MLB 2K12 News Post

MLB 2K12 Impressions (Kotaku)

12:44 PM - January 21, 2012 by Flaxseed Oil

Kotaku's Owen Good has posted his MLB 2K12 impressions. He also talks to Mark Little, the game's senior producer, about the expiring contract.

Quote:


	New presentational details are still being added into MLB 2K12, ones that will advise you in how to pitch to certain batters (if you're paying attention to Gary Thorne and analysts Steve Phillips and John Kruk) and, as booth audio only aren't features that you can miss if you have a twitchy finger and button-through things out of get-on-with-it habit. The game's multi-stage commentary means the announcers interrupt themselves so they're not behind on the action, something every sports game needs to implement. The problem is I still saw too many interstitial camera shots, particularly between innings, that seemed to linger on voids in the field or blurred-out parts of the crowd. While the catcher has a new set of behaviors, the same old batter-up animation begins each hitter's introduction. These are the kinds of things that get in the way of playing the game for long stretches. I fear that people are going to kill the game for its looks and some of its repetitive visuals, and allege that it's a warmed over version of last year's game. It isn't though. 2K Sports has meaningfully innovated on the gameplay, and if it holds up in the long run, I think it should push other developers to try something similar, as analog controls in MLB 2K10 certainly pushed MLB 11 The Show to include them there.

Game: Major League Baseball 2K12 Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 12 - View All

Major League Baseball 2K12 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 Eski33 @ 01/22/12 05:09 PM

The visuals dont look that much different than last years game. The navy looks to light on the Tigers uniforms and the stripe on the pants is too thick.

Not to harp on little things but MLB2K has been a disappointment. I, for one, hope the third party exclusivity ends. Not so 2K will stop making games but so that other third party developers can partake. I am ready for the return of MVP.

# 22 Money99 @ 01/23/12 10:03 AM

This article was very bitter-sweet for me.
I loved how honest it was (by both the reviewer and 2K producer), and I loved hearing how they're trying to fix all the little things to give us a solid baseball game.
But it certainly did sound like this is Take-Two's swan song with baseball.
I'm sure everyone working on the game is anticipating 2K13, but who knows what the Suits in HQ are thinking.

I'm very excited for 2k12 though. I love the gesture-pitching.
If they can fix the lack of throwing errors, I'll be happy.

But I'm dying to know more about the My Player mode. I love that feature in NBA2K12.
I hope it's as deep for MLB.

# 23 Glenn33 @ 01/23/12 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pietasterp


	I think the game sounds good thus far. I know they've had missteps along the way, but in general, I have a good time playing the 2k baseball games. I feel like the graphics are a big reason why the series gets trashed (especially in comparison to the other game), but to my eye, I don't think the graphics are all that bad. Not flashy, a bit flat, but I wouldn't say they're "ugly". Everyone has their own opinion, I guess. The bottom line is that baseball essentially boils down to a series of 1-on-1 duels between pitcher and hitter, and in my opinion, MLB2k has done that very well the past 2 years. There are some bugs and some quirks which certainly are ripe for criticism, but in general, I think the game is a pretty fun and realistic representation of the game. At any rate, I guess we'll get to see if they've finally been able to put it together (sans top-flight graphics) this year. I am certainly more excited about this game than I realized after reading the initial previews...

This post sums up my feelings so well. I am really really pulling for 2K12 this year.

# 24 Money99 @ 01/23/12 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	There is absolutely nothing in that article, other than the author's moanful, pining speculation, to indicate that 2K has any plans to kill this series after this year. Me personally, I think there's a good chance this game goes the way of their NHL series. But if anyone at OS wrote a similar article and similarly emoted about this being the last year for MLB 2K, they'd be laughed at, cussed at, and raked over the coals by many of the members here, and rightly so.

I don't know.
As a huge fan of their NHL series, the language and tone of the 2K rep is similar to what I remember reading about during NHL2K11's push.
That tone can certainly be pushed by the writer, but there's a lot of things that sound similar to what us hockey fans endured a couple of years ago.
I hope I'm wrong though.

# 25 thorpey8 @ 01/24/12 05:24 PM

Sorry if this has been asked already, I was just curious to know whether MLB 2K12 will be multi region.

I am from England and was hoping to order it for my 360.

Any help would be appreciated.

# 26 bigfnjoe96 @ 01/24/12 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorpey8


	Sorry if this has been asked already, I was just curious to know whether MLB 2K12 will be multi region. I am from England and was hoping to order it for my 360. Any help would be appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	Never is, never has been. I'd say that's your answer.

