A sleeper of an arcade-style game tends to sneak its way into the top 10 countdown each year. This time around that game is MLB Bobblehead Pros. As a downloadable title for $10 it arrived on XBLA in early July and was supposedly on the way for the PS3 also but that, for whatever reason, never materialized. Instead MLB Bobblehead Pros makes the list for arguably being the best playing baseball game available on the 360 in 2011. 

The ranking of games in the best of 2011 list is based on number of factors including the personal amount of enjoyment had with a particular title, whether advertised features were fully delivered, post-release support, community interaction and communication, overall gameplay experience, feature set, and online play performance. Again this is largely a personal take and one with the advantage of tracking the games beyond just the release frame and does not act as some sort of recap of those with the highest scores on Metacritic. The analysis is weighted heavily towards those high in fun factor while considering them as a whole and compared relatively to the field.

Related: MLB Bobblehead Pros Hits and Misses Review - – - Gameplay Videos

For $10 Bobblehead Pros was a game that packed in value – with a full season mode and online play. There were also add-ons released in the way of a Home Run Derby and “Bobblehead Battles” though there was considerably less enthusiasm over those which cost an additional $5 each. The season mode being locked to 162 games was discouraging, online play wasn’t well populated with potential opponents, and the CPU was far too predictable in their tendencies. Regardless Bobblehead Pros provided a great deal of fun with gameplay that bordered on being considered a “sim” in many aspects.

It was unanticipated just how well some of the basic fundamentals of baseball would be represented. Essentially Bobblehead Pros was a re-skined Power Pros which as a series has been highly regarded for how well it has played despite being an arcade-style representation at least in its visual style. Smart baseball strategy was rewarded and even things like pitch counts and fatigue were better represented than in MLB 2K11.

Considering the initial price and enjoyment level reached MLB Bobblehead Pros earns a place in 2011′s countdown of top 10 sports games. The final slot in past years have generally been filled by games that had overly mixed reactions or largely disappointed dedicated fan bases but still had some redeeming qualities. In this case it’s a largely overlooked arcade-style game that, in what it lacked in longevity, was made up for in being a pleasant surprise.

Earlier Year-in-Review Pieces
•#10: MLB Bobblehead Pros
•Vote for the Community Choice Awards

Earlier this week I laid out thoughts on MLB Bobblehead Pros in the ‘Hits and Misses’ review where the mention was made of plans for upcoming DLC packs. The first one of those is now available on the Xbox 360 and goes by the name ‘MLB Bobblehead Stars’ for 400 MS points ($5). The DLC adds in this year’s All Star teams and a Home Run Derby mode.

That makes the total package between Bobblehead Pros and Stars 1200 MS points ($15). Of course the DLC is optional and at the original $10 price the game packs in some good value already so if the HR Derby isn’t of interest this could easily be passed over. Another DLC pack is scheduled to release later this year to deliver even more features. MLB Bobblehead Pros will also be coming to PSN but its arrival date remains unknown.

MLB Bobblehead Pros arrived on the Xbox Live Marketplace last week (PSN release upcoming) for $10. Made by Konami, the game basically takes the well regarded Power Pros series and re-skins the player models as ‘bobbleheads’ for the HD consoles. The series has always been a sim at heart despite the cartooney look and that tradition lives on with MLB Bobblehead Pros. Considering the price point there is a lot of content being offered with the promise of more support coming down the line through DLC.  

Hits

• Value and Longevity

For just $10 many will find the offering to be sufficient if not exceed expectations of an arcade game. There are of course the standard quick games along with a full season mode and online play. DLC is planned and will deliver a Home Run Derby mode soon and “Bobblehead Battle” mode later this year. The fun factor here is high overall and that is really all you can ask for out of an arcade game.

• Baseball Fundamentals

For an arcade game Bobblehead excels at getting the basics of baseball down – maybe even better than that other MLB title on the 360. It’s not an over the top experience rather it plays pretty true to a simulation in many respects. Pitch counts and fatigue are pretty well represented, there are broken bats, and injuries make sense (diving into a wall is not healthy). Basic baseball strategy pays off in Bobblehead though its obviously not trying to reach the level of detail that you’d find in a game like MLB: The Show.

• Online

Bobblehead presents the first chance to play (essentially) the Power Pros series online. Performance online has been a mixed bag…generally the games function well enough in that they are consistent and responsive but they still run a bit slower than offline. Where this hampers things the most is in fielding where balls are more easily misplayed. The number of options are welcome though with the ability to play ranked games of either 3, 6, or 9 innings. Griefing protection is there with a limit on checking the runner and time paused and even a ‘Mercy Rule’ in effect. The pitch tracer is removed making it a bit more challenging to hit. An online mode involving the Home Run Derby will be out as DLC in the near future.

