If MVP Returns, Someone Else Must Leave - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

If MVP Returns, Someone Else Must Leave Stuck

Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:45 AM.

(17)

Amidst all the speculation that EA is bringing three new franchises -- and gamers everywhere postulating one of those new franchises is actually the return of an old friend, MVP Baseball -- there remains a sobering reminder for this generation of sports games.

It's the old west equivalent of the statement, "This town ain't big enough for the both of us."

In this day and age, the resources that a big box high budget sports game requires every year guarantees the number of publishers who can develop is actually quite small. For that model to remain profitable in 2011, the market can't be split up more than two ways. Get three or more competitors in the market and someone (or possibly everyone) is losing money.

Thus, if EA is developing a new MVP Baseball, then it's fair to begin speculating which of the then three MLB games are going to end up defunct.

The Show has the PS3 locked up -- in fact it is not going anywhere. So The Show stays in this war of attrition in almost every situation you can dream up.

Then we have to consider whether EA or Take Two would be able to one-up the other for the rest of the market The Show can't touch. That's where the MLB battleground is going to be at its best.

Picking a winner, especially initially will be tough. If EA ends up bringing back MVP then they need to give it three years before they make any key decisions. MVP is going to have to do a lot to catch up with the other two games on the market. If EA does make a push towards a new MLB game, I'd expect it to be marketed heavily and reviewed pretty well.

And if that happens, MLB 2K is going to have to counter with improvements in every facet of the game in order to stay competitive sales wise. However, market conditions will eventually dictate that either MLB 2K or MVP will have to go the way of the DoDo.

Of course, the end result will depend upon a number of factors we haven't even begun to discuss. What if Activision were to buy Take Two? What if EA were bought out by big media? What if MVP doesn't appear immediately as expected?

But the unfortunate side effect of a potential new baseball product entering the market is that someone has to leave to make room -- or else no one makes money. In business, the man with the best product and deepest marketing pockets usually wins. Which given the already known conditions of EA and Take Two, doesn't bode well for the latter.

So in that spirit, it is all speculation until it is not. Regardless, the baseball gaming wars will be interesting to see unfold over the rest of this console generation -- there's no denying that.

Comments

# 1 vln13 @ Apr 19

I think 2k would be the first to leave the party, definitely, and especially so if the Activision takeover actually does happen.

# 2 DiddyGotGrillz @ Apr 19

So long 2K Baseball.....and who cares?!?!?! MLB 2K has had PLENTY of time and opportunities to make a quality baseball game and simply couldn't do it. I bought a PS3 for the sole reason that in doing so I would NEVER be forced to play another 2K Sports game. I don't feel sorry in the slightest for 2K sports - stick to Basketball, it's what you're good at and leave the rest to the professionals. I welcome a competition between EA and Sony!

# 3 vln13 @ Apr 19

I do not understand, however, the feeling that an EA baseball game will be automatically a godsend for 360 users. EA has not embraced 2k's powerful MLB Today presentation and stat packages in any of their games, in general EA's commentary technology is below 2ks, and graphically building a baseball game will require much more attention to detail than their bread and butter like Madden which have to be so focused on collision detection. Also, remember that it took many years before MVP took its place, and even MVP 2005 was not such a dominant GOAT in my opinion, though this is up to debate. I don't see something that can top The Show anytime soon, and it might even not meet the mediocre efforts we have come to expect from 2k this generation in this nation's pastime.

# 4 rockchisler @ Apr 19

Nba Sim can be thrown in there as a new franchise..( New Name, been gone for 2 years)

# 5 DiddyGotGrillz @ Apr 19

Maybe you're right on all accounts, however, 2K has had YEARS of being the exclusive developer for baseball for the Xbox 360 and has done NOTHING - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! 2K7 - 2K9 were almost unplayable, and if they ended up being playable via a patch I wouldn't know because I had quit playing them by the time they patched them. 2K games are unbelievably buggy out of the box and this is unacceptable in my opinion. The bottom line is they obviously cannot handle having sole rights to a game because they have proven this year in and year out. I'm not saying EA is going to come in a blow up the market, but maybe it's time to see what they can do.

# 6 MHammer113 @ Apr 19

I will argue that MLB 2k11 is an underrated gem.

# 7 acts238shaun @ Apr 19

MVP was the last complete game I have played that was an EA game. NCAA 11 was tuned stupid. FNC, though a great game for the most part after the tuner/patch, was released with more bugs/glitches than Windows ME. I believe that FNC will be righted before the end of May, but why can't these things be fixed before release.

Not to mention FIFA, NHL - they both had major issues/console killing glitches at release. Before they add more titles they need to get their house in order, period.

# 8 acts238shaun @ Apr 19

BTW, CHoops 2k8 got it right 3.5 years ago...what's taking EA so long? Could it be Peter Moore, the CEO?

# 9 Shield @ Apr 19

Ah MVP baseball 2005, that was my favorite until '09 The Show. I don't know if i could go back to MVP.

# 10 JustinJones @ Apr 19

Could be crazy if EA gets back into MVP "COLLEGE" Baseball and then releases a MLB version later. I doubt this will happen, but if they go into the NCAA side it would probably be a better seller then MLB. Look at their football series. Almost everyone prefers NCAA Football over Madden.

# 11 fishfan77 @ Apr 19

Assuming that EA MVP will be a great game is a HUGE assumption. I honestly dont see them even jumping into the baseball market honestly.

# 12 notoriouzwun @ Apr 19

I think Take Two would be the first out in a three way war. Let's look at the best way Take Two could stay alive in this. Take Two would be better off leaving the SIM baseball game on the PS3 to EA and Sony. Releasing only a game like The Bigs on PS3 for the arcade fan base. Take Two still releasing a sim baseball game on Xbox and arcade on Xbox and WII. IMO would leave them in the game. Would take Two have the ability to move pride aside though and release an Xbox only sim game.

# 13 Uncle Stumpy @ Apr 19

I've actually been really dissapointed with NCAA over the past couple years, because of their legacy mode. it had so much potential, yes still really dissapointing. Then again, Madden's has sucked too...I enjoy the actual game play of Madden better. I love football but I've never played the game so I don't care about the little stuff...and I would say I'm in the majority (although not here, but I'd be willing to say the majority of gamers don't care enough to actually post)

# 14 tril @ Apr 20

everyone fails to mention what Sony would do.
Sony San Diego (The Show) will obviously be worried about a new respected baseball title cutting into their market share.
A percfect counter move by the developers of the Sony Sand Diego (The Show), would be to release the game on all consoles.

That could potentially knock all competitors out. Theyd also have a few years to develop the title also, in addition theyd have an advatange over EA in development time.

Id hate to see 2K go. like someone said 2k11 is a hidden gem. Long term, 2k11 may go down as the most underarted sports title

# 15 rudyjuly2 @ Apr 22

I'd hate to see 2K go. 2K11 is a lot of fun. If only the dev team could eliminate the large amount of bugs and glitches.

MVP was the best selling baseball game at the time EA lost the license. I'd have to think MLB would give MVP plenty of time to secure a future license and make a new game that would be ready sooner than later.

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