By Brian Ekberg || Design: Randall Montanari - Posted on Saturday May 5th, 2006

　　The crack of the bat. The smell of sweet spring air. The gum-covered seats. The sound of the drunk guy two rows back vomiting into his wife's hair. OK, so real baseball has its ups and downs, but video game baseball... Well, there's simply nothing like it. No snarling traffic tie-ups, no long lines at the concession stand, and the only drunk at the game is your weird Uncle Marty, who keeps telling you to turn off the Xbox and put on Nick at Nite. In video game baseball, games take as long as you want them to, and there's no such thing as getting rained out. There's no steroid investigation in video game baseball...for that matter, there's no Barry Bonds, either. So, short of buying your own team and spending 81 games a year locked in the owner's suite, games just might be the best way to appreciate baseball in its most distilled form.

　　However, with that said, baseball games don't get everything right. In some cases, they don't get much right at all. That's what this feature is all about--dissecting the good and the bad in this year's baseball video games in order to try to figure out where your hard-earned cash should go.

　　

The Contenders

With this year's MLB games, it's a two-horse race: Sony's MLB 06: The Show versus 2K Sports' MLB 2K6.

　　Of course, the lineup in this year's baseball video game scene has changed a bit. Thanks to an exclusivity deal between Major League Baseball and Take Two (parent company of publisher 2K Sports), MLB 2K6 was the only third-party-published MLB game this year. Sony, comfortable in its position as a first-party publisher, was probably only too happy with the deal--it was still able to publish an MLB game of its own, and had one less competitor to go up against. Indeed, it was really EA Sports that felt the bite of this exclusivity deal--its MVP MLB series went away. If the MLB/Take Two deal wasn't exactly revenge for EA Sports acquiring the exclusive NFL license last year, it was the closest thing. To its credit, EA Sports didn't sit idly by. The developers at EA Canada simply transplanted the popular MVP engine into a college baseball game: MVP 06 NCAA Baseball, a fine-playing game in its own right.

　　So here we are in 2006 with two big-time MLB games on store shelves: 2K Sports MLB 2K6 and Sony's MLB '06: The Show. Another game, MLB SlugFest 2006, is on the way in May. The baseball video game landscape may have changed, but the race to the video game pennant hasn't let up one bit. Let's take a look at how the games compare in our best-of-three series.

　　

First Inning: Gameplay

You've got to hand it to them: 2K Sports certainly didn't lack for ambition when developing MLB 2K6. Beyond developing the game for both the PS2 and Xbox, the 2K crew also made the game available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, as well as an upcoming GameCube version. Beyond the multiple versions hitting store shelves, the team also wasn't stingy with the features--the Inside Edge scouting feature presented perhaps the most in-depth look at scouting ever seen in a traditional console baseball game. Spending scouting points on opponents feels right before the game, and even better during the game, when those scouting points pay off with detailed and dynamic pitching tendencies when at bat or suggested pitch locations when on the mound. It's cool stuff and it remains our favorite new feature in MLB 2K6, both for what it brings to the game now and what it has the potential to do for the series in the future.

　　At its core, MLB 2K6 is a solid baseball game. The problems come with what surrounds that core.

　　Elsewhere, 2K took a page from other sports games and introduced an analog swing feature that uses the right stick on the controller to control the initial step and swing of the bat. It works well, but old-school fans will probably appreciate the option to go back to the traditional button-swing system. A new pitching meter was introduced as well, one that's a bit easier to follow than last year's K-Zone crosshairs. We especially like the fact that the prepitch placement cursor indicates the break point of the ball, which means you're going to need to know the movement of every pitch in your arsenal in order to put your pitch where you want it. On the downside, when fielding, players in 2K6 feel stiff and unresponsive, thanks to a new physics engine in place that puts momentum at the forefront. It may be realistic, but it sure isn't much fun.

　　While 2K6 introduced new features on a variety of new platforms, Sony's MLB mission in 2006 was to simply hone a feature set that was already pretty full to begin with. The pitching meter and batting interface are largely unchanged, which isn't a big deal since they're pretty tried and true to begin with. And like 2K6, the default controls are just a sampling--you can choose a different hitting and pitching meter to find the one that suits you.

