Developer 2K Sports is offering $1 million dollars to the first gamer to throw a perfect game in its upcoming baseball game “MLB 2K10.” The contest is being used as a way to prove the authenticity of the new pitch controls found in this year’s iteration of the game.

The money is one of the largest sums ever offered for a skill-based challenge rather then a random drawing, which most marketing giveaways follow. Youtube and other sites are littered with videos of players throwing perfect games in past iterations, but with the new controls players might find themselves struggling Chris Snyder, director of marketing at 2K Sports, said he believes in the fan base. “I would be shocked if someone doesn’t get it. It’s very doable. It’s been budgeted for. It’s in an escrow account, and we’re fully expecting to pay it.”

The announcement of the contest comes as a surprise due to the waning interest in the series over the years. With poor sales, it was rumored that 2K Sports would abandon its baseball series like sports title competitors Electronic Arts. Devoting $1 million dollars of the games marketing budget to a contest shows the company’s commitment to the series and its fans.

All submissions must be taped from start to finish and played on the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 version of the game. 2K Sports is teaming with Twin Galaxies, the authority for video game records, to certify the submissions for the contest. “This is about us being really proud of our revamped pitching mechanic,” Snyder said, “We think we’ve captured the essence of what it feels like to be on the mound. We’re proud of the fact this is skill based. You’re going to have to be good at the game of baseball to win this million dollars.”