During today’s Wedbush Technology Conference, EA Sports CFO Blake Jorgensen said that they are considering adding “a couple of new sports franchises” to their sports gaming repertoire.
What are the games that’ll be added? No mention was made as to which ones, but we can investigate. Sony and 2K Sports currently hold the MLB license, but it’s widely rumored that MLB 2K13 will be the final baseball game of the franchise. Because Sony’s The Show franchise is only on the PlayStation, this leaves the XBOX (and PS3) market wide open for EA.
Eutechnyx currently holds the NASCAR license, but their two releases (NASCAR: The Game and NASCAR: Inside Line) have not gotten great reviews, and are not reaching their potential for a racing game.
There was some talk a few years ago about EA Sports developing an MLS game, separate from their successful FIFA franchise, so it could also be that. Whatever the case, we’ll keep you posted.
It’s been a couple months since the launch of Franchise Mode, and while we’ve started a great following on Twitter, our Facebook page is looking like a dead zone. So why not head over there and like our page for a chance to win the new MLB 13: The Show for the PS Vita. The contest starts now, and closes when we announce a winner on Friday evening (around 5:00pm ET).
Because MLB 2K13 did absolutely nothing different than MLB 2K12, we didn’t feel the need to write a review. So here’s last year’s review, with the appropriate edits. Enjoy.
Last week we got a copy of MLB 13: The Show from Sony, and we’ve been on it non-stop. With the game now on shelves, here is our official review for the game:
It can get pretty lonely at the top. When you’ve been on top of the mountain for too long, it can be easy to become complacent. This is not the case for the king of console baseball gaming. MLB 13: The Show has taken everything its fans have come to love about the franchise and expanded upon it with new gameplay features, presentation tweaks, and an attention to detail that’s been unrivalled since modders started tricking out the PC version of MVP Baseball 2005. This year’s instalment of MLB: The Show is glorious in just about every facet of its existence.
First and foremost, MLB 13: The Show simply looks amazing. The series has consistently produced a highly polished product, but the implementation of the new TruBroadcast Presentation 2.0 has given The Show a sense of realism that’s rarely approached in the realm of sports gaming. Whether it’s a glimpse at any one of the new cut scenes or just the highly detailed player models, MLB 13 offers the most realistic and immersive simulation experience yet. In total, MLB 13 features upwards of 1500 new animation sequences between its regular in-game mode and Road to the Show mode. No longer will Opening Day, the All-Star Game, and the postseason come off feeling like a regular season game in mid-July.
Both Road to the Show and Franchise mode have undergone an overhaul of sorts. The former has scaled back the in-game commentary, limiting it to before and after significant achievements, opting to let the natural sounds of the game take over while the user’s player is at-bat or in the field. RTTS also features new streamlined controls, which provide users with a more fluid experience. Franchise mode sees numerous tweaks and adjustments to its management component, such as the inclusion of the new CBA “qualifying offer” system and a renewed focus on scouting and player development.
In addition to the new presentations and various changes to the game’s franchise and RTTS modes, MLB 13 also includes a variety of minor changes that all help to enhance the gaming experience and have built upon the greatness established through past years’ efforts. We’ll highlight a few here:
Commentary has received a much needed boost in the form of Steve Lyons joining Matt Vasgersian and Eric Karros in the booth.
The new button accuracy meter for fielding aims to cut down on errant throws by giving users complete control over arm accuracy and strength.
A new “postseason mode” lets gamers jump right into the playoffs without having to take a team through a 162 game schedule.
Lastly, “beginner mode” attempts to attract less experienced gamers by offering simplified controls and an auto-adjusting skill level mechanism.
While there is another baseball video game out there, the Show has no competition on the console market. MLB 13: The Show is worth owning a PS3 on its own, and I’m being as genuine as possible. As an Xbox owner who recently picked up a PS3 for this exact purpose, I will commence kicking myself for all the hours I’ve wasted over the past four years by playing a far inferior game.
In Closing: we had our testers rank the game on a scale of 1-to-10 in the areas of graphics, presentation, controls, and replayability. The verdict: 9.2/10
With both MLB 13: The Show and MLB 2K13 dropping tomorrow morning, we decided to take a look at how each game looks. Last week we showed you some The Show screenshots of the 2013 Jays, so we used those shots as a basis for comparison. Here are some side-by-sides, comparing the two games. Hopefully this will make your decision clearer on which game you should pick up tomorrow.
We haven’t gotten our copy of MLB 13: The Show yet (fingers crossed tomorrow), but our new friend Chris Johnson has been supplying us with screenshots of the Jays at home. My favorite is the Bautista home jersey stance, but take a look at your 2013 Toronto Blue Jays at home.
