IGN: MLB 2k6 Hands-On (360)

[Maestro23]

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/696/696799p1.html

[green94]

Great find -- thanks!

[DaoudS]

sweet find man. and finally! someone who still uses ICQ!

[Guga]

****!! I was trying not to get too much excited about it!! But I just can't!!! I really excited about it!!

[DaoudS]

you and me both! just under 40 days left. Yay for work, GRAW, and Blazing Angels holding me off until then.

[Jimmy42Jack0]

you and me both! just under 40 days left. Yay for work, GRAW, and Blazing Angels holding me off until then.
officially cant wait...although i hope the players models for the rookies are good...being a marlins fan and i all i want to be able to tell the guys apart if they are generic

[bostonredsox4life]

The 360 version is looking sweet. Thank god oblivion comes out in a few days i need something to try to keep mind occupied but i really like what i'm seeing. Keep up the good work get those bugs out 2k staff :)

[Bermz]

you and me both! just under 40 days left. Yay for work, GRAW, and Blazing Angels holding me off until then.
time to go put myself in a 40 day coma

[Cell Block]

After reading the IGN article which didn't say too much I'm trying to figure out what all the excitement is about...I did like the mention of "Physics" and players feeling weighty but other than that no mention of anything truly substantive...I'm simply prepared for another 2KPORT...Hopefully I'll be pleasantly suprised and like the game but as of now I felt that the IGN writer sounded a bit anti climatic and a lil bored with what they saw.

[beltranfan05]

From what I read, the graphics are amazing, which we all expected. But, the gameplay is still has a few issues. Which 2k is working on. So I expect a game with great graphics, down to every little detail, and a game with not bad gameplay. Well, at least better than the current gen. Can't wait though.

[Cell Block]

I like the fact that I'm hearing a good word that 2k and all sports game producers need to use more of "PURE MOTION PHYSICS"

[xxpujols4mvpxx]

OK heres my 2 cents...................

If we were getting a EA game or a 2K game i would be equally impressed on the 360 version. The developer name means nothing, which is why i can't truly understand why people keep bringing 2k's products down. I like both Ea and 2k so i really don't care which one has the license. Now, for all the complainers, stop complaining on the forums and go complain to your girlfriend about it. Just kidding, you might actually get slapped in the face.

[SkipWankman]

OK heres my 2 cents...................

If we were getting a EA game or a 2K game i would be equally impressed on the 360 version. The developer name means nothing, which is why i can't truly understand why people keep bringing 2k's products down. I like both Ea and 2k so i really don't care which one has the license. Now, for all the complainers, stop complaining on the forums and go complain to your girlfriend about it. Just kidding, you might actually get slapped in the face.

Why in the h*ll would my girlfriend slap me? Do you have a GF or are you still a little too young to understand what a girlfriend is? And the developer of the game makes a big difference; just look at the difference between the madden/nfl2k games and the WSB/MVP games, how can you seriously say there is no difference?

[SkipWankman]

I hate the monopoly EA has put on the NFL video games market as well as 2k with MLB. I liked the competition and seeing which one could put out a better game with their respective sports. All in all I think this years baseball game from 2kSports is going to be awesome for the 360...can't wait.

[xxpujols4mvpxx]

you are not a very cool person if all you do is complain like someone in this forum named cubssuck, or whatever his name is. He just came in here and said the graphics looked cartoony. WTF is that, if i saw him, i would probably shove his *** to the ground.

[Cell Block]

I agree...developer aside it should not matter and for me it does not..But in the same breath thats not gonna stop me from criticizing and critiquing games that I buy...If the game sucks or is not making the progress that it should then it is ok to address that and let the people know who make the games that they have to do better. I've done it with EA and 2k games alike.

Developers are not as sensitive as the avg fanboys here on this site..In fact if they are worth anything they want to hear more of the criticisms as opposed to the constant obligatory pat on the back..They want to have that objective but constructive criticism.

