Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

[Rules]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

This will be the first year that I will not be purchasing a 2k baseball game. I am extremely unhappy with the direction they are going with the series. I don't see the passion that once went into making a great baseball game. Their effort is questionable and why in the world would you change how we pitch and bat when that was not much of an issue in the past? It just doesn't make sense to change the good things that for the most part made the game enjoyable. Now it is a choir to play and I really can't help but wonder what they were thinking when they made this year's version! Just like their hockey, they are taking the series in the wrong direction. They are not listening to what the real gamers want and that is realism. They should have worked more on the atmosphere of the litte things that make baseball enjoyable. They already had a very good batting and pitching system in place so there was no need to start over. Their time could have been better well spent on other areas of the game instead of ripping out what works and putting in things that we did not ask for. I really could care less about trading cards and silly sidebar things that have nothing to really add to what a majority of us play and that is franchise mode! Sorry for the long rant but after seeing them ruin my favorite hockey game of all time and now they are slowly but surely killing off their baseball franchise right before our eyes!

[gbx34]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

I think it was 2k6. They had the crazy thing when you threw a bad pitch it would like zoom in on the ball and you would get a free swing or something what was that called?

It's was kinda cool but did not care for it. Only had it for one year?

[catcatch22]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

I think it was 2k6. They had the crazy thing when you threw a bad pitch it would like zoom in on the ball and you would get a free swing or something what was that called?

It's was kinda cool but did not care for it. Only had it for one year?

Slam Zone

[maverick3176]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

Slam Zone

slam zone was in 2K5...it was a bad innovation. But not as bad as

1. swing stick with no aiming
2. 1st person hitting.
3. taking away homer cam.

[gbx34]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

2. 1st person hitting.

LOL

[bakesalee]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

Thanks to everyone for your support. When I logged on this morning I was thinking how dumb that was to put so much passion into my dissatisfaction with this video game franchise until I see everyone's comments.

Truth be told, Sega baseball actually got me into baseball as an early adult. I never played baseball as a kid, and only casually watched it flipping through channels. Then I played Sega baseball in 2002, and I was buying the season packages and got all into it.

The reason I loved it so much was the simplicity, solid gameplay, and how they lead in graphics. Like I and someone else posted, the best games are the simple ones where you can pick up and play (allowing more of your friends to do the same as well), yet when you spend a lot of time with it, you realize all the other things you can do to add to your skill that aren't necessarily a requirement to jump in, but a huge bonus to those who keep playing it.

Another game that worked like this was NFL 2k5. Simple football with unmatched graphics during a touchdown sequence. So that gets you hooked you know what I mean? Solid, fun gameplay with amazing graphics. This gets you hooked because it's fun, and then because you keep playing it, you see all the other things it has hidden deep down (custom stadium music, Chris Berman, etc). But nowadays it's always a compromise. Things are tweeked to try and bring that stuff back but it somehow doesn't work right and it's never the same.

Games need to go back to their original foundations. Simple, solid and fun gameplay FIRST. Beautiful graphics second. Then and only then do you add all the other crap for the hardcore fans. I honestly don't ever use franchise and any of that stuff. I could care less about it, but know many of you enjoy it. However, if the gameplay isn't fantastic in the first place, why would any of us even care for that crap? No offense, but when did sports titles need to become a sports fantasy mode? GAMEPLAY, GAMEPLAY, GRAPHICS, GAMEPLAY!

Why is it such a challenge to bring stuff back (why was it ever removed in the first place?) and have it functional? When I played NFL2k5, the gameplay was fun (and again, I don't even like football, I'm an old school sports gamer because sports games used to be FUN and ADDICTING), the graphics were amazing, and it had all the little things to boot. When I played the old 2k baseballs the game play was fun, the graphics were great, and I don't ever remember any frametate issues. Why does it seem like it's harder nowadays to have a great game on these supposed high-tech consoles then it used to be six years ago?

I'm just having a rough time with video games these days. On Xbox I was a football gamer (owner NFL2k, NFL Fever), baseball gamer, and a Ubisoft (Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell) gamer. Nothing more. Now the football series are absolutely done. 2k Baseball, well you read what I had to say. Ghost Recon has become "Advanced Warfighter" with high tech drone robots and weird ****. Splinter Cell is now about fighting and throwing **** and shooting. Notice a trend? All the games I mentioned I had extremely fun gameplay, were simple, lead in the graphics department, and were deep but fun and simple enough for me to get to the extras after I developed a taste for the games. Every single franchise I love is either gone, or may as well be. Seriously, I have nothing to look forward to anymore. WTF is going on?

[Kamasutra]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

Seriously, I have nothing to look forward to anymore. WTF is going on?

