The annual "baseball video games are fun" post

by Franchise26 on Mar 13, 2009 9:50 AM MDT

So it seems like every year somebody posts something about the new crop of baseball video games, and every year I end up posting in the thread because I'm secretly a nerd who likes to talk about sports video games, which are the only ones I ever buy. With both MLB 09: The Show and MLB 2k9 having been out a little over a week now, I figured I'd see if anybody else were getting their baseball fix via joystick.

My bottom line is this: if you have a ps2 or ps3, and you like baseball, you need to buy The Show. If you have an XBox, you need to buy a ps2 or ps3 and then buy The Show. It absolutely laps the field when it comes to baseball video games, and I do believe this year's version is the best sports video game I have ever played, period. It's remarkably realistic, and even at the middle level I find it to be plenty challenging. In Franchise mode I'm 6-5 with the Rox through 11 games and three of my wins are in extra innings (my bullpen is TAXED). It is very rewarding to play a game that feels so much like real baseball - it's not a 'home run derby', it is legitimately tough to beat the best pitchers and get the best hitters out... I could go on and on.

Anyway, just wanted to see if I wasn't the only one who was completely hooked on this one (I haven't played MLB 2K9 yet, but as good as The Show is, there's no need to).

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]).

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I need a PS3 for this very reason

I love my Xbox360 to pieces, but The Show has intrigued me to the point that I keep an eye on craigslist just in case someone is selling their PS3 for cheap.

I have played a little 2K9 at a friend’s house and it is much more fluid and instinctive than previous installments, which is saying a quite a bit. I really enjoyed myself and may end up purchasing a used copy in a month or so.

(I still really want to play The Show, though. Badly.)

by Muzia on Mar 13, 2009 10:02 AM MDT reply actions

Are you playing on PS2 or ps3?

I haven’t bought either game yet, as I’ve still got a ps2..and thinking of upgrading to a ps3 when i get a big deal done in a month or so, and since I play a lot of games on my computer, the only reason besides the Blu-ray would be for the sports games.

Any new batting stances/player profiles from 08? I noticed several outdated player pictures and stances in the Show 08, and was worried that 09 might be even worse.

Any changes to Road to the Show? Last year’s was a big improvement over 07. (I have no idea why I like being in my Tulsa Drillers uni so much!)

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 13, 2009 10:03 AM MDT reply actions

PS3 on the HD

a.k.a. “The ONLY way to play video games.” Visually the game looks terrific.

Plenty of new stances and profiles this year, although the motions for Corpas and Francis still aren’t right (but that’s mitigated by Atkins, Stewart, and Street being DEAD ON). Road to the Show seems better, too, the in-game transitions are faster and it’s easier to get training points. I started mine as a pitcher, and for once you don’t start with an 85 mile per hour fastball and the inability to field a ground ball – there’s a little more reasonable talent level that you start with.

The other feature I’m enjoying WAY too much – the ‘Sounds of the Show’ that allows you to upload music onto your PS3 or XBox, use that music in the menu screens, and (wait for it) program hitting music and closer entrance music for any players. This is the cherry on top when it comes to realism – it’s awesome enough how realistic every player looks, but Brad Hawpe looks even more real when that hideous Nickelback “Rockstar” song is playing over the speakers at Coors.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
MHCSports - Denver sports analysis from Denver sports fans

by Franchise26 on Mar 13, 2009 10:22 AM MDT up reply actions

I have been doing that music thing

ever since NHL 2K5 on the Xbox, always makes the game more fun.

I really need to convince one of my friends to buy a PS3.

by Muzia on Mar 13, 2009 10:25 AM MDT up reply actions

+1

hideous Nickelback "Rockstar" song

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2009 10:58 AM MDT up reply actions

I have PSP1 but no way to play it :(

I wish I could play either one of those games but the TV I have won’t let me play any one of my vidoe game systems that I have which are NES, SNES, Sega Genesis & PlayStation sadly there’s no cable hook up on my TV for either one of those systems that’s why I can’t play them & I can’t afford to buy a new TV; if I could I’d get an HDTV & a DVR so I could replace my old VCR.

