Early MLB Front Office Manager Review
by 
The latest OXM has the first review for MLB Front Office Manager. They gave it a 5/10 citing awful menus and a worthless manager mode though they did state the game was very in depth. Thanks to Jesse Behr from The ‘Burgh Blues for sending the tip in.
While the review would seem discouraging it sounds awful familiar to some of the ones that were handed out to NFL Head Coach 09. While I just couldn’t get into that game, it did deliver the deep and very detailed experience that crowd was looking for. Both games released at less than the standard price and it seems like reviews don’t take that into consideration either. It’s unfortunate that 2K doesn’t do more to get this game out in the community where it will be given a fair shake.
So I’m not sure if my opinion of FOM’s potential has changed at all. What they need to do is get more info out there ASAP. It is a little over three weeks away and they still have only revealed some vague details from a few interviews along with the single producer video and a couple screenshots. I’ve been extremely intrigued by the Online Fantasy mode but we know next to nothing about how it will be structured. This type of game isn’t the easiest to market, but Head Coach did an excellent job of laying out pretty much everything there was to know about it leading up to its release.
January 4, 2009 at 6:12 am
its 2K so im not sure why anyone would expect this to be any good
January 4, 2009 at 6:23 am
Can never trust reviews of sports games from magazines or the IGNs/1Ups/Gamespots of the world.
January 4, 2009 at 6:43 am
They really need to do a better job at giving information. The only game they did some marketing with was the NBA games. It may have something to do with the economy. Maybe they can't afford to do any marketing because they don't have any money. JMO.
January 4, 2009 at 6:47 am
Same old stuff from 2K. Rinse and repeat. For a long time EA has been bashed for utilizing the exclusive license privileges, but with the MLB 3rd party license, 2K has put multiple below-average titles out with zero depth.
January 4, 2009 at 6:47 am
Same old stuff from 2K. Rinse and repeat. For a long time EA has been bashed for utilizing the exclusive license privileges, but with the MLB 3rd party license, 2K has put multiple below-average titles out with zero depth.
January 4, 2009 at 7:01 am
They've definitely had money struggles, the thing is with a new title like this its even more important to market and inform. Otherwise they're setting it up to fail especially with it being this type of game.
January 4, 2009 at 7:02 am
I've been optimistic because its Blue Castle making the game.
January 5, 2009 at 4:13 am
It is amazing how the perception of 2K has taken a fall towards the negative….Unfortunately for sports gamers, this is not a good thing….
January 18, 2009 at 5:51 am
2k Sports now not 2k Games because BioShock and Oblivion are awesome titles
(What is Don King Boxing this should be interesting)
(MLB 2k9 60 FPS and Simple Pitching or bust bring back Bigs 2k9)
+ NBA2k9 and NCAA CH 2k8
+ NFL 2k5 with Chris Berman Highlight show and Overall Cinematic Features
+ 2kShare
+ The Bigs MLB
– NHL 2k9
– MLB 2k8
– Don King Boxing
Atleast MLB Front Office has good looking stadiums and actually gameplay compared to text only Managerial Sim Software
January 4, 2009 at 7:23 am
I don't exclusive deals work when it comes to video games. Look at all the NFL games EA has put out. None of them have really set the world a blaze. The same is happening with MLB although The Bigs was a really good arcade pick up and play game. I'm still upset they didn't have a 2nd title.
With the economy the way it is hopefully we'll see less exclusive deal titles this year.
January 4, 2009 at 8:43 am
In general, I think sports gaming needs something different. These games are being put out annually, with very little being done to the core of the game. Sure, we have the peripherals of things like DNA and online functionality, but nothing in the area of true gameplay mechanics has changed much. Maybe EA's NHL franchise gets the nod there, but that's about it.
January 4, 2009 at 8:52 am
I am still very excited for this game. It's something that has really never been done before to this level (Baseball Mogul, Out of the Park Baseball are phonies), and my favorite part of baseball is the managerial aspect of it. Oh, and I have to say, that 'Burgh Blues site sure is cool… hehe.