　　Both games feature franchise modes that are feature-rich and fun to play. 2K6 is especially notable for the massive amount of tracked statistics in its game, while MLB '06's franchise lets you control everything from daily lineups to the marketing budget. Of special note in MLB '06 are the game-time decisions, which are present in both franchise and season mode games. Periodically throughout the season, you'll be presented with player situations that need to be addressed immediately, such as a batter who's facing a hitting slump. During these moments, it's up to you as the boss to decide what you want to do. Do you take care of it immediately and pull the batter, thus eliminating him from your lineup for the day in the hopes that the time off will help him find his swing? Or do you force him to work his way through it, and risk his skills (and stamina) deteriorating even further? By forcing you, as the manager, to make game-time decisions, MLB '06 puts more reliance on the players' judgment and less on the artificial automations of the CPU. It's good stuff.

　　Sit him or play him? It's your choice, thanks to MLB '06's game-time decisions feature.

　　Bottom line, both of these MLB games play well and, from a pure gameplay standpoint, both MLB '06 and MLB 2K6 can be recommended. However, as we all know, there's more to a game than getting the essential qualities right. More so than in previous years, the differences between this year's MLB games come down to everything else, which we'll explore in our following sections.

　　FINAL WORD: In a game of inches, it's MLB '06 by a nose.

　　

Second Inning: Presentation

If you think about it, MLB 2K6 probably has an unfair advantage in this race--it is the only MLB game that was released on the Xbox 360, after all. However, it's only fair to compare a game to the other releases on the same platform, and there's probably not as big a gulf between MLB 2K6 and MLB 06: The Show than you might think. On current-gen consoles, both games have their high points. For example, The Show's animations are a high point--both varied and sensible in the context of the game itself (check out those transition animations when turning a double play). MLB 2K6 for the Xbox features little touches, such as 3D crowds and additional facial animations, which aren't present in the PlayStation 2 game.

　　From top to bottom, The Show's presentation feels much more complete than that in MLB 2K6.

　　The Xbox 360 version of 2K6, naturally, hints at some of the graphical greatness that is possible in the next console generation--we especially like the progressive environmental lighting effects. And boy does the new Busch Stadium look great. Still, when it comes to arguably the most important aspect of MLB games--the player models themselves--MLB 2K6 is a mixed bag. Some guys look just right; others, such as Ichiro Suzuki, look, as our reviewer put it, like an Italian plumber. Ouch. When you mix that with some serious slowdown issues, 2K6 just didn't seem primed for its next-gen debut.

　　In a battle of baseball audio, it really comes down to the guys behind the microphone to determine the clear winner. We're lucky these days, as sound recording and, more importantly, editing, has become increasingly more sophisticated over the years. The behind-the-scenes programming logic that cues which clips to play at certain times has similarly improved. We're left with such high-quality presentation that it's sometimes tough to tell a Jon Miller call in MLB 2K6 from his real work with ESPN or the San Francisco Giants.

　　So if we agree that the quality of both game's play-by-play calls are excellent, the differences must lie in the most subtle of areas: the speed and accuracy of the sound bite matching up with the action on the field; the delivery and interplay between the commentators; and the vocabulary the commentators use to describe the action on the field. In this respect, while both games have their pros and cons, it's MLB 06: The Show that really sets the standard in 2006 for broadcasting excellence. The stalwart duo of the MLB series, Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell, is joined by a third commentator, Angels' color man Rex Hudler. While it could be argued that a third man in the booth is about as unnecessary as a Barry Bonds reality show, Hudler adds just enough zest to support the already excellent Vasgersian and Campbell. As always, Cambell's dry, sometimes harsh, analysis perfectly complements Vasgersian's relaxed delivery, resulting in a trio that is more harmonious than they probably have a right to be.

