For gamers who have seen the gaming era change, “Backyard Baseball ’97” is a nostalgic trip back to the good old days. It is an upcoming modern re-release of the beloved 1997 classic! This game is looking to bring back the nostalgia of picking teams, hitting home runs, and managing a roster full of quirky child athletes. With an updated interface, global leaderboards, and the addition of Steam achievements, the game looks like it’s shaping up to be a fun trip down memory lane for fans. However, as the game is yet to be released for modern times, you might have a few questions about the features. Specifically, will “Backyard Baseball ’97” have multiplayer and mod support? Let’s get into the details to find out the answer.
One of the most requested features in any modern game is multiplayer mode, and for good reason. Multiplayer in the case of Backyard Baseball ’97 would allow players to relive their childhood with friends or compete globally in real-time. Meanwhile, mod support is another highly sought-after feature, especially in remakes. With mods, fans could create custom teams, modify stats, or even build entirely new stadiums, breathing new life into a game they’ve loved for years. Both multiplayer and mod support would extend the replayability of the game, giving us more freedom to enjoy it in creative ways. So are they available?
Backyard Baseball ’97 Multiplayer & mod support: Are they available?
As of now, Backyard Baseball ’97 has yet to be released, and based on all available information, we can safely say that neither multiplayer mode nor mod support will be available at launch. First, let’s address multiplayer and then we will come to the availability of mod support.
Multiplayer mode
According to comments from players following the game closely, the developers faced significant limitations in adding this feature. Since the game was originally built on the SCUMM engine, which was notoriously difficult to work with, adding multiplayer support will require access to the original source code. Without this code, implementing multiplayer would be near impossible, as the development team would need to decompile the entire game and then rebuild it for modern multiplayer functionality. This is an incredibly time-consuming and complex process, which Mega Cat Studios has noted they likely do not have the resources to pursue. Historically, even the original Backyard Baseball ’97 did not feature any form of online multiplayer. Only later versions of the series, such as Backyard Baseball 2001, supported multiplayer. Given these challenges and limitations, it appears that Backyard Baseball ’97 will remain a single-player experience upon release, with global leaderboards being the closest alternative for competitive play.
Mod Support
When it comes to mod support, the situation is equally challenging. Modding is typically more feasible when developers or the community have access to the game’s source code, allowing for changes in the game’s structure or assets. In the case of Backyard Baseball ’97, as mentioned earlier, the developers have confirmed that they lack the source code, which makes adding modding tools or support incredibly difficult. The SCUMM engine, which was used to build the game, is not particularly mod-friendly, either. In a nutshell, while dedicated modders may attempt to work around these obstacles, for now, there will be no official mod support in Backyard Baseball ’97.
That being said, we hope your doubts on this matter are clear. Now, for all your other gaming-related queries, make sure to visit DigiStatement daily. Also, click here to find out about the new characters that are going to join the roster of Mortal Kombat 1.
