Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

[moose616]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

Absolute worst case scenario, if EA would somehow strike an exclusive deal, that doesn't mean The Show would end. They just wouldn't be able to use team and player names. They would still be able to release the same baseball game with knockoff teams and players.

The Show is already one of the greatest games in terms of customization. They would make teams and divisions editable and OSers would be able to recreate the MLB.

[GiantYankee]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

Let's just think about this.
if EA buys the exclusive licence and freezes out Sony then we only have 1 baseball title.

I think it's been stated that since Sony is not considered a third party developer, they would not be blocked by an exclusivity agreement.

[jr86]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

I think it's been stated that since Sony is not considered a third party developer, they would not be blocked by an exclusivity agreement.

I have not seen this stated anywhere?
Are you saying that if EA bought an exclusive licence that Sony could still make a baseball game...i don't think this is correct.

[cbrown119]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

Intetesting subject....

Can someone explain the difference between 3rd and 1st party licenses?

I never understood that terminology.

If there wasn't any exclusive rights, would that mean 2k would produce next years version? Could The Show then be available to the other consoles?

sorry for my ignorance in this matter...

[jr86]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

Intetesting subject....

Can someone explain the difference between 3rd and 1st party licenses?

I never understood that terminology.

If there wasn't any exclusive rights, would that mean 2k would produce next years version? Could The Show then be available to the other consoles?

sorry for my ignorance in this matter...

A 3rd party licence is the one 2k currently holds for their baseball game which prevents other games companies (EA etc ) from making a game because 2k has bought the rights to the MLB. However it does not prevent the likes of Sony or Microsoft making a game which is why we currently have the Show also.
An exclusive licence is what EA has with Madden and as far as i am aware this prevents anyone from making an NFL licenced game.

In theory next year without a licence 2k or Ea or both could make a baseball title if they agree terms with MLB.
The Show can never be available on the 360 because Sony makes this game for their console.

[Knight165]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

Intetesting subject....

Can someone explain the difference between 3rd and 1st party licenses?

I never understood that terminology.

If there wasn't any exclusive rights, would that mean 2k would produce next years version? Could The Show then be available to the other consoles?

sorry for my ignorance in this matter...

1st party means....you make the console...you can make the game.
Sony makes PS3...they can make a game for the PS3(1st party)(with the exclusive deal that is in place for MLB)

2K makes a game for the PS3...but it's 3rd party(they don't make the console)(assuming no exclusivity)

If there were no exclusive rights...yes SCEA could make the game for XBOX...but they wouldn't.

M.K.
Knight165

[cbrown119]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

Thanks.

So Sony has never made a game that worked on other consoles and Microsoft "could have" made a baseball game for their xbox, if they chosed to and wasn't prevented by the 2k license....mmmm.

I think I am fortunate to have a PS3....

[metal134]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

There seems to be this mentality that EA is just waiting in the wings to swoop in and snatch up the license and freeze out even the 1st party developers. But that doesn't make much sense. EA had the chance to get the license 7 years ago or whatever it was and they passed. Baseball is not the juggernaut for them that football is. I think the more likely, and unfortunate, scenario is that the MLB sticks to their guns about a 3rd party exclusive license and nobody takes them up on it, leaving people with only XBOX out in the cold for the 2013 season.

[nomo17k]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

There seems to be this mentality that EA is just waiting in the wings to swoop in and snatch up the license and freeze out even the 1st party developers. But that doesn't make much sense. EA had the chance to get the license 7 years ago or whatever it was and they passed. Baseball is not the juggernaut for them that football is. I think the more likely, and unfortunate, scenario is that the MLB sticks to their guns about a 3rd party exclusive license and nobody takes them up on it, leaving people with only XBOX out in the cold for the 2013 season.

Is it so important for people to see a new version of the game every single year? There are plenty of baseball games released on that platform from the past which you can keep playing (and players presumably are editable, so rosters can be updated).

[kingdevin]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

Neither EA nor anyone has any desire to get in to an exclusive deal with baseball. Baseball games just don't sell as well as football or basketball games. There's not enough ROI. 2k/Take2 just learned this lesson.

I don't think we'll see an exclusive MLB license for some time, nor has it really been the MLB's style in the past.

I'm sure scea wouldn't mind an exclusive deal!!! I think their roi has been pretty good, no?

[bkrich83]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

I'm sure scea wouldn't mind an exclusive deal!!! I think their roi has been pretty good, no?

They don't have an exclusive deal. And if you look at their sales numbers they are good, but certainly not good enough to make an exclusive deal palatable.

[metal134]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

I think the MLBPA will ask for another exclusive deal. But I also think that the market will dictate that they will have a difficult time finding a partner and may have to back off of that. Really, Madden is the only sports franchise that can make exclusivity worth it for the publisher at this point, even with it's decline in sales in recent years.

[bayman]

Re: Is it possible this could be the last MLB: The Show?

The answer to the OP is yes it is possible.

My best GUESS for the future (I'm not going to make definitive claims like some people in this post who have zero specifics about what license fees are or will be for their grand statements of fact) is that the only baseball game for the rest of this gen is The Show. I believe it very likely that 2K will drop their series even if the MLB were to only ask for the same license fee they use to get before exclusivity, sales are really that low if you compare to last gen numbers. It also seems very far fetched to think EA or anyone else will have the time or money to get a new engine off the ground for consoles on the backside of their life cycle.