"It's funny, Todd would be the guy jumpin' around and Tulo would be the guy tryin' to calm everybody down." -Jeff Francis

http://twitter.com/Rocktober2007
Maintainer of the Colorado Rockies Fans LJ Comm: http://corockiesfans.livejournal.com

by Rocktober 2007 on Mar 13, 2009 3:42 PM MDT reply actions

I so so very much

want to play The Show, yet I have no money to afford the PSBluRay.

I tried the demo version of MLB 2k9, and it played pretty nicely. Though I’m hesitant to pick up that one based on what I saw in MLB 2k8, which featured quite possibly some of the laziest programming ever. Anybody who played at Coors Field in the game should know what I’m talking about.

by oo_nrb on Mar 13, 2009 4:04 PM MDT reply actions

Playing

The Show on PS3, and currently a AA pitcher for the Rockies in Road to the Show. Sports video games are not good for my blood pressure.

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Mar 13, 2009 7:35 PM MDT reply actions

I'm starting to think that this should be my graduation gift to myself

I have abnormally low blood pressure anyways, so I can take the benefits without the negative externalities.

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 15, 2009 12:02 AM MDT up reply actions

These games are addicting..

I end up playing them for days at a time until social services shows up and the kids have started a fire in the microwave.

"Never fall in or out of love too early in the Spring." ~ Tony La Russa

by Charlie77 on Mar 16, 2009 7:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Has anyone played it on the ps2 yet?

and are there any plans for a PC version?

by biondino on Mar 16, 2009 8:16 AM MDT reply actions

I've never tried

a baseball game on the PC (aside from BBMogul), but I’d love to give The Show a try. Unfortunately, I think it’s a Sony exclusive, and Sony hates it when others play with them.

by oo_nrb on Mar 16, 2009 1:06 PM MDT up reply actions

Get the PC version of MVP 2005.

there are lots of updates you can install to change it to basically MVP 2009.

I'm not much for giving inspirational addresses, but I'd just like to point out that every newspaper in the country has picked us to finish last. The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big s***burger to eat!

by The Lodo Magic Man on Mar 16, 2009 7:26 PM MDT up reply actions

where

can i get these updates?

also for what it’s worth 2k9 is available on the PC.

Aut Vincam Aut Periam

by PioneerSkies on Mar 16, 2009 10:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Did a little research on MVP 2005

Turns out, it’s a very hot item.
Here’s Ebay

It’s been updated for several years, since by several sites/people
www.mvpmods.com

And www.eamods.com
Here’s a new update done just a few weeks ago

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 17, 2009 11:06 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks!

Aut Vincam Aut Periam

by PioneerSkies on Mar 17, 2009 11:26 AM MDT up reply actions

I played ps2 at Target today

and yes, I played it a long time. It looked almost exactly like it did last year, which was the same as the year before. It’s starting to look a little dated.

That said, the biggest change I noticed, was in the pitching deliveries, and batting stances. Last year the programmers got really lazy and went with a generic stance for a lot of players….this season, I thought almost all the starting Rockies to have a stance similar to their real-life stance.

MLB2k9 is also out…it’s $19.99 at target for the ps2…I wanted to see that one. MLB: the Show is $29.99. I’m debating get the ps2 version. I want the ps3 …but it may be awhile till I get that…so do I get the same game as last year?….or just skip this year?

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 16, 2009 10:36 PM MDT up reply actions

The PS3 is just too expensive...

The 80gb sells at Sears for $399 and if you’re looking for a deal the 40gb is selling on ebay for an average of $300. I am a manager at Sears and the cost is just too much right now, although it doesn’t keep them from selling out every week. The only bright spot is that Blu-ray players are beginning to drop in price and a few times they are on sale for $179. So if the Blu-ray technology continues to get cheaper then the PS3s will go down as well.

Personally, I’m still playing the old school Nintendo with my boys. Super Mario and WWF wrestling is our favorites.

"Never fall in or out of love too early in the Spring." ~ Tony La Russa

by Charlie77 on Mar 17, 2009 10:46 AM MDT up reply actions