MLB 2K10 News Post

Not the Bottom of the Ninth, But a Big At-Bat Coming For MLB 2K10

10:15 PM - December 13, 2009 by Steve_OS

Owen Good has chimed in with his weekend article at Kotaku. This one titled, Not the Bottom of the Ninth, But a Big At-Bat Coming For MLB 2K10.

Quote:


	"Scapegoated by its ownership and sandbagged by both declining sales and declining reviews, MLB 2K is a seriously troubled franchise. Flawed though it is, the title's biggest problems going into 2010 are not entirely of its own making. Let's recap. In a conference call with investors and analysts last week, Take-Two Interactive said its quarterly and fiscal year figures would be worse than expected, and called out just one current property in explaining why: Major League Baseball. (The delay of an upcoming Max Payne sequel also was cited.) 2K Sports' MLB titles also took the fall for a fourth quarter earnings decrease of 9 cents per share. That this could happen to a publisher holding the exclusive MLB license for everything other than Sony's platforms raised a lot of schadenfreude in a community disappointed - at best - by what MLB 2K9 showed this year. Savaged in reviews, MLB 2K9 declined in sales as poor word of mouth spread while Sony's MLB The Show became the sport's standard bearer - on a single console - with a superbly received offering."

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Member Comments

# 41 Pared @ 12/18/09 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rspencer86


	If VC was given resources that were even close to being adequate, EA would be in a heap of trouble as far as comparative quality IMO.

I genuinely agree with this. Sony would actually have solid competition on the virtual baseball diamond as well. Might be tough to believe, but it's very true.

# 42 DaveDQ @ 12/19/09 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rspencer86


	If VC was given resources that were even close to being adequate, EA would be in a heap of trouble as far as comparative quality IMO.

I agree 100%. Around the 2000-2005 time frame, there were a lot of games being developed for the major sports. When Sega Sports had VC with them, before they became ESPNVG/2K Sports, there was a dynamic being established that was gathering a strong fanbase for games developed by VC.

I remember being in a Barnes and Noble reading a gaming magazine article that interviewed Greg Thomas. He was talking about their outlook for the future, how he felt sports games were perfect for the online community, including leagues and tournaments etc. Then the released their 2005 lineup at $19.99 a game and I was sold at how they were approaching things. Couple that with the potential and quality that NFL 2K5, VC positioned themselves as a solid competitor.

You could argue that they have done the same with NBA 2K. They can do it with MLB 2K, it just a matter of do they have time and resources.

# 43 Artman22 @ 12/19/09 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	I agree 100%. Around the 2000-2005 time frame, there were a lot of games being developed for the major sports. When Sega Sports had VC with them, before they became ESPNVG/2K Sports, there was a dynamic being established that was gathering a strong fanbase for games developed by VC. I remember being in a Barnes and Noble reading a gaming magazine article that interviewed Greg Thomas. He was talking about their outlook for the future, how he felt sports games were perfect for the online community, including leagues and tournaments etc. Then the released their 2005 lineup at $19.99 a game and I was sold at how they were approaching things. Couple that with the potential and quality that NFL 2K5, VC positioned themselves as a solid competitor. You could argue that they have done the same with NBA 2K. They can do it with MLB 2K, it just a matter of do they have time and resources.

Well since NHL2k is going to be gone, I don't see the reason why MLB2k can't get more resources and man power. Most likely they won't do it.

# 44 brendanrfoley @ 12/19/09 02:52 PM

I don't think the NHL 2K team - if the game is canceled - will work with the MLB 2K team. More than likely, many of them will lose their jobs. Take2 is bleeding cash and sinking more money into the MLB series won't dramatically increase sales. Treading water is probably its best course of action here - until it can get out of the MLB deal.

Take2 should have let EA buy it when it had the chance. Saying no cost shareholders tens of millions of dollars.

# 45 SoxFan01605 @ 12/19/09 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEM


	I really dont understand how T2 loses money.. Didnt they publish Oblivion under the 2K games moniker? They have GTA too.. I dont understand. They must be spending willy nilly in places they shouldnt. If it keeps up we can only hope they sell off 2K Sports to someone who cares.. Maybe Microsoft would be interested.

I don't know that I like that plan...might edge out the PS3 players. I'm all for this company ending up in someone else's hands...the trouble is, who (that's interested in sports gaming) is in position to do so? Even EA (which would be bad for obvious reasons) is spread a bit thin.

It's a sad state of affairs. As others have said, VC's got the pedigree...I'd love to see what the game could be if full support and effort were thrown behind it.

# 46 yankeesgiants @ 12/20/09 01:00 AM

The baseball game debate was never settled. You had 5 different games that were all unique in it's own way so everybody had their fix. When you cut that many choices out, you have to deliver the goods. I thought mlb 2k7 was a good game with some issues then it seems that they bailed on it the last 2 years.

# 47 Senor_Herbatron @ 12/20/09 07:07 AM

If I'm not mistaken didn't 2k try to get exclusive rights to the NFL license but they were unable to and they settled for the MLB rights instead?

No one can be upset with the move 2k made. Madden bought out the NFL License because they feared 2k would take them over in the future. Which is exactly what would've happened.

Madden would be failing just the same if it wasn't for it being a football video game. There aren't many people that think what EA is doing is right but yet they'll still buy the game because it's a football game. People can live without a baseball game and that's what many are doing. Either that or they're switching to PS3.

