MLB 2K8 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K8 360 Impressions

01:24 AM - February 26, 2008 by Steve_OS

Matt Blumenthal had an opportunity to demo Major League Baseball 2K8 this afternoon. His official writeup of the event will be up later this week, but we wanted to get some quick thoughts up here for you guys.

This game looks beautiful, the player models have improved but the real leap is in the animations. The animations move silky smooth and there is no need to worry about herky jerky animations of the past anymore.
I'm impressed with how intuitive and fresh the analog controls are. The pitching takes a little time to get the hang of but the new mechanics add a whole new dimension to the pitching model.
The baseball cards feature is surprisingly cool, expect me to have more on that later on this week.
In-game saves are officially in the game this year.
Check swings don't seem to be a chore anymore. They are now accomplished by pulling back on the right analog stick - no more right trigger necessary.
Stadium-specific animations are in. The Yankee Roll Call was mentioned specifically.
There should be plenty of foul balls this year. I saw several in the few at-bats I played.
No spring training games this year.
I counted eight unlockable classic stadiums. I think more might be available by default as well.
No co-op play
You will have the option to make trades for CPU-controlled teams in franchise mode, but you won't be able to edit their rotations and lineups.
It was suggested to me that the demo is done and has been submitted. If that's the case, it's in Microsoft's hands now.
I will hit on a few of the big questions from the forum here.

Game: Major League Baseball 2K8Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 74 - View All

Member Comments

# 981 mogrod @ 03/04/08 05:59 PM

Played my 1st game (360) and, at least from my point of view, all the talk of the stuttering problems are WAAAAYYY overblown.

Was is buttery smooth? No. But I hardly even noticed it while playing the game even after reading everything on here.

I liked how it played for the most part. Like everyone else has said, the new pitching controls take time to kind of get the hang of. I gave up 6 runs to the Marlins with Oswalt (4 in the 1st inning) but it was because a) me not understanding the controls fully and b) he got tired and I pushed him anyway resulting in some bad pitches. In between though, he was starting to be lights out. I like the difficulty of it because it makes it that much more rewarding when you K someone.

I used classic hitting and only scored a run on default sliders. Though, I'm not one to be judged on because I've kind of sucked at hitting the last couple of years on 2K.

I didn't think graphically it was that bad. Could it be better? Sure, but I can't complain.

Really, the only thing I can complan about was the post game. It was trying to go through all the replays and cutscenes, etc and it was like watching a dirty DVD, pausing every couple of seconds.

Overall, after one game mind you, I'm enjoying it and looking forward to delving into the franchise.

# 982 JoeDog10 @ 03/04/08 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrUrsus


	Hmmm. Girlfriend vs. playing new baseball game? What would you guys choose? For me, let's just say that I am sure glad tonight is not Valentines Day But, I have been married for 13 years and have a child.

Haha, yeah there's not much I can do about that tonight

She is about as low-maintenance as they come, but blowing her off to play a video game probably wouldn't sit very well with her. Don't worry though, I already let her know that Friday and Saturday a controller will be glued to my hand, and she's okay with that.

# 983 PVarck31 @ 03/04/08 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lived


	Can anyone shed some light on the sac-fly issue. Has there been a situation where you would like to hit one, but you didn't

I had one opportunity to hit a sac fly and I did. Don't know if it was luck or my mad skillz.

# 984 ChicagoChris @ 03/04/08 06:00 PM

Man...the pitching is a beast. Right now i think i am throwing about 60% meatballs. I am getting rocked. It really adds to the game when you have to really work at the pitching.

# 985 UNC_Pete @ 03/04/08 06:01 PM

Can two MLB teams play in a minor league stadium? If so select a minor league stadium for an MLB game and see if the frame rate improves.

# 986 j-rod1326 @ 03/04/08 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lived


	Can anyone shed some light on the sac-fly issue. Has there been a situation where you would like to hit one, but you didn't

I grounded out with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out. But i liked it because it was my fault. I was hacking away at every pitch with my 8 hitter and I grounded a low one. I should have waited for something up in the zone, If i waited for my high pitch and still grounded out, I would have been pissed.

# 987 lived @ 03/04/08 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogrod


	Played my 1st game (360) and, at least from my point of view, all the talk of the stuttering problems are WAAAAYYY overblown.

Really? don't have it yet but it sounds quite lethal. Are you using SD or HD

# 988 lived @ 03/04/08 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNC_Pete


	Can two MLB teams play in a minor league stadium? If so select a minor league stadium for an MLB game and see if the frame rate improves.

Good idea. Can someone check?? thks

# 989 JoeDog10 @ 03/04/08 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjv31


	Gameplay wise I would have to say I like the fielding more in 2K8. Love the aerial cam. The hitting is a toss up for me. Pitching I like 2K8.

That's exactly what excites me about this game so much. With the new pitching and fielding interfaces, you will have to be focused during every pitch and for every ball that's put into play. It's not so "mindless", and I think that's awesome.

I also love the fact that if you're in the outfield and the outfielder turns his head to not look at the ball, the ball shadow disappears until he's looking at the ball again. That's such a subtle thing, but it's a wonderful feature!

