Random topics and poll for today

• Gametap has an early look at Fight Night Round 4 through interviews with producer Dean Richards as well as Lennox Lewis and Sugar Ray Leonard. You can check that out here. Among the topics discussed is the new physics engine, inside fighting and glancing blows.

• An astute poster over at Operation Sports has uncovered that Ben Brinkman, lead producer of the last two years of the MLB 2K series, has moved on to a new job and is no longer with 2K Sports. After the news their NHL series has moved from 2K LA/Kush to the Visual Concepts studio it seems that the MLB series may be following the same path of much needed reinvention.

• The list of achievements for NCAA Football 09 is out and can be found here. Some tie into new features such as the online dynasty, custom sounds, and mascot celebrations though the majority are gameplay based.

• EA Sports has come out and stated that “hardcore fans should not fear our new casual sports approach” in a new article here. Initial concern over this from the community seems to have dwindled as the upcoming releases are providing accessibility by adding options and personalizing difficulty levels based on how each individual’s skills stack up. They’ve also branched out with the “Freestyle” label to keep a clear distinction between types of games.

• The community asked for an option in Madden 09 to turn off the celebration light squares in the end zone after a TD and it has since been added. You’ll still be able to activate the celebrations by going to the different areas, they just won’t be displayed with the light squares.

• Some info on SCEA’s NBA 09 came out. The game will be adding in both a franchise mode and “The Life” mode. There will also be “team progression”, expanded commentary, and the return of “NBA Replay” mode which is a really cool idea if only there was reason to play the game over 2K or Live. Hopefully this year SCEA’s series steps up significantly in quality and depth.

• Continue leaving suggestions for things to look for at the community event coming up. For anything related to Madden/Head Coach/NCAA leave them here, and for uniform specific issues in Madden those can be left here.

The poll asks whether you feel a rewrite from the ground up and/or studio move would be an encouraging development for MLB 2K9.

MLB 08: The Show roster update 5/12

This week’s (5/12) roster update for MLB 08: The Show is now available and includes 79 player movements. The highlights of the update are below. For those without online access for their PS3 you can download the file from here.

RP Jack Taschner moved from Giants Starting to Giants Relief.
SP Barry Zito moved from Giants Relief to Giants Starting.
LF Bronson Sardinha moved from Mariners Minors to Indians Minors.
SP Wilfredo Ledezma moved from Padres Relief to Padres Starting.
RP Justin Germano moved from Padres Starting to Padres Relief.
RP Shawn Estes moved from No Team to Padres Relief.
SS Jimmy Rollins moved from Phillies Minors to Phillies Position.

MLB 08: The Show roster update 5/5

This week’s (5/5) roster update for MLB 08: The Show is now available and includes 165 player movements. The highlights of the update are below. For those without online access for their PS3 you can download the roster file here.

SP Yovani Gallardo moved from Brewers Starting to Brewers Minors.
CF Mike Cameron moved from Brewers Minors to Brewers Position.
CF Tony Gwynn Jr moved from Brewers Position to Brewers Bench.
SP Sidney Ponson moved from No Team to Rangers Starting.
SP Esteban Loaiza moved from Dodgers Relief to Dodgers Starting.
RP Hong Chih Kuo moved from Dodgers Starting to Dodgers Relief.
C Jose Molina moved from Yankees Bench to Yankees Position.
C Jorge Posada moved from Yankees Position to Yankees Minors.
RP Heath Phillips moved from Yankees Minors to Free Agent.
CF Shane Victorino moved from Phillies Minors to Phillies Position.
SS Oscar Robles moved from Padres Minors to Phillies Minors.
DH Jeff Clement moved from Mariners Minors to Mariners Position.
2B Jose Vidro moved from Mariners Position to Mariners Bench.
CP Chad Cordero moved from Nationals Closer to Nationals Minors.
C Paul LoDuca moved from Nationals Minors to Nationals Position.
SP Phil Hughes moved from Yankees Starting to Yankees Minors.
3B Ty Wigginton moved from Astros Minors to Astros Position.
3B Geoff Blum moved from Astros Position to Astros Bench.

MLB 08: The Show roster update 4/28 and patch details

The weekly roster update (4/28) for MLB 08: The Show is out and contains 134 player movements. The highlights of the update are listed below.

