Where is Bill Abner's review of this game?

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  • WAZ
    Rookie
    • Nov 2002
    • 302

    #1

    Where is Bill Abner's review of this game?

    Bill's is an opinion I (and I think everyone) respects greatly. His review of MVP was spot-on, taking the effort to give it credit where due, but putting the game through its paces to be able to point out the glaring flaws (deeper into the game) that most reviewers were too anxious to point out.

    So I know Bill would take a game like ESPN and scrutinize all the best (and worst) parts of it, and I'd love to see his review, if he has one.

    Has he posted an official review, or at least his impressions, anywhere?
    "60% of the time, it works every time."
  • mjb2124
    Hall Of Fame
    • Aug 2002
    • 13649

    #2
    Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

    </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
    WAZ said:
    Bill's is an opinion I (and I think everyone) respects greatly. His review of MVP was spot-on, taking the effort to give it credit where due, but putting the game through its paces to be able to point out the glaring flaws (deeper into the game) that most reviewers were too anxious to point out.

    So I know Bill would take a game like ESPN and scrutinize all the best (and worst) parts of it, and I'd love to see his review, if he has one.

    Has he posted an official review, or at least his impressions, anywhere?

    <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

    Yes he posted his early impressions on his website. I'm afraid I don't know the URL off the top of my head.

    From what I recall, his early impressions were very good.

    EDIT: Here is his website (BLOG)

    Comment

    • mjb2124
      Hall Of Fame
      • Aug 2002
      • 13649

      #3
      Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

      </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
      WAZ said:
      Bill's is an opinion I (and I think everyone) respects greatly. His review of MVP was spot-on, taking the effort to give it credit where due, but putting the game through its paces to be able to point out the glaring flaws (deeper into the game) that most reviewers were too anxious to point out.

      So I know Bill would take a game like ESPN and scrutinize all the best (and worst) parts of it, and I'd love to see his review, if he has one.

      Has he posted an official review, or at least his impressions, anywhere?

      <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

      Yes he posted his early impressions on his website. I'm afraid I don't know the URL off the top of my head.

      From what I recall, his early impressions were very good.

      EDIT: Here is his website (BLOG)

      Comment

      • mjb2124
        Hall Of Fame
        • Aug 2002
        • 13649

        #4
        Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

        </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
        WAZ said:
        Bill's is an opinion I (and I think everyone) respects greatly. His review of MVP was spot-on, taking the effort to give it credit where due, but putting the game through its paces to be able to point out the glaring flaws (deeper into the game) that most reviewers were too anxious to point out.

        So I know Bill would take a game like ESPN and scrutinize all the best (and worst) parts of it, and I'd love to see his review, if he has one.

        Has he posted an official review, or at least his impressions, anywhere?

        <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

        Yes he posted his early impressions on his website. I'm afraid I don't know the URL off the top of my head.

        From what I recall, his early impressions were very good.

        EDIT: Here is his website (BLOG)

        Comment

        • WAZ
          Rookie
          • Nov 2002
          • 302

          #5
          Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

          Thank you very much. He definitely has high opinions of the game, which is great to hear!

          My PS2 version arrives the day after tomorrow....
          "60% of the time, it works every time."

          Comment

          • WAZ
            Rookie
            • Nov 2002
            • 302

            #6
            Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

            Thank you very much. He definitely has high opinions of the game, which is great to hear!

            My PS2 version arrives the day after tomorrow....
            "60% of the time, it works every time."

            Comment

            • WAZ
              Rookie
              • Nov 2002
              • 302

              #7
              Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

              Thank you very much. He definitely has high opinions of the game, which is great to hear!

              My PS2 version arrives the day after tomorrow....
              "60% of the time, it works every time."

              Comment

              • Badgun
                MVP
                • Jul 2002
                • 2638

                #8
                Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

                Here were Bill's first impressions of ESPN Baseball.

                </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                I don't get the media. Now I know that I'm part of the Media Monster and all that. But it doesn't mean that I have to understand it. We hear so often that sports games need to focus on the meat of the game, and that glitz only goes so far, yadda yadda yadda.

                "What if a company focused on the GAME and didn't worry about the fluff? Make the game better first!"

                After spending the day with ESPN Baseball for the Xbox I think that's exactly what Sega did and they are being taken to task because of it. A quick look at gamerankings.com shows that ESPN Baseball is at 76%. Now that number is highly skewed because of the absolutely In-Freaking-Sane review at XBN Magazine, which gave the game a 5/10. That's borderline criminal.

                Most outlets are scoring the game in the 80% range.

                Last year, World Series Baseball 2K3 scored consistently in the 90% range.

                So what gives? This is a VASTLY superior game to what Sega released in 2003 and yet the critics are lukewarm to it because it looks like the same game. They didn't upgrade the visuals all that much. Does that really matter? Isn't it more important that the game be better on the field rather than Adam Dunn's batting stance be 100% correct? Isn't that what we rant about all the time?

                All I know is this: Ben Sheets walked Griffey Jr. 3 times in one game I played. Walks! Honest to goodness walks! I can play with the 1970s old time Reds uniforms and play in Crosley Field without having to unlock the damn things. I bought the game -- give it to me! Don't hang features out like a carrot. Just gimme the game already. Anyway, they did, and I like it. Oh, and as far as atmosphere goes, I defy anyone to find a better game in terms of play by play than ESPN. Miller is my hero.

                Anyway, that's my little rant for the day. I haven't touched the franchise stuff yet but so far I'm playing and having a blast and I have not even touched a gameplay slider yet. I hope the game stands up to further testing, but so far, I am reminded of a nursery rhyme that my daughter loves, albeit tweaked a bit: All the King's Modders, and all the King's Men, couldn't put MVP Baseball back together again.

