MLB 2K13 Will Not Include Online Leagues

[johne3569]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

How many of you actually played the online league last year? I know I didn't so this means nothing to me. I'm curious to know who actually did...

Yup I played in the league also. Oddly enough if a game isn't that good but has online league, I still enjoy the competition and stat tracking.

[Mt Oread]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

If guys are into online leagues, I get the disappointment. But baseball is by far the worst sport to play in online leagues. The amount of time required to simulate what makes baseball compelling, the grind of three game series and managing bullpens and payers health, is just too great. Baseball games tend to take longer than to play than other sports, and trying to get a three game series in is pretty much impossible, except for that set of gamers that have no job or other life.

For online baseball leagues, text based games like OOTP are still the gold standard. For console baseball, it is either solo franchise or pick-up pay online. And it takes $$$ to maintain servers for leagues and such. there is no way there were enough guys actually paying in online leagues for 2K to find it cost effective.

[AcceptedIntern4]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

If guys are into online leagues, I get the disappointment. But baseball is by far the worst sport to play in online leagues. The amount of time required to simulate what makes baseball compelling, the grind of three game series and managing bullpens and payers health, is just too great. Baseball games tend to take longer than to play than other sports, and trying to get a three game series in is pretty much impossible, except for that set of gamers that have no job or other life.

For online baseball leagues, text based games like OOTP are still the gold standard. For console baseball, it is either solo franchise or pick-up pay online. And it takes $$$ to maintain servers for leagues and such. there is no way there were enough guys actually paying in online leagues for 2K to find it cost effective.

I couldn't disagree more with you. The way 2K had it setup last year it was a pretty good setup. I think you are discounting the online leagues a little too much. Because much of the presentation is cut down (no replays, cut scenes, etc.) the games take roughly 30 minutes. You can play games in any order and each individual league had rules regarding pitch counts and rotations. Online leagues is what makes the game fun for me. It isn't about beating the computer for me. Playing a human opponent with some sort of actual game strategy and having something on the line like the playoffs or division championship is what makes this game fun.

In an online league when you play multiple series with the same human opponents you develop rivalries and the competition level is increased. It just creates a whole new level of excitement and enjoyment to the game.

2K sports really missed the boat this year. I was going to buy their game with the understanding that it was basically a couple new uniforms and updated rosters, but without online leagues I have no purpose for the game especially since playing offline mode is a much, much better experience with MLB The Show.

[johne3569]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

If guys are into online leagues, I get the disappointment. But baseball is by far the worst sport to play in online leagues. The amount of time required to simulate what makes baseball compelling, the grind of three game series and managing bullpens and payers health, is just too great. Baseball games tend to take longer than to play than other sports, and trying to get a three game series in is pretty much impossible, except for that set of gamers that have no job or other life.

For online baseball leagues, text based games like OOTP are still the gold standard. For console baseball, it is either solo franchise or pick-up pay online. And it takes $$$ to maintain servers for leagues and such. there is no way there were enough guys actually paying in online leagues for 2K to find it cost effective.

Baseball games are actually far less time consuming than playing NBA and NFL online leagues especially if you play about 8 minutes a quarter and FAR more competitive because there's really no "money plays" or "hot spots".

I guarantee more people play online leagues than they play a solo Home Run Derby though but that mode is still available.

To each his own though.....

[SynShadowzz]

Re: MLB 2K13 Will Not Include Online Leagues

Intern stealing all my thunder!

[shogunofharlem3]

Re: MLB 2K13 Will Not Include Online Leagues

I haven't played in online leagues for a few years. I think I played in on around 2k7ish but unfortunatley didn't have the time around work / coaching / to stay committed.

Even though I haven't used the leagues in a few years, I for some reason, feel empty that it has been omitted. I don't like the removal of features and options.

First it was the ability to make moves and stuff on the league website. Then it was the league websites all together. Now the leagues. Ugh.

Still love 2k12 for franchise and I know I'll get this at some point down the road when the price drops. For now, very, no, extremely happy with 25 anticipation edit and 2k12

[SynShadowzz]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

I couldn't disagree more with you. The way 2K had it setup last year it was a pretty good setup. I think you are discounting the online leagues a little too much. Because much of the presentation is cut down (no replays, cut scenes, etc.) the games take roughly 30 minutes. You can play games in any order and each individual league had rules regarding pitch counts and rotations. Online leagues is what makes the game fun for me. It isn't about beating the computer for me. Playing a human opponent with some sort of actual game strategy and having something on the line like the playoffs or division championship is what makes this game fun.

In an online league when you play multiple series with the same human opponents you develop rivalries and the competition level is increased. It just creates a whole new level of excitement and enjoyment to the game.

2K sports really missed the boat this year. I was going to buy their game with the understanding that it was basically a couple new uniforms and updated rosters, but without online leagues I have no purpose for the game especially since playing offline mode is a much, much better experience with MLB The Show.

Intern really hits the nail on the head here.

[DaveDQ]

Re: MLB 2K13 Will Not Include Online Leagues

They must have looked at their leagues, how many were created and then how many maintained for 2K12 and previous years. Based on that, they probably axed them.

It really is odd how their two next-gen games are polar opposites in terms of appeal to the consumer and then overall sports gaming popularity.