RP David Weathers moved from Reds Relief to Reds Minors.
RP Josh Fogg moved from Reds Starting to Reds Relief.
RP Keiichi Yabu moved from Giants Minors to Giants Relief.
SS Adam Everett moved from Twins Position to Twins Minors.
C Paul LoDuca moved from Nationals Position to Nationals Minors.
C Johnny Estrada moved from Nationals Bench to Nationals Position.
2B Kaz Matsui moved from Astros Minors to Astros Position.
3B Mark Loretta moved from Astros Position to Astros Bench.
SP RA Dickey moved from Mariners Starting to Mariners Minors.
CP JJ Putz moved from Mariners Minors to Mariners Closer.
DH Gabe Gross moved from Brewers Position to Rays Position.
CF Tony Gwynn Jr moved from Brewers Minors to Brewers Position.
SS Cesar Izturis moved from Cardinals Position to Cardinals Bench.
C Adam Melhuse moved from Rangers Bench to Rangers Minors.
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia moved from Rangers Minors to Rangers Bench.

SCEA has also gone ahead and listed the most significant aspects of the patch that was recently released.

Resolutions
Walk-off homerun scoring issue
Two-player bullpen issue
Random stat issues
Some stadium oriented collision issues

Enhancements
Minimized gameplay exploits for online play
More / improved player-specific stances and animations.
Minor tuning adjustment to hitting on higher difficulties
Minor tuning adjustment to pitching from the pitcher’s view or with pitch cursor off

MLB 08: The Show roster update 4/21

This week’s (4/21) roster update for MLB 08: The Show is out and contains 114 player movements. There was also a patch released at the end of last week. What it affected is still unknown although it doesn’t appear to have improved online play and may just have applied to some of the minor issues the game had. Highlights of the roster update below. Those without online access can grab the file manually from here.

LF Wily Mo Pena moved from Nationals Minors to Nationals Position.
CF Shane Victorino moved from Phillies Position to Phillies Minors.
CF Jayson Werth moved from Phillies Bench to Phillies Position.
SP Dontrelle Willis moved from Tigers Starting to Tigers Minors.
SP Francisco Liriano moved from Twins Minors to Twins Starting.
3B Ty Wigginton moved from Astros Position to Astros Minors.
3B Geoff Blum moved from Astros Bench to Astros Position.
3B Nomar Garciaparra moved from Dodgers Minors to Dodgers Position.
RP Kazuo Fukumori moved from No Team to Rangers Minors.
3B Mike Lowell moved from Red Sox Position to Red Sox Minors.
1B Sean Casey moved from Red Sox Bench to Red Sox Position.
SS Royce Clayton moved from Red Sox Minors to Free Agent.
RP Josh Sharpless moved from No Team to Giants Minors.
RP Vinnie Chulk moved from Giants Minors to Giants Relief.

MLB 08: The Show roster update 4/14

The weekly roster update (4/14) for MLB 08: The Show is now available by visiting the SportsConnect section of the game. This updates includes 121 player movements. It also should fix the minor issue caused by last week’s update which removed some player equipment. SCEA has highlighted some of the changes made below. If your PS3 doesn’t have access to online you can download the file from here and then transfer it over.

SP John Smoltz moved from Braves Minors to Braves Starting.
SP JoJo Reyes moved from Braves Starting to Braves Minors.
SP Josh Beckett moved from Red Sox Minors to Red Sox Starting.
CF Jim Edmonds moved from Padres Minors to Padres Position.
RF Jody Gerut moved from Padres Bench to Padres Minors.
LF Paul McAnulty moved from Padres Position to Padres Bench.
RP Bob Wickman moved from D’backs Minors to Free Agent.
C Michael Barrett moved from Padres Bench to Padres Minors.
LF Dmitri Young moved from Nationals Position to Nationals Minors.
RP Hideo Nomo moved from No Team to Royals Relief.
CF Tony Gwynn Jr moved from Brewers Position to Brewers Minors.
LF Ricky Ledee moved from Free Agent to No Team.

MLB 08: The Show roster update 4/7

This week’s roster update for MLB 08: The Show contains 230 player movements with the ones below having been spotlighted. This is a very significant update as it includes those that have just now become members of the Players Union by making an appearance in their first MLB game.

