2K - Do the sports gaming world good, and SELL

[bodhiball]

Often, I am the last person to encourage a smaller, growing company to sell to a mammoth like EA. But in this case, its simply a matter of benefitting the consumer.

Since 2k's exclusivity for MLB on the xbox and the demise of EA's most popular MVP series, I have been waiting anxiously for 2k to right its ship and produce a game worthy of its exclusive deal. Granted, the 2k baseball series is beginning to shape up, but the feeling that this company is fractured and inefficient builds each year.

I am not just speaking of the game itself, but of their odd, sometimes non-existent marketing and fan-relationship building. It appears to be a company concerned only with the bottom line (as most are, but at least others TRY to develop consumer trust and loyalty).

The offer to purchase the company by EA in my opinion (and it can only be speculation) is not only the best offer 2k may EVER see, its also in the best interest of the gaming community. 2k has put in place a decent game, strong visually, and beginning to establish itself in game play and innovation....but my feeling is they do not have the foundation or ability to take this game to the next level.

EA's technology, staff and solid reputation could push this game ahead and easily take out The Show, offering us the best baseball game possible. Consider what a baseball game that looked like 2k and played like MVP could be.

Again...I cant see the future, but my prediction is that 2k will not last. A company with a narrow enough view to believe that one success (Grand Theft Auto) is basis for determining a companies standing, future and customer loyalty is ultimately disastrous.

Open your mind and your eyes 2k...for your share holders AND your valued customers.

[dkslade]

and then we would be stuck with one sports game a year.
live (junk)
nhl (getting better)
nascar ( always a year behind with a terrible release date)
madden (ok at best)
march madness ( poor)

so where is the positive ????

[bodhiball]

the middle ground, and what ultimately should be done, is for no company to have exclusive rights to a sports game. To me, that deal 2k made, thinned the water for baseball gaming. My feeling is that if they cant handle the exclusivity, they should sell....or get out of the exclusivity deal.

I get your point on the other games, and realize that people will have arguments for both 2k and EA, on who is better and what games outperform. But speaking strictly on baseball, I would love to see EA back in the picture.

[Bobby Smithy]

Even if I knew 100% for sure that EA would produce a better MLB game, I still would not want EA to acquire Take Two. EA's corporate monster is too big and all they do is stomp on their consumers. I don't want a gaming industry controlled more by EA, when they already control too much in the first place.

[dtay2]

EA buying out 2k might not be such a bad thing, can you imagine 2k gameplay and live's visuals, and College Hoops is better then March Mardness, and for those of you who dont know 2k killed the College Hoops series after this years edition meaning no College Hoops-2k9, they pushed back MLB-2k8, and they might kill off the NHL-2k series as well. Now EA had the superior baseball game with the ''Triple Play or MVP'' series of baseball games. I play all sports games and MLB-2k, All-Pro Football, NBA Live, March Madness, are all a waiste of money and time. Now NBA-2k, College Hoops-2k, Madden, ''Triple Play or Mvp'', are not a waiste of time and money. This move can be great for consumers cause we could be getting some of the best basketball, football, baseball, hockey, games to date.

[Bobby Smithy]

It's not all about the sports games though. Grand Theft Auto is the biggest series in all of gaming, and for EA to try and get their paws on that make me sick.

[FrenziedSokar]

so we have now shifted from the show girls & ps3 debates to EA vs 2k..omg lol


shut up

[Some call me Yo]

The more competition the better for the consumer. Plain and simple.

[BASHERS33]

They won't ever sell. People are just apparently stuck with bad major league ganmes forever. As long as they have the exclusive license and are separate from EA, they can make a game as cheaply as theyw ant and there is nothing anyone can do other than either buy it or have nothing.

Hope I am wrong and 2k8 will be good, but especially for wii it looks doubtful and I only have wii.

[sleepytercel]

Yes, we don't want exclusive licenses, we want exclusive companies making the only sports games we can buy. That sounds better doesn't it?

