Cal Ripken's Real Baseball
Cal Ripken's Real Baseball, also known as Real Baseball Online or Ultimate Baseball Online, was the first free-to-play baseball based massively multiplayer online sports game (MMOSG). Operating from 2003 until 2008, the game was developed and published by American company Netamin Communication Corporation. The game was designed to allow 18 human-controlled players to compete simultaneously in virtual game, though the number was later reduced due to lag issues. Former Major League Baseball player Darrell Evans served as the game's spokesperson/ambassador prior to Cal Ripken's endorsement of the game. After it ceased operation in 2008, a fan-led open source project was attempted before Real Baseball's successor, Big League Online, was released for beta testing in early 2011. Development and history Netamin Communication Corporation was the developer behind Real Baseball Online, with the company having been founded in 1999. Netamin became the world's first company to develop the technology to build a Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Game (MMSOG), led by its founder and CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer), Andy Wang. The game entered live Beta testing in April 2004 and late in its development was associated with Disney/ESPN. Former Major League Baseball player Darrell Evans served as the game's "Ambassador" for the majority