　　Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, MLB 2K6's dynamic tandem, have the benefit of being real-life broadcasting partners for ESPN. Miller's buttery tones and measured delivery make a nice counterpoint to Joe Morgan's slightly pretentious color work, both in their real-life ESPN work and in the game. That said, it seems like the commentating in MLB 2K6 has taken a step back, and there's less vibrancy and immediacy to the duo's work--their hearts just don't seem to be in it.

　　Sorry, we know Ichiro. We've played as Ichiro. You, sir, are no Ichiro.

　　Of course, all of this speaks to the larger problem for MLB 2K6--an overall drab presentation that has struck the series since the loss of the ESPN license. Last year's ESPN MLB 2K5 made excellent use of the sports broadcasting license. From Karl Ravch's voice work in the pregame shows, to the attractive and familiar menus during the game, 2K5 had some of the strongest presentation the series has ever seen. Little of that quality remains in 2K6, unfortunately--menus are at best uninspired, at their worst flat-out confusing, and the lack of cutaways and interesting camera angles really brings down the 2K6 package. MLB 06, on the other hand, has been improved, bringing more broadcast touches to the game than ever before. While it's true a sports game doesn't have to mimic television broadcasts to be effective, when it comes to baseball, the relative downtime between plays means that it's up to the game to fill in the dead spaces. MLB 06 strives to keep you entertained, it seems, while MLB 2K6 strives to get you through to the end of the game.

　　FINAL WORD: MLB 06: The Show feels like a show, while MLB 2K6 just feels rushed.

　　

Third Inning: Extras

Granted, "extras" is an open-ended category. It could be argued that things like MLB 2K6's insane stat-tracking could work into the gameplay category, as could MLB 06's career mode. However, we feel it's worth calling out these special features in a category all their own, as they are in a way both supportive of and supported by the main elements of both titles' gameplay. For example, career mode in MLB 06 wouldn't be nearly as much fun without rock-solid fundamentals game to play.

　　Love 'em or hate 'em, arcade button-mashing contests are here to stay in baseball games. Incidentally, we fall in the 'hate 'em' category

　　Career mode is where we spend the majority of our time in MLB 06: The Show. Though it was introduced in last year's game--and hasn't changed a great deal for this season--it still remains our favorite single feature in the game. There's something to be said for taking your player from scratching, kicking, and clawing through spring training in a desperate attempt to get a spot on the roster, to eventually finding his way to a real MLB career. The sense of ownership for your character, and pride for his accomplishments, is pretty hard to put into words and it's pretty tough to forget. The King of the Diamond mode, new for this year, is pretty forgettable, as is both MLB 06's and MLB 2K6's everpresent Home Run Derby modes. As far as we're concerned, this kind of arcade tack-ons can go away forever.

　　Conversely, if we had to pick one "extra" about MLB 2K6 that we liked, it would be the sheer epic quantity of the game, particularly when it comes to stat-tracking. One need only take a look at the massive amount of data collected in the VIP system (which builds a detailed profile of your playing style) over an absolutely ludicrous number of statistical categories. For true stat-heads, it's a dream come true, a chance to dissect not only your own playing tendencies, but also the style of anyone you go up against when playing games online.

　　And, hey, speaking of online, it's something both games excel at this year. MLB 06: The Show has made some impressive strides in terms of its online support--adding sexy touches such as MLB news feeds, and instant messaging--and it generally does a better job of keeping track of things like disconnects and reporting feedback on your random online opponents. On the other hand, 2K Sports has been in the online sports business longer than nearly anyone, and it has league and tournament support and a fully functional Web site for players to show for it.

　　The World Baseball Classic in 2K6 is a fun addition to the game.

　　Unfortunately, as soon as 2K6 arrived on store shelves, it began committing errors--most notably an ugly bug in the Xbox 360 version that would cause some players' games to freeze up. By the time you read this, a patch will have been released that was specifically designed to address this bug, but, considering the patch took more than a week to be released, we suspect more than a few of the affected players have long since given up on this year's game. It's certainly a shame, and hopefully it's also a valuable lesson for the future.

　　FINAL WORD: The Show's career mode versus 2K6's obsessive stat collection. What features you prefer depend on what kind of baseball fan you are.