For one, you won't have this ideal collaboration of development teams working together in harmony to produce the best sports title ever made. That would be a dillusional hope that probably will not make it to the real world. When creating a project, you'll have too many people spitting out too many ideas which can cause conflict. Also, each development team has a whole different code that they use that provides the games we play. A VC programmer may not understand any part of the code that EA Canada uses in Live. It just may not work like we think it would.

Anyways, you don't want EA to buy out TT. If you're a gamer who actually cares about games, you wouldn't want this. There is absolutely no good to come out of this deal. This is just EA's attempt to steal GTA profits so they can become even more powerful in the gaming industry. As others have stated, competition brings the best of games. EA owning TT means absolutely no competition in the sports world.

As for MLB2K, well...a good majority of the people who made the MVP series are on this project now. It may take another year to be MVP 05 status, but even the original MVP needed a couple of years to make it there. The original MVP was full of flaws and missing elements. That treatment should be the same here. I don't think this "buyout" would make the MLB series any better besides maybe a name change back to MVP. Regardless, you would have to be really naive to believe that this sellout would ever be a good thing.

[baandje]

EA buying out 2k might not be such a bad thing, can you imagine 2k gameplay and live's visuals, and College Hoops is better then March Mardness
LOL, they'd be buying them out in order to SHUT THEM DOWN. EA is completely happy with their product as it is, and with it staying the same year after year -- just look at Madden.

[baandje]

EA's technology, staff and solid reputation could push this game ahead and easily take out The Show, offering us the best baseball game possible. Consider what a baseball game that looked like 2k and played like MVP could be.
Same thing to you: EA would toss anything 2K has been doing out the window, and then start over. We'd be stuck with a baseball version of Madden. The only reason MVP was any good is because EA was competing for the market share. Which also explains why Madden is a POS.

[merff11]

Sleepy, do you ever get tired of repeating yourself? lol. People seem to ask the same questions and make the same statements over and over. Why don't they try reading some of the other threads on here before they ask a question or try to respond.

Like your insight, always very wise.

[baandje]

Like your insight, always very wise.
BS... You're really just sleepytercel, posting with a different username. Lame-O, man.

[soldaderyan]

wow they close the other thread

[sleepytercel]

BS... You're really just sleepytercel, posting with a different username. Lame-O, man.

Tell me you're joking. I wouldn't do that.

[baandje]

Tell me you're joking. I wouldn't do that.
I'm joking... jeez!

Here: :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[sleepytercel]

I'm joking... jeez!

Here: :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

That's better. The smiley faces always clears things up. ;) <---see?

[baandje]

And: ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[bodhiball]

hey Sleepy,
My apologies for getting you so angry to the point that you needed to attack. You are right, this isnt the proper place to state and opinion and expect a good, clean debate about it. I am used to that opportunity in other areas of my life, where I can state an opinion (knowing that I dont know it all) and look forward to hearing other views so I can LEARN more. But I forgot for a moment where I was and just posted.

[sleepytercel]

hey Sleepy,
My apologies for getting you so angry to the point that you needed to attack. You are right, this isnt the proper place to state and opinion and expect a good, clean debate about it. I am used to that opportunity in other areas of my life, where I can state an opinion (knowing that I dont know it all) and look forward to hearing other views so I can LEARN more. But I forgot for a moment where I was and just posted.

I'm not angry. I was just pointing out an opinion for you to learn on. I may be blunt, but far from angry. No worries. I just think it's naive to believe that this would ever be a good thing.

[baandje]

That's better. The smiley faces always clears things up.
And what clears up the smiley face?

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg85/oeangus/s1-1.jpg

[sleepytercel]

MS Paint and it's eraser capabilities.

[FrenziedSokar]

coz vivendi and activison merged that threatned EA's world domination in the market, what this stems down to is $$$$ plain and simple, they want their grubby hands in all the pies & they have the money to do it, lets hope they keep resisting the offers otherwise the sporting idustry for games will all be in EA's pocket

[bodhiball]

yeah, thats what I meant. I forgot that people dont debate here, they bluntly attack and call eachother names. I mean, I knew that from reading the posts for a while, but again...I just forgot or hoped that people could enlighten me without reducing themselves to boys calling each other names.

