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MLB 2k8

Today I took the plunge and purchased the new baseball game by 2k sports for my PSP. All winter long has been spent keeping my baseball cabin fever at bay by replaying the Rockies 2007 season on MLB2k7. After spending hours bumping the players sliders to levels that approached their 07 output and beating up on the Padres and Dbacks I was excited to finally try the newest version.

So after work I rushed home and ripped open the packaging, inserted the game and started up the exhibition game without reading the instructions. The 2k company has the two World Series participants as the preset teams to face off in the quick-start exhibition game which of course pitted our Rockies vs the Red Sox. The graphics show up on my PSP great and it's exciting to see the Home team face off again in a rematch versus the evil empire II.

The game started as a Game 1 rematch of Jeff Francis against former Marlin Josh Beckett. The starting lineups set by the 2k8 staff had Quintanilla as the starting second baseman. They didn't even have Nix, Giles or Barmes on the 25 man roster. I replaced Quintanilla with Heff Baker who also hit 8th in the lineup. Then he repaid my choice by booting an easy grounder by former Minnesota Twin David Ortiz that allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to score from second. Francis settled down after the error and scattered three hits over three innings before Uball took over in the fourth to throw two shutout innings. Jeff Baker made up for his error by blasting a 430 foot opposite field homerun over the right field wall. Franklin Morales exhibited a nasty changeup by striking out former Indian Manny Ramirez. Then power from the 2 spot appeared in the 8th inning when Tulo deposited a homerun over the left field wall against former Mariner Mike Timlin. Then Corpas came into his own by closing out the side in 9th for a 2-1 victory.

My plan is to work through my own spring training by playing a few exhibition games to get a feel for how the new game plays and also to see how the players perform. Then I will probably push some sliders to matchup the players skills and start the season.

Poll
Favorite Retro Game?
Madden
2 votes
Sonic
3 votes
Tekken
0 votes
Other
0 votes
Super Mario
8 votes
Zelda
12 votes

25 votes | Poll has closed

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

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Picked up 2K8 for the PS3 on Thursday.
I haven't played it much, but the new pitching mechanics are . . .  interesting, to say the least. The hitting and fielding I already have down since those are the mechanics that you find in EA's two editions of NCAA baseball.

There was a roster download already in place, and that put Jayson Nix in the game under the name Jarrod (I think) Nen. Chris Nelson, Greg Reynolds, Casey Weathers, Corey Wimberly, and EY Jr. all appear on minor league rosters. There might be a few more, but those I got at first glance. I'm waiting for someone to come up with a complete list of minor leaguers in the game, so I can edit those names and then start my franchise.

That, and get the pitching down (or go back to classic mode). Don't want to keep serving up meatballs.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ on Mar 9, 2008 9:31 AM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The PSP format..
Has only one analog stick, so the pitching is still in classic mode. I have read on some blogs that the new pitching is difficult to get used to but increases the "realness" of the gameplay.

My version also doesn't have Nix or Marcus Giles, which seemed odd to me because at the timing of their latest release those two were the frontrunners in the position battle.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Mar 9, 2008 6:02 PM MDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I'm really enjoying it so far
Picked it up for the 360 on Tuesday, and I've pretty much been playing ever since. Once I got the pitching down it's made the game that much better, and I really like the new fielding style. The amount of home runs and "Willie Mays" catches have really been toned down this year, and there are quite a few little intricancies that make it feel like a real baseball game.

I've gone through and edited the entire Rockies minor league system - there were a bunch of real players with fake names, and some I just adjusted so I could have a certain minor leaguer on my team. I'll post up a list later and anyone that wants to can match up the fake names with the real ones (or edit some players attributes to match another if you want).

by avsfan4ever33 on Mar 9, 2008 12:49 PM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that list would be awesome....
It would save me a lot of time.  I thought I was the only one who hated the fake names and had to change them.
It's amazing how much free time I have during the off-season.

by jcd823 on Mar 9, 2008 4:49 PM MDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I can vouch for MLB 08: The Show
Got it last Tuesday and it's incredible.  The player movement animations and the stadiums look fantastic.  I'm enjoying the pitching system too.  The only downside is the batting system, which is pretty simplistic.
rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Mar 9, 2008 2:00 PM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Show >>> 2K
Gotta agree with you here, Larry. Picked up The Show on Wednesday and am really enjoying it. Wish there were more roster editing options (I'd like to edit the names of the new Japanese players, for instance) and I wish multi-player trades existed, but I can't really complain about the game play at all. It's challenging without being frustrating.
mvn.com/mlb-rockies - Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on Mar 9, 2008 2:06 PM MDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Day 2
I was a little concerned about the sliders today, because after playing the Tigers I noticed that Tulo's arm strength seemed to be weaker than it should be. When I looked it up though it was around 90, so it should be fine. I also checked Jeff Bakers sliders to see where his hitting was at, and both his power and contact sliders were pretty high about even with Spillbourgh's. Speaking of Baker he seems a little stiff at 2nd, but his defense has been solid so far and his bat has proven to be a plus so far. The Tigers have a tough offense, Polanco bats 8th and has a .340 batting average. I need to start facing some scrub pitchers, because so far after playing against Beckett yesterday and Verlander today my hitting really needs some work. Verlander twice hit 100 on the gun in 7 innings. Although now that I think about it, the rest of the NL West will probably be just as difficult with the likes of Peavy, Young, Haren, Webb and the other aces in the wild west. Another interesting quirk I noticed was when I was pitching with Aaron Cook today, and he didn't have a sinker in his repertoir. I will have to make an adjustment later when I change the player's sliders.

