Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Agreed!

In 05', while not every game was perfect, it was the best year for baseball gaming competition.

MVP 05
ASB 05
WSB 05
HH 05
MLB 05

Yup. I know MVP is everyone's wet dream around here, but I actually played ASB more for the consoles, and stuck with HH2004 on PC.

Speaking of which...

I couldn't care less who makes it (with the caveat of course being that it's good) but what I want is a new, up-to-date baseball game for the PC, that is as deeply customizable as HH was. Who knows, maybe MS will do it once the deal is up. One can dream.

My trouble with 2K's PC offering (aside from general gripes that affect all platforms) is that it's teased me with the custom parks, jerseys, etc...but is essentially as limited as the consoles other than such visuals.

[timmermac]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

For me, the pinnacle of non-text based PC Baseball gaming was HH 2001-2003. 2004 for the PC had a number of annoying issues. A new PC baseball game should probably use those games as a base.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

For me, the pinnacle of non-text based PC Baseball gaming was HH 2001-2003. 2004 for the PC had a number of annoying issues. A new PC baseball game should probably use those games as a base.

This.. That statistical engine on the HH series was 2nd to none. Though the graphically it left some to be desired, between the lines HH was a great series

[Artman22]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Yup. I know MVP is everyone's wet dream around here, but I actually played ASB more for the consoles, and stuck with HH2004 on PC.

Speaking of which...

I couldn't care less who makes it (with the caveat of course being that it's good) but what I want is a new, up-to-date baseball game for the PC, that is as deeply customizable as HH was. Who knows, maybe MS will do it once the deal is up. One can dream.

My trouble with 2K's PC offering (aside from general gripes that affect all platforms) is that it's teased me with the custom parks, jerseys, etc...but is essentially as limited as the consoles other than such visuals.

I remember the HH series. They had the worst graphics, but the gameplay was good. Do you recall ASB with the suction catches? especially on the ground balls?

[JayhawkerStL]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

This.. That statistical engine on the HH series was 2nd to none. Though the graphically it left some to be desired, between the lines HH was a great series

Well, for the PC, I preferred FPS Baseball Pro, if it just came down to stat engine. But High Heat was a lot of fun, and had a great stat engine for an action game.

At this point, if a High Heat or MVP game were to be released, they would have to be judged on their own merits. There is no reason to believe either would live up to any past glory, nor fail to do so. Both would be brand new franchise to market, with a familiar name on the box.

But I've been happy enough with EA Sports' recent work that I would have to think they could get a pretty good game together.

[ryan36]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Ok, yeah, lay off any particular poster , guys.

ASB's problems...were the pitcher batter interface, the .5 inch fielders, and stealing got way too easy. Also I didn't like the roster limits they put on you.

HH's problems were pretty much all graphical/presentation. And no pre-set stealing. I think this was one of the best pitcher /batter interfaces of all time, if not the best.

WSB 2k5...a little easy to hit home runs, and steal. LOVED pitching.

MVP 05' was pretty damn awesome. Best fielding ever, I liked the graphics. Batting felt too random- and couldn't hit anything outside the zone. Also , pitch meter was a little easy.

MLB 05' hadn't come into it's own yet.

And now, we have The Show, with lackluster fielding, and 2k10, with lackluster fielding (for different reasons) .

R-Stick controls coming from MVP College series to 2k, and now the Show has "hinted" they may be in the game next year.

Pitching meter came from MVP and was used in the Show. 2k employs a different meter based on R-Stick.

Throw meters from MVP. The deep offline franchise, and MoM from ASB (although other PC sims had MoM...FPS, Hardball, HH)...and Hardball had it from SNES days too.

Pitch colors for types of pitches from MVP, now used in 2k. (Although too intrusive for my liking.)

I think ASB was the first game to have active bullpens (meaning you can see pitchers warm up).

Point being, competition is good, as all these companies would take their own flavor, and supplement it with what worked from other titles. Now we have only 2, and we see that across all sports games.

[mwjr]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

This.. That statistical engine on the HH series was 2nd to none. Though the graphically it left some to be desired, between the lines HH was a great series

Best gameplay, bar none.

And for those claiming the The Show got better only because of 2K, that's not true. The folks at the show were already improving the game before the emergence of the MLB 2K series.

[CMH]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Best gameplay, bar none.

And for those claiming the The Show got better only because of 2K, that's not true. The folks at the show were already improving the game before the emergence of the MLB 2K series.

The point isn't that 989 got better only because of 2K. The point is that because of competition, because consumers have an option, developers must always find ways to improve the quality of their product.