January 4, 2009 at 10:04 am
Can you tell if the reviewer liked this type of game? That might be an issue.
January 5, 2009 at 1:01 am
2K should have put all their time and resources in MLB 2K9….that franchise needs as much help as it can get. 2K didn't need another game…..
January 5, 2009 at 1:07 am
I agree, Mark. After the miserable showing of 2K8, why not put your energy into refining 2K9? we all know the answer, they want to capitalize on the license. The reality is I don't trust that this game will be close to average.
January 5, 2009 at 1:25 am
My opinions are the same. I couldn't get into Head Coach because of how complicated the game could get and for how long games would take. With baseball it is different as I am much more knowledgeable about the game than football and it will be easier to control than in Head Coach.
I still am going to buy the game most likely, but will read more reviews on it first.
January 5, 2009 at 2:14 am
I am getting the game, I don't care what Hack "reviewed" the game. If I based all my video games based off reviews I would only have CoD 4, or something like that.
January 5, 2009 at 4:12 am
I agree. I like OXM but no one should base the purchase of a title on a single review. I have always gone the way of renting a title so I can find out for myself. However, I like reading reviews to see what the reviewer liked and disliked about a game but I will never make a purchasing decision based on reviews….
January 5, 2009 at 4:10 am
I just purchased Out Of The Park 9, which is freaking fantastic. I have been searching for a strong text-based simulation for the longest time. The game is deep and it takes approximately 20 minutes to play a game, depending on the settings you choose.
I applaud 2K for creating a simulation. However, I will use OOTP 9 for my simulation and The Show 09 for my console enjoyment…..Regardless, baseball fans have plenty to smile about. Unless you are a 360 owner stuck playing 2K9…
January 5, 2009 at 4:21 am
I am going to start a league for FOM on for X360. If anyone wants to join send friend and team request to my gamertag r8terfan79
January 5, 2009 at 7:58 am
Pasta – Any chance you could like the article?
January 5, 2009 at 8:35 am
I just purchased Out Of The Park 9, which is freaking fantastic. I have been searching for a strong text-based simulation for the longest time. The game is deep and it takes approximately 20 minutes to play a game, depending on the settings you choose.
January 6, 2009 at 2:15 am
2k is a pathetic company. They keep putting out absolute shit.
January 14, 2009 at 9:54 am
i was disappointed when Gi gave this game a 3/10 but I'll still give it a try, it sounds like the biggest problem are the menus but I think I can get past that.
I can't believe how badly ppl bash 2K8 and the series as a whole. 2k8 had the best in-game gameplay I have every played (yes, better than the show and MVP. I love both still thou). It had great pitching controls and throwing to bases was at its best. The only problem with the game is outside of the game because franchise mode had little depth, the other modes were useless, and online was laggy. Back off!
January 18, 2009 at 12:24 am
“They gave it a 5/10 citing awful menus and a worthless manager mode though they did state the game was very in depth.”
Um, what? “The menus suck and I can’t do anything in the manager mode because it doesn’t let me tell a runner to go from first to third, but it looks real in depth otherwise.”
All I see is "real in depth" – I'm buying it. Something tells me that the reviewer spent 5 minutes on the game.
January 18, 2009 at 12:40 am
He complains that he was able to trade Eric Byrnes who had a No Trade Clause. Does the reviewer know you can trade people with NTCs? If they agree to be traded, they can be traded.
"there's an onfield manager mode…but you never feel like you're really affecting the outcome of the action."
Since when has a manager directly affected the outcome of a game, let alone a GM?
January 26, 2009 at 5:13 am
I ordered the PC version and wondering if the interface issues will even be an issue with the mouse? I do take some reviews seriously, but never a console reviewer. Frankly, the audience for this game mainly cares about realism and if the game has ok graphics (onfield wise), we will be happy. Of course, if there are a large number of bugs (NFL Head Coach 09), that will present its own set of problems.
Overall, until I read a review from a person who cares about realism, its a review I can't take seriously.