Eat Like A Champ

Major League Eating, the folks behind the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest and other food eating competitions, has launched a competitive eating app.

In Major League Eating: The Game, players are top professional eaters who compete to stuff and chew the most ribs, chicken wings, tacos and other foods within the time limit. The tongue-in-cheek game tests players' abilities to bring food to their mouths quickly while maintaining control of accumulating food volume and gas in their digital stomachs.

The International Federation of Competitive Eating hosts 80 annual food eating competitions. The most famous is the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. The quirky culinary contest, in an equally eclectic place, has become a gastronomic pilgrimage for tourists and locals who cheer on the hot dog eaters, sunbathe on the beach and ride whimsical carnival rides.

Players can use power-ups like burping and passing gas, to taunt opponents and cause them to have 'reversal of fortune,' or gastrointestinal issues, which can lead to losing Major League Eating: The Game. The game has 10 characters based on real food competitors like Sonya 'The Black Widow" Thomas who has won 39 titles including downing 552 oysters in 10 minutes and Crazy Legs Conti who has titles in string beans, pancakes, bacon, beef brisket, and Twinkies.

Players compete in 12 culinary competitions, including hot dogs, pizza and chili peppers to achieve Absolute Cram, Burp Master, and Reversal of Fortune.

Anyone can compete in Major League Eating competitions, which have qualifier rounds held in major cities throughout the U.S. that attract competitors and spectators from all over the world. From cannoli and clams to chicken wings and hot peppers, the food eating spectacles have become tourist destinations in their own right.

See America's Tastiest Food Eating Competitions

Major League Eating: The Game is available for iPhone and iPad via iTunes for $0.99. Once players learn to virtually eat like a champ, they can try their hand at the real deal.