And I've never met anyone that can call into question someone's mental clarity and label them without being angry! That is impressive man!

I'll re-read what you wrote to me and see if I can learn on it. In between the names, see if I can get your point.

[baandje]

You are right, this isnt the proper place to state and opinion and expect a good, clean debate about it.
Maybe try the EA forums with this particular topic...

I mean c'mon: DO US A FAVOR, 2K! You call that a good debate starting point?

[sleepytercel]

yeah, thats what I meant. I forgot that people dont debate here, they bluntly attack and call eachother names. I mean, I knew that from reading the posts for a while, but again...I just forgot or hoped that people could enlighten me without reducing themselves to boys calling each other names.

And I've never met anyone that can call into question someone's mental clarity and label them without being angry! That is impressive man!

I'll re-read what you wrote to me and see if I can learn on it. In between the names, see if I can get your point.

I think you're being a bit too sensitive. I never called you names and just provided my view on the subject. When you find the "names" that I called you, please notify me so we can clarify the situation.

[bodhiball]

you're right again man! You didnt call me "names"...just said that my logic was naive and that I was living in a delusional state of mind.

And, I think that was the basis of your "learning" you gave me....so, thanks?

I dont see how that "debate" helped me learn much about your point of view, but thank you for the attempt and illustrating the point of these forums.

[baandje]

I think you're being a bit too sensitive. I never called you names and just provided my view on the subject. When you find the "names" that I called you, please notify me so we can claify the situation.
So naive logic and delusional state of mind doesn't qualify as a form of name calling?

Not that I feel all that sorry for someone who posts DO US A FAVOR AND SELL 2K! in a 2K forum. Pretty silly, this whole discussion.

[shadio3]

it's wierd how everyone talks smack about this game, but the ive watched this forum grow from only 10, 000 post to 22,000 in over a week. HA, im starting to see that 2k tactics really do work.....

[baandje]

And, I think that was the basis of your "learning" you gave me....so, thanks?
This is the way sleepy 'learns' everyone in this forum, which is why I initially couldn't support his application as a moderator on these forums...

You raised some valid points in your first post. But the solution to fixing an obviously broken company like 2K, isn't selling to EA. We'd just end up with MLB, Madden style.

[bodhiball]

right, to me thats name calling too.
but again, I see that this is not the place to debate or have a point of view.

I also noticed that I have been "debating" with 2 men who have 7 thousand and 5 thousand posts on this site! So the chances are I will not be able to engage in any form of open dialogue, but will just see the defense and attack of someone protecting what they believe in.

Again, sorry for offering my view on your game, and I respectfully bow out of our "debate"

enjoy the season guys

[sleepytercel]

you're right again man! You didnt call me "names"...just said that my logic was naive and that I was living in a delusional state of mind.

And, I think that was the basis of your "learning" you gave me....so, thanks?

I dont see how that "debate" helped me learn much about your point of view, but thank you for the attempt and illustrating the point of these forums.

I used the term "dillusional" to fortify my point that having EA buy out the 2K teams won't necessarily mean we'll get better sports games. I continued my point that having several developers and programmers could possibly clash in the artisitc creativity. I also made a point that having only one publisher for sports games would not be a motivational technique for improved games. We need the competition in order for these games to continue to get better. If you take away from all competition, then what motive is there to strive beyond mediocrity? There would be none as you're the only game in town. I personally thought that the logic was "dillusional" and "naive", but I never directly called you either of those things. I carefully pointed out that, if you truly believe this to be a good thing for gamers and the industry, then that thought is "dillusional" and "naive" because the thought doesn't dictate other possibilities. Possibilities that are more realistic due to the nature of EA's business practices. I wasn't "attacking", but you can't get upset for my not agreeing with you.

