2K Releasing Yet Another MLB Game
by 
The cost of the exclusive licenses for the NFL and MLB have lead to EA Sports and 2K Sports releasing multiple branded titles for their respective sports. By doing so they hope to extend the value of the contracts and take advantage of the opportunity to present varied products. EA has done so with its arcade line of games such as NFL Street/NFL Tour and ultra-sim title NFL Head Coach.
2K has really been pushing out MLB titles lately. Of course the headliner is the MLB 2K franchise. We had the release of The BIGS last year which was one of my favorite sports titles of this generation. Recent releases include MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars (DS) and MLB Stickball (XBLA) and there is still the upcoming MLB Superstars (360, PS3). 2K also distributes the MLB Power Pros series.
They have just announced another title to add to the MLB lineup. MLB Front Office Manager will be coming to the 360, PS3, and PC this winter.
MLB Front Office Manager lets gamers do everything a real-life baseball GM can do to develop a team from Spring Training through a full MLB season, into the playoffs and the World Series. Using Major League teams and players, gamers will create their own fictional baseball universe and build their reputation into elite status. Gamers can replace aging veterans with rookies, scout the Minor Leagues, make blockbuster trades, and even participate in bidding wars for posted players from Japan as they make their way to the Hall of Fame.
This sounds like it could appeal to the crowd who enjoyed NFL Head Coach. Baseball fans though seem much more likely enjoy this type of product than football fans. Again I have to keep asking though where is the sequel to The BIGS? Interestingly Front Office Manager is being developed by Blue Castle who did The BIGS. That right there is enough to get me interested in this one. Continue on for the full press release.
New York, NY– October 9, 2008 – 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that MLB Front Office Manager, the next step in competitive fandom for baseball enthusiasts, will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC this winter. According to Nielsen Media Research, over 3.5 million users signed on to fantasy baseball sites in 2007 and MLB Front Office Manager brings this popular American pastime to console while enhancing the fantasy baseball experience on PC.
MLB Front Office Manager lets gamers do everything a real-life baseball GM can do to develop a team from Spring TrainingTM through a full MLB season, into the playoffs and the World Series. Using Major League teams and players, gamers will create their own fictional baseball universe and build their reputation into elite status. Gamers can replace aging veterans with rookies, scout the Minor Leagues, make blockbuster trades, and even participate in bidding wars for posted players from Japan as they make their way to the Hall of Fame.
“If you have ever dreamed of running your team or thought you could do a much better job than the actual general managers out there then you’ll love MLB Front Office Manager,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development at 2K. “Baseball fanatics can now be in the general manager’s chair and see what it’s like to really try to build a World Series winning team.”
A true baseball general manager also acts as a mentor in MLB Front Office Manager. Legendary Oakland Athletics’ GM Billy Beane will offer advice, encouragement and guidance as gamers steer a team through the intense competition that is Major League Baseball. Billy Beane is considered one of the most talented GM’s in baseball today and has turned the Athletics into a consistent postseason contender since being named GM in 1997. Now, in MLB Front Office Manager, he passes that knowledge on to gamers.
“From negotiating trades to scouting new talent, MLB Front Office Manager has all the complexity and realism I could hope for in a game that is simulating what it means to be a Major League Baseball manager,” said Oakland Athletics’ General Manager Billy Beane. “I’m excited to be a part of a game that gives people a real world experience at what it’s like to be in my shoes and take on the responsibility of building a Major League Baseball team.”
MLB Front Office Manager offers two distinct game modes. Become the GM in Career Mode, and manage a team through a 30 year career that will hopefully lead to the Hall of Fame. As the gamer’s knowledge and skill progresses over time, gamers will gain points to improve various areas and help the team win games as a result. With Online Fantasy Mode, create an online head-to-head management experience. With up to 30 Managers in the league, gamers can compete against friends to see who has what it takes to be the best.
MLB Front Office Manager, developed by Blue Castle Games and published by 2K Sports, is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available for Xbox 360, Windows PC, and PLAYSTATION 3 system this winter. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.
