The official MLB 2K6 sucks thread....

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:43 pm

I'll probably be buying it at Best Buy unless the early reviews/impressions are horrible. I can live with imperfection or lack of polish (think Madden 360), but there is no way I can live with something similar to the bug-ridden crapfest they tried to pass off as videogame baseball last year.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:51 pm

Rented the XBox version.

Quick impressions:

The music blows
Joe Morgan is dumber in this game than when he is talking about Moneyball
Everyone loses their helmet running to first

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:59 am

When does the MLB exclusive license run out with 2k? It was only a 2 year deal right?

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:23 am

Inuyasha wrote:When does the MLB exclusive license run out with 2k? It was only a 2 year deal right?

I thought it was 7.

Edit: I just checked, and it is for 7 years.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:44 am

Well, I made the mistake of picking up MVP 05 for $10 while I was out...let's just say I only managed to take one game of MLB 2k6.

I should probably give 2k6 more time, but I think the cameras stink, the music sucks, the graphics look worse than MVP, the fielding isn't as good, and it just doesn't feel as fun to me.

I did forget how good MVP was, though.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:55 am

I haven't played this year's XBox version, but what's the deal with the cameras in Kush's game? It's like Tiburon with Madden, where they don't even seem to try to give you what you see on a TV broadcast. The fielding camera in Kush's baseball game is as strange a choice as I can remember seeing in a sports videogame. I still wish they'd turn this series back over to WoW. I know a lot of people didn't like WSB2k1 for the DC (I thought it was a year away from being a great game), but a lot of people did seem to like HR Kings, which really was WSB2k2 in my mind.

No offense to Fat Pitcher if he's still around, but the series started downhill when WoW stopped developing it, IMO, and it started to snowball whenever Kush took over the reins. Hopefully the 360 version proves me wrong and turns out to be a great game, but I'm not holding my breath.

Boltman · Post by **Boltman** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:49 am

GTHobbes wrote:I haven't played this year's XBox version, but what's the deal with the cameras in Kush's game? It's like Tiburon with Madden, where they don't even seem to try to give you what you see on a TV broadcast. The fielding camera in Kush's baseball game is as strange a choice as I can remember seeing in a sports videogame. I still wish they'd turn this series back over to WoW. I know a lot of people didn't like WSB2k1 for the DC (I thought it was a year away from being a great game), but a lot of people did seem to like HR Kings, which really was WSB2k2 in my mind.

No offense to Fat Pitcher if he's still around, but the series started downhill when WoW stopped developing it, IMO, and it started to snowball whenever Kush took over the reins. Hopefully the 360 version proves me wrong and turns out to be a great game, but I'm not holding my breath.

Kush just flat out sucks to me. They do one hit wonders out of their ass from time to time ie: Top spin, NBA. But them and making baseball games does not add up.

I played the crap out of MVP last year (never got into college ball this year), and my buddy was a staunch 2K5 guy. I admit this year he had me playing 2K5 alot with him. I liked the way the players looked a bit more realistic to me than MVP's.

My buddy bought 2K6 two days ago, said it was ten times worse than 2K5, he now has to get rid of it. He is out to find another 2K5 again. The veiwing angles are garbage. The announcers spew all types of random crap. Rosters a joke as well. It truely looks they bailed out mid developement, and jumped onto developing their 360 effort.

Since EA cannot make a great MLB MVP no longer, I too like DB, Guru, and you others will be getting their 360 effort and praying for a good showing.

2K6 on X Box is simply unplayable.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:57 am

Boltman wrote:The veiwing angles are garbage. The announcers spew all types of random crap. Rosters a joke as well. It truely looks they bailed out mid developement, and jumped onto developing their 360 effort.

That about says it all. Hopefully, for those with a 360, they did bail out on this version (in about Jan or Feb by the looks of the roster) and concentrate on putting a truly next-gen engine together, one that will power the franchise through the end of their exclusive contract.

As I've seen others state--MS, do something with that High Heat engine you bought.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:24 pm

Dave wrote:Well, I made the mistake of picking up MVP 05 for $10 while I was out...let's just say I only managed to take one game of MLB 2k6.

That wasn't a mistake...that was covering your ass. Good call.

NoJoke · Post by **NoJoke** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:40 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Dave wrote:Well, I made the mistake of picking up MVP 05 for $10 while I was out...let's just say I only managed to take one game of MLB 2k6.
That wasn't a mistake...that was covering your ass. Good call.

I'd agree with that. Get the PC version, and you'll get an evolving game on a promising engine.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:46 pm

I still can't get the PC version to play correctly on there. The engine just doesn't like my PC setup I guess. I've NEVER been able to completely play MVP smoothly...any other game...piece of cake. Weird. MVP on the Xbox is sufficient enough with the updated rosters.

FatPitcher · Post by **FatPitcher** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:54 pm

I approve of this thread.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:24 pm

Oooh, that's gotta hurt.