[baandje]

it's wierd how everyone talks smack about this game, but the ive watched this forum grow from only 10, 000 post to 22,000 in over a week. HA, im starting to see that 2k tactics really do work.....
Except 12,000 of those are people posting how good The Show is.

[eastcoastcrushr]

They won't ever sell. People are just apparently stuck with bad major league ganmes forever. As long as they have the exclusive license and are separate from EA, they can make a game as cheaply as theyw ant and there is nothing anyone can do other than either buy it or have nothing.

Hope I am wrong and 2k8 will be good, but especially for wii it looks doubtful and I only have wii.

Yeah...and were stuck with bad football (madden) until 09. Why would anyone want anyone to have exclusive sports rights?

Madden saw that 2k was better in football....bought rights, and now we have second best football.

2k saw EA putting out good baseball, bought exclusive rights, and we have second best baseball.

So we have second best in both sports categories...because of exclusive rights...and now you want and encourage a complete buyout? Are you guys retarded!

[bodhiball]

THANK YOU Baandje!!!!

THAT is all I was looking for!
And you know what, I agree and I totally see your point.

I guess what I would ultimately want is for the market to be open...so that EA could get back into the mix. Competition is a good thing and could make all these games better

[baandje]

I also noticed that I have been "debating" with 2 men who have 7 thousand and 5 thousand posts on this site!

enjoy the season guys
Hey, don't lump me in with Mr. Didn't Talk Nice To You. Plus I tossed out some thoughts there for you to chew on.

So chew, then spew.

[bodhiball]

Sleepy, your "extended" view that you just posted is a debate...and one I can read without getting defensive and therefore be OPEN to hearing your view. I also AGREE with what you are saying. But when you mix in views on WHO someone is because of what they THINK about something....you lose your point.

[FrenziedSokar]

no actually eastcoast i dont know how to break it to ya but EA renewed their contract with the NFL till 2012. As this has been pointed out before it was the NFL who wanted to deal with one company, it was basically down to EA had more money and muscle to get the deal done. The MLB deal with 2k is not a exclusive deal otherwise u wouldnt see the show its a third party deal

[baandje]

I guess what I would ultimately want is for the market to be open...so that EA could get back into the mix. Competition is a good thing and could make all these games better
Which is why there has to be 2-3 companies making any game. EA would still have to compete with The Show until the current license runs out. So we'd no doubt see some decent games the next few years. But after that, they'd be trying to go exclusive, and we could be stuck with a Madden situation with baseball as well.

I will say though that EA is showing they can and will produce very good games, with little or no competition. FIFA is a great game, and there's really no competition for it at this point. And NHL 08 is another GOTY candidate, and they barely have to worry about 2K. I would guess EA probably outsells NHL 2K 3 to 1, if not more.

[shadio3]

Except 12,000 of those are people posting how good The Show is.

As kids we use to hit GIRLS to let them know that we liked them...People post here because deep down they know 2k sports delivers the goods. NO demo is because every company loves to copy..........

2k is the cure...

[sleepytercel]

Sleepy, your "extended" view that you just posted is a debate...and one I can read without getting defensive and therefore be OPEN to hearing your view. I also AGREE with what you are saying. But when you mix in views on WHO someone is because of what they THINK about something....you lose your point.

I'm sorry you were sensitive into thinking that I was attacking you, but I never did dictate "who you were". If you think that, then I am sorry. Not everything written will be pure gold, and everyone always has a misconception of what one believes. That's just human nature. Regardless, I don't feel that I "attacked" you, but you feel that I did. We disagree here, but until farther ranting occurs, you're just another person writing on a message board, and your initial proposals and thought mend the imagination of the type of person you are. The title of this thread can heavily dictate what you think. Maybe it was just a selling point for people to post in your thread, who knows, but to tell 2K to do the gaming world a favor, that's a bit direct, and in my opinion "naive".

[bodhiball]

fair enough

[sleepytercel]

fair enough

Awesome! We can at least credit ourselves for providing insight and clarification with no "*******'s" clogging up our views. ;) We properly debated.

[baandje]

2k is the cure...
I would say people who post that they like or prefer The Show, are actually saying they like or prefer The Show.

