Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

[Scottdau]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

Not sure if my post got lost due to being last on page 9, or for being too long, or people are just ignoring me...

I totally agree and coming from you this huge. You were such a big fan of this game in 2k7 and 2k8.

[jeffy777]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

man, I wish VC had taken over last year instead....

[Eddie1967]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

Exact same thing could be said about 2k and baseball. I don't get the hypocrisy.

As far as 2k being held to a different standard, I have no idea how you could possibly come to that conclusion. If MLB2k9 was an EA game, what do you think the reaction wouild be around here? You wouldn't be defending as you are now.

I think it would be treated just like EA's hockey series. I can't remember what year it was that I did like that series but after that it was all down hill, completely laughable, now the past 2 years they made some improvement but it still lacks things that the 2k series HAS, except the eye candy, yet it gets nothing but praise and awards etc., EA should get smashed for madden but they get a "free pass" for everything else. It's just the way it is IMHO of course.

[bkrich83]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

Criticism is fine, hopefully the developers are listening so that they get ideas for what the fans want for next year, but IMHO it gets way to crazy on every 2k release. Just take a look at the forum, it's a jumbled, panicking, the sky is falling mess. It's this way every time a 2k game is coming out..............

In this case it looks like it maybe for good reason. If someone so dedicated to 2k games and their baseball games in particular like Bigfn'Joe is jumping ship, then that should tell you something.

[bkrich83]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

I think it would be treated just like EA's hockey series. I can't remember what year it was that I did like that series but after that it was all down hill, completely laughable, now the past 2 years they made some improvement but it still lacks things that the 2k series had, except the eye candy, yet it gets nothing but praise and awards etc., EA should get smashed for madden as they should but they get a "free pass" for everything else. It's just the way it is.

Not around here they don't. EA gets bashed for being EA here. Again I agree some of it's deserved, but 2k gets the free pass constantly here.

If MLB2k9 was an EA game it would be a lot worse.

[Bigtonyclark]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

Bigfnjoe's post convinced me to cancel my pre-order. I don't say that with any sort of bitterness, either. In fact, thank you for being an unbiased voice of reason. My xbox 360 is now up for sale on craiglist, and I'm looking on that same site for a cheap PS3, or I'll wait for the price drop. Let's hope I can get The Show soon.

[Scottdau]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

Not around here they don't. EA gets bashed for being EA here. Again I agree some of it's deserved, but 2k gets the free pass constantly here.

If MLB2k9 was an EA game it would be a lot worse.

The only thing is the hockey sure gets a bunch of loving here. So maybe it is becasue people hate them becasue they destroyed 2k football? I have ever understand all the hate for these companies. Sure it is great to have choices, but it is business, so they did the great business move. I understand that.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

I'm not going into detail but just saying it's not as cut and dry (imo) as saying MLB2K9 has done no better representing baseball than Madden has football. Just opinion. Without looking though, I'm willing to bet XBM hasn't been nearly as critical of Madden in it's reviews as it has of MLB2K - just a guess.

** In looking they rated Madden '09 a 9 - no surprise there. Not saying the 6.5 for MLB2K9 isn't justified, but shows how out of whack these various outlets are. They don't come close to using similar criteria when judging these games.

Well, I don't want to take this portion too much further since it strays from the actual point (and really, this is all about perspective).

I'll just say I agree that most mainstream outlets are far too slanted in reviewing Madden. It's kind of a separate animal in that regard.

As far as how 2K9 represents baseball, I hold to that. It's represented the sports equally as poorly as Madden. Remember, this isn't talking about representing the videogame version of the sport, I'm talking the sports it's licensed to represent. To the dgree one wants to take the comparison though, I agree it's a matter of opinion.

Oh well. The mods are in lockdown mode over at 2K forums, panic has ensued and it all just feels remarkably similar to last year. Maybe that's not fair, I don't know.

Like I said, this game won't be terrible for what it is apparently meant to be. I just personally expect more from my sports games, in terms of representation. It seems unless some things change via patch or PC editing, then I'll have to pass for now. No biggie.

[Eddie1967]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

The only thing is the hockey sure gets a bunch of loving here. So maybe it is becasue people hate them becasue they destroyed 2k football? I have ever understand all the hate for these companies. Sure it is great to have choices, but it is business, so they did the great business move. I understand that.

Yeah killing 2k football definitely is apart of the hatred. I understand the business part of it too, hell we would probably all make the same decision but for fans of 2k football, it was a huge, unforgivable blow. Just seeing what the NBA/NHL series have become, it pains me to think about what 2k football would have been by now.

You know I have to correct myself. I said no game was unplayable or maybe I said no 2k game is unplayable, anyway the madden series is completely unplayable for me. It just does nothing for me.

