The Show wins while Xbox gamers do without - thescoop's Blog

thescoop's Blog

The Show wins while Xbox gamers do without

Posted on December 12, 2012 at 12:38 PM.

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First off let me state that I do own a PS3. I got one years ago for Metal Gear Solid 4. It was actually the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle I picked up. That game, along with Blu Ray, was my main reason for purchasing a PS3.

Before my PS3 I'd suffered through the MLB 2k series. I remember back when it was World Series and it was a solid title. I kept thinking we'd see it return to that glory. Then came MLB 2K6 and with it the bug that wouldn't allow us to play our game for a month and a half after purchase.

Still, only having an Xbox 360 the next year I still went out and picked up MLB 2K7. It was an improvement over 2K6 but still wasn't the baseballl game I was really looking for. But being a huge baseball fan it being my only option I still was going to pick it up.

Then in 2008 it was baseball time again and once again I still didn't have PS3 yet. I knew I was getting one in May, but my love of baseball got me to the stores to pick up MLB 2K8. I actually liked the game, but it was far too easy. Still, I needed my baseball fix and it had to do.

Then in May I picked up the PS3. I was thrilled to be playing my Metal Gear game and it was all I was doing till I beat that game. Baseball was put on hold. But once I finished MGS4 I wanted some other PS3 games since my shiny new system only had one game.

I read around and saw some amazing things being said about MLB The Show. I debated it and decided I wasn't going to pick it up because I already had a baseball game. While I didn't love it, I did like it.

Then one week The Show 08 was on sale for $25. I decided I'd pick it up and I'd have two baseball game this year. And that started the love affair with the series. Poor MLB 2K8 was now and dust collector and soon was taken in as trade-in.

I was one of the lucky ones who had a PS3 and decided to check on the show based on several great reviews and good things said on these forums. But many Xbox owners aren't so lucky to have both options.

I can be because they don't have the money for both or simply because they never saw enough games on PS3 that they wanted. It could be they are just an Xbox fanboy. It really doesn't matter. The sad fact is that for many Xbox owners, baseball season now doesn't exist for them. Even though MLB 2K was a flawed series, it was the only game in town.

Microsoft owns the High Heat engine. It would be nice if they finally decided to do something with it. I know we won't see them launch a new baseball series on this current gen, but it would be nice if they did something on next gen at least. Plus that was a solid engine that would give them a foundation to start on.

But that still leaves Xbox owner with at least one, most likely more, season(s) without baseball. It is sad to know I could have been one of them. I know a small amount will pick up a PS3 for the Show now, but times are tough. It will be a small amount.

The death of MLB on the Xbox 360 was something we could see coming. And it didn't come because Xbox gamers don't like baseball. It came because 2K was lazy with baseball. It came because Microsoft has wasted a solid High Heat engine.

MLB shouldn't be happy either. With their only branded game now being a one system exclusive, they don't have multiple platforms to help expand their brand. In a day where MLB needs all the help it can get in growing the sport, this is not a good thing for them either. Maybe they will get after it and try to convince someone to bring MLB back to all the platforms.

Who might make the next cross platform MLB title? Well everyone points to EA bringing back the MVP series, but they didn't jump when it came open. Instead they made a Facebook MLB game. Konami makes what I'm told is an outstanding PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SPIRITS in Japan. They also have a MLB Facebook game. As I've stated before Microsoft does have the the High Heat engine to work with and could do something in house.

Bottom line is I believe, most likely not till next generation, someone will step in and help fill this void. I just hope it is sooner rather than later. I think the gaming world is better with a baseball title on all platforms. (and more than one option to press each game to be better.)

In the end I'm happy with The Show. But I am hopefully that someone will come along and make a cross platform title. I want to see all baseball gamers, regardless of platform enjoying the great game of baseball.

So, right now we all know The Show is the only game in town and it is only for one system. My question is this, who is on deck?