Play "Virtual Baseball" With The Iowa Cubs

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.iowacubs.com/asp/news.asp#1358' target='_blank'>http://www.iowacubs.com/asp/news.asp#1358</a><br /><br /></div>If you ever attend the Iowa Cubs minor-league AAA team for the Chicago Cubs, and you have your Pocket PC handy, check this out!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/news/20030521-ICubs-VirtualBaseball.jpg" /><br /><br />"Sec Taylor Stadium is wireless! Bring your wireless laptop or handheld Pocket PC (or rent one at the ballpark), play "I-Cubs Virtual MVP" and win a trip for two to Game Four of the 2003 World Series! It's easy, it's fun and it's free to play! Here's how the game works: <!><br /><li> You predict an unlimited number of events you think will happen in the next inning. (Example: groundout, double-play, single, flyout, home run)<br /><li> You earn points for correct predictions and you lose points for incorrect predictions. (Example: You guessed that someone would hit a home run in the next inning. You would earn 50 points if it happens. But you would lose 20 if it doesn't happen).<br /><li> The fan with the highest point total after seven innings wins! Nightly prizes will be awarded to the winner. And each winner is entered into the drawing for the trip for two to the 2003 World Series (tickets/hotel/air/transfer). Each winner has a 1-in-72 chance of going to the World Series!"

[Gremmie]

You know, I live in Iowa, I live in Des Moines, and I have this to say about this; I'll be damned.

[Kati Compton]

Well, if you visit Rod Beck's trailer, say hi and have a beer for me. Tell Rod I hope he gets back onto the Chicago Cubs team. ;)

[gorkon280]

Think about it (beyond the silly game). How about a special setup with WiFi that when you fire up the browser a page containing the ball score loads. You could even have additonal player statistics and things about the players on it so folks could know more about the players. This could even work in Nascar a Winston Cup race where they could show all of the stuff they do on TV on the PPC (for a fee of course). Streaming the TV coverage would not work since there would be a unavoidable lag between the action on the field/track. Things like the box score and leader board in a race would be ok any lag would not last more than a second or two(seems to be this way with NASCAR's Leaderboard web site). In any case, Wi-FI could be used to give the fans in the seat a better experience then they'd have at home. They'd get the sense of being there because they are there and they'd have all of the information that broadcasting the race gives them.

[trachy]

What perfect evolution from the AM radio to PPC. Is there a CF AM radio plug-in out there that would complete the experience?

[pohlman]

Think about it (beyond the silly game). How about a special setup with WiFi that when you fire up the browser a page containing the ball score loads. You could even have additonal player statistics and things about the players on it so folks could know more about the players.

Exactly! So you know, I'm the one who developed the game :D I'm ALWAYS interested in feedback! We wanted to do even more than we have done, but given time constraints we decided to put out something new and exciting with the thoughts to add more later. One other cool thought was to put live (wireless) cameras around the stadium and allow users to bring up other views at the game (Who wouldn't want to see what it is like to sit behind home plate for a game). Shoot, if we had cameras on the batter or on the pitcher, I'd bet that scouts would be very interested in tuning in over the web to check out some of they players they're already listening about over the web.

Anyone who is interested, the game can also be played over the internet now! They play the game only at home games and the next game is tomorrow (Friday 5/23) at 7PM Central Time. You can go to http://www.iowacubs.com and fireup the streaming audio and then head over to http://my.i-spotaccess.com and try out the silly game! I've had players AT the park who tell me that they forget that there is a game going on out there because they're paying so much attention to how they are doing. It's funny to watch a die-hard I-Cubs fan to get excited when the opposing team gets a double because the fan thought that a double would occur during the inning! Oh, remember, when you make your picks, it is for both the top AND the bottom of the inning (6 outs). If you make your picks for inning 1, the next time you make your picks, it will be for inning 2!

[Gremmie]

pohlman-putting up wireless camera's could do wonders; camera's could be put in and those in the Cub Club and Sky boxes could make use of them, while everyone (including the wireless users) wouldn't mind a scorebox web page.

By the way, does this wireless network allow for general web use during the game at Sec Taylor?

[qnelson]

I live in Fort Dodge, Iowa and I am going to have to remember to bring my pda when I go to the games. This is pretty cool.

QNelson

[pohlman]

Actually, I've been wanting to put a live scoreboard on the game. I wanted to get it there by the upcoming homestand, but the weeks flew too fast!! It will be there soon :) oh crap, now I'll *have* to do it ;)

Yes, you can get on the web and surf during the game too! There is a link to "Go Online" that opens your connection up to go out on the internet. You start with 10 hours of free internet time (metered by the minute). Each time you login to our I-Spots, you gain points. It takes 10 points to get another 60 minutes of online time. The first time you login to an I-Spot in a given month, you get 10 points. Each day there after, you get 5 points per day. We currently have 10 I-Spots with the 11th coming online next week! That means that if you visit every I-Spot this month, you will get enough points for 10 more hours! Plus, you're getting your butt in the seat of the venue. The point of the points is to make the internet access as free as possible while at the same time motivating our users to use more than their 1 or 2 favorite spots. As we bring on more sponsors, you will also be able to use your points to redeem for other services as well (free ice cream cone, etc)

I think the coolest part is that we can say "yeah, we've got the internet too" because of the content freely availible just by logging into our I-Spot!

[disconnected]

Wow, this is really creative! I occasionally visit DesMoines, and I'll definitely see if there's a game in town the next time I'm there.

[bdegroodt]

I love it! That's pretty slick. Who needs the majors when you have hungry young talent in a technologically advanced stadium. Very cool indeed!

[Janak Parekh]

Think about it (beyond the silly game).
Oh, come on man, don't diss my favorite sport ;)

pohlman, big kudos to you for setting this up. :werenotworthy: I'm very impressed with your foresight -- I don't think any major league ballparks have this, right? You should sell the idea or the software platform :D

--janak

[pohlman]

Actually, we want to extend our network to other ball parks! We're working on it :) We're also venturing into other sporting arenas as well!

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

We currently have 10 I-Spots with the 11th coming online next week!

I live in Perry Iowa and grew up in Des Moines. I have used your I-spot service in Vally West Mall (Gotta do something to kill the time when the wife is shopping... hence the name). And you have the one at Sec Taylor Stadium. Where are the other 9?

[karen]

Did anyone else cringe at the graphic's depiction of a baseball crashing into the PDA Screen???

OK, I know it's supposed to be goin' the other direction, but I guess I'm paranoid...

K :roll:

[pohlman]

I live in Perry Iowa and grew up in Des Moines. I have used your I-spot service in Vally West Mall (Gotta do something to kill the time when the wife is shopping... hence the name). And you have the one at Sec Taylor Stadium. Where are the other 9?

Fantastic question! We have I-Spots at Doc's, Autographs, Miss Kittys, State Federal Bank (on the Skywalk), Crossroads, Computer Renaissance (The will even help configure your hardware if you have difficulties), Heartland Inn (Clive), Iowa Geneological Society, Valley West Mall, Sec Taylor Stadium, and we cheat and include the Cub Club Restaurant as a separate location.

We *had* Legends out in West Des Moines, but they discontinued the service because of difficulty with the only (read reasonable) ISP availible at their location.