if Netamin can retain its player base, and fix the problems with the game, then UBO will turn out to be a truly remarkable title.

Gameplay: 6.2
The controls will work smoothly and then suddenly seem to have a mind of their own. When the game works, it does work well; but be prepared for crashes, lag bursts, video lag (in which you see one thing but the game does something else), and the occasional player who just does not understand the team concept. 

Graphics: 7.0
While the graphics are serviceable, video lag (server side) creates some problems in which you may see the ball go through a gap in the infield and suddenly the icon appears above an infielder’s head show he (or she) has the ball. You may appear to be safe (or out) and the call goes the other way. Still, the animations are fairly good.

Sound: 5.0
Minimal, and looped tracks for the crowds are better left turned down low.

Difficulty: Medium
You can go along and crush the ball, and then hit a spurt where nothing you swing at will go beyond the infield. The game does have challenge and the more experience (and higher level) you attain, the tougher the game becomes – though you do have the skill points to meet the challenges.

Concept: 7.0
A good idea, just some poor execution – not only in terms of scoring, but in baseball rules that even little leaguers should know.

Multiplayer: 6.5
Hackers (accounts are banned when violations of Code of Conduct are found, still it does not mean people still don't cheat to get ahead), trash talking, people who bend the rules – in all it makes up for a less than friendly experience at times. But when you do fall into a game with people who know how to play and are interested in doing that and having a friendly smattering of chat during the lulls, it can be enjoyable.

Overall: 6.0
It’s like a squeeze play when the batter doesn’t get the signal and fails to read the signal and does nothing, leaving the base runner hanging out to dry. UBO is a good concept that is poorly executed. Might be that the game of baseball has too many anomalies, but there are little things that just don’t add up. The umps are borderline blind and the AI just does not “think” at times, making mistakes that even Little Leaguers are taught to not make (like throwing to the wrong base at precisely the wrong time, or simply not moving until the ball is past them). The game can be fun (generally), frustrating (thanks to the lag and bugs), and could be so much better if some of the more glaring issues are ironed out. The game is free to play, and that is perhaps its saving grace with the problems, at this point. With the right mix of players, UBO is fun and entertaining, despite the bugs, but when you have those who gripe, quit and carry being a jerk to the extreme, the game can be less entertaining than a root canal. And unfortunately, most of the bugs in the current release of the game were in the “beta” that was in place for a year. Hopefully Netamin can get all this sorted out. If so, this will be a terrific game; for now, though, with all the game’s problems, it is hard to give it a better score.