MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

[DBMcGee3]

You could argue the conclusion is virtually the same (though it's a weak argument, since most reviews aren't about the game's quality but, instead, a larger issue of this series' development), but the process in reaching it is quite different. Primarily, when you start your critique with "I haven't even played this year's iteration" then any criticism you have about the game itself is irrelevant.

Touche, but when I've played the last 4 versions, all of which were virtually identical (and lame in my opinion), and then read a review claiming that there are little or no changes to this year's version, I don't think it's completely unfair to call a spade a spade. If it were just this site, that would be one thing, but a 48 on Metacritic is as low as I've ever seen.

Again, it is not my intention to troll the game, but as an XBox owner I've been frustrated for years at the inability of 2k to make a decent baseball game. This blog is specifically about the negative reviews, I don't feel like I'm too far out of line here.

[RoyalBoyle78]

Touche, but when I've played the last 4 versions, all of which were virtually identical (and lame in my opinion), and then read a review claiming that there are little or no changes to this year's version, I don't think it's completely unfair to call a spade a spade. If it were just this site, that would be one thing, but a 48 on Metacritic is as low as I've ever seen.

Again, it is not my intention to troll the game, but as an XBox owner I've been frustrated for years at the inability of 2k to make a decent baseball game. This blog is specifically about the negative reviews, I don't feel like I'm too far out of line here.

It is a Decent game imo

sent from Droid DNA

[steelereign]

Personally, I think the review of this game is unfair. OS claims this is because 2K made no improvements over last year's game.

I had last year's and have 2k13. Although none of the changes are earth - shattering, there are a few changes that make this game better. I loved 2k12 and am enjoying 2k13 a bit more.

Since when is a game review score based on monumental changes or the lack thereof? The bottom line is "does the game give an enjoyable game of baseball?" and, for the money "does it have replay value?"

I keep reading that 2k shouldn't be charging $60 for a roster update. This assumes that everyone that buys this game also had 2k12. Clearly, that isn't the case. So, from a business perspective, it would be stupid to discount the game to please a bunch of whiners who may not buy the game anyway.

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[dubcity]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

I keep reading that 2k shouldn't be charging $60 for a roster update. This assumes that everyone that buys this game also had 2k12. Clearly, that isn't the case. So, from a business perspective, it would be stupid to discount the game to please a bunch of whiners who may not buy the game anyway.

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Actually, it assumes that you can purchase pretty much the exact same game used for $20 or less at gamestop or online. It's not like copies of MLB 2k12 suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth. Although I'm sure 2K wishes they could find a way to make that happen.

[CrazyKitchenGuy]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

This will probably sound a bit strange, but this is how I would summarize up any review for any game that is out there.

During review periods, I tell my staff the following message prior to delivering their review.

"The numbers basically mean nothing. You could have a 3/5 in one category and monkey/dragon in another. The number ratings system never really works for everything.

The one thing that you should pay close attention to is the comments that you receive from your peers and the management staff. That will give you a very good indication of how we feel you are progressing, and how your peers feel working with and around you."

For all of the negative feedback that is out there about MLB 2K13, there is still a good amount of positive feedback as well.

For me, MLB 2K13 plays a solid game of baseball, even with its flaws, and really thats the only review that I pay attention to.

[Baile]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

Giving a game a 4.5 is absolutely the equivalent of saying "it sucks", based on the reviews I've seen here over the years.

And as I said, that score is only indicative of how unfair and how protective of certain devs' games this site has become. 2K deserves to be harshly criticized for putting out a roster update for $60 this year. But the game itself is still a 7 or whatever it scored last year. SCEA also puts out a slightly tweaked roster update every year, yet they pull in a 9 score every time. The OS review score given to 2K13 was unfair and prejudiced, as was your critique of the two games IMO.

[Baile]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

I had last year's and have 2k13. Although none of the changes are earth - shattering, there are a few changes that make this game better. I loved 2k12 and am enjoying 2K13 a bit more.

It's interesting that those who say there are no changes to 2K13, often provide a detailed list of all the things in the game that are identical to 2K12. Or they list the various bugs, glitches and issues that are still in the game and haven't been fixed, some of which go back several years. Whereas the people who insist it's a different game than 2K12, never explain how it's different. Honestly? Glad you like the game, but it sounds like you're trying to justify your $60 purchase. Not trying to be a smartazz, just an observation.

[Rodimus13]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

The only problem I have with the game is the outfield play. It's horrible and been like this since 2k12. If they fix the pause glitch, jogging glitch and pursuit angles in the outfield, the game would be golden in my opinion. Tighten up everything else in the game. I hope they can patch this and it's not a coding issue. The game is fun and challenging, which is all I need .

[steelereign]

It's interesting that those who say there are no changes to 2K13, often provide a detailed list of all the things in the game that are identical to 2K12. Or they list the various bugs, glitches and issues that are still in the game and haven't been fixed, some of which go back several years. Whereas the people who insist it's a different game than 2K12, never explain how it's different. Honestly? Glad you like the game, but it sounds like you're trying to justify your $60 purchase. Not trying to be a smartazz, just an observation.

Ball physics, more hit variety, less rubber band AI, improved crowd graphics. I'm a stat geek, so updated stats are important to me as well.

My point is less about improvements to the game, but more that the review is unfair. If the game received a 7.0 last year and, for the most part, is the same as last year, how does it drop to 4?

