I am not very impressed by the supposed "new" features announced for MLB 08. Most of these features are already in MLB 2k7.
FEATURES announced for MLB 08:
• Road to The Show 2.0 – True this is not in MLB 2k7
• Progressive Batting Performance – This is mostly changing ratings as the season progresses, i.e player progression, already in MLB 2k7
• Replay Vault – You can already view any play in the game in MLB 2k7 even previous innings
• Post Game/In Game Pitcher and Batter Analysis – This is just a screen showing all the pitches you have thrown in the game, already in most baseball games even PS2 version of MLB 07
• Pitch Grips – This is new I admit
• Crowd Interaction – With the power of the PS3, the MLB franchise is set introduce subtle elements of baseball that, quite simply, couldn’t be done on another platform. A big part of baseball is in the ambiance of the game – having realistic stadiums is mandatory, but the crowd also plays a big part in the overall atmosphere. Gamers will see a vast array of new ambient elements including: fans coming, going and reaching for foul balls, vendors, 7th inning stretch, the wave, standing ovations, dynamic crown actions like hanging K’s, and much, much more. These new subtleties make MLB 08 THE SHOW truly feel like a day at the ballpark. MLB 2k7 already has fans going for foul balls, 7th innings stretch, curtain calls, does not have hanging K's or the wave but is this really different? ASB 05 had hanging K's
• MLB My Music – Ever wanted to make your own video game soundtrack? With MLB 08 THE SHOW for the PS3 and PSP® gamers will be able to take the music that they have stored on their PS3 HDD and add to the list of music played in the Juke Box. MLB 2k7 had this pre patch where you could rip your own music to the harddrive
• SCOUT [SportsConnect Online User Tracking] – If you’ve ever had a difficult time finding an opponent that wants to play online with the same gameplay setting as you, this is your feature. SCOUT allows gamers to set their game preferences, stores them on the server, and then allows the system to look for a Quick Match with an opponent that fits their criteria.
Pretty much basic online matchmaking we;'ve seen in games before
• In-Game MLB Live Scores – Using our new top of the screen Score Bar display, gamers will get updates on what is going on in the Majors. Along with scores and inning, gamers will also see notables, such as HR’s, complete games, etc. MLB 2k7 had a sport ticker if you paused the game for a while
• Online League Play – MLB 2k7 already has this
• Online News Service / MLB.com Headline News – and this
• Rivalry Mode – For those with a competitive nature, Rivalry Mode allows baseball fans to set up and maintain multi-game rivalries between multiple gamers or versus the Artificial Intelligence (AI), and keeps track of the stats throughout the rivalry. You can set this up in MLB 2k7
• Franchise Mode – Extending the experience of running a team, performance and player morale are tracked on virtually every level – salary, playing time, batting slot, team performance, and much more.
• Career Mode – The Career Spotlight underscores all of the accomplishments and failures during a career and showcases them in the limelight. Gamers still need to call the shots, but now the ramifications of actions are documented. MLB 2k7 doesn't have this but does have Franchise, season, all star game
• Season Mode – Grind out the162 game season and deal with day-to-day match-ups, refining the lineup and play for the championship just like the pros.
• All-Star Game – Lets gamers take the virtual road trip to New York early to see who prevails for home field advantage in the 2008 Fall Classic.
• Multi-Branch Fielding – • PlayMaker Fielding – 2k7 really needs to improve fielding
• Adaptive Pitching Intelligence (API) – Catchers will call the game based on individual strengths and weaknesses of each pitcher and analyze tendencies of batters. Gamers will have the ability to trust the pitches called by the catcher or shake them off. (The catcher’s recommendations are based off of thousands of actual MLB® stats.) MLB 2k7 has catchers call pitches
• Pitch Command System (PCS) – • Release Point Pitching – • Pitching Confidence Meter – 2k7 has confidence, you can see it on Manager Visits
• Guess Pitch – • My Sliders (Up/Downloadable) – • MLB® Player Motion Captures –• Thousands of Personalized Animations – • New Umpire Personalities –
• MLB 08 THE SHOW • Managers / Coaches – MLB® managers and coaches will be on the field calling the shots.
• MLB Authenticity, Subtleties & Nuances – MLB 08 THE SHOW features drag bunts, wild pitches, broken bats, check swings, off-line throws and much more.
• Wind Effects – MLB 08 THE SHOW features a wind display showing wind speed and direction. Depending upon the severity of the wind, the ball will drift according to the speed and direction. Wind effects will force the player to take the proper route to the ball and make adjustments on the fly.
3-Man Booth & Progressive Commentary – Rex Hudler, Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell provide the most comprehensive commentary heard in any baseball videogame
MLB 2k7 has all this too
I was hoping for big things from a baseball game this year, but what is the big deal about these features?
