What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

[hyacinth1]

If I understand correctly, there is no longer an exclusive MLB license right? Meaning if say EA or 2K want to make their own baseball game, they can (??).

If that is correct, what's the hold up? I remember a few years ago the argument was baseball games make no money but I think the last 3 years MLB THE SHOW has shown companies can make A LOT of money on baseball games.

What's the hold up if not licensing? I understand we have RBI baseball but that's arcade. I'd love for EA to remake MVP or even Microsoft remake High Heat which they still own the code license for.

[baconbits11]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

Good question, but probably what's holding it up is the development phase. The Show is the only game to have a foothold in development. Everyone else would be from ground up and would be quite an investment of not just time but also programming and feature building which costs a lot of $$$$. Not to mention the MLB and MLB Players licenses.

[CujoMatty]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

Good question, but probably what's holding it up is the development phase. The Show is the only game to have a foothold in development. Everyone else would be from ground up and would be quite an investment of not just time but also programming and feature building which costs a lot of $$$$. Not to mention the MLB and MLB Players licenses.

I don’t have a link but I read somewhere that the reason MVP isn’t happening is exactly the reason you said. Too much ground to catch up to the Show.

[djnate27]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

Good question, but probably what's holding it up is the development phase. The Show is the only game to have a foothold in development. Everyone else would be from ground up and would be quite an investment of not just time but also programming and feature building which costs a lot of $$$$. Not to mention the MLB and MLB Players licenses.

The Show isn't the only game with a foothold in development. Konami has been continuously making great baseball games for decades in Japan. They really just need a dedicated American publisher who can take the engine and core mechanics, make some tweaks to reflect the US style of play, and then market the game properly. 2K Sports received this opportunity over a decade ago, but failed miserably in so many ways. To be fair, they were involved in so many baseball projects at the time, that it must have been hard for them to concentrate on one, and make it great.

[UFCMPunk]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

In regards to this, I see what Axis Football and Maximum Football is doing where they are making a sim football game without the NFL license. Would a customization filled non licensed Baseball Game be the answer to this thread? If anyone out there would make a non licensed fictional world of baseball with fictional teams, players, coaches, would it work?

[GlennN]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

In regards to this, I see what Axis Football and Maximum Football is doing where they are making a sim football game without the NFL license. Would a customization filled non licensed Baseball Game be the answer to this thread? If anyone out there would make a non licensed fictional world of baseball with fictional teams, players, coaches, would it work?

I don't think a baseball game would have the same demand or sales numbers as a football game. Already, Axis and MaxFB will probably lose the vast majority of potential customers by not having the NFL/NCAA license. Personally, I don't care, and I'll be buying (and I'd be buying baseball and hockey games that don't have a license). But, in terms of sales numbers, I doubt an unlicensed baseball game could be profitable.

[Caulfield]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

profit. there's barely enough profit in the Show to qualify it as more than a fringe sport. relatively speaking. probably RBI getting slowly better over time is the best hope.

[Blzer]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

In regards to this, I see what Axis Football and Maximum Football is doing where they are making a sim football game without the NFL license. Would a customization filled non licensed Baseball Game be the answer to this thread? If anyone out there would make a non licensed fictional world of baseball with fictional teams, players, coaches, would it work?

Depends on the title. Look at Super Mega Baseball and its customization options. Of course, that is an arcade game in nature, and may be different than that of a sim title.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: What is holding up another baseball sim game on consoles?

The Show isn't the only game with a foothold in development. Konami has been continuously making great baseball games for decades in Japan. They really just need a dedicated American publisher who can take the engine and core mechanics, make some tweaks to reflect the US style of play, and then market the game properly. 2K Sports received this opportunity over a decade ago, but failed miserably in so many ways. To be fair, they were involved in so many baseball projects at the time, that it must have been hard for them to concentrate on one, and make it great.

Yup. Power Pros 2007/08 were fantastic games and part of a great series (PawaPuro). The engine just needs an MLB coat of paint to be playable in 2019. I’m pretty sure the underlying engine for Pro Yakyuu shares a lot in common with PawaPuro as well.

2007/08 never developed traction though, and the Bobblehead Pro nonsense they tried to build afterward was a disaster. The Show is starting to get very long in the tooth so maybe a developer starts thinking about making a play.