                I think, and I hope, that I've found my game.


                <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                I don't think he'd mind me posting that, but it was in the archives on his Blog site. Anyway, Bill and Dan Clarke have a little thing going where they post random thoughts about sports games and sports in general. Both are veterans of the sports gaming journalistic community and are very reliable. I read their blog everyday. Go here:

                No, I didn't draft Grossman on my fantasy team, what do you think I am an idiot?

                Comment

                • Badgun
                  MVP
                  • Jul 2002
                  • 2638

                  #9
                  Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

                  Here were Bill's first impressions of ESPN Baseball.

                  </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                  I don't get the media. Now I know that I'm part of the Media Monster and all that. But it doesn't mean that I have to understand it. We hear so often that sports games need to focus on the meat of the game, and that glitz only goes so far, yadda yadda yadda.

                  "What if a company focused on the GAME and didn't worry about the fluff? Make the game better first!"

                  After spending the day with ESPN Baseball for the Xbox I think that's exactly what Sega did and they are being taken to task because of it. A quick look at gamerankings.com shows that ESPN Baseball is at 76%. Now that number is highly skewed because of the absolutely In-Freaking-Sane review at XBN Magazine, which gave the game a 5/10. That's borderline criminal.

                  Most outlets are scoring the game in the 80% range.

                  Last year, World Series Baseball 2K3 scored consistently in the 90% range.

                  So what gives? This is a VASTLY superior game to what Sega released in 2003 and yet the critics are lukewarm to it because it looks like the same game. They didn't upgrade the visuals all that much. Does that really matter? Isn't it more important that the game be better on the field rather than Adam Dunn's batting stance be 100% correct? Isn't that what we rant about all the time?

                  All I know is this: Ben Sheets walked Griffey Jr. 3 times in one game I played. Walks! Honest to goodness walks! I can play with the 1970s old time Reds uniforms and play in Crosley Field without having to unlock the damn things. I bought the game -- give it to me! Don't hang features out like a carrot. Just gimme the game already. Anyway, they did, and I like it. Oh, and as far as atmosphere goes, I defy anyone to find a better game in terms of play by play than ESPN. Miller is my hero.

                  Anyway, that's my little rant for the day. I haven't touched the franchise stuff yet but so far I'm playing and having a blast and I have not even touched a gameplay slider yet. I hope the game stands up to further testing, but so far, I am reminded of a nursery rhyme that my daughter loves, albeit tweaked a bit: All the King's Modders, and all the King's Men, couldn't put MVP Baseball back together again.

                  I think, and I hope, that I've found my game.


                  <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                  I don't think he'd mind me posting that, but it was in the archives on his Blog site. Anyway, Bill and Dan Clarke have a little thing going where they post random thoughts about sports games and sports in general. Both are veterans of the sports gaming journalistic community and are very reliable. I read their blog everyday. Go here:

                  No, I didn't draft Grossman on my fantasy team, what do you think I am an idiot?

                  Comment

                  • Badgun
                    MVP
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 2638

                    #10
                    Re: Where is Bill Abner\'s review of this game?

                    Here were Bill's first impressions of ESPN Baseball.

                    </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                    I don't get the media. Now I know that I'm part of the Media Monster and all that. But it doesn't mean that I have to understand it. We hear so often that sports games need to focus on the meat of the game, and that glitz only goes so far, yadda yadda yadda.

                    "What if a company focused on the GAME and didn't worry about the fluff? Make the game better first!"

                    After spending the day with ESPN Baseball for the Xbox I think that's exactly what Sega did and they are being taken to task because of it. A quick look at gamerankings.com shows that ESPN Baseball is at 76%. Now that number is highly skewed because of the absolutely In-Freaking-Sane review at XBN Magazine, which gave the game a 5/10. That's borderline criminal.

                    Most outlets are scoring the game in the 80% range.

                    Last year, World Series Baseball 2K3 scored consistently in the 90% range.

                    So what gives? This is a VASTLY superior game to what Sega released in 2003 and yet the critics are lukewarm to it because it looks like the same game. They didn't upgrade the visuals all that much. Does that really matter? Isn't it more important that the game be better on the field rather than Adam Dunn's batting stance be 100% correct? Isn't that what we rant about all the time?

                    All I know is this: Ben Sheets walked Griffey Jr. 3 times in one game I played. Walks! Honest to goodness walks! I can play with the 1970s old time Reds uniforms and play in Crosley Field without having to unlock the damn things. I bought the game -- give it to me! Don't hang features out like a carrot. Just gimme the game already. Anyway, they did, and I like it. Oh, and as far as atmosphere goes, I defy anyone to find a better game in terms of play by play than ESPN. Miller is my hero.

                    Anyway, that's my little rant for the day. I haven't touched the franchise stuff yet but so far I'm playing and having a blast and I have not even touched a gameplay slider yet. I hope the game stands up to further testing, but so far, I am reminded of a nursery rhyme that my daughter loves, albeit tweaked a bit: All the King's Modders, and all the King's Men, couldn't put MVP Baseball back together again.

                    I think, and I hope, that I've found my game.


                    <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                    I don't think he'd mind me posting that, but it was in the archives on his Blog site. Anyway, Bill and Dan Clarke have a little thing going where they post random thoughts about sports games and sports in general. Both are veterans of the sports gaming journalistic community and are very reliable. I read their blog everyday. Go here:

                    No, I didn't draft Grossman on my fantasy team, what do you think I am an idiot?

                    Comment

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