2K Releasing Yet Another MLB Game

by pastapadre
Posted October 9th, 2008 at 10:52 am

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.

Tags:

pat

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
pat

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
Darkheath

@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.
Darkheath

@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.
T-Dogg

I want a EA to come out with a new NFL Street
T-Dogg

I want a EA to come out with a new NFL Street
James

[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
James

[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
nba2k

Hey Pasta why do u say “yet another” like its a bad thing?
nba2k

Hey Pasta why do u say “yet another” like its a bad thing?
Twsn88

because its not EA releasing “yet another” NFL game
Twsn88

because its not EA releasing “yet another” NFL game
ferris

i think he just meant that they r releasing another game wen they already have a bunch of them
ferris

i think he just meant that they r releasing another game wen they already have a bunch of them
ferris

also, i would love this game
ferris

also, i would love this game
Kevin

I never liked the BIGS I’m so glad they didn’t make another.
Kevin

I never liked the BIGS I’m so glad they didn’t make another.
http://naptownsfinest.com/ Sam

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.
http://naptownsfinest.com Sam

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.
Mike Mckenna

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
Mike Mckenna

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
Skihawks

@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.
Skihawks

@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.
pastapadre

[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!
pastapadre

[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!
SL

[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.
SL

[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.
metsfan101

hey pasta will you be able to play/watch the games or are u just on the sidelines
metsfan101

hey pasta will you be able to play/watch the games or are u just on the sidelines