Can I get some peanuts and a dog with that MLB 2K7 trailer?
by Blake Snow 
{ Jan 11th 2007 at 7:55PM }
2K Games unveiled new in-game footage of MLB 2K7 for the 360 at this week's CES as the baseball season quickly approaches. If it weren't for some jerky fielder movements, static looking crowd, and zombie-looking eyes, we would have thought this was an actual broadcast (almost). So is this good enough realism for our Japanese friends who prefer cartoony players until uncanny valley no longer exists? And while not perfect, it's definitely impressive. MLB 2K7 hits the 360, Xbox, PS3, PS2, and PSP this March.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike @ Jan 11th 2007 8:03PM
A Blake Snow post without a pro-Nintendo fanboy slant or a weak-minded slap on Sony?!
What the hell is this?!
chris webster @ Jan 11th 2007 8:01PM
WOW! if the actual product plays as well as it looks, I'll by a 360 fir this game
Inspired @ Jan 11th 2007 8:04PM
That's pretty impressive. Without reading, I thought the still shot WAS real. The pitcher mound viewpoint is definitely impressive. What's MLB 2K7 got against Nintendo systems? It has better graphics than an xbox and a ps2 and intuitive controls. I would've thought that would be a no brainer ...
GL @ Jan 11th 2007 9:09PM
Let's see how it controls. What can I say? My body temp still runs at an average of 99.6 just based on how badly I was burned because I bought last year's version.
Negativecool @ Jan 11th 2007 8:12PM
I saw this image before I read anything or realized it was a in game footage.
I was fooled. Initially I thought this was a picture of an MLB game...
Hot damn I love 2K games...EA sports? Who the hell are those over payed lazy fat bastards?
Counting the days until EA gets their chubby greasy fingers off of NFL exclusivity so 2K can swoop in and show them how a real sports game is made.
Richard @ Jan 11th 2007 8:14PM
Heheh, I can hear 'You Really Got Me' on Guitar Hero II in the background...
Jeff @ Jan 11th 2007 8:18PM
"So is this good enough realism for our Japanese friends who prefer cartoony players until uncanny valley no longer exists?"
Considering they have their own major baseball league, probably not.
djanespkp @ Jan 11th 2007 8:19PM
"Hot damn I love 2K games...EA sports? Who the hell are those over payed lazy fat bastards"
Say what you want about the rest of EA Sports (EA blows I know), but they did make the best baseball game ever with MVP 2005. I still play it to this day. I played MLB 2K6 and it made me sick how poorly it played a game of baseball. 2K sports needs to really impress me this round otherwise I'll just wait until their exclusivity ends before I buy another baseball game.
iHeartFrancoeur @ Jan 11th 2007 8:21PM
Me rikey!!! GO BRAVES!!!
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 11th 2007 8:31PM
Um, I told Joystiq about that video a few DAYS ago. >:)
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 11th 2007 8:33PM
By the way, go to the Read link for the IGN video, which is FAR CLEARER than the one on the Joystiq page.
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 11th 2007 8:37PM
By the way, you think Japanese baseball games are cartoony? Have you seen Pro Baseball Spirits 3 (Konami) for the 360? It looks just as good as this.
BPM_33 @ Jan 11th 2007 8:56PM
Not quite impressed yet. Smoltz isn't doing his correct wind-up and follow-through.
You'd figure w/ all the next-gen "power" they'd finally get that correct for all the star pitchers.
Evan @ Jan 11th 2007 9:31PM
"If it weren't for some jerky fielder movements, static looking crowd, and zombie-looking eyes, we would have thought this was an actual broadcast"
In other words: except for all these things that make it look unrealistic, it looks realistic? Nice one.
Brian @ Jan 11th 2007 10:07PM
Before we hail 2K Sports as the greatest company ever, please look bad at the 2k baseball games the last few years. TERRIBLE! I was forced to buy the game last year because it was the only game on the 360, and hated it. The MVP games were great, but their secret to success is the same as MLB 2K7. They stole away the same guy that turned the terrible Triple Play into MVP, and now he's working his magic on the 2k series. He's even using the same 3 yr plan, and from the looks of the video, I can't wait! Only a couple more months!