2K was a great company in the past. But they stopped being my cure 2-3 years ago. I don't play basketball games, but their baseball and hockey games have been horrible for a long time now. 2K NEEDS a cure IMO.

[baandje]

Awesome. We can at least credit ourselves for providing insight and clarification with no *******'s clogging up our views. ;)
I hope those ********'s don't mean baandje's. I can't tell because I can't read it on my end here.

[bodhiball]

Which is why there has to be 2-3 companies making any game. EA would still have to compete with The Show until the current license runs out. So we'd no doubt see some decent games the next few years. But after that, they'd be trying to go exclusive, and we could be stuck with a Madden situation with baseball as well.

I will say though that EA is showing they can and will produce very good games, with little or no competition. FIFA is a great game, and there's really no competition for it at this point. And NHL 08 is another GOTY candidate, and they barely have to worry about 2K. I would guess EA probably outsells NHL 2K 3 to 1, if not more.


agreed.
What gets me is the exclusivity deals. I dont understand how a company can have this and have it NOT be a monopoly. It certainly didnt make sense to me when 2k bought this and ended MVP's run of a great game.

The suggestion for 2k to sell is not accurate (and clearly overstated) on my part. What I really mean to say is to sell the exclusivity. Get out of the way to allow other developers to make games. Its also fueled by the thought of MVP Baseball more than EA as a company. To think of what these 2 companies could do with a baseball game is exciting.

[sleepytercel]

I would say people who post that they like or prefer The Show, are actually saying they like or prefer The Show.

2K was a great company in the past. But they stopped being my cure 2-3 years ago. I don't play basketball games, but their baseball and hockey games have been horrible for a long time now. 2K NEEDS a cure IMO.

I guess we can conclude that Kush Games has really been the downfall to 2K's product lineup. While I do enjoy NHL2K8 and believe it's one of Kush's better efforts, I can't deny that Kush has hurt the brand with their unfinished and glitchy performance.

[sleepytercel]

agreed.
What gets me is the exclusivity deals. I dont understand how a company can have this and have it NOT be a monopoly. It certainly didnt make sense to me when 2k bought this and ended MVP's run of a great game.

The suggestion for 2k to sell is not accurate (and clearly overstated) on my part. What I really mean to say is to sell the exclusivity. Get out of the way to allow other developers to make games. Its also fueled by the thought of MVP Baseball more than EA as a company. To think of what these 2 companies could do with a baseball game is exciting.

I agree that this exclusive licensing is really hurting the industry. However, EA completely took football from everyone. It was literally 2K's best product, and EA took it. Take Two just purchased Visual Concepts/Kush Games from Sega, and if they were serious about being in the sports industry, they had to do something to keep them in the business. Afterall, EA owns exclusive licenses to NFL, NCAA Football, Arena Football, PGA, NASCAR and FIFA. That is 6 licenses that EA owns to themselves only. Take Two bought the MLB license as a third party exclusive, and basically just shunned EA out of the market. I honestly believe that TT's taking of the license would have never happened if EA didn't take every major football license to keep the football genre to themselves.

[baandje]

The suggestion for 2k to sell is not accurate (and clearly overstated) on my part. What I really mean to say is to sell the exclusivity. Get out of the way to allow other developers to make games. Its also fueled by the thought of MVP Baseball more than EA as a company. To think of what these 2 companies could do with a baseball game is exciting.
Hard to say the exclusive license is responsible for the lackluster product 2K keeps putting out. 2K5 was just as awful, and it was competing with MVP at the time. But because 2K doesn't have to worry about competition on the 360, I sometimes wonder if they're pushing as hard as they could to put out a topnotch product.

Then again, NHL 2K seems to have many of the same problems as MLB 2K, and they're competing directly with EA. If anything I think it's a combination of issues. They don't have to worry as much -- which is an indictment against exclusive licenses. And I think they don't as a company provide the money to hire the talent to get the job done, or to market the game properly.