October 9, 2008 at 11:12 am
First
October 9, 2008 at 11:13 am
Yea we definately need a BIGS 2! I don’t think that this game will sell that well. So does this mean that 360 owners won’t get a sim baseball game this year?
October 9, 2008 at 11:14 am
as if baseball wasn’t boring enough already…i’m all about creating games for the ‘thinking man’…but i can’t help to think that this game is going up in flames…NFL Head Coach wasn’t exactly a hot-seller…and i would argue that it is by far the most popular sport in the USA…especially for the younger generation (meaning those who play video games)…it will be interesting to see how it turns out…but a big-seller for NFL Head Coach was the ESPN integration and the in-depth draft analysis among other things…2K won’t have ESPN…i think Billy Beane doing the commentary is a little gimicky…along the same manner as bringing Tiger Woods caddie to talk to you in that game…i honestly can’t see people paying more than $20 or $30 TOPS for this game…perhaps i am wrong…
October 9, 2008 at 11:34 am
why is 2K making another baseball game when they can’t even get the main game, MLB 2K to play well? Stick with one game, make it the best, then move forward….
October 9, 2008 at 11:34 am
I’ll keep my eye on this one. But they have a lot to make up to top Out of the Park Baseball (OOTP9 is really good). I like Head Coach though despite a few annoyances. I just wish that EA shifted some of the money they used marketing Madden (a game they don’t have to spend a dime advertising) and used it to get Head Coach out in front of more people.
Really… at this point, why even advertise Madden?
October 9, 2008 at 11:36 am
[quote comment="41242"]why is 2K making another baseball game when they can’t even get the main game, MLB 2K to play well? Stick with one game, make it the best, then move forward….[/quote]
I never picked up 2k8, but I’m still having a blast with MLB 2k7. I think it was a great game and I even like it more than the “Holy Grail” of baseball games, MVP 2005.
October 9, 2008 at 11:41 am
[quote comment="41245"][quote comment="41242"]why is 2K making another baseball game when they can’t even get the main game, MLB 2K to play well? Stick with one game, make it the best, then move forward….[/quote]
I never picked up 2k8, but I’m still having a blast with MLB 2k7. I think it was a great game and I even like it more than the “Holy Grail” of baseball games, MVP 2005.[/quote]
2K7 was a good game but the only thing that held it back from being great was the 30 frames per second.
October 9, 2008 at 11:50 am
Actually… it had another problem, but I personally haven’t run into it. Apparently a lot of people would have it lock up when trying to advance to the playoffs when all their games were done and some west coast teams hadn’t finished yet.
So no.. it wasn’t a perfect game. But I still find it the best MLB game I’ve played and still find amazing things happen in it. Just last night I blew a 4 run lead in the bottom of the ninth with my high-priced closer (K-Rod) and lost game 1 of the NLCS. augh!
He may be losing his job.
October 9, 2008 at 12:04 pm
[quote comment="41243"]I’ll keep my eye on this one. But they have a lot to make up to top Out of the Park Baseball (OOTP9 is really good). I like Head Coach though despite a few annoyances. I just wish that EA shifted some of the money they used marketing Madden (a game they don’t have to spend a dime advertising) and used it to get Head Coach out in front of more people.
Really… at this point, why even advertise Madden?[/quote]
The OOTP series is amazing. That game just sucks you in and you become totally immersed in the MLB world. I had to take a break from it, as I’d start playing then next thing I knew 7 hours had gone by. Very addictive game to say the least. Now if 2K can come close to OOTP, they would really impress me.
October 9, 2008 at 12:06 pm
what 2k needs is that NFL license so we can get some good football games (similar to the basketball series this year with live and 2k9)… damn the NFL for making their license “exclusive”
but back to topic this seems like it would only appeal to a small number of people but could be fun if they do it right
October 9, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Baseball is a sport that translates well into fantasy, statistical-type games. I like this idea and hope it pans out well.
I was always a fan of sports-simulation games on the Commodore 64, Statis-Pro Baseball being my favorite.
I am looking forward to seeing details on this. I hope that the game includes classic teams and options to play either with next-gen graphics or text-based (like the old computer games).
Not to mention, this will most likely be the best way 2K can succeed with the MLB license since 2K is horrible.
