My scanner is busted, so I can't scan the screenshot ... ummm .. it looks like just about any other next-gen baseball game. The camera for the shot is far behind home, and it's a small shot, so I can't get any real detail. Models/stances seem fine. Stadium seems dark.
from here on, I'm quoting:
Inside Pitch 2003
How's it look?: Crisp, sharp, and smoothly animated with nice attention paid to in-between animations.
How's it play?: Nice, if not for slightly uninspired batting/pitching engine.
Coolest feature: Plays on Xbox Live right out of the gate, with downloadable content, too.
Biggest Weakness: You can only play one-on-one online, so there's no choosing to stand around in right field smoking.
Xbox specific goodies?: It's pure Xbox.
Online?: Pay attention.
Final Word: All the slick, polished qualities we now miraculously come to expect from Microsoft Game Studios.
MVP Baseball 2003
How's it look?: A hundred times better than Triple Play. But still a bit PS2-ish.
How's it play?: Fast, fluid, and different than any other game. The pitcher/batter interface is simplistic at first, but deeper as you play.
Coolest feature: Franchise mode gives you different goals depending on the team you take over.
Biggest Weakness: Overall polish and play is still a ways off.
Xbox specific goodies?: None.
Online?: Not on Xbox.
Final Word: Already an improvement over the shoddy Triple Play series, we hold out hope that MVP could be a contender.
All-Star Baseball 2004
How's it look?: Pretty sharp. Ballparks are especially nice.
How's it play?: The batting interface is unique in design, but needs a lot of work yet.
Coolest feature: The batting interface is, potentially, it's bright spot.
Biggest Weakness: If not fixed, the batting interface will be the big problem.
Xbox specific goodies?: Downloadables.
Online?: Yes, but only roster updates.
Final Word: This one's got a lot of potential that will hopefully be fulfilled with more development time.
World Series Baseball 2k3
How's it look?: Easily the best looking game of the bunch. Stunning stadiums, amazing animation, and shiny and bumpy things.
How's it play?: So far it is the smoothest, best playing game. It sits almost perfectly on the fence between simulation and arcade fun.
Coolest feature: The whole game is solid as a rock, it's got everything the competition has, and so far does it all better.
Biggest Weakness: Last year's game was brilliant, but a bit slow and repetitive.
Xbox specific goodies?: Shiny and bumpy.
Online?: Sadly, no. It's the only Sega sports game not to have online play ... we cry.
Final Word: Odds-on favorite to be the best baseball game out there.
High Heat Baseball 2004
How's it look?: It's the least flashy.
How's it play?: Very well. Other than World Series Baseball, High Heat is clearly the best.
Coolest feature: If you are looking for a baseball simulation, look no further.
Biggest Weakness: Graphics hold back an otherwise excellent baseball game. We hope they can polish it up a bit before it releases.
Final Word: High Heat has had years of success on the PC, and thus the developers have plenty of experience making a good baseball game. We know this won't suck.
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