RP Rudy Seanez moved from Free Agent to Phillies Relief.
SP Woody Williams moved from Astros Starting to Free Agent.
SP Chris Sampson moved from Astros Relief to Astros Starting.
3B Scott Spiezio moved from Free Agent to Braves Minors.
CF Tony Gwynn Jr moved from Brewers Bench to Brewers Position.
LF Juan Pierre moved from Dodgers Position to Dodgers Bench.
LF Andre Ethier moved from Dodgers Bench to Dodgers Position.
LF Jay Payton moved from Orioles Bench to Orioles Position.
CF Brady Clark moved from No Team to Mets Bench.
RP Cha Seung Baek moved from Mariners Minors to Mariners Relief.
SS Mike Morse moved from Mariners Minors to Mariners Bench.
RP Aaron Fultz moved from Indians Minors to Tigers Minors.
SP Kei Igawa moved from Yankees Relief to Yankees Minors.
RF Trot Nixon moved from D’backs Position to D’backs Minors.
DH Jeff Salazar moved from D’backs Bench to D’backs Position.
SP Tim Stauffer moved from Padres Relief to Padres Minors.
CF Jim Edmonds moved from Padres Position to Padres Minors.

It appears that some player equipment has been lost in this update which is an issue they’ll hopefully correct shortly. TJ @ Operation Sports has posted that he is in contact with SCEA and they are working on a fix but an ETA is not yet available. All feedback related to the rosters can be sent to their designated email sceamlbfeedback@gmail.com

If you do not have the ability to take your PS3 online you can download the file directly from this link and transfer it from your PC to your PS3.

MLB 2K8 patch for 360 out now

The MLB 2K8 patch that is intended to improve the framerate and fix the Padres lineup glitch in franchise mode has gone live for the 360. It is unknown when the Padres fix for the PS3 will be coming. Although the turnaround of getting the patch out a month after release is relatively quick, and actually suggests the patch was being worked on prior to release of the game, the situation was still terribly mishandled.

I was able to get some time in with the game post patch and once I play some more I’ll have a full write-up late this evening. My initial finding is that the framerate may have improved slightly however it still isn’t consistent and smooth once the ball is hit into play. It doesn’t seem to be quite as severe but is still evident and bothersome. Cut scenes still pause during the transition back to live gameplay. From the few minutes I tried online that seems to play a little more reasonably which is encouraging.

What are your experiences with the patch? Is the framerate significantly better now? Has online play improved? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

2K Sports struggling with MLB 2K8 community relations

I’ve held off writing about the current patch situation for MLB 2K8 throughout the week. My general feeling was that just waiting on the patch isn’t really news. But developments over the past few days warrant some discussion.

March 13th was the day the news came out (via Game Informer) that a patch was in the works to address the poor framerate and Padres franchise roster glitch for the 360 along with a PS3 patch that would only fix Padres issue. Amusingly 11 days later 2K Sports sent out their official press release which was the exact statement that had been made prior. In both cases it was mentioned that the patch was already under technical review and was to be released shortly. So here we are three weeks later and that has yet to happen.

Earlier this week overly eager 2K Sports representatives on their official forum posted information that the patch was going to be released on Monday night. That didn’t happen. Then one actually posted that the patch had gone live with instructions on how to get it on Tuesday morning. It hadn’t. Then it was that the patch release was simply “imminent”. Three days since that period apparently started and still nothing. But things have really been elevated now as they have started blaming Microsoft for a delay. Doing that publicly to a company who they have a business relationship with is irresponsible and inappropriate.

Read more

MLB 08: The Show roster update 3/31

This week’s roster update for MLB 08: The Show contains 195 player movements with a handful of them being highlighted below. The Red Sox, A’s, Braves, and Nationals have played regular season games but the rest of the league starts up today so look for next week’s update to be even more significant.

LF Paul McAnulty moved from Padres Minors to Padres Bench.
3B Chase Headley moved from Padres Bench to Padres Minors.
RP Kip Wells moved from Rockies Starting to Rockies Relief.
3B Scott Rolen moved from Blue Jays Position to Blue Jays Minors.
LF Shannon Stewart moved from Blue Jays Bench to Blue Jays Position.
RP Justin Hampson moved from Padres Relief to Padres Minors.
RP Tim Stauffer moved from Padres Minors to Padres Relief.
C Johnny Estrada moved from Nationals bench to Nationals minors.
RF Jeff Baker moved from Rockies Minors to Rockies Bench.
DH Scott Podsednik moved from Rockies Bench to Rockies Position.
2B Marcus Giles moved from Rockies Position to Free Agent.
CP Brad Lidge moved from Phillies Closer to Phillies Minors.
2B Nick Punto moved from Twins Position to Twins Bench.
RP Greg Jones moved from Dodgers Minors to Dodgers Relief.
3B Tony Abreu moved from Dodgers Position to Dodgers Minors.

Adding to the impressiveness of the updates is that SCEA is actively seeking feedback for future ones. Whether it is errors in the rosters, batting stances, or even details as minuscule as the equipment the players use they’d like to hear about it. You can send in feedback in to sceamlbfeedback@gmail.com