IMO thus far 2kSports a a whole has not taken enough chances in developing for the 360...Everything and I mean everything outside of cloth physics and minor graphical upgrades are the same...menus, gameplay, crowds, music, animations, options, camera angles..Everything is safe...I don't want safe..I want the innovation 2k is supposedly known for..If I have to play a watered down version for a year or so while they show the direction their next gen titles are headed in then I'm OK with that because I know Rome was not built in a day...But to give me a 2Kported product game after game after game is not what I call progress...lets be real 2k didn't do much of anything for next gen games in 2005-2006

I don't want anything from current gen..I want to see them make a totally rebuilt game from scratch...this means, menu's, options, crowds, stadiums, coaches, commentary, presentation, player models and graphics, physics, animations, online play options, league features...Lets face it they only really have two major games to work on (maybe 3) and thats NBA, College Hoops and MLB...My question is if not now..then when?...Is 2k gonna build portions and port other portions?...I think its unrealistic to think that in 2007 they will have true next gen games from scratch...I mean thats why EA's games were mere s****s cause they did not have the time to rebuild everything...But on the same token you could see the next gen direction and improvements in their NFL and NBA titles...How will 2K do it???...This will be interesting to follow

[baandje]

“On one play, we managed to throw out Albert Pujols from right field after a base hit, although he clearly should have made it in time.”

---

Uh, that was an issue with last year’s game. Someone please tell me why it appears they didn’t fix this??!!

[DaoudS]

You realize Cell Block that you are talking about a lost cause. Just because you want none of the current-gen content. You can ******* about it all you want, but it gets old after a while.

[baandje]

it gets old after a while.
What? His "2KPorts" quip not sounding quite as funny the 150th time around?

[baandje]

You realize Cell Block that you are talking about a lost cause. Just because you want none of the current-gen content. You can ******* about it all you want, but it gets old after a while.
The thing that gets me, is the comparison to Madden -- as if EA supposedly built some hot new game for the 360. Uh, it's the SAME GAME ENGINE as the current-gen game.

So much for the answer having to do with "not porting".

[baandje]

I don't want safe..I want the innovation 2k is supposedly known for..If I have to play a watered down version for a year or so while they show the direction their next gen titles are headed in then I'm OK with that because I know Rome was not built in a day...But to give me a 2Kported product game after game after game is not what I call progress...lets be real 2k didn't do much of anything for next gen games in 2005-2006
I agree that they have a year to get it together and rebuild this game, before it starts looking like they're simply sitting on their duffs.

But I doubt they'll be rebuilding it next year, or even the year after that. They're putting too much effort into it, just to s**** it in 07. But if next year's game looks and plays as clunky as 2K5 did and 2K6 appears to do, then I'll be complaining about it as loud as anybody.

[Rob02150]

That article says that they will have some footage soon. My guess is it will be up Monday. Im excited.

[DaoudS]

That article says that they will have some footage soon. My guess is it will be up Monday. Im excited.

soon means 2-3 weeks lol. I wish it was Monday, but I still won't expect any footage until AFTER the current-gen version is released.

[Cell Block]

What? His "2KPorts" quip not sounding quite as funny the 150th time around?

2KPorts was never meant to be funny as clever as it is..Its simply a true statement and thre aint nothin funny about that

[Cell Block]

I agree that they have a year to get it together and rebuild this game, before it starts looking like they're simply sitting on their duffs.

But I doubt they'll be rebuilding it next year, or even the year after that. They're putting too much effort into it, just to s**** it in 07. But if next year's game looks and plays as clunky as 2K5 did and 2K6 appears to do, then I'll be complaining about it as loud as anybody.

I hope your wrong...waiting one more year to start developing next gen games for the next gen consoles will be a big mistake...I can understand this year despite my displeasure with the 2k games..But if they are not making next gen games for the 2k7 iteration of games that will either be complete laziness or stupidity...take your pick

[DaoudS]

They MIGHT be waiting for the PS3 to come out to develop ONE game and not two different ones. So MAYBE next year it'll be a new product.

[baandje]

I'm just going on something I read from one of the developer interviews. They were saying they didn't have time to fix the pitching animations this year, and that that they'll be working on improving those for 2K7. Now that tells me they have no plans to sc.rap this game and rebuilt it -- that they plan on simply "tweaking" it some more next year. And this game does need to be sc.rapped and rebuilt. The game engine goes back to herky-jerky 2K3 at least, and you can see that in the stilted player movements in 2K6. No "tweaking animations" is going to change that.

