People often hurl accusations of console bias towards Destructoid. However, I also want to prevent any of you fine folks from thinking that we’re prejudiced towards a specific publisher. Last week, I put up my impressions of the MLB 08: The Show PSN demo. This week, I’m reporting on its competition, 2K Sports’ Major League Baseball 2K8. In case you’re confused, here’s the skinny: 2K Sports’ exclusivity deal with Major League Baseball only applies to third-party games, so Sony is free to produce their own baseball videogame.
Last Friday, numerous media outlets, including Destructoid, were treated to a conference call with Ben Brinkman, the Executive Producer of MLB 2K8. During the hour-and-fifteen-minute session, he answered a wide variety of questions, ranging from the overarching and general (“What are your biggest challenges?”) to the overly specific (“Will the PA announcer still mispronounce the Red Sox third baseman’s name as ‘You-KILL-iss’?”).
Hit the jump for all the gory details.
Ben started out by giving an overview of MLB 2K8. Last year, they just wanted to produce a solid game that was about “getting it to play”, but this time around, 2K set out to take it to the next level with “a new experience”. To that end, MLB 2K8 features completely revamped AI and controls for the four main aspects of any baseball game: pitching, hitting, fielding, and baserunning. They wanted to make 2K8 feel like a huge jump from 2K7.
First, he went into the new pitching interface. If you’re unfamiliar with it, here’s a quick primer. Essentially, it’s like skate. — but for pitching. That is, pitching is controlled by the right analog stick, and the point was to make the player feel like he or she was actually throwing a pitch. The system requires three motions: first, you decide power (usually pulling back); the second motion picks the type of pitch (straight up for a fastball, three-quarters motions for certain breaking pitches, etc.); and the final motion controls accuracy.

Sound complicated? Ben agreed, saying it would take “five to ten minutes” to get acclimated. But he assured us that once we were through the initial learning stages, it would feel like a much more natural, organic, and intuitive interface. In fact, he claimed that Total Pitch Control, as it’s called, is an innovation on par with EA’s introduction of the three-step pitch meter in MVP Baseball 2003. I can’t vouch for that myself yet, but Ben said that a PSN/XBL demo had been submitted and would be out “very soon”.
The next feature Ben discussed was a completely new one for the franchise: trading cards. They’re somewhat similar to Madden Cards, but these won’t give you special cheats. Instead, you’ll be able to unlock them by doing certain things in the game. For example, stealing three bases with Ichiro in a game will unlock his card. There are three levels from least to most rare; they scale with the difficulty level (so you’ll have to grow a pair and play on Veteran to have a higher chance of getting rarer cards).
That’s not all, though: there will be twelve to fifteen cards per team to earn, and the whole point is to put together a “card team”, which can be used in online or offline “card battles” (A-Rod trading card, go!). 2K Sports will also be releasing card packs on XBL and the PSN, but Ben didn’t go into pricing (drat!). Again, it’s something that sounds cool on paper, but I’d have to see it in action to give a proper opinion.

The on-field throwing system has also shifted to the right stick. For example, to throw to second base, you’ll aim upwards. The accuracy of that motion will determine how on- or off-line your throw is. The amount of time spent in that position controls the throw’s release point, and accordingly, its “vertical” accuracy. Merely flick the stick upwards, and you’ll release the ball early; the throw will sail. Hold it too long, and the throw will end up in the dirt. Oy vey! For those of you anticipating frustration from these newfangled control schemes, Ben noted that all the “classic” schemes would still be available.
Graphics were up next. MLB 2K7 was roundly criticized for its framerate issues, which were severe enough to affect gameplay at times (especially on the PS3 version). This year, Ben promised that they had done a great deal of optimization to try and ensure that the experience would be as smooth as possible on both consoles. We were told that the game would run at 60 fps, and though slowdown could happen with a lot of action on-screen, the framerate would never dip near 30 fps.
Finally, Ben addressed a bunch of miscellaneous issues. Simulated franchise statistics will be more realistic this year, so Andruw Jones won’t regularly rack up 80 HRs. Ball physics have also been tweaked, so you’ll experience all kinds of hits and trajectories — and everyone loves the occasional Texas leaguer thrown in with all the line drives, right? The game now features ninety different minor league teams, from upper-level single-A teams through to AAA, and there are 3 generic minor league stadiums along with 18 authentic ones.

