• by Karl Greenberg , May 10, 2010

Chevrolet is extending its involvement in baseball as a marketing platform for cars and crossovers with a 3D simulation game designed for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The marketing for the game, "Chevy Baseball," which was designed by Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Small Planet Digital, includes a chance to win a trip to the 2010 All Star Game.

The 3D game, which uses Apple's built-in accelerometer technology, offers a Wii-like experience, according to General Motors. Players can compete in three- or nine-inning games, mini games, and various tutorials.

Wrapped inside the gaming platform is a marketing platform called Chevy Dugout, which showcases various Chevy vehicles like the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox and also contains a sign-up for the All Star Game promotion.

Players can also send virtual postcards to social networks, and track their progress around the world with online leader boards and awards.

Chevy -- for which baseball is the central sports-marketing platform outside of auto racing -- is sponsoring the All-Star Game, which takes place in Anaheim, Calif. on July 13. The automaker will have vehicles on display and in a parade commemorating the game, and is sponsoring the Roberto Clemente Award.

The brand has signed new deals and extended other ones. The GM division in March signed on as exclusive automotive sponsor of the SXSW music, film and interactive festival for the next three years and this year used the festival to tout the Camaro, Volt and forthcoming Cruze compact.

The company has extended its status as official vehicle of FLW Outdoors pro angling. (FLW stands for Forrest L. Wood, the founder of Ranger Boats.) Chevrolet gets a presence at 189 fishing events, the FLW Web sites, magazine, and television show on Versus and other FLW Outdoors functions.

General Motors is also planning to bring the Chevy brand to Korea for the first time starting in 2011. Ironically, General Motors created GM Daewoo Auto & Technology there several years ago to bring Korean-made, Chevrolet-badged compact vehicles like Aveo to the U.S. market.