MLB 2K9 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K9 First Look Preview

11:55 AM - January 16, 2009 by RaychelSnr

I will be the first person to admit that I was not expecting much out of MLB 2K9 this year. With the development team switch from Kush Games to Visual Concepts, I did not think that there would be enough time for Visual Concepts to take control of the MLB 2K series and turn it around in just one year. While there is still very little information available concerning the game and there is still a month and a half left until the game releases, I am now becoming more intrigued as to what the company has in store for consumers come this March.

Last week, the feature list for MLB 2K9 leaked onto the Web. While there are obviously some spotty areas on the list, the developers look to be focusing more on the core game of baseball and also on the surrounding atmosphere, which is a welcome relief to both baseball fans who only own an Xbox 360, and also those consumers looking for an alternative to the MLB: The Show series.

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# 41 SFGiantsFan22 @ 01/18/09 04:50 PM

Yes we'll see..hope for the best.

Check out my website..

# 42 CubFan23 @ 01/18/09 05:03 PM

I am hoping as is everyone with a 360 that 2k9 will come through this year. The lack of press for it is no big deal, actually it is making me more curious and a little more optimistic as the release date draws near. As far as the Show goes, last years game was far from perfect, it had a long list of bugs and glitches as well. Both games need to step it up so ALL baseball fans can have a great game for whatever system.

# 43 buzzguy @ 01/19/09 02:19 PM

Yikes...I'm hoping this "reboot" of the franchise will fair better than NHL 2K9. That game got a new developer, and it shows. Not a bad game, but not up to the same level as NHL 09.

# 44 kromo50 @ 01/20/09 03:32 PM

They main problem with the game is the sliders. It takes me 2 months to get a real feel for the game and fixing the sliders. I only play these game against my bro or my buddies so i want the sliders setup right out of the box. I hope to god this game is good come VC do your magic

# 45 Trevytrev11 @ 01/20/09 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kromo50


	I only play these game against my bro or my buddies so i want the sliders setup right out of the box.

1) 2K has to do a better job out of the box as far as getting things close to realistic for an average person of each skill level.

2) It will never be right for everyone out of the box because everyones skill is different.

The problem is that because they do such a bad job on #1, sliders that should be used for #2 (minor tweaking) instead of major re-programming.

On a high level, say All Star or Legend, why should anyone have to change the speed of fielders or baserunners? This speed if realistic to begin with, should never have to be tweaked. But because of other factors (hit variation, scaling of the ball parks, etc.) it has to be fixed. In reality, it should be right and any changes should only have to be to a select group of players that were given the wrong speed rating.

The same goes with errors, a player who makes 20 errors a season, should be programmed so that on average, he makes about 15-25 errors a season or about one error every 8 or so games. It shouldn't be that everyone makes a ton of errors or nobody makes an error. A good fielder should be noticabley better than a bad one.

# 46 buzzguy @ 01/20/09 05:33 PM

^^^All good points.

# 47 mwjr @ 01/21/09 02:08 PM

Zone hitting: here's something I don't understand.

I've been playing baseball games for as long as I can remember. Haven't baseball games always had "zone hitting?" I mean, haven't you always had to put the bat where the ball is, i.e. push the bat outside for an outside pitch in order to reach it?

And isn't that what the batter's eye was about last year?

Isn't that "zone hitting," or am I way off?

If I'm not off, what's the big deal?

# 48 mwjr @ 01/21/09 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trini G1aDiaToR


	Yeah, I liked the right-analog pitching system and the throwing meter a lot... the pitching was very flawed but I thought it had great potential so I hope this years improvements are as good as they say. I only have a 360 (and a Wii and I'd like to see them improve the Wii version too last years version had an interesting pitching system too). I hear so much about the Sony franchise that I'm jealous... but I'm not getting a PS3 at this point. Lastly, If they have to delay it a bit I'm fine with that... just give us a good game. I don't understand why sports games always have to come out in the pre-season... I'll wait till the season starts, or even later, if it means the game will be better!

I'm in the same boat. I own a 360 and a Wii (primarily for the kids - Santa brought it), and I don't see myself getting a PS3 simply for MLB 09. However, I will definitely consider getting the PS2 version, as I still have that console and will gladly hook it back up if it means a realistic game of baseball.

# 49 bluengold34_OS @ 01/21/09 02:28 PM

As an owner of both the PS3 and the 360, I will purchase both games this year. I do have to say that even without any pics or recent news, I love the core representation of how 2k baseball plays. The only problem is, the bugs, framerates, glitches always hold it back tremendously. I still love the "core" gameplay and how it feels.

There are things that 2k baseball does that is just awesome, but it always shoots itself in the foot with something stupid. I still believe that if the framerate issue wasn't a problem out of the box last year, the game would have been accepted with a much better reception then what it did receive.

I still have high hopes for this title and the lack of media is just the 2k way and doesn't really bother me. Regardless, this is a day one purchase for me, just as much as "The Show" is and Front Office Manager.

# 50 JoshCA916 @ 01/21/09 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34


	There are things that 2k baseball does that is just awesome, but it always shoots itself in the foot with something stupid. I still believe that if the framerate issue wasn't a problem out of the box last year, the game would have been accepted with a much better reception then what it did receive.