And they could be waiting for the PS3, but does that make sense? It seems to me that any game company releasing games on both systems, will have to develop it for one, and then port it over to the other...? I don't know.

[baandje]

2KPorts was never meant to be funny as clever as it is..Its simply a true statement and thre aint nothin funny about that
It's clever for sure, and I'll admit it was funny the first week or so.

[REDSFAN2004]

thanks for the link Maestro,i can't wait for this game,im definately ready to play a baseball game.

[Cell Block]

They MIGHT be waiting for the PS3 to come out to develop ONE game and not two different ones. So MAYBE next year it'll be a new product.

That makes zero sense...I hope you realize that the sports games from 2k and EA will all be ported from 360 to ps3 or vice versa...So with that in mind it doesn't matter when they make a true next gen game or for what system..The games on bth systems will be the same

[eLMaYiMbE8689]

I feel that 2KSPORTS will come out with a brand new game next year....they already said that this is the last year for current gen sports game....so next year they have no choice but to build this game from the ground up....with PS3 and 360 being the only games that are going to get 2KSPORTS games they will have no choice but to use an all next generation engine for the 2 consoles....

[Maestro23]

thanks for the link Maestro,i can't wait for this game,im definately ready to play a baseball game.

No prob REDSFAN2004. Long time no see my friend. I'm ready as well for baseball...

[Cell Block]

I feel that 2KSPORTS will come out with a brand new game next year....they already said that this is the last year for current gen sports game....so next year they have no choice but to build this game from the ground up....with PS3 and 360 being the only games that are going to get 2KSPORTS games they will have no choice but to use an all next generation engine for the 2 consoles....

Unless thay are and have been already building a new game for a year or longer though...Expect a new and rebuilt game to be missing some things and suffer some growing pains..Rebuilding a game means alot more than most people realize...The 360 and Ps3 can do so much that its now mandatory that developers rebuild every feature and I mean every feature from cam angles, stadiums, fans, menus, how to access the menus, options, graphics, more complex and detailed animations, gameplay, gameplay physics, online, sound and more important emotion of players etc.

Take one look at some of the next gen games this year such as NBA2k6, NBA LIVE and Madden...one thing they all lack is emotion and I mean emotion from the standpoint that the player models look so good that you can see facial expressions and ereactions but to date developers have not tapped into the proper emotion. For example..in NBA2k6 and even LIVE for that matter there is very little if any player interaction or audio from real NBA players during the game or when there is a TO..No coaches voices etc...With the level of detail we are seeing nowadays those things are critical.

Bringing this back to baseball its the smallest details in a gamme like baseball that capture the attention so in essence if 2k thinks they can just do a whole new game in one year, THE RIGHT WAY, then that will be almost an incredible feat because we saw this year that the EA games were stripped down bare bones efforts that lacked in gameplay etc...EA should have a nice lil headstart on next gen consoles in 2007 because they have alot of the groundwork laid but 2KSports is almost gonna be starting from scratch so if ya thinki this was a bad year for them be prepared for a few more if they REALLYm opt to create a fully next gen capable game in 2007.

[BoneThugged08]

Yea they need to bring back the little things in Baseball games. I remember one of the coolest things in a baseball game was in Triple Play 1996. When you hit a HR you would see a cutscene of fans fighting for the ball, some were quite funny actually. Now I mean why can't they just have this during homeruns. I would love to hit a home run and see the fans in the section all jump and s**** for it. Also in Ken Griffey for 64 When there was a blow out there would be fans leaving... Small things like this are great. I mean with the great presentation in recent 2k Games and animations this would be something that would go well with the baseball game.

[Bears34]

I agree...developer aside it should not matter and for me it does not..But in the same breath thats not gonna stop me from criticizing and critiquing games that I buy...If the game sucks or is not making the progress that it should then it is ok to address that and let the people know who make the games that they have to do better. I've done it with EA and 2k games alike.

