MLB 2K9 Features List
by 
I’ve gotten my hands on the features list for MLB 2K9. This represents the first real info for the game which is set to be in stores on March 3rd.
As expected it appears that they’ve attempted to simplify several aspects of the game. The trading card system looks to have been improved and more has been done to add to the authenticity of the experience. Providing the basics such as a smooth framerate and solid online performance are a necessity for this year, but other than those things is there enough here to deliver the game consumers have been hoping for?
Continue on to check out what is in store for this year and leave your thoughts in the comments!
Homerun Derby presented by State Farm
- New best of the best mode. Test your skills against the top 20 HR hitters.
- Classic mode streamlined for faster gameplay
New Playoffs Mode
- Jump right into a playoff scenario without having to play through a whole season.
- Get all of the rewards of the World Series celebrations if you win.
Topps Trading Cards
- Greatly simplify the user experience to unlock trading cards. Better players are harder to unlock.
- Unlock them both by playing with and against the player
- Build trading card teams with no budget restrictions and take them online.
- Review the trading cards in books anywhere in the game.
Reelmaker
- Add SFX and graphic overlays to in-game replays to create your own highlight reel.
- You can have the game digitize the reel and upload it to 2KSports.com to share with the world.
- Rate reels and directors through our simple 2Krating system
VIP Viewer
- View all of your user stats in one place.
- Your abilities are graphed out, displayed in chart form, and comparable against league averages.
Trophies
- Implement the new Sony PS3 trophy system
- On 360 each time you unlock an achievement you get a new trophy added to your display case.
Pitching
- Pitching – Unique pitching controls with increased accessibility for pick-up-and-play users.
- Improved pitching controls – Simplified controls to 2-step pitching – hold and gesture
- Catcher’s will call for pitches according to the hitter’s weaknesses
Hitting
- Influence hit – The users will be able to influence a fly ball or groundball with new controls.
- New bunting controls – Improved bunting will make it easier to lay down a bunt.
- Zone hitting – Users will be able to put the bat on the ball with our new zone hitting feature.
- Hit distribution – Improved hit distribution for a wide variety of hits.
Fielding
- Fielding – Upgraded fielding system with new ability to quick throw when in a rush.
- Fielding AI – Improved fielding AI will highlight the player’s true ability.
- Quick Throws – Quick throws will allow the user to throw on the run or start a double play quicker.
- Hold the ball – Users will be able to cancel a throw and throw to a different direction on the fly.
Baserunning
- Simplified controls for the user for stealing and baserunning.
Signature Style
- More than 300 new signature animations, making MLB2K9 the most realistic baseball sim to date.
Real-time Living World
- Anything that happens in a baseball stadium happens in 2K9 in Real Time.
- Players will move from the dugout to the batter’s box and from the bullpen to the mound.
- Players warm up by throwing around the horn, bat swinging practice, etc.
- Umpire, ball boys, coaches – All onfield personnel will be moving naturally to and from their positions.
- Celebrations – Players will react properly to a regular end-game to walkoff home run, to no-hitter and World Series celebration.
- Vendors move in the crowd
- Fans react to home runs and foul balls
January 9, 2009 at 2:21 am
Celebrations – Players will react properly to a regular end-game to walkoff home run, to no-hitter and World Series celebration.
is the only thing that lookes good.
pasta, since this is features it will not say anything on franchise yet right?
January 9, 2009 at 3:02 am
It looks like we will have a better game this year but nothing on there really thrills me. Obviously it isn't going to be as good as The Show but hopefully it will be good enough.
March 13, 2009 at 3:33 am
MLB 2k9 is absolutely awful. I was deeply awaiting the release of it, and now i want my $60 back. The online play is terrible, as is the outfield play. The plays at home are rediculously horrible. Whoever made this game should never get hired to make another game. Next year im only going to buy this game if it is $20 or less. Everyone who made this game did an extremely lazy job. They focused more on making the fans more realistic and then the gameplay is horendous.
January 9, 2009 at 3:07 am
…yawnnnnnnnnn
January 9, 2009 at 3:19 am
I second that, however, let's wait and see if there is a pillow provided.
