MLB 2K10 Retail First Impressions

[trick02]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vermin

It's disappointing to read a review from a major industry outlet like IGN that touts "Hurry Up Baseball" as being a new feature for 2K10 when I've been using that in 2K9 for months. Things like this make you wonder how much time is actually spent playing games for review and comparing with previous iterations.

I hate to be a forum whore but can we keep this about Chris's review and not about how bad IGN is. There is another topic for that.

[nadasfan]

I ended up buying both games at midnight last night. I feel that 2K made a pretty good jump from where they were at a year ago (unplayable). As a Twins fan, I was very curious as to how 2K handled Target Field, and it think in ways it is even a better representation than its Show counterpart.

I see some potential in this game to be a fun time. I will definitely play both this year, which I could not say happened last year. 2K did a really nice job with their stat overlays and the depth at which these stats are used. I also like the idea of living rosters and MLB today, as well as all of the post game options for highlights, etc that come straight from NBA 2K10.

[TimLawNYC]

Quote: Originally Posted by trick02

Its up to every person on what they feel is ok to pay or if the game is even good enough to be bought.

You're 100% correct as the decision lies with each individual gamer. To some, it's worth it to buy a PS3 for no other reason than to play The Show. And if you love digital baseball that much, that's the right choice for you.

My concern is on a broader level, I guess. I'm less concerned with whether this game is worth $60 to any given individual (as we all, depending on our relative circumstances, value a dollar or an hour of entertainment differently), and more concerned with at what point it stops being worth it for us as a large group of consumers to say enough is enough. When do we, as a group, stop buying games that are improved over last year's but still nowhere near what we have a right to expect? (Again, I haven't played 2K10 yet, and I hope it's awesome; I'm just basing this argument on the overall consensus among the reviews I've seen so far).

[Boilerbuzz]

Quote: Originally Posted by TimLawNYC

You're 100% correct as the decision lies with each individual gamer. To some, it's worth it to buy a PS3 for no other reason than to play The Show. And if you love digital baseball that much, that's the right choice for you. My concern is on a broader level, I guess. I'm less concerned with whether this game is worth $60 to any given individual (as we all, depending on our relative circumstances, value a dollar or an hour of entertainment differently), and more concerned with at what point it stops being worth it for us as a large group of consumers to say enough is enough. When do we, as a group, stop buying games that are improved over last year's but still nowhere near what we have a right to expect? (Again, I haven't played 2K10 yet, and I hope it's awesome; I'm just basing this argument on the overall consensus among the reviews I've seen so far).

That's quite a Draconian view of the situation isn't it? You act as if:

1. The people making the games don't WANT to make the game worthy of your $60. We know that's not the issue.

2. The amount that you pay scales with the work put into the game. It's clear they worked hard on this game. You can at least give 2K that.

Do you think the Show was a good game from the start? Not even close. Do you think they would have kept at it if people just turned away from the product completely? People don't want to hear it, but the 2K baseball is going through a reset in the middle of a console life cycle. That's unheard of. It's NOT a smart decision. But, based on what we know (MLB deal, Kush collapse), it was really the only decision and 2K has to live with it.

[TimLawNYC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz

That's quite a Draconian view of the situation isn't it? You act as if: 1. The people making the games don't WANT to make the game worthy of your $60. We know that's not the issue. 2. The amount that you pay scales with the work put into the game. It's clear they worked hard on this game. You can at least give 2K that. Do you think the Show was a good game from the start? Not even close. Do you think they would have kept at it if people just turned away from the product completely? People don't want to hear it, but the 2K baseball is going through a reset in the middle of a console life cycle. That's unheard of. It's NOT a smart decision. But, based on what we know (MLB deal, Kush collapse), it was really the only decision and 2K has to live with it.

Right, but I'm just frustrated that we as consumers have to live with it too. At least 2K stands to make money from their bad decisions, while we keep paying $60 each year for a game that we're sure will be really awesome next year. We've been really patient--2K7 showed promise, 2K8 wasn't a huge improvement, 2K9 was an absolute disaster--and each year I feel like they keep telling us, "Gee, sorry about this crappy game you just bought--but just wait and see how great the next one will be!".

