Early MLB Front Office Manager Review

by pastapadre
Posted January 4th, 2009 at 11:10 am

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.

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Tony

Is it also common when making a trade, for the opposing team to be ridiculous? I offered
John Lackey, Greg Maddux and Shane Victorino for Roy Halladay and was told the deal is too lopsided.
Lackey's has a 75 rating, Maddux's is 75 and Shane Victorino's is 55. Halladay's is 80.
Two starters and a starting centerfielder for one starter. Lopsided? WHY?!?
Again, do the rating mean NOTHING? What EXACTLY is this game's criteria for a NON-lopsided deal?
What is this game- garbage? You go through all the transactions and payroll issues and the
actual season is W-O-R-T-H-L-E-S-S?

If these problems aren't resolvable at all, this game is TRASH. NO point to it.
Any straight answers?

Tony

Also, I saw that a player said you can trade a No-Trade player. How?

How do you make a double switch when using a pinch-hitter for the pitcher and NOT have this game
MAKE you put a pitcher in the pinch-hitter's spot if you're trying to make the last out the
NEW pitcher's spot in your batting order? (continued)

Tony

My pitchers don't pitch; my hitters don't hit. Ratings seem to mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
The computer does what ever it damn well wants. Is this it? Opposition grand slams are common. Cliff Lee's rating has meant NOTHING. Minor League pitchers
shut me out for 6 innings with LOUSY ratings. The point to this game is trying to put together
the best team you can and then PLAY the damn season to see how good you really are.
But, there doesn't seem to be ANY realism for the player. Is this just how SHITTY this game
actually is, or, is there something I'm not doing right? (continued)

Tony

I have this game for an XBox 360 Elite. I've gotten to the beginning of the MLB season, doing all that you have to do getting there. My assembled starting staff is Cliff Lee, John Lackey, John Lannan, Rickey Nolasco and Greg Maddux as my #5. My usual batting order is 2B Ron Belliard, CF Elijah Dukes, RF Nelson Crux, 3B Alex Gordon, 1B Joey Votto, DH (when needed) Ben Francisco, C Ivan Rodriguez, CF Travis Snider, SS Marco Scutaro. Through out Spring Training, a pattern developed and has continued through the first 2 games of the season of my CONSTANTLY getting slaughtered (normally something like 10-2 and I get 5 hits). What I've assembled should be at LEAST a .500 team for now. (continued)

Bob L

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.

Jonah Falcon

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?

Jonah Falcon

“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.

Mr_Anderson18

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!

adam

2k is a pathetic company. They keep putting out absolute shit.

Skihawks

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.

Articula

Pasta - Any chance you could like the article?

James

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

Skihawks

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...

James

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.

Skihawks

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....

Manny

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.

davedq

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.

Mark

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.....

Dan London

Can you tell if the reviewer liked this type of game? That might be an issue.

Jesse Behr

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.

DaveDQ

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.

DirtyJerz32

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.

pastapadre

I've been optimistic because its Blue Castle making the game.

Skihawks

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....

Bisett

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

pastapadre

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.

DaveDQ

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.

DaveDQ

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.

DirtyJerz32

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.

Lake Allen

Can never trust reviews of sports games from magazines or the IGNs/1Ups/Gamespots of the world.

Poncho

its 2K so im not sure why anyone would expect this to be any good

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