Does The Show Get Overlooked Because of it's Release Date? - RaychelSnr's Blog

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Does The Show Get Overlooked Because of it's Release Date? Stuck

Posted on October 19, 2012 at 12:22 PM.

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Not unlike how great hitters in the 90s and early 2000s will be overlooked because of the steroids era, the flagship video games title of baseball is suffering a similar type of fate of bad timing.

MLB '12: The Show is probably among the top three, no it is among the top three titles released each and every year in sports gaming from a quality standpoint. The amount of depth and immersiveness within the game is right up there with every other sports game on the market from FIFA to NBA 2K.

But yet, MLB 12: The Show is often mentioned as an afterthought for sports game of the year behind closed doors here at OS and also among users within the community.

So let me make the case for why The Show is deserving of the award this year, a couple of months before we vote on it:

The new ball physics took the game to a new level fundamentally. This was the biggest new touch of this year's edition to me and many others. There are some wonky moments, but that's to be expected. The gem is that the accurate spin and deceleration of the ball produces even more types of hits, better bounces and deflections, and other various enhancements. It was a behind the scenes type of change, but it's one that has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

The new controls were a nice added touch. Pulse pitching is a mixed bag for peeps, I liked the change of pace personally. Zone analog batting was another new touch, not too unlike Pro Yakkyu Spirits' approach to hitting.

The Presentation is still quite good, although the commentary for vets is a bit stale. The little things within the game are a famous touch of the franchise, and while the commentary has truly begun to become a bit stale (we have new hope with at least one new face in the booth this year), there aren't many games in the same league as The Show when it comes to presentation. TruBroadcast Presentations were a nice addition this year as well, which added a whole new level of immersion to the game.

The game is highly customizable, there are sliders for everything. Seriously, whatever type of game of hardball you want to play, The Show theoretically makes it quite possible. It's hard to beat that type of customization. NBA 2K13 gets hailed often for it's sliders, The Show deserves equal praise.

Above all other things, the Franchise Mode is one of the deepest in sports games. I've often complained about the Franchise Mode menus, and I've given the game some knocks in the past because of it when I reviewed it -- but I can truly and honestly say The Show's franchise mode is probably the deepest of all sports gaming. No other game really captures the nuances quite like The Show's franchise mode does. This is both a benefit and a detriment. The franchise mode is so deep, the menu's really do get quite convoluted and confusing to do some pretty nuanced actions.

Will MLB 12: The Show win the Sports game of the year award in 2012?

I'm not sure. My advocacy only can go so far as there are a lot of people who vote on it to prevent this very type of strongman approach. But I know that when it comes time to cast my ballot in December, I'm going to remember to not forget The Show.

Being the oldest of the major releases each year it faces a distinct disadvantage -- a victim of timing.

But unlike those in the steroids era, The Show doesn't cheat for success, it does it the old fashioned way. Great pitching, timely hitting, and a flair for getting things right when it needs to.

In this campaign season, I say vote MLB 12: The Show -- it's the most reliable franchise on the market today.

Comments

# 1 LowerWolf @ Oct 19

Hands down it's my GOTY.

# 2 mestevo @ Oct 19

I'd think being exclusive to one console and being a baseball game would be a bigger handicap than the release date.

# 3 kackle85 @ Oct 19

I think its a combination of 3 things.
1. Its a baseball game, baseball is by far the least popular sport among the big three when it comes to people that are of video game playing age.
2. Timing like the article says.
3.Like mestevo said, its an exclusive. Madden and 2k get double the exposure due to being on the 360 as well as PS3

# 4 TheBrothers24 @ Oct 19

Why not just vote for Sports GOTY after all "13" games are out? Why do we have to vote before 2012 is over. Why not just vote in June for all games that came out with whatever year(in this case it would be 13) in the title? That way all deserving games will be going against each respective year and all games will have all their patches out so we can judge complete games.The Show 12 is a great game I played a good amount since march but I haven't taken 2k13 out since it launched because it's fresher.

# 5 geisterhome @ Oct 19

the biggest problem of the show is its ps3 exclusiveness.

# 6 cgalligan @ Oct 19

Biggest problem imo is because its Baseball, and Baseball is FAR TOO LONG...

After 3 or 4 months of being released, the casual fans forget about The Show and are playing NCAA, Madden, FIFA, NHL and NBA...

Year in and Year out though MLB The Show, imo, puts out a Top 3 Product.

# 7 HustlinOwl @ Oct 19

Show is so good only sports game I purchase anymore

# 8 statum71 @ Oct 19

Lots of great games this year. But, bottom line....yes.

Easily one of the top 2 sports games every single year.

# 9 Motownisback23 @ Oct 19

This game by far is the BEST sports title out. I would vote it GOTY without a doubt. NCAA again failed to really upgrade anything and Madden has already gotten old. To say that this game gets hurt cause its a exclusive is kinda redic. what are any of you gonna do next year when its the only baseball game out ?? That'r right there will be no more 2k baseball, thank god cause that game has be horride for a few years now. The show has everything you want in a game. Franchise mode is super deep, RTTS is like other games superstar modes or My player, Online leagues, Challenge of the Week, Weekly roster updates. You name it the show has it. With that being said, this game gets a 10/10 from me and my vote for Sports GOTY.

# 10 Jimbo614 @ Oct 19

You mean,, There are other games????

# 11 DaReapa @ Oct 19

I definitely feel that it's the best sports game released this year. But like others have said, unfairly, the things going against it IMO are mostly due to the fact that its a PS3 exclusive series coupled with the fact that it's baseball - and this is coming from someone who's not really a big fan of baseball at all. There haven't been any sports game that I can recall in recent memory that captures the essence of its respective sport the way The Show 12 does.

# 12 rocket21 @ Oct 20

It is my GOTY for one simple reason - it is October and I'm still playing it regularly. NBA 2K13 is taking up some of my gaming time lately, but in the end I'm usually playing The Show when all is said and done. The release date does hurt it, much like movies released early in the year are at a disadvantage at Oscar time. However, the truly great ones always seem to stick in our memories, no matter how much time passes. Both The Show and NBA 2K13 should also be commended and awarded for continuing to innovate and improve when faced with no real competition. It is easy to rest on what you already have because you know people will buy it anyway (see Madden of any current gen year). That quality alone should be enough to give one of those titles GOTY - I just personally see The Show as having done it just a little bit better this year.

# 13 eagskerfan @ Oct 20

It gets overlooked because it only is on ps3. If it was out for the other consoles, it would be played by more people.

# 14 ghm125 @ Oct 20

best game! year end year out....its REAL BASEBALL...

# 15 Boilerbuzz @ Oct 20

Any slight that The Show gets is born primarily from the falling popularity of the sport itself. Frankly, I don't think the league does enough cross-promotion of the video game market. Something the other leagues don't neglect as much. Especially the NFL.

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