　　

Extra innings:

So there are only two MLB games this year. It doesn't mean that your baseball choices are limited. We've got a rundown of some of the alternative choices for baseball fans who are looking to get their fastball on this season.

　　

The College Years

MVP 06 NCAA Baseball

　　It's great to see that the talented development team behind EA Sports' MVP Baseball series still has a job making fine baseball games. Though the appeal of a college baseball game is certainly more limited than one based on the big leagues, it's still tough to deny the smart gameplay and interesting controls in MVP 06 NCAA Baseball. Some of the coolest new features involve the right analog stick--both batting and fielding are controlled in this manner. Additionally, MVP 06 was the first peek at the new and improved ESPN integration into the EA Sports lineup. Ironically, though, MVP 06 falls short in the same areas as MLB 2K6--it doesn't do enough to capture the particular atmosphere of the sport it portrays...in this case, college baseball. Still, if you're in love with the MVP approach to baseball, or the ping of the aluminum bat, MVP 06 NCAA Baseball is worth your time.

　　

Lots of Texture

Out of the Park Baseball 2006

　　MVP 06 brought the aluminum ping of college baseball to PS2 and Xbox earlier this year. Markus Heinsohn has been one of the driving forces in text-based management sims since creating the original Out of the Park Baseball in the late 1990s. With each successive entry in the series, Heinsohn and his small team--which was recently scooped up by the text-management specialists at Sports Interactive (which also publishes the Championship Manager series)--have strived to further refine the formula that has made OOTP such a realistic and well-respected series. New features for the next game in the series, Out of the Park Baseball 2006, include year-round management (as opposed to simply managing the regular season and playoffs), winter meetings, and even more customization. Though the game lacks the official MLB license, the OOTP series is still one of the few options for exercising your baseball brain. Out of the Park Baseball 2006 will be available on May 31.

　　

The Wild Card

MLB Slugfest 2006

　　Midway's arcade hardball game, MLB Slugfest 2006, is crossing the finish line at more or less the perfect time. Midway's current publishing deal with MLB runs out at the end of this year, so the publisher is able to sneak one more game to store shelves before the 2K Sports exclusivity deal takes hold and effectively eliminates SlugFest from contention. Still, with 2006, the same no-holds-barred, fireball approach to America's pastime seems to be well in effect. With 40 special pitches to sling at your opponent's dome, and a new challenge mode to make sure you're always battling for hardball glory, SlugFest 2006 looks to be the closest baseball fans will ever get to the glorious 'roid-rage-fueled days of baseball's recent past. Look for the game in early May.

　　

The Next Steinbrenner

Baseball Mogul 2007

　　Midway gets one last over-the-top arcade shot at Major League Baseball with SlugFest 2006. The Baseball Mogul series has been around for many years now, providing a deep, text-based management experience. The last game in the series, Baseball Mogul 2006, introduced a new personality profile to all of the big league players found in the game. Instead of being a page of statistics, Vlad Guerrero was now also "egotistical", while Milton Bradley was "gluttonous but silly." Who are we to say that isn't true? The latest game in the series, Baseball Mogul 2007, looks to up the personality ante even further with 11-point personality profiles for both players and teams. Other new features include a manager mode that lets you call plays from the dugout, a huge custom pitcher database, and a new pitch-by-pitch mode that lets you get even more detailed views of the action on the mound.

　　

Play the Role

Ultimate Baseball Online Ultimate Baseball Online mashes up sports games with the MMO genre. And now for something completely different. Ultimate Baseball Online is the world's first massively multiplayer online sports role-playing game. When playing the game, you create an original player (either male or female, mind you) and then join either a team of friends or a pickup squad to play games online. If your player is a first baseman, you'll be placed at first base when it's time to field. When it's your turn at bat, you'll walk up to the batter's box and try to rake yourself a home run or two. As you progress through your virtual career, you'll earn attribute points, which you can assign to different aspects of your player--everything from foot speed to batting power can be improved based on your play on the field. Though the game currently supports tournament and exhibition games only, an update later this year is due to add support for league play.