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

I think that it's fair to say that the whole thing about these reviews comes down to the agendas. Just like the 2k5 guys who, sadly, are still ticked about the deal 4 years later, there are MVP fans who still hate that deal. It's not fair to the developers who are trying to create games without the added drama and pressure those deals put on them. Now the 2k guys have to deal with The Show being around and being a clearly superior game. And not being available to everyone. So everyone gets in line ready to pile on because the "only" baseball or football game isn't the "perfect" game.

I guess I'm just getting worn out on the whole agenda/sense of entitlement thing. Good game by whatever developer, I buy it and try to use my limited time to burn up the disc. Bad game by whatever developer, don't buy it, keep playing Fifa09. Or NFL2k5. Or College Hoops2k8. Don't have to have new, just fun. My only "wish" I'd like to see is more of the developer interaction that seems to be all the rage on OS these days. If we can't have true competition with these deals, hopefully the developers of this game will do like Ian and Phil have done with Madden and really get down in the trenches with the gamers to know what we want, not what they think we want.........

[bkrich83]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

Yeah killing 2k football definitely is apart of the hatred. .

Yet you forgive 2k for doing the same thing to baseball. That makes perfect sense.

God bless blind product loyalty.

[bkrich83]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

You know I have to correct myself. I said no game was unplayable or maybe I said no 2k game is unplayable, anyway the madden series is completely unplayable for me. It just does nothing for me.

See MLB2k6, locked up on so many people so often it was truly unplayable as in people couldn't play it even if they wanted to. Not that many wanted to. . If you think Madden's bad, have you played 2k FOM? Not since FB Pro 99 for the PC has their been such a bug ridden sports game released. FB Pro 99 was recalled, FOM should have been.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

The only thing is the hockey sure gets a bunch of loving here. So maybe it is becasue people hate them becasue they destroyed 2k football? I have ever understand all the hate for these companies. Sure it is great to have choices, but it is business, so they did the great business move. I understand that.

That's a big part of it. EA "killed" football and a promising football franchise right when it hit it's stride. That generates a lot of hate. Some of that is generated on the baseball side towards 2K over killing MVP too, no doubt. It's a bit more subdued since there's at least an option for some though.

I really think their are two separate debates going on in here. One, that Eddie is referring to is the mainstream media review outlets. They clearly review EA games high, I would agree.

The other, that I (and I think bkrich) am referring to, has to do with the consumers on various forums, mainly this one. Most people are much harder on EA. Some of this is deserved, some of it is just trend. Ea has the "evil corporation" persona attached to it more than 2K.

In either case, while we may have gotten sidetracked, the point remains. GENERALLY SPEAKING...lol...the frustration you're seeing about 2K9 right now isn't hate...for 2K, or anyone.

It's people who were likely hopeful for a better experience who are baffled by the subtraction of features that matter to many who post here. when BFJ (who I've jokingly called a 2K apologist before) is so hard on the game, it speaks volumes.

Again, they just seemed to have missed the mark for a lot here. Most of us who are posting our frustrations with this are people who had hopes of purchasing this game. Now we're either on the fence or have given up.

That's not to say many won't still be pleased, mind you. It's just pointing out that for most, it's mainly just disappointment over blind hate in this case.

We'll see how it plays out...lol.

[bkrich83]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

That's a big part of it. EA "killed" football and a promising football franchise right when it hit it's stride. That generates a lot of hate. Some of that is generated on the baseball side towards 2K over killing MVP too, no doubt. It's a bit more subdued since there's at least an option for some though.

I really think their are two separate debates going on in here. One, that Eddie is referring to is the mainstream media review outlets. They clearly review EA games high, I would agree.

The other, that I (and I think bkrich) am referring to, has to do with the consumers on various forums, mainly this one. Most people are much harder on EA. Some of this is deserved, some of it is just trend. Ea has the "evil corporation" persona attached to it more than 2K.

In either case, while we may have gotten sidetracked, the point remains. GENERALLY SPEAKING...lol...the frustration you're seeing about 2K9 right now isn't hate...for 2K, or anyone.

It's people who were likely hopeful for a better experience who are baffled by the subtraction of features that matter to many who post here. when BFJ (who I've jokingly called a 2K apologist before) is so hard on the game, it speaks volumes.

Again, they just seemed to have missed the mark for a lot here. That's not to say many won't still be pleased, mind you. It's mainly just disappointment over blind hate.

We'll see how it plays out...lol.

I never thought I would see the day when BFJ was critical of a 2k game. His statements about this game, say more than any single mainstream review about the state of this game,imo.

[Scottdau]

Re: Possible first review!! XBM - 6.5

I like Madden, so I get tired of all the hate. But oh well.