[merff11]

hey Sleepy,
My apologies for getting you so angry to the point that you needed to attack. You are right, this isnt the proper place to state and opinion and expect a good, clean debate about it. I am used to that opportunity in other areas of my life, where I can state an opinion (knowing that I dont know it all) and look forward to hearing other views so I can LEARN more. But I forgot for a moment where I was and just posted.

Please take no offense to this, for I can respect people who want to post their opinion and want to debate, but Sleepy rarely posts any information that is not looked into or researched. I have yet to see him post anything other than educated opinions.

I have not read all your posts, but it does seem that you post your opinion without using anything to back up why you belive what you believe. Just give some insight as to why you think what you think and you'll find people won't jump on you so quickly.

Just my $.02, and it's worth half of that.

[baandje]

While I do enjoy NHL2K8 and believe it's one of Kush's better efforts...
I preferred NHL 2K8 over NHL 08 in a couple areas -- the controls for example make NHL 08's controls look like they were designed for children. But the rest of it just seemed slapped together, which is how all Kush's games feel.

[baandje]

Sleepy rarely posts any information that is not looked into or researched. I have yet to see him post anything other than educated opinions.
I want to join the Sleepytercel Gospel Church and Fan Club as well. Where do I send my donation?

[sleepytercel]

I preferred NHL 2K8 over NHL 08 in a couple areas -- the controls for example make NHL 08's controls look like they were designed for children. But the rest of it just seemed slapped together, which is how all Kush's games feel.

I've been playing sim lobby games online and it plays a great game there. However, the CPU offline is so easy and predictable. I have made some sliders that makes it a better game, but I just don't like the CPU. However, I do love the controls in 2K8, and the sim lobby provides the best online gameplay in any sports game I've played. It's balanced, realistic, and lacks any cheating in it. If the sim lobby didn't exist, I'd probably never play it.

I find that both NHL games are about even overall, but I do like the less agressive play of NHL 08 of the CPU defenders. However, I don't like the lack of effective defensive controls in 08. I enjoy the controls, face off system, goalie reactions, and the overall satisfaction of making good plays in 2K8. To me, it's a toss up. However, Kush really needs to improve the presentation and overall graphics while also tone down their CPU defensive hits. Both have areas that need refining IMO.

[merff11]

I want to join the Sleepytercel Gospel Church and Fan Club as well. Where do I send my donation?

Humorous! Very funny. What happened to the whole "why do people jump on other people for expressing their opinion gripe?"

Sorry you don't agree with the majority. Most of us find Sleepy's information to be authentic and true. If that means you want to label me a "fanboy" of Sleepy, fine. At least I know when he puts out info I can trust it to be right.

Check out what he says. You don't believe him, find information that says otherwise. Chances are you won't. Your arguements are based on opinion not fact, sorry bout your luck.

Enjoy the show, hope it out sells 2k so EA can get hold of the license. (Happy now?)

[bodhiball]

Please take no offense to this, for I can respect people who want to post their opinion and want to debate, but Sleepy rarely posts any information that is not looked into or researched. I have yet to see him post anything other than educated opinions.

I have not read all your posts, but it does seem that you post your opinion without using anything to back up why you belive what you believe. Just give some insight as to why you think what you think and you'll find people won't jump on you so quickly.

Just my $.02, and it's worth half of that.


Thanks man,
noted...and looking back, it was a pretty out of character post for me! Guess I should have expected a lack of open debate.

As for Sleepy's educated opinions, I can trust that he has them and can see that in his later posts. Again, my point is that when you make personal attacks on someone, they tend to lose sight of the educated opinion. Someone with his ability to debate and strong views doesnt need to sink to a schoolyard bully level. And I think he gets that, and I appreciate the debate he continued to have

[sleepytercel]

Again, my point is that when you make personal attacks on someone, they tend to lose sight of the educated opinion.