Developers are not as sensitive as the avg fanboys here on this site..In fact if they are worth anything they want to hear more of the criticisms as opposed to the constant obligatory pat on the back..They want to have that objective but constructive criticism.

IMO thus far 2kSports a a whole has not taken enough chances in developing for the 360...Everything and I mean everything outside of cloth physics and minor graphical upgrades are the same...menus, gameplay, crowds, music, animations, options, camera angles..Everything is safe...I don't want safe..I want the innovation 2k is supposedly known for..If I have to play a watered down version for a year or so while they show the direction their next gen titles are headed in then I'm OK with that because I know Rome was not built in a day...But to give me a 2Kported product game after game after game is not what I call progress...lets be real 2k didn't do much of anything for next gen games in 2005-2006

I don't want anything from current gen..I want to see them make a totally rebuilt game from scratch...this means, menu's, options, crowds, stadiums, coaches, commentary, presentation, player models and graphics, physics, animations, online play options, league features...Lets face it they only really have two major games to work on (maybe 3) and thats NBA, College Hoops and MLB...My question is if not now..then when?...Is 2k gonna build portions and port other portions?...I think its unrealistic to think that in 2007 they will have true next gen games from scratch...I mean thats why EA's games were mere s****s cause they did not have the time to rebuild everything...But on the same token you could see the next gen direction and improvements in their NFL and NBA titles...How will 2K do it???...This will be interesting to follow



1. Please dont pretend your some unbiased visitor to these boards. Your first line made me laugh out loud. Its very clear you are partial to EA. Youve made it very clear on many occasions that you think EA is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

2. Your asking for new menu's, options, crowds, stadiums, coaches, commentary, presentation, player models and graphics, physics, animations, online play options, league features... . And you want this all in less than 1 year ??? Use some common sense man. Current gen games have been built on for years. You cant create an entirely new game in 1 year. Sorry. Just aint possible.

Unless your EA. In which they will just pretty up the graphics change a few gameplay features and tell you its an " entirely new game " which all the EA fanboys will eat up. Madden on the 360 is 85% a port of gameplay of current gen and the graphics are slightly better than NFL2K5 and not in all areas . And heck the presentation of NFL 2K5 is still better than Madden 360.

Atleast 2K is being honest. There not pretending like EA that they are giving us 100% built from the ground up games. Or selling you a 75% finished product at full price.

And I played Madden 360 and I liked it. Because unlike you I was not expecting these game makers to have 100% built from the ground up games sitting around waiting for the 360 release. These companies didnt even have a year with the tools to make the games.


NONE of the current 360 games is AWESOME ! None of them even come close to what that 360 can do. You keep saying " this isnt next gen" as if you know what is fully capable from the 360. Fact is you dont know and neither does anyone else. We wont know what " NEXT GEN" is for about 3 years when the game makers are up to speed with these consoles.

[Bears34]

Unless thay are and have been already building a new game for a year or longer though...Expect a new and rebuilt game to be missing some things and suffer some growing pains..Rebuilding a game means alot more than most people realize...The 360 and Ps3 can do so much that its now mandatory that developers rebuild every feature and I mean every feature from cam angles, stadiums, fans, menus, how to access the menus, options, graphics, more complex and detailed animations, gameplay, gameplay physics, online, sound and more important emotion of players etc.

Take one look at some of the next gen games this year such as NBA2k6, NBA LIVE and Madden...one thing they all lack is emotion and I mean emotion from the standpoint that the player models look so good that you can see facial expressions and ereactions but to date developers have not tapped into the proper emotion. For example..in NBA2k6 and even LIVE for that matter there is very little if any player interaction or audio from real NBA players during the game or when there is a TO..No coaches voices etc...With the level of detail we are seeing nowadays those things are critical.

Bringing this back to baseball its the smallest details in a gamme like baseball that capture the attention so in essence if 2k thinks they can just do a whole new game in one year, THE RIGHT WAY, then that will be almost an incredible feat because we saw this year that the EA games were stripped down bare bones efforts that lacked in gameplay etc...EA should have a nice lil headstart on next gen consoles in 2007 because they have alot of the groundwork laid but 2KSports is almost gonna be starting from scratch so if ya thinki this was a bad year for them be prepared for a few more if they REALLYm opt to create a fully next gen capable game in 2007.