FEATURES announced for MLB 08:
• Road to The Show 2.0 – True this is not in MLB 2k7
• Progressive Batting Performance – This is mostly changing ratings as the season progresses, i.e player progression, already in MLB 2k7
• Replay Vault – You can already view any play in the game in MLB 2k7 even previous innings
• Post Game/In Game Pitcher and Batter Analysis – This is just a screen showing all the pitches you have thrown in the game, already in most baseball games even PS2 version of MLB 07
• Pitch Grips – This is new I admit
• Crowd Interaction – With the power of the PS3, the MLB franchise is set introduce subtle elements of baseball that, quite simply, couldn’t be done on another platform. A big part of baseball is in the ambiance of the game – having realistic stadiums is mandatory, but the crowd also plays a big part in the overall atmosphere. Gamers will see a vast array of new ambient elements including: fans coming, going and reaching for foul balls, vendors, 7th inning stretch, the wave, standing ovations, dynamic crown actions like hanging K’s, and much, much more. These new subtleties make MLB 08 THE SHOW truly feel like a day at the ballpark. MLB 2k7 already has fans going for foul balls, 7th innings stretch, curtain calls, does not have hanging K's or the wave but is this really different? ASB 05 had hanging K's
• MLB My Music – Ever wanted to make your own video game soundtrack? With MLB 08 THE SHOW for the PS3 and PSP® gamers will be able to take the music that they have stored on their PS3 HDD and add to the list of music played in the Juke Box. MLB 2k7 had this pre patch where you could rip your own music to the harddrive
• SCOUT [SportsConnect Online User Tracking] – If you’ve ever had a difficult time finding an opponent that wants to play online with the same gameplay setting as you, this is your feature. SCOUT allows gamers to set their game preferences, stores them on the server, and then allows the system to look for a Quick Match with an opponent that fits their criteria.
Pretty much basic online matchmaking we;'ve seen in games before
• In-Game MLB Live Scores – Using our new top of the screen Score Bar display, gamers will get updates on what is going on in the Majors. Along with scores and inning, gamers will also see notables, such as HR’s, complete games, etc. MLB 2k7 had a sport ticker if you paused the game for a while
• Online League Play – MLB 2k7 already has this
• Online News Service / MLB.com Headline News – and this
• Rivalry Mode – For those with a competitive nature, Rivalry Mode allows baseball fans to set up and maintain multi-game rivalries between multiple gamers or versus the Artificial Intelligence (AI), and keeps track of the stats throughout the rivalry. You can set this up in MLB 2k7
• Franchise Mode – Extending the experience of running a team, performance and player morale are tracked on virtually every level – salary, playing time, batting slot, team performance, and much more.
• Career Mode – The Career Spotlight underscores all of the accomplishments and failures during a career and showcases them in the limelight. Gamers still need to call the shots, but now the ramifications of actions are documented. MLB 2k7 doesn't have this but does have Franchise, season, all star game
• Season Mode – Grind out the162 game season and deal with day-to-day match-ups, refining the lineup and play for the championship just like the pros.
• All-Star Game – Lets gamers take the virtual road trip to New York early to see who prevails for home field advantage in the 2008 Fall Classic.
• Multi-Branch Fielding – • PlayMaker Fielding – 2k7 really needs to improve fielding
• Adaptive Pitching Intelligence (API) – Catchers will call the game based on individual strengths and weaknesses of each pitcher and analyze tendencies of batters. Gamers will have the ability to trust the pitches called by the catcher or shake them off. (The catcher’s recommendations are based off of thousands of actual MLB® stats.) MLB 2k7 has catchers call pitches
• Pitch Command System (PCS) – • Release Point Pitching – • Pitching Confidence Meter – 2k7 has confidence, you can see it on Manager Visits
• Guess Pitch – • My Sliders (Up/Downloadable) – • MLB® Player Motion Captures –• Thousands of Personalized Animations – • New Umpire Personalities –
• MLB 08 THE SHOW • Managers / Coaches – MLB® managers and coaches will be on the field calling the shots.
• MLB Authenticity, Subtleties & Nuances – MLB 08 THE SHOW features drag bunts, wild pitches, broken bats, check swings, off-line throws and much more.
• Wind Effects – MLB 08 THE SHOW features a wind display showing wind speed and direction. Depending upon the severity of the wind, the ball will drift according to the speed and direction. Wind effects will force the player to take the proper route to the ball and make adjustments on the fly.
3-Man Booth & Progressive Commentary – Rex Hudler, Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell provide the most comprehensive commentary heard in any baseball videogame
MLB 2k7 has all this too
I was hoping for big things from a baseball game this year, but what is the big deal about these features?
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