Did MLB: The Show get you into baseball?

[btbrennan]

I was always a very casual fan of baseball. Played the Ken Griffey Jr games on the older ninteno consoles, and road the Yankees bandwagon as a kid in the 90s, but never REALLY understood baseball and all the strategy involved.....until I played MLB 12: The Show. I'm now a huge Mets fan (can't get behind the m Yankees for some reason, but I'm from NY so I went with the Mets)

So yeah....just curious, I'm sorry if this thread has already been posted. But I joined OS thanks to this game, and simultaneously really got into baseball!

Anyone now a baseball fan because of these games?

[nomo17k]

I've always been quite a bit of a baseball nerd, but after college most of my childhood favorites retired and my interested kinda waned because of it...

.... till I just randomly picked up PS3 and the Show a couple winters ago. Since then my enthusiasm for baseball has been rekindled and I've also joined OS just to discuss how awesome a baseball simulator the game is.

So I guess I cannot say it's the game itself which got me into the sport, but I certainly was impressed enough to appreciate the sport in real life again.

and yes, if you are from NY, the Mets are pretty much the only option for an MLB team, unfortunately. You'd think in the metropolitan area of that size should have a couple more options... like in Chicago and LA...

[Bobhead]

I'm in my 20s so you have to go back to MVP Baseball 2005, but yeah, a video game definitely made me love the sport even more.

I was just randomly in a GameStop with a friend and he pointed to MVP like "I hear that's a good game." I'd never heard of it, so I picked it up.

I started a franchise ("Dynasty Mode") with the Boston Red Sox (I lived in New England at the time, though I am from NYC). I have always loved the game, playing little league since I was, well... little... but playing an entire season (2 actually) just solidified it as my favorite sport, and motivated me to watch an entire season of baseball next year. Throw in the fact that "that" season turned out to be the Mets' magical 2006 season, and I haven't left baseball rehab since.

[seanjeezy]

Always been a big baseball fan, been going to games on a regular basis since I was 4, played competitively since I was 12, even played some college ball. I can probably name every single player on all 30 teams, but thanks to the Show, I can also name the top 100 prospects too lol. The Show also got me into pitch f/x, so yay for that I guess...

[tofubrain2]

Personally I'm in my mid thirties so I have to give titles such as Earl Weaver, Front Page Sports Baseball and the Hardball series the nod for sparking my interest. The one title that ignited the flame was Ken Griffey Jr for SNES. But it has been a delight playing the MVP series and really watching how these games have adapted. MLB the Show is the pinnacle of current day development, I really wonder how it could get better!

[Jimbo614]

I'm 55 years old. My first Heroes were The Big Red Machine. I used to play extensively various Baseball Board games such as Statis-Pro from the age of around twelve up until I was in my late 20's.
I can give you by memory pracrtically any team's lineup from 1972 til the late 80's.
But... Then I lost it.
I don't know if it was because my Reds were terrible (Nick Esasky and Duane Walker), or if it was the strikes, or Free Agency, or just the fact that I was drunk almost every night and missed it all.
And the Steroid Era didnt help matters none. But for maybe twenty years, I completely lost interest in Baseball. In fact, I hated it.
Then I, as others apparently did, was bored one day at Gamestop. I randomly picked up MLB09. Hmmm, looked interesting... I always had doubted that any video game could accurately simulate the delicate nuances of the game. I figured I'd see multiple Grand Slams or unhittable pitchers, or something would be outta wack.
To my surprise MLB09 was AWESOME to me. The Graphics alone were just simply gorgeous.
I knew very few players; But I decided to start a Franchise, only got about a month in before MLB10 came out. I read on OS about the improvements, so I went out and bought MLB10. I skipped 11, but jumped right on MLB12 again. Greatest Sports Video Game EVER!!
So now I know the players and teams again. I think Peabo Bryson had a song.. "Back in Love again".
I love this game. I love Baseball again. And my Reds arent doing too shabby either.

[Jimbo614]

Quote: Originally Posted by tofubrain2

Personally I'm in my mid thirties so I have to give titles such as Earl Weaver, Front Page Sports Baseball and the Hardball series the nod for sparking my interest. The one title that ignited the flame was Ken Griffey Jr for SNES. But it has been a delight playing the MVP series and really watching how these games have adapted. MLB the Show is the pinnacle of current day development, I really wonder how it could get better!

I agree with this guy. This is the pinnacle boys! Look around.. Smell the air, enjoy the view!

[MJHSpanda57]

I've always followed the Braves, albeit not very closely. I'm from Alabama so obviously football is king and that's all I played in high school. I would attend my high school's games and probably saw David Dahl play without realizing who he was lol. I would definitely say The Show helped me fall in love with baseball. I've been to two Braves' games so far this year and I'm going back when they play the Dodgers. Man, it's a beautiful game.