October 9, 2008 at 12:23 pm
like the idea 60 bucks though idk maybe 30 bucks
October 9, 2008 at 12:30 pm
So again, does this mean there will be no MLB 2K9? Will 360 owners not get a sim baseball game this year?
October 9, 2008 at 12:35 pm
[quote comment="41269"]So again, does this mean there will be no MLB 2K9? Will 360 owners not get a sim baseball game this year?[/quote]
No.. this is in addition to MLB 2k9.
October 9, 2008 at 12:44 pm
[quote comment="41265"]Baseball is a sport that translates well into fantasy, statistical-type games. I like this idea and hope it pans out well.
I was always a fan of sports-simulation games on the Commodore 64, Statis-Pro Baseball being my favorite.
I am looking forward to seeing details on this. I hope that the game includes classic teams and options to play either with next-gen graphics or text-based (like the old computer games).
Not to mention, this will most likely be the best way 2K can succeed with the MLB license since 2K is horrible.[/quote]
I played a 36 game season of Statis-Pro baseball with my brothers.. but it was the card version! We kept all stats in notebooks (which mom promptly threw out when we left… augh!).
Anyway.. are you saying the MLB 2k game sucks or just 2k in general? because I can’t see how someone who played Statis-Pro copuld possibly say the current games suck (although I never got 2k8). These games far excede what I expected to see in my lifetime back then while I was flipping cards and rolling dice for my play/batting results. MLB 2k7 really puts me in the game. Especially when a couple of guys get on base and every pitch I make is important in keeping my lead (in which I failed horribly last night). I think they did a great job capturing that feel.
October 9, 2008 at 12:55 pm
[quote comment="41272"][quote comment="41269"]So again, does this mean there will be no MLB 2K9? Will 360 owners not get a sim baseball game this year?[/quote]
No.. this is in addition to MLB 2k9.[/quote]
Thanx
October 9, 2008 at 1:12 pm
The pitcher/batter interface in Stickball (XBLA) reminds me a lot of the one used from the The Bigs.
October 9, 2008 at 1:19 pm
@ Darkheath..
I am not a fan of MLB 2K. MVP by EA and currently Sony’s The Show play much better.
I have The Show (own both systems). Graphics, gameplay and presentation puts 2K to shame. Many people don’t like the old-school pitch meter but it works, it’s simple and the game is fun. I am still plugging away on my Tigers season (doing much better than the real Tiges)….
I had the Statis-Pro board game as well. The 1986 version. The computer version used the same principles and rating for players. Not to mention, the game kept the stats for you. I played seven 162-game seasons (games took approximately 20 minutes). It also had a team creator where you could create updated team disks every year. What a concept, huh? No having to drop another $35 bucks on a new disk. I spent $7 on a new baseball mag each year. There was some manual labor in regards to creating the team disk but it wasn’t painful. I wish some company would create a game like Statis Pro with text-based visuals, deep stats that would take 15-20 minutes to play.
October 9, 2008 at 1:54 pm
[quote comment="41242"]why is 2K making another baseball game when they can’t even get the main game, MLB 2K to play well? Stick with one game, make it the best, then move forward….[/quote]
amen to that! i just wish 2k could make a baseball game to match their basketball
October 9, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I’ve heard fantastic things about “The Show”, but unfortunately I won’t get to try that for a while as I see no PS3 in my immediate future. MVP I heard so many great things about that I found a copy to see why there was so much fuss. While admittedly it was a good game, it seriously felt like a step back after playing 2k7 for a while. I think a lot of that had to do with presentation as the commentary was very flat compared to Miller & Morgan.
I started into the MVP owner mode but was so far into the red by the end of the 1st season that I quit and haven’t gone back. Perhaps I need to re-explore that mode (which seemed like a great and original mode), but you start out with a barebones 10,000 seat stadium (which is horribly unrealistic) and I don’t think you can compete on the MLB level with that.
One thing that I LOVED about MVP was the chance to play as all of the minor league teams. That gave you a chance to have a more vested interest in your prospects during a franchise mode. I’d love to see that in a future MLB game. Did 2k8 have anything like that?
