MLB 2K12 News Post

MLB 2K Series is Likely Dead

05:38 PM - May 22, 2012 by woz411

In an earlier article from Pastapadre today, he mentioned the MLB 2K series was left out of the Take Two lineup listing, not long after that Kotaku all but confirmed the death of the MLB 2K series.

Quote:


	Kotaku asked Take-Two Interactive if it could confirm the end of the series, and it released this statement: "Our legacy Major League Baseball agreement will sunset in fiscal 2013," a Take-Two spokesman said, meaning in the coming 12 calendar months. "MLB 2K12 is our last offering under that agreement. At this time, we have no further comment."

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Member Comments

# 61 Money99 @ 05/23/12 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlstudios189


	It was a solid game built off the backs of us xbox gamers who loved baseball. Sad part is now if another company jumps in we get to be the test dummys for a couple of years while they get it right. Then the new systems come out and we start all over. With the new hardwear cycle coming up so soon I wonder if we go gameless for a year?

That's a real possibility.
But for someone like myself who only gets a handful of hours in a week to play, 2K12 can last me 2 years. I'm more than happy with this game.

# 62 Yeats @ 05/23/12 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlstudios189


	Sad part is now if another company jumps in we get to be the test dummys for a couple of years while they get it right.

I honestly don't get the victim mentality people display here. 2K didn't do anything to anybody. If you don't think a game is worth it, don't buy it. I stopped buying the MLB 2K series four years ago, just like The Show. I had issues with both games so I didn't buy them, I played other games instead. Then I bought a PC and picked up MLB 2K11 -- a very good baseball game. Nobody is reaching in your pocket and grabbing your wallet except you.

# 63 pistolpete @ 05/23/12 01:57 PM

I loved 2k12, but the company really made it hard for a lot of people to get behind the game. I ultimately switched to the Show for the sense of community. I know, I'm sensitive.

This game had so many things right and was light years beyond the competition in some categories. I hope competitors get some good ideas from it.

# 64 Yankees_CT @ 05/23/12 02:19 PM

I am a "Show" guy but I would love to see Microsoft resurrect the High Heat series. You would think they would have a good first year out just due to the no competition fact. I wouldn't mind having two baseball titles in my collection.

# 65 Gary Armida @ 05/23/12 02:32 PM

The only good that can come out of this is if it opens up more competition for more games to be made. 1 game, no matter the quality, is never, ever a good choice. Hopefully, next gen systems will have what we had in the PS2 days--3 even 4 baseball games to choose from.

# 66 mcmax3000 @ 05/23/12 02:35 PM

The number of people who think there is any chance Sony will bring MLB: The Show to 360 has made me lose the tiny bit of faith I had left in the intelligence of the human race...

Unless Sony is getting out of the console business, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

End of story. There isn't even a miniscule fraction of a percent of a chance of Sony doing it as long as they're making hardware.

# 67 Money99 @ 05/23/12 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmax3000


	The number of people who think there is any chance Sony will bring MLB: The Show to 360 has made me lose the tiny bit of faith I had left in the intelligence of the human race... Unless Sony is getting out of the console business, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. End of story. There isn't even a miniscule fraction of a percent of a chance of Sony doing it as long as they're making hardware.

LOL, I hear you.
Especially when Sony knows full well there are people that have purchased a PS3 JUST for the Show.
Why give the competition any sort of edge.

# 68 mcmax3000 @ 05/23/12 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	LOL, I hear you. Especially when Sony knows full well there are people that have purchased a PS3 JUST for the Show. Why give the competition any sort of edge.

Exactly.

I don't think there are huge numbers of people that have purchased PS3s solely for The Show (it was a big factor in my decision to get one, but not the sole reason), but there are definitely some that have.

Sony has zero reason to do it. Anyone who tries to make up reasons is just trying to fool themselves into believing a scenario that will never happen.

# 69 debauchlord @ 05/23/12 03:00 PM

Anyone thinking that anyone else is going to be making a MLB game does not understand the industry. MLB has two licenses to sell. The third-party exclusivity license is the most advantageous. This license does not cover first-party games (as why Sony can make the Show. In theory, MS can make their own game, too). The first-party license also only covers the current MLB (anyone not on the previous year's 40-man is not in the game). The problem is that MLB wants NFL money for the exclusivity, which is not going to happen. If no other games get made, blame baseball. I doubt even EA wants to spring for another exclusive contract. On that note, it would be extremely beneficial of 2K to perhaps "backbreaker up" the game and release it with full minors and made up teams, and make the game 100% customizable. From sounds to full stadiums. They already have the code, so deleting some specifics, maybe adding an "NBA Jam-like" arcade mode and releasing it shouldn't cost them too much if anything.

# 70 duhitsrandy @ 05/23/12 03:09 PM

i used to play triple play/mvp until 2k got the exclusivity deal which kinda upset me, but over the years ive grown to like 2k baseball. idk if that is because its the best i had to play (no ps3) or because i really enjoyed the game, but 2013 should be really interesting if ea decides to pick up where mvp 05 left off

# 71 jyoung @ 05/23/12 03:29 PM

The last great SEGA baseball game was World Series '98 on the Saturn.

I never got into the 2K series, starting with the first game on the Dreamcast, which was so bad it wouldn't even let you control the fielders.

