MLB The Show Looking Forward?

[Bullit]

I posted this in another thread but it didn't really apply and I am interested in opinions of the Franchise going forward on multiple platforms etc.


I think people expecting big improvements next gen, at least in the beginning are setting themselves up for serious disappointment.

First they have a shortened development cycle. With Covid shutting the world down, there is no way they have been able to put serious work in on next years game. I am not saying they havent been working on it. I am just saying that it is hard to imagine they are reaching the usual work hours that they would have normally put in.

Secondly they have struggled a bit getting the regular product out and functioning without 20 some odd patches lately. Now they are developing for a new console and at least 2 new platforms. Do you really think they are going to rebuild the engine and put it out across 4 platforms in less than a year. I just dont see it happening.

I am not bashing SDS. I am just saying I dont see how we can expect great strides out of the gate. Maybe in a year or two. I would be surprised if we dont see a "new" engine until 2022-23 at the earliest. I fully expect next years game to be much the same as this years with maybe some more polish and tuning. I mean absolutely nothing has changed in Baseball this year. Not even the rosters, so what can they do?

[jrnlgrn]

Re: MLB The Show Looking Forward?

It's hard to keep track but are sports games that are the first version on launch of a console usually good? Maybe I'm not remembering correctly but it seems like they end up being fairly similar to the previous version or not that great.

I only expect a few changes from franchise at first if any. Hopefully smarter tactical moves by the CPU like trades and bullpen logic. Probably expect at least a full A ball roster. Hopefully manager customization and deeper rebranding/relocation. Those all seem pretty doable on a more powerful system for a first go around.

Graphically I'm not sure what people are expecting at this point. I don't think we'll ever see huge leaps in that department anymore or at least not possible to do cheap enough for a console. Things are now at the point of refining and getting the subtle details right versus huge visual jumps. Not saying graphics won't improve but just not to the point where someone will be swayed to purchase a console for that reason alone.

New engine wise I think it's mainly up to what SDS want to do. I think I first heard of dev kits being sent to game companies in early 2018. So that's a good amount of time to work on a new engine if they are inclined to but then 2020 happened and that could have derailed everything.

Whatever happens I'm interested to see what the future holds especially for offline/franchise. Seems other AAA game companies have realized that there is still an appetite for offline game modes but sports games are lagging.

[Caulfield]

Re: MLB The Show Looking Forward?

First they have a shortened development cycle. With Covid shutting the world down, there is no way they have been able to put serious work in on next years game. I am not saying they havent been working on it. I am just saying that it is hard to imagine they are reaching the usual work hours that they would have normally put in.

I know less than zero about video game development but I wonder how much coding can be done from work at home. I suppose it's even possible 21 wont get its nintendo/xbox debut

[Bullit]

Re: MLB The Show Looking Forward?

I know less than zero about video game development but I wonder how much coding can be done from work at home. I suppose it's even possible 21 wont get its nintendo/xbox debut

I am sure some work, if not most coding and such could be done at home. But I would think there would be no new face scans, Park updates or major AI or technical updated. I just don't see the ability to write the code, test the code, implement the code etc being a possible process with less than a year of development. We aren't talking about a AAA title game studio putting together a project that they have been working on for 5 years or something.

I mean lets even assume that they have been working on a new engine for a year or more in preparation for a PS5 launch. Sure the shut down of most of the world would have to put a damper on any finishing touches or programming they had planned for this year?