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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Although Major League Baseball's opening day is still a few weeks away, the video game baseball season is in full swing. Both MLB 2K8 and MLB 08: The Show have been released and reviewed, with Sony's MLB 08 coming out on top as the best all-around game. While MLB 08 was clearly the winner when it comes to gameplay, we wanted to find out which game did the best job recreating players' likenesses by taking 16 of the most recognizable faces in baseball and comparing them to their video game counterparts. Just for kicks we added in 2k's The Bigs, which was no slouch in the visuals department.

All screens were taken in 720p from the PlayStation 3 version of each game, using the best possible angle from first-inning instant replay. Player photos are from MLB 08. Note that some of the images have players looking in different directions. This is due to in-game ball tracking.

The results of our comparison are mixed. None of the players are quite up to the level of those in the NBA Live and NBA 2K series, and none of the games nailed every player's likeness. MLB 08's players were generally the most lifelike and the game did a great job with Derek Jeter and Ivan Rodriguez. 2K8 had a pretty nice looking C.C. Sabathia and probably the best Curt Schilling. Although that's not saying much since all three games struggled with Caucasian players. Asian players didn't fare much better, either. The Bigs' players were, of course, over-the-top, and while some of the players were way off, a few, such as A-Rod and Alfonso Soriano looked good.

To compare images, move your mouse over the captions below a player's name. For example, Ichiro's real photo is the default screenshot. His in-game photos can be seen by moving your mouse cursor over "MLB 2K8," "MLB 08," and "The Bigs" respectively.

What do you think? We've included a poll for each player, so you can vote for the game that nails each player's likeness the best!

Player Photo       MLB 2K8       MLB 08       The Bigs      
Which C.C. Sabathia face looks best?
MLB 2k8
MLB 08
The Bigs

Player Photo       MLB 2K8       MLB 08       The Bigs      
Which Griffey Jr. face looks best?
MLB 2K8
MLB 08
The Bigs

Player Photo       MLB 2K8       MLB 08       The Bigs      
Which Ichiro face looks best?
MLB 2K8
MLB 08
The Bigs

Player Photo       MLB 2K8       MLB 08       The Bigs      
Which Ivan Rodriguez face looks best?
MLB 2K8
MLB 08
The Bigs




Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts on how MLB players appear in video games today.
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104 Comments

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TKandPBC

It's almost like 2K didn't try. You have two powerful consoles which are both capable of MLB 08 calibre graphics. I think it's because 2K doesn't feel threatened by 08 because 08's audience is smaller. They have no incentive to do well because they have the exclusive license. Anyone knows when that license expires?

Posted Jul 11, 2008 10:34 pm PT
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akl712

A-Rod and Jeter is amazing too for MLB 08. MLB 08 rocks MLB 2K8!

Posted Jun 30, 2008 1:29 pm PT
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akl712

Ivan Rodriguez for MLB 08 is amazing!

Posted Jun 30, 2008 1:25 pm PT
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nklslinde21

mlb 08 rocks! i wish i had a ps3

Posted Jun 12, 2008 8:48 am PT
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vzcrsp14

MLB 08 look good but there is something weird with the eyes of the players

Posted Jun 11, 2008 12:29 pm PT
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Pablo620

Man 2K Sports needs to hit the drawing board with those player models. MLB 08 reigns supreme cause its for Play-Stay-Shioun

Posted Jun 10, 2008 2:35 am PT
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GaussGoat

Daisuke looks great in MLB 08; nice job. The Bigs version of him is hillarious... not even close. The MLB 2K8 is terrible, lmao, doesn't even look like a Japanese guy, let alone Daisuke.

Posted May 1, 2008 9:14 am PT
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JGram33

everyone in mlb 2k8 looks exactly the same, almost like their face is drooping.

Posted Apr 29, 2008 3:38 pm PT
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georgeorjose

i still believe mvp is a better game than these three

Posted Apr 28, 2008 12:49 pm PT
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Muppet_Hunter

08 characters have giant eyes, 2k's look nothing like them, and BIGS characters look all roided out (but thats the point).

