MLB 09/10 Wishlist Part 2 - AndyP's Blog

AndyP's Blog

MLB 09/10 Wishlist Part 2

Posted on July 26, 2009 at 02:39 PM.

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I've been playing and enjoying the Sony MLB series since the PS2 days and been a fanboy, for want of a better description, all that time. However, while the Sony guys do a great job they've landed in that spot where the game is successful enough it's in a position where it doesn't need to make radical changes year to year. In fact, not only is it tempting not to do anything substantial but it might actually be detrimental to do so. Not that I'm suggesting for one second that the developers are "lazy" - MLB makes enough improvements each year to put that suggestion to rest - and neither am I claiming that the game needs substantial work. However there's a distinct balance to strike between the two situations.

So with MLB 09 The Show we didn't get anything radically different over MLB 08 and the small additions that we did see were very much welcome - some subtle additions to the legacy mode and some presentational improvements with progressive lighting to name a few.

The commentary is one of the areas where there has been less change. Although, the commentary is outstanding and the way the game tracks what happened earlier in the game and reflects back on that later is nothing short of amazing given that - let's remember - we're playing a videogame. It isn't "real life". However, I would like to see more excitement and interest in the game - perhaps Rex Hudler is a bit dull

At the end of an innning where some big plays occurred, I'd like to see a quick blitz of those highlights going into the between inning break - and for a 3 pitch strikeout, maybe a 1-2-3 quick replay of each pitch in succession showing the strikeout

I'd like to see the crowd behind homeplate on their feet when the count is 3-2, or when the final batter is at the plate and the hometeam needs a run or strikeout.

Eye candy, but some aspects of the menu system and non-game presentation need working on. I'd like to see the player bio more substantial and easier to navigate and read through. How about taking out that kind of weak looking newspaper in franchise mode and adding something similar to the stuff in the 2k series (a website look) or in the older NCAA games (a magazine, SI cover).

And in MLB 2k7, for all its faults, they had some really interesting in-game camera stuff - a funky looking zoom in on a player, for instance, when he was coming to the plate.

It's worth remembering that this is a great game but there are some aspects of the presentation that could be developed in my opinion.

Comments

# 1 AndyP @ Jul 26

I don't think anything needs fixing either. Just a few ideas for things to add or enhance.

# 2 DubTrey1 @ Jul 26

I agree with your post. Superficial adds to the presentation and additional commentary would be a welcomed addition to this already stellar game. There are a few issues that need fixing (the IR/DL bug for example) but overall as you allude to in your post - all - I mean ALL of these things would be in a word "Awesome".