News Post

MLB '09: The Show Preview with Screenshots (ESPN Videogames)

12:24 PM - December 19, 2008 by iamemmittsmith

ESPN Videogames have posted their exclusive first look at MLB '09: The Show, including some new screenshots.

Quote:


	"Think A-Rod chokes in the clutch? Ever shout "Dodgers suck!" or yell "Drewwwwwww" when J.D. walks up to the plate? MLB 09 is about to bring out the crazed fan in all of us as not only can you record your voice screaming anything from "Where's Madonna?" to "we want a pitcher not a belly itcher" and put it in the game thanks to peripherals like the Rock Band mic and wireless headset, the fan yells will sound like your voice actually coming from the stands. You can even assign the recordings to be part of a chant and your voice will be put through a new process so that it sounds more like a crowd chanting "over-rated" and not just a single person yelling."

Game: MLB '09: The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSPVotes for game: 90 - View All

MLB '09: The Show Videos

Member Comments

# 181 SoxFan01605 @ 12/21/08 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dat swag


	I can tell you right now...I only care about the gameplay...I don't give a rip about coaching, scouting or GM mode or how much hot dogs cost in my virtual stadium. I care about the gameplay and more specifically ONLINE head 2 head play...Now I don't discount any of that other fluffy stuff because I respect the next man's appreciation of it but at the end of the day NOTHING matters unless the gameplay is solid. I'm not one of those folks who are gonna sit down and play the CPU and stare at franchise stats...I only play head to head and online so that aspect of the game has to be tight for me...I'll never even tap into all that other stuff because I don't have the time or interest...I simply want a good solid sim to play head to head with...Now Franchise might interest me if I could play it online versus real opponents but playing the CPU is boring to me...Thats why when there are online problems the game is pretty much useless to me and many others.

I see what you're saying and don't disagree. Obviously, if the game plays like crap the scouting and stuff doesn't matter. All I'm saying is that kind of stuff is what helps make franchise mode interesting and deep for those of us who play the mode. That's what I'm (and I'd venture Knight and others) are talking about primarily.

Online play is a different animal entirely, and I certainly agree that it needs it's own work. I'd even agree that fixing some of the online issues and enhancing that aspect of play should be a priority over those details. I certainly don't think you have to limit one to have the other work.

So don't misunderstand me. When I say I'd like to see those little details, it's not at the expense of other areas. As I said earlier, I'm not prioritizing. I'm just talking stuff I'd eventually like to see make it's way in.

# 182 slyfox @ 12/21/08 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim416


	Man, other than the throws from SS to 2nd, this would be so great. You have no idea how much not being able to edit all the fake guys slowed us down. Unrivaled....says a lot, doesn't it?

It says to me, the player created feature should be un-equaled. However, I fear it will be very similar to last year. You and Knight do such a good job with roster evaluation and the things that go with it, it'd be nice to see less obstacles in your path. I expect The Show 09 to be great regardless, of course, but your rosters do add alot.

# 183 EnigmaNemesis @ 12/21/08 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim416


	1. Not important to me. 2. Needs improvement, big time. 3. Speed of players needs work. 4. Already been discussed and told to us....next year. But I have no problem at all with the player models. 5. VAST improvement???....I disagree. 6. For game play? Not important to me. What they have is fine.

Agree with this.

Online needs huge work, but they did announce stat tracking and fantasy draft for the leagues. And the sports connect website was a tip of the iceberg I bet will be built upon with this years features. Hopefully a huge overhaul to the netcode was done, as well as allow camera angles per user.

And for the original poster which jim quoted, presentation? WTF? Has phenomenal presentation compared to 95% of the sports games out there ... only needs work on the playoff atmosphere, which I have confidence they addressed. They hear our cries.

# 184 JibJab 24 @ 12/21/08 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim416


	1. Not important to me. 2. Needs improvement, big time. 3. Speed of players needs work. 4. Already been discussed and told to us....next year. But I have no problem at all with the player models. 5. VAST improvement???....I disagree. 6. For game play? Not important to me. What they have is fine.

Put me in the "Agree with this" camp. This was the first version of 'The Show' I've played and if the gameplay remains the same, with a few minor tweaks and a deeper franchise mode, I'll be extremely happy with 09.

# 185 Rob_NYY @ 12/21/08 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlbravesws05


	they do have in game saves for exhibition.

No, they do not.

And I, for one, do not want them to mess with the core of the game and the controls just for the sake of changing it because "it's the same." Adding in new pitching controls and hit sticks and stupidity like that, nuh uh. Don't do it, SCEA. 2K has been trying that for years and have been falling on their faces.

The pitching in 2K8 is laughably bad. Having to go up, down, left, and around to throw a curveball is ridiculous. Mess up a little and the ball will end up right in the middle of the plate as a "meatball" that will be crushed for a HR.

And as for your analogy, I love pizza just as much now as I did when I was 5 years old. It's exactly the same, and I still love it. And when I am 72 years old, assuming I still have teeth, I will still love it.

MLB '08 was amazing and I'm glad the SCEA guys are smart enough not to change what doesn't need changing. Just keep adding on and adding on. No changes.

