More MLB 2K9 Previews
by 
Following the first hands-on preview two more have arrived. The big concern from these previews is that every one is mentioning issues with the framerate. After last year that is disconcerting and also bodes poorly for the prospects of online play improving.
GAMESPY: Like last year, 2K Sports is boasting a framerate of 60 frames per second for its lead baseball sim. Also like last year, MLB 2K9 didn’t back up that promise — at least in the demo we saw. As the camera panned across the field before the first game started the view was rather choppy, the playing field lacked the texture we would expect from a new baseball title, and facial renderings weren’t extremely accurate.
IGN: Unsurprisingly, 2K Sports is making some of the requisite changes and refinements that we’ve seen from so many of the sports franchises out there. Accessibility is a big part of MLB 2K9 and that means the simplification of some of the more headache inducing mechanics.
In some cases the framerate could be one of the last things to be cleaned up, but if it hasn’t been by now it is probably too late. The key will be whether 2K holds back on the videos and demo as they did last year. If they provide those then there will be some reason for confidence.
January 28, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I feel bad for people who dont get to play The Show. Its pretty obvious 2K9 is going to be terrible.
January 28, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Uton is right…like every year mlb 09 the show will kill 2k9
January 28, 2009 at 5:49 pm
second that…
January 28, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Sports-gamers are going to find little reason to own a 360 for long….the PS3 is pretty much equal with mult-platform games, and it has the best baseball game series; the show…anyone complaining about 2K needs to dump the 360 and get a PS3…you're going to get 2 baseball games this way…well, at least one good one.
January 28, 2009 at 3:47 pm
So you don't like playing anything online with your friends? That's what you're saying when you boast about PS3 over 360. Check the information, PS3 sold less in 2008 than it did in 2007 and it was because of Xbox Live. I'm not saying 360 is better but it at least has an online system that works. As for a baseball game I'm sure 2K will release another patch like every company does to fix any launch problems. It is really sad that programmers can't fix simple problems before launch but it's a reality nowadays.
January 28, 2009 at 4:12 pm
they've had a year to fix framerate…what's a patch going to do? And no, I don't play online. I use online for patches and roster updates, and PS3 online is free….
January 28, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Not to flame the argument, but the 360 online sports community is waaay more populated than PS3's……….but you are right about PS3 having the Show & online being free!
January 28, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I do agree with you that the framerate problem, it is stupid if they didn't fix it. And the reason why PS3 online is so bad is because it's free! If they started charging then maybe PS3 could get games like Left 4 Dead and sell some consoles. But then again we are arguing about something that is really trivial.
January 28, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I highly doubt the framerate will be improved. You don't have a game 90% done and that still be an issue. This is frustrating.
January 28, 2009 at 4:06 pm
if the ps3 was less expensive i would buy one but i dont belive in paying 500 dollars for a video game system!! I allready have a Blu ray player so i can live with the fact i will be playing an inferior baseball game again this year!! maybe i will just buy the the show for my ps2 who knows!!!
January 28, 2009 at 4:17 pm
the 2k series is going down the toilet
January 28, 2009 at 4:19 pm
i think this game is looking so much better than last year. i meen i have 08 the show and its great and the show 09 is going to be great also but i meen this game is looking so much better than last years just compare screen shots i cant wait to see some vids pf this.
January 28, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Bryan, why do you always try to start sh!t, gosh. Frame rate is generally one of the last things devs will get too, don't jump the gun saying it's too late.
January 28, 2009 at 5:20 pm
This is true, and I noted that. To an extent that is…I can't remember EA demoing games with framerate problems and blaming it on 90%. But the game is either practically done or completely done now. So either its been fixed or it hasn't. No way to know until we see for ourselves.
January 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm
"However, there's still over a month to go before the game is released, and our guests seemed surprised by the poor framerate in the demo they brought over."
Hahaha…pasta, this is the quote you should have used to surmise this potentially joke of a game. I love 2k sports when they hit it out the park with the likes nba , all pro, and even nhl 2k. But for whatever reason, this framerate issue continues to haunt them. How can they be surprised as to how bad the framerate was when showing off their 90% complete game. I am not about to buy a ps3 just for the show so I am hoping that this isnt deja vu.