October 9, 2008 at 2:12 pm
MVP05 was dope……I was almost more sad to see that go than I was to see my beloved NFL2K5 go. If anybody out there (that owns a PS3 of course) is a sports fan…….not just a baseball fan…..and does not have the Show, you are really missing out on one of the best sports games ever made! Right up there with NHL09, Fight Night Rd3, and NFL2K5………..
October 9, 2008 at 2:19 pm
No.. I seriously think losing NFL 2k from our lives was a FAR greater crime against (gaming) mankind.
October 9, 2008 at 2:26 pm
@ Darkheath
The Show allows you to create a player and you play a role of the position you desire. The best part is you only play the portions of the game that involve your player. I thought it was done real well.
MLB 2K7 was much better than 2K8, in my opinion. MLB 2K8 did not build on that game. I like Morgan and Miller but in the game they are bland, lifeless, in short — dull.
The Show has a three-man commentary team that does a very good job. The Show was the only reason I purchased a PS3. Sad but true and, being a huge fan of baseball video games, it was worth it.
October 9, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I think 2K is making the right choice releasing this in the winter (I am assuming January – February) so it will not release with the 2K game. I am wondering this game will tie-in to the 2K game where you can take your team, as in Head Coach / Madden, into 2K?
October 9, 2008 at 3:15 pm
[quote comment="41242"]why is 2K making another baseball game when they can’t even get the main game, MLB 2K to play well? Stick with one game, make it the best, then move forward….[/quote]
Wow I was going to post pretty much this exact comment but you beat me to it. All this news means to me is that MLB 2K9 will be even worse, somehow, than MLB 2K8. No doubt we will still have to deal with all the bugs and glitches not to mention the fact that every young great player won’t even have their player pictures in the game. Abreau will still have his Phillies cap on, and everyone who gets traded to another team, or signs with another team will still have their old cap on because 2K is the laziest company in the video game world right now. I’m getting angry just talking about this. This idea is stupid when you’re main game is already so flawed. BOOOOOO 2K, I say we all boycott buying anything MLB that 2K makes until they fix their crap products…but we all know that won’t happen…so here’s to another terrible baseball video game season, CHEERS!
October 9, 2008 at 3:48 pm
this is cool and as a 360 owner it kinda sucks with baseball because we dont have any other option at baseball…the show is awesome and i wish it could not just be on sony
October 9, 2008 at 4:32 pm
@skihawks:
I actually really like the laid back delivery of Miller & Morgan. It’s a nice change of pace from my other sports games and generally, baseball is a much more laid back sport… most of the time. But they do get excited when the game warrants. Their delivery, to me, seems to have the same pacing as an actual broadcast.
Now… after playing the game for a year and a half, I would like to hear more different things from them. But even now I’m surprised when occasionally something comes up that I haven’t heard before. Just reading reviews of 2k8 though, it seems they didn’t record a lot of new dialogue, which is disappointing. But in a game like baseball… when there are a lot of slow times, I’d love to hear more things that are not about the game that’s going on right then. If I’m in KC.. talk about things that George Brett did years ago… when I’m in Cincinnati, talk more about the accomplishments of “the Big Red Machine”… while in Commisky, bring up how 2005 erased some of the ghosts of 1919 and the Black Sox. It’s that kind of extra stuff that makes WATCHING baseball bearable during the slow times. I think it would be great in a game like this.
Actually.. the only game that I remember even touching on this was Triple Play ‘99, believe it or not. Unfortunately they were limited to about 2-3 little nuggets of information about each venue. But I’m sure you could record about 50-60 facts about each team’s history to keep them from becoming too repetitious.
As far as The Show… I’m really intrigued by the “superstar” mode or whatever it’s called. I’m having a blast in BAP for NHL ‘09 (despite a 10 game dry streak) and I’m thinking this is my favorite way to play now. But like I said, a PS3 is pretty low down on my meager budgetary priority. Plus.. there’s just so many great games coming to 360 in the next few months anyway.