# 72 mcmax3000 @ 05/23/12 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debauchlord


	Anyone thinking that anyone else is going to be making a MLB game does not understand the industry. MLB has two licenses to sell. The third-party exclusivity license is the most advantageous. This license does not cover first-party games (as why Sony can make the Show. In theory, MS can make their own game, too). The first-party license also only covers the current MLB (anyone not on the previous year's 40-man is not in the game). The problem is that MLB wants NFL money for the exclusivity, which is not going to happen. If no other games get made, blame baseball.

So, basically, you're saying that unless MLB can get the same contract they had with 2K, they're just going to opt for no contract at all?

I highly doubt that.

Sure, MLB is going to shop around to other publishers and try to get the deal that they want, but the likelihood of that happening is near zero. When they find that out, they're likely going to start negotiating a more reasonable deal.

I think the chances are pretty good that there will be no baseball game on the 360 next year (even if a publisher other than 2K were to sign a deal today, they probably won't be able to get a game ready by next March, plus we don't know when specifically the 2K deal ends... Might not be until later in the year), but to think that MLB is never going to license their product again because they won't get the deal they want is insane.

# 73 SeaNNyT @ 05/23/12 04:36 PM

Good riddance. This series has been dead for me since mlb 2k5.

# 74 Ltrain44 @ 05/23/12 05:48 PM

I loved 2K11 and I love this years version even more. Such a shame because this game was getting better

# 75 DrJones @ 05/23/12 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debauchlord


	Anyone thinking that anyone else is going to be making a MLB game does not understand the industry. MLB has two licenses to sell. The third-party exclusivity license is the most advantageous. This license does not cover first-party games (as why Sony can make the Show. In theory, MS can make their own game, too). The first-party license also only covers the current MLB (anyone not on the previous year's 40-man is not in the game). The problem is that MLB wants NFL money for the exclusivity, which is not going to happen. If no other games get made, blame baseball. I doubt even EA wants to spring for another exclusive contract.

There was nothing advantageous about the third-party exclusivity license (unless you mean advantageous to MLB). As soon as EA announced their exclusivity deal with the NFL, MLB immediately wanted in on the action. 2K were partly pissed at EA, partly terrified that if EA got the exclusive rights to MLB, the rest of the dominoes would eventually fall and 2K Sports would cease to exist. So they overbid on the MLB license. People at EA were amazed that 2K would offer so much to MLB without snagging total exclusivity. No way anybody was making money out of that deal. EA had the option of matching 2K's offer but declined.

Ironically, the deal 2K signed with MLB was so onerous, it had no chance to succeed. 2K was contractually obligated to put out a certain amount of titles per year. The 2K series desperately needed to take a year off and rebuild, but they couldn't because in addition to forsaking one iteration's worth of sales, they would've had to pay a massive eight-figure penalty to MLB, which would've threatened Take Two itself. So they bit the bullet and did the best they could.

# 76 djcorrosive @ 05/23/12 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVarck31


	Sad day for sports gaming. Even though the game could never seem to get out of its own way, anytime a sports game is canceled its bad for gamers imo. Hopefully EA jumps back in with MVP. 360 owners certainly deserve a baseball game.

I'd love to see an offering from EA, a revival of MVP perhaps (Can't be any worse than 2k did with their series), but Kotaku seems to think EA will sit out this console generation for baseball and focus on developing a next-gen version.

# 77 DBMcGee3 @ 05/24/12 07:56 AM

Good riddance to bad rubbish. EA's baseball game on the original XBox was far better than this tripe. Step it up EA, or someone!

# 78 bigfnjoe96 @ 05/24/12 10:34 AM

Can't say I didn't see this-1 coming. As been said, it's a sad day for gamers anytime choices become smaller & smaller in a genre. Dr. Jones said it best Take-2 basically killed 2KSPORTS when they decided to go all in on the MLB License.

Thanks for some great times 2K.. I know I'll miss ya........

# 79 Money99 @ 05/24/12 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaNNyT


	Good riddance. This series has been dead for me since mlb 2k5.

How many games have you played with 2K12? Just curious.

I still don't get all the hate. Having only one choice is death to consumers. Just look at EA hockey or Madden. No competition equals complacency.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmax3000


	So, basically, you're saying that unless MLB can get the same contract they had with 2K, they're just going to opt for no contract at all? I highly doubt that. Sure, MLB is going to shop around to other publishers and try to get the deal that they want, but the likelihood of that happening is near zero. When they find that out, they're likely going to start negotiating a more reasonable deal. I think the chances are pretty good that there will be no baseball game on the 360 next year (even if a publisher other than 2K were to sign a deal today, they probably won't be able to get a game ready by next March, plus we don't know when specifically the 2K deal ends... Might not be until later in the year), but to think that MLB is never going to license their product again because they won't get the deal they want is insane.

I hope you're right. Unless MLB has a very inflated ego, there's no way they can look at the total baseball sales and think they're 3rd-party exclusive rights are worth what 2K paid for them.
It makes more sense for the league to have multiple games out there to help spread the love for the MLB product.

# 80 DaveDQ @ 05/24/12 05:07 PM

There are many factors as to why the game is being canceled. One is that baseball isn't quite thriving in the gaming community. That's where I felt Take 2 made a bad decision to nail down the 3rd party exclusive. Even the sacred cow (the show) doesn't hang around in sales for long.

So now 2K Sports is basically down to the NBA. Or are they?!?...............

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