January 14, 2009 at 3:16 am
ha ha funny uncle mo (sarcastly) im intersted to see how the game develops. In the book harry potter and the order of the phenox dr yakamou and i quote " This game will meet the success rate of Baird…..which for you other ppl that means hes growing as fast as john roush and his starting career" pg. 334 section 2 page 2 paragraph 5 I thank thee for the time you used listening to my great story…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
January 28, 2009 at 10:03 pm
i like the new features even though i havent played 08, this game is looking good
January 9, 2009 at 3:14 am
The last part is probaly the best the presentation. I can't say I've played 2k8 but I think the gameplay needed revamped so the new controls to fielding and batting controls look ok. I did really enjoy 2k7 though so better than that would be ok
January 9, 2009 at 3:17 am
Pretty good. They've added zone hitting, which is a huge upgrade. And they seem to be focusing on the little things.
January 9, 2009 at 3:27 am
This seems very underwhelming. I know you are not going to fix all the problems in one year, but 2 needs to get back to basics. Start from the ground up and see what you can do. For god's sakes please fix the online in at least one of your sports games.
January 9, 2009 at 3:27 am
LOL all those features should be standard in all sports games nowadays. What have they really added
January 9, 2009 at 3:28 am
2 = 2k
January 9, 2009 at 3:28 am
LOL all those features should be standard in all sports games nowadays. What have they really added, besides reel maker?
January 9, 2009 at 3:39 am
Why did they need to improve the trading card feature? 2K is a disaster and should have been sold to EA….and I'm not even an EA fan….
January 9, 2009 at 3:42 am
I'm so pleased that visual concepts is doing this game instead of kush no matter what kush did or said they still drove the game into the ground. Visual Concepts on the other hand masters the presentation and gameplay aspect of sports games (e.g. NBA 2k9 and ESPN NFL 2k5), My point exactly.
January 9, 2009 at 3:45 am
NOTHING about Franchise/Dynasty mode… as a big player of Franchise, this concerns me. I know Front Office Manager will be the "Franchise" game per say, but the 2k8 Franchise was weak in my opinion
January 9, 2009 at 3:49 am
As an avid MLB The Show gamer, I must say this raised my eyebrows even more regarding the signature styles. The rest sounds like their trying to play catch up to The Show.
January 9, 2009 at 3:50 am
I am glad they were keeping the cards. The trading cards was my favorite feature from 2k8. I expect though they'll pick up the bug which let you get infinite packs of cards this time around, though.
January 9, 2009 at 3:52 am
As a 360 owner I'm a bit sadden that MLB 2k9 is the only baseball game on the market. We've all seen what happens when there's only one sports franchise to choose from (Madden). Presentation is something that 2K usually done very well so I'm sure the game will look great. Why can't they just use the blue print for a Franchise mode from their NBA series? Still looking forward to the game but this list doesn't make me overly excited.
January 9, 2009 at 3:52 am
sounds like a solid game to me..you guys are too critical. you havent even seen anything…get lifes
January 9, 2009 at 3:53 am
awful feature list – who the hell cares about Reelmaker, HR derby,trading cards or if a vendor moves in the stands??? what a waste of time.
January 9, 2009 at 3:58 am
Also, there is no word on if they FINALLY canned Miller and Morgan, they are OK on TV, but AWFUL on 2k Sporgs games
January 9, 2009 at 3:59 am
Sounds like a solid foundation to me and since I own a 360 this is great news to me… They have really fine tuned some thing and that's good news in my books!!!! Glad to see the Living world section and all the detail. Nice to see fans react to home runs etc lol……. Game should be solid and I don't even care about The Show b/c I don't have a PS3 so STOP COMPARING IT… if you want the show so badly, sell your 360 and buy a ps3.. two different games people…
January 9, 2009 at 7:15 am
ps3 sucks!!!!!!!
January 9, 2009 at 8:52 am
But The Show doesn't.
January 9, 2009 at 4:00 am
I want the camera settings changed to USER/CPU instead of HOME/AWAY. HOME/AWAY changes and forces the user to flip back and forth. USER/CPU means the cameras only have to be set once.
January 9, 2009 at 4:04 am
I hate this one "Influence hit – The users will be able to influence a fly ball or groundball with new controls". If the game has a really good physics engine, the ball should automatically be a fly ball or groundball depending on where it hits the bat. I shouldn't have to influence it on the controller. That concerns me that the ball will go to a predetermined spot instead of where it naturally should. Top Spin 3 had this problem too.