I think we can all agree that 989 cares about their product. They want to get better every year. But, do not ignore what competition does to a company. Competition drives innovation.

[countryboy]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

CB, you know this has always been a "gray area" on this very forum. Some will leave some criticism, and then be jumped on for bashing. When they are just voicing their displeasure no different than ones that do it on any other forum. I personally don't see him as trolling any more than the ones who feel they need to turn the blind eye to glaring issues, and lambaste him for his displeasure's about the game.

How is a game to improve if one can not voice their displeasure's in certain areas?

He has no infractions for his comments, they are not to that point. Not everyone is going to like what everyone has to say. That is why proper discourse and healthy constructive feedback is what is needed. Not have him attacked by the same group who jumps on people every year in this very forum, for having issues with areas of the game that the general consensus knows needs improvement.

I am not trying to stick up for anyone, but it seems it is already starting where one's can not say anything that bothers them about this game, without being labeled as something they clearly are not doing. How is this forum supposed to function if all the comments have to always be positive?

Any-who, just my observation over the past year on here, and thus why I avoided this forum at all costs this past year.

I wasn't going to respond, but you know I have to. I don't need to be lectured on how the forums are supposed to run, the function and the purposes, I'm well aware. At no time did I say that someone couldn't voice their criticism. I stated my opinion on a particular poster's habits in this thread. I don't care if he's been infracted or not, my opinion doesn't change.

So please, save me the lectures and the explanations of how things are run around here. In the time that I've been here, I'm pretty sure I've got the jist of it.

Thanks.

[CMH]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Guys, just drop it, please. No sense in talking about it.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

I remember the HH series. They had the worst graphics, but the gameplay was good. Do you recall ASB with the suction catches? especially on the ground balls?

Yup. Or how about the low fly balls that would suddenly arc up and over the wall? ASB had some very shady gameplay issues...lol. What I loved about it though was a lot of the "little things" (kind of how The Show has become known for them now).

The Ivy changed at Wrigley, the fantasy parks were awesome, they had balks, expansion mode, some good and sometimes funny announcing, etc.

At this point, if a High Heat or MVP game were to be released, they would have to be judged on their own merits. There is no reason to believe either would live up to any past glory, nor fail to do so. Both would be brand new franchise to market, with a familiar name on the box.

Very true. I also think it would likely take a couple years for a new entry to get it's footing.

As I've said before though, the more the merrier. Back when there were choices, I would cycle through 3-4 of them a year for various things I liked. Made it real easy for baseball to go year round and still feel perfectly fresh.

[MLB01]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

The point isn't that 989 got better only because of 2K. The point is that because of competition, because consumers have an option, developers must always find ways to improve the quality of their product.

I think we can all agree that 989 cares about their product. They want to get better every year. But, do not ignore what competition does to a company. Competition drives innovation.

Consider this though.. it's not direct competition really cause The Show isn't made for the 360. If The Show was made for the 360, I'd agree with you 100%.

I mean, 360 owners don't have an option. Only the PS3 owners have an option and it's been statistically proven that most PS3 owners go with the baseball game that has a better foundation. Also, 2K Sports games on the PS3 usually look worse and have a clunkier framerate than the 360 version, so, ya know, I'd say all that has to be considered when you say what you say.

[DickDalewood]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Consider this though.. it's not direct competition really cause The Show isn't made for the 360. If The Show was made for the 360, I'd agree with you 100%.

I mean, 360 owners don't have an option. Only the PS3 owners have an option and it's been statistically proven that most PS3 owners go with the baseball game that has a better foundation. Also, 2K Sports games on the PS3 usually look worse and have a clunkier framerate than the 360 version, so, ya know, I'd say all that has to be considered when you say what you say.

They're both made for the PS3... so it's still competition, and 2K wants to create a game that BOTH console owners buy, not just 360 customers.

[MLB01]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

They're both made for the PS3... so it's still competition, and 2K wants to create a game that BOTH console owners buy, not just 360 customers.

Then why are all the 2K Sports games worse looking and running on PS3 ?

I don't know how anyone can speak on behalf of 2K at this point. It's all such a mystery anymore.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Then why are all the 2K Sports games worse looking and running on PS3 ?

I don't know how anyone can speak on behalf of 2K at this point. It's all such a mystery anymore.

For the same reason that other games sometimes look or perform worse on the PS3 - games are frequently developed with the 360 as the lead sku, that's no secret. It's not just 2K games that look worse on the PS3 (I have both systems) so no need for you to try to insinuate it's a 2K-only issue