A Way Too Early Look at MLB The Show 17's Modes

Feature Article

Submitted on: 03/25/2016 by Mike Lowe

With MLB The Show 16 releasing on March 29, we have now seen SCEA's entire schedule of revealed features and updates. These reveals culminated with the introduction of two new modes that have generated a ton of hype, Battle Royale and Conquest.

Being a franchise guy, I was skeptical of these new modes at first, especially when I kept hearing "three innings, stubs and buy-in!" However, I did my due diligence and watched the stream covering these two modes, and I have warmed to the idea a bit -- they look like they will be fun.

But as fun as these new modes may be, they can be expanded upon and potentially turned into new modes and adjustments for an even better (don't laugh) MLB The Show 17.

So let's take a look at a few ideas -- you know, 12 months early.

Franchise Supremacy Mode (FSM)

In this mode, users would take their offline franchise teams online to compete against others in a tournament. There would be different tiers of tournaments based on the year of the franchise save file, among a few other criteria.

Buy-in for the tournaments could only be earned through played games with your offline franchise, so you wouldn't be able to just sim a bunch of games to gain entry:

An example using the chart above would be that during the 2016 season you could make three trades, but could only bring in one 90+ overall player. You could sign one 80+ free agent during the season as well (since there's no offseason that first season).

Looking at the chart above, we can also see the safeguards that would be put in place to prevent people from stacking a team via trades and then simply exporting. The franchise mode itself would hold trades to a (new!) strict and challenging trading system. By using this "fair-trades" trigger within franchise mode, team stacking in FSM could be policed. The option could also be turned off within a franchise, at the expense of not allowing the option to export that franchise team for tournament play. FSM would also take into account the number of transactions made on a per-season basis, preventing the chance to quickly stack a team for tournament play.

But what about people who might try and trade away their entire farm system for the best MLB players? At the start of a tournament game, users would have their teams randomly matched up at either the MLB level, or AAA or AA levels to create a MLB vs. MLB, AAA vs. AAA, or AA vs. AA matchup.

After team randomization is complete, backing out would result in an automatic loss.

Another way MLB club stacking could be prevented would be to have teams play a best of three series, with all three games being randomly selected between the MLB, AAA, and AA levels (only MLB would have the maximum chance of being selected for two of the games).

Online Franchise Needs a Reboot, Including a Battle Royale Draft Format

Imagine a draft in an online franchise mode where all 30 guys are drafting at the same time.(image courtesy of IGN/Operation Sports)

This requires its own article, but for now I'll just say that aside from porting the entire offline franchise mode and its options to online, one additional adjustment that needs to be added is the Battle Royale simul-user draft mode for both fantasy drafting at a league's inception and during the amateur draft.

Put the Fictional Back in Diamond Dynasty

Did you see how excited people got with the Reggie Stocker Easter egg during the live stream? The man's a legend, and it's not just because of that other guy. SCEA should give us an "All fictional rosters" option in Diamond Dynasty (again).

While they're at it, the developers could make it far more challenging to build up a great team so that deep into the experience I am still having to make roster decisions, such as keeping certain pinch hitters, defensive replacements, pinch runners and situational pitchers on my roster -- not just running the same nine guys out each time who are all rated 99.

But going back to that other guy concept again, what makes Reggie Stocker a legendary fictional character is that we all played with him in the stock rosters way back when. So to re-create that emotion there needs to be a way to create those "I know him!" sort of players in Diamond Dynasty, and with so many players playing this mode, one innovative way would be...

Diamond Dynasty Closed Channel Leagues

Everything great about Diamond Dynasty (with fictional players ONLY option), but a private/invite league that could host a group of players anywhere from four up to 20 or more.

If on a random night nearly 3,000 people will tune in for "Surviving The Apocalypse!", I think an officially endorsed Diamond Dynasty league stream would do fine.

To expand on how to create that Reggie Stocker exclusivity, SCEA could even connect corporate sponsors for certain top leagues to create hype, including having a tournament payout.

Imagine hearing, "Welcome to Diamond Dynasty Nike, with a payout of $100,000!" We would see Reggie Stockers again, and we would all know who they are when folks are winning live stream tournaments we could watch.

Honorable Mention Feature: 9 Innings Option Added to All Online Modes

Enough said, three innings is simply not enough time to let the cream rise to the top -- give folks the option to join online modes to play both three innings or nine.

So would these modes be good additions to MLB The Show 17? What additions or adjustments would you suggest adding to next year's game?

MLB The Show 16 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 Mike Lowe @ 03/26/16 08:25 PM

I'm actually thrilled that so many people in this community do NOT want more modes, but instead expansion of existing modes, especially franchise (and online franchise).

Now if we could just get the rest of those gamers on board!

# 22 hitman23 @ 03/27/16 11:32 AM

I would like them to improve on player models. Especially the eyes. Players look like zombies. We are now in the PS4 era where that is definitely possible to fix. I know they can only work on so much stuff per release. This should be on the top of the list. I agree no more modes. Refine what you have already. Graphics especially. Take a page from Uncharted 4. Now that is a nice looking game graphic wise and fun as hell to play too.

# 23 TheWarmWind @ 03/27/16 12:06 PM

Yeah I'm going to throw my chips in with everyone else and say that we do not need new modes. Not that your ideas are bad, but very premature.

I'll save what I think needs to be worked on for the MLB 17 wishlist. But that aside we just got 2 new modes this year. Let's make sure they work right and are properly balanced before even thinking about any more modes.

# 24 Rubio809 @ 03/28/16 09:38 AM

Again, all I want is more in games stats in my franchise.