January 9, 2009 at 10:16 am
Right, but if influence hit means you can influence where your bat will hit the ball we're spot on….
January 20, 2009 at 4:27 am
That is not what they meant. Influence hit is meant for situational hitting; sack flies, hit and runs, moving the runner etc.
January 9, 2009 at 4:37 am
Yeah, some of it sounds cool….but I cant imagine any of these things being enjoyable if Jon and Joe are still saying the SAME phrases after all these years or hearing the Tampa D__Rays being spliced into the game. Not to mention an unplayable frame rate and downgraded graphics. Here's hoping!
January 9, 2009 at 4:48 am
2k is shit.
This stuff is pathetic.
January 9, 2009 at 5:03 am
I've heard complaints and suggestions for this franchise since WS2k3. If one day they managed to please everyone they deserve a nobel prize. Every time they add one feature, someone else complains about it. Every time they pull something people complain about that. It always gets compared unfavorably to MVP 2005 for some reason, but that game had it's problems too. I hated the hitting meter, and I didn't find the "hitter's eye" feature that usable.
I thought 2k8 was awesome from a single player standpoint. I loved the pitching, and it sounds like they might be simplifying it too much. The hitting could use some minor improvement, but it wasn't that bad. Fielding is probably the most difficult thing for a game to do well, and for me it's fine. I'm not sure what people want out of it. Whatever happens, you're still in the situation of switching instantly from a pitching interface to a field view trying to snag a fast grounder, then get a quick throw off. Short of having playable fielders (where you play as that fielder the whole time), I don't know how much improvement there can be.
Online play was horrid, and needs to be fixed. I could take or leave franchise improvements, personally.
January 9, 2009 at 5:09 am
Pasta,
Work you magic and find out about Miller/Morgan announcing team. I'm from Cincy, I love Joe Morgan but they are brutal in this game.
One other thing, the trading cards drive me nuts. There are probably tons of classic stadiums and teams that I will never see on 2K8 because I dont have 3 hours a day to play the game.
January 9, 2009 at 7:02 am
I agree…The team from The Show sound much more natural. Joe and Jon, which I enjoy, are downright dull in this game and never comment on past events (hitting streaks, previous game stats, etc.)…The Show is much deeper..
January 9, 2009 at 5:11 am
i would give it a try, but i know i will buy the show.
January 9, 2009 at 5:47 am
Yeah, no info on franchise. There will be eventually but i would've liked at least one thing about it. They really step their game up when it comes to sig styles as usual, but the gameplay and franchise lacked realisticness and the fun.
January 9, 2009 at 6:01 am
2k has finally answered! those features are amazing! MLB the Show finally has some competition this year. And if they use a living roster feature like nba 2k9 and signature animations then its over!
January 9, 2009 at 7:08 am
Before I say that The Show has competition I will need to see 2K in action. Fans going after foul balls is not new in 2K so I have no idea why that was an added feature point.
January 9, 2009 at 6:25 am
Until gameplay videos are released, I will withhold my judgment. On the other hand, I am confident that Visual Concepts will make MLB 2k9 a great game.
January 9, 2009 at 6:37 am
After looking at the new features for 2k9 it should be a pretty good game but need more info.
January 9, 2009 at 7:53 am
I still don't get HOME…why is it even necessary…???
January 9, 2009 at 8:26 am
Im so glad i got a PS3 2k games are wack
January 9, 2009 at 8:54 am
Yeah I got a PS3 for Christmas and I'm so happy that 09 the show seems like the greatest sports game ever! But, not all 2k is bad NBA2k9 and NFL2k5 are awesome!
January 9, 2009 at 9:06 am
Uh… looks like trash. Do you see this Peter moore???
January 9, 2009 at 9:38 am
I hope that MLB 09 has all of the last realistic features!
January 9, 2009 at 10:20 am
well, looks like the game will be an improvment. thats all ya can ask sometime
January 9, 2009 at 10:22 am
"Signature Style
More than 300 new signature animations, making MLB2K9 the most realistic baseball sim to date.
