Re: Will MLB 2k shock the world?
I'll try to be as reasonable as possible about this. I haven't bought a 2k baseball title since 2k7 because the quality pretty much nosedived with each subsequent release until last year. Since then it's been strictly youknowwhat for me but I've always been open to trying their new efforts. The problem is, I haven't even been remotely enticed to purchase their recent titles because their lack of info/late info doesn't give me the urge to reach into my pockets when another baseball title, which I'm MUCH more informed about, with a more polished reputation is released on THE SAME DAY FOR THE SAME PRICE!!!
Now I never attended business school, but I have worked in sales for many years and I know that when you have a product with a bad rep that's competing for dollars, there's gotta be something, SOMETHING, to garner new interest. Because the way it's looking, this method of advertising is only catering to people who have ALREADY decided to purchase. Yes the million bucks challenge is nice, but let's face it, it's probably easier (and cheaper) to buy a few lottery tickets and you'd probably have better odds, seriously. 
So to answer the OP's question,at this point in time and most likely after release, I'd have to answer with a resounding NO!
I'll try to be as reasonable as possible about this. I haven't bought a 2k baseball title since 2k7 because the quality pretty much nosedived with each subsequent release until last year. Since then it's been strictly youknowwhat for me but I've always been open to trying their new efforts. The problem is, I haven't even been remotely enticed to purchase their recent titles because their lack of info/late info doesn't give me the urge to reach into my pockets when another baseball title, which I'm MUCH more informed about, with a more polished reputation is released on THE SAME DAY FOR THE SAME PRICE!!!
Now I never attended business school, but I have worked in sales for many years and I know that when you have a product with a bad rep that's competing for dollars, there's gotta be something, SOMETHING, to garner new interest. Because the way it's looking, this method of advertising is only catering to people who have ALREADY decided to purchase. Yes the million bucks challenge is nice, but let's face it, it's probably easier (and cheaper) to buy a few lottery tickets and you'd probably have better odds, seriously. So to answer the OP's question,at this point in time and most likely after release, I'd have to answer with a resounding NO!
They even went as far as licensing over a few dozen retired players to accurately portray this feature. For a title that already had a huge built-in audience, this NO DOUBT brought in newer fans to the series, even people who probably never played a basketball video game. Another thing I would suggest is FULL POST-RELEASE SUPPORT. 2K's NBA title received a marvelous patch that eliminated a number of glitches AND improved the already top-notch gameplay.
) leaves me cautious of 2K's dedication to it's baseball titles. I won't get into their marketing because as you said, it's irrelevant to this topic, but these are a couple of examples of what I would consider "shock". To go above and beyond their duty to satisfy the current fans and lure in the new ones. 
Now I can't speak for the rest of the fans of the "game that shall not be named" but I haven't buried my head in the sand toward 2K11 because as many people have said, competition drives the best outta developers, and from what we've seen going from 2k9 to 2k10 I think it actually rings true. But I, like you, just don't expect to be "shocked" this year.
My last experience with 2k baseball was 2k7, arguably Kush's best effort, and I was burned by the franchise bug that locked up the game before the playoffs, after playing roughly 155 or so games manually. 
I think I do have the right to be weary of a similar experience while at the same time optimistic. We all here love sports gaming, we wouldn't be posting if we didn't. Yes, there can be some really annoying complainers, on both games' boards, but I haven't read anything in this thread that constitutes spoiled, but rather frustrated. The game has steadily improved, most here know that. But bringing up games on older hardware, while they were fun and fondly remembered, really makes no sense to me here, with all due respect.
Comment