Not true as last year it was Region Free. People in the UK were able to get the PAL Version. Here's hoping the same holds true for 2K12..

thorpey8 check these sites as they will probably have them:

http://www.mightyape.com.au/product/...66947/#reviews

http://www.fishpond.com.au/Games/Maj...words=mlb+2012

http://www.play-asia.com/Major_Leagu...n-70-43d6.html

Good Luck

# 27 bigfnjoe96 @ 01/24/12 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	Er, why does that first site you posted have 2K11 listed at 75 bucks, down from 90? This game was never 90 bucks new?!

In other regions the game cost more

# 28 jeffy777 @ 01/25/12 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	Er, why does that first site you posted have 2K11 listed at 75 bucks, down from 90? This game was never 90 bucks new?!

That's an Australian site, so the prices aren't U.S. prices, and the Australian dollar is not the same as the U.S. dollar, even though they use the same $ symbol....but yeah it's more expensive there, I guess because they have to import it.

# 29 cmidd @ 01/25/12 07:31 AM

Showing promise. if I remember correctly, they would'nt even release any footage of last years game so the fact their releasing videos this early has me feeling optimistic

# 30 cmidd @ 01/25/12 08:43 AM

Oh, wait maybe that was The Shows video.

# 31 Guffers @ 01/25/12 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffy777


	That's an Australian site, so the prices aren't U.S. prices, and the Australian dollar is not the same as the U.S. dollar, even though they use the same $ symbol....but yeah it's more expensive there, I guess because they have to import it.

Nope, the games are printed here. It's just greedy publishers. MW3 RRP is $99.95 here...on PC. The Australian dollar has hovered at parity with the US for a few years now. No sane gamer buys instore over here.

It will be interesting to see if the MLB 2K11 sales were decent enough to justify another release in Australia. There was zero promo done so I doubt it.

# 32 Blazzen @ 01/25/12 10:30 AM

Quote:


	I asked, then, if MLB 2K11 was a developmental stepping stone to a better product this year, why someone should pick up MLB 2K12 when its feature promises sound much like ones made by last year's game's. Little, quite bluntly, said that there still is value in having something that reflects the current game: New stadiums, new uniforms and, yes, updated rosters. Left unsaid, of course, is the fact that MLB 2K12 may be a stepping stone to nothing. This may be as good as it ever gets.

This is it in a nutshell for me. Yeah, they made some improvements here and there, but at its core it's a roster update. I've bought 2k7 - 2k11, but I won't be buying 2k12.

# 33 mkharsh33 @ 01/25/12 12:18 PM

I turn off all the helps... I want to play baseball... It's largely a guessing game... That's what makes it appealing, realizing it's more about dealing with failure than success...

# 34 Blazzen @ 01/25/12 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	To be fair, it sounds like more than a roster update, even according to that quote you posted. Now, if you enjoy using IE and the stick pitching mechanics in 2K baseball, it sounds like some work has gone into that. Me though, I only ever use classic pitching. And I shut off all the IE stuff anyway: I don't feel it's ever worked or been programmed properly, and I basically see it as a form of cheat programming. So for me, the only way this game will seem like a worthwhile upgrade (from the little we've seen and heard about so far anyway), is if they've also put some time and energy into improving the hitting mechanics in the game.

To be fair, you cut off the first half of the quote.

Quote:


	Yeah, they made some improvements here and there, but at its core it's a roster update.

I acknowledged they made some improvements, however, the amount of improvements they've mentioned thus far sound more like a patch than a new release. As the quote says, these were things they supposedly fixed in MLB2k11.

Quote:

I asked, then, if MLB 2K11 was a developmental stepping stone to a better product this year, why someone should pick up MLB 2K12 when its feature promises sound much like ones made by last year's game's. Little, quite bluntly, said that there still is value in having something that reflects the current game: New stadiums, new uniforms and, yes, updated rosters. Left unsaid, of course, is the fact that MLB 2K12 may be a stepping stone to nothing. This may be as good as it ever gets.

# 35 thorpey8 @ 01/25/12 04:36 PM

Thanks for the help bigfnjoe96

# 36 bigfnjoe96 @ 01/25/12 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorpey8


	Thanks for the help bigfnjoe96

No Problem. Here's hoping 2k12 makes it to your region

# 37 Cesco @ 02/16/12 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96


	No Problem. Here's hoping 2k12 makes it to your region

Just to complete the picture here. I believe last year MLB 2K11 was COMPLETELY region free, because I'm playing a NTSC version (printed on cover) on an italian (european PAL) Xbox 360 since October. On TWO Xbox to be precise, since I bought a new one at the beginning of December.

I'm going to the US at mid march and I'd be very tempted to buy MLB 2K12 NTSC there, but I'm looking for more info on the region free matter before throwing away some $.

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