"
yeah because THATS what makes your game the most realistic simulation of the sport of baseball, and not what actually transpires on the field
January 9, 2009 at 10:23 am
looks like it will be at least improved from last year. all ya can ask sometime
January 9, 2009 at 10:49 am
I'm a little disapointed there is no big updates to the franchise mode. With The Show adding 40-man rosters and September Call-ups I would have expected 2k9 to counter.
January 9, 2009 at 11:39 am
Real time sounds like it is going to be Real boring, just like real baseball!
January 18, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Baseball games should be realistic, not "arcade-like" for video gamers. If you don't like baseball that may be your problem. No gimmicks, let the pitcher/batter battle dominate game play.
January 9, 2009 at 12:23 pm
is john miller and joe morgan coming back
January 10, 2009 at 3:21 am
It sounds like their at leat trying to focus on the bugs that plagued 2k8 hopefully they revamped the whole system and hopefully it's like NBA 2k9 but I'll believe it when I see it in March. I wish 2k would provide some info on what the game looks like but this is at least a start.
January 10, 2009 at 4:13 am
Pasta couldn't help you find out anything from the 2K camp. He's an EA Insider, and if we all know this, don't you think 2K knows this? I wouldn't let this guy near anything 2k, so he can tell his EA cronies what they're doing wrong? hell to the no! The only thing that stopped 2k8 was the pitching, the game was smooth, and fun, and looked incredible. If they simplify the pitching/hitting interface, the game will be received well. Still two months from release. videos will soon pop up all over.
January 10, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Do you really think Pasta needs to tell EA what 2K is doing wrong?
And to say that pitching was the only downfall to 2K8 is ludicrous. Let's see….Frame rate? Sucked…Presentation? Sucked. Online play? Impossible (Latin for Sucked). Lighting? Sucked. Statistical tracking? Sucked. Music? Sucked. Cloth physics? Sucked. Pacing of the game? Sucked.
2K8 was a huge step backward from 2K7. If The Show was multi-platform (will never be but what if?) 2K sales would die….
However, I am hoping that 2K9 plays the way it should so I can have a game for each console….
January 10, 2009 at 5:53 am
Yeah Hopeully Pasta Giving info to EA so they can bring back the MVP series.
January 11, 2009 at 3:59 am
There aren't a ton of features like The Show, but if 2K gets it right, I'd rather a normal amount of good features than a ton of bad one's, although in The Show's case they'll probably be awesome. Anyway, I'm not exactly exicted either, but I we should wait until we see the game in action before declaring it trash.
January 11, 2009 at 6:19 am
finally something about this game. i can't wait till it's out. hopefully they realease a finished and more polished game and we don't have to wait forever for a patch. i'll be getting the show as well so hopefully i'll have two great bball games to play and keep me busy for awhile.
January 13, 2009 at 6:00 am
to many home runs for MLB2K8. They need a much more realism if they want to even come close to MLB the show. They need to break down the physics of the game. Like in the NBA 2K series.
January 11, 2009 at 6:21 am
I was disappointed by MLB 2K8 and the subsequent updates afterwards. It was a game that held so much promise. And I really wanted to dig farther into, but after a while I just got tired of it and quit playing. I could never go back to it. I'm hoping that this year the game will be what 2K8 should have been last year and much more.
January 11, 2009 at 6:39 am
2K would have been better to list the following:
1) Framerate 60 FPS….
2) Pitching mechanic overhauled
3) All new presentation
Instead, 2K listed things that are already in the game (i.e. fans reaching for foul balls)….
I will wait until the demo to make my judgment but this list did not impress….
January 11, 2009 at 10:29 am
no info at all! no new game modes except playoff mode? what about a 'be a pro' rip of some sort like every 'successful' baseball game franchise has. Wonder if they fixed the bad sliders so that minor league 2nd basemen don't hit 3 homers a game against roy halladay. maybe we'll get real roster updates and more often than every 2 months. This franchise has been a bust since day one and unfortunately for us fans of the sport we haven't had a worthwhile experience on xbox since mvp. If this game blows like the rest of them…i have to buy a ps3 for the show. It's not worth it for a baseball fan to suffer through bad programming, frame rates, and a staff that apparently has no knowledge on how a baseball simulation is suppossed to play.
January 11, 2009 at 11:40 am
MLB:The Show > mlb2k