October 9, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I want a EA to come out with a new NFL Street
October 9, 2008 at 6:52 pm
[quote comment="41373"]I want a EA to come out with a new NFL Street[/quote]
I want EA to come out with a new Madden
October 9, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Hey Pasta why do u say “yet another” like its a bad thing?
October 10, 2008 at 5:19 am
because its not EA releasing “yet another” NFL game
October 10, 2008 at 12:09 pm
i think he just meant that they r releasing another game wen they already have a bunch of them
October 10, 2008 at 12:10 pm
also, i would love this game
October 10, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I never liked the BIGS I’m so glad they didn’t make another.
October 10, 2008 at 3:21 pm
MVP 2005 was such an amazing game words cannot describe it. It is easily my favorite baseball game. It’s up there with these games as my favorite sports games of all time
Football: NCAA Football 2005
Basketball: College Hoops 2K8
Golf: Tiger Woods 2005 (maybe my favorite overall)
Soccer: FIFA 08 for the XBox and 07 for the GameCube
Those four games along with MVP Baseball make up the most addicting video games in the world IMO. I haven’t been able to get any of the recent video games like NBA 2K9 or NHL 09 because I have no money right now (damn economy). But when I sell my old house (damn economy), I will be able to get those games and maybe throw them in there on my favorite games list.
October 10, 2008 at 9:53 pm
THE MVP SERIES WERE THE BEST MOST AUTHENTIC BASEBALL GAMES EVER…THE 2K GAMES ARE HORRIBLE, FROM GAMEPLAY TO THE GRAPHICS ( BEING THAT 2K7 LOOKED BETTER THAN 2K8, WHICH BOGGLES MY MIND) I JUST REALLY WANT EA TO OWN THE BASEBALL FRANCHISE…..THAT WILL BE MY DREAM COME TRUE AND ON THAT NOTE I BELIEVE I SPEAK FOR MANY….. THANKS PASTA
October 11, 2008 at 6:30 am
@Darkheath…
Miller and Morgan aren’t horrible but the way the sound is it almost sounds like they are in a studio versus actually being at the game. I am not sure why it sounds that way…
In regards to The Show, the presentation is sick. The commentary is spot on and they hit on historical items as you mentioned in your post. They also comment on hit streaks, hot streaks, etc. Unless you have an opportunity to play it you won’t really understand how much more in-depth the commentary is. There are some repetitive items but nothing that will grind you.
Seriously, if you like baseball games that is the best one I have played on a console. The only thing that it lacks is weather. Hopefully that is added this year.
October 11, 2008 at 11:07 am
[quote comment="41388"]Hey Pasta why do u say “yet another” like its a bad thing?[/quote]
That really isn’t what I meant by it. They’re squeezing the license for all they can get though. It’s hard to ignore that when they three brand new MLB licensed games announced within the span of like a month. What frustrates me is one of them isnt The BIGS 2!
October 12, 2008 at 12:18 am
[quote comment="41338"][quote comment="41242"]why is 2K making another baseball game when they can’t even get the main game, MLB 2K to play well? Stick with one game, make it the best, then move forward….[/quote]
Wow I was going to post pretty much this exact comment but you beat me to it. All this news means to me is that MLB 2K9 will be even worse, somehow, than MLB 2K8. No doubt we will still have to deal with all the bugs and glitches not to mention the fact that every young great player won’t even have their player pictures in the game. Abreau will still have his Phillies cap on, and everyone who gets traded to another team, or signs with another team will still have their old cap on because 2K is the laziest company in the video game world right now. I’m getting angry just talking about this. This idea is stupid when you’re main game is already so flawed. BOOOOOO 2K, I say we all boycott buying anything MLB that 2K makes until they fix their crap products…but we all know that won’t happen…so here’s to another terrible baseball video game season, CHEERS![/quote]
@Ryan and Mark……
I could say the same thing about EA and the NFL…….this is what you get when you have an exclusive license from one game maker. I’ve yet experience a Madden game where I didn’t have to return or sell the game a month after purchase. I can’t fault 2k much cause they don’t have as much manpower and especially finanical resources to make their games as good if not better than what they previously had.
October 12, 2008 at 7:34 am
hey pasta will you be able to play/watch the games or are u just on the sidelines