"MLB Tonight" Mode: An Interactive Highlight Show - HokieB's Blog

HokieB's Blog

"MLB Tonight" Mode: An Interactive Highlight Show

Posted on June 20, 2010 at 12:39 AM.

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I'm addicted to a TV show, which hasn't happened to me since Bravo aired "West Wing" reruns years ago. (I wonder what good ole' Jed Bartlet would do about this here oil leak?)

If you're a baseball junkie with cable TV, then no doubt you've checked out "MLB Tonight", the flagship program on the MLB Network. And what makes this show different from "Baseball Tonight", or any other highlight show for that matter? Live Look-In's, baby... and plenty of them!

If the Mets are up by 2, and Ryan Howard comes to the plate representing the tying run, chances are you're watching it unfold live.

Howard struck out? No worries, unless you're a Phillies Fan with a tazer nearby. You're now watching Alfonso Soriano at the plate sitting on homerun #299. Time to watch history... doh, he struck out too!

In essence, you're privy to all the high drama from around the Majors, night in and night out, brought to you live and in stunning HD (where available). And that got me thinking...

How fun would it be to experience this in your "MLB The Show" franchise? Say you're a diehard 162-game player (like many here at OS are) and your team has the night off. Why don't you take advantage of your off day and play "MLB Tonight" Mode. It goes a little something like this:

You start off the mode with a nice "MLB Tonight" intro graphic. Matt, Dave, and that annoying Rex guy chime in from the studio and take you live to Pittsburgh, where the Reds are up by 2 in the bottom of the 3rd. The Pirates have a guy on 2nd and one out. Do you want to control the Reds and get yourself out of this jam, or do you want to control the Pirates and see if this no-name prospect they just traded their best player for can come through in the clutch? It's completely up to you... and maybe there's a trophy at stake (if you're into that sort of thing).

Now we take you live to the Bronx, where ARod is stuck on homerun #599. Can he become the 7th player in history to hit 600 homeruns? Take control and find out.

Now the Central Time Zone games are underway. The Twins and Tigers are tied at the top of the division going into tonight, and the Tigers are threatening early with 2 on and no outs. Pick a side and play it out... or if you'd like, let the CPU take control, sit back, and watch what unfolds.

I could go on and on, but you get the jist. Sure, it's a glorified scenario mode, but with slick presentation, and stats and scores that count in your franchise, what better way to experience The Show? I can see myself getting very addicted to a mode like this. And if TV is any indication, the Age of the Highlight could take the consoles by storm.

What do you think? Can you see yourself playing a mode like this? What could make this mode great? What are the pitfalls? Can this apply to other sports? ("NFL Redzone" Mode, anyone?)