Posted Apr 23, 2008 9:29 pm PT
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thmst30

I kinda liked 2k7, but 2k8 is TRASH. Both gameplay and graphics in 2k8 suck so bad its ridiculous. I feel real bad for all 360 baseball fans, because you HAVE to play this garbage. If you have a PS3 you should be shot if you buy 2k8 over The Show. It beats it in EVERY SINGLE way possible. 2K makes the best basketball games for sure, but damn they need to release the MLB license for their own sake. They just embarrassed themselves with this (non) effort.

Posted Apr 21, 2008 9:08 pm PT
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Mr_KMG

whats up with everybody being crossed eyed on MLB 2k8?

Posted Apr 21, 2008 4:31 pm PT
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Mr_KMG

whats up with everybody being crossed eyed on MLB 2k8?

Posted Apr 21, 2008 4:22 pm PT
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GspotDeluxer

lol randy johnson on 2k8 is pathetic!

Posted Apr 16, 2008 9:01 pm PT
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punkologist

I'm waiting for MLB 08 to arrive. I'm importing it here to Aus.

Looks like I made a good choice, the screens look impressive. I know the gameplay is likely to good as I have mlb 07 on PSP.

Posted Apr 11, 2008 10:46 pm PT
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at0298

Actually I think 2k7 had the best faces in a baseball game in a long time/period.

Posted Apr 6, 2008 7:24 pm PT
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mark2149

2k sports are pathetic

Posted Apr 5, 2008 8:41 pm PT
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derekjeter999

some of those 2K8 pics make me want to puke LOL. Randy Johnson LOL!!!!

Posted Apr 4, 2008 10:41 pm PT
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ohiostatebucks1

how can you ppl vote for the 08 pic for c.c. over the 2k8 one....his hat is tilted in the 2k one just like in real life...and plus his face looks horrible in the 08...you all are on crack for that one...but overall i would say 08 is better than 2k

Posted Apr 3, 2008 3:03 pm PT
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Nshadow23

Wow!

Posted Apr 3, 2008 2:01 pm PT
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spotjar

It's a sad thing when the players look mentally retarded, kinda like Ivan Rodriguez in MLB 2K8..:S

Posted Apr 2, 2008 3:27 pm PT
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Leems

I've got MLB2K8 for the 360 and I can't believe how bad these MLB2K8 pics look. Frickin' awful. But, for the most part, I tend not to notice it too much while playing the game. But, woah, 2K did a horrible job with these likenesses.

Posted Apr 2, 2008 9:30 am PT
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CHADDOUGLASS

did anyone notice that on curt schilling and alfonso soriano that they have MLK 2K8 instead of MLB, lol, but yeah, i rented 2k8, i wouldnt approve it if i could approve mlb 08 the show, but still 2k8 is still quite a bit better than last year, but not by much, either way, i say that MLB 08:The Show is the best baseball game ever, at least till next year when they make MLB 09:The Show, then that one will be the best, and so on and so forth

Posted Apr 1, 2008 7:19 pm PT
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icehawk001987

all of 2k8s pictures suck

Posted Apr 1, 2008 5:37 pm PT
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Red_26

mjl259 are you kidding me, MLB 07 graphics blows, it cant hold a candle to MLB 08

Posted Apr 1, 2008 2:10 pm PT
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Padday

Vlad looks like he's brainwashed in the 2K8 pic. His eyes aren't looking the same way.

Posted Apr 1, 2008 1:58 pm PT
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angellc

MLB 2k7 for the 360 should have been used in the face photo comparison to represent 2k sports because it is the superior game by far graphically for a baseball video game compared to MLB 08 and also the Bigs on the PS3. Just look at the screen shots of MLB 2k7 for the 360. I own both MLB 2K7 for the 360 and MLB 08 for the PS3 and I have done graphics comparison for over all game play and player models and 2k7 for 360 the one on top in the graphics department.. MLB 08 is still very strong graphically though and blows away MLB 07.