I'm still confused where I personally attacked you. In this MLB community, the things that I've said, is far off from a "school yard bully" attack. I purposely said that "if you actually think and believe this" that you may be "dillusional and naive". However, coming acrossed your later posts, it's obviously that your original opinion (here in this thread) isn't exactly what you believe, which would void you from what I said (considering I only had your opinion to originally go by and you can't really blame me for that). I was expressing your original thought, and not that of a personal level of who you are. I can only come to conclusions based on what you write. I know very well that I don't "know" people completely through expressed words on an anomynous message board. Now give me your lunch money!

[bodhiball]

thats fair.
We are different people. My debate style is not quite like yours, so again, I wouldnt tell someone they were living in a delusional state of mind if I disagreed with them. And again, its not that I take it personal or am mad at you, but it makes it hard to hear your point or respect you.

Whats weird, is that you made a great, strong and objective point in my original thread...most of which I agreed with and took in. So the seemingly out of character post once I simply posted a link to some news seemed so unnecessary. I wasnt sure where that came from.

Just different styles man, no worries

[baandje]

Check out what he says. You don't believe him, find information that says otherwise. Chances are you won't. Your arguements are based on opinion not fact, sorry bout your luck.
Wow, he must pay you for that ****! I really want in on this action, sleepy.

So let me get this straight... Unlike other people, your 'opinion' about sleepy is based on 'fact'. Yes, very interesting twist. You turn your mere opinions into amazing facts, at the flip of a noun! I want in on that action as well.

[bodhiball]

sleepy, thats part of the problem is that you assumed something and used that as the basis for your frustration and blunt statements. You assumed I was trolling and you assumed that I posted a new thread a minute after the original.

The fact is I posted my OPINION late last night (18 hours ago now), and when I woke up this morning I saw the article on pastapadre, so simply gave a link. It was not to support my view or "troll", it was because I found it interesting and thought others might as well. Its roughly a 16 hour difference in threads.....not the ONE MINUTE that you claim. No wonder your were riled up!

Added to that....my "naive logic" was never intended to be LOGIC. There are no facts or quotes or mathematical formulas to prove anything. Its my OPINION, and I clearly state not only that, but that its "speculation" on my part.

[baandje]

Enjoy the show, hope it out sells 2k so EA can get hold of the license. (Happy now?)
I don't own a PS3, but I'll still be buying The Show for the PS2. And not because I want to see 2K fail, but because SCEA has released a superior baseball game to 2K three years in a row now. And this year will make it it four years. You suggesting gamers should support this company that puts out inferior games, just because it's... what ... 2K?? You must have a lot of money to throw away to suggest something like that.

I'll rent 2K8 like I always rent 2K's games when they come out. If it's worth the money, there's a chance I'll pick it up at some point. Just common sense in other words... unlike your approach apparently.

[sleepytercel]

sleepy, thats part of the problem is that you assumed something and used that as the basis for your frustration and blunt statements. You assumed I was trolling and you assumed that I posted a new thread an hour after the original.

The fact is I posted my OPINION late last night (18 hours ago now), and when I woke up this morning I saw the article on pastapadre, so simply gave a link. It was not to support my view or "troll", it was because I found it interesting and thought others might as well. Its roughly a 16 hour difference in threads.....not the ONE MINUTE that you claim. No wonder your were riled up!

I just saw that. On my screen, it didn't read that it was 18 hours ago. Maybe the screen didn't refresh properly. So I deleted the post before hand, but I see you have already read it. Well, I am human. I still disagree in that I personally attacked you, but I admit that I had wrong information on the posts themselves, even though on my screen, it read otherwise. I wasn't riled, but this community here will do things to you. I still feel that I attempted to carefully point my view on what I think (which is my opinion) would be a "dillusional" statement if one truly believed that this would be a good thing on the industry. I don't take back what I did say because I think it was a valid statement, but it does rest as my opinion. At least we debated without resulting to actual name calling and the typical posts of swear words. That's respectable for both of us.

Regardless, the other post is dead, and we debated throughout this post here. I think we have a little more clarity on our opinions than we originally started with. On the positive, it did stir up the debate and it moved the conversation forward. :)

[bodhiball]

agreed...I appreciate the debate and hope we can engage in a smoother one next time now that we've ironed out the wrinkles!