Have you really brainwashed yourself to believe Madden 360 was not 85% the exact same engine as current gen ??? Atlease be honest. The exact same gameplay issues and gameplay quirks are in the 360 version as well as current gen. SOME things have been changed , but nowhere near what you are suggesting. And NBA live was a joke. I wont even get started there.

[xxpujols4mvpxx]

chitown, you were right about everything exept when you said none of the 360 games are awesome. I think there are 8 amazing games....................

Burnout Revenge
Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter
PGR 3
Fight Night Round 3
Need For Speed Most Wanted
Call of Duty 2 (Campaign)
NBA 2k6 (with hi definition)
Dead or Alive 4

[Bears34]

chitown, you were right about everything exept when you said none of the 360 games are awesome. I think there are 8 amazing games....................

Burnout Revenge
Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter
PGR 3
Fight Night Round 3
Need For Speed Most Wanted
Call of Duty 2 (Campaign)
NBA 2k6 (with hi definition)
Dead or Alive 4



Dont get me wrong. There are good games, but believe me the best is yet to come from the 360. There will be games that truly blow your mind and make you question reality in a few years. Going off of past console releases it seems to take about 2 years until the game makers beging to truly tap into a given consoles capabilities.

[sleepytercel]

Dont get me wrong. There are good games, but believe me the best is yet to come from the 360. There will be games that truly blow your mind and make you question reality in a few years. Going off of past console releases it seems to take about 2 years until the game makers beging to truly tap into a given consoles capabilities.

Except for the Dreamcast and N64, which the launch games pretty much maxed out the capabilities.

[xxpujols4mvpxx]

i think mlb 2k6 will be far superior graphically. I think it will blow nba 2k6 away .

[Jimmy42Jack0]

i think mlb 2k6 will be far superior graphically. I think it will blow nba 2k6 away .
i dont think so...visual concepts are fantastic developers and have done a great job with weaker systems...kush...eh...so so...here is your chance to prove me kush...so please do it and make this game fantastic, you already have my money so please make this feel like realy baseball...i want to this to have everything but the smell of hot dogs and drunks

[Art1bk]

I think it will be better looking than NBA2k6 because this is no launch title like nba2k6 was. Which means they had more then enough time to make this game look much better.

[fytemusik]

i dont think so...visual concepts are fantastic developers and have done a great job with weaker systems...kush...eh...so so...here is your chance to prove me kush...so please do it and make this game fantastic, you already have my money so please make this feel like realy baseball...i want to this to have everything but the smell of hot dogs and drunks
Yeah man I think we could all do without the Hot dogs and drunks in our living rooms LOL. But you gotta think they did a bang up job last year because VC or whoever made the game for the first few years I think it was VC.... got axed last year and Kush(the makers of NHL 2K) were bought in to basically take a stab at it. Considering it was their first time they did a bang up job IMO. There were only like a few retarded things about the game...passed ball glitch, seasons freezing, faulty ball mechanics, awkard fielding animations. This year they adressed the passed balls, ball mechanics, and "overhauled" the fielding animations or whatever. We'll have to see about the seasons or what have you but the point I'm trying to make was the game was sorta the red headed stepchild of the 2K line up before last year.....I think Kush saved the game from total failure. Please don't forget the graphical woes of 2k4....STINKOLA!! That game was bad even gameplay wise.

[Cell Block]

1. Please dont pretend your some unbiased visitor to these boards. Your first line made me laugh out loud. Its very clear you are partial to EA. Youve made it very clear on many occasions that you think EA is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

2. Your asking for new menu's, options, crowds, stadiums, coaches, commentary, presentation, player models and graphics, physics, animations, online play options, league features... . And you want this all in less than 1 year ??? Use some common sense man. Current gen games have been built on for years. You cant create an entirely new game in 1 year. Sorry. Just aint possible.

Unless your EA. In which they will just pretty up the graphics change a few gameplay features and tell you its an " entirely new game " which all the EA fanboys will eat up. Madden on the 360 is 85% a port of gameplay of current gen and the graphics are slightly better than NFL2K5 and not in all areas . And heck the presentation of NFL 2K5 is still better than Madden 360.