I know that the developers want to make a good game, and that a "reboot" of the franchise really is a challenge--but if that's the case, why not take a year out of the cycle, spend two years building the right engine and game from the ground up, and come out with the best baseball game ever in 2012, rather than continuing to hobble along each year with a half-baked improvement over last year's crappy game? They don't do it because they would lose the money the get from each annual release, so we just keep shelling out our money every year, hoping that we're finally getting a decent game of baseball instead of another "wait until next year".

[DJDReW3102]

got the game today. so far, only played my player...it has its quirks but overall, having a LOT of fun! i guess what it boils down to is that haters will hate, people who want to love it will love it, but me? I'm just having fun playing a video game, little glitches aside!

[RaychelSnr]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dunebug

IGN's review of this game was so ridiculously pedestrian the editors should literally be embarrassed that it was ever posted. It's a testament to Operation Sports that I acquired more insight in your 566 words than on their entire site. I look forward to more of your analysis!

I read through IGN's review, it wasn't too good for sure. Their score was probably about right, minus their graphical score of 6.0, that's a joke considering there is no lag this year and the game just looks a lot better.

[Boilerbuzz]

Quote: Originally Posted by TimLawNYC

Right, but I'm just frustrated that we as consumers have to live with it too.

I totally understand your frustration man. I totally feel it too.

Quote: Originally Posted by TimLawNYC

At least 2K stands to make money from their bad decisions, while we keep paying $60 each year for a game that we're sure will be really awesome next year.

But you're way off on the making money thing. Take Two has lost money on that MLB deal. Has been from Day 1. Last year was really bad because sales suffered. Realistically, it's hard to think that anyone could have expected the game to be awesome this year. I don't know of one game that made as much of a leap in quality in one year. Especially in a sports game. People think NFL2K5 was suddenly good. That's so not true. A lot of what it so good was in 2K4 if not 2K3.

Quote: Originally Posted by TimLawNYC

We've been really patient--2K7 showed promise, 2K8 wasn't a huge improvement, 2K9 was an absolute disaster--and each year I feel like they keep telling us, "Gee, sorry about this crappy game you just bought--but just wait and see how great the next one will be!".

You're ignoring that the reset was 2K9. 2K7 and 2K8 were in Kush's hands. Kush imploded and left the remains for VC to clean up. VC has only a couple of months to put together 2K9 from what was left of 2K8.

Quote: Originally Posted by TimLawNYC

I know that the developers want to make a good game, and that a "reboot" of the franchise really is a challenge--but if that's the case, why not take a year out of the cycle, spend two years building the right engine and game from the ground up, and come out with the best baseball game ever in 2012, rather than continuing to hobble along each year with a half-baked improvement over last year's crappy game?

Because the contract with the MLB would make it financially impossible to do that with very little gain. I would be willing to bet that there are MANY people in Take Two that wanted to do this. It's the nature of the sports video game business. If you miss a year, it almost kills your franchise. Period. Ask EA how close they came to killing Madden by missing 96. If it weren't for Sony dropping the ball and being only on 1 platform, the game would have been over.

Quote: Originally Posted by TimLawNYC

They don't do it because they would lose the money the get from each annual release, so we just keep shelling out our money every year, hoping that we're finally getting a decent game of baseball instead of another "wait until next year".

They lose more than the lost sales. The MLB wants it's money. If they don't put out a title, they are essentially "fined" millions of MORE dollars.

Again, my friend, I don't disagree with what you're saying. I feel your frustration because I'm right there with you. I'm just saying it's not so black and white of a situation. It's not an easy situation for anyone involved frankly. There are no words to make you feel "better' about it either. Just try to see more of the positives. They HAVE to put out a game. They HAVE to show that they are putting in the work to make it a great game. I think that is happening. I think it's pretty clear that 2K10 is much better than 2K9. I have faith that the developers will want to continue to improve the game significantly as we move forward. There is hope and the difference between 2k10 and 2k9 is proof of that.