Looking back, the only thing I regret about my post is the title. I can definitely see how that would set up the rest of my post for being ripped.

To be honest, its out of my own personal frustration with the game right now (and I know its only a game, and certainly not the most important thing in my life!). I have actually been playing The Show demo the last few nights, and truly am impressed with the gameplay, which shocked me because I havent enjoyed this title in the past. I have appreciated The Show's marketing, updates, screen shots, videos, etc......and since i WANT 2k to be better, and I prefer this game in its look and potential, I am getting frustrated with the lack of outreach and POTENTIAL downfalls of the new series. Like all of us, we'll just have to wait and see.

and p.s.
i cant NOT admit that I definitely hold a grudge against 2k for taking the rights and ending what was for me the best baseball gaming experience, MVP. So I know that seeps out from time to time

[sleepytercel]

It really does stink that EA wants to persue this style of business. It does hurt artistic vision and creativity, which is what videogames were typically about. EA wants control of everything. I mean, heck, EA wouldn't even join Xbox Live unless they got to control their own servers, and they are the only company who cried over MS's closed network system. That's the type of control this company wants. Everyone has to play their rules, and it deters the quality of the games we play.

I am sincere to those who enjoyed the MVP series and can't play it anymore. However, many of the MVP fans weren't sincere for the folks who enjoyed 2K's football series. They enjoyed the Madden series, so they didn't care at all about anyone else because they weren't effected. I hope that 2K8 will provide a similar MVP experience, as many of the MVP developers actually worked on the game. 2K8 is a big change that offers a lot of expanded MVP mechanics, so lets hope that it turns out fine.

[bigfnjoe96]

Show some BALLS TAKE-2 tell EA to SHOVE their BID UP THEIR *****&$...

[bodhiball]

and thats a wrap

[bigfnjoe96]

and thats a wrap

Just needed to get that off my chest... Carry-On :D

[GhostRider]

Often, I am the last person to encourage a smaller, growing company to sell to a mammoth like EA. But in this case, its simply a matter of benefitting the consumer.

Since 2k's exclusivity for MLB on the xbox and the demise of EA's most popular MVP series, I have been waiting anxiously for 2k to right its ship and produce a game worthy of its exclusive deal. Granted, the 2k baseball series is beginning to shape up, but the feeling that this company is fractured and inefficient builds each year.

I am not just speaking of the game itself, but of their odd, sometimes non-existent marketing and fan-relationship building. It appears to be a company concerned only with the bottom line (as most are, but at least others TRY to develop consumer trust and loyalty).

The offer to purchase the company by EA in my opinion (and it can only be speculation) is not only the best offer 2k may EVER see, its also in the best interest of the gaming community. 2k has put in place a decent game, strong visually, and beginning to establish itself in game play and innovation....but my feeling is they do not have the foundation or ability to take this game to the next level.

EA's technology, staff and solid reputation could push this game ahead and easily take out The Show, offering us the best baseball game possible. Consider what a baseball game that looked like 2k and played like MVP could be.

Again...I cant see the future, but my prediction is that 2k will not last. A company with a narrow enough view to believe that one success (Grand Theft Auto) is basis for determining a companies standing, future and customer loyalty is ultimately disastrous.

Open your mind and your eyes 2k...for your share holders AND your valued customers.



Another example of our dumbed down education system at work.....

Instead of the 'Midas' touch, EA has the 'Mediocre' touch...MOST of their games aren't HORRIBLE, but they completely lack the excitement of companies like 2k....Their games have a stiff, 'digital' feel to them...This is what I noticed from 2k right off the bat with the first NFL2k, and the trend has continued...They are able to put the user 'on the field' with responsiveness and control!!...EA just has a 'lag' in all of their games, robotic A.I., and an overall commitment to the ORDINARY......2k takes you up on The Mountain where The Wizard can work The Magic.

[Blue-Lightning]

Thanks for the advice.

BL