Is there any indication that the 360 version is any good? I've seen all the vids and what not but does anyone "in the know" have any thing to give us hope?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:26 pm

The only game that has been night and day better on the 360 in a multi-platform release has been GRAW...so that's about all the hope we've got right now. Everything else has been virtually the same (minus the better visuals).

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:27 pm

FatPitcher wrote:I approve of this thread.

explain

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:28 pm

Sudz wrote:
FatPitcher wrote:I approve of this thread.
explain

Uhh...the game sucks. What more do you need to know?

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:30 pm

Sudz wrote:
FatPitcher wrote:I approve of this thread.
explain

I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I believe he used to work for either Kush, or the dev. that used to do the 2k baseball before Kush, or something like that. Bottom line, he used to be involved in the coding of 2k baseball and has seen the madness from the inside with frustration and building anger. . . .

FatPitcher · Post by **FatPitcher** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:02 pm

I did a lot of the design on WSB, WSB2K3, and ESPN MLB.

Basically, VC destroyed 2K4 with some brain-dead executive decisions. We wanted to focus on AI, batting animations, franchise mode, and overall polish and refinement. They wanted to copy whatever EA did the year before, to put out a demo, and to add gimmicks like First Person Baseball for the back of the box. The few redeeming features of 2K4 were things that we did basically on our own time.

While they were doing this, they also were secretly talking to Kush about giving them the development contract.

So I am not sad to see Kush screwing up, although I'd like a good next-gen baseball game to play.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:13 pm

The WSB Series , especially 2k3 and 2k4 were the best baseball games out at those times. I hated cursor hitting but 2k3 was that good that cursor hitting didn't matter. 2k4 had a boring atmosphere but the solid gameplay made it fun to play.

I remember MVP was pretty young at those times and was more on the arcade side and had a lot of bugs. EA was smart enough to stick with it and made the excellent mvp2005. Too bad VC couldn't stick with 2k3/2k4 . Think of what could have been if the 2k was left to evovle after 2k4.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:41 pm

FatPitcher wrote:I did a lot of the design on WSB, WSB2K3, and ESPN MLB.

Basically, VC destroyed 2K4 with some brain-dead executive decisions. We wanted to focus on AI, batting animations, franchise mode, and overall polish and refinement. They wanted to copy whatever EA did the year before, to put out a demo, and to add gimmicks like First Person Baseball for the back of the box. The few redeeming features of 2K4 were things that we did basically on our own time.

While they were doing this, they also were secretly talking to Kush about giving them the development contract.

So I am not sad to see Kush screwing up, although I'd like a good next-gen baseball game to play.

what are u working on now?

FatPitcher · Post by **FatPitcher** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:48 am

Sudz wrote:
what are u working on now?

I started a game design consulting company and have about 10 different projects that I'm involved with. No sports games, though.

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:45 am

MLB 2K4 was the best 2K baseball game and it is very unfortunate that MLB 2K5 and MLB 2K6 are much inferior. I think they are trying to do too much with the game. All they had to do was tweak MLB 2K4 and improve the animations.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:29 pm

totally agree. 2K4 showed so much promise, but it all seemed to
go backwards from that point

TRI wrote:MLB 2K4 was the best 2K baseball game and it is very unfortunate that MLB 2K5 and MLB 2K6 are much inferior. I think they are trying to do too much with the game. All they had to do was tweak MLB 2K4 and improve the animations.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:05 am

I got the disembodied female robot voice message from EB last night, saying that MLB 2K6 for the 360 will be in today. Earlier than I expected, but at least we'll see how they did on it soon.

I have my fingers crossed!

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:11 am

I finally played thru a few games last night and I really don't think this game is bad at all. As good as MVP or The Show? Maybe not. But it is definitley better than 2K5 and that game didn't get such abuse. I think a lot of people quickly dismissed the game without really giving it a chance and "learning" the nuances of the new controls. There are so many sliders and the game is so tweakable, lots of the problems can be somewhat fixed. The pitching system is brilliant. I love how the catcher can be moved around and will also call pitches and suggest locations for players you have scouted. The hitting takes a little getting used to after NCAA. I have to remember to not let go of the stick when I dont want to swing! I does seem a little easy to make contact if you just time it right, but NCAA is the same way. Sliders may help this. I would like to strike out more often. The much maligned momentum based fielding system is actually pretty cool once you "understand" how it works and learn the best ways to change directions and how to control your fielders. The graphics and overall look of the game is almost identical to last year, but the game looks real sweet in HD on a HD TV. The biggest flaws I can see are occasional baserunning flaws by the AI, but nothing too crazy.

Again, this is only after a few games, but I really dont think this game is that bad and all the reviews tend to agree with me. It is getting around 80%'s or 8 out of 10's from most review sites, which I think is about right. The game really has a lot of nice innovations in it and if they tighten up the AI, this game could be solid.