MLB 2K9 Features List

by pastapadre
Posted January 8th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

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

Tags:

http://intensedebate.com/people/fatdave fatdave

i would give it a try, but i know i will buy the show.
http://intensedebate.com/people/fatdave fatdave

i would give it a try, but i know i will buy the show.
PizzaPadre

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.
PizzaPadre

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.
Dee

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!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

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.

Dee

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!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

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.

Cory

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.
Cory

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.
Matthew

After looking at the new features for 2k9 it should be a pretty good game but need more info.
Matthew

After looking at the new features for 2k9 it should be a pretty good game but need more info.
Afroman

I still don't get HOME…why is it even necessary…???
Afroman

I still don't get HOME…why is it even necessary…???
NELL86

Im so glad i got a PS3 2k games are wack
NELL86

Im so glad i got a PS3 2k games are wack
Kevin

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!
Kevin

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!
Beyonce

Uh… looks like trash. Do you see this Peter moore???
Beyonce

Uh… looks like trash. Do you see this Peter moore???
Billy

I hope that MLB 09 has all of the last realistic features!
Billy

I hope that MLB 09 has all of the last realistic features!
leo

well, looks like the game will be an improvment. thats all ya can ask sometime
leo

well, looks like the game will be an improvment. thats all ya can ask sometime
Joep

"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
Joep

"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
leo

looks like it will be at least improved from last year. all ya can ask sometime
leo

looks like it will be at least improved from last year. all ya can ask sometime
Dom

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.
Dom

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.
Joker75

Real time sounds like it is going to be Real boring, just like real baseball!

vtmike52

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.

Joker75

Real time sounds like it is going to be Real boring, just like real baseball!

vtmike52

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.

artycone

is john miller and joe morgan coming back
artycone

is john miller and joe morgan coming back
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Mike

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.
Mike

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.
smokez4dayz

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.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

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….

smokez4dayz

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.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

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….

mike

Yeah Hopeully Pasta Giving info to EA so they can bring back the MVP series.
mike

Yeah Hopeully Pasta Giving info to EA so they can bring back the MVP series.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Sidewinder Sidewinder

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.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Sidewinder Sidewinder

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.
http://intensedebate.com/people/ramsreds99 ramsreds99

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.

nick clark

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.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ramsreds99 ramsreds99

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.

nick clark

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.

http://intensedebate.com/people/mathewballard mathewballard

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.
http://intensedebate.com/people/mathewballard mathewballard

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.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

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….
http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

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….
nessen

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.
nessen

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.