January 28, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Hold your horses people… Wait and see what happens here…. In the gamespot preview, they clearly state that 2K is going to fix graphical glitches before release, so i wouldnt get too upset yet… wait for some videos etc
January 28, 2009 at 5:09 pm
after 2K8, people are not going to be that patient…2K7 was a decent baseball game…that is as close as 2K has EVER gotten to making a good baseball game…2K is no better than EA with their exclusive license….
January 28, 2009 at 5:18 pm
They said that last year too. Even up through videos that showed the poor framerate while a 2K rep on OS tried to pass it off as bad encoding on the part of IGN and Gamespot. There just is no way to know at this point until we get to see it, which is why those videos and the demo are so important.
January 28, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Frame rate seems to be the only knock against the game. If they do get it straightened out, sounds like 2k has a winner on their hands. I'm also guessing the preview copy wasn't the latest version, just the one they had available to send out for the previews.
January 28, 2009 at 5:56 pm
The only knock against the game? I'm sorry my friend but framerate is a Major Issue. In fact framerate has probably been MLB 2K's biggest problem the past couple years. They've had plenty of time to get this right & they still haven't. It kind of reminds me how NBA Live still can't get the net animations right or how Madden still doesn't have refs or chaingangs.
January 28, 2009 at 6:41 pm
See the comment from the developer, below.
January 28, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Is it just me or does it seem 2K wait's until the last minute to start development on their games? I mean it seems like we go through this every year with them. For the past few years most of their sports games seem to have the feel of being rushed & unfinished when they're released. No wonder they're always holding back on info & vids. NBA 2K is my favorite sports serious but just like EA fell off in basketball 2K fell off in baseball.
January 28, 2009 at 6:19 pm
mods are locking threads that talk about the framerate on the 2k forum.
January 28, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Someone from VC just posted at OS saying that the game will be running at 60 fps, and I believe him. Specifically, he said:
"Just so you guys know, optimization is at the tail end of the to-do list. It only makes sense to get everything into the game and THEN do FPS optimization. Showing the game to IGN, Gamespot, et al was a formality of showing off our focus and direction with the game this year. In no way does it represent the final product.
When you pick this game up off the shelves, it will be running 60. Wait a month and you'll see for yourselves."
I'm getting The Show for sure, but I'll be picking this one up as well.
January 28, 2009 at 7:26 pm
You're missing the point. They said they same thing last year. I'll believe it when I see it.
January 28, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Last year's game was handled by Kush, which couldn't make a good game if their lives depended on it. This year it's being handled by VC, which has the NBA and NFL games to their past credit. Big difference in my view, my friend.
January 28, 2009 at 8:47 pm
so you choose to believe them this year, i just cant do the same. especially since you are taking the quote from someone who doesnt even work on MLB 2K9 (he works on NBA)
January 28, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I'm playing the wait-and-see game with this year's baseball games. Being a 360-only owner, I'm willing to give 2K9 a fair shot (and by fair shot I mean gauging user reaction the first week it's out; I'm not stupid enough to buy it first week). If the framerate issue exists EVEN A LITTLE BIT, I'm buying a PS3 and going with The Show.
2K9 must earn my money this year. And the quickest way for them to lose my money is to botch the framerate. You're on notice, 2K!!!
January 28, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Dude due yourself a favor & buy a PS3! If you can afford it then it's a no brainer! Blueray, MLB the Show, KILLZONE 2, Metal Gear Solid, Resistance, Tekken 6, Grand Turismo 5, etc…Not to mention free online, more reliable hardware, etc… No need to wait & see it there will be framerate issues. I recently bought my PS3 a couple months ago & I love it! I have both systems so this is no knock to the 360 (although I've been through 3 of them already).
January 28, 2009 at 8:29 pm
He's right about the hardware problems, with 360 you gamble every time you turn it on. But no one can tell me the free online play of PS3 is better than Live. I have both systems and most of the time I play 360 because my friends and I play games online together. Yes MLB The Show is a great example of a PS3 only game and I can name one more that I love, Uncharted, great PS3 only game but those about it. Resistance is not that great of a game. Metal Gear Solid is way too boring in my opinion. Sony is loosing the battle and the whole Blue Ray ability is not helping. Sony lovers need to calm down and start speaking some truth. Both consoles have their good and bad points but neither of them is better than the other.
January 28, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Don't forget the GREATEST GAME EVER MADE KILLZONE 2!
January 28, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Oh, I'm also predicting there will be no demo for 2K9. Hope I'm wrong about that though.