[shogunofharlem3]

Re: MLB 2K13 Will Not Include Online Leagues

I assumed they dropped the online leagues to use whatever manpower they have to maintain the MLB Today feature. Wasn't kept up with very well last year. That was my guess. Drop leagues, use that man power to deal with MLB Today.

[LetsGoReds]

Re: MLB 2K13 Will Not Include Online Leagues

I was going to make a post about this, but I'm new so I can't.

Would anyone want to do an online league manually? ie- We all add each other on XBL, schedule games (on here), and then play them?

[dubcity]

Re: MLB 2K13 Will Not Include Online Leagues

I assumed they dropped the online leagues to use whatever manpower they have to maintain the MLB Today feature. Wasn't kept up with very well last year. That was my guess. Drop leagues, use that man power to deal with MLB Today.

Yeah, but aren't they just gonna go into lame duck mode like last season? Are they committed to anything beyond this game? That was the excuse for the lack of support after the release last year.

[Mt Oread]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

I couldn't disagree more with you. The way 2K had it setup last year it was a pretty good setup. I think you are discounting the online leagues a little too much. Because much of the presentation is cut down (no replays, cut scenes, etc.) the games take roughly 30 minutes. You can play games in any order and each individual league had rules regarding pitch counts and rotations. Online leagues is what makes the game fun for me. It isn't about beating the computer for me. Playing a human opponent with some sort of actual game strategy and having something on the line like the playoffs or division championship is what makes this game fun.

In an online league when you play multiple series with the same human opponents you develop rivalries and the competition level is increased. It just creates a whole new level of excitement and enjoyment to the game.

2K sports really missed the boat this year. I was going to buy their game with the understanding that it was basically a couple new uniforms and updated rosters, but without online leagues I have no purpose for the game especially since playing offline mode is a much, much better experience with MLB The Show.

My point is really that the games take a lot longer than 30 minutes, unless it is a one of the leagues that ban throwing balls. And even at 30 minutes, it is still and hour and half for a three game series. Playing games out of order dorks up the entire premise of managing a rotation and bullpen.

Find 30 guys that will create a stable league in this scenario is rare. Look at the online league forum. It's freaking dead. No one was playing it.

It's great that there are people that like it, but I'm not surprised that the same company that pulled the plug on MLB Today last year dropped online leagues this year.

I'll tell you what, show me five online leagues that completed one season last year. There is nothing on the web about any leagues besides random forum posts all over asking if there is interest.

It would be better if it was in. It's better if it is left out if they drop the ball on it like they did with MLB Today.

[scottyo60]

Will now go purchase MLB 2K12 for 17 dollars

[SynShadowzz]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

My point is really that the games take a lot longer than 30 minutes, unless it is a one of the leagues that ban throwing balls. And even at 30 minutes, it is still and hour and half for a three game series. Playing games out of order dorks up the entire premise of managing a rotation and bullpen.

Find 30 guys that will create a stable league in this scenario is rare. Look at the online league forum. It's freaking dead. No one was playing it.

It's great that there are people that like it, but I'm not surprised that the same company that pulled the plug on MLB Today last year dropped online leagues this year.

I'll tell you what, show me five online leagues that completed one season last year. There is nothing on the web about any leagues besides random forum posts all over asking if there is interest.

It would be better if it was in. It's better if it is left out if they drop the ball on it like they did with MLB Today.

This is wrong on all points. You don't have to play a 162 game season.
There is a very easy way to manage rotations/bullpens - we did it last year.
We completed a 162 game season with 30 owners.
Using OS to judge the activity of Online Leagues is absurd.

[AcceptedIntern4]

Re: 2K13 - There are NO Online Leagues this year

My point is really that the games take a lot longer than 30 minutes, unless it is a one of the leagues that ban throwing balls. And even at 30 minutes, it is still and hour and half for a three game series. Playing games out of order dorks up the entire premise of managing a rotation and bullpen.

Find 30 guys that will create a stable league in this scenario is rare. Look at the online league forum. It's freaking dead. No one was playing it.

It's great that there are people that like it, but I'm not surprised that the same company that pulled the plug on MLB Today last year dropped online leagues this year.

I'll tell you what, show me five online leagues that completed one season last year. There is nothing on the web about any leagues besides random forum posts all over asking if there is interest.

It would be better if it was in. It's better if it is left out if they drop the ball on it like they did with MLB Today.

Have you played in a Madden League or NBA 2K league? It takes 1.5 hours to play one game in those leagues. It is very clear to me that you have never played in a well run online league before. We have run many leagues between football and baseball with great success and with full participation from the majority of teams.

2K has really dropped the ball here. I went out and purchased the game any ways in hopes that there would be improvements made to last season's version. Instead when I put the game in the system I found that it was 2K12 (which I expected). But what I didn't expect was that it was 2K12 before 2K12 was patched. All of the same glitches that WERE FIXED are back again. The fielder's are throwing the ball all over the field and the only way to get it to stop is to unplug your controller, the catcher isn't fielding ground balls, the same hesitation by infielders and outfielders when fielding the ball. It is absolutely absurd that 2K can release this game with a straight face. I feel cheated, ripped off, and even conned.

They could have released a statement giving a heads up to their consumer base that is loyal. This is an unbelievable let down and as a customer that has purchased all of 2K's sports games I am outraged and won't ever give another dime of my money to them unless this gets rectified in some how some way.