The Wii version, the first baseball sim on the console, won’t have any online functionality or minor league teams, though it will contain everything else. Ben labeled it more of a family-oriented “pick-up-and-play” experience. If you’re surprised by that, you must’ve been living under a rock for the past year. As for the game’s soundtrack, 2K Sports is staying indie, so you’ll see songs from LCD Soundsystem, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and some other bands that I’ve never listened to.
Sadly, unlike Sony’s MLB 08: The Show, this game won’t allow for custom soundtracks on the PS3, nor will it feature any Home integration or rumble functionality (DAMMIT!). I can understand the lack of “Accomplishments”, but I don’t see why there’s no DualShock 3 support (though Ben said it could be patched in after the game’s release). Still, I’m hopeful that the game will at least run as well as its 360 counterpart. We’ll be able to see in less than a week — MLB 2K8 will be out on March 3rd for the PS3, 360, Wii, PS2, and PSP.
Hmm revamped graphics and TRADING CARDS! I wonder if there will be special stats for the players that have track marks on their asses from shooting the HGH
that would really be something don't you think?
Nice post but you forgot one thing in your post my friend. There is a difference between the PS3 Version & the Xbox 360..that being the Xbox 360 Version:
To put it in a way that will likely make all 360 owners panic, there is so much content included in this game that parts of it won't even fit on the Xbox 360 disc.
If your a owner wondering what is missing from this version of the game, never fear, 2K is planning to have all of the missing content available day one via download. This consists of unlockable stadiums and Cool Base alternate jerseys.
-Game Informer Issue 179/ March2008
Also, lame no DualShock integration on day one.
I used to be a really big baseball fan actually. I'm not sure if I'd like any of the fancy moderned up ones though. Really nothing can EVER beat Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball on the SNES.
@Y0j1mb0: Hm, that’s really interesting. This is the first time I’m hearing anything of the sort, and it wasn’t brought up at all during the call. But I suppose it’s ultimately moot; I’m sure that they’ll make all the missing stuff available for free.
Samit:
Agreed. Just didn't know if they touched upon that with you.
On another point I've loved the look of MLB but the gameplay was always meh to me at best. I guess I'll wait and see but I love the engine on Sony's Baseball game..we'll see how MLB does..I know I'm buying one of them to kick your butt in, that's for sure!
I'm pretty sure the "missing 360 content" is a free download and will be up on day one.
What I'm interested in is the 'trading card game'...any more details would be awesome.
Also it's kind of sad nobody takes a Wii version seriously. Being able to throw pitches and determine the pitch type based on your grip of buttons on the remote and the twist on your wrist as you throw would be cool. Then again I suppose that would also lead to lots of throw Wiimotes and hand injuries...
console bias... how about your not so subtle New York bias?
@marko72: I make no apologies for that. You’d know that if you were familiar with my avatar when I was BrOnXbOmBr21...
aside from that comment though... i'm not too convinced on 2K's "upgrades" this year. i'm definitely leaning heavily towards "the show" instead.
MLB 2k just hasn't been the star gem that it was in the early 2000's. I'm currently leaning towards MLB08 but a demo may change my mind.
Is there custom soundtracks on the 360 version? The 2K5 and 2K4 versions had it on original Xbox, then suddenly they didn't do it for the 360 versions. What the eff?
Samit, your front-page history betrays a love of baseball that makes me feel downright Un-American. I really don't know why I didn't pick up on that every time I saw your previous avatar.
I eagerly look forward to my friends playing this every time I swing by their apartment, despite my insistence that we should play Rock Band or something.
@Pangloss: What can I say? Baseball is by far my favorite sport, and I’m a huge Yankee fan. But there are other facets of being American aside from liking baseball, you know...
@bmaupin: Really? I just assumed all sports games allowed for custom soundtracks on the 360, so I didn’t ask about it. Sorry, but I just don’t know.
I was going to comment on that very un-Yankeelike jersey Joba was wearing in that last screenshot, when mid sentence I took another look at the pic and saw the tidbit about farm systems.
I was about to label this game a huge failure before that lol
Now I just want to know who's the retard who demoted him lol
@Rainbowblack: Mouse over the screenshot and see what comes up.
I won't be pleased until they code in Cleveland's #1 home field advantage. Millions of tiny bugs at the beckon call of eric wedge!
This reminds me of the commercial for last years installment, Where it had a real baseball player hitting against an in-game pitcher. Really put a spotlight on the uncanny valley.
By themselves, the pics look pretty awesome. Put it next to real pics, and it shows there still is a long way to go.