Wade McGilberry will be the first to tell you that being good at video games can sometimes pay out big. After winning a cool million dollars for pitching a perfect game in MLB 2K10, I think he’d be the first to suggest stretching those gaming muscles.

April 1st marks the return of 2K Games’ proposition – The Million Dollar Perfect Game challenge. Players are challenged to pitch the perfect no-hitter for a crack at that seven-figure check.

Rules are simple – contenders must use the MLB Today feature, which uses the actual lineups of teams on the very date in question. We kick off this year one day after Opening Day – meaning those spring training lineups are already gone. Players have had three weeks to break in that throwing arm since the game’s launch – a change from last year’s version. The entire feat must be submitted with video evidence however, following a list of particulars outlined by 2K. After a nerve-racking verification period, winners will be announced – so don’t panic if you don’t hear back right away. Wade McGilberry had to bite his nails for 30 days before the final verdict came down.

The competition is open to gamers age 13 and over, as well as both PS3 and XBox 360 owners. The deadline for submission is September 28th, unless a winner is crowned beforehand. Anyone willing to take a whack at this might want to act fast – McGilberry’s winning game was achieved on the contest’s first day last year.

Official Rules can be found at: http://www.2ksports.com/mlb2k11contest/rules.html

This story was writen by Kristen Maloney