MLB 2K9 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K9 Preview (Teamxbox)

05:25 AM - January 29, 2009 by jeffy777

Teamxbox has posted their preview of Major League Baseball 2K9.

Quote:


	"While the version of MLB 2K9 we were shown wasn�t complete, usually a prerelease version has a poorer frame rate and graphic quality, because it hasn�t been optimized yet. However, this demo seemed to have a solid frame rate and sharp visuals, which is encouraging. Thomas also said that �more signature style� has been added�over 300 signature animations in this installment�which will make the presentation that much more realistic during gameplay, especially if you�re playing with your home-town favorite team."

And they also give a good explanation as to why preview builds sometimes have poor framerates (lack of optimization, like Simballer told us), so it's to be expected that the framerate wouldn't be perfect at this point. However, apparently it's already not that bad since they had only good things to say about the framerate and graphics in general.

Game: Major League Baseball 2K9Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 38 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 DaveDQ @ 01/29/09 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakedowncapo


	Meh...Peter Moore was a bigger part of the NBA2k/NFL2k franchises taking off.

Greg and Jeff Thomas are Visual Concepts, they are behind putting out two very well made franchises in NFL and NBA 2K. Peter Moore, while I think he's got his act together, was merely behind the Dreamcast. He wanted EA on board but couldn't get it done.

I read an article with Greg Thomas about 8 years ago. He mentioned much of what we are seeing in games now. I give credit to his leadership. While 2K has sort of lost itself in this generation of consoles, they have given us some great games.

# 22 bigfnjoe96 @ 01/29/09 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	Greg and Jeff Thomas are Visual Concepts, they are behind putting out two very well made franchises in NFL and NBA 2K. Peter Moore, while I think he's got his act together, was merely behind the Dreamcast. He wanted EA on board but couldn't get it done. I read an article with Greg Thomas about 8 years ago. He mentioned much of what we are seeing in games now. I give credit to his leadership. While 2K has sort of lost itself in this generation of consoles, they have given us some great games.

Not to mention Greg & Jeff worked for EA before he decided to create Visual Concepts. They both worked on the Madden Series in it's early years

# 23 mdiggitydawg @ 01/29/09 06:06 PM

so for the lemmings like me who purchase right away (eventhough we say we'll wait) what's the real release date..more importantly when it comes out how quickly can bigfnjoe get his sliders tuned and up?

# 24 SoxFan01605 @ 01/29/09 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdiggitydawg


	so for the lemmings like me who purchase right away (eventhough we say we'll wait) what's the real release date..more importantly when it comes out how quickly can bigfnjoe get his sliders tuned and up?

Available 3rd of March, I believe. As for bfj's sliders...

# 25 ckarlic @ 01/29/09 06:27 PM

Sounds great. Looking forward to seeing this baby in action.

# 26 BadKermit @ 01/29/09 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdiggitydawg


	so for the lemmings like me who purchase right away (eventhough we say we'll wait) what's the real release date..more importantly when it comes out how quickly can bigfnjoe get his sliders tuned and up?

You're not the only one. I'll be there like a dope on release day, as well.

# 27 ckarlic @ 01/29/09 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	Available 3rd of March, I believe. As for bfj's sliders...

Yup. Gonna remind my girl to pick my copy on on my Bday on March 3rd

# 28 King Gro23 @ 01/29/09 06:39 PM

I always have money to blow, sorta like candles on my birthday

# 29 Stroehms @ 01/29/09 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Gro23


	I always have money to blow, sorta like candles on my birthday

Damn, you have a lot of money.

# 30 Rhouston @ 01/29/09 06:55 PM

I don't know how much faith I can put in a Web site preview when the reviewer of MLB 2k8 actually liked Jon Miller and Joe Morgan.

# 31 SoxFan01605 @ 01/29/09 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhouston


	I don't know how much faith I can put in a Web site preview when the reviewer of MLB 2k8 actually liked Jon Miller and Joe Morgan.

Not that this will restore your faith but at least the current reviewer didn't say he liked Miller and Morgan.

On a side note, Miller and Morgan as announcers weren't the problem, it was their lines. The repetition killed it. Announcers are always going to be preference based.

Miller and Morgan are considered to be one of the top announcing tandems in baseball by many people. I don't, like many of the more hardcore baseball fans, feel that way...but that's the general consensus.

# 32 bling2k @ 01/29/09 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96


	Not to mention Greg & Jeff worked for EA before he decided to create Visual Concepts. They both worked on the Madden Series in it's early years

No quite... Visual Concepts did a version of Madden ('94) for EA. They also did a baseball game for them in '93. They were an independent developer that did games for many different publishers.

Also, Peter Moore didn't make NFL2K or NBA2K... VC did. I can't remember my dates, but at that time, I believe Bernie Stolar ran Sega, not Peter Moore.