Misses

• CPU Tendencies

The CPU is fairly predictable in the way they play. Their pitcher will rarely throw balls – and even those generally just miss. This is the case even in advantageous counts like 0-2. They have a bionic eye at the plate and rarely are fooled into swinging at something out of the strike zone. CPU batters also take the first pitch at probably a 90% clip even if the ball is right down the middle of the plate. Team management is fairly well done but I’ve often seen the CPU bat and then be replaced in the next half inning rather than using a pinch hitter in their place.

• Long Season

One of the first options to seek out when starting a season is the number of games to be played. It’s startling then to find that seasons are locked at 162 games and there is no way to change it. The number of innings in each game can’t be reduced either. At least the season can be simmed through so not every game has to be physically played. Regardless forcing 162 games will be intimidating to many…its just a daunting task to ask of those who purchased an arcade game (or any baseball game for that matter). Rosters are also a bit behind which will bother some and there is no word on if there are plans to update them.

• Controls and Fielding

It takes some adjustment to get comfortable with the control scheme. This is most evident fielding where there is no ‘pre-load’ system. Hitting a button to throw to a base too early will result in the player diving or jumping so patience has to be learned. Fielders have very little range and it is difficult to determine how to place them in order to play the ball so user error is frequent. The menus don’t explain all all the options well at all and team management screens are confusing.

MLB Bobblehead Pros is a solid product as a downloadable title with a reasonable price. The game is purely enjoyable despite flaws and certain design decisions with the upcoming DLC providing the potential to expand the life of the title beyond just a typical arcade game.

As I continue to put time in with MLB Bobblehead Pros (which released today on XBLA) to form full impressions here are a couple gameplay videos in the meantime. It took me a couple games hitting nearly all grounders before I learned of a power swing, so you’ll notice the ground outs are frequent on my end. Featured here are segments of Yankees at White Sox, Brewers at Reds, and a second Brewers at Reds but in the rain.

Quick thoughts on the game though – it’s very fun and plays largely sim despite the arcade style visuals. I had to pull my pitcher after 5 1/3 innings having crossed 100 pitches and that right there demonstrates that Bobblehead Pros isn’t such an over-the-top experience. There are some issues – and being forced into a full 162 game season is daunting – but the fun factor is high. 

Arriving for the Xbox 360 today is MLB Bobblehead Pros which brings a new character look to the former MLB Power Pros series. As with all XBLA games a free trial can be played before making a purchase decision and in this case that involves a single game of Phillies vs Giants. MLB Bobblehead Pros is being sold for 800 MS points ($10). It will also be released on PSN though its arrival date there is unknown.

The game will be familiar to veterans of the the MLB Power Pros series which has an arcade skin but is a sim at heart. It plays similar just with the new ‘bobblehead’ models and includes all MLB licensing for teams and players. Developed by Konami included is a full 162 game season mode, local co-op, online play, and the offer of downloadable content packs (home run derby will be one) to come over the course of the summer to expand the feature set even further.

With the third party license on consoles stretching one more year EA Sports has finally gotten back into baseball by taking the avenue of creating a team management sim on Facebook. Joining Madden and FIFA Superstars which have amassed over five million daily users on the social platform, World Series Superstars includes the MLB license and more in the way of micro-management. It has easily become the best offering from EA/Playfish to date. 

WSS includes features that those who have played Madden Superstars or FIFA Superstars have been asking for since their inception. The “games” can actually be managed and influenced beyond just the use of “game changers”, Playfish Cash is earned through leveling up, fans are earned with each victory, and a consistent cycle of goals have been added that when completed provide earnings of coins and tickets.

The games allow for management of every at-bat providing the chance to really earn victories though they can also be quickly simmed if chosen. Not only is there that situational control within games but the roster can be manipulated strategically by setting the batting order, pitching rotation, and closer.

Personally I like having speedsters who when on base can steal their way into scoring position, though early on that might be the obvious strategy since the low rated players don’t have much pop anyway. That is what is great though about building the teams and putting together lineups that fit your own style of management and will only get better when the talent is upgraded. One of the first games I played against a Major League club turned out to be a really satisfying experience as I was able to grind out a victory over a much higher rated team. The one glaring omission is the option to pinch hit and pinch run.

Most surprisingly is the challenge involved as even a big difference in team rating doesn’t mean automatic victory. I’d estimate having won just about 50% of the games so far, as just like in real baseball it is a game of numbers and guys will have their on and off days. My top rated offensive player may go 0-4, my best pitcher may give up five runs early, its realistically unpredictable. The starting pitching rotation also means having just one dominant starter isn’t enough and leads to ups and downs. A discouraging perception has been building however that wins are slightly easier to come by when simming than when managing. Statements from Playfish have indicated it is designed to be the opposite.