I would have to agree with you on the framerate problem, had it been a non issue from the start well and the finish because ps3 never got the patch that was promised, it would have gotten higher scores and been much more accepted. Where they were going with the new control scheme was a nice touch and they could have fine tooled them this year, plus it still had the option to go back to the old school systems for those who prefer it that way, and what i would like to see is the "zone hitting" being added and mixed with swing stick, but that is probably too much wishful thinking.

# 51 brendanrfoley @ 01/22/09 01:51 AM

I played a little 2K8 today.

I stand by my original assessment. It is a relatively solid game at it's core, plagued by a horrible presentation and spotty framerate.

# 52 HK-47 @ 01/22/09 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34


	As an owner of both the PS3 and the 360, I will purchase both games this year. I do have to say that even without any pics or recent news, I love the core representation of how 2k baseball plays. The only problem is, the bugs, framerates, glitches always hold it back tremendously. I still love the "core" gameplay and how it feels. There are things that 2k baseball does that is just awesome, but it always shoots itself in the foot with something stupid. I still believe that if the framerate issue wasn't a problem out of the box last year, the game would have been accepted with a much better reception then what it did receive. I still have high hopes for this title and the lack of media is just the 2k way and doesn't really bother me. Regardless, this is a day one purchase for me, just as much as "The Show" is and Front Office Manager.

I agree...The MLB 2k series is so close to being great, but they always screw something up!I know some believe that the series is 10,000 years away from being good, but I believe it's closer than that!

If 2k8 would of had...

1.A good framerate.

2.A.I that steals bases.

3.No meatballs(If you messed up, the ball should have just went way out of the strike zone, not over the fence).

4.MLB2K7's graphics.

5.A louder crowd, at least for the playoffs.

It would have been talked about as being one of the best baseball games ever...But we all know what happened

# 53 jeffy777 @ 01/22/09 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HK-47


	I agree...The MLB 2k series is so close to being great, but they always screw something up!I know some believe that the series is 10,000 years away from being good, but I believe it's closer than that! If 2k8 would of had... 1.A good framerate. 2.A.I that steals bases. 3.No meatballs(If you messed up, the ball should have just went way out of the strike zone, not over the fence). 4.MLB2K7's graphics. 5.A louder crowd, at least for the playoffs. MLB2k8 would have been talked about as being one of the best baseball games ever...But we all know what happened.

I agree as well, the series has amazing potential. With just a few tweaks, 2K8 could've been an epic baseball game.

.......but I would also add to that list:

6. Smooth Online play

# 54 HK-47 @ 01/22/09 04:12 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot about the HORRIBLY LAGGY online play....I'm more of a franchise guy, so it's easy for me to forget about that.But I did try it out a few times.The first time I quit by the 2nd inning because the lag was so bad,(all the timing in offline play goes out the window when you play online) then I tried it a few months later to see if I could get use to the lag.I played all 9 innings and beat some dude something like 15-3....Thats another reason why I usually stick with franchise mode...Online play is with default settings, and that usually means HR fest!

# 55 BadKermit @ 01/22/09 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendanrfoley


	I played a little 2K8 today. I stand by my original assessment. It is a relatively solid game at it's core, plagued by a horrible presentation and spotty framerate.

I agree with you. I found the pitching to be fun and the fielding to be quite good, which made it a decent experience. Unfortunately, the hitting mechanic is probably the most important of the three, and it was bad. And, as you mentioned, the presentation was embarrassingly bad. I'm hopeful that 2K9 will be the first baseball game since MVP to inspire me play through a full 162-game season.

# 56 Eski33 @ 01/22/09 03:17 PM

SCEA is hammering out the information on The Show while 2K does zero. 2K did a great job getting the information out on MLB 2K7 and that game played great.

Last year, there was very little info and we all found out why.

I was thinking that 2K was waiting until the release of Front Office Manager to start pushing MLB 2K9. Having read multiple reviews of FOM, all terrible, I have no idea what 2K is waiting for.

I am hoping that the game is playable.

# 57 mwjr @ 01/22/09 06:08 PM

Oh yeah. I almost forgot.

We *ahem* older gamers need bigger text in the menus. I hate having to get up and stand right in front of my TV to read the menu/feedback/text.

# 58 BadKermit @ 01/22/09 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwjr


	Oh yeah. I almost forgot. We ahem older gamers need bigger text in the menus. I hate having to get up and stand right in front of my TV to read the menu/feedback/text.

And stay off our lawns!

# 59 Jimbo68 @ 01/26/09 02:41 PM

Here's a thought. Why doesn't 2K games take an extra few weeks, let's say, end of March or beginning of April and fix, tweak, improve whatever it is that still needs to be addressed. What's the rush to get an unfinished, an assumption I know, game out to us on March 2nd, weeks before the real season even begins? Just wondering.

# 60 jeffy777 @ 01/26/09 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo68


	Here's a thought. Why doesn't 2K games take an extra few weeks, let's say, end of March or beginning of April and fix, tweak, improve whatever it is that still needs to be addressed. What's the rush to get an unfinished, an assumption I know, game out to us on March 2nd, weeks before the real season even begins? Just wondering.

Then people would complain that they took to long. It's 2K we're talking about here. They're going to take heat no matter what they do, and of course most of it is well deserved, lol.

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