Posted Apr 1, 2008 1:45 pm PT
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mjl259

haha i voted for the 2k8 randy johnson because it was sooo bad! If anything, it looks like Chris Young!

Posted Apr 1, 2008 1:30 pm PT
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mjl259

They should have used mlb 2k7 pics instead, the graphics were twice as good and maybe better than that in addition to lighting effects. check it out

Posted Apr 1, 2008 1:26 pm PT
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Paul_TheGreat

MLB 08 looks so much better that's it's not funny.

Posted Apr 1, 2008 1:25 pm PT
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broke812

they are all terrible

Posted Apr 1, 2008 12:33 pm PT
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dandubya15

hahahahahahaha i cant stop laughing at griffey and randy's 2k8 pics!!! oh and while im on the subject, i HATE 2k8's commercial. "I SAID 2K, K?" that is the DUMBEST thing i've ever heard! i wouldnt buy the game because of it

Posted Apr 1, 2008 12:19 pm PT
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greeniejzzle

I think 2k8's C.C. looks better but besides that 08 the show took them hands down, and definitely takes the best gameplay 2k8's just frustrating to play.

Posted Mar 31, 2008 2:58 pm PT
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OrionMD

man all the 2k8 shots look like the players after they've been hooked on crystal meth for 10 years, man those are just wrong. randy johnson looks like the lead singer of R.E.M. on 2k8

Posted Mar 28, 2008 8:53 pm PT
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Diablo2343

I dont own any of the games, but OMG..what player models did they use for some of those players for MLB 2k8. NOT EVEN CLOSE>

Posted Mar 28, 2008 2:36 pm PT
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ThaGreatness007

ewww! Randy Johnson is scary on 2k8. What was the dev team thinking or were they freelance drawing those pictures shoot they were probably drunk.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 2:30 pm PT
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donwon06

wow. mlb 2k8 looks really bad this year. i was really trying not to be bias since i own MLB 08, but clearly MLB 08 looks a lot better. The Bigs did get a couple of my votes, like Maddox and Pudge. Crazy.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 2:16 pm PT
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dnalittle

Is it just me or is MLB 2k8 player pictures garbage. 08 the Show is clearly a much better game in every respect.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 2:15 pm PT
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Vercetti13

Griffey Jr's picture from The Bigs looks just like Terrance Howard from the films Crash and Four Brothers.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:51 pm PT
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CLOWNKID

All Of Them Are Sweet To Me

Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:43 pm PT
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MichaeltheCM

MLB 08 looks the best for almost all imo

Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:19 pm PT
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Shinida

I'm a big fan in how it says MLK 2k8 for Schilling and MLK 08 for Soriano

Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:07 pm PT
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Chaos_Bladez

MLB 08 takes the cake in just about every aspect, including graphics.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 11:32 am PT
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MFazio23

Hey King ^ ^

and that Randy Johnson face from 2K8 is hilarious (Yet it gets three votes). People, he's an ugly man, he should look ugly in the game...

Posted Mar 28, 2008 11:31 am PT
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KevComesRipping

The Bigs did surprisingly well with alot of the faces, but 2K8 is like a bad joke, did anyone look at the Randy Johnson?!?!?! Oh my god. Kudos to MLB08, you make me wish I had a PS3

Posted Mar 28, 2008 11:01 am PT
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jairowolf

If these pictures are the best that they could come up with.... I think they could have done better.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 10:55 am PT
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Raivon

MLB 2k7 looks way better then MLB 2k8 . WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED ?

Posted Mar 28, 2008 10:48 am PT
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jsmpsnn

I have been playing mlb 2k8 on 360, and the player models do NOT look as bad as the pictures on here. but mlb 08 does look amazing.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 10:37 am PT
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Raivon

The Bigs > the rest

Posted Mar 28, 2008 10:36 am PT
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Uptown

MLB 08 by a LONG shot..except on manny...they made his face too fat.....theres guys in The Show that look even more like their real life counterparts than some of these do....id like to see a Mike Lowell comparison.

Posted Mar 28, 2008 10:10 am PT
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