# 25 strawberryshortcake @ 04/03/16 08:30 PM

Can we please have a baserunning/stealing (situational) practice mode?

Baserunning can still be tough when you want to control multiple individual runners separately.

# 26 Ghost Of The Year @ 04/03/16 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberryshortcake


	Can we please have a baserunning/stealing (situational) practice mode? Baserunning can still be tough when you want to control multiple individual runners separately.

This is in, Go to batting practice mode. Once in there you can stop batting & change to baserunnin, or even fielding if you prefer.

So when are we gonna get an early look at MLB The Show 18's Modes?

# 27 strawberryshortcake @ 04/03/16 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost Of The Year


	This is in, Go to batting practice mode. Once in there you can stop batting & change to baserunnin, or even fielding if you prefer. So when are we gonna get an early look at MLB The Show 18's Modes?

Tried it, but that's still not what I'm looking for because it's simply "stealing" plus it's in RTTS view (which I don't play). The camera is from the point of view of the runner, which is unfortunately, not what I'm looking for.

R1 gets the runner to take a lead towards second, with L1 getting the runner back to first. But in franchise mode, R1 advances the runner and L1 retreats the runner.

I need a practice base running mode that has the camera in the same view and control as "play now exhibition games" or "franchise games."

# 28 cool667 @ 04/03/16 10:58 PM

i would like timing hitting system back along with the other ones

# 29 videobastard @ 04/03/16 11:07 PM

I wish they could add a online community in game where the owner can set a password, customize sliders and send invites to like minded players to join.

# 30 hitman23 @ 04/04/16 12:07 AM

Better player models. This is a next gen console. Eyes look like something out of The Walking Dead. Take a page from Uncharted 4.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

# 31 ChGtXgMs @ 04/04/16 07:25 AM

I would personally love to goto say ATT Ballpark on a partially cloudy day, one inning goes by and the clouds are more abundant and the 3rd inning we get some rain followed by a 4th inning postponement and eventual cancel. That would be awesome. Maybe get a reward for wasting 4 innings haha.

# 32 cws @ 04/04/16 01:19 PM

No more modes! I'd like more competition in the marketplace! Sony has been too slow in making changes that should have been made by now! Realize that they have been doing this for several years. They seem to be happy making more modes, but let other core aspects in the game suffer. The major changes would happen more quickly if another company or two would enter the picture.

# 33 coolguy51 @ 04/10/16 03:49 PM

The game doesn't really need more odds and ends. First of all it needs to clean up things that have been issues for years, like the pitcher constantly being hit by line drives up the middle. Every once in a while? ok, but not three or four times a day. It needs new player models and if I'm being greedy, either more classic stadiums or way to build our own stadium, and a way to customize divisions. BUt not more game modes that add nothing to the game.

# 34 hitman23 @ 04/13/16 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cws


	No more modes! I'd like more competition in the marketplace! Sony has been too slow in making changes that should have been made by now! Realize that they have been doing this for several years. They seem to be happy making more modes, but let other core aspects in the game suffer. The major changes would happen more quickly if another company or two would enter the picture.

You got that right. Very lazy when it comes to improving the player models and fixing a lot of things that are still wrong with this game. Don't get me wrong, very cool game but like you said if EA were to get back into the picture you could bet your bottom dollar they would need to be more on their toes.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

# 35 hitman23 @ 04/16/16 08:14 PM

Another thing I noticed is if a pitcher gets hurt during the game the new pitcher coming in only gets 10 warm up pitches. The rule states he gets as many pitches as he wants. This is not fair to the pitcher since he is not warmed up totally.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

# 36 digger3210 @ 04/16/16 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitman23


	Another thing I noticed is if a pitcher gets hurt during the game the new pitcher coming in only gets 10 warm up pitches. The rule states he gets as many pitches as he wants. This is not fair to the pitcher since he is not warmed up totally. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Believe this is just a visual "bug". Devs have previously said in case of injury the relief pitcher is fully warm when they face the first batter.

# 37 davisonkj17 @ 04/18/16 04:12 PM

Ideas for Conquest '17

I love this mode and the 3 innings prevent it from being too overly boring and repetitive, I would like to see the stronghold games being played against the legends of that team. Having to play against a teams all time best players in order to conquer that spot on the map would change it up and make it more challenging as well. Then finishing off the country against the best of the best with a superior legend team or legends of the 70's, 80's 90's teams as well !!?!

# 38 bobbyp02 @ 09/19/16 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two7offsuit


	One thing I would like to see added and many may not agree is to create your own stadium especially in DD. I think that was a feature in the old MVP Baseball days.

yes i agree with you ive always wanted to create my own stadium and play in it i think that would be cool adding a pool making it a far distances for homeruns id love if they made this mode.

# 39 beau21 @ 09/19/16 05:50 PM

After picking up NBA 2k17, I would love to see a comparable expansion mode and uniform editor added to The Show. The ability to rebrand any (or even all!) team(s), plus being able to upload our own logos, etc. would be absolutely incredible for The Show.

If done correctly, we could be able to get around any of the shortcomings of the style guide, we could create an entire league of throwback uniforms to go along with the terrific rosters that guys make here, etc. etc. I'm giddy at the idea of this.

# 40 MetsFan16 @ 09/19/16 07:00 PM

Offline Battle Royale. Love the mode so much. Drafting, intense games, high rewards. But when your internet connection is shotty it is near impossible to play because you basically waste 1,500 stubs because your games drop. Obviously the offline mode would have lesser rewards but same structure.

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