ZaBlanc @ Jan 11th 2007 10:42PM
The video looks great, but one problem. The time between pitches was HOURS. That's not fun to me. Watching a real game for 3 hours is one thing, playing a fake one would be mind numbing.
I think people are losing track of what a game is supposed to be. Fun. Realistic isn't necessarily fun. It's real nice on a demo kiosk at Best Buy, but you never hear anyone say "OMG 2K7 is SO FRICKIN COOL!" Never.
Rick @ Jan 11th 2007 11:01PM
"If it weren't for some jerky fielder movements, "
I read that as, "once again, we've decided to forgo improving the actual gameplay, and instead are focusing solely on producing a pretty game."
One more reason why I love gamefly.... I can spend 1 month playing this game for 15 bucks, then I can send it right back...
djanespkp @ Jan 11th 2007 11:05PM
"I think people are losing track of what a game is supposed to be. Fun. Realistic isn't necessarily fun"
This is true, realistic is not necessarily fun, however this is supposed to be a simulation style game. For those of us who want a game of baseball to play like a game of baseball simulations are welcome with open arms. Luckily for you 2K Sports is also making a game called, if my memory serves, MLB The Bigs where it will be a faster paced unrealistic affair. If they succeed on both fronts with these games then there will be something for everyone. They shouldn't just stop making simulations because some people don't find the intricacies of the sport entertaining. On that note, I personally can't wait for baseball season to start.
Patrick @ Jan 11th 2007 11:06PM
Have no fear baseball lovers. The man who lead the MVP game design is leading MLB 2K7. This installment will be similar to MVP 2003, with next year's model really getting it down, with 2K9=2005.
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 12th 2007 12:53AM
I hope the stat simulation is far better than MVP, which has ALWAYS stunk.
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 12th 2007 12:54AM
The sometimes jerkiness of the fielders is due to user control -- you know, they tend to shake the analog stick a bit, but they've even fixed that to some extent with inertia. No longer will fielders stop on a dime when making a long run - it'll take them a few steps to stop if they're running at full gait.
J.Goodwin @ Jan 12th 2007 10:07AM
Put Daisuke Matsuzaka on the cover and this will sell like hotcakes in Japan.
bandit @ Jan 12th 2007 9:31AM
idiotic comments abound... Yes I agree that there is a lack of realism, however this is due to reality and artistic interpretation. How do you convey tension, frustration, anxiety onto a 2D screen in realtime. When you can answer those questions you can start making your own DAMN games!!!! anyway one of the commentors is right, things such as physics and user input conflicting prevent the game from running smoothly. I.E. basketball games. Players stop on the dime because using real world inertia and centripical force would create a "sluggish, latent" user imput control. The fact is YOU the gamer have created a situation where its difficult to balance realtime responsive input and realistic gameplay. That being said, there are still improvements that can be made and we are moving towards it. Try giving the industry a chance. If you think its so easy to balance these things you go create a game and let us buy it from you.
pjbno4 @ Jan 12th 2007 10:20AM
@23
So, what you're saying is, if we just knew how to play correctly, the game would be a lot better?
Why didn't I think of that? Please immediately start including a more detailed instruction book.
As for giving the industry a chance, I've purchased at least one baseball game every year since, well, I think it was Tony LaRussa baseball, back around '95 for the genesis. Back when playing an entire season meant leaving the system on for days and days...
So that was 10 years ago, how many chances do you guys want? Lord knows I'll keep giving them to you...
Justin Rowe @ Jan 12th 2007 11:51AM
Looks good! Hopefully it will be great as MVP was.
(and lets go mets!)
Ciaran @ Jan 12th 2007 1:45PM
??? Zombie looking eyes? Static crowd? Jerky movements?
It looks like real life! Only the flashy animations that pop up on the screen give it away!
Erick Smith @ Mar 15th 2007 10:30PM
The trailer was not impressive like everybody says. First thing the baseball gloves looks horrible. The baseball gloves look like ps1 graphics. The ball looks off when it comes out of the pitchers hand. The way the catcher catches is unrealistic. Why is his stance in the middle but he's glove is set up outside. Pro catchers squat in the middle then when the pitcher pitches the ball he moves wherever he calls the pitch, inside, outside, wherever he calls the pitch. EA sports is still the best. I predict the best score this game is going to get is 8.2.