# 990 dcarsnyy @ 03/04/08 06:03 PM

I turned off all the sound in the menu. So the game is totally silent. This is PS3.. It does help framerate, still some choppiness notable, but certainly helps. Unfortunately there is no sound, lol.

# 991 DrUrsus @ 03/04/08 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeDog10


	Haha, yeah there's not much I can do about that tonight She is about as low-maintenance as they come, but blowing her off to play a video game probably wouldn't sit very well with her. Don't worry though, I already let her know that Friday and Saturday a controller will be glued to my hand, and she's okay with that.

LOL, I have been preparing my wife for the last 2 weeks!

# 992 CarryTheWeight @ 03/04/08 06:05 PM

This game, like my dress shoes, needs a fine coat of polish...because it's not pretty at all.

...but that doesn't mean it ISN'T a good game. It's just a very sloppy one. Here's why:

-Lighting always seems to flicker in late-day, overcast or evening games for a few seconds at a time.

-Hardball Central always starts too late and cuts off before Steve/Jeannie can finish. I haven't heard a complete intro yet.

-Stuttering before every replay from earlier in the game, which often stops the 2K Sports theme from playing or Miller/Morgan from talking (they got this right last year!).

-Framerate in the outfield. For instance, I was making a routine grab with Vernon Wells and he stopped, mid-stride, for about one second before making the grab. If I didn't make that grab, I'd throw a "game-killer" out.

-Again, in the outfield, I was lining up for another routine grab with Vernon Wells but ended up doing some kind of spin move to make the catch...although I didn't move the analog stick to move him. The ball indicator was right over my head. I just wish I could've saved that replay, it was that strange.

I think a patch will fix a lot of these issues but I think the game didn't receive as much testing as it should've. I guess I'm not alone in saying 2K9 has to be this series' moment of truth...if there even is a 2K9.

...come to think of it, worrying about the future of the 2K series is exactly like worrying about the future of Buffalo's sports teams...

(I didn't read over the whole post so I'm not sure if any or all of these issues were already mentioned).

Don't get me wrong, though, I'm liking this game. Warts and all...I just want to find obvious positivity.

# 993 Motown @ 03/04/08 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjv31


	I had one opportunity to hit a sac fly and I did. Don't know if it was luck or my mad skillz.

# 994 PVarck31 @ 03/04/08 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeDog10


	That's exactly what excites me about this game so much. With the new pitching and fielding interfaces, you will have to be focused during every pitch and for every ball that's put into play. It's not so "mindless", and I think that's awesome. I also love the fact that if you're in the outfield and the outfielder turns his head to not look at the ball, the ball shadow disappears until he's looking at the ball again. That's such a subtle thing, but it's a wonderful feature!

Yeah I had a guy smash a ball to deep right, I took off running towards the wall and there was no marker, i turned my guy around and there it was and he went into a back pedal animation caught the ball and went back first into the wall. It was pretty sweet.

# 995 lived @ 03/04/08 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarsnyy


	I turned off all the sound in the menu. So the game is totally silent. This is PS3.. It does help framerate, still some choppiness notable, but certainly helps. Unfortunately there is no sound, lol.

Interesting. Can you see if playing in a minor league stadium with mlb teams makes a difference

# 996 DrUrsus @ 03/04/08 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoChris


	Man...the pitching is a beast. Right now i think i am throwing about 60% meatballs. I am getting rocked. It really adds to the game when you have to really work at the pitching.

Yes, maybe pitching will become really fun. I still can't figure it out yet though. I suck at this pitching right now.

# 997 DrUrsus @ 03/04/08 06:09 PM

If you go back to classic pitching, I don't think kzone pitching exists anymore. You know, the one where the 2 cross hairs meet.

# 998 Fiddy @ 03/04/08 06:10 PM

ok let me start by saying i'm a HUGE 2k sports fan..

but with the efforts in 2k8 hockey and baseball i must say i'm really pissed lol..

the framerate is just brutal on all HD resolutions and cams etc.. terrible just terrible. now we will have to wait 3 months for a patch to fix the issue. i'm glad i have the show 08 to hold me over but sheesh, come on 2k.

IMO 2k should take EA's offer and run away like they stole it. the only thing i would miss would be the NBA series.

year after year 2k just goes down the tubes in hockey and baseball..

ugh, just frustrated..

anybody feel me? lol

# 999 Trebor @ 03/04/08 06:10 PM

I think the frame rate issue is just something that differs by taste.

To some people even a minor stutter bothers them, and to others it's just no big deal.

Anybody care to comment on the sim engine? I love to play franchise mode, and as long as the stats comes out making sense I'll buy this game.

# 1000 dcarsnyy @ 03/04/08 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv


	Turn on your favorite music and listen to some music. I do that with just about EVERY single video game i played. Only game i ever listened to the sound was Bioshock.

Yeah, that's what I would do. But I honestly didn't think it made enough of a difference for it to be worth it. Maybe it will be better for others, but to me, although it did improve the framerate, it wasn't drastic.

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