# 33 jeffy777 @ 01/29/09 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	Not that this will restore your faith (if anything it might make it more shaky...lol) but the reviewer didn't say he liked Miller and Morgan. He said that Thomas, the lead producer, did.

That's what I thought at first, but the writer was actually talking about Tom Price, who reviewed last year's game:

"Tom Price’s review of MLB 2K8...............However, Tom praised last year’s entry for going with what he felt was the best commentators, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. Unfortunately for him, 2K switched up the announcing team for MLB 2K9 to go with Gary Thorne and Steve Phillips"

But yeah, I wouldn't put too much stock in that. It's just one person's preference. Everyone has their favorite commentators. For instance, a ton of people loved Harry Caray, others thought he was horrible to listen to, so it all comes down to personal preference.

# 34 SoxFan01605 @ 01/29/09 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffy777


	That's what I thought at first, but the writer was actually talking about Tom Price, who reviewed last year's game: "Tom Price�s review of MLB 2K8...............However, Tom praised last year�s entry for going with what he felt was the best commentators, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. Unfortunately for him, 2K switched up the announcing team for MLB 2K9 to go with Gary Thorne and Steve Phillips" But yeah, I wouldn't put too much stock in that. It's just one person's preference. Everyone has their favorite commentators. For instance, a ton of people loved Harry Caray, others thought he was horrible to listen to, so it all comes down to personal preference.

ahh...reading. Might be a good plan for me to use in the future

...lol. In any case, the point remains...this reviewer isn't stating that and preference of actual announcers mean little (othe than how the announcing is executed).

I'll fix my post...thanks

# 35 BadKermit @ 01/29/09 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	Not that this will restore your faith but at least the current reviewer didn't say he liked Miller and Morgan. On a side note, Miller and Morgan as announcers weren't the problem, it was their lines. The repetition killed it. Announcers are always going to be preference based. Miller and Morgan are considered to be one of the top announcing tandems in baseball by many people. I don't, like many of the more hardcore baseball fans, feel that way...but that's the general consensus.

Just because ESPN says they're one of the top announcing tandems doesn't make it so.

# 36 SFGiantsPBA @ 01/29/09 08:24 PM

Kruk & Kuip are way better and even entertaining at that!

# 37 Frek21 @ 01/29/09 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motown


	A few things changed, & it's a purchase for me: Gameplay...Damn happy the meatball BS is gone! GFX on par w/ the 360 Field dimensions have ALWAYS been too damn small. They need to be accurately proportioned w/ the players imo. VC hopefully gettin' it done fellaz

I completely agree. The players are too big for the field. You rarely get have groundballs get through the 4 and 6 holes even if it is a hard hit.

# 38 SoxFan01605 @ 01/29/09 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadKermit


	Just because ESPN says they're one of the top announcing tandems doesn't make it so.

lol...my my

.

I never said they were. I think I even said that there are many who, like me, don't feel they are

.

And plenty of people think they are...not just because "ESPN said so." As I said, it's a matter of opinion. Joe Morgan, believe it or not appeals to less avid baseball fans much in the same way Madden does in football.

If someone bases their purchasing decision because of someones opinion of a broadcaster's quality, then oh well...lol. The End.

# 39 SoxFan01605 @ 01/29/09 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baa7


	I love Jon and Joe. Jon is obviously the real talent in that duo, but Joe provides a kind of Tim McCarver-like oddball twist to things -- keeps things focused on his quirky demeanor and nutty anecdotes, rather than the on-field action. And as a less-than-avid fan of the sport, I have to say baseball is boring as heck, and needs media personalities like Joe to liven things up.

lol...Joe Morgan and lively are not two things I thought would be used together. And McCarver...yikes...lol

Well played sir

On a more serious note, I agree about Miller. I love his radio calls and really enjoy the rare occurances on ESPN when he's pared with someone else.

# 40 flangoid @ 01/29/09 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	I like Gary Thorne a lot (He was great for the NHL and baseball, and has exerience in videogaming too...pretty darn good in NHL 09)...maybe the only Orioles broadcaster I'll say that about...lol.

What?? Buck Martinez is the best in the business, for color, and he does O's games now. Can't tell you how much we miss him on Blue Jays telecasts. Truthfully, I like Thorne's call too.

But anyways... I was pretty pleased with TeamXbox's review. If there's one source out there that I trust, it's this site. I check it every day to see what's going on in the Xbox world. They've even discussed before how the dates that they put out their previews/reviews are strictly monitored and agreed to with developers. They can't just throw it up at their leisure.

So I'm pretty pleased with what they said. Gives me some encouragement for 2K9. I've had 2K6/7/8 on the first day they were released. Told myself I wasn't going to do that this year as I'd wait for the demo (and hope it comes out before release) and for OS reviews. We'll see what happens but the zone hitting is HUGE in my books and I'm glad they've put this in.

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