January 28, 2009 at 9:48 pm
There will probably be a demo like last year, they will wait until the game is already out to release one. By that time everyone who really wanted a demo so they could play the game will just buy it.
January 28, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I wish I could say I'm surprised…..but I'm not. I have NEVER…..NEVER….played a 2K baseball game that was worth a damn. MVP 2005 is still tops…
January 28, 2009 at 8:43 pm
This is like the only game in history that gets progressively worse.
January 28, 2009 at 9:23 pm
*sniff* Makes me sad. 2K's baseball game used to be such a marquee game back in the day, and now its getting to be rusty old clunker. Seems to be suffering the same slow spiral as Madden.
January 29, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I agree. It seems with lack of competition the developers can half ass any thing they want and yet you are stuck buying the product because nothing else is out there. I know I will play the show on my PS3, but not everybody can go out and spend the money on a new system. This is what sucks about 2k and EA Sports and the MLB and NFL licensing agreements. Give us a choice again and you will make more money. Keep this up and nobody will buy your product.
January 28, 2009 at 9:53 pm
How come everytime the subject of the PS3 vs 360 comes up people act like you have to completely side with one over the other? Isn't it possible to like both systems? They both have their own advantages.
January 28, 2009 at 10:01 pm
blueray dvds are such a rip off
January 28, 2009 at 10:06 pm
you guys are just jumping to conclusions give it a chance for crying out loud. look at the mlb 2k9 screen shots to 2k7 a lot better. 09 the show still will be better but im still going to get this.
http://www.2ksports.com/screens/new/mlb2k7/985“target=”_blank”>http://www.2ksports.com/screens/new/mlb2k7/985
January 28, 2009 at 10:09 pm
i don't understand how 2k has issues with mlb, when nba 2k9 has perfect life-like framerate. they need to bring some devs off their nba crew to help with this game.
January 28, 2009 at 10:10 pm
i trust 2k and i know that the final product will be smooth so no need to panic, the game is still a month and a half from release.
January 28, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Hopefully they make the frame rate better when it releases. I so badly want a good baseball game on the 360, considering I cannot justify buying a PS3 for one game.
January 28, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Graphics look better then MLB the show yet again
January 28, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Because graphics are much more important that smooth gameplay
January 29, 2009 at 2:30 am
I didnt say it was, just a fact. i prefer MLB the show in general
January 28, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I know mlb show player models look like unrealistic as hell, Every guy looks like mark mcgwire. I cant believe over a year nobody has pointed that out.
January 29, 2009 at 2:32 am
its all about the how well the game play and the show plays great 2k not so much
January 29, 2009 at 2:49 am
Everyone talks about how the Show is the greatest game ever. -I'm sure it's awesome (though I've never played it), but there has to be some criticisms to it. What are some of the things that are NOT good about the show?
Or is it simply the greatest game ever and worth getting a PS3 over?
January 29, 2009 at 1:26 pm
In terms of pure game play, one significant criticism of the game was the overly long throwing animation in certain instances, which could be the difference between what should have been a routine ground out turning into an infield single. Additionally, fielders controlled by the AI would take perfect routes to the ball, and snag everything hit near them. Both of these issues have been addressed, according to hands-on reports and comments from the developers. There were also minor bugs such as fielders occasionally not fielding a ball unless you ran over it two or three times, although those have supposedly been ironed out as well.
In Road to The Show mode, people complained of boring base running situations and other minor annoyances. RTTS mode has been overhauled a bit this year, so hopefully the devs will come up with a mechanic to alleviate the occasional tedium and clean it up just a bit.
Lastly, most agree that the only had serious lag issues. I only played a few online games myself, so I can't speak specifically towards this issue. Pasta and others have reported some skepticism as to whether this component would be fixed, so if online play is a major factor in your enjoyment of a game I'd be weary.
All in all though, The Show is a sick, sick game. IMO, the best baseball game ever released.
January 29, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Yes, the Show is so much more with it. And the biggest lie going is that your buying a PS3 for one game. Unless your commited to spending your next 5 baseball seasons disappointed with 2K, it's time to step up to the plate, and get a PS3. It's not just "1 game" it's the next 5 MLB The Show releases.
February 2, 2009 at 4:15 am
Sorry dude, but no one game is worth buying a ps3 over, let alone a baeseball game(LOL).
February 18, 2009 at 2:58 am
Sorry, dude, but you're wrong.