Can you be a little more dramatic?
3 things to look forward to off the top of my head:
- Spring Training, the season...or catching a game at the ballpark
- rainbow six vegas 2 or GTA IV..
- that awesome evening/clubbing dress my gf just picked up

[baa7]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

Every single franchise I love is either gone, or may as well be. Seriously, I have nothing to look forward to anymore. WTF is going on?

With the demise of gaming, there is 'paint the house finally' and 'clean the garage at last' to look forward to. Not a complete loss

Suggestion: become a soccer fan and pick up FIFA 08. EA really has something special going with that series now. Also, NHL 08 is an excellent game. Or pick up a PS2 - they're dirt cheat now - and The Show 08, which is a great little game. Just don't jump off a bridge, whatever you do

[bakesalee]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

When I said nothing to look forward to, I was strictly speaking of games. Sure GTAIV should be great, but that's it. I don't like first person shooters. Thanks for letting me be so dramatic. My next bitch and moan will be a comedy.

[baa7]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

When I said nothing to look forward to, I was strictly speaking of games. Sure GTAIV should be great, but that's it. I don't like first person shooters. Thanks for letting me be so dramatic. My next bitch and moan will be a comedy.

You didn't really address why you don't buy a PS2 and play The Show at least. The cost is the equivalent of two or three 360 games. And you get to play one of the best baseball games ever developed. At a certain point, the problem isn't about games not being available; it's about you not doing anything about things you have the power to change

[bakesalee]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

No offense, but I had a PS2 in 2002, and got rid of that because Gamecube had better graphics. Then I got rid of that because Xbox had better graphics. Then, well you know. That's a huge step back. I think I'll let sunshine touch my face, make contact with the outside world, and maybe mimic what these sports characters on my TV are doing with my actual body. I'll come back in 2010-2012 when Xbox releases their next console and see if anything's changed. However, I could care less about all these capabilities of the next powerful machines because if it's not fun, who cares.

[baa7]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

No offense, but I had a PS2 in 2002, and got rid of that because Gamecube had better graphics. Then I got rid of that because Xbox had better graphics. Then, well you know. That's a huge step back.

I suppose it's how you look at it. I bought a PS2 and The Show 06 two years ago, after MLB 2K6 was a flop on the Xbox 360. One of the best investments I've made. I get my baseball fix while I wait for 2K to get its act together on the 360.

Like I said, you can complain about the state of baseball gaming, or you can do something about it. Because there are alternatives... like buying a PS3, as another example.

[bakesalee]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

Oh and before you say "That's a lot of hardware trading just for graphics there bud," I have to explain it was strictly due to Sega Baseball. Home Run King (2002) was a GC exclusive. Unlike what the name might suggest, it was a sim game with the best graphics at the time. While I anticipated the follow up, "WSB 2k3," it was announced that the game was scraped for the GC, but would be available for PS2 and Xbox. Doing research in game reviews, it became evident that Xbox had superior graphics on all multi-platform releases that I was interested in, and had the only online service at the time. So I bought the Xbox and things like custom soundtracks were a bonus I hadn't even considered. I made the right choice. My friends and I blissfully played every Sega baseball game on that machine until 2k6.

[bakesalee]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

I suppose it's how you look at it. I bought a PS2 and The Show 06 two years ago, after MLB 2K6 was a flop on the Xbox 360. One of the best investments I've made. I get my baseball fix while I wait for 2K to get its act together on the 360.

Like I said, you can complain about the state of baseball gaming, or you can do something about it. Because there are alternatives... like buying a PS3, as another example.

That's not out of the question. But I have some reservations there. a) I think the PS3, regardless if it has a blue-ray drive and a time machine, is too expensive. I only use consoles for games. I absolutely will though when and if it drops at least $100.
b) I'm not sure if I can go back to the PS2 style controls. After going to the GC and Xbox, the PS2 controller felt like a stiff, 2-handed VCR remote. I know some will say I'm making this up but I my hands actually hurt when playing that thing too much. However, if The Show is as good as it's being touted, I'm sure I can adjust.

[RealmK]

Re: Things inexplicably removed from my beloved 2k series through the years

I suppose it's how you look at it. I bought a PS2 and The Show 06 two years ago, after MLB 2K6 was a flop on the Xbox 360. One of the best investments I've made. I get my baseball fix while I wait for 2K to get its act together on the 360.

Like I said, you can complain about the state of baseball gaming, or you can do something about it. Because there are alternatives... like buying a PS3, as another example.

And gee, you're still waiting for 2k to get their act together on 360 at the same time jumping on anyone who isn't floored by 2k8. Go fig.