2KSports loses the MLB Plot

[SirFozzie]

Having shut out EA in the one sport where EA's effort was the more playable game, they bring on some of the EA Baseball Programmers and make..

2K Sports Announces Larger-Than-Life Baseball Action With 'The BIGS'
2K Sports Throws Big-Time Heat With New Extreme Addition To Major League Baseball Lineup
NEW YORK, NY - October 31, 2006 - 2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO), announced today a unique, new sports title that adds more explosive excitement to baseball video games than ever before - The BIGS. This over-the-top baseball action title puts an entirely new spin on Major League Baseball as it blends outrageous visuals and intuitive gameplay mechanics to bring fans a brand new MLB video game experience.


"The BIGS is sure to turn a few heads as it pioneers a completely different way of playing an MLB video game," stated Greg Thomas, President of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. "2K Sports is always looking to deliver the most innovative and eye-catching sports video games to fans and The BIGS is one of 2K Sports' most dynamic titles to date."

Developed by Blue Castle Games, The BIGS brings blazing graphics to huge proportions with larger-than-life MLB player models and ballparks. Featuring fantastic pitching, batting, and fielding animations, gamers can also take advantage of spectacular power-ups with outrageous special effects. As a standard for all major 2K Sports titles, The BIGS features online play for up to four players, making it a grand slam for online baseball battles.

At the helm of The BIGS is Dan Brady of Blue Castle. Dan is best known as the creator of and Technical Director on the EA Sports MVP Baseball series of games. Joining Dan at Blue Castle is a number of experienced baseball developers, including Jason Leigh - the Lead Designer of MVP baseball. "This is an extremely exciting time for fans of baseball videogames, as Blue Castle Games has assembled an absolute all-star lineup for this game," stated Greg Thomas.

The BIGS will be available for the Xbox 360(tm) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION(r)3 and PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment systems, the PSP(r) (PlayStation(r)Portable) system, and Nintendo's Wii(tm) home video game console. The BIGS is slated for release in summer 2007.

[Draft Dodger]

can't wait to completely ignore this one!

[jeff061]

Powerups?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Hopefully, this will just be in addition to their "regular" game. I'd hate it if they plan to completely replace "real" baseball with this stuff. The market already has MLB SlugFest, which is pretty cheesy, so I don't know how 2K Sports intends to make a similar game and have it succeed.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Dola

I must admit, though, that I will buy this on release day if Derek Bell is an unlockable character. The twist is that you unlock him and put him onto your opponent's team.

[MizzouRah]

Hopefully, this will just be in addition to their "regular" game. I'd hate it if they plan to completely replace "real" baseball with this stuff. The market already has MLB SlugFest, which is pretty cheesy, so I don't know how 2K Sports intends to make a similar game and have it succeed.

I believe there will still be a "normal" baseball game.

[Cringer]

Wasn't there a baseball game a long time ago with wacky crap, like flaming bats and crazy pitches? Stuff that would be considered powerups....

Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am just confusing it with the basketball one.

[jeff061]

I think that was the final death rattle of Triple Play as High Heat was stomping it?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Wasn't there a baseball game a long time ago with wacky crap, like flaming bats and crazy pitches? Stuff that would be considered powerups....

Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am just confusing it with the basketball one.
That would be MLB SlugFest, which I referenced earlier. They still make MLB SlugFest, and it's a fairly entertaining diversion, but it's certainly not going to be confused with an actual baseball game. As long as 2K Sports makes a "normal" baseball game, I don't mind that they're doing this other game. More power to 'em.

[SirFozzie]

the thing that pissed me off is that their MLB franchise needs big time help (remember the horror that was X360 MLB2K6?), and they brought in the best folks for the job, programmers from the EA MVP series..

and then promptly dumped this stupidity on it, so they'll even have LESS attention to pay to MLB2K7 next year

[SackAttack]

This is "in addition to."

The EA MVP guys are ALSO having some serious inpupt on the regular MLB game.

Fear not, guys.

[SackAttack]

Dola,

I'd imagine the engine work going into MLB2k7 is going to be reused here, so it's less a matter of 'not having time to pay attention,' and more a matter of 'reusing the work we've already done.'

[Julio Riddols]

I'll stick to super baseball simulator 1.000 on my SNES emulator.

[dervack]

Dola,

I'd imagine the engine work going into MLB2k7 is going to be reused here, so it's less a matter of 'not having time to pay attention,' and more a matter of 'reusing the work we've already done.'
Yeah, IGN already had a preview on MLB 2K7 and one of the main guys from the MVP team is there working on it.

[Z²+]

Dola

I must admit, though, that I will buy this on release day if Derek Bell is an unlockable character. The twist is that you unlock him and put him onto your opponent's team.

You leave Derek Bell alone, mister. He's full of moxie.

[Pumpy Tudors]

You leave Derek Bell alone, mister. He's full of moxie.
Today is day 1691 of Operation Shutdown. :)

[MalcPow]

Powerups?

Clumps of dirt, flaxseed oil, that sort of thing. :)

[daedalus]

If they could/would just remake Baseball Stars, I'd be all over it.

[Maple Leafs]

Wasn't there a baseball game a long time ago with wacky crap, like flaming bats and crazy pitches?
It was called Inside the Park Baseball.