Thanks for everyone participating in the poll, I didn't realize Zelda was so popular. Also someone mentioned posting a minor league list, that would be awesome.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Mar 9, 2008 6:14 PM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

My minor league player edits
Not all of these players had fake names - I edited some of their attributes so I could have a roster full of (almost) all Rockies farmhands.

You'll know if a real player is in the game under a fake name if the initials match (usually along with things like height, weight, etc). Also, some of the players may be at different levels on your roster as opposed to mine, as I've already shuffled around the lineups and rotations the way I want them.

MLB:
RP Matt Herges (fake name - Brad Almanzar)

AAA:
SP Mike Esposito
SP Greg Reynolds

C Mike Rose
2B Jayson Nix
3B Christian Colonel
LF JJ Davis
LF Joe Gaetti

AA:
RP Jentry Beckstead
RP James Burok
RP Chris George
SP Brandon Hynick
SP Marc Kaiser
SP Ching Lung Lo
SP Ryan Mattheus
RP Casey Weathers
SP Keith Weiser
RP Alec Zumwalt

C Tino Sanchez
C Neil Wilson
1B Duke Sardinha
1B Mike Paulk
2B Corey Wimberly
2B Doug Bernier
2B Eric Young Jr
3B Geoff Strickland
SS Chris Nelson
LF Jordan Czarniecki
LF Matt Miller
CF Dexter Fowler
RF Chris Frey

A:
RP Adam Bright
SP Samuel Deduno
SP Simon Ferrer
RP Jon George
RP Jarrett Grube
RP Alan Johnson
RP Andrew Johnston
RP Darric Merrell
RP David Patton
SP Chaz Roe
SP Josh Sullivan
SP Sean Thompson

C Rick Guarno
C Michael McKenry
1B Jeff Kindel
2B Jeffrey Dragicevich
3B Matt Repac
3B Jason Van Kooten
3B Spence Nagy
LF Cole Garner
RF Justin Nelson
RF Travis Becktel
RF Daniel Carte
RF Jay Cox

Hope this helps - sorry that I didn't write down which players were actually in the game and which I edited to put in the game; I didn't think to do it. At least you can get in the real players and then decide if you want to do like I did with the remaining ones or just leave them. Good luck!

by avsfan4ever33 on Mar 9, 2008 7:58 PM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ok... so MLB 2K8 is retarted.
Don't get me wrong, I like the game and all, but I decided to simulate a full season to see what the outcome would be.  The Giants won the NL West then took the Mets to seven games in the NLCS.  Ummmm.... what?  The Mariners swept the Mets in the World Series, and the Rockies finished in fourth place with 78 wins, just ahead of the D-Backs at 76 wins.  If that wast bad enough, the Rockies had the 5th worst team batting average, not one player batted above .300.

You have to wonder if the people who make this game know anything about baseball.

It's amazing how much free time I have during the off-season.

by jcd823 on Mar 11, 2008 12:22 PM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You mean
people with heavy ties to Silicon Valley would have the Giants too high?  SHOCKING!

Actually you complaint is one of mine too.  I wish the stats and stuff came more from scouts or insiders then....well....geeky programmers that don't know anything besides their local team, and the Yankees and Red Sox.

I'm still holding out for MLB: the show..but looking at a PS3...for the blu ray player more then the game engine.

Printing "Jeff Baker for Second" bumper stickers

by Redhawk on Mar 11, 2008 1:38 PM MDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Might have been a fluke
I've played a bunch of seasons on College Hoops 2K8, and usually it's pretty realistic with North Carolina, Kansas, Memhphis, or another top contender wins the championship. I just played a season in which Davidson won it all in 2007-08, so the Giants in the NLCS might have been a similar flukish thing.
Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Mar 11, 2008 11:46 PM MDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I am so disappointed
in this game for the Wii.  I was so excited when I found out there would be a decent baseball game for the Wii, but it does not have a lot of stuff that is in the 360 and PS3 versions.  No minor league play, and no online play.  I may have to just take away my stepson's 360 and play it on that.

by smokinRox on Mar 11, 2008 9:26 PM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Played exhibition yesterday...
Against the Dodgers since they left Dodgertown I figured they're fair game in my ST. I ended up extending the Physicist a little too far, but it was a close game with Brad Penny nearly pitching a no-no. Tulo hit a one out double in the 9th to break it up and the boys in blue ended up beating me 1-0. I had a chance to tie it in the 7th when I drew a walk with WillyT then proceeded to steal 2nd and 3rd base. Tulo struck out and then Fankles was batting 3rd and a hit a soft fly ball to Pierre in left field. Right as he caught it I pushed the wrong button and Willy never left 3rd base. Matty struckout with the tying run 90 feet away. Oh well those are the lessons you learn when starting a game.

Pretty soon I will adjust my sliders and set the final roster so I can begin a season. That's the fun part of the game. If the geekheads don't know how to program correctly the user can always bump the sliders a little bit to improve the team.

A couple of things I am dissapointed about with the game are:

The Rockies defense is not even ranked in the top 10.

There is no NLCS pennant on the wall. Just the lonely wild card flag drooping in left field.

Things I like:

Franklin Morales has electric stuff, he's thrown no hit ball for 3-4 innings every time I have pitched with him.

Catching flyballs is more realistic than last seasons game.

The catchers haughtily flips the ball towards the mound after a strikeout for the 3rd out in the inning.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Mar 12, 2008 7:35 AM MDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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