Atleast 2K is being honest. There not pretending like EA that they are giving us 100% built from the ground up games. Or selling you a 75% finished product at full price.

And I played Madden 360 and I liked it. Because unlike you I was not expecting these game makers to have 100% built from the ground up games sitting around waiting for the 360 release. These companies didnt even have a year with the tools to make the games.


NONE of the current 360 games is AWESOME ! None of them even come close to what that 360 can do. You keep saying " this isnt next gen" as if you know what is fully capable from the 360. Fact is you dont know and neither does anyone else. We wont know what " NEXT GEN" is for about 3 years when the game makers are up to speed with these consoles.


You have no clue what your talking about...I never criticized EA for missing features cause from the very beginning thay made it perfectly clear that quite a few things would be missing while they rebuild 10 years of legacy code...On the other hand I have criticized 2k's games because they have offered NOTHING from a next gen perspective. Ooops..I'm sorry..Cloth Physics...lmao.

Your whole post proves my whole point in discussing EA and 2k games as a whole..When EA actually makes a next gen game that looks the part and plays the part but features are missing the consumate 2k fanboys are whining and complaining...But ironically these same 2k fanboys are apologetic for 2k's lack of next gen creativity and are already making excuses for them when they finally do opt to start making a next gen game that will undoubtably have missing features just as EA games have this year....My, my, my..How ironic is that scenario?

First of all..Your preaching to the choir...I understand all too well that the 1st year next gen games are mere building blocks..So save your lil anology for someone else...You simply are echoing what I've been saying all along. I'd rather see some progress as opposed to no progress...EA made SOME progress while 2K made NO progress this yearon next gen consoles.

EA was IMO more honest than 2k because they made it very clear from day 1 that while they were making next gen games and building the games from scratch there would be features that they just couldn't get in...On the other hand 2K was very tight lipped about the next gen games..They showed alot of great looking close up stills that were quite impressive but when the rubber met the road the games did not look nearly as good in play and the gameplay was the same gameplay on Xbox current gen.

Finally..I buy as many 2k games as I buy EA so no bias or preference..I just calls it like I see it....Its just an opinion..If you don't agree..NP...agree to disagree and keep it movin..But attempting to psycho****yze my comments and statements is clearly not your sytrong suit cause you are waaay off base

[Bears34]

You have no clue what your talking about...I never criticized EA for missing features cause from the very beginning thay made it perfectly clear that quite a few things would be missing while they rebuild 10 years of legacy code...On the other hand I have criticized 2k's games because they have offered NOTHING from a next gen perspective. Ooops..I'm sorry..Cloth Physics...lmao.

Your whole post proves my whole point in discussing EA and 2k games as a whole..When EA actually makes a next gen game that looks the part and plays the part but features are missing the consumate 2k fanboys are whining and complaining...But ironically these same 2k fanboys are apologetic for 2k's lack of next gen creativity and are already making excuses for them when they finally do opt to start making a next gen game that will undoubtably have missing features just as EA games have this year....My, my, my..How ironic is that scenario?

First of all..Your preaching to the choir...I understand all too well that the 1st year next gen games are mere building blocks..So save your lil anology for someone else...You simply are echoing what I've been saying all along. I'd rather see some progress as opposed to no progress...EA made SOME progress while 2K made NO progress this yearon next gen consoles.

EA was IMO more honest than 2k because they made it very clear from day 1 that while they were making next gen games and building the games from scratch there would be features that they just couldn't get in...On the other hand 2K was very tight lipped about the next gen games..They showed alot of great looking close up stills that were quite impressive but when the rubber met the road the games did not look nearly as good in play and the gameplay was the same gameplay on Xbox current gen.

Finally..I buy as many 2k games as I buy EA so no bias or preference..I just calls it like I see it....Its just an opinion..If you don't agree..NP...agree to disagree and keep it movin..But attempting to psycho****yze my comments and statements is clearly not your sytrong suit cause you are waaay off base


If you truly believe all the BS you just wrote your more delusional than I thought.

W/E man. EA and honesty? lmao. Classic stuff.