I also agree that the bugs and glitches are annoying. I have ripped past versions of this game for those reasons. But, again, last year's game was a 7 and considered "good" with all of those same known issues. How then, does it get a 4, especially considering that this version wasn't expected to hit market in the first place?!

By the way, your assumption that I need to justify my purchase is wrong. I didn't expect to see a 2k13 at all, so when it was announced my expectations were that we would get an updated version of 2k12. I'm enjoying every minute of it and don't regret for a second spending my $60.

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[steelereign]

Actually, it assumes that you can purchase pretty much the exact same game used for $20 or less at gamestop or online. It's not like copies of MLB 2k12 suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth. Although I'm sure 2K wishes they could find a way to make that happen.

Why would a company discount their new product just because there is still inventory of their old product in the market? Car manufacturers roll out the same model of car year after year with minimal, if any changes. They don't drop the MSRP because there is a used car market.

A segment of the market will buy used and some will buy new. But the price of the product in a free market is set by what the market will bear.

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[Baile]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

By the way, your assumption that I need to justify my purchase is wrong. I didn't expect to see a 2k13 at all, so when it was announced my expectations were that we would get an updated version of 2k12. I'm enjoying every minute of it and don't regret for a second spending my $60.

Okay great, I just wonder about it when someone calls people "whiners." If you enjoy the game, that's fab. But why go out of your way to be so defensive and so protective of your decision to buy it?

Your point about justifying charging $60 for 2K13 is something I mentioned as well. For people new to the series, they'd pay that anyway for the game.

But you're not taking into consideration that 2K worked on this game for only a couple of months. Looking at it that way, it's a pure money-grab. They put in 1/6 of the development time other companies put into their games, but charge the same full amount. There's definitely something sleazy and somewhat immoral about that IMO.

[Baile]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

Ball physics, more hit variety...

You know how many 9 inning games I've played the past 3 years? 0. I spend almost all my time with this game testing the game engine, playing 3-inning test games to observe things like hit variety and ball physics. The hit variety and ball physics are entirely a byproduct of the player ratings and slider settings, interacting with the game engine. This game hasn't changed in years in that regard. If you want to see MLB-realism when it comes to hit variety and ball physics, simply lower hitting ratings way down. I have a test roster where every player is rated 25 (0 actually) in every catagory. In many ways, that roster plays more like MLB baseball than any roster I have in which players are rated above 25.

If you're seeing better ball physics and more hit variety, it's because the devs lowered player ratings and/or tweaked the default slider settings. Because I understand they didn't even bother to update the opening to the game, and simply used the one from last year. So there's just no way they spent any time with something as complex as the game engine. They haven't done that in years, why would they suddenly do that now that the series is defunct?

[steelereign]

Okay great, I just wonder about it when someone calls people "whiners." If you enjoy the game, that's fab. But why go out of your way to be so defensive and so protective of your decision to buy it?

Your point about justifying charging $60 for 2K13 is something I mentioned as well. For people new to the series, they'd pay that anyway for the game.

But you're not taking into consideration that 2K worked on this game for only a couple of months. Looking at it that way, it's a pure money-grab. They put in 1/6 of the development time other companies put into their games, but charge the same full amount. There's definitely something sleazy and somewhat immoral about that IMO.

I hear ya. Maybe I should have been more specific about to whom I was referring as whiners. My issue is with those that do nothing but complain about the issues without taking time to talk about the good things. It's all subjective, I get that. But, there are some that come on here to do nothing but whine and pile on.

I understand your point about the $60 price tag versus the development time. But, you know the market doesn't work that way - for any product really.


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[JazzMan]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

From what I understand, both MLB the Show and MLB 2k's games this year have not been ground-shaking improvements upon their respective franchises. So how is it that the Show '13 gets the same score, if not better, than '12, while MLB 2k13 gets a 4, even though the game a year ago got, what, a 7.5 or something?

You guys whine about 2k13 being the same game with some minor improvements. Then some of you complain about the removal of 2k's Online Leagues. Does that really warrant a 4 rating? Online Leagues were pretty lackluster to begin with.

Meanwhile, the Show does nothing new, doesn't make many improvements, but no worries! It gets a 9. Then you get all of the guys on here hailing the Show as the best sports game of this generation, even though it is essentially a "roster update" as you call 2k13.

You can't dock 2k13 in a review and then turn around and praise this year's Show like it's the best baseball game of all-time (MVP 2005 anyone?).

Besides, the Show is obviously overrated. I've enjoyed the iterations that I've played, but from what I've seen, the game can still use some work. It looks and sounds ultra-realistic, but I honestly feel as though 2k has superior gameplay, other than a slew of glitches here and there.

The Show is the more polished game, but what angers me are the people who bash on MLB2k. The game plays pretty well. I purchased 2k12 last year, and I enjoyed it. I don't see why people feel it's a necessity to **** on MLB2k.

Personally, I feel as though MLB2k should take a year off, and come back strong with a Next-Gen product.

[Baile]

Re: MLB 2K13 Initial Reviews Quite Negative

I understand your point about the $60 price tag versus the development time. But, you know the market doesn't work that way - for any product really.

That's correct and I'm aware of that. For the X number of 360 gamers who are buying 2K13 for the first time, it's a new game. And paying $60 for a new game is normal, and there's no issue with development time, 2K12 comparisons, etc. It's all perspective, and that's one of the issues I had with the OS review.