I just can't wait till it's all over. If EA didn't start this it would've never gotten to this point. Let's just let companies make games so we can all enjoy. In the end it's the consumers that lose the most.

# 48 metal134 @ 12/20/09 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	I don't know that I like that plan...might edge out the PS3 players.

Something tells me PS3 players will be just fine for baseball.

# 49 SoxFan01605 @ 12/20/09 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metal134


	Something tells me PS3 players will be just fine for baseball.

lol...I agree, but regardless of quality, people should have a choice. We have a few examples of how nobody wins when competition is eliminated. Plus, MS owns rights to HH. I'd prefer they develop that and then we have 3 titles to choose from (assuming access to both major platforms).

# 50 Jamin23 @ 12/20/09 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	lol...I agree, but regardless of quality, people should have a choice. We have a few examples of how nobody wins when competition is eliminated. Plus, MS owns rights to HH. I'd prefer they develop that and then we have 3 titles to choose from (assuming access to both major platforms).

I don't have a PS3, but I would prefer two instead of one choice.

# 51 Senor_Herbatron @ 12/20/09 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv


	They let both companies pretty much bid and well there was no way take two was going to win against that.

Agreed.

It's ridiculous that they would want to create a monopoly. You would have to believe it would benefit the NFL and other sports to have not one but two games out there to make profit off of. Maybe I'm wrong but that's just what I'd imagine.

# 52 metal134 @ 12/20/09 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	lol...I agree, but regardless of quality, people should have a choice. We have a few examples of how nobody wins when competition is eliminated. Plus, MS owns rights to HH. I'd prefer they develop that and then we have 3 titles to choose from (assuming access to both major platforms).

They used to have their own line of games; NFL Fever, NBA Inside Drive, NHL Rivals and MLB Inside Pitch, but they haven't shown any interest in developing ANY sports games in years.

# 53 Artman22 @ 12/20/09 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawker


	That was an agreement they made with EA, back when EA refused to use Xbox Live for multiplayer gaming. EA was planning on starting up ther own service they could charge for. Microsoft killed off XSN, and EA agreed to use Xbox Live.

Wouldn't it be nice if Xbox would bring it back? maybe we should start requesting it from MS so maybe they can bring it back.

# 54 DaveDQ @ 12/20/09 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art1bk


	Wouldn't it be nice if Xbox would bring it back? maybe we should start requesting it from MS so maybe they can bring it back.

Especially now that MS has the ball in their court now. Back then it was their first gaming system. They needed EA on there because of how strong EA's brand is. Now that the Xbox brand is well established, they can maybe move in with some sports games.

I doubt that will happen, but given the success you see Sony having with The Show, I'm sure they have given it thought.

# 55 yankeesgiants @ 12/20/09 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houtz


	Agreed. It's ridiculous that they would want to create a monopoly. You would have to believe it would benefit the NFL and other sports to have not one but two games out there to make profit off of. Maybe I'm wrong but that's just what I'd imagine.

It's not always about money. It's about quality control. The fewer people who have rights to your product, the more you can control that product. The NFL has streamlined all of there products over the past decade. Video games are a part of that process as well.

# 56 yankeesgiants @ 12/20/09 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	Especially now that MS has the ball in their court now. Back then it was their first gaming system. They needed EA on there because of how strong EA's brand is. Now that the Xbox brand is well established, they can maybe move in with some sports games. I doubt that will happen, but given the success you see Sony having with The Show, I'm sure they have given it thought.

The show is sony's only sports game. they have bombed on all the others.

Football: Gameday was king on the PS1. It bombed on PS2
Hockey: Gretzky Hockey was a disaster
Hoops: They finally cancelled it this year

# 57 Senor_Herbatron @ 12/20/09 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeesgiants


	It's not always about money. It's about quality control. The fewer people who have rights to your product, the more you can control that product. The NFL has streamlined all of there products over the past decade. Video games are a part of that process as well.

Agreed but when will the NFL say enough is enough. They can't be happy with the product EA is putting out.

# 58 Artman22 @ 12/21/09 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	Especially now that MS has the ball in their court now. Back then it was their first gaming system. They needed EA on there because of how strong EA's brand is. Now that the Xbox brand is well established, they can maybe move in with some sports games. I doubt that will happen, but given the success you see Sony having with The Show, I'm sure they have given it thought.

EA is in a position where they need the xbox 360 more then ever. I wonder if many people request it from them, maybe they'll consider it? If you get many people to start requesting it from Xbox would it make a difference?

# 59 metal134 @ 12/21/09 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeesgiants


	The show is sony's only sports game. they have bombed on all the others. Football: Gameday was king on the PS1. It bombed on PS2 Hockey: Gretzky Hockey was a disaster Hoops: They finally cancelled it this year

Yeah, it's hard to fathom how they can make such an unbelieveable game of baseball but do so horrible on everything else.

# 60 brendanrfoley @ 12/21/09 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houtz


	Agreed but when will the NFL say enough is enough. They can't be happy with the product EA is putting out.

Sure they are. Madden scores well in the press and sells millions of copies. Furthermore, the NFL gets a flat fee for the license; more sales will not generate more money for the league.

Baseball is in the same boat. The MLB gets X amount of money if 2K10 sells 100,000 copies, or 900,000.

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