# 186 EnigmaNemesis @ 12/21/08 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_NYY


	No, they do not. And I, for one, do not want them to mess with the core of the game and the controls just for the sake of changing it because "it's the same." Adding in new pitching controls and hit sticks and stupidity like that, nuh uh. Don't do it, SCEA. 2K has been trying that for years and have been falling on their faces. The pitching in 2K8 is laughably bad. Having to go up, down, left, and around to throw a curveball is ridiculous. Mess up a little and the ball will end up right in the middle of the plate as a "meatball" that will be crushed for a HR. And as for your analogy, I love pizza just as much now as I did when I was 5 years old. It's exactly the same, and I still love it. And when I am 72 years old, assuming I still have teeth, I will still love it. MLB '08 was amazing and I'm glad the SCEA guys are smart enough not to change what doesn't need changing. Just keep adding on and adding on. No changes.

I can not agree more!

# 187 scottmac @ 12/21/08 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_NYY


	No, they do not. And I, for one, do not want them to mess with the core of the game and the controls just for the sake of changing it because "it's the same." Adding in new pitching controls and hit sticks and stupidity like that, nuh uh. Don't do it, SCEA. 2K has been trying that for years and have been falling on their faces. The pitching in 2K8 is laughably bad. Having to go up, down, left, and around to throw a curveball is ridiculous. Mess up a little and the ball will end up right in the middle of the plate as a "meatball" that will be crushed for a HR. And as for your analogy, I love pizza just as much now as I did when I was 5 years old. It's exactly the same, and I still love it. And when I am 72 years old, assuming I still have teeth, I will still love it. MLB '08 was amazing and I'm glad the SCEA guys are smart enough not to change what doesn't need changing. Just keep adding on and adding on. No changes.

Yeah I agree, dont mess with something that works well just so they can say there is something new in the game

# 188 Artman22 @ 12/21/08 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim416


	1. Not important to me. 2. Needs improvement, big time. 3. Speed of players needs work. 4. Already been discussed and told to us....next year. But I have no problem at all with the player models. 5. VAST improvement???....I disagree. 6. For game play? Not important to me. What they have is fine.

I agree with all except the first one. Collision detection only adds to the realism of the game. It also makes a game look a lot more polished. I don't want to see my player running through a second baseman on the steal. Other then that I agree with everything else.

# 189 The Management @ 12/21/08 05:30 AM

How is collision detection not important in a simulation? Players ghosting through each other is just weird. Collision detection and player models are the only thing holding back the visuals. Both irk me, but I digress. It's still the best looking sports game.

Hopefully next year.

# 190 alwayz0npoint @ 12/21/08 06:12 AM

I just Hope they get the jerseys right this year they never get it right

# 191 SoxChamp @ 12/21/08 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlbravesws05


	All these little features are nice, but they just don't make the game. All this audio recordings are gimmicks and people will grow tired of using them. I just hope the core gameplay is different (pitching, hitting, fielding) because i need some new refreshment. I dont want to play MLB 08.5 The Show.

Yeah, yeah...we get it. You don't like the game anymore. You said the same thing last year, over and over again. A game that is released on a yearly schedule is never going to be vastly different from the year before, so I guess you can prepare to be disappointed. Personally, I think the The Show is approaching the status of 'best baseball game I've ever played', so I have no idea why anyone would want wholesale changes just because you think the game is growing stale. I love Frosted Flakes, and they haven't changed that recipe for decades.

# 192 thescoop @ 12/21/08 12:22 PM

This preview got me pretty pumped about the game. I'm looking forward to reading more about it as more info is leaked. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed about the Rule V draft.

# 193 NAFBUC @ 12/21/08 12:54 PM

How about the new Legend level!!! The legend level should be a great addition to us who thought Hall of Fame was not difficult enough.

MLB The Show is such a great baseball game, many of us bought the PS3 just to play the best video baseball game ever.

# 194 Knight165 @ 12/21/08 01:13 PM

One thing I would like to see as a change in RTTS is instead of creating your player and then YOU choosing a team to play for....give us the option to do our training.....set our ratings and then start us in a draft with the other young players.
I always wind up choosing the Mets as my team....even though I'm interested in trying somewhere else.
What can I say...I'm a loyal guy

M.K.
Knight165

# 195 Blzer @ 12/21/08 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfunk880


	You really need to consider your word choices more carefully. Although you did make a true statement.

I said "sensual" and not "sexual," correct?

Maybe it was still the wrong word choice.

# 196 WatchdogXC @ 12/21/08 01:17 PM

I see no need at all to mess with the pitcher/batter interface. It is the best I've ever experienced!

# 197 Blzer @ 12/21/08 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dat swag


	Did I miss something???..Whats the official word on player models?...Did SCEA make improvements on them?...I mean the screenshots of the player models look ok...But has their been an official word on if player models are being revamped???

Skeletal proportions look the exact same, although you can see more visual detail overall.

# 198 countryboy @ 12/21/08 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dat swag


	Did I miss something???..Whats the official word on player models?...Did SCEA make improvements on them?...I mean the screenshots of the player models look ok...But has their been an official word on if player models are being revamped???

player models are not being redone this year.

# 199 countryboy @ 12/21/08 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dat swag


	Thanks...thats exactly what I wanted to confirm. Its too bad though because player models and collision detection are the two areas that are holding this game back from almost perfection

the player models don't bother me as much, though I wouldn't mind them being redone, but collision detection is a must. I am hoping that its been included this year.

# 200 Marino @ 12/21/08 02:13 PM

I have never been this excited for a video game. Is it March yet?

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