Growing up to be a Major League Baseball player is every young fan's dream. It is probably why baseball fans today enjoy the opportunity to take their created players from the minors all the way up to the big show. But, while these game modes have now been available in sports gaming for a number of years, only MLB Power Pros 2008 has taken it one step further by immersing you in a world of decisions that include friendships, marriage, and the occasional game of golf.

Last year, Power Pros made its move overseas to the States, and with it brought along a loved feature known as Success mode. In this mode, gamers controlled an amateur baseball player from his college days on the diamond in pursuit of the dream, all the way up to the time he was scouted and signed by an MLB club. This year, Power Pros takes it up a notch by including its fan favorite mode, Life. MLB Life mode differs from Success mode in that you begin your career in the minors with a shot to make some noise on the 40-man roster in spring training. And unlike Success, you can choose to begin your career as an unknown prospect in an organization or take on the life of an existing MLB player, contract and all.

Life mode continues year onto year until you complete your 20th season in the league, reach the age of 60, or simply decide to hang 'em up.

Life opens up with your player battling for a position or spot on the roster during Spring Training. If you are young, inexperienced, and low on the depth charts then this is your first opportunity to get noticed. You have to impress the coaches and your teammates or expect a demotion to begin your career. And as real life goes, even if you do perform, you may still get sent down to the minors in favor of the slugging MLB star or hot new prospect. Nothing is guaranteed in the Life.

If by chance you decided that you rather lead the life of your favorite ballplayer then things may turn out a bit differently. Taking on the life of an experienced star, with both the fan base and confidence of your coaches, will ensure some leeway as you learn to cope with the demanding schedule of a major leaguer. Struggle early in spring training, and depending on the player, you'll continue to bat in your customary three-hole everyday. Go hitless in a few games and the manager, while expressing disappointment, will still acknowledge your overall ability and keep playing you.

Power Pro's The Life mode is how you should do career modes.

As an added bonus, if your star player is rich and he makes millions a year, then buying items in the shop becomes routine -- you can keep your body competitive since you have the financial resources to spend willingly. Life injects meaning into performing exceptionally well on the field, as well as demanding a lucrative contract in hopes of achieving longevity and value in your career off the field.

Life mode continues year onto year until you complete your 20th season in the league, reach the age of 60, or simply decide to hang 'em up. Throughout your career you will be faced with choices and opportunities to expand your social life and improve your athletic career. Players can choose to date, get married during the off-season, and eventually have kids. You can purchase an expensive luxury vehicle and drive around to relax and buy a house with a two-car garage to store your purchased items, vehicles, and that family you only get to see between October and February. Decisions to practice, hang out with friends, or simply sleep to regain vitality are presented to you nearly every single day and make up a bulk of the activity you will be engaged in during gaming.

Gamers enjoy knowing that they have control over the characters on their screen.

It is these choices and focus on extra-curricular activities that separates Life from more popular and similar offerings like MLB 08: The Show's, Road To The Show mode, which also takes you from life as a minor league player into the glory of the major leagues, but without the off-the-field extras. Granted, a good number of gamers will prefer to just play the game while striving for greatness -- not to mention that Road To The Show allows you play defense while Power Pro's Life mode does not. But for those baseball fans with a desire to have some RPG in their career mode, Power Pros does it best.

Power Pros has taken the methodical task of playing baseball game after baseball game and added to it some additional fun. You may view these additions with slight skepticism, perhaps unwilling to understand how it belongs in baseball, but the additions have been welcomed by Japanese fans for years. The warm U.S. welcome to this Japanese series should get developers considering what they can do to advance their own career modes and highlight the other aspects of being a professional player outside of the stadium.

Gamers enjoy knowing that they have control over the characters on their screen. In sports, the thought of controlling a player off the field was frowned upon as the general opinion is, we play the game to experience the sport. But what Power Pros is revealing is that gamers also want to play to experience the life of being a professional player. Sports gaming is moving beyond the norms and slowly tapping into other genres. Developers can learn a lot from their peers and the risks Konami is taking.