The MLB license means not just MLB teams but also the real minor league affiliates. There is a set of games to play through the minors (184 total games) and majors (a five game series against every team to reach the World Series). The major league teams are much higher rated and there is some risk in playing them as a loss will provide experience points but no coins while a win will get about double what is provided from beating a minor league team. There are even bonuses for “sweeping” major league clubs by beating them on the first attempt through a series, giving more incentive to either wait until the user team can really compete or resort to using “game changers” to pull out the victories.

Though the addition of PlayFish cash for leveling up is a welcome one they have balanced it out by making it a necessity to use more often. More of the “game changers” require PFC to purchase and there is now a “construction crew” for stadium improvements and those workers can be hired with PFC. While spending cash will certainly make progressing more of a breeze it is far from necessary to advance in the game as it just requires more patience for doing so.

Performance wise World Series Superstars is quicker in navigation but seems to hang more when starting up games, loading up the box scores as they end, and collecting practice points. Despite that it has proven much more consistent overall than the other Facebook offerings in their early days.

There is of course a lot to look forward to with World Series Superstars including the “predictor” game that will be launching soon and other improvements that are lined up to be introduced. WSS has quickly become my favorite of the Facebook games and it has a promising future considering the resources that are being dedicated to make it a success.

EA Sports has launched the MLB licensed Facebook game that was rumored to be in the works just in time for opening day. Access the free-to-play microtransaction supported app here.

World Series Superstars appears to be very similar to the other EA Sports games on the platform (Madden and FIFA Superstars) in terms layout and features though with a few of its own unique elements. The games play out on-screen and can be managed to a limited extent on a batter-to-batter basis or outright simulated but at heart still centers on the team building.

Only a few weeks ago Sega launched MLB Manager Online which is comparable in structure and utilizes the license for MLB players as well. It may be slightly deeper than EA’s offering but not being available on Facebook could limit its success as the two battle for market share.

While EA Sports still has at least one more year to wait through before being able to bring back MVP Baseball to the consoles the company is reportedly working on a MLB licensed Facebook game. That would add to the company’s current offerings on the social platform which includes Madden NFL Superstars, FIFA Superstars, and PGA Tour Golf Challenge. Though no launch time frame is stated in the article it would seem to reason that a targeted live date would be opening day of the regular season or at least within the next couple months.

SEGA recently launched MLB Manager Online which would on the surface squeeze the market of what EA is about to enter into. Similar in structure it too is a licensed product that is free-to-play and supported by microtransactions. That game got out there first and has been well received. Facebook’s user base however makes the potential there practically limitless, even as those EA games are more simplified forms of team building/card collecting.

MLB Manager Online, a free-to-play browser based management sim, has opened and gone live to all. The game had been in beta for approximately a month before closing off a few weeks ago in preparation for the launch. Sign up and get started at the official website for the game.

Similar in nature to QUICKHIT NFL Football and other management sims the primary goal of the game is centered in team-building. The game may best be compared however to the fatally flawed MLB Front Office Manager from a few years ago. The concepts really work well for baseball and Sega looks to have delivered a more ideal (and functional) experience here.

MLB Manager Online is quite deep going beyond just collecting cards as the sims can be watched as they play out in real-time. Games also take place on a schedule whether logged in or not meaning the time dedication needed is more reasonable. Owners can put focus on how they want their teams to play based on manager styles and what types of players are targeted.

With the MLB license in tow the game includes over 900 active players. Look for full impressions of MLB Manager Online to be posted in the coming days and make sure to send a friend request within the game to Pasta’s Padres!

It looks like 2K Sports has a new arcade-style MLB game to announce in the near future for the Xbox 360 and PS3. The ESRB has revealed the existence of the game by giving it an “Everyone” rating. 2K has previously released several secondary MLB titles in an attempt to take full advantage of having the third party license. The BIGS and The BIGS 2 are the most well known but they have also churned out MLB Front Office Manager (360/PS3), MLB Stickball (XBL/PSN), MLB Superstars (Wii), MLB Fantasy All-Stars (DS), and MLB Power Pros (Wii – publisher only).

Crossing through ESRB approval generally indicates a release within a few months but doesn’t necessarily mean it’s imminent. If the game is replacing The BIGS as the company’s arcade-style game for this year it could look to occupy the same release period. The BIGS hit stores late June of 2007 and The BIGS 2 early July 2009. That time frame would make sense in that there is enough separation from the early March releases of the sim baseball titles (while allowing for it to get out in front of the release of NCAA Football 12) and it would hit during the mid-point of the regular season.

The other big question is whether MLB Bobblehead Pros will be a retail release or a downloadable offering. This generation has really found it tough for arcade titles to succeed at retail even at reduced prices